Part 2  Cat and Mouse

As he looked up from the paper and focused on me, the moonlight danced in his eyes revealing a cocky grin.  I knew he assessed the situation correctly and I could feel myself get redder.  Then my mind went into overdrive, which is a very bad thing.  I say stupid and mean stuff when that happens.  This time was no exception.  

He said.  “I’m flattered.”  I noticed a touch of amusement in his voice as he ran his eyes over my body.

“I don’t know what for.”  I said not willing to accept the compliment if that was indeed what it was.  

  He just assumed the poem was about him.  It was but that was beside the point.  He didn't know me.  How dare he just assume that I had written something about him!  It could have been about anybody. I thought he was mocking my writing.  

He grabbed my hand and kissed it.  “What do you say we get out of this place and you show me how you are really feeling?”  He suggested as he completely leered at me.

I pulled my hand away and slapped him.   “You egotistical bastard.” 

My words and the slap amused him rather than offended him.  That just made me more indignant.  The nerve of him, I couldn't believe him.  Yet I was not going to let him have the satisfaction of knowing he was right.  

“That’s it baby.  Who told you I liked it rough.”  He challenged me not to put off in the least by my display of violence.

I grunted in frustration and tried to get away from him yet he blocked my escape.  

“I am going in now so move the fuck out of my way.” I hissed at him.

“Cursing out a complete stranger tsk, tsk.  I am JC by the way.  Obviously you knew that already or you wouldn’t be so wet.”

Now was the time to deny, deny, deny.  I went into politician mode.  The more defensive I got the more sexually suggestive his comments became. “I am not wet.”   

He came up to me holding me tightly about the waist and whispered hotly in my ear.   “Come on baby, I know you are lying.  I can just imagine that pussy of yours on fire.  It is clinching back and forth just aching for my cock to fill it.”

A well of needs broke inside of me.  I had to get away before what Heather predicted was true.  I did not want to be eaten alive by this man and that was where I was headed if I tempted fate more.  Chris was right I should have worn jeans or something.  It was all too much.  I scratched him hard behind the ear and pushed away.

“Damn kitten, you didn’t have to do that.  I was just playing.”    He even came up with a pet name for me.  

"Kitten?"    Baby, sweetie, or honey I could understand.  But why Kitten?  He told me to call him Josh.  I liked the sound of that, but egotistical bastard sounded much better.  

“Yeah you have claws like a rabid cat.”  He winked.  “Besides, Sexy or Mama would have probably gotten me a knee to the groin.  And since you haven’t told me your name yet I had to come up with something.  So, what is your real name?”  He asked playfully.

I smiled and bit my lip.  “I don’t think I am going to tell you.”

He put on a pouty face.  “Come on kitten, it hurts.  Kiss it and make it all better.  I know you would love it” He commanded gently.

I almost couldn’t control the laughter.  He had the gall to think I would love to kiss him.   

“I would just as soon kiss a Wookie.”  I spat at him, not believing how infuriating this man was.  And to think I had been dreaming about him for years.  I couldn’t believe he was such a lustful son of a bitch.  Was sex all that roamed that tiny little skull of his?

Without missing a beat in our tete a tete he snapped back.  “That can be arranged.”  He stalked to the sliding glass door and opened it wide.  He yelled, “Joey get your ass out here.  There is a girl on the deck that wants to fuck you.”

Whoa wait one fucking New York minute.  When did this turn from kissing to fucking. Or were they intricately linked in his mind.  I knew I didn’t want to find out, so I had to get away.  Shock and embarrassment had paralyzed me so much that the neurons in my brain were misfiring and my muscles failed me.

  Joey was so cute when he naively walked out onto the deck.  I realized that I had to prove my point.  Before logical thinking took over I bridged the gap between myself and Joey.  Then I laid one on him.  I had never kissed anyone before so I am sure I didn't put on as good a show as I wanted.  Joey was so stunned with my actions that he wasn't responding, so he was no help. But it was enough to show I was interested in anything other than Josh.  At that I stalked off.  I wasn't about to talk to either of them any longer.  

I went off to look for Chris to take me back to the hotel.  I couldn't find him anywhere.  Damn he must have met someone.  He was probably fucking her off in a dark corner somewhere.  Was sex all these men thought about?  I scanned the room for Justin but he and the blonde he was talking to had vanished.  Joey was leaving with some redhead and Lance hadn't been at the party at all.  Seeing that I was stuck I just decided I would have to get myself home.  I would be okay.  I kick box.  I ran out of the club to the street and started walking. I was bound to find the subway quickly.  

I maybe made it ten feet out of the door before I discovered that Josh was following me. Hadn't he made fun of me enough for one night?  I didn't want to be around him any longer.  I kept walking as I ignored his heavy foot falls behind me.  It was obvious by his breath that he had run to catch up with me.  He didn’t say anything until his breathing was under control then he grabbed me and pulled me around to face him.

“Where do you think you are going?”  He demanded.

I couldn’t fucking believe this.  I would be crying if it weren’t so damned comical.  He demanded to know where I was going like he owned me or something.  He was going to find out rather quickly that it didn’t work around here.  Why should he care?  It wasn’t like we're dating or had a relationship.  And since he was pretty much out of the loop all day I am sure he didn’t hear Chris’s prime directive to protect the baby at all costs.  He didn’t really deserve an answer.  Stupidly I answered him anyway, in an attempt to get him to just go away.

"Back to the hotel."  I responded trying to pull away from him.  “Now if you would get the fuck out of the way I can be on my way.  It is getting cold just arguing with you.”

“I could warm you up, kitten.  But you’re mistaken if you think I am going to let you walk back to the hotel at night.  That is just asking for trouble.”  He said.

“I can take care of myself.”  I asserted.

“Nope, that's too dangerous.  I will be accompanying you.”  He informed me as if there was no other option than what he stated.

He said it was too dangerous.  I walked home on the streets of the poor side of Pittsburgh before New York. That is nothing compared to what I have seen.  Hell I would be the one protecting his ass.  But I knew there was no convincing him.  Since he insisted on coming along I wasn't going to make it easy on him.  I didn't know if he was trying to be a gentleman or just trying to impress me.  Either way I know I wasn't acting very appreciative.  

It was cold outside and I was shivering.  My teeth were visibly chattering.  I really wasn't wearing anything warm that night.  I had on a dainty floral print dress.  It was capped sleeved and knee length and it had a low cut back.  I kept walking trying to ignore the hypothermia that I was going to fall into any moment.  At that moment I felt some leather wrapping itself around me.  It felt so warm and safe.  But soon I was out of the trance of its protection and realized what Josh had done.  I shrugged it off and threw it back to him.

“I don’t need it.  You just worry about yourself.  I will be fine.  We are almost to the subway.”  With my teeth clattering I knew this was a hopeless attempt to shun his chivalry.  But so what, if I was cold.  I didn't want to wear his jacket.  It seemed to me that he was laying a claim to me with it.  And at this point no matter how attracted I was to him I didn't want him to know it.   He just chuckled and put it back on me.

“If you take that jacket off again I will just have to think of another to warm you up and I am pretty creative.”  He whispered into my ear and put his arm around me to make his point clear.  

I pushed him away but kept the jacket on.  I was tempted to find out whether or not he would go through with the threat but I really didn't want him touching me yet so I obeyed him for the first time.  

When I submitted he sweetly smiled at me but said nothing.  We walked the rest of the way to the subway in silence.  I raced him to the terminal wanting to get there before he did.  Unfortunately he beat me.  To rub my defeat in, he winked at me.    I didn't want to owe him anything so I informed him, “I’m paying for my tokens.”

“No.”  He said simply.

“You might be a pop star and can afford the world, but that doesn’t mean I can’t afford these tokens.  Let me pay for it.”  I huffed.

“Sugar, my women never pay.”  He asserted in a saccharine sweet voice.

His act wasn’t going to work on me and I was going to call him out on it.  “I am not one of your groupie sluts.”

“Did I say you were?”  He asked as if he had taken offense to what I said.

“No but you were inferring.”  I said, trying to keep up the argument.

He chuckled as if my previous insult meant nothing to him, and then cautioned me.  “Kitten, don’t read too much into things.”

“You’re a damn infuriating egotistical bastard.  Do you know that?”  I asked, getting more worked up by the minute.

“So I have been told by you before.”  He responded without missing a beat.

“Just let me pay Josh.”  I whined, trying to get us back to the point we had started with.

“I would but….” He smirked all proud of himself

“But what?”  I asked a little too loudly, thoroughly frustrated with him.

“It is kind of already done.”  He said almost apologetically.

“When?” I asked, totally confused.

“Three minutes ago.”  He stated simply.

“You had no right.”  I complained like a child.

He sighed and explained, “Look I’m cold and tired.  I would rather not argue about this any longer.  So accept it so you can get away from me all the sooner.  I know that is what you want.”

“You have no clue what I want.”  I retorted just to be difficult.

“So now are you saying that you want me?”  He gloated.

“Now who is inferring too much?” I asked, trying for once to get the better of him.

“Just flip the turnstile and get on the fucking train Kitten or I swear to God I will pick you up and carry you on there myself.”  Josh warned.

I knew he would do it too.  So I did as he said, trying to get as far away from him on the train as possible.  However he foiled that plan and grabbed my hand dragging me to a seat.  I couldn’t believe he chose my seat, the nerve of him, of all the high handed things to do.  I wanted to move just to spite him but there was nothing else available so I sat down pouting.  He just grinned at me.  I tried to get comfortable in the seat, but suddenly I felt his arm around me and I pushed it off.  He returned it back to the position.  This continued until he placed his arm around me for the last time.  His hand had wandered to my breast and I back-handed him as hard as I could in the stomach.  I didn't like his arm around me because it looked as if he was laying claim to me.  He certainly did not have permission to touch my breast.  After he caught his breath he grabbed both of my hands in one of his and wrapped his other arm around me.

  I squirmed in his arms trying to get free.  “Let me go, you bastard.”

“No, not until I know you are going to be a good little girl.”  He calmly commanded.

I agreed reluctantly, “Fine but if I feel your hands on my breasts again, I will kick your ass.”

That made him laugh heartily.  “I’m looking forward to it” He released my hands, but kept his arm around me.  

The rest of the ride was in silence. I tapped my foot. I felt confined just like I was in every other part of my life.  The urge to kick him hard in the crotch and run was strong. However I had a sinking feeling that would just excite him more rather than put him off.  I figured once I got back to my room I could lock him safely out of my room and be free of him forever.  I would have to reassess what a celebrity crush was supposed to be.

We got off at our spot and he led me around the back way into the hotel.  He did it in a roundabout way.  Zig zagging through the parking lot to sneak around back.  Which was fine till we ran into a 10 foot fence. We were lucky it wasn’t too high and didn’t have barb wires at the top.  I knew from experience such fences were to discourage dumpster diving.  At least that wasn’t something I had to worry about on that night.  I was well fed.  

“You think you can climb it?”  He asked, as if this was my first rodeo.

I nodded.  Inside I was thinking better than you asshole, but I wasn’t going to be rude just because he was being condescending.  

“Alright,  I will go over first and catch you on the way down.”  He said trying to be gallant.  This time I fully intended to call him on the rake he was.

“You want me to tell you what color my panties are or leave that as a surprise?”

“You wore panties when you knew you were going to meet me?”

“Had to have something to throw on stage, didn't I?”

He had hopped over, almost turning his ankle.  I forced myself not to laugh at his showmanship.

“Are you turning shy now?”

“No.”  I scaled the fence and turned so I could climb down the other side so I didn’t have far to jump.  When I was about to let go for my jump, a piece of the metal grabbed my dress, ripping it, allowing him to see that I chose pink for the night.

“When I take you to see the Dodgers, I will buy you cotton candy and we will remember this night fondly.” 

I growled, “And he’s back.”

He looked at me confused,  “Whose back?”

“The egotistical bastard.”

“Did he ever really leave?”  

“I guess not.

“Come on.  I am getting cold.”  He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me along to the service door.

“Why didn’t we just go in through the front door, Josh?”  I complained.

“I really don’t feel like sharing you or signing autographs right now.” He said a bit cryptically.  As he did it, he pulled me into his arms, pushing my face into his chest.  It was too close.  

Once inside the kitchen of the hotel he let me go.

“What the fuck was that?”  I demanded.

“As I said, I didn't feel like sharing you with others.  Some bastard thought he could take your picture with me.  Now his camera is just a waste of film because I blurred your identity.”   He explained almost callously.

“What if I wanted to be photographed with you?”  I asked a bit curiously.

“You would have caused a scene rather than chew me out here.”  He pointed out a bit too smugly.

“I am tired.  I am going to bed.”  I announced.

“I will warm it up for you.”  He said as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“I am sure you would just love that but I will pass.”  I said, giving him the evil eye.

“You sure baby.  You don’t know what you will be missing.”  He said and winked at me.

“I think I will live.”  I rolled my eyes.

“Well, damn my powers of prediction are getting hazy.  I will walk you up.”  He offered in his commanding tone.

“Predictions of what, Josh?”  I questioned, knowing it was a mistake before it had come out of my mouth.

“Oh just whether or not I would get laid.  Guess I am going to have to sneak out and find a more willing victim tonight.”  He conceded. Thank God for some small victories.

I couldn’t leave well enough alone so I challenged him further, “I’m surprised you are not going to force yourself on me.”

“I wouldn’t rape you kitten.  Seduce you maybe but not rape.  For what I want, I need someone very willing.  As much as I would savor you struggling under me, I think I would enjoy it more if you shared my passion.”  He described it as one of his favorite songs.

“So, you are attracted to me?”  I asked, knowing I had him at that point.

“There you go reading too much into things again.”  He said softly.

I shoved him trying to get past.  This had been entirely too much for one night.  Before I could make it to the elevator he grabbed my wrist.  It was a firm grip.  I wouldn’t wouldn’t be released until he desired.  

“Let go of me.”  I protested.

He winked,  “No, not just yet.  What’s your room number?” 

“Like I am going to tell you that.”

“If you want to get rid of me tonight I suggest you do.  Otherwise I could just take you to my room and have my way with you.  Choice is yours.” He explained as if he had all the time in the world for me to make my decision.

In exasperation I sighed, “It's 534.”

“Good now find your key in your purse and give it to me.”  He said as he punched in 5 and stood much closer to me than necessary.   I didn’t make a move to follow through with his little request.  I might have been a mouse caught in his trap, but I wasn’t giving up so easily.   “I am waiting.” He reminded me, strumming to a beat in his head against the door of the elevator.

“Why?”  I looked at him in complete befuddlement.

“Safety my dear,  just like my women do not pay, they also don’t open doors.” He reassured me with a tilted halo.  It must have been something his Daddy taught him, but part of me didn’t trust he would use his manners to his own benefit if given the opportunity.

“Egotistical Bastard,” I cursed under her breath and handed him the plastic key card.  He was silent as he walked me the rest of the way to my room.  

When he released me from the hug, the door was opened for me and my card slipped back into my purse.  A blush of shame tinged my face as I realized the sight my room must have been left in.   

“Well kitten thank you,  it has been interesting.”  He gently pushed me a few paces into the room.  For a second I thought he was going to follow, “If you want my room to be 654, I will let Lonnie know to expect you.  Otherwise have a nice life.”

He was gone before I could return the jacket.  I screamed in frustration once the door was safely closed.  I had met JC Chasez and he had his arm around me and walked me home and now I have one of his favorite jackets in my possession.  The night was too good and too frustrating.  I sat for a while thinking about him.  How could I be so stupid.  I could be fucking the man if I wanted right now.  He was clear on his intent.  But something inside me didn’t want that.  I didn’t want to be just another whore to him.  Based on his animalistic behavior I didn’t want anything to do with him.