| Chapter Twenty Kat awoke the next morning to find Howie snuggled up to her back, his arm wrapped around her waist. Memories of the night before swept over her and heated her skin. She'd never been loved like that. Never so completely and she had never loved another the way she had Howie. Their first union had been fast and heated, both too restless to take their time. However, the subsequent loving had been slow and sweet. The need to hurry had been abandoned and they had taken their time, touching, caressing and pleasing each other in the most mind-blowing ways. Kat scooted closer to Howie and sighed contentedly. This is what she'd always dreamed about, this feeling of utter contentment. Only being here in his arms was so much better than what she'd imagined it would be like with Howie when she was younger. "What are you thinking about?" he asked as he kissed her bare shoulder. "Us." "What about us?" he asked as his tongue flicked out and ran over the place he'd just kissed. Kat shivered and arched back into him. "How wonderful this is," she replied breathlessly as he scooted down in the bed and trailed a line of kisses down her spine. Kat groaned at the sensations he was creating and wondered when her back had become so sensitive. He made his way back up and Kat turned in his arms to meet his lips with her own. Her tongue darted out and entered his mouth, stroking and dueling as they lay in each other's arms. The loud banging on the door broke them apart. "Someone's got great timing," Howie grumbled as he rolled away from Kat and pulled his boxers on, before leaving the bedroom and answering the door. "D, you're not even dressed!" AJ said, stating the obvious. "Ya think?" "We have to be out of here in fifteen minutes bro. You better hurry," AJ said as he smirked. "Don't worry I'll be ready," Howie promised before shutting the door behind him. He could hear AJ cackling all the way down the hall. "Kat, I have to leave in fifteen," he said as he stepped into the bedroom. "I know, I heard. I'm going to go clean up and pack my stuff. I'll be here when you get back," she said as she crossed to him and kissed him playfully. When she pulled away, she looked up at him and asked, "Are you sure you'll be ready in fifteen?" "Get outta here!" he said with a mock sternness. "Going, going," Kat called as she grabbed her shoes and left the room. Howie smiled softly at her playfulness and headed for the shower. He dried off and ran a brush through his hair. Knowing he didn’t have enough time to blow dry it straight, he pulled it back in a ponytail and proceeded to dress. By the time he was done, AJ was back and banging on the door. “Somebody got some good loving last night,” AJ teased as Howie stepped into the hallway. “Bone, I don’t ask about your intimate love life and I’m not about to tell you mine,” Howie said, slightly testy. After all, what he had shared with Kat wasn’t just sex, it had been two souls coming together, uniting, bonding and finding that place that so few people ever truly found. “So, in other words, you did get some!” Howie rolled his eyes at AJ’s last comment and pushed the down button on the elevator. “I’m right aren’t I?” AJ restated, as he nudged Howie in the ribs in a playful camaraderie that came from years of knowing each other. “Shut up Bone and get in the elevator,” Howie said as he gave his best friend a push forward. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Returning to the hotel hours later, after a photo shoot and two interviews, one with a radio station and another with a magazine, Howie found Kat packed and ready to go. “Anxious?” he teased when he noticed her bags sitting next to the door. “Yep. A six hour drive to the next city, spent in a tiny little bunk with you sounds like lots of fun!” she replied as she placed a sweet kiss on his lips. “Do you need help getting your things together?” she asked as she pulled away slightly and looked up into his eyes. “I’ve just got a few things left to put away, but you can come keep me company,” he offered as he bent to lift her bags. They walked down to the next room and Howie let them in and quickly set about putting the last few things into his own bags. “Okay, that does it. I’m ready to go,” he stated as he zipped the last bag. A few minutes later, they met the others in the hall and we’re led down to the employee elevator. They rode down to the lower level of the hotel, and led out to the bottom floor of the garage, where the buses were waiting. They climbed aboard, while their luggage was being stowed. Howie couldn’t help but think about what Kat had said about his “tiny little bunk” and he began pulling her towards the back, fully intending to spend the next six hours sequestered behind his curtain. “Hey, you two want to play cards?” AJ asked, an innocent expression on his face. Remembering the earlier teasing he had received from his friend, Howie sent an apologetic look towards Kat and turned around saying, “Sure, sounds like fun.” Kat smiled, understanding Howie better than she thought she ever would. From the looks on both AJ’s and Howie’s faces she knew there had been some good-natured teasing at some point during their morning. “Do you play?” AJ asked as he began shuffling the cards. “What’s the game?” Kat asked, making sure to keep her expression as neutral as possible. “Five card stud.” Kat nodded her head and AJ passed her the deck to cut the cards. Minutes into the first game, Kat knew her hand beat anything the guys could possibly have. “I’ll see your two matchsticks and I’ll raise you five,” she said as she paid the pot. AJ and Howie both stared at her, but her expression stayed the same. “I’ll see that and I’ll call,” Howie said, as he fanned out his hand in front of him. Three of a kind for Howie she thought as she waited for AJ to show his hand. “Two pair,” he said as he laid his cards on the table. Kat grinned triumphantly as she laid her cards down face up. “Ten, jack, queen, king and an ace of hearts. Read ‘em and weep boys,” she said as she pulled the pot towards her. AJ’s groan had her grinning. Poker, any type of poker, was her game. Her grandpa had taught her and she loved the game. Although she never played for high stakes, Lady Luck always smiled on her. She dealt out the next hand and once again she won the pot. AJ was shooting her dirty looks and Howie was trying to hide his grin. Three hours into the road trip, Kat had won over half the games, leaving AJ and Howie both with very few matchsticks. “That’s it for me guys, I’m going to take a nap,” she announced as she scooped her latest winnings into her pot. “That’s not fair. You have to give me a chance to win my matchsticks back,” AJ nearly shouted as Kat stood and made her way to the back of the bus, her laughter floating back to AJ’s outraged ears. He swung his gaze to Howie and began to speak, only to have Howie cut him off. “Sorry Bone, looks like you’re on your own,” Howie said as he too made his way toward his bunk. Kat had just crawled under the covers and pulled the curtain closed when Howie pulled it back and climbed in with her and sealing them in by closing the curtain. “Sleepy?” he asked as his arms curled around her waist and he pulled her to him, her back resting against his muscular chest. “After last night, you have to ask?” she answered with a playful question of her own. “Sweet dreams,” he whispered, just before they drifted off to dreamland. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Kat’s time with Howie on the road was coming to a close, and while it made them both sad, they both knew that they would be together in less than four weeks for a three-day weekend. They spent their last full day together locked away in his room curled up in bed. They spoke of their time together, the upcoming time apart and the plans they had for the three-day weekend that was less than a month away. They made love as the mood struck and teased and tickled each other when one became sad over their parting. Kat’s flight was due to leave at ten o’clock in the evening, planned that way so that Howie could accompany her to the airport to see her off. As she closed her last suitcase and handed it to Raul to carry downstairs, the rest of the guys came to say their good-byes. “It was really nice meeting you Kat,” Kevin said as he shook her hand before moving back to let Nick and Brian have their turns. Kat was nearly in tears when AJ stepped up to say his good-byes. “Ya know, you still owe me a rematch at Five Card Stud,” he joked. “What would be the point? You know and I know I’d just end up taking all your matchsticks away,” she returned. “Yeah! I know,” he said as he pulled her into his arms for a warm brotherly hug. “You take care of yourself, you hear?” Kat nodded her head, afraid that if she spoke she’d loose control of the emotions she was desperately trying to hold onto. “Kat, it’s time to go,” Howie announced as Raul came down the hall towards them. Kat nodded her head and took Howie’s outstretched hand as she followed him towards the elevator. “Don’t forget my rematch,” AJ called. Kat waved her hand to let him know she heard, but kept walking down the hall. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Seated on the plane, thirty minutes into her flight, Kat couldn’t help but think that saying good-bye to Howie hadn’t been any easier than it had been weeks ago in Florida. They stood off to the side of the gate, seeking as much privacy as they could get, both struggling against their tears, as they kissed the few final times. When the last boarding call was given, Howie had softly whispered, “I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.” Kat had nodded, unable to speak through the large lump in her throat. She’d managed to hold her tears at bay until she was seated and the plane took off. Then, without her permission, the tears silently coursed their way down her cheeks, leaving salty tracks behind. ‘I’ll be okay. We’ll be okay,” she thought to herself, before lying her head back against the seat and drifting off. Reunion Index Chapter Twenty-One Main Page |