Part Two

December 15 1999

    "Is he in his room?" Sammy asked Mike who was taking her up the elevator of the hotel JC and the guys were staying at.
    He nodded. "Yeah, I believe so," he said with a smile. "He's gonna be shocked as hell that your here, girl."
    She laughed. "I know, I can't wait. I haven't seen him in a long time."
    "I've never seen a man love someone so much, Sam," he said with a shake of his head.
    She smiled shyly. "We're best friends, Mike. I'd do anything for him."
    He studied her. "Are you sure there's nothing more?" he asked as the doors opened.
    SHe looked at him. "More?"
    "Than friends," he said. "I mean...."
    "Mike," she interrupted. "We're just friends."
    He shrugged. "If you say so. His room is #203."
    She hugged him. "Thanks, Mike," she said and then walked down towards his room.
    She fidgeted with her clothes and ran her fingers through her hair and smiled as she knocked on the door. She waited impatiently and when the door finally flung open, her smile faded. A young woman with long brown hair stood in front of her. "Oh, god," she groaned as she rolled her eyes. "How did you get up here?"
    "Oh...um...sorry I guess I have the wrong room, I was told this was Jos....JC's room."
    "You have the right room," she said. "How did you get past security?"
    "I..I know...."
    "Sammy?" JC's voice said from inside the room.
    Sam peered over the woman's shoulder's and smiled softly when she saw him come out of the bathroom. "Hey you."
    "Oh my gosh," he exclaimed as he ran past the woman and pulled her in his arms. "I can't believe your here."
    The woman crossed her arms and watched her boyfriend laughing as he twirled this girl in circles in the middle of the hallway. "Um...honey?" she asked as sweetly as possible.
    "What are you doing here?" JC asked when he stopped spinning her and looked down. He didn't even hear her.
    "Well, I...uh...wanted to surprise you but..." She looked over at the woman. "I guess I should have called first."
    JC looked at her weird and then followed her glance and his eyes widened as if he didn't know she was standing there. "Oh, you haven't met Bobbi," he said as he walked her to his girlfriend. "Bobbie, this is my carebear, Sammy."
    "Carebear?" she asked confused.
    She laughed uneasily. "Oh, that's what he calls me cause I have loved the carebears ever since I could walk." She stuck out her hand. "It's nice to meet you."
    She smiled as she shook it. "Nice to meet you, too. How long will you be staying?"
    "Uh, well..I just got done with my finals," she said as she looked at JC. "So, I wanted to come here to New York for a few days and surprise you."
    "I'm glad you did," he said and then hugged her tight. "Good to see you."
    "Ditto," she said as she hugged him close. "Oh, I don't have a room." She was planning on sharing a room with Josh, because it wasn't a big deal between them, they've slept in the same bed many of times. But unfortunately her spot was taken.
    "We'll figure something out," he said as he gave her a squeeze. "Me and Bobbi were going to go out to dinner, wanna join us?"
    "Oh, I don't want to intrude," she said uneasily.
    "Oh come on," he said and then pulled her to him. "I want to have dinner with the two most important women in my life" He looked away from Sammy and then looked at Bobbi. "What do you say?"
    Bobbi smiled as sweetly as possible. "Sure."

April 4 2000

    Sammy ran through the rain as fast as her legs could carry her. Her shoes clicked on the cold concrete and her breath hung in the air as it began to quicken. The pain in her heart was unbearable and she felt the tears start to come that she had tried so hard to hold back. At this point she didn't know which were tears and which were raindrops streaming down her face.
    Her new dress she bought for her and Danny's anniversary was ruined from the rain, and her mascara ran down her cheeks. She wanted to surprise him, she thought as the tears started to flow. It was their anniversary and she walked in his room and saw him in the arms of another girl. He looked at her and she knew right then that it was over, because he didn't even look sorry. He was almost glad he was caught. He didn't even bother running after her.
    She continued to sob as she ran up to her apartment and stumbled inside and then ran down the hall towards her bedroom. She flung the door open and froze when she saw JC laying on her bed, holding one of her carebears.
    "My God," JC said as he leaped from the bed and ran to her. "Carebear? Sweetheart? What happened?"
    She didn't even bother asking him what he was doing here, she didn't care. She just broke into tears and collapsed into his arms. He wrapped his strong arms around her as she continued to sob in his arms. "What is it, Sammy Bear?" he asked as he stroked her wet tangled hair.
    "It..was...our...seven year....anniversy," she choked as she held on tightly to him. "I went....over to...his house and....found him...with...with...another girl."
    JC shut his eyes and silently wished Danny to hell. He knew this day would come, he knew it, and just like he promised he was there for her. And the last thing he woud do he was rub it in her face. "I'm so sorry Sammy," he whispered as he began to rock her in his arms. "It's okay, just let it all out, give me a good cry, sweetie."
    JC closed his eyes and rested his cheek against the top of his head as he continued to rock her back and forth. Her tears kept coming and her body shook with sobs. "It's gonna be okay," he whispered.
    "I thought he loved me, Josh," she cried.
    "I know, baby, and I think he did love you and maybe even still does love you, but sweetie....he isn't the man for you. He never was."
    "You were right all along," she said as she leaned back and looked up at him.
    He smiled softly and wiped her tears away with the pads of his thumb. "I knew he wasn't the man for you, and I knew that this day was going to come. I just hate that you had to get hurt to find out."
    She sighed and relaxed back in his arms. "You learn from your mistakes," she said as she rested her cheek against his chest.
    "You'll find him," he said as he stroked her wet back. "Don't worry he's out there somewhere."
    "What if I'm too blind to see him?" she asked worriedly.
    "You'll open your eyes soon enough," he assured her and let out a sigh as he held her tight.
    The room was silent and all you could hear was the rain beating against the window and the thunder rolling across the sky. "Josh?" she asked after a moment of silence.
    "Hmm?" he mumbled, enjoying the feel of her in his arms.
    "Sing for me?"
    He smiled softly. "What do you want me to sing?"
    She shrugged. "Doesn't matter. Something special...something that we can call ours."
    He chuckled softly and kissed the top of her head. "I have just the song," he said as he leaned down and buried his face in her neck. "Someday," he began to sing.
    Sammy smiled and reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck as well.
    "When I'm awfully low, when the world is cold...."
    He kissed her temple and rested his lips against her ear.
    "I will feel a glow, just thinking of you....and the way you look tonight."
    She laughed softly as she began to play with the hairs at the back of his neck.
    "Yes, you're lovely, with your smile so warm, and your cheeks so soft...."
    He then twirled her around like two fancy couples on the dance floor and enjoyed hearing her laugh. He chuckled and lingered his mouth against her ear. "There is nothing for me but to love you....." He held her closer when he felt her body begin to shake as the tears started to come. He kissed her cheek and rested his cheek against it. "And the way you look tonight," he whispered softly in her ear.

June 2, 2000

    "I want to give you something," JC said as he pulled Sammy down the hall to his dressing room.
    "Josh," she said. "You have a show to do soon and...."
    "I still have some time," Josh said as he made his way through the halls of Reunion Arena. He opened his door and pulled her inside. "Come here on the couch."
    "Okay," she said not sure what he was up to. "What do you want to give me?"
    "Close your eyes," he said with a grin.
    "Josh, what are you....."
    "Just close them," he laughed and then waited for her to roll her eyes and then shut them. He ran over to his bag and pulled out one of his two blue bracelet he had made awhile ago. He sat down next to her and waved his hand in front of her face to see if she was cheating. "Okay, hold out your wrists."
    "Can I open my eyes?" she asked as she held out her right wrist.
    "Not yet," he said as he pulled the bracelet on her tiny wrist. He smiled down at it, enjoying the way it looked on her. "Okay, open."
    She opened her eyes and looked at her wrist. Her eyes widened and then she looked at him with confusion. "I don't get it."
    "What don't you get?" he asked.
    "You...You always told me you were going to give this to the woman you fell in love with."
    He grinned. "Well, I love you, silly."
    "Yeah, but not that way," she said and then started to take it off. "This belongs to Bobbi, I don't...."
    "No," he said as he stopped her by pressing his hand on her wrist. "Please take it want you to have it."
    "But...but what about Bobbi?"
    JC looked away. He had given him the bracelet, once and even though she smiled and said thanks, he could tell she didn't think much of it. She hardly ever wore it. "Um, well...Blue's really not her color," he teased and then gave her a wink.
    Her eyes softened, not believing a word. "Josh, are you sure you want me to have this? I mean...."
    "Carebear," he said softly as he grabbed both of her hands. "I love you so much, and I would love nothing more if you wore that bracelet. Yeah, I said I was gonna give it to the woman I loved, but I was thinking of you when I made it."
    She felt herself turn red. "You did?"
    He smiled and cupped her chin and rubbed it softly with the pad of his thumb. "I always think about my carebear."
    She smiled at him and then looked down at the bracelet and fiddled with it with her fingers. "I love it," she said and then hugged him. "Thank you so much."
    "You're welcome," he said as he held her close.
    A knock on the door pulled them apart and then Justin's head popped in. "There you are, come on man, Dallas is getting rowdy."
    He laughed. "On my way," he said as they both stood up. He then kissed her cheek and cupped her face. "Enjoy the show, carebear."
    "I always do," she said and watched in admiration as he walked out of the room.

August 1 2000

    JC just walked in his dressing room after the meet and greet just as his cell phone started ringing. He trotted to his jeans that were on the floor and picked it up and pulled the phone out. "Yeah, hello?" he asked quickly.
    "Josh!" Sammy exclaimed from the other end.
    "Carebear," he said with a smile. "What a surprise!"
    "How's touring going," she said as she tried to stall. She wanted to stall as long as possible, before she told him the news.
    "It's going good, almost done thank the lord," he said with a laugh. "As much as I love the fans and enjoy touring, I'm beat."
    "I bet you are," she said with sympathy. "You guys work so hard."
    "Yeah, but we love it," he said as he collapsed on the couch. "So what's up, hun?"
    She sighed. "A lot actually."
    He sat up, knowing the sound of that voice all too well. "Sam, what's the matter?"
    "Nothing, nothing's wrong," she assured him. "It's just that....."
    "What?" he asked as he got up and started to pace the room.
    "Josh," she sighed.
    "I'm not gonna like this, am I?" he asked as he continued to pace. "Because I know that tone and I don't like it. What's going on? Are you okay? Is your family okay? Is..."
    "Josh, I'm getting married!" she shouted out so he would hear her over his own voice.
    He froze in his tracks and his heart dropped. He was so afraid to ask, but he went ahead and did. "With whom?"
    "Danny," she finally said. "Josh, please don't be mad, okay I...."
    "Danny," he repeated. "You are getting married to Danny? The jerk that cheated on you? The jerk that had you crying in my arms that rainy night?"
    "Josh, he's changed and...."
    "Dammit Sam, your so naive!" he yelled in the phone. "You said that last time, remember? When you were young and stupid and didn't know right from wrong."
    "Now wait just a damn minute, Josh," she said angrily. "I didn't call you and tell you to insult me. I called you because you are my best friend and......" She groaned tiredly as she sat down on her bed. "Josh, I'm lonely."
    "Sam, I know it's hard to be lonely, but you're stronger than you think."
    "No," she cried. "I feel safe with Danny. He's the only man I've ever known."
    His heart turned at her words. "You know me Samantha."
    She shook her head. "I know you as my friend, Josh, and my friend only."
    "Saman...."
    "You have Bobbi," she said before he could finish. "I have Danny and that's the way it should be."
    "Bobbi and I broke up," he said as he sat down on the couch.
    "Oh, Josh," she said softly. "I....I'm sorry I didn't know."
    "Of course you didn't," he said with an angry tone. "You haven't been calling me or returning my calls in the past month and now I know why."
    "Josh, I'm sorry," she said. "I just hated lying to you and so I felt better just not talking to you."
    "I needed to talk to you," he said softly. "I figured you were busy with summer school, so I let it go, but damn Sammy....I needed you."
    She shut her eyes in pain. "Josh, please," she cried. "Don't make me feel worse."
    "I don't know what to say to you anymore, Sam," he said as he buried his fingers in his hair.
    "Don't say that," she said as she started to cry. "Josh, I still want you at my wedding, I want you to give me away."
    "Give you away?" he asked in shock.
    "Well, now that my dad is gone, I don't have...."
    "Sam," he said with a sigh. "I'm honored, but I will have no part."
    "Josh," she cried. "Please I need you there."
    "I will not give you away to someone like Danny," he said softly. "I have to go."
    "Josh, please wait," she begged as the tears started to flow. "I...I love you."
    He bit his lips as he felt the tears star to come. "I love you too, carebear.....but I guess it's not enough."
    "Josh, no...."
    "Good bye, Sam," he said and then clicked off his cell phone. JC curled up in a ball on the couch as the tears ran down his cheeks. When did it all go down hill? he asked himself as he looked at the bracelet that Sam wore on her wrist as well. He tore it off and threw it at the door.
    "Woah," Joey cursed as he dodged the flying plastic. "What the....C? What's wrong?"
    JC buried his face in his hands as his friend sat next to him and put an arm around him. "She...She's getting married?"
    "Who? Bobbi?"
    "No," he groaned in disgust. "Why the hell would I care about that?"
    He shrugged. "Then who? The only person you care about is....oh shit.....Sammy?"
    He nodded. "My carebear."
    "But...I mean, shouldn't you be happy for her that she's found someone?"
    He shook his head. "It's Danny."
    "Danny?" he asked in shock. "The creep?"
    "Yes, the creep," he said and then wiped the tears away.
    "What are you going to do?"
    "I did what I had to do," he said as he stood up. "I said good-bye."
    "Now, JC, Samantha is your best friend you can't just say good-bye."
    JC walked over and picked up the bracelet. "I just did," he said and then tossed it in the trash can. "Come on we gotta show to do."
    Joey's heart went out to him as he watched his friend walk out of the dressing room. Joey walked over to the trash can and fished out the bracelet. "You're gonna regret it my friend," he said and then stuffed it in his pocket. "I'll just hold on to it until you come to your senses."

August 2 2000 (12:45 a.m)

    JC crawled in his bunk and shut the curtain behind him. He stretched out on his back and looked up at the ceiling, where there was a recent picture of him and Sammy. The picture glowed from his small night light and he reached up and touched her face with his finger. His eyes shifted to his wrist; his bare wrists that no longer had the bracelet but the imprint of it was still on his skin.
    He ran his finger over it, almost feeling naked without it. He sighed as he looked back up at Sammy. She looked beautiful, he thought. Her smile was warm, her long blonde hair was laying loose around her heart-shaped face. She had a dimple on her chin, right below the small scar she got when she fell off her bike. She was so determined that day, he remembered with a chuckle. No matter how many times she fell, she got right back up.
    His eyes shifted to himself, noticing how happy he looked with her. He always smiled when he was with her. Not just your average smile, not the smile he gave to the cameras, but a real genuine smile. A smile that reached his eyes. Only one person made him feel like that and it was his carebear. His eyes shifted to her's once more and his finger lingered over it before he grabbed the edge and started to pull it off. He told himself to. Pull it off and get on with your life. But he couldn't...not yet....not ever.
    He turned of the light and shifted to his side and let the bus rock himself to sleep.

August 2 2000 (1:30 p.m)

    Joey walked down to JC's hotel room and knocked on the door. He reached in his pocket and gripped his bracelet while he waited for him to open the door. "Joey?" JC asked. "What's up?"
    "Can I talk to you?"
    He nodded. "Yeah, sure I'm just....." Thinking about Sammy. "Watching TV."
    "What are you watching?" Joey asked as he sat on the bed.
    "Um, the cooking channel," he said with a laugh and then turned it off. "Nothing else was on." He also didn't mention that Sammy loved to watch the cooking channel. She would sit there and take notes even as she was glued to the TV.
    "How are you doing?" he asked concerned.
    He shrugged. "Dont' really want to talk about it."
    "JC, do you honestly think your going to just shut Sammy out of your life forever."
    He sighed and then looked at his feet. "No, of course not."
    "Then why are you being such an ass?"
    He looked up at him. "Excuse me?"
    "You heard me," he said as he stood up. "You're being an ass to not only her, but to yourself."
    "Okay, Proffesor Fatone," he asked weirdly. "Do you want me to lie down now?"
    "Shut up, C!" he said angrily and then walked over to the bedside table and picked up the picture he looked at last night and shoved it in his face. "Look at her, C."
    He tore his eyes away as he felt the tears start to flow. "Dammit, look at her!" he said as he cupped his chin and forced him to face the picture. "You love her, JC."
    "Of course I...."
    "Not only as a friend, JC," he interrupted. "But you love her for the woman she is."
    JC focused on her picture and his heart ached for her. He wanted to hold her, he wanted to tell her he was sorry and he wanted to kiss her and love her and....
    Where the hell did that come? he thought as his eyes widened. Kiss her? Love her? He had never thought of her that way until.....until now. "Joey, I don't want to lose her."
    "Well, it's not over until she says 'I do'," he pointed out. "Go after her."
    "I...I need to go to Orlando," he said as he started to throw his stuff in his bag. "No..shit, i need to go back to Joilette....I need that braclete, I...."
    "You don't need to go back to Jo...."
    "I NEED that bracelet, Joe," he said as he threw his clothes in his bag. "I don't care of I have to crawl in a garbage dump full of crap."
    "JC," he said as he pulled out the bracelet and dangled it in front of him.
    JC's jaw dropped. "How did you...I mean...when did you?"
    "I fished it out once you left," he said as he handed it to him. "I knew you weren't thinking straight."
    JC practically threw his arms around him, causing him to stumble back. "I...LOVE...YOU!"
    "Ahem...yeah man, I love you...but save it for Sam."
    "Okay, okay," he said as he threw his bag over his shoulder. "Call me on my cell and tell me where I need to be tomorrow, I just need this night."
    "Don't worry about it," he said. "Take Mike with ya though."
    "Okay, I'll grab him," he said and then hugged him one last time. "Thanks again, Joe."
    "No problem," he said as he patted his back. "Go get her."

August 2 2000 (7:30 p.m)

    Samantha stood in front of her full length mirror and studied herself in her newly bought wedding dress. It wasn't fancy, because she didn't want it to be. Danny didn't want to have a big wedding, just close friends and family. Which was find with her, but her only friends were Josh and her only family was her Mom.
    She ran her hand down the white gown, that scooped low to show off her collarbone. She tried to picture herself walking down the isle, staring at Danny as he smiled at her. But she couldn't, she couldn't see his face, because Josh was blocking him. His face, his wonderful, beautiful face was the only face she could see.
    "Stop being silly, Sam," she told herself sternly. "He doesn't want you. He'll only think of you as your little carebear and nothing more."
    She was going to marry Danny, she told himself. And maybe he wasn't perfect and maybe he didn't feel alive like she did when Josh touched her, but it was enough. It had to be enough. She then walked away from the mirror and began to undress herself and her eye's fell to the gift box on the her bed. She smiled as she picked up the box the held the lingerie that her only girlfriend in this town gave her. Lizzie was better friends with Danny, but they still were pretty close.
    She laughed as she picked up the crimson red silk that was plain and simple, because Lizzie knew that she didn't like things flashy. She then tore off her wedding dress and began to put it on.

    "Yes, this is it, right there," JC told the cab driver. "Mike, thanks for coming but I got it from here."
    "I'll call you tomorrow, good luck," he said and then gave him a quick hug and watched him run up to her place.
    JC pulled out the key that he had and flung open the door. He ran down the hallway and flew through the door into her bedroom and froze when he saw her.
    Sammy jumped at the sudden burst and put a hand on her heart when she saw JC. "Josh!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
    "I...uh..." She was in lingerie, he realized as his blood started to hum. He had never seen her this way in his whole life. She looked different, she looked beautiful....she looked sexy as hell. "I came here to tell you that you shouldn't marry him."
    "Josh," she said as she grabbed the matching robe that came with it and covered herself up.
    Was that suppose to help? he thought as the sight of her made his knees go weak. Because she still looked incredibly sexy and he wanted to take her in his arms now and....he shuddered. "Don't marry him," he repeated.
    She walked up to him, the smell of her was intoxicating. She had always smelled like this, but it never affected him like it did now. "I'm marrying Danny, Josh and I'm...."
    "No," he said as he grasped her arms and looked into her blue eyes. "No...you're not."
    "Josh, I need him and..."
    "You don't need him," he said as he stepped closer to her. "You only think you do."
    Sammy gasped when she noticed the change of his voice. It didn't sound like a man, comforting a friend. It sounded like a man comforting....a lover. No, she won't believe it. She won't. He doesn't think of me like that, he never has. "Josh, I lov..."
    "Don't you dare finish that sentence, Samantha Ann," he said sternly and then stepped closer towards her and cupped her face.
    Sammy's eyes widened and she stepped back, but JC stepped towards her again. "Josh?" she asked shakily.

    "I love you, Samantha," he whispered as he leaned his head down and kissed her cheek softly.
    Her body shivered as he ran his lips up to her temple. "I...I love you too."
    He shook his head. "No," he said softy and then kissed her forehead and stared into her eyes. "I don't just love you, Sammy....I'm IN love with you." Sammy breathed in shakily and stepped back, but JC filled her step and cupped her face tightly. "I'm completely 100%, arrow through the heart, head over heels, in love with you Samantha Ann."
    Sam felt a lump at her throat and her breathing quickened as his words began to flow over her. "Josh," she said shakily as she reached up and grabbed his wrists with her trembling fingers.
    "Did you actually think I was going to sit by and watch another man take you away?" he asked softly. "You have been my carebear since the day we were born....side by side. And I'll be damned if I'm going to let a man like Danny take you away from me."
    She rested her forehead against hers and closed her eyes as she tried to control the feelings rushing through her. Her eye's finally opened and she looked into his own watery blue eyes. "That's all you had to say, Josh," she choked as she cupped his face. "That's all you had to say."
    JC let out a sigh of relief as he crushed her against his body and held her tight. He buried his face in her neck and breathed in and out as he tried to compose himself. "I, Joshua Scott," he heard her mumbled against his neck. "am So in love with you."
    JC breathed in her scent and nuzzled her neck and then kissed it softly. He felt her tremble against his lips as he kissed her softly up her neck, and then over her jaw line. She breathed his name when he kissed her scar, and then hovered over her own lips.
    Their breaths merged together as they both lingered only inches away, awaiting to see who would make the first move. JC ran his hands up and down her back and Sammy played with the hairs at the back of his neck. They both hesitated, because they both knew that once their lips touched, there was no going back. They would never be 'just friends', again. "I love you," JC whispered finally and then brushed his lips with hers and then lingered.
    She made a moan at the back of her throat as she felt his lips against hers for the first time. Her whole body tingled at the touch, and she wanted more of him, more of his touch. She opened her mouth and tilted his head to the side, and groaned when he tasted her fully.
    JC gripped a handful of her silk robe as he pulled her closer to him and deepened the kiss over and over again. He loved the taste of her, and the feel of his tongue rubbing against hers in a constant motion sent him over the edge. He sucked on her bottom lip, and then slightly gave it a tug with his teeth, before he shifted his head and deepened the kiss once more.
    "Josh," she mumbled against his lips as they shuffled their way to the bed. When the back of his knees hit the bed he sat down on it and looked up at her. He reached for the knot of the robe and with one swift tug, it came loose and the robe fell apart. He snuck his hands under the silk flaps, and ran his hands up her body until the robe fell on the floor at her feet.
    He gripped her hips and slowly pushed her toward him and he pressed his lips against her flat stomach, that was covered in silk. Sammy closed her eyes and fisted a handful of hair as his lips started to trail up her body, loving the way he was gentle and sweet with her. His mouth roamed up her chest and he lightly bit her collarbone before he stood all the way up and took her mouth again.
    She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, as the kiss begin to quicken and their blood started humming. "Josh," she cried as she fiddled with the buttons of her shirt. "Please, I...."
    "Sam, I....we might need to stop and slow down and....I don't want to rush you..."
    She silenced him with a long, lingering kiss. "Don't you think twenty four years is a long enough wait?"
    He smiled softly and kissed the top of her nose. "Actually if you want to get technical it was a twenty-three years and 359 days wait."
    She chuckled and kissed him. "Well, still....It took us long enough."
    He grinned against her lips, and nibbled at them with his lips. "I love you carebear."
    She smiled. "Ditto," she said and then pulled her hands away.
    "No no," he said as he grabbed her hands. "Allow me." He clapped twice and darkness surrounded them.
    Sammy chuckled softly and wrapped her arms around his neck. "All ready a natural with the clapper."
    "It's a gift," he said and then kissed her softly, and began to sip at her lips. He didn't want to rush it. He had only one night with her, and he wanted to savor each moment.
    While JC continued to love on her mouth, her hands ran down his chest, over his flat stomach, and then fiddled with the edge of his shirt. Her hands slipped under the cotton, and JC moaned against her lips when he felt her hands roam his naked chest. He pulled back, allowing her to pull his shirt over his head, but once it landed on the floor, their lips found each other once more.
    She was captivated by the sight and feel of his chest. His muscles were hard and his skin was warm, and with a sigh she pulled him up against her. She nibbled at his lips, and tasted him fully as she ran her hands back down his chest, over his ripped stomach and then tugged gently at his jeans. She unbuttoned his jeans, and slipped her hands over his hips and inside his jeans until they fell at his feet.
    JC breathed her name as he ran his lips along her angular neck and he heard her gasp when he captured her ear with his mouth. He sucked on her earlobe, and playfully played with her small silver loop earring with his tongue. He trailed his hands up her sides, and then rubbed the sides of her breasts, before he gently pulled the small straps over both of her shoulders. The red silk floated down her body and formed a pool of silk at her feet.
    JC pulled away, only to feast his eyes over her lovely, naked, body. "You're absolutely stunning, Samantha."
    She blushed slightly and looked away shyly. "No, I'm..."
    He cupped her chin and pulled her face towards him. "YOU are," he said as he looked deeply into his eyes. "You...Samantha Ann....are stunning."
    She let out a shaky sigh and cupped his face. "How did I get so lucky?"
    He replied by moving to her side and wrapped one arm around her back and the other one under her knees and he lifted her. "Love was on our side," he finally said as he carried her to bed.
    Sammy leaned up and kissed him over and over again as he laid her down on the bed. They nipped at each other's lips, as JC frantically began to push all her carebears off the bed. "Careful, honey," she chuckled against his lips.
    "Sorry, guys," he said to the stuff animals as he tossed one more aside, and then found her lips again. He deepened the kiss as he hovered over her, tasting her over and over again. He felt like he had wasted so many years without knowing the feel and the taste of her, and he was sure going to make up for it.
    He saw something flashy out the corner of his eyes and he stopped kissing her and looked towards it. He frowned as he picked up her left hand. "This," he said as he took off Danny's engagement ring. "Has to go." He then threw it across the room and looked down at her.
    "Thanks," she giggled. "It was ugly as hell."
    He chuckled and then muffled his laugh as he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her over and over again. Tasting her, loving her mouth with stroke after stroke of his tongue. He tore his lips away from hers, and ran them down the column of her throat and then kissed the small grove at the base of her neck, before venturing further.
    He kissed her collarbone and Samantha lifted her hands and ran his fingers in her hair. He turned his head towards her right arm and lightly kissed the inside of her wrists and then kissed her bracelet, before he turned his attention back to her chest. She cried out when he captured her with his mouth and her back arched off the bed at the feel of his tongue bathing her.
    He ran his hand down the length of her body and she bucked beneath him when his fingers slipped into her. He lifted his head up and he leaned on his left elbow and captured her mouth again, while he continued to stroke her; driving her to edge. She muffled a moan against his lips as she felt her whole body tremble. He kissed her lazily and then pulled her to him and they began to roll over the bed, until she was on top of him.
    She kissed him once, before she ran her lips down his neck and over his collarbone. JC closed his eyes and concentrated on the feel of her mouth and tongue traveling all over his body. He buried his fingers in her hair and groaned at the feel of her body rubbing against his.
    When he finally couldn't take it anymore, he rolled her on her back and nestled himself between her legs. He bent down and kissed the tip of her nose. "My carebear," he breathed and then buried his face in her neck and plunged inside her.
    "Josh," she cried as she wrapped her legs around his waist and lifted her hips against his.
    "God, you feel so good, Sammy," he whispered as he ran kisses all over her face. "You fit perfectly...we were made for each other."
    She wanted to say something ...anything, but no words came out. The feel of JC inside her was so intense, she couldn't think. "Josh....please," she moaned as she clutched his hair and bucked beneath him.
    "God," he groaned and then frantically began to move his hips, against hers. He kissed her deeply, as they continued to move with each other, taking their sweet time with each other.
    Their bodies glistened and their pants quickened, as JC moved his hips fast and faster until they both fell over the edge. JC collapsed on top of her and nuzzled her neck and then lazily nibbled on her ear. "I love you, Samantha Ann."
    She smiled softly as she ran her hands up her sweaty back, and then plunged her fingers in his hair. "I love you, too, Joshua Scott."
    "How could I have been so blind all these years?" he asked as he lifted is tired head and stared down at her.
    She smiled up at him. "I think we just had to grow up first," she said as she reached up and played with a strand of his hair, and then cupped his cheek.
    JC turned to her hand and kissed the center of her palm. "I've grown up, carebear," he said and then, linked his fingers with hers. "And now that I have you..." He leaned down and nipped her bottom lip. "I'm never letting go."