Chapter Five

 

John woke her twice more during the night.

He seemed unable to keep his hands off her silky skin--even asleep, he knew he was wrapped around her like a blanket. She fit the nooks and crannies of his body, felt right in his arms and when he touched her, she'd stir a little and turn to him, unconsciously seeking his warmth.

The first time he wakened, she was curled beside him, one thigh resting on his legs. Her fragrance seeped into his nostrils and he was between her thighs before he realized it. He roused her with slow lazy strokes of his tongue, learning her body anew, delving into her warmth and bringing a cry of completion to her lips as she lay restlessly beneath him, hips thrusting to meet his mouth.

He slept with the taste of her dancing across his tongue and woke again several hours later, still sensing the spicy tang of her sex. It was enough to harden him to a full and rigid erection, and although he did pause to wonder if she could take him again, he was driven by a greater need and sheathing himself before he could find the words to ask.

His movements had roused Valli and when he moved over her, she was ready, eager to accept him, lifting her legs to wrap them around his waist. There was nothing gentle this time, the desperate urge overpowered them both, driving them hard and fast into a frenzied mating of flesh that left them both sweating and exhausted.

John had no idea if this was how he liked to make love. To claim a woman over and over again and never really be satisfied with her. To want everything from her only to find it wasn't enough.

All he knew was that this night, this time in bed with Valli, was turning him inside out with desire. That if he could have waved a magic wand and extended these hours into eternity, he would have done so without a second thought.

As they curled back into each other in the early hours, Valli sighed deeply. "You are amazing."

"So are you." He rubbed her head with his chin, then lifted her hand to his lips, dropping a kiss on the knuckles. "So are you."

Neither were surprised to see bright sunshine when they stirred, two weary heads on the same pillow, two tousled and sated lovers blinking blearily at the morning light.

For a moment, they stayed still, just sharing the pleasure of waking after a night that had surpassed their expectations. Then Valli spoke.

"John. Wow." She ran her fingers over his arm. "Wow."

"That's good, yes?"

He felt her lips curve into a smile. "Hell yes. That's--magnificent."

In spite of himself, John grinned at the ceiling. Apparently his amnesia hadn't ripped away his ability to bring a lover pleasure. Although in all fairness, Valli had been largely responsible for what had happened between them. He didn't know for sure, but he sensed that she'd brought out whatever passionate skills he possessed.

"John?" She had shifted her head and was watching him. "I have an idea."

"Oh?" John stretched a little, letting his toes run over her foot.

"I have a couple of websites and some pages on the Internet. They're set up so my fans can keep track of concerts, new songs, whatever."

"Okay." He nodded.

"How would you feel if I put your photo up there? Along with a request for information? Something like 'do you know this man?' And a number underneath it. It can go to my music company's office maybe. I'll have Charlie handle it."

John pursed his lips and thought about it. "You know that the administrators here have circulated a photo of me through all the usual channels."

"I know. You told me."

"And that there wasn't one missing persons report out there, Valli."

"You told me that too."

"So--is there anything to gain from it, other than making work for your staff?"

Valli laughed. "John, the Internet isn't what you'd call usual channels, you know."

John had been given chance to get online. He'd sat down in front of a very pretty laptop. He'd stared at it, clicked a few keys, tried to dig up something familiar and failed dismally. He was aware of what the Internet was, but damned if he could make any kind of personal connection--either with it or to it.

He shrugged. "I suppose not. I'll take your word for it, since I haven't figured the whole thing out yet. Something inside me is saying I don't like having my picture taken, and if it was anyone else but you--aww shit. If you think it stands a chance, then why not?"

"Great." Valli sat up and leaned over to the bedside table, picking up her cell phone. "Just gimme a smile, handsome."

John blinked as Valli pointed her cell phone in his direction, squinted at the screen, pushed a button or two and then took his picture.

"Lemme see..." He lifted up on one elbow as she flopped back down beside him, grinning at the phone.

"Mmm. Here." She held it toward him. "You look delectable, John. Good enough to eat. I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of women saying yes I know him, when what they mean is yes, I'd like to know him."

John stared at the image. He was lying in sunlight, one hand behind his head, and a smile on his face that to his mind screamed sexually satisfied male. He winced. "Do you want to try another one?"

Valli shook her head, her thumbs moving rapidly over the keys. "Nope. This is the one. I'm just sending it to Charlie now..." Her voice trailed off as she focused on her task.

John turned and looked at the clock. His brain was beginning to function again and although his body yearned to linger, he knew he'd have to leave for his own room soon. This morning was his regular session with Dr. Felix. And Dr. Lin would probably want an update too.

He sighed. "Valli, I hate to say this--you have no idea how much I hate to say this--but--"

"You have to go." She finished his sentence for him, her mouth downcast as she put her phone aside. "I know. I understand."

Her arms made a liar out of her. She clung to him for a moment, all warmth and womanly softness. "I wish you didn't have to go. I wish you could spend all day here with me. But I know you can't. I'm glad we had--did...this."

She kissed him, a lightning fast touch of her lips to his, then pulled away, slithering off the bed. "I need a shower. I can't watch you walk out of here without getting all silly and trying to stop you, so I'm going to go take it now, okay?"

John wasn't sure if there were tears in her eyes or not. He simply nodded. "I'll be back tonight, you know. Count on it."

Her vivid smile flashed at him. "I sure hope so."

John watched her white bottom as she went into the bathroom, sighing as the door closed and killed the gorgeous view. She was a one-of-a-kind woman. He knew that without question. As he dressed, he tried to extract one tiny memory from his brain, one little thought about any women he might have known before.

There was nothing.

But the space wasn't empty any more. It was filled with Valli.

----

 

 

The hot water felt wonderful beating down on Valli's body, easing muscles that were noticeably sore and soothing other places as well. She smiled as she soaped herself, loving the tingle of the tender flesh between her thighs. She was a well-used woman this morning and damned happy to be that way.

What lay ahead? Only time would tell. But she knew one thing--John had changed her in some mysterious way. He'd shown her what sort of emotions she was capable of when in bed with the right man. Up until this morning, she hadn't realized that her casually disinterested attitude to sex wasn't really a problem at all. It was the men she'd dated. They hadn't been the right one.

She washed her hair, took care of all the routine stuff and turned off the water absently, her thoughts on John and their night together. Steam had coated the mirror over the sink and she swiped a facecloth over it before reaching for her toothbrush.

Needless to say, it was an enormous surprise to find a woman's reflection smiling at her in the glass.

"You!" Valli recognized the face. And the wild tie-dyed dress.

She spun around, heart thudding as her gaze met an empty bathroom. Slowly she turned back, knowing--yet nervous of--what she might see. The reflection was still there. And Valli wasn't running a fever. "You're not real. You weren't real then and you're not real now."

Janis's smile widened. "Reality is way overrated. It's a dream to some. Fact to others. Depends on what you're smokin'."

"And you talk in frickin' riddles." Valli closed her eyes. "I really hate that." She opened them again. Of course it didn't work to banish the apparition, but it was worth a shot.

"Hey just wanted to give you a little cheer, kid. You found the man. Shared the music." Her amused gaze wandered over Valli's naked body. "And a few other things, I'd guess. Was he any good?"

Valli lifted her chin and did her best to ignore the color creeping into her cheeks. "That's none of your business."

"Yeah yeah, okay. I always was a buttinski. I'm here only to pass the word you're done." She stepped closer and Valli felt the brush of air on her arm as the woman raised her hand and touched Valli's shoulder. Or looked like she was touching Valli's shoulder. There wasn't anything there, but her eyes said it was happening.

"Done? What do you mean done?"

"I guess you'd say that the key got put in the door last night." A husky giggle followed. "God, sounds filthy, doesn't it?" She blinked and continued, "Where it'll lead the two of you, I ain't got a clue so don't bother asking. But you've started to put things right. People will live who would otherwise have died if not for you. And your songs." She shifted a little, shimmering for a second or two. "I wasn't shitting you about your songs, kid. I really like 'em. I'd maybe have made an offer on a couple of 'em if you'd been around in my time."

"Er--thanks." Valli wasn't sure what to say to that. "Can I do anything for you?" It wasn't what Valli intended to ask at all. But something in Janis's eyes told her there would be no simple answers to the questions trembling on Valli's lips.

"Nah, but you're a doll to ask. I'm good these days. Miss a few things but found some new ones. It all balances out."

"Oh. I see," said Valli, who didn't.

"Someday you'll get it, honey..."

The apparition began to fade.

"Wait--" Valli reached out and touched nothing. "Tell me. About John--it has to be him you're talking about--please--"

Becoming less substantial by the second, Janis's image shook her head. "I can't kid. Trust your heart. Trust in love. We sing about doing that, so just do it, okay? There's gonna be some hurtin', but perhaps in time there'll be joy too..."

She was gone.

Valli clung to the sink, gulping down breaths of air into starving lungs. She wasn't going crazy. Really, she wasn't. She was haunted by some kind of a rock and roll ghost with a thing for bathrooms.

It was too freaky for words--and yet Valli felt no fear or the cold chill of a spiritual visitation. Her inner senses weren't picking up anything like a threat, in fact it was totally the opposite. She felt great--calm and refreshed.

What had she done other than sing a few songs and go to bed with the most wonderful man she'd ever met? If that was all it took to be important to the cosmos, then Valli would be happy to contribute every day. Great sex, great music--where was the downside?

She dressed in a contemplative mood, risking quick glances now and again at the mirror, just in case--

But there were no more mystical apparitions. Apparently Valli had done what she had been summoned to do. Which was, she supposed, to be classed under the good thing category.

With mixed emotions, she went back into the sunny living room and looked at her guitar. The music flooded over her, as warm a sensation as the shower water or the sunlight. It was now. It was time.

The song was bubbling to the surface, complete, harmonized and echoing around her brain.

Without a second thought for anything but the melody and the lyrics, Valli sat down, picked up her instrument and did what her soul loved best--wrote music.

After several hours she had four songs written and more were lining up somewhere between her ears. She forced herself to stop, uncramp her muscles and dig up something to eat.

Carol had peeked in once, but simply smiled and nodded, leaving again when she saw Valli at work with papers strewn over the floor in front of the couch. There were some snacks lying around which Valli greedily devoured, anxious to return to her haven where notes blended and chords melded into sounds that she knew would please and delight her many fans.

As if a geyser had been uncorked, she labored throughout most of the day, only stopping to take care of her basic needs. Even Beethoven must have stopped to use the chamber pot now and again.

Finally, as the afternoon drew to a close, she sighed and flexed her shoulders, tired but extremely pleased with what she'd accomplished. It was quiet, peaceful, and for a moment or two, Valli simply let everything slide away from her. Then reality intruded and she picked up her cell phone, realizing it had been off since this morning.

There were several text messages waiting for her and one voicemail from Charlie.

"Put the photo up, babe, like you asked. And my God, the response has been pretty damn impressive." There was a pause for a second or two. "I'm just checking here--in the last three hours we've had over two hundred folks phone in. We routed the calls through to a local hotline for missing persons. Dunno if they're thrilled with that much activity, but they got free promo, so they aren't complaining. Yet."

His low chuckle made Valli smile, even as her pulse speeded up. John's photo was now online. Would anyone know him? "Anyway, gimme a call when you get this. Marla and I are starting to get fidgety. We're wined out. Time to get back to work, maybe?"

The message ended and Valli found herself laughing. Wined out, huh? More like they'd had enough sex and needed something else to do now.

Of course, she couldn't ever imagine getting enough of sex with John, but maybe after twenty years or so, they might--

Christ. What was she thinking? Don't go there yet. Don't even think about a future with this man right now.

Pushing all those thoughts to one side, Valli hit the speed dial for Charlie.

"Hey, dude. Got any recommendations for a cheerful, yet delicate white that goes well with fish?"

Charlie groaned on the other end. "Enough already. How ya doin', sweetheart?"

"I'm doing great. Better than great. I wrote a whole bunch of songs today, Charlie. They just flew out of my head. I think they're good too. Need some work, some tidying up, but I reckon I may just have the backbone of a new CD here."

"Whooeeee!" Charlie whooped loud enough to make Valli wince. "When? When can I hear 'em?"

"Soon." Valli meant that. It would be soon. She was eager now to sing again, to perform, to cut those tracks and get her career off and running once more.

And on the heels of that thought came another one.

She'd be leaving John behind.