July 2006 - Los Angeles, California

Five months had passed since Las Vegas. The weekend of Justin's birthday, the weekend JC knew his relationship had forever changed with Samantha. After she had flown back to New York, the *NSYNC team convened for a meeting in LA. Gentlemen After Dark was poised to be one of *NSYNC's biggest selling albums, likened to the days of Celebrity back in 2001 when the band was riding the wave of boy band idolation of the new millennium. 

The pressure and expectation of a major selling album came at a cost. Johnny and the label were adamant that *NSYNC ride this wave of publicity and quickly, their calendar filled. Promo weeks in London. A visit to Germany to pay homage to the original fans that launched their career. Talk show after radio show after online chat; *NSYNC was everywhere.

Then the album was released and was met with critical and commercial success. It went platinum in the first two weeks, cementing *NSYNC's status as a reigning boy band success. This set the stage for a summer tour in arenas, filling the demand for the band.

Meanwhile, mainstream media had taken notice of a blonde, plus-sized model that appeared in a certain boy band video. Her calendar quickly filled up with Fashion Weeks in Paris, countless shoots and shows in New York City, TV appearances in LA and many, many meetings with prospective designers. It was getting harder and harder for Samantha and JC to schedule time to be together. JC insisted on the two weeks off at the end of February, putting his foot down to the label.

JC stood on the back patio in a pair of grey shorts, staring out at the sparkling blue Pacific ocean in front of him. He scratched at his abs, smiling softly at the beautiful scene in front of him. In all of *NSYNC's travels, he had never been to a place quite like this one, where every last detail was like perfection. 

Sam came up from behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and kissing his shoulder blade. She was in a blue bikini with roses on it, her sunglasses on top of her head. "Okay, baby, you're deep in thought. What's going on in that handsome mind of yours?"

He laughed softly, leaning back into her body. "Just this little piece of paradise. How lucky are we that we can have this time to experience together?"

"Uhh, extremely," she smiled, leaning up to rest her chin on his shoulder. "Normal people typically don't get to be in an overwater bungalow in Moorea.  Settling for a beach town on either coast is about as adventurous as a lot of people get."

JC closed his eyes, breathing in the salt air. "We're not normal people though. And for as hard as we both work, we fucking deserve this, Samantha."

She grinned. "Oh we fucking deserve this, baby?" She giggled, bringing her lips over to his neck where she left soft kisses. He smelled heavenly and she loved the warm feeling of his skin against her lips. 

"Mmm now that you mention it, I fucking deserve it. It's been like two days since I've had you, you know." He made a soft little grunt. 

"You mean the heated way you took me in your foyer when you brought me home from the airport wasn't enough for you?" she giggled against his skin. "Then the one more you got in before we left for the airport again the next day to get here?"

"Well," he laughed all low, "That was stateside. We're here... in paradise... no one around for miles..."

Two weeks in Moorea was exactly what the doctor had ordered for both JC and Samantha. Cell phones locked away in the safe immediately, vacation time filled with nothing but crystal blue water, kayaking, snorkeling, laying in the sun, eating and drinking the most amazing island style foods, and taking the time to continue to explore the passionate relationship that had built up between the two.

But as quickly as the trip arrived, it became a series of digital photos and memories that JC held close to his heart. His favorite photo of  a sunkissed Samantha sitting on the dock of their bungalow in nothing but a big floppy hat, staring out at the ocean ahead was his desktop, something he looked at to remind him of his calm in the crazy. 

The two week trip had turned into the longest stretch of time they were able to be together. A long weekend here, an overnight trip there, a 5 day getaway in New York, Roughly 3 days together in LA. The whirlwind schedules made Samantha's move to Los Angeles a month-long process, with some of her boxes still stacked in the master closet as she lived out of a suitcase.

The opening night of the tour was in Miami at the end of May. Samantha had flown in for the show and flew out the next morning. The majority of the tour was similar to this, overnight flights, one or two day visits. Each visit began with a passionate encounter, JC and Sam unable to contain the immediate passion that raged at seeing each other again, well worth it every single time. 

The tour had finally come to a close at the end of July. *NSYNC had broken more records, celebrated more milestones as a group and performed for hundreds of thousands of eager fans. It was finally time for a well-deserved break.

*** 

JC was at his house for the first time in months. He had just arrived the night before to an empty house, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Samantha from Fiji in a few short days. She had no idea he was home yet, and he was eager to surprise her at home waiting for her. He was wearing glasses and loose fitting lounge pants, his hair messy as he went through the voicemails on his phone out on his patio. He had fallen behind in answering his phone and emails with the busyness of the tour. Most importantly, he was looking for any messages from her. 

Sam was in the back of a towncar from LAX, driving to Hollywood. She was excited to surprise JC at home, to be the woman waiting at home for him when he arrived from tour. She knew he'd be exhausted and she wanted to be there to take care of him. Her flight from Fiji was over 10 hours but she had caught up on sleep and some work she had to do for some designers. She smiled, looking down at her phone. Her phone background was a photo of the two of them in Moorea, one JC had taken with his arm stretched out with his digital camera. They were both laughing and it was candid and real, showing just how much they had fun together. She clicked over to her text messages and sent off a message.

Samantha: Good morning baby! Xoxo

JC smiled, hearing the phone buzz in his hands. He texted her back,

JC: Morrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnnnnning babe!

She laughed so cutely at how quickly he messaged her back. 

Samantha: Miss you boo. What are you up to?

She grinned a little harder when the car turned onto JC's street... err, her street. She was still getting used to bicoastal living, enjoying spending time in the house in LA when she had the opportunity. 

JC was all smirks as he texted her back.

JC: Ohhh, just listening to some voicemails. Catching up on some things that need attention. What's my favorite blonde girl doing?

Samantha: Same. catching up on things that need attention... :)

JC pursed his lips as he replied.

JC: Mmhmm. Speaking of all that...

Samantha: That's what you're calling it now?

She smirked as the car let her off in the driveway, she grabbed her suitcase from the driver, rolling it to the front steps. 

JC: Calling what? That I miss you and want to see my girlfriend? That attention?

He walked inside the house, grabbing a gatorade from the fridge. He was daydreaming a little bit, looking at some of her kitchen utensils left around the kitchen, with a big bouquet of roses he had picked up the night before to be greeting her when she arrived. Little touches of femininity were sprinkled throughout his bachelor pad and he loved it. 

Samantha: Mmm. Attention. ;) 

She was all soft laughs, unlocking the front door with her key. She smiled as she surveyed the foyer. JC had simple art, a plant, but at some point he had added a black and white photo of them from New Year's Eve, arm in arm. Every time she came home, it made her smile. 

JC: I'll call it whatever you want me to. Attention...needy... quality time... lusty...

JC stood with the fridge wide open, staring in at the food he had delivered the night before. He thought he had heard a noise, but was so temporarily unfamiliar with the sounds of his own home after being on tour, he brushed it aside.

Sam rolled her suitcase through the living room and up the stairs to their bedroom. She was in her own little world daydreaming, thinking about surprising him. 

JC's ears perked up, definitely hearing the wheels on the tile floor. He kicked the door shut to the fridge, as he called out "Baby?" He left everything behind on the counter, making a bolt for the stairs. He didn't see her, so he took 2 steps at a time until he found himself walking into the bedroom, where the light was on. He was grinning so hard as he cleared his throat. 

Sam jumped, letting out a yelp as she turned around to see who was there. She nearly fell on her suitcase. "Jesus, Josh!" she called out, holding her heart when she realized it was him. 

He couldn't help but smile. "Hi honey!" He crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall. He was about ready to crawl out of his skin with excitement at being at their house together, finally, but he played it cool.

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "So much for surprising you, you got me baby!"

He pushed off the wall so fast, not able to walk over to her fast enough to lift him up in his arms. "Because I wanted to get home to surprise you first! I wanted you to come home to me."

Sam giggled softly as he lifted her up into the air with ease. "Mmm. Now if I can come home to my sexy daddy in those pants I could get behind this all the time."

JC grinned slyly as he looked up into her eyes, "If you can come home to sexy daddy? You mean when you come home to sexy daddy. Your stuff is everywhere, my bed now smells like you... which by the way drove me fucking CRAZY last night when I got home, my walls are decorated with your pictures, and half of my kitchen has been reorganized. You get to come home to me always."

She smiled, reaching up to touch his face. She didn't say anything in response, letting her eyes explore his and taking the time to look deep into them, as her body language did the talking. She missed him, and she needed the moments to let him sink into her senses again. 

When her fingers touched his face, his lips broke into a smile and she could feel the crease of his cheek and laugh line fold a bit. His eyes watched her and he took a few steps with her still up in his arms, like it was nothing to him. When there was still silence after what he said, he blurted out, "Only if you like coming home to me... I mean..."

She could see it in his eyes, though he was trying desperately to play it cool as he followed up his phrase, she could see the literal flash of panic go through his eyes. She was beginning to learn him inside and out. "Joshua," she smiled and brought her nose against his, "I don't like coming home to you. I love it. While I missed you being here when you were on the road and I was doing work in LA, I loved being around the things that reminded you of me. And I love that what was yours, you're willing to make ours."

JC smiled again, slowly letting her down. He kept his arms around her and stepped closer to her. "I love that I wanted to make what was mine ours... I've never wanted that with another woman, and in fact, I have never lived with another woman like this before."

"Shhh," she leaned in to kiss him, just once and softly. "I know baby."

JC let out the cutest sigh, it was light against her lips. He let his lips sit there for a moment before he kissed her again softly. "I just missed you... like a lot, Samantha."

She smiled against his lips, letting them brush against his a few times. "As I missed you, blue eyes... will you cuddle with me for the rest of the morning?"

"Ummm duh," he grinned, looking at her. "You get your pretty little ass into our bed."

Sam smiled softly, taking off his blue dodgers hat off her head that was over her messy blonde curls, tossing it at him as she did a little run and dive into their bed. JC hadn't made it that morning, so the sheets were still messy on his side. She pulled her side down before crawling under the covers. She grinned as she looked out toward the windows. The shades were open and the late morning sunlight was coming into the room. The view of LA was always awe-inspiring to her. 

JC grinned so hard, watching her. He walked over to his side, climbing in, refusing to take his eyes off of her. "Did you even get any sleep last night?" He took his glasses off, putting them on the side table before turning and sliding under the covers. His feet went looking for hers so he could hook them and pull her legs closer, letting them pretzel on top of the other.

She wrapped her legs all up with his and rested her head on his chest, looking up at him. "Ehhh. It's like tomorrow already in Fiji so I'm not even sure what time it's supposed to be," she laughed softly, "I can't sleep when I know I'm going to see you the next day. My body craves being held by you."

JC looked at her, leaning down to kiss her forehead. His arm wrapped around her gently, then slowly ran along her back. "I crave to hold you... you fit perfectly in my arms, perfectly against my body. You're pretty much just perfect for me. Mmhmm."

She smiled, nodding a little bit at his touch. "I miiiight just happen to feel the same way about a certain someone who is laying here with his arms around me." She reached up, sliding her fingertips along his chest, feeling the light smattering of chest hair as her fingertips walked over to his arms. It made her smile, feeling the new dips and swells from tour. 

He licked his lips as he watched her hand travel along his arms. Subconsciously, he tightened them for her. With a small smile. "Yeah, you miiiiiight?" He mocked her, laughing.

Sam smirked, watching him. "You were perfect for me in a slightly more compacted version, though I can't hate on this." She licked her lips just like he did, but it led to a fit of overtired giggles. "The man has convinced me."

JC laughed all low. "Slightly compacted? Excuse me?"

Sam smirked and shook her head a little bit, pushing on his chest a little bit before rolling off of him playfully.

JC growled, grabbing her waist with a quickness to pull her back into him. "And now you think you're getting away?"

Sam giggled, looking up at him with sparkling eyes, filled with mischief. "I was only trying to cuddle!"

"Then c'mere woman," he laughed and grabbed at her hips, pulling a leg up over him. "I will not let you get away from me for the next month."

She grinned and brought her head back up onto his chest. "I don't want you to let me go. I just wanna finish moving in and spend my time with you. And do all the things together that we haven't gotten to do."

"I want to help you finish moving in. I want you to feel like this place is yours too. Anything you want, or think needs changing, I'll do it." He played with her messy hair.

She smiled. "It's just clothes in the closet and some other stuff at this point. A lot of it sat in boxes for awhile. I did most of it while you were on tour," she snuggled into him a little bit tighter, "I'm happy with the house right now." She rested her head on his chest again as she gazed up at him. "Maybe someday we'll get another place. Who knows what the future will hold." She bit her lip with a daydreamy look, thinking about the future. 

He wasn't dumb, and could see the twinkle in her eye. "I think the future holds secrets. But I'm pretty sure my future looks bright because you're in it." He pulled her a bit closer so he could lean to kiss her, "If things go right, I'm happy to get a bigger place with you baby. I'm game."

She smirked on his kiss. "You bought yourself a 4 bedroom house overlooking Hollywood by the time you were 23. Your future has been pretty bright right along, handsome," she placed a few more kisses on his lips, before reaching down and interlocking their fingers nice and tight. "You just made a good choice asking me on a date."

When she smirked, he smirked in return, then kissed her again as she locked their fingers. "Mmm, baby. I love how damn confident that last statement was." He stole a few more kisses, "Damn right it was a good choice."

Sam grinned, nibbling on his lip. "Mmm, and I made one by saying yes. You're a damn good catch, Josh."

He gave her a nibble right back, with the hand not locked with hers, he reached for the back of her knee, grabbing it and pulling her leg over his hip. He made a low, manly grunt. "Thanks for fishing..."

She smiled, watching him. "I think I'll keep you." She worked with his body, moving her legs so she moved on top of him, smiling down against his lips. "That is, if you want me to keep you." She gave him another little nibble. 

JC looked up at her after her nibble, and both of his hands went to pull her completely on top of him now, so all of her body weight was against him. His lips pursed as he looked down at their bodies together, then back up at her face. "No more questions about who's keeping who and if one of us wants to really be in this relationship. You are mine, and I am yours."

Sam smiled, "Undoubtedly, completely and always my sweetheart," She sighed softly. It wasn't an unsure or unhappy one, it was obvious it was one of contentment. After her sigh, she leaned down and just placed a series of soft kisses on his lips, lazy and loving.

He wrapped his arms around her loosely as she had to come down to kiss on him, he gently tugs and pulls between soft little brushes against her lips. "Mmm, I almost forgot what that felt like." He dragged his lips to her cheek and kissed softly, smiling just a little against her skin.

She smiled, closing her eyes as she nuzzled her face against his. "Hey Josh?"

He had to grin when she said his name like that. "Yes baby?" His hands softly reached under the t-shirt to feel her bare skin against his fingertips.

Sam smiled when his fingers made their way to her bare skin. She missed his touch and the way he had learned her body over the last 7 months. "Thank you for being you. Her lips found his again, soft and slow with little tugs. 

He followed her kisses for a little bit along with his hands pressed up on her back before he pulled away for a moment to look at her. "Mmm, I don't know that I have heard that before... what did I do to make you say that?"

She bit her lip a little bit as she looked down at him, she was about to say something else but then she stopped herself. "I've never told you that I appreciate you for who you are?"

JC dug his head into the pillow a little bit more as he watched her body language. His hands slid down to her hips, messing with the waist of her leggings, but they were way loose in the back, making him kind of hook his thumbs in them. "I mean... you show appreciation for me, and I know gratitude when I hear it, I just mean... the way you said it." He smiled softly.

Sam returned his soft smile, not saying anything else. She knew exactly what to do to deflect this conversation and bring it back to something she could control. She went back to making light little work on his lips, sliding her hands down to meet his where she took them into hers, bringing both their hands out by their sides. 

JC let her take over for now, letting his hands and his arms go with her lead and what she wanted. He only shifted his body a little underneath her because it began to react to her touches. He said nothing more, letting his lips follow her lead. He liked it... no, he loved it.

Sam smiled on his lips. A good hour passed where they were just making out, being in tune with each other. This was the first time since New Year's Eve they were able to just be in the moment with each other, making out with light little touches, not filled with the need to fuck each other senseless. Which, she always loved because it was hot as hell to know he wanted her so bad every time, but there was something comfortable and sensual about this too. 

JC had been turned on for a while, and he knew she could tell, but it wasn't fully ready turned on either, he was simply enjoying her and their time together. He wanted all of this romance shit with her... he knew already deep down how he was feeling , but all of this still continued to feel a little new and risky to him. He had taken the step of moving her in, but with the touring and work schedules, their time together was so limited that everything still felt so new about this relationship.

They had slowly rolled back and forth on each other, and they had ended up both on their sides, his hand resting in the back of her leggings against her ass cheek, as his face nuzzled against hers still. 

She smiled against his lips, nuzzling into his face a little bit more as she whispered, "This is what I want to come home to everyday." She sighed softly and his name was mixed in with it. Her eyes closed for a moment.

JC's lips kissed their way to her ear, before he kissed that too. "You are coming home to this everyday. I'm not gonna change how I love on you baby."

She smiled, tilting her head a bit to look at him. "Not asking you to. Just telling you that I like it." Her hips were pressed against his and she felt him turned on for her, just enjoying the feeling of knowing he wanted her. "Mmm, you know, that appreciation thing." She grinned.

He hummed and kissed a small trail from her ear down to her neck. "Yeah, I'll appreciate you... for being mine... being sexy..." he grinned, "That's what you mean right?"

"Mmm, something like that," she giggled because she did love his lips on her. She reached down to take his hand out of her leggings, lacing her fingers with his. "I think I'd also like to appreciate some lunch on the balcony. Are you up for that?"

He bit his lip before licking them. "Very much up for that. I'm hungry, but I wasn't going to stop appreciating you. You take priority over food right now." He grinned.

She giggled, leaning in for one more kiss before she knew she needed to be the one to make the first move. She rolled over onto her back and made a soft noise then sat up, getting out of bed. She peeled off her long sleeved top to reveal a little black tank under it. She smiled, peeking behind her shoulder at him. 

He groaned, thinking fuuuuck. He threw his face into the pillow she was just on, being dramatic for cute effect.

Sam laughed so cute and shook her head. "Joshua Scott, I'll meet you in the kitchen." She was still laughing softly as she headed downstairs to see what he had in their fridge. 

He rolled over and popped up quickly. He wasn't far behind her going down the stairs, following her into the kitchen. "We probably have anything you want since I had groceries delivered on my way back last night." He grabbed his still-open Gatorade bottle and took a long sip. "Hopefully I did a good enough job of choosing."

"Mmm. My tummy is thinking some chicken and cheese quesadillas. You game?" She grinned back at him, pulling out the chicken and cheese, grabbing tortillas and everything she needed to make homemade pico de gallo. 

"Ughhhh... I am so game." he smiled, pulling up a stool, watching her making herself comfortable in his, wait no... their kitchen. "I know I always ask you this but do you cook a lot?"

She laughed softly, "A woman's gotta eat Josh." She rummages through the cabinet for her quesadilla press. "These hips didn't get the way they were without some cooking." She took out the pan and began to saute the chicken and onions. "Besides, cooking is a stress reliever for me. It helps me to relax."

JC tilted his head, watching her intently as she moved in the kitchen. "You know, those hips look like they've lost a little without that cooking."

Sam was sprinkling the cheese and the chicken on the tortillas in the press and stopped mid sprinkle to look at him, blinking. She knew her body was a little bit more toned from when they first met, a result of more intensive training and her busy schedule. 

"Shit. That definitely came out incorrectly. I'm sorry honey, I just... I got caught up looking at you." JC blurted out. 

She laughed softly, closing the lid on the press. "Baby, don't be sorry. I guess I just didn't expect you to say something. Yes, I've lost about 15 pounds. I guess I'M sorry that I didn't realize you'd miss my hips that much," she smirked and nibbled on a little strip of chicken that had fallen onto the cutting board. "Somebody got me addicted to going to the gym again, and I got back into some dancing," she blushed softly. "I needed an outlet for the cardio I was missing when we weren't together."

"Wait, wait, wait." He had to laugh all low, reaching for the bag of cheese. "First of all, you didn't think I'd miss my favorite hips and thighs? And second... an outlet... for when you wanted some... and couldn't have daddy?" He put a pinch full of cheese in his mouth. 

"Welllll," she flipped the quesadillas over and looked at him again. "I mean, you always grab at them whenever we throw down. But it's not like they're gone. And yes! I was frustrated, okay? It's not like I could just go get someone else."

He was grinning so hard. "I mean you COULD have... but I'm glad that you didn't. Because all that is mine."

Sam smirked, "Just like those 15 pounds probably went on you from the gym." She plated their quesadillas and spread out some sour cream and pico on their plates. She stepped to him and let her fingers play at his abs, all the way down to the V. "Because I know that's why all this happened... and alllll of this is mine." Her fingers stopped before they snuck any lower, knowing he was still turned on and it was evident from earlier. And she knew... he was trouble.

His eyes watched her hands, his body reacting even more when she touched him. "Ugh. I was on tour. But if you must know... yes, you were the thought behind the 2-a-days and the extra weight." He grabbed at her wrist, pulling her hand off of him nicely before the passion she was talking about earlier happened in the next 30 seconds.

She had to bite her lip. She knew she was no angel in any of this, and she knew that he knew it too. She turned away with a smile. "Can you get me a water from the fridge please baby?" She needed to walk out of the kitchen, so she carried both of their plates onto the back patio where she put them on the little table out there. It made her smile softly, thinking back to sharing sushi from Moon Thai at the very same table. This time, she wasn't a visitor. 

JC came out carrying his Gatorade and a bottle of water, pausing at the sliding glass door to watch her getting their table set up. It made his heart flutter as he watched her, in his home, making it her own. He knew that the time he was going to spend with her was going to be worth every moment of the hard-earned break the band was taking before they needed to complete their next round of promo overseas. 

He sat down at the table with her, uncapping her water bottle for her. He held his Gatorade bottle up to her water bottle and grinned. "To being home," he toasted.

"To being home," she repeated with a smile.