Richie and Isabel

Chapter 21

“Four, three, two, one, here I come.” Richie shouted out. Wanting the element of surprise, he removed his boots. Tossing them onto the carpet, he slowly made his way out of the living room. Brown eyes peered around the vacant room as he walked around the kitchen searching for his family hiding from him.  As a little boy he had always loved playing, Hide and Seek with his friends. Hell, there had been quite a few times he and the guys had played a game or two just to break up the monoty.  Looking under the table, the kitchen sink, and inside the cabinets brought him nothing. Moving to the family room he once again found another empty room.  “They are getting really good at this.” He mused, a smile playing on his lips.

Going down the hall towards the bedrooms, Richie tried another tactic, taunting.  Doing his best Wicked Witch impression from, the Wizard of Oz, he snickered. “I will find you my pretties,” he cackled. “And your mommy too.”

A child’s giggle came from behind the curtain. Tip toeing across the carpet he moved in on his subject. Grabbing a handful of material in his hand, he threw the curtain back, yelling. “Gotcha!”

“Daddy!” Savannah giggled at being the first one he caught.

One down, four to go. Laughing at his youngest daughter’s reaction, Richie wiggled his eyebrows. “Want to help daddy find everybody else?"

Shaking her head yes, he picked her up and carried her through the suite as they continued their hunt. “We don’t want anybody to hear us coming so we have to be really quiet. Can you be really quiet for daddy?”

Nodding her head up and down Savannah whispered. “Yes.”

With that said, father and daughter resumed their search.

It took them close to half an hour to find Katie hidden in the hall closet, buried under a bunch of blankets. Ava was in the bedroom closet behind some clothes.  Richie found Joey hiding underneath the dresser in the room he shared with Savannah.

Once he found all of the kids, Richie started looking for his wife. Searching the kids rooms, the bathrooms, and behind the curtains in the living room and family room showed no sign of her. This really puzzled him because they had searched the entire suite.  He knew it was time to call in reinforcements.

Setting Savannah down to stand next to her siblings, Richie sat down in the leather recliner, his hands on his thighs. “Looks like mom is the only one left I need to find.” Looking at each one of his children, he grinned. “Any idea on where she might be hiding?”

All four kids nodded their heads yes.

Richie was not surprised that they knew where their mother was hiding. “Will you show me?”

Ava and Katie each took one of his hands and led their dad into the kitchen. Joey and Savannah following close behind.

Stopping in the middle of the kitchen, Ava put her finger up to her lips. “Shh.” She whispered

Watching with amusement and pride as each child exchanged a look of silent agreement between them, they turned to face their dad.  Giving a gentle shove to his back, Savannah and Joey pushed their father forward.  

Chuckling at their actions, he put his hands up and mouthed. “What?”

Without saying a single word, Ava pointed to the food pantry doors.

Creeping across the tiled floor like a panther stalking its prey, Richie walked around the kitchen island keeping his footsteps lite; standing off to the side of the double doors, he wrapped his fingers around the doorknob. Giving his brood a wink, he yanked the doors open to reveal his wife sitting on the floor an open bag of Oreos in her lap.

Cradling his hands over his stomach, Richie’s body shook with laughter. “I should have known you would be the one to hide in the pantry with the cookies.”

Popping another cookie in her mouth, Bel chuckled. “Since you were taking forever to find me, I decided to have a snack. I figured this was the perfect place to hide from you.”  Seeing the kids standing behind their father, she shook her head. “I see you had to ask our children to help you." Leaning sideways, she pointed her finger at them. "Thanks for ratting me out!" Looking up at her husband who was still laughing, she smiled. "When you are done laughing do you think you could help me up? I think my legs fell asleep while I was waiting for you.”

Doing as his wife had asked, Richie bent down and lifted his wife up off the floor. Keeping his arm around her waist, he gave her a quick peck on the lips. “Are your legs still asleep?”

“Yes, no thanks to you.” She laughed; the tingling in her feet was driving her crazy.

The kids stood there laughing watching their mom stomp her feet and shake her legs as she tried to get the circulation back. Richie just shook his head.

 When she finally stopped jumping around Richie figured the feeling had returned to her legs. “All better now?”

“Yep, the tingling is gone.” Bel smiled.

Good, how about we get these kids to bed so mommy and daddy can play the adult version of Hide and Seek.” He whispered in her ear as he stole a cookie from the bag she still held in her hand.

“I like the sound of that.” Pulling the bag away from her husband, she whispered softly against his neck so the kids wouldn’t hear her. “I don’t remember how the adult version goes.”

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he kissed her ear. “Guess I will have to show you.”

 

There were a few cookies left in the bag so Bel split them up amongst the kids while their dad poured them each a half a glass of milk.  Once they had finished eating their late night snack Richie went with them to make sure they brushed their teeth again before he put them back in their beds. Bel stayed behind to clean up the kitchen, and to give the kids some alone time with their dad.

With the kitchen put back together she shut the light off then walked down the hall towards their bedroom to wait for her husband. Once in the room she pulled the black comforter down to the end of the bed before flipping the covers back. Fluffing the pillows up a little, she propped them against the headboard.  

Sitting in front of the vanity mirror brushing her hair, she gave her husband a warm smile as he wandered into the room. “Are the kids tucked in, again. “She giggled.

Chuckling at his wife, he nodded his head. “Yes, they are once again tucked all snuggly in their beds.”

Twirling around in her seat to face her husband, Bel pointed her hairbrush at him. “It wasn’t my idea to wake them up and play a game. That was all you, honey.”

He hated it when his wife was right, but in all fairness he did promise his son they would play when he came in. “Guess I really didn’t think that one through, huh. Next time I will think before opening my mouth.”  Rubbing his hands over his face, Richie let out a heavy sigh. He was tired.  “Man, those kids wore my ass out.”

He loved his kids with a passion but there times when he couldn’t keep up with them. Tonight was one of those times. Of course playing a two and a half hour gig was another reason for the weariness he felt.

Putting her brush down on the dresser, Bel crossed the room. Climbing onto the bed, she moved to sit behind him. Placing her hands on his shoulders, she gently kneaded the tense muscles.  She could feel how tight his muscles were, but after a few minutes, she could feel him relaxing. “Let’s go to bed."

 As much as he was enjoying the massage, Richie knew a hot shower would help loosen up his body even more. That and his wife were what he needed right now. “I need a shower first.” Standing up he turned around, his hands reaching out to help his wife off the bed.  “Care to help me wash my back?”

Letting her husband lead her into the massive bathroom, Bel had a huge grin on her face as she admired the man walking in front of her.  “Are you sure you don’t want to skip the shower? I know the kids wore you out.”

Shutting the bathroom door behind them, and keeping his hold on her hands, he led them towards the glass stall.  Stopping in front of the shower, Richie kept his eyes on his wife as he opened the stall door. Letting go of one of her hands, he turned the water on. “I am positive.”  

The mirrors began to fog up as the heat from the shower filled the room. Steam from the hot water caused a misty film to cover the glass. Wiping a trickle of sweat from his eye, Richie let go of her other hand, his fingers tugging on her shirt.  “I believe it is time for you to get out of those clothes.”

“What about you? Aren’t you going to take your clothes off too? Or were you planning on taking a shower fully clothed?”

Without saying a saying a single word, they each took their clothes off. With their clothes lying in pile between them on the floor, they stood there staring at each other. It had been weeks since they had last seen each other naked.

 With her hands on her hips, she shrugged her shoulders. “Okay, now that you got me naked. What happens next?”

Reaching for her hand, Richie stepped inside the shower. “Follow me and I will show you.”

 Following her husband into the shower, she heard the click of the latch as the shower door shut. Pushing his wife under the warm water, he tipped her head back. Running his fingers through her long blonde hair, he massaged her scalp with the tips of his fingers. With a smug grin on his face, Richie nuzzled his wife’s neck when he heard a low moan come from his wife. “Feel good, honey?”  

“Oh you have no idea. Not even Juan can make me feel this good.” It always amazed her how much pleasure his hands could give her. Even something as simple as a scalp massage was pleasurable.  “God that feels good.”

Reaching for the shampoo sitting on the shelf beside him, he stopped mid-pour. “Who the hell is Juan?” This was the first time he had ever heard that name.

Isabel couldn’t help but laugh. “Relax, honey, Juan is my new hairdresser.”

“We will see about that.” Turning the shampoo bottle upside down, Richie dumped it on her head.

“Hey! What was that for?” Wiping the streams of bubbles from her forehead, Isabel poked her husband in the chest. “That was not nice, Sambora!”

“Well it is not nice to tease your husband when he is giving you a scalp massage to mention another guy’s name.”  Richie retorted back.

“Okay, you got me there.”  Turning her back to her husband, “Will you please wash my hair, honey?”

“Yes, dear,” Scrubbing the apricot scented shampoo through her long blonde locks. His hands were occupied with washing her hair, but his eyes, well they were busy following the trail of suds drifting down her shoulders and over her breasts.  His eyes watched in fascination as her nipples were smothered by the suds. Licking his lips he continued to  watch as the trail wandered across her stomach before disappearing between her legs.

The sight hardened him instantly.

Rinsing the shampoo from her hair he then added conditioner to her long tresses. Admiring how slim her neck was, his eyes focused on the bubbles cascading over skin.     The sight was too tempting for him to pass up. Brushing his lips over the spot where he could see her pulse beating, he licked her neck. “Mm, you taste good.” The water hitting him in the face didn’t bother him one bit.

As hot water ran down her face, she closed her eyes. A warm, tingling feeling spread throughout her body when she felt his lips on her skin, the sensation he was giving her was incredible.  The ache inside her grew with every stroke of his tongue against her skin.  Twisting around she lent her head back to rinse the conditioner from her hair which was not easy to do with her husband nuzzling her neck. Arching her back, she pressed breasts against his chest. When her nipples encountered the hair on his chest, she gasped. “Oh my, sweet lord,” Whimpering, she felt her juices sliding down her leg.

Hearing her whimper, Richie licked a trail down to her breast, his tongue seeking out her nipple. Swirling the tip in his mouth he sucked on it until it was hard enough to cut diamonds.

“Damn, that feels good.” Breathing heavily, Bel reached out for some kind of support to hold her up, but found nothing.

Richie felt her body quiver when he scraped his teeth over the hard nipple, swirling his tongue around the pebble before sucking the wet tip into his mouth. “You like that, darling?” Sucking harder he heard her gasp.

“Yes.” Her response a breathless whisper.

Moulding her body into his, she shoved her breast into his wet mouth.  Gripping the strands of his damp hair in her fingers, Bel cried out. “Fuck yes!”  

Switching his attention to her other breast he proceeded to give the same treatment that he gave the other one.  Once again, Richie elicited a gasp of pleasure from his wife.

The throbbing between her legs was becoming unbearable. The need to stop the ache consumed her. Cradling his face in her hands, she raised his head. Looking him in the eyes Bel could see the desire swirling inside them. “I want to feel you inside me. Now, baby.”

Reading the hunger in her eyes, he moved them from under the water to the tiled wall behind them in one fluid step. Crushing his body into hers, Richie felt his hard cock brush her thigh. Lifting her leg, he set her foot down on the bench next to them. “Don’t move.”

When his cock brushed up against her thigh the hardness she felt  just about did her in. God she wanted him. As his finger coasted along the inside of her inner thigh, she felt the tiny blisters on his fingers from playing. Every stroke of his fingers left goose bumps on her skin.

 Stopping just inches from where he knew his wife wanted him; he chuckled when he heard her growl in protest. Raising his head, he claimed her mouth in a mind -blowing kiss. The desire to taste every delectable spot of her mouth soared in his brain.

With their lips fused together, their tongues stroking, licking and caressing one another left no doubt as to how deep the depths of their desire for each other ran.

Bel was not sure if she was shaking from her back being against the cold tile, or from her husband's hands that were all over her. The only thing she was sure of is that she wanted more. The exquisite feeling of his short nails trailing across her oversensitive skin had her body on fire. “More.” She pleaded.

“You want more?” A lecherous smile played on his lips. “I’ll give you more.”

Peppering her upper body with opened mouth kisses, he eased his way down her slim figure, the heat from her skin stinging his tongue. Lowering his frame until he was kneeling in front of her, he placed his hands on the inside of her thighs, spreading her wide open for him to see her most intimate parts. The juices dripping from her swollen clit made him hungry.

Through glazed eyes, Bel stared down at her husband, watching as he leaned forward, flattening his tongue before burying his face between her legs. The first swipe of his tongue over her clit stole her breath. “Oh fuck!” Her legs began to shake uncontrollably as he increased his tempo. Planting her palms against the wall, Bel waited for what he would do next.

Keeping his tongue flat, he licked her slit as if he was eating an ice cream cone.

Holding her hips in a firm grasp with his hands to keep her moving, and curving his tongue, he slid in and out of her fucking her with his tongue.  Richie could feel the heat from inside her on his face as he shoved his tongue deep inside, curling the tip just a bit he swept it repeatedly over that magical spot that made his wife scream. Continuing his ministrations, he delved deeper. The tangy taste of his wife greeted his taste buds like an old friend

Rubbing the bridge of his nose against her swollen clit, Richie felt her fingers pulling on his hair. She was close.

With a strength she didn’t know she had, Isabel managed to stay standing up while her chest rose up and down as she struggled to breathe. Her entire body felt like it was on fire. His tongue sent shock waves to her entire nervous system. The tingling in her toes and the buzzing in her veins became more prominent as he continued to lick her. She was on the edge of exploding.  “Oh sweet fuck, don’t stop.”  Squeezing her eyes shut when her husband’s very talented tongue hit her G spot, she began to convulse. “Yes, right there! Oh god, yes!”  Slamming the back of her head against the wall, Isabel’s screams bounced off the bathroom walls, her orgasm slamming into her with such force it took her ability to think straight, let alone breath, away. “Baby, I’m, oh sweet lord, I’m cumminnng!”

Richie knew the moment she went over as her whole body tensed up. Wanting one more taste he swiped his tongue across her swollen bud. “Mm, you taste divine.”

While her body still shook from her intense orgasm, he stood up. Winding his arms around her waist, he bent his knees, and in one thrust buried himself deep inside her. Her walls still quivering from her explosive orgasm enveloped his steel shaft.

Tossing her head from side to side, Isabel let out a throaty moan when he slid inside her. Her body adjusted to his length immediately.  “Please fuck me!” She begged him.

Thrusting his hips back and forth, Richie pounded into his wife’s heat feeling her cervix grab him in a hold so tight he saw stars. “Jesus, honey you are so fucking tight.”

Winding her arms around his neck, she nipped his jaw. “Any idea on how to loosen me up, sexy?”

“I think I might have an idea or two.” Keeping one foot on the bench, he raised her other leg higher wrapping it around his hip.  The new position allowed him to go even deeper. “Does that work for you?”

“Fuck yes!” She exclaimed, keeping her hands around his neck as he pounded into her.

Each push of his hips sent him deeper and deeper inside her, but for Bel, it only sent her higher and higher. “More!”

“Anything you say, love.” Drilling his wife into the wall while trying to keep his balance was not an easy thing to do considering where they were, but somehow Richie managed to keep them on their feet.  The tightening in his balls let him know his orgasm was approaching at lightning speed. “Sweetheart?”

Bel knew what he was asking.  She was ready. Every time his cock hit her deep brought her closer to another mind- blowing orgasm. Lifting her hips, she met him thrust for thrust as their bodies moved in perfect harmony. The tingling started in her scalp and toes before meeting up at the very core of her.  The blinding heat spread over her like lava as she blew apart in her husband’s arms.

Seeing his Izzy fall apart went straight to his cock. “Oh, sweet, fuck!”   Hammering into her pussy at a frenzied pace, Richie felt her walls tighten around his cock. YES!

There was no greater feeling for Bel than the feeling of her husband filling her with his seed. "You okay, stud?" Her fingers teasing the tiny hairs at the nape of his neck, she kissed the top of his head.

Lifting his head from her shoulder, Richie kissed her on the lips. "I feel fantastic!"

Wrapping her arms around his waist, she held him close to her. "You are amazing."

Cupping her face in his hands, he stared into eyes that shined with love for him. "We are amazing. I definitely don't feel this good after jacking off, sweetheart."

Laughing at his honesty, Bel rested her forehead against his. "Good to know. Now what do you say I help you wash up so we can get some sleep. Lord knows our kids will be up with the sun."

Jon and Joanne

Chapter 20

As soon as the door closed behind him, Jon took Joanne into his arms. His blue eyes fixed on her light brown eyes for assurance. “Are you sure you are okay?” He could see she was still shaken up.

Resting her cheek against his shoulder, she breathed in his scent. Being in his arms again was all she needed right now. “I’m fine. Just hold me for a minute?” Tightening her grip around his waist, she pulled him closer to her. “I have missed you.”

“I missed you too, boo.” Winding his arms around her waist, he pulled her close to him.

They stood there in the middle of the foyer holding each other enjoying a moment of peace and quiet. It was rare they got anytime alone when all the kids were around, so for now they took advantage of the opportunity of no interruptions.

Jon had his face buried in Joanne’s hair when he heard footsteps approaching. “That didn’t last long.” He chuckled. With a kiss to the side of her head, they drew apart just as John Sr. came around the corner. “Hey, pop.” He greeted his father.

“Hello, Jon.” Turning his head, he spoke to his daughter in law. “I heard what happened downstairs. Are you okay, hon?”

Leaving her husband’s side, Joanne gave her father in law a hug. “I am fine.” She assured him. “How did you know what happened?”

Giving his daughter in law a kiss on the cheek, John answered her. “Bobby came storming in the place mumbling something about no one messes with my mom and gets away with it.  He looked like he was ready to go a few rounds with Mike Tyson.” Shrugging his shoulders, he continued. “I figured something happened for him to react that way. So I asked him what was wrong and he told me some guy hurt his mom.” Nudging his chin upwards, he stared at his first-born. “You take care of the son of a bitch?” It really was not a question. More like a confirmation.

“Yeah, but I am not done with him yet. Or his boss either.” Jon assured his dad.

Something in his tone made Joanne shiver. “Honey, can’t you just let it go now? As you can see I am fine.”

As much as he wanted to say yes, Jon knew he could not let that prick get away with hurting his wife. “No can do, boo.”

 

The sound of glass shattering made them jump.

“What the hell was that? “Jon inquired.

Running down the hall, Joanne was the first one that entered the kitchen. There were shattered pieces of broken glass all over the floor. Her eyes scanned the room, stopping only when she saw her eldest son leaning against the kitchen counter, blood dripping from his hand he had resting in the sink. “Bobby!”

Being careful where she stepped, she made her way over to her son. “What happened?” Gently she unclenched his hand to see what damage he might have done.

“I’m fine, mom.” His words were slurred.

The smell of alcohol on his breath surprised her. “Have you been drinking?”

“I said I was fine!” Yanking his hand away, Bobby turned his head away so his mom could not see the tears forming in his eyes.

Stepping into the kitchen Jon walked over to where his son was standing to see how bad he was hurt. “You watch the way you speak to your mother, son, or you and I are going to have words.”

Bobby knew from the tone of his dad’s voice he was in trouble. “Sorry, mom.”

“Thank you. Now would like to tell us why there is glass all over the floor? And why you are drinking?” She quizzed her son.

Twisting his head around to face his parents, Bobby gave a heavy sigh. “I got into a fight with Sharon tonight.”

Hearing that he had been arguing with Sharon again was not something new to Joanne. “What was it this time?”

“I thought you guys were going to take the summer to see different people?” It was no secret that Jon was not a fan of his son’s ex-girlfriend. Neither was Joanne.

While John Sr. cleaned up the glass, Jon led their son over to the kitchen table to sit down while Joanne went to get the first aid kit to clean his hand.  Once his hand had been cleaned, and bandaged, Bobby told them about the argument. Choosing to answer his dad’s question first, he explained that they had decided they did not want to see other people after all. That even though they were having some issues they wanted to stay together and try to work them out.  “I thought we had fixed those problems. Guess I was wrong.”

“What happened?” Joanne hated seeing her son hurting over a girl, but especially this one.

Sitting at the table with his parents, and grandfather, Bobby shook his head back and forth. “Jovi fans strike again.”

Of all the things his son could have said. That was not one of them. “What do you mean, Jovi fans strike again?” Jon asked.

Leaning back in the chair, his fingers playing with lace placemat, Bobby realized that what he said did not come out right. “Sorry, dad, I wasn’t knocking the fans. You know the video we made for all you and played tonight in front of the crowd?” Seeing his dad nod his head yes, he continued. “Well, someone recorded it then posted it on YouTube.” With a shrug of his shoulder, he finished. “Someone told Sharon about it so she went on YouTube and watched it.”

“So? What am I missing here?” Grandpa John asked.

The light went on for Jon. “Let me guess. Sharon saw you flirting with the girls in the front row and now she is pissed?”

Chuckling at his dad, he shook his head. “You could say that. She saw me holding that woman’s bra and pitched a fit.”

“Is she the reason why you were drinking earlier?” Joanne asked her son.

“She is part of the reason.” Lifting his head his blue eyes found his mom’s face. “You are the other part.”

“What?” She gasped. “What in the world have I done to make you drink?”

“No, no.” Once again, he said the wrong thing. “You haven’t done anything wrong, mom. It was not what you did. It is what happened to you tonight and the fact I couldn’t do anything to help you. I should have done something!”

Smiling at the protectiveness in his grandson‘s voice towards his mother, Grandpa John bent forward, placing his arm on the young man’s shoulder. “You helped your mom out by staying out of it and letting your dad deal with the problem.”

That was not good enough for Bobby. “What I should have done was beat that guy’s ass for touching her!”

“No!” Joanne shouted, slamming her hand down on the table. She tried not to wince as pain ran from her elbow down to her fingertips.  “The both of you listen to me.” Deciding to include her husband in, she fixed all three of them with a stern look. “There will be no more talk of what you could have, or should have done when that asshole touched me. It is finished so let’s move on. From this moment on I do not want to hear another word about it.”

All three Bongiovi men stared at the woman sitting across the table from them. It was rare she ever showed her temper but when she did. Well, they were smart enough to keep their mouths shut.

“Now what are you going to do about Sharon?” Reeling in her temper, she switched the conversation back to the girlfriend.

Recognizing that his mom wanted to change the topic, Bobby bit his tongue to keep himself from getting into further trouble with his mom. “At this point we are not speaking. When I tried to tell her what happened she yelled at me, called me a liar and a cheat and then hung up on me.”

Jon was listening to his son, but his eyes were watching his wife, who was massaging her arm. “You okay, honey?”

Turning her head, she gave her husband a loving smile. “I told you I was fine.”

Leaning forward he pointed to her arm. “Ever since we came up to the room you have been rubbing your elbow and wrist.” Lifting his hand, he tugged on a strand of her hair. “Did that asshole hurt you?”

As much as she wanted to deny it, the pain she was experiencing was too painful to ignore. Of course slamming her hand down on a solid wood table did not help either. “Yes.”

In a calm voice, Jon asked his dad to call down to the front desk and ask if there was a doctor available who could come and check out his wife. Bobby had gone into his parent’s bathroom to get his mom a couple of aspirin for the pain. Being careful not to move her arm to much Jon helped his wife over to the sofa. “Can I get you anything?”

“No. Just sit with me, please.”

Getting them situated on the couch Jon pulled her close to him while they waited for the doctor to arrive. “You know this thing with the guard isn’t over, right? He hurt you and for that he has to pay.”

Closing her eyes, Joanne tried not to think of what her husband meant, but deep down she knew. He was not going to let this incident go.

 

David and Tracy

Chapter 19

 

With one leg crossed over his knee, David leaned back against the couch, exhaustion slowly settling in his body. Keeping his blue eyes fixed on his wife, he watched as she slid behind the bar sitting in the corner of the living room.

Pulling two glasses down from the shelf in front of her, she set them down on the counter. Reaching under the bar, she pulled out a bottle of Whiskey. Holding the bottle up for her husband to see, she spoke. “Is this okay?”

“Whatever you are having is fine with me, honey.” Tipping his head back, he took in the changes to his wife’s figure. She looked good. “You look great, babe.”

Tossing a wink his way, Tracy nodded her head. “Thank you, sweetheart.” Popping a couple of ice cubes in each glass, she poured a double shot of golden liquid into each cup before adding a splash of coke. Not seeing a stir stick anywhere, she had to improvise. “Sorry, hon,” she said, and then using her index finger she mixed their drinks.  Slipping her finger inside her mouth, she moaned.  “Perfect.” Leaving the open bottle sitting on the counter she moved over to the couch to join her husband. Handing him a glass she sat down beside him.  Tucking her legs under her, she raised her glass, “Cheers.” Taking a large pull from her glass, Tracy felt the familiar burn of  the whiskey as it slid down her throat. When the warm burning feeling spread throughout her belly, she sighed.  It was exactly what she needed after a long day of traveling with four other wives, and too many kids to count.

“Tired, babe?” It was more of an observation instead of a question. He could see it in her eyes that she was tired.

“Yes.” Taking another sip from her glass, she closed her eyes. “Between getting the kids up and ready this morning, the flight, and dealing with the time difference, my body is all out of whack.”  Keeping her eyes shut, she leaned over to rest her head on David’s shoulder. After all the crap they went through downstairs tonight, she needed some comfort. “You would think after all the years we have traveled together our kids would know how to behave on a damn plane.” Tracy chuckled. “It is a damn good thing Joanne booked a private plane. If we had flown commercial we probably would have been thrown off the flight somewhere over the ocean.”

Using his free hand, David massaged the back of her neck. “Were they really that bad? Or were they just going along with whatever trouble their cousins were causing?” He already knew the answer to his question. From years of flying with the band he was well aware that when you got all the kids together in one room, let alone a confined space like an airplane, all hell was bound to break loose. Private plane or not, one thing the dads had never done, nor will they ever do, is travel with all of the kids on the same flight. Whether their wives were with them or not it just wasn’t going to happen. They were all too smart for that. However, he was not about to tell his wife that.

 Giving a tiny moan when his fingers hit an especially tender spot, Tracy shook her head. “Of course they followed in their cousin’s footsteps. But they also started shit too.” If there was one thing her husband was good at, it was giving great massages. “That feels so good. I love your hands.”

“”Feeling better?”

“Mm, hmm.” She murmured, lifting her head; she kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you.”

Leaning back against the cushion she studied the man sitting beside her. The lines on his face were deeper than when he first left for the tour. The dark circles around his eyes were more prominent now. It looked like he had even lost some weight too.  She could see that this tour was wearing him out.

Tucking her under his arm, he kissed her temple. “It’s good to see you, honey.”  The phone calls, emails, and text messages they exchanged were never enough for him when he was on gone.

Nestled in her husband’s arms, Tracy thought about the man she has been married to for the last nineteen years. She knew long before they ever married it was not going to be easy on their relationship with him being gone for weeks, sometimes months, at a time, whether it was to record a new album or promote it. She was even used to the late nights he would spend in his recording studio. Despite all that, she wasn’t prepared to raise their kids by herself. Unfortunately, that is exactly what she had been doing since Caleb was born. For quite some time now, Tracy knew her feelings towards her husband had changed. She no longer looked at him the same way she did just a few short years ago. Being alone for months on end had changed her, and the way she felt about her husband. The woman who had promised to love, honor, and always be faithful was long gone. In her place was a new, stronger independent woman. There was no doubt in her heart she still cared about him. A small part of her still loved him, probably always would until the day she died, but, it wasn’t the deep, soul burning can’t live without you love she once felt for him. She could remember back when he would come home from a tour. Whether it was a short break or just one night, she would be so excited to see him she would sit at the bottom of the stairs and wait for him to walk through the front door. When he did, she would attack him where he stood. There were many times they would end up making love right there in their foyer. She was sure on one of his trips home she conceived Tabitha on the floor of their foyer. Now, there was no bubbling excitement inside her anymore when he came home during a break from whatever tour he was on, or when the tour was over. When he was home, she would feel suffocated.   There were times she would feel resentment during his returns because then, the routine she built for her and the kids while he was gone, would fall apart.  Internally, she felt like her freedom to come and go was limited.  He never questioned her about where she was going when she left the house, but she could see it in his eyes that he wanted to ask but never did. Their sex life was satisfying but she longed for the days when they could not keep their hands off each other. Back when it was just the two of them lost in one another. When the passion was raw and the hunger for each other burned hot. Now it felt like they were always in a hurry. Almost rushed at times wondering when the kids were going to knock on the door or the phone was going to ring.  One thing Tracy could not deny was her husband was a great father and a great provider for the family, but she wanted more than his money. She wanted him. She wanted time alone with him and their kids, where they could be a normal family. There was never enough time carved out for them as a family. Or as a couple. Those days were rare now, due to him having to divide his time between the world tour he was currently on, and the Broadway show he was putting together for next year.

David could sense the distance between them as they sat on the couch. Try as he might, he could not figure out when or where the gap had developed.  Was it while they were recording the album “The Circle”? He wondered.  Perhaps it had started back when he was in the early stages of production for his latest Broadway show.  There had been many nights where he would come home late, tired and ready to fall into bed.  It was on those nights he barely had the energy to climb the stairs leading to their bed, let alone pay attention to his wife who was usually up waiting for him. On those nights, he would merely give her a quick peck on the cheek before slipping into bed careening into an exhausted, dreamless sleep. Now it seemed like every time he tried to talk to Tracy about something, anything at all, she would yell at him then storm out of the room. In the last two years he was home, David felt like he was the odd man out in his own home.  The kids were hardly ever home. They were either busy hanging out with their friends, or participating in some school activity. Tracy was always at one of the kids schools attending to some kind of function, which meant she was hardly home when he was.  In addition to being gone a lot she had begun to have some serious mood swings. Some of them really threw him for a loop.  Tracy had always been a laid-back kind of woman but now, her mood would change at the drop of a hat.  He was never sure what kind of mood he would find his wife in when he get out of bed. One minute she would be laughing and kidding around, flirting with him like she used to do back when they were dating. Those were the moments she reminded him of the girl he fell in love with and married. Then in the blink of an eye, her disposition would change. They could be having a casual conversation then all of a sudden; she would start bitching at him about leaving the toilet seat up.  Or that he left his wet towels lying on the bathroom floor again. A bathroom they shared but she seemed to be the only one who cleaned it.  If he left coffee cup in the sink, she would scream at him then call him lazy for not washing it out. Studying her moods was like watching an irregular metronome. When she was having a bad day, she would alternate from the silent treatment to clipped, one-word answers, to completely ignoring him.  If he tried to touch her, she would glare at him and then walk away.   

“Do you want another drink?” Hearing his wife’s voice brought him out of his thoughts. “No, I’m good.”

Taking another sip from her half empty glass, Tracy sighed. “It is nice to just sit and relax and not worry about what kind trouble our brood is creating.”

“Was it really as bad as you are saying it was?” David knew how rowdy their kids could get when it was just them, but throws their cousins into the mix. Well, it always added up to major trouble.

“The entire flight over the boys would not sit still. I swear they switched seats more times than I care to remember. Just when I thought they had finally settled down, one of them would get up and move to another part of the plane. We tried to watch a movie but the boys kept making farting noises, or  Michael and Eric would have a belching contest. Poor Isabel, she finally had enough of them running all over the place like a bunch of out of control monkeys. She threatened them and told them if they didn’t sit down and knock it off she was going to make them go shopping with her instead of going to the museum with their cousins.”  

David shuddered. “Shopping with Isabel? No thanks.” He had heard Richie say on many occasions that when it came to his wife shopping. You had better wear the most comfortable shoes you could find because she loved to shop. “Did they listen to her?”

Tracy shook her head, yes.

“That’s good. Did they give you any more trouble after that?”

“Nope, they stayed in their seats for the rest of the flight.” Leaning forward, Tracy set her empty glass down on the coffee table. Twisting sideways, she plucked the glass out of her husband hands.

“Hey, I was drinking that,” he protested, a playful pout on his lips.  

 Placing her knees on either side of his thighs, she straddled his lap. Sitting her butt down on the bulge growing beneath her, she grinded against him. “Still want that drink?”

“What drink?” The back of his head hit the couch with a loud thud. “Jesus, honey, what's gotten into you?” It had been a long time since his wife had been this forthcoming with him sexually.

Nipping the edge of his ear with her teeth, she whispered. “Nothing has gotten into me. Yet, but I am working on changing that right now.”

“Well let me help you out there, honey.”

Before long, their clothes lay littered around the room, as the couple was oblivious to everything but each other. Every touch, every whispered word of affection was said in an effort to help bridge the gap that was growing between them.