Chapter 34

Jon looked up as Brianna entered the room with the first interview of the day and had to shift his position to ease his discomfort - and hide his body's reaction. Since it was a work day, she was back into a suit. This one was kind of a rust colour that brought out the red in her hair. The mid thigh hem revealed almost all of the eight feet or so of her legs which, in turn, dried up all the moisture in his mouth. He had to force his attention back to the reporter.

That worked for about five minutes until Brianna leaned over next to him to refill his teacup. The scent of her perfume stole his senses...and his concentration. He had to ask the reporter to repeat the question.

Brianna stayed on the other side of the room as much as possible - not that it helped much. She could still see his lips move, hear his voice, and occasional chuckle.  All of it served to heighten her senses and awareness of him - not that she wasn't already aware of every movement he made. She told herself it was necessary to watch for any sign that he needed something - that was her job after all - but her libido snorted. Whatever let's you sleep at night, honey.

Glancing at the clock, she counted the minutes until she could escape the torture, and stifled a groan. Of course, on a show day, interviews were the least of her problems. Between seeing him in various states of undress before the show and him stripping off his sweaty shirts during and after and tossing them at her, it was like living in purgatory.

To make matters even worse, at each of the hotels they stayed at, not only were their rooms on the same floor, they were next to each other. It had seemed like such a good idea a few weeks ago, considering the difficulty he had accepting Dorothea’s illness, but now it was hell. Not only did she have to deal with him all day, she had the added pleasure of lying in bed and imagining what he was doing on the other side of the wall with every noise she heard.

The only thing that kept her sane was her off days. Jon had been good about giving her free time when he had some.  The last one they had before heading home was in Sapporo. Brianna desperately needed some distance from Jon, and luckily, the email she'd gotten from Dorothea had given her the perfect excuse. "If you don't need me Jon, I've got some shopping to do before we had back home."

"Yeah? What for?"

"Dorothea asked me to pick up some things for the kids."

"What's she want?"

She glanced at her Berry. "A kimono for Steph, a Samuarai sword for Jesse, and some anime toys for the little ones."

Jon frowned in thought. "I want to get something for Dot. I'll come with you and you can help me pick it out."

Brianna bit back a groan as her peaceful day disintegrated before her eyes. But what could she say? "Okay. The concierge gave me directions to some good places. I'm ready whenever you are."

Jon turned to grab his wallet - and to hide his grimace at her choice of words. What he was ready for he didn't think she'd want to know about. But that didn’t stop him from thinking about it every time she came near him.....and while he was lying in bed pretending to sleep. Between Dorothea and Brianna he was either going to lose his mind from lack of sleep....or end up in a doctor's office for some cream to ease the chafing skin of his dick! He hadn't jacked off this much since puberty!

Just as they reached the elevators, the doors opened, allowing David to step out, wiping a towel across his face, obviously on his way back from the gym. "Hey! Where are you guys off to?"

"Shopping." Brianna answered. "Dot sent me a list. Do you need anything while we're out?"

"No thanks, I'm good."

"Okay, see you later."

David stood staring at the closed elevator door for several moments trying to decide if this latest development was a good one or a bad one.

It was almost dinner time when they finished and returned to the hotel. The experience reminded Jon why he hated shopping, and reminded Brianna why she preferred shopping alone....or at least without a man in tow.  The anime toys for the little ones were easy - they were everywhere. Even the Samaurai sword for Jesse wasn't too hard. It only took looking in two souvenir shops to find a beautifully rendered replica. Most of their time was spent in a traditional clothing store searching through kimonos.

Jon had decided to get one for Dot - to use as a robe, not the traditional way - and wanted Brianna's help getting the right size and choosing a colour.

They settled on a pink floral design on a white background with a bright pink obi for Stephanie. That was the easy one. Then Brianna spent two hours trying on kimono after kimono because Jon insisted he needed to see them modeled to judge which would suit Dorothea best.

Jon knew the black embossed with a Japanese garden scene in orange, green and gold was perfect for his wife the moment he saw it, but something about seeing Brianna in vibrant shades of silk kept him quiet and urging her to try on others. When she came out of the dressing room wearing scarlet with a black and gold pattern it felt like someone kicked him in the stomach. 

He was screwed. He could only hope Brianna hadn't noticed his reaction.

At the checkout, Brianna laid the scarlet one on the counter beside the other two, along with a couple sets of hair sticks and set her credit card on it. The kimono had been very comfortable and she liked the colours. Her decision to buy it for herself had nothing to do with the reaction Jon tried to hide. She didn't care whether he like the way it looked on her, she did. Keep telling yourself that Bri. Doesn't make it true.

While the salesgirl was ringing up Jon's purchases, she wandered over to look at some embroidered scarves. A few minutes later Jon approached her, bags in hand. He held out her credit card to her. "Are we done now?"

Slipping the card into her wallet she nodded. "Yes. We can head back to the hotel." She reached to take the bag with her purchases, but Jon just turned and headed for the door and the car waiting outside. It wasn't until she took the kimono out of the bag to put in her suitcase that she noticed there was no receipt. She made a mental note to ask Jon for it.

Much to Brianna's relief, they weren't flying out until the morning after the last show. She was looking forward to a good night's sleep before facing that long flight home again.

They were waiting for the guys to head back to the hotel when Brianna's phone buzzed with a message. Reading it, she strode down the hallway to knock on Jon's dressing room door. "Jon?"

"Come on in Bri."

She opened the door. "I just got a message from Philly....oh! I'm sorry! I can come back." He was obviously in the process of getting dressed, but hadn't gotten any further than putting on jeans. Even his feet were bare. It was a vision that would be permanently etched into her brain...and her libido! The temperature in the room rose about ten degrees.

Jon just waved a hand. "It's fine. What's going on in Philly?" He sat down to pull on socks and boots.

"Um..." Brianna had to force herself to focus on his question. "They're putting together the press packages and promotional literature for the Foundation and the playground project. The local paper wants to do a piece for their next edition and they need a quote right away." She glanced at her watch. "If I send it tonight they'll have it in time for their deadlines."

He sighed. "Okay, I'll dictate, you type." He got up and paced while he dictated, pausing periodically to read what they had over her shoulder.

It would have been helpful to Brianna if he'd put a shirt on first. His nearness, his heat and his scent all conspired to wreck havoc with her senses. Her heart rate sped up, her breathing accelerated, her skin tingled where his had touched when he leaned close and warmth flooded her loins. Shit! By the time he was satisfied with his statement and she'd sent it Stateside it was all she could do to hold back from jumping him.

When they got back to the hotel and Jon disappeared into his room, Brianna dropped off her briefcase and headed for the bar.

An hour later, the waitress approached David at the table where he and Tico were sitting relaxing. "Sir, one of your party is over near the bar. She may need some help getting back to her room."

"She?" David asked for clarification. There weren't many women in the crew.

The waitress nodded. "Red hair, gold eyes."

David and Tico exchanged a look. "Bri."

"What’s the problem?" Tico prepared himself to break up a fight – or start one.

"She found out she likes sake."

"Aaaah." David nodded in understanding. "Been there. We'll take care of her. Thanks."

"Can you bring us some sodas...and some water?" Tico ordered before she left.

Brianna glanced up as they joined her. "Hey guys. Can I buy you a drink?"

"Sure." Tico went along with her.

"What brings you down here tonight Beautiful? Bored or just trying out some of the national cuisine?" David gestured towards her glass."

Brianna sighed. "Decompressing. This job has turned out to be more than I signed on for." She frowned at the glass of water the waitress set down in front of her. "Whass this?"

"Water."

"Don want water, I want some more sake. Have you tried it? It's good stuff!"

"I know, but drink up, you'll thank me tomorrow." Tico assured her.

"What's the problem with the job? Or is it Dorothea's illness?" David guessed, hoping he could distract her.

"Or Jon and his temper?" Tico suggested.

Brianna snorted and drank her water obediently. "I can handle his temper." She frowned at him with glazed eyes. "Do you know the damn man is everywhere? At work, on my days off, here, in the States, in the damn room next door, I turn around.....and BAM! There he is. Kinda like herpes, he never really goes away."

The men exchanged amused glances. They'd seen her after a few drinks before, but nothing like this.

She turned serious. "Iss just......I'm not a grief counsellor. I don't know how to help them. And Dorothea.....she's asking too much of me." She closed her eyes and dropped her head back on her shoulders. "Way too much."

David slid an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. "Aw, come on Beautiful, you can do it. I have faith in you."

She shook her head. "No, I can't. As much as I want to - and God knows I want to - it's too much. My conscience won't let me." She laid her head down on the table. "I just can't......I just can't." And if she said it enough times maybe her libido would believe it.

"Come on Beautiful, let's get you to bed." David stood and tried to urge her to stand up.

"No! I'm not ready to go to bed. Iss cold and...lonely." She looked around for the waitress. "Where'd Mai go? We need some more sake! Hey, do you think she knows Takumi?"

"Oh, I think we've had enough for tonight." David disagreed.

But no matter how much they talked and cajoled, she refused to budge. Not wanting to make a scene in so public a place - even though there weren't many people left in the bar at that hour, they were forced to call for help.

When Jon walked into the bar and approached their table he was still trying to decide whether to be pissed or amused. He hadn't been sleeping when David called, but he had been dreaming - of his all too attractive assistant. Her being drunk in a public place did not make him happy, but at least in Japan people wouldn't know who she was or that she was connected to him. On the other hand, he'd been hit by the sake club himself before.....and he was curious to see what kind of a drunk she was.

Brianna looked up and her eyes widened. "See?" She looked at her companions. "He's everywhere!" She frowned up at her boss. "How do you do that? Do you have clones...like in that movie? You know the one. With the Beetlejuice guy."

Jon bit his lip against a grin. "Come on Golden Eyes, I think it's time go to bed."

His bandmates' brows rose at the pet name, but Brianna didn't even hear it.

"Goose, ya big stud! Take me to bed or lose me forever!" She laughed hysterically. "I love that movie. But you don't really look like Goose. More like Iceman." For some reason, that was funny to her rice wine soaked brain, and she burst out laughing again.

Jon shook his head. "Okay Lemma, you grab one arm, I'll get the other. Teek can you grab her bag?"

"Sure, make me carry her purse." Tico grumbled.

Between the two of them, they got her up and moving.

"Wait! Tico, mi amigo! Where are you?" She tilted her head way back to see him and if it weren't for the two holding her arms she would have ended up on the floor.

"I'm right here nina." Tico assured her.

"Oh. Good." Her head swivelled and once again her captors had to hold her up. "Mai! Where...oh! There you are. Thanks for a great evening." She leaned back again to see Tico with her purse. "Can you make sure she gets a big tip? She's been great." She looked at Jon. "I think we should introduce her to Takumi."

The ride up in the elevator was....enlightening. It was one of the few in the world that played music, which was great for covering awkward silences, but had a different effect on an inebriated Brianna. At first they thought she was swaying because of her condition, but when her arms started swinging around and she gyrated, they realized she was dancing – or trying to. By the time they got to their floor, all three men had tears of laughter running down their faces.

They stopped outside her room. "Where's your key Beautiful?"

"In my pocket." She leaned over Jon to whisper - loudly. "Wanna take it out?" And she was off into hysterical laughter again.

Jon snorted and eased his hand into her back pocket. In the process of pulling out her key, he couldn't resist giving the firm flesh under his hand a slight squeeze. Luckily, she was so drunk she didn't even notice.

In her room, they sat her on the bed. David knelt to take off her shoes and Tico disappeared into the bathroom, returning with a glass of water and a couple aspirins which he set on the bedside table.

Brianna reached out and tugged on one of David's curls, "Ping!" She giggled. "Do you know how many girls want to do that?"

David grinned up at her and waggled his eyebrows. "Why do you think I keep it this way?"

She looked up at Jon. "Yours they just want to slide their fingers into and clench." She crooked a finger, beckoning him to come closer.

The last thing he needed was her fingers in his hair! He shook his head and leaned away from her. "Uh uh. I'd like to keep it in my head thanks."

Brianna sighed heavily. "No touch. Must remember not to touch." She dropped back onto the bed. "Sorry Dot, no touch."

Jon hoped he was the only one to hear her murmured words.

"What did she mean by that?" David eyed Jon.

"Who knows? She's drunk." Jon didn't evade his friend's look. "I haven't done anything with Bri, not even close." Even though I have my dying wife's permission. I should get sainthood for this! "Let's just let her sleep it off." He started for the door,

David stood and lifted her legs onto the bed. He wasn't convinced, but he didn't have enough information to dispute his friend's claim.

Tico pulled the blanket up over her and they followed.