+Intent36-38+

AJ woke up, his arms entwined around Win like a giant winding vine. He breathed in her perfume, her wonderful sweet smell that had just a kick to it. He thought back to the night. Just the thought of it gave him shivers. Never in his life, had he been with a woman like Win. Never had he ever felt so complete, so satisfied, both physically and spiritually.

He listened to her breathing, slow and easy. She took a deep breath and moved slightly, closer to AJ if that was possible. Slowly and carefully AJ removed his leg from over her hip and sat up against the headboard. Sensing his movement, Win, still sleeping turned over and curled into his lap. He smiled as he closed his eyes, leaning back and thinking to himself, no matter if they got married, no matter if they had kids, he was content just to have this moment with her.

He watched her sleeping until what seemed only a minute later, much more like an hour, she opened her eyes and slowly sat up. She sighed deeply, ran a hand through her hair and looked over at AJ.

“What’s your name again?” she said with a smile.

“That good huh?” he asked.

“I think have amnesia,” she laughed touching her chest.

“No really, I wasn’t bad, was I?” She leaned over and kissed him. She held her face and inch away and gazing into his eyes said,

“You were incredible.”

“Hum,” AJ growled with a grin on his face.

“That good huh?”

“Yeah, that good.” She replied laying down across his lap again. He placed his hands on her shoulders and arm and kept them there.

“Want me to help you bring your stuff up here?” he asked.

“What for?” she asked.

“Well, now you can stay with me.” AJ replied.

“I can stay with you now.” Win replied.

“You know what I mean, every night now.”

“Yeah, but who said I would need that much clothing?” Win snickered.

“Ooh, I got a nasty girl,” he said in his macho voice. Win got up again and this time she climbed out of bed and gathered up her clothes. She slipped them on as she found them.

“Now what happened to not needing clothes?” he asked with a pout.

“Yes, that’s for later, but we have things to do.”

“Oh come on,” he said climbing out of bed and grabbing his boxers and slipping into them.

“AJ, come on, I got to get to work.” Win said as AJ came over to her.

“Forget work, come back to bed.” He said pulling her by the hand. He sat down and Win stood before him.

“AJ, I’m going to be fired.” Win said looking at the clock.

“So, I’ll take care of you.” He said pulling her around and into his lap again.

“No, you won’t. I’ve got things to do, I’ve got to,” but what else Win had to do, AJ never found out and Win forgot. Before she knew it, Win was on her back, AJ kneeling over her, kissing her until she felt her skin ready to melt off her bones. She heard her phone go off.

“Aw man, I have got to throw that thing out.” AJ said sitting up. Win pulled her shirt back down and dove over to the nightstand to grab her phone.

“Yeah, Red, I know, I’m coming. Okay, okay, yeah, I’ll get it. Yes, I’ll be right there. Bye.” Win looked sympathetically at AJ and said,

“Sorry, duty calls.”

“Promise, you’ll be back later?” he asked.

“I promise, we can do what ever you want okay?” she replied struggling with her shoes.

“All right.” Win ran over to him, kissed him quickly and ran out the door calling,

“Love you baby!”

“Love you too.” AJ said to the empty room. He fell back onto the bed, his hands covering his eyes when he smiled to himself again.

“Damn!” he yelled to himself with a smile, “Definitely worth waiting for.” He got up and showered singing “I’ve got you under my skin” and doing the dance moves across the room as he got dressed. He didn’t even stop when he got a knock on the door.

Still singing at the top of his lungs he opened the door to Howie, Nick, Brian and Kevin.

“Ah, so this is what we heard down the hall.” Nick said as they all entered the room.

“I take it you and Win, had a good night?” Howie asked. They all took seats around the room. AJ sat on the edge of the still unmade bed.

“Guys, guys, guys, guys, you have no idea!” AJ said.

“That good?” Kevin asked.

“You go all your life, dating here and there. And then, you meet the one person, that just knocks your world sideways.” He explained.

“Uh oh, some one’s in love.” Brian chimed.

“You don’t know how much!” AJ said with the largest smile he could muster.

“And is she in love too, we’re supposing?” Nick asked.

“Yes, she is. Oh my god, it was just fucking amazing. Man, the sex has never been that good.” AJ said shaking his head.

“Your kidding right?” Howie asked.

“No lie man, she was hot. And she said that I, was incredible.” AJ replied.

“Oh, so that’s why she was smiling on her way back to her room.” Brian said.

“Distant, not quite there stare, smiling, rosy cheeks. And you with your Frank Sinatra impression.” Kevin said laughing.

“Hey, when was the last time your wife had you singing after sex?” AJ asked Kevin.

“I don’t sing after good sex.” Kevin retorted.

“No, he just tap dances.” Brian laughed.

“Oh look who’s talking!” Kevin said.

“Hey, I got my wife pregnant, that’s more than I can say for you!” Brian replied.

“Yeah, but you have to admit, you get that stupid grin on your face and go all macho man on everyone.” Howie said with a laugh.

“Or Nick, when he gets it good, he can’t walk the next day.” Brian said gesturing towards Nick.

“What can I say, I can work it with the ladies.” Nick said holding up his hands and grinning.

“He only walks like that because he slammed his dick in the car door!” AJ exclaimed.

“That only happened once, and you know it!” Nick shot back.

“Yeah, right, it seems to me, if you’re the one who can’t walk, it’s your girl who’s giving you the work out!” AJ fired back. A chorus of “Ooh” went around the room.

“Big talker for a guy hasn’t been laid in over a year since last night.” Nick spat. Another chorus of “Ooh” went around between the guys.

“Least I’m getting some, you still got nothing, don’t ya?” AJ taunted.

“I got some on our vacation, thank you very much. And she was quite pleased.” Nick retorted. There was a knock at the door and AJ answered it. It was Win.

“Hey baby, what are you doing back already?” he asked as she walked into the room and waved to the silent guys.

“I forgot my keys,” she said grabbing them off the side table, “Did I interrupt something?” she asked looking around at the guys who were trying to avoid her eyes.

“We were just talking is all. When you getting done today?” AJ asked, but Win was still eyeing the suspicious looks on the guys’ faces.

“Um, around three or four, Red wants to make a few improvements to the set. Oh I get it now.” Win replied, putting her hands on her hips.

“The big old sex brag. I see, I see.”

“This is why it’s never a good idea to be friends with your friend’s girlfriends, cause then you can’t look them in the eye anymore.” Kevin said, deliberately starring out the window to avoid Win’s eyes.

“Oh please. Like your wife doesn’t tell Brianna as well as all her other girlfriends what you do in bed. Guys, get over it, women talk about sex as much as you do.” Win said loud enough that Nick and Brian turned to look at her.

“So what have you been telling them about me, all good I hope?” Win asked AJ.

“We’d like to think so.” Howie replied. Kevin shot Howie a look. Win caught this and walked over behind his chair, put a hand on his shoulder and said,

“By the way, Tessa let it slip that she’s kinda sick of the missionary position, she’d like to be on top for a change, and I must agree with her, the Sugar Daddy boxers are cute.” She patted his shoulder a couple times and stood up. Howie and Nick were trying hard not to laugh.

“Oh you think this is funny. Just wait until your girlfriends visit.” They stopped laughing. She turned to Brian next.

“Ah, you’re being smart, keeping your mouth shut, I’ll save you for later. Oh, and by the way AJ, I love Frank Sinatra.” She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and said as she gave the boys a quick wave,

“Bye boys!”

As soon as the door closed, all but Kevin and Brian burst into laughter.

“Damn, she is good!” Howie howled.

“What did I tell you?” AJ said between laughs.

“Now this, is war.” Kevin said through clenched teeth.

Win had to go out to get coffees for the managers, specifically iced lattes, before she went to the venue. She was back to being a gopher. Her life kind of felt like day and night. When she had to work, for Red, she was treated like a piece of garbage, a slave at his command. While she was with AJ she felt like a queen, AJ only wanted to make her happy. Now she was starting to be angry with her job, and she resented it, not only that, but she resented herself now. Never had she allowed work to get her down like this. None the less she had to press on.

She got the coffees and went to the venue handing them out to the appropriate people as she found them. By this time the guys had shown up to go over a few things with Dennis. Their record label man, supposedly, was coming to the next concert to see how things were going, and talk to them about the next single. Win waved when she saw them gathered around the piano, which was returned in a friendly fashion.

Win waited to give Red his coffee because he was in the middle of a conversation and when she finally handed him his coffee he spat,

“About damn time. What the hell, meet some of your kind out in the street? Had to stop and exchange drug recipes.”

“Back off Red.” Win said with clenched teeth. This was the first time she’d ever said anything back to him.

“Oh really, what are you going to do to me? Get the hell to work you useless bum, before I fire you!” Red sniggered before starting to walk away.

“That’s it!” Win yelled at Red’s retreating back.

“Excuse me? Were you speaking to me?” Red asked with a pretend astonished face.

“I have had just enough of you and your nasty comments. Treating me like I am some piece of crap you stepped in. I am NOT your slave, and I do not have to be treated like this, you disgusting, rotten, nasty, friggen, controlling, over ambitious, bastard! And I am not going to take it anymore! So you can just take your five-ninety five, moca-choca, whatever the hell, specialty iced latte and go fuck yourself with it!” And with that, Win snatched the coffee out his hand and dumped it down the front of Red’s pants.

“I quit!” she roared then threw the empty cup at his face and stormed out quickly to a tumultuous applause.

“What have I done?” Win moaned to herself as she trudged back to her room. Now she was unemployed, and unemployed from a job that kept her near her boyfriend. What was she going to do now?

As if it were answering her question their was a knock on her door. It was Daemon and AJ. Win immediately apologized.

“Daemon, I am so sorry, I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that.”

“Actually, I’d say it was about time. His last assistant lasted only two weeks. How you managed three months, I’ll never know.” Daemon replied. “Are you okay Win?” AJ asked anxiously hugging her tightly to him.

“Don’t you worry about a thing, you can stay with me, I’ll take care of you.” He said automatically.

“Actually, AJ, I’m going to take care of her.” Daemon replied. AJ let go of Win and looked at him.

“What?” Win asked.

“Well, we looked over your transcripts, and saw that you went to a business vocational school while you were still in high school. You were the top in your class. That’s equivalent to an associates degree in business.” Daemon replied.

“So what are you saying?” Win asked, still confused.

“I’ve been looking for a way to hire you away from Red for a long time. I need an executive assistant to help with the tour.”

“You’re kidding, right?” Win asked.

“No, you can work with computers, deal with people, arrange schedules, make appointments. You are by far the most responsible person on this tour. I even spoke to some of your old professors at the vocational school, they said you were one of the best students they’d ever taught.”

“So, what are you saying then?”

“A new job, new boss, benefits, and a dramatic pay raise. What do you say, do you want the job?” Daemon asked holding out his hand. Win thought a moment.

“You got yourself a deal.” Win replied putting her hand in Daemon’s and shaking it heartily.

“All right,” AJ said nodding his head.

“I’ll let you two, alone,” Daemon said nodding and closing the door.

“Oh, and thank you!” Win called before the door closed.

“Oh my god!” Win exclaimed as she threw her arms around AJ and hugged him.

“Congratulations baby.” AJ said squeezing her tight.

“Thank god,” she said, “the thing I was worried about most, was that I would have to leave you. Oh god that scared me.” Win said still holding him tight.

“I wouldn’t have let that happen,” AJ replied, “Not in a million years.”

When news got around of Win’s promotion, everyone was proud of her. They all said it was about time for someone to knock Red down a peg, and that no one else deserved a promotion more than she did.

Daemon spent the afternoon with Win going over her new contract and her new responsibilities. She now had to make sure that they had the right amount of rooms at every hotel, that if there were any delays, the right person would know. She had to take all of Daemon’s calls and unless he was needed, she had to answer them. She also had to inform the guys as to where they were going and what they were doing. She was to have daily conferences with Daemon and Dennis, and was expected to speak to the guys on a daily basis. Win was also responsible for changing the schedule and letting everyone know about those changes. She was given a laptop computer, a portable printer, a schedule book and a copy of her contract that stated, from now on, her title would be Executive Assistant to Tour Manager.

That night, Daemon, Dennis, Steve and AJ took Win out to dinner to celebrate her new job. After dinner, she went with AJ back to her room to collect her stuff. Jen watched sadly as Win packed her bag.

“Now AJ, this just isn’t fair, I finally get a nice roommate and you drag her away.” Jen moaned.

“Well, you could always stay with Taylor,” Win suggested.

“Yeah, right.” Jen said rolling her eyes.

“I’ll visit you.” Win replied.

“Yeah, cause now you get to be on the big fancy bus with all those supposed celebrities. You’ll soon be as snotty as they are.” Jen laughed.

“Yes, I know, I’ll be so sophisticated with all these high class people,” Win said in a mock Beverly Hills type of voice.

“Meanwhile I’m on a bus with all guys except for Tessa. So they’ll all be burping and scratching themselves all the time. No matter how rich their supposed to be, they still do all the same things. It’s like instinct.” Win replied.

“Ooh, I forgot about that. You will have to come visit me. At least there’s plenty of women on the crew, and in the band. Good luck with that.” Jen said patting Win on the back.

“Hey, we’re not all like that.” AJ pouted.

“Oh that’s right, you burp AND scratch yourself, all at the same time.” Win said as if it were a revelation.

“Well, as long as you don’t want to watch the football games, you won’t have to be bothered with it.” AJ replied shouldering one of her bags.

“I like football.” Win retorted, insulted.

“Really?” he asked.

“Yeah, a bunch of big muscled guys in spandex pants, what girl wouldn’t be?” Jen burst out laughing.

“Very cute.” AJ replied with smirk and a raised eyebrow.

“Well Jen, don’t worry, I’ll be hanging around enough, I’ll see you later.” Win said going to Jen and giving her a big hug.

“Congratulations on the job, you deserve it.”

“I hope so.” AJ led Win out the door and back to his rooming carrying her things while she carried Jack.

“I still can’t believe you did that to Red today!” AJ said once they were back in his room.

“Well, I’m glad I did.”

“Yeah, maybe now you should go to business school instead of English.” AJ replied.

“Um, no, I don’t think so, I still want to be an English professor.” Win replied.

“Or, you could always be that singer. Our label is coming in three days, why don’t you sing for him, I know you would get a deal.”

“Because, I don’t want a deal. I don’t want to be a singer. You get torn up by the media.” Win replied.

“Yeah, that does come with the territory, but you’ve got to learn to ignore it.”

“I can’t ignore it. I’ve been in the paper already, that was enough for me.”

“You mean, when you were found.”

“Yes.” Win replied distantly.

“You could still be great though.” AJ said again.

“AJ, I like to sing, I really do. But I’ve looked into some people’s eyes, and they what they want from me is not sincere. I do not want to get into a world of phony people with intentions that are not honest and clear.”

“Win, not all people in the music business are like that. And you have to expect some of that, it comes with the territory, like I said.”

“AJ, for the final time, that is land that I have no intention of ever visiting. Singing for you, your friends and family, the crew, that is all fine and dandy. But I will not be a singer. Do not bring it up again.” Win said coldly. She went to the terrace and sat down at the table, starring out into the dark sky. AJ reappeared in front of her seconds later.

“Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t think that it bothered you that much.” He said squatting in front of her.

“Well it does, I’m sick of hearing about what everyone thinks I should do.”

“Listen, you don’t have to do anything except what you want to do. You can be anything you want.” He said consolingly.

“Thank you. I’m glad you at least think I’m capable of other things besides just singing.”

“What would be the matter if you could only sing?” he asked.

“As much as everyone says that I can sing, I can only see what I don’t have. I can’t write my own music, I can’t really play any instruments. I always wanted to be the entertainer, not a puppet with other people’s songs and music. Unless I can do it myself, I don’t want a part of it.”

“I can teach you how to write songs, and Kevin could help you with the piano. Just for hobby sake, nothing else.” AJ quickly added.

“I’ll think about it.” She said standing up. AJ rose with her.

“Come on, it’s late, lets get some sleep.” He said putting an arm around her waist. But she was still a little upset, he could tell.

In bed she snuggled up as close as she possibly could to AJ.

“Win, are you sure you’re okay?” he asked brushing the hair away from her face.

“Of course I am, now lets go to sleep.”

“All right, good night beautiful.”

“Night baby.” But there was something that was still gnawing at AJ.