On her birthday, she woke up to a shower of rose petals as AJ sang for her. She pulled him down into the bed with her, rolling them until she was straddling his waist. Kissing him deeply, she welcomed the feel of his growing erection against her ass. She lifted up as she grinned at him, watching as he slid his fingers into her to open her up. Sinking down onto his cock, Meredith groaned softly. AJ’s hands drifted her hips as she slowly rocked. It was slow and easy, a perfect way to wake up on a birthday to Meredith’s way of thinking. He rose to a sitting position, leaning forward to lick the breasts he cupped in his hands, nibbling on the hard nipples as she rode him. When she came, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. When he came, he bit down gently on her shoulder as he held her to him.
“I think this should be a rule in our relationship—sex first thing in the morning on our birthdays.” Meredith rubbed her hands down AJ’s back as she sat in his lap.
“I’m down with that.” He kissed her again.
The knock that interrupted them was followed by Nick yelling “Happy Birthday”.
“Hurry up, guys! We don’t have all day.” He beat on the door again.
“We’re coming. Get the hell away from our room.” AJ leaned over and picked up a shoe to throw at the door.
Laughing, they untangled themselves from the sheets and each other, pulling on some clothes so they could go out and have breakfast. Walking into the room, swinging AJ’s hand, Meredith stopped abruptly as she looked at the people in the room.
Arianna made a beeline for Meredith, wrapping her arms around the woman’s waist. Bending down, she hugged the girl tightly before she stood up.
“You’ve grown up so much!”
Tony toddled over to her, his arms outstretched as he waited to be picked up. Meredith hugged him close, blowing raspberries on his cheeks. She moved further into the room and hugged Tony and Theresa. She saw her parents sitting a table near the balcony, and she walked over to hug them.
“Happy birthday, darling.” Cecilia hugged her oldest daughter then took the baby so Michael could hug Meredith.
Meredith turned and looked at the guys, smiling brightly despite the sheen of tears in her eyes. Moving to each one, she hugged them close. When she reached AJ, she pressed her hands to his face and kissed him gently.
“Thank you all, so very much.”
“Wait, wait. We’ve got presents.” Nick pushed her onto the sofa and piled the presents in front of her.
Meredith chuckled. “Calm down, Munchkin.”
Picking up the first box, she shook it lightly before opening the card. When she opened the box, there was a Gameboy and several games, one of which was the latest Tetris. She grinned at Nick.
“I’m guessing this means you want a match.”
He nodded. “Bring it on.”
She was about to set the box aside when he shook his head. “There should be something else in there.”
Meredith moved everything and finally saw the key chain. Holding it up, she smiled and sniffed at the “#1 Mom” that dangled from her fingers. She pulled him close and hugged him. “Thank you, Munchkin.”
Nick kissed her cheek and sat back. “That’s from me and BJ. Here’s her present.”
She opened the box to find a framed picture of herself and BJ, the wooden frame decorated with the word “love” in several different languages. Smiling, she brushed her fingers across the frame.
Brian’s gift was next, and he leaned forward to watch as she pulled the CDs from the bag. “Thank you, Brian. I didn’t have these yet.”
He nodded. “I went through your collection to make sure.”
She pulled out the dream catcher, admiring the work. He grinned.
“Serenity said to make sure you hang it up wherever you’re sleeping.”
He was rewarded with a big hug from Meredith before she moved on to the next gift. Opening the envelope, she smiled as she read the contents. Howie was pulled close for a hug before she handed the sheet of paper to AJ.
He looked at his friend and smiled. “Thanks, man. We’ll enjoy it.”
“What?” Nick looked at the three of them.
Howie smiled. “I’m ordering a romantic dinner for them.”
“That’s cool.” Brian nodded in appreciation.
Kevin’s gift was next, and Meredith admired the leather organizer and Mont Blanc pen he had purchased. She hugged him close. “Thank you, Kevin. It’s beautiful, and I needed one.”
He smiled. “I figured you were getting to the point where you would have to hold yours together with a rubber band.”
She laughed and picked up the card from her parents. She opened it and smiled appreciatively at the check. Standing, she made her way over to her parents to hug them. Returning to her seat, she picked up Lumien’s gift and opened it, grinning widely. She pulled out the holster and showed everyone.
“Where does that go?” Nick tilted his head as he looked at it.
“It’s a thigh holster.” Meredith stroked the leather. “Thank you, Lu.”
The young woman grinned. “You said you needed one.”
“I always knew your thighs were dangerous.” AJ whispered in her ear, and Meredith blushed.
The others chuckled, imagining what he had said.
She opened the gift from the Alberti family, running her fingers over the exquisite perfume bottles. Each member of the family was hugged and kissed and thanked.
Irene was next, and she handed her sister an envelope. Meredith opened the card and widened her eyes. “This is so cool.”
“What is it?” AJ leaned forward.
“It’s a subscription to an online book club. You just download the books you want to read. Thanks, Reeny-beanie.” She hugged her sister tightly.
AJ smiled at her and handed her his card. Meredith stroked her fingers over the front, kissing him after she read it. When she opened the other envelope, she started laughing.
Kevin looked over at his friend, an eyebrow arching in question. She grinned and held up the booklet.
“It’s a coupon book for things like a hug or a kiss or a massage or a…” She stopped reading at one point. “Anyway, I get to collect things from this wonderful man sitting next to me.”
AJ just grinned and wrapped his arms around his girlfriend.
Meredith finally sat back on the sofa and looked around. “Thank you, everyone, for making this such an incredible birthday. You being with me is the best present I could have received.” She smiled at her family. “Now, let’s eat.”
The group stood up and headed downstairs to a private dining room for the brunch that had been arranged.
***Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys****Backstreet Boys***
The brief respite in the tour schedule to celebrate Meredith’s birthday served to rejuvenate the group. When they headed back out the road, fan comments on the Internet reflected the explosive performances.
***Backstreet Boys******Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys**
JULY
Meredith tied the bandanna around AJ’s eyes, and he grinned at her.
“I never knew you were into this, love.” He cackled as she smacked him on the ass.
“I suggest you remain quiet or I’ll leave you here and go celebrate on my own, mine.”
“Sorry, sorry.” He grinned, rendering his apology useless as he let her lead him out of the room.
He heard the ding of the elevator bell and followed her into the car. They were lifted upwards, and he tried to remember what was on the floors above theirs. The elevator stopped, and he felt a cool wind brush against his face as Meredith led him forward.
She smiled at Marcus as he moved out of the way, allowing the couple to move to the center of the roof. When they stopped, she removed the blindfold and watched as AJ’s eyes lit up as he looked around.
The arboretum on the hotel roof has been transformed as hundreds of white lights hung in the trees, making him feel as if he were standing amidst the stars. Turning, AJ pulled Meredith into his arms and kissed her.
“Thank you.”
She kissed him again softly as she brushed her hands up and down his back. “You’re welcome.”
They made their way over to blanket and sat down. Meredith opened the basket and started pulling out containers of fried chicken and biscuits and corn on the cob and all sorts of foods that could be eaten with their fingers. AJ poured glasses of tea into the crystal goblets as she arranged their food on the fine bone china. The ate slowly, fed each other bites of food as they laughed and smiled and whispered to each other.
When they finished, they reloaded the basket. AJ stretched out on blanket, pulling Meredith down so that she was pressed against him. He rubbed his hand slowly up and down her back as they stared up past the twinkling lights to the stars dancing above them.
“I wrote something for you instead of buying a gift.”
“I love listening to your poetry.” She pressed a kiss against his neck as she waited.
He took a breath and released it before speaking.
The first brush of your lips
Was like a secret treasure.
Dropped from heaven.
A surprise.
A joy.
A pleasure that I had never known.
And now the brush of your lips
Is like a secret treasure.
That makes me weep with longing.
Ache with love.
Embrace with a strength I have suddenly found.
And I am alive.
And I am free.
And I am yours.
She waited to speak, waiting for the tears in her throat to dissipate before she could say a word. “That was the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever heard.”
AJ pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. “Every word is meant for you.”
He could feel her smile against his skin, and he smiled in return.
“Want to see your present?”
He laughed. “Of course.”
Meredith sat up and pulled up the arm of her shirt. AJ stared at the tattoo encircling her bicep. Leaning forward to admire the intricate Celtic chain, he noticed that every couple of inches his initials had been inserted. The skin was still slightly red, and he leaned forward to kiss the ink.
“Thank you.”
She brushed her hand over his head, her fingers burying themselves in the dark curls. “You’re welcome.”
They gathered the remains of their picnic and headed back to their room. As he opened the door, AJ looked at Meredith.
“What’s for dessert?”
She just grinned as she pushed him inside.
***Backstreet Boys******Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys**
AUGUST
Days rolled on, and the tour continued—fans greeted, songs sung, interviews granted. The five men discovered that the biggest benefit of having people standing in their corner was the incredible energy they could give back to their fans. The love the men received was poured out to the fans, and the fans appreciated every moment of it.
***Backstreet Boys******Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys***Backstreet Boys**
Walking into the nondescript bar in the middle of America, they grabbed a table and ordered drinks. Brian spotted the karaoke machine and grinned, getting up to grab the song selection list. “I’ve got a game.”
“Uh oh.” Howie shook his head.
“Everyone looks through the book, finds a particular type of song and writes it down on a sheet of paper. We mix it up, everyone draws and has to sing. No boy band music.” He looked around the table.
The group agreed, and took turns flipping through the book and writing down their choices. Nick gave up his baseball hat to the cause, and Kevin mixed up the choices. Looking around, he cocked an eyebrow.
“Who’s the first vic…I mean performer?”
No one looked at him, and he chuckled. “Well then, I guess I get to choose. Seems like our fearless leader should have the honors.”
Kevin dangled the baseball cap in front of Meredith. “No one escapes the hat of karaoke.”
Rolling her eyes, she drew out a slip of paper and looked at it. Irene grabbed it and read it. “Country.”
With great reluctance, she picked out a song and gave the completed form to the DJ. Meredith ascended the stage and stared out at the audience. She heard the music begin and closed her eyes, letting the feelings the song evoked sweep through her.
I like the feel of your name on my lips
And I like the sound of your sweet gentle kiss
She opened her eyes to stare at AJ.
The way that your fingers run through my hair
And how your scent lingers even when you’re not there
He looked at the soft curls lying across her shoulders and swore he could feel them against his skin.
And I like the way your eyes dance when you laugh
And how you enjoy your two-hour bath
And how you convinced me to dance in the rain
With everyone watching like we were insane
They both remembered AJ dragging her outside during a rainstorm and jumping in puddles with her. The rest of them thought they were crazy for a moment, until they saw him sweep her into his arms for a heart-stopping kiss.
But I love the way you love
Strong and wild
Slow and easy
Heart and soul
So completely
I love the way you love me
Her fingers caressed the microphone as she let the emotions pour out in her voice.
I like to imitate ol’ Jerry Lee
And you roll your eyes when I’m slightly off key
She smiled at him, winking at him when he chuckled.
And I like the innocent way that you cry
At sappy old movies you’ve seen hundreds of times
She had caught him crying at Old Yeller, and he had been embarrassed until she confessed she cried at Hallmark commercials. They both laughed
But I love the way you love
Strong and wild
Slow and easy
Heart and soul
So completely
I love the way you love me
And I could list a million things
I love to like about you
But they all come down to one reason
I could never live without you
Without thinking, she reached out to him in the audience, and he brushed his fingers across his lips and blew a kiss towards her as she sang to him.
But I love the way you love
Strong and wild
Slow and easy
Heart and soul
So completely
I love the way you love me
Holding on to the mic stand, she pressed her palm to her heart.
Oh, baby
I love the way you love me
The music faded out, and clapping began. AJ looked at her, giving her a standing ovation, and she shook her head. Laughing, she stepped off the stage and walked back to the table.
“You were incredible, love.” He wrapped his arms around her.
“Thank you, mine.” She settled into his embrace and breathed him in. Leaning close, she whispered in his ear.
“I love the way you love me.”
He kissed her, letting her know he agreed completely.
Howie was next and pulled out his slip of paper. Nick read it out loud. “Rap.”
The older man looked around the bar and shook his head. Getting up, he flipped through the book and tried to find something that would work.
“What happens if I can’t find anything?” Howie turned back to the group.
Nick got up and joined him at the stand, flipping through the pages. “I think this is it, D.”
Swiping the baseball cap from Brian’s head, Howie flipped it around backwards and turned it around. Sighing, he handed the slip of paper to the DJ and moved to stand behind the mike. Rollin’ began to play, and Kevin snickered as Howie started the rap. Most of the bar patrons just looked at the man standing on the stage. AJ and Nick started moving their bodies in time to the music, raising the roof. The song finally came to an end, and the Backstreet table clapped and whistled. Howie slumped into a chair, covering his eyes with his hand and shaking his head.
Irene pulled out the next piece of paper, and Allyson read it. “Disco.”
Chuckling maniacally, she jumped up and dashed over to the book. Grinning, she filled out the little slip and handed it over. Climbing onto the stage, she took a breath and composed herself. Always the ham, she glammed up I Will Survive to the point that most everyone in the bar was rolling with laughter as they watched her. When she finished, she took a deep bow and waved to the audience. Dropping back into her chair, she kissed Kevin then took a big drink of her beer.
Brian pulled out his slip of paper, and Kevin read it. “Beach music.”
Chewing on his lip, he walked over to the book and flipped through it. After filling out the little slip, he reached over and grabbed AJ’s sunglasses on the way to the stage. He sang Fun, Fun, Fun, and the audience clapped along. When he finished, he tossed the shades back to AJ and sat back down next to Serenity.
Lumien reached into the hat as if it contained snakes and reluctantly pulled out a slip of paper. Meredith read it and turned amused eyes towards her friend. “Hawaiian.”
The young woman rolled her eyes and just shook her head. Walking as if she were heading for her execution, she handed the completed slip of paper to the DJ and climbed up on stage. She lowered the microphone to fit her and waited for the music. Tiny Bubbles started, and she followed the words on the screen, hoping the song would hurry and finish. The crowd clapped politely, almost as glad as she was that it was over. Howie wrapped his arms around her, kissing her gently after she returned to her seat.
“You did great.”
“I stunk.”
“But you got up and did it. I love you.”
Sighing happily, she returned his kiss. “Me, too. Besides, I don’t think you love me for my singing ability.”
Chuckling, he whispered into her ear. “You’re a fantastic hummer, though.”
Lumien blushed three different shades of pink.
Nick pulled out his slip, and AJ read it. “Southern Gospel.”
The young man almost spit out his beer. “What?”
The other man flipped the paper around to show him what it said.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” He rose and walked over to the book.
He turned back to the table. “Help?”
Brian walked over and flipped several pages until he found a song. Filling out the paper, Nick tried to remember if he ever heard the song while he had been at Brian’s house. Sighing, he handed over the slip and stood behind the microphone, raising the stand from the low height it had been left at by Lumien.
He stumbled his way through In the Garden, and several of the people at the Backstreet table bit their lips to keep from laughing out loud. Finishing, he received a little more applause because it was obviously a favorite and he had not massacred it. Sitting down, he wiped his face and shook his body as if to rid it of the unfamiliar music.
Serenity reached into the hat and pulled out a slip of paper. Lumien looked at it. “Big Band.”
“Hmm.” Serenity got up and flipped through the book, finding a song that her grandmother used to sing.
When she got up on stage, she pulled the microphone off the stand, took a deep breath, and remembered the old woman singing to her as a child. Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree flowed from her lips, and it brought back good memories for her. The crowd applauded enthusiastically, and she curtsied before walking off the stage. Sitting down next to Brian, she leaned close to him and smiled.
Kevin pulled his paper out, and Brian read it. “Blues.”
Kevin rose from his chair and strolled over to the book. Finding a song, he filled out his request and stepped onto the stage. What a Wonderful World drifted across the room in his rich voice. Irene swayed in her chair, her eyes closed, as she listened to him. When he finished, she stood up and clapped wildly as he returned to the table. Sweeping her into his arms, he dipped her and kissed her, much to the amusement of the other patrons. That earned him almost as much applause as the song did.
Allyson pulled out one of the remaining two slips of paper, and Serenity read it. “Country.”
“Seems to be a popular choice.” She chuckled as she stood and headed for the songbook. When she got up on stage, she took a minute to adjust the microphone stand. As the music started, she closed her eyes for a moment. When she began to sing, she opened them and looked directly at Nick, never taking her gaze off him as she crooned Love, Me.
The country songs were a crowd favorite, and she accepted the applause as she sat down next to Nick. He leaned over and whispered against her ear. “But I’m not gonna let you down; darlin’, wait and see.”
She turned and kissed him, cupping his cheek with her hand. “And between now and then; till I see you again; I’ll be loving you; love, me.”
The hat continued around, and AJ pulled out the final slip of paper. He rolled his eyes, and Howie grabbed the slip to read it.
“Country.”
He walked over to the big karaoke book and flipped through it. Almost ready to give up, he found the perfect song. Handing the little sheet to the DJ, he got up on stage. Most of the patrons expected some alternative music to come blasting out of the stereo, so the soft piano tones surprised them.
Nick expected his friend to sing the song he had sung when Meredith had been hurt. When the music started, he didn’t recognize it, but AJ looked rather confident, so he just sat back in his chair. Keeping his smile to himself, he watched the others sit up in surprise when they heard the young man sing.
A lot of people breaking hearts these days
Giving up and just walking away
Forever’s just another word
That you hear young lovers say
I know it may be old-fashioned, but I still believe
Love stays when the strong winds blow
Even when it hurts, don’t let go
You’ve got to treat her right, understand
That she’s your woman and you’re her man
Tell her that you need her
Like the desert needs the rain
And if you treat her right, show her you care
When you need her she’ll be there
Like an island in the storm, a beacon in the night
If you love her, treat her right
A good woman ain’t easy to find
The faithful and the loving kind
And if you don’t hold her tight
She’ll slip right through your hands
Love gives more than it takes
So be willing for her sake
Stand by her when the strong winds blow
Even when it hurts, don’t let go
You’ve got to treat her right, understand
That she’s your woman and you’re her man
Tell her that you need her
Like the desert needs the rain
And if you treat her right, show her you care
When you need her she’ll be there
Like an island in the storm, a beacon in the night
If you love her, treat her right
She’s your best friend and your lover
So if you want to keep her
Take good care of her
If you treat her right, show her you care
When you need her she’ll be there
Like an island in the storm, a beacon in the night
If you love her treat her right
Treat her right
Treat her right
AJ accepted the applause, sweeping low in a bow before heading back to the table. He sat down beside Meredith and took a deep drink from his beer bottle. When he set it back on the table, he looked around at his friends.
“What?!”
Brian chuckled. “Nothing, man. Nothing at all.”
~~~~~~
The poem Secret Treasure was written by me, so please don’t use it without permission.
I Love the Way You Love Me is sung by John Michael Montgomery, from the album Life’s a Dance. Treat Her Right is sung by Sawyer Brown, but I don’t know the album.
Table of Contents
Chapter Forty-Two