[chapter twenty-three]

(At JC's house)

"You know, I think you should let me redecorate this room. Or, if nothing else, this couch." Caitlin said, pointing at the beat-up couch in JC's family room in disgust.

"Shut up!" JC said good-naturedly. "I love that couch!"

"Why?" Caitlin asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Because." JC said, sticking his tongue out. "Ok, seriously. When Chris and I were living over at Justin's house, Lynn gave us free reign of the basement, and told us we could make that our part of the house. That couch was the first thing I ever really bought on my own, and it lived in that basement forever. When I finally moved in here, I couldn't part with it. It represents my beginnings, you know? Reminds me that expensive houses and lots of clothes don't represent success. Seeing how far you've come represents success."

"I'm sure the ghetto Jeep also serves as a great reminder." Caitlin teased. She walked over and wrapped her arms around JC's waist. "I'm just teasing. I think you are the most down-to-earth pop star I know. And I mean that in the most sincere way possible."

"Thank you." JC murmured into her hair.

"Either that, or you've found a real niche in seducing women with this whole ghetto jeep, beat up couch routine." Caitlin said, smiling into his chest.

"Brat." JC replied, kissing her forehead with a smile of his own. "Ready for some cake?"

"Absolutely!" Caitlin said excitedly.

"Ok, wait here for a sec." JC instructed as he walked towards the kitchen. Caitlin took the chance to admire JC's house for the 50th time. Even though it didn't have much in the decorating department, it felt like a home, albeit a temporary one sometimes.

Moments later, she looked up when the lights went out. JC was walking out from the kitchen with a cake in his arms, his face illuminated by the candles on the cake. Caitlin smiled tenderly at him, and then walked over to the dining room table, where JC had set down the cake. She stood directly in front of the cake, looking down at the blazing candles with a smile on her face. JC stood behind her and put his arms around her waist. Moments later, Caitlin's entire body was covered in goose bumps. JC had begun singing "Happy Birthday" in his clear, perfect voice. She'd never heard him sing in person before, other than in concert, and she felt weak in the knees at the voice she had heard a thousand times on a CD now singing into her ear, for her alone. After he finished, JC whispered in her ear, "Blow out the candles, sweetie."

Caitlin inhaled and with a deep breath, blew out all the candles, plunging them into darkness. She turned in JC's arms and hungrily pressed her lips to his. She couldn't verbally express her emotions at that moment, so she did the next best thing by wrapping her arms around him and kissing him for all she was worth. JC responded immediately, burying his hands in her hair and tilting her head upwards so he could have better access to her mouth. They pressed their bodies together and kissed for what felt like hours before JC finally pulled back, lightly tracing Caitlin's lips with his thumb. "What happened to the cake?"

"There was a cake?" Caitlin said in a dreamy voice.

JC laughed, a deep throaty laugh, then spun her around to look at the cake on the table. Caitlin gasped slightly when her eyes fell upon it. She read the message on the cake with a smile. "Happy Birthday Caitlin, with love from JC."

"I think this birthday takes the taco as my best ever." Caitlin said softly. She paused for a moment, and then continued. "Well, except maybe for my 21st birthday when I did 24 shots then ended up dancing til 4 in the morning with some hot 18 year old."

"What??" JC sounded incredulously.

Caitlin turned to him and smiled. "I'm teasing. This is the best birthday. Thank you. But the other part was true."

"You know, I can't wait to discover this wild woman side of you that you keep hidden so well. Somewhere in there is a tiger." JC said lightly.

Caitlin laughed, and then reached for the knife by the cake. "Cut you a slice?"

After serving up two huge slices of the cake, they carried their plates out onto JC's back patio, which overlooked the small pool and gardens he had in the back. Sitting on the patio furniture, they contentedly ate the cake and talked softly about Orlando, the weather, the Love Shack, and work. After they were both finished eating, Caitlin slid over to chaise where JC was sitting and sat down between his legs, facing away from him. He pulled her closer, and she leaned back against his chest, his arms wrapped protectively around her.

"You know, I think someone owes me a massage." Caitlin said softly.

JC laughed slightly, then put his hands to her shoulders and began rubbing gently. He continued the massaging motion over her neck, shoulders and arms, and Caitlin moaned at the relaxation that flowed through her. "That feels good." She murmured.

"I must be a pro." JC replied teasingly. He continued the circular motions across her shoulder blades on back onto her neck. He leaned his head down and kissed her neck softly. Tugging at her sweater slightly, he exposed a part of her shoulder, and then rained kissed on her soft skin. He switched shoulders and did the same on the other side. He continued teasing her neck and shoulders for several minutes, alternating sides. Caitlin rolled her head from side to side, giving him better access to the sensitive skin on her neck. After minutes of teasing, she finally turned to face him in the chaise. With a passionate look in her eyes, she took his hand and stood up. She slowly walked back inside and started up the stairs to the bedrooms upstairs.

Her heart pounding, Caitlin opened the door to JC's bedroom, and then walked in, still holding his hand. She finally turned to face him, and forced herself to meet his blue eyes.

"Are you sure about this?" JC asked quietly, stepping closer to her.

Caitlin could only nod, then wrapped her arms around JC's waist and held him close. He could feel her trembling slightly, and was afraid this was too much, too soon. Maybe she wasn't ready, maybe she was scared...

His thoughts trailed off as Caitlin pressed her lips to his. She pressed against him and hugged him tighter. Her lips grew more insistent, and he hungrily responded, despite his resolve to take things slowly. He gradually walked them across the room, never losing contact with Caitlin's lips, until her legs bumped against the side of the bed. She broke contact with his lips, and looked up into his eyes. He saw a combination of passion, lust and uncertainty in her eyes. He hesitated, and Caitlin took the opportunity to grab him by the shirt and yank him down onto the bed, right on top of her. She grinned at his shocked response, then immediately resumed their kissing.

Caitlin shifted on the bed, until they were directly in the middle of the soft duvet on the bed. JC laid half on top of her, half beside her, one leg thrown over hers. Their chests pressed together, they hungrily kissed each other, stroking each other's faces and hair. JC growled when Caitlin ran her fingernails lightly through his scalp, and Caitlin moaned when JC lifted her sweater to run his hands across the smooth, soft skin of her stomach. As their lust took greater hold, Caitlin became bolder, pushing JC's shirt off his shoulder, and then tugging at the bottom of his "wife beater", until he lifted his arms and she pulled it off over his head. JC smiled at her aggression, then reciprocated by taking hold of Caitlin's shoulders and pulling her into a sitting position. He grabbed the bottom of her sweater, and then swiftly lifted it over her head, exposing a lacy black bra. JC saw Caitlin blush slightly, then shift to try and hide her exposed stomach. He laid a hand on her skin as they lay back down on the soft mattress. "You are so beautiful." He whispered in Caitlin's ear as he nibbled on her earlobe and kissed her neck.

She relaxed slightly at his compliment, and tried to lose herself in the pleasure his lips were giving her. Her mind kept trying to interject thoughts she didn't want to hear "Maybe this is too soon...what are you doing...what is he doing...Oh God, that feels good...should we stop...what if he thinks my body is ugly...is this right for us...how can two lips make me feel this good..."

Shaking her head slightly, Caitlin rid herself of all the conflicting thoughts and lost herself in JC's kisses. Their hands began to explore each other's bodies in earnest, and JC gently unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down her legs, exposing matching black panties. She did the same to him until he was wearing only boxer-briefs. Their kisses were deep and long, and their tongues melding together over and over as they ran their hands over the other's body.

As their explorations became bolder, the clothing less, and their ministrations more brash, JC paused to pulled away slightly, so he could look directly into Caitlin's eyes. Looking at her flushed cheeks, parted lips, and mussed hair, he almost lost all resolve to try and slow things down. Caitlin looked back at him, her eyes now only having love...and trust. She no longer looked scared or nervous. She looked...passionate. "Are you sure?" He whispered.

"Mm-hm." Caitlin murmured. "I'm sure." She said, her voice confident. JC looked deep into her eyes, and when he saw the confidence in her eyes as well as her words, he decided they should take the plunge. Pausing slightly to put on protection, he once again lay atop Caitlin, brushing her hair from her face, and tracing her cheekbones with his finger.

Within moments, their bodies became one, and Caitlin felt more alive than she had in a long time. JC was tender and patient, taking his time to make everything as good as possible between them. Their bodies moved in perfect unison, and their lips never broke contact with the other's skin. After what felt like hours, Caitlin felt waves of pleasure wash over her, and JC collapsed on her chest, both of them breathing heavily. Their bodies were both warm and covered with a sheen of sweat, and when JC raised his head to look into Caitlin's eyes, they were wearing identical smiles. JC rolled over to lie beside Caitlin, and gathering her in his arms, pulled her close to him. With a smile, she snuggled close to his chest, reveling in the feeling of skin against skin.

"Well, that was a hell of a birthday present." Caitlin murmured contentedly.

JC laughed softly, and wrapped his arms tighter around her, silently vowing never to let her go.

chapter twenty-four