HANNAH 

Hannah woke up to the faint sound of music. She turned over to glance at the clock on the nightstand. Almost noon. She had a brief moment of panic before remembering it was Saturday.

He was in the studio. She knew the difference between that and a radio by now. She sighed and took a moment to stare at the ceiling. They should really talk. She knew they weren’t going to. Not about what needed to be talked about, anyway. 

As soon as she made her presence known, there would be a silent kiss greeting, maybe an “Are you hungry?” They would go about their day, orbiting each other until it was time for dinner, eventually ordering from somewhere and maybe sharing a bottle of wine. 

It was safe. It was predictable. It was going nowhere. 

Summoning her motivation, she pulled the comforter off of her body and rolled out of the bed. Shuffling to the walk-in closet that had slowly become mostly hers, she pulled on a robe and tightened the bun that had come loose on her head.  

She had basically moved in. Basically. Not officially. Her apartment she now lived in alone sat empty most days, but he hadn’t actually invited her to live with him yet. 

Slipping on a pair of slides, she made her way downstairs. Coffee. Coffee was the one thing she knew she needed. 

While she worked on the french press, she hummed along to the melody coming from the studio and caught herself. A hard habit to break. It wasn’t even a real song yet, but she always harmonized while he worked. He thought it was cute. Another thing that kept her there. Another distraction from reality. 

The music stopped and she heard the studio door open, followed by the slight creek of the wooden hallway floor. 

“You’re up…” he smiled. 

“Not yet...Caffeine first…” she smirked. 

He walked behind her, placing his hands gently on her shoulders as he kissed the top of her head. She closed her eyes, comforted by his touch, but aware his lips were on her hair instead of her mouth. 

“Smells good. That the hazelnut?”

“Yeah...Want some?”

“Thank you, babe…” 

“You gonna be in there all day?” Hannah nodded toward the studio.

He sighed “Yeah...Most of it anyway, probably...Really trying to finish this track by Monday. Deadline is Tuesday, but ya know...edits and stuff…”

She nodded as she set the french press down to brew. “Gotta meet the Chasez standard.”

He shrugged “I am who I am…Plans today?”

She held both arms out to her sides “You’re looking at ‘em. I dunno...Maybe I’ll call Jade...see if she can squeeze me in for lunch. I think they are on a filming break right now.”

JC smiled almost sadly “Did you finish your draft?”

Hannah was trying not to think about the 200 pages she owed her editor. She had finally nailed down a topic and plot for her first book release, but a major case of writer’s block had set in. 

She sighed “Almost. I think I need to take a day off. Between work and the book…” 

She was lying. She had written 50 pages, if that. 

JC nodded. “You’ll get there. I know you will…”

Hannah finished the coffee and poured two cups.

“I’m gonna get back to it...Have an amazing day, honey…” He kissed her quickly before walking back down the hall to his cave.

Hannah watched him go.

Not so long ago, morning coffee would have ended a lot differently. Her mind wandered to a different time...

“Gonna get going?” JC teased, mischief in his eyes, as he propped himself up in the bed next to her.

She smirked, crawling closer to him to bring his lips to her own. “I’m a VERY busy woman, ya know…”

“Uh huh...You’re also a very naked woman...who doesn’t seem to be rushing to get dressed…”

“That’s because someone ripped my clothes off last night…” she smiled slowly. 

“What an asshole…” he teased, shaking his head for effect.

Hannah laughed as he snaked his arm around her. 

“I might need some coffee...maybe an egg…” she shrugged with a soft smirk.

“Mmmm...Mmmhmm...two cups…” he mumbled as he pulled her in for a deep kiss. 

Hannah brushed a strand of hair out of her way as she flipped through the paper in front of her. 

“You look pretty comfortable, Miss busy…” JC grinned.

Hannah blushed “Sorry...Occupational hazard...COFFEE. FOCUS. “ she looked at him. 

“Mama...Coffee is NOT what I am focused on right now…”

“Oh yeah…?” she teased , running her foot slowly up his leg under the table. 

He grinned and ran his hand up her calf and back down. “Yeah...Come here and I’ll show you.”

Hannah smiled, standing up to walk to him. Leaning in for a kiss, he pulled her onto his lap.

“Is this like Santa...Do I get whatever I want?” she grinned.

Loosening the tie to her robe, he began kissing down her neck. 

“Whatever you want…”

He pushed the robe down as she shrugged it further down her arm, turning around to straddle him. 

“In that case…” She slid her hand down to the elastic of his boxers, tugging them down as far as she could get them. She slipped her robe all the way off, dropping it to the floor to reveal its all she had put on before coming downstairs. 

JC grinned as he ran his hands up her stomach to her chest, pausing to pull off his shirt and kiss her from lips to chest. He stood just enough for Hannah to drop his boxer briefs to the floor before pulling her further into his lap. Pressing his body against hers as she moved closer, his tongue made a careful rhythm in her mouth as he found his way into her.  

Arching her back, Hannah let her head fall slightly back away from his lips, settling in to the satisfaction. A low whimper escaped her as she started to move to meet his pace.

“Oh God...Jaccccce…” she breathed.

He grinned, picking up his pace. No one else was allowed to call him that, and it always surprised him just how much it drove him wild coming from her like that.

Holding her own body to keep it against his, she found it harder to control her breathing as she got close. She felt his muscles flex and contract as his finish approached.

“AHHHH HA-NNAH…” he grunted as he let go. 

She let herself surrender, matching his release. 

Catching her lips in a kiss, his breathing was heavy. She could feel her own heartbeat in her chest.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of that, mama…”

She grabbed his face, fingers on cheeks “You need to stop calling me that…” she smirked.

He bit his bottom lip as he grabbed her ass with both hands “Make me…”

Hannah grabbed his hands, pulling them off as she got up and kissed him quickly  “Later..Gotta get to work.” She smiled playfully at him “Maybe next time…”

Next time. How many times would that be? Both of them had lost count. 

Still, no promises had been made. Hannah had no idea what he did between their visits, and quite frankly, she didn’t care. They were exactly what each other needed...when they needed it.

****

THE MIDDLE

“Hannah...HANNAH...Earth to Hannah…” 

A voice ripped her from her stare at the screen in front of her.

“What?...Oh sorry...What’s up?”

Jenny shook her head, grabbing a seat in the chair next to Hannah’s desk. “What’s with you, girl? Late night?”

Hannah blushed a little “Kind of...Sorry...Here now...What can I do for you?”

Jenny giggled a little “Came to check on how the layout edits are going. Deadline is today, ya know…”

Hannah smiled “You’ll have it in an hour. Maybe sooner.” 

She pointed at her screen “Finishing it up now.”

Jenny nodded. If there was one thing Hannah NEVER dropped the ball on, it was her job.

“Thanks. NOW...About this late night…” she leaned forward on her elbow and spoke quietly.

Hannah rolled her eyes. “You need to get out more, Jen…”

Jenny agreed “I really, REALLY do…” She held up her left hand. “Old married lady...COME ON..Give me some excitement.” 

Hannah laughed “Not that thrilling.”

Jenny studied her “You’ve been tired a lot lately, though...OH MY GOD HANNAH Are you seeing someone? Is he cute?”

Hannah sighed “I’m not...SEEING...anyone...But yes...He’s pretty hott…”

Jenny almost choked “Okay, bad girl...Damn, you’re brave.”

“Brave?”

“Yeah, brave! I mean...You clearly go for what you want. “

“I just keep it simple,” Hannah shrugged.

Jenny leaned back to place her hands matter-of-factly on her legs. “Well ...Good for you, girl!...Let me know when those edits are ready…”

“Will do.” Hannah smiled.

***

Hannah carefully buttoned the last button on her shirt, pulling her hair from the back of the collar and fluffing it a bit. Bedhead was probably unavoidable, but she could at least try.

Afternoons were new for them, but it had been a rare uneventful weekend for them both.

“You want coffee or something?” JC asked casually as he pulled his t-shirt back over his head.

“Uh...That’s ok...I’ll probably grab some on my way home….” Hannah smiled.

She watched the expression on his face change; thoughtful, cautious. 

“Hey what if we ...grabbed something to eat?” JC offered.

“Um…” Hannah let out a heavy breath. She was hungry. He was perfectly respectful. It’s not like she couldn’t have a meal with a man without incident. Still, it made her a little nervous. “What...did you have in mind.”

JC shrugged. “I dunno...Few places down the street...or we could order in…”

Hannah took a minute to think, considering how well he’d be able to hide if we were out with a woman.

“...Would you feel safer ordering in?” Hannah studied him.

JC smiled, blushing a little “Kinda...Yeah…”

Hannah gave him a half smile “Okay...We can do that…”

JC returned her smile, appreciative of her consideration “Cool...Uh...Pizza?” he suggested. 

“No onions…” Hannah teased.

JC took a sip of his beer, letting her swallow the bite she had just taken before continuing the conversation they were having. “So all your life in LA, huh?”

Hannah nodded “Yep. Born and raised. Closer to Orange County, but ya know...borderline…”

JC nodded. “Not many natives left here...You never wanted to leave?”

Hannah smirked. He was easy to talk to. He had kind eyes and though she had never planned to get to know him more, she was having a good time. 

“I did...for a little while...Did a college semester in Arizona...Wasn’t for me…”

“Arizona, huh?”

Hannah nodded “Yeah...My dad lives there...Figured it would be nice having him close...Uh...Broken home…” She took a sip of her beer.

JC’s brow furrowed a little “Ah...Well me too...Kinda…”

“Kinda?” Hannah questioned.

“I’m adopted...It’s...complicated.”

Hannah looked at him, mid pizza bite “Really?”

“Yep…” he took a bite of his own slice. 

Hannah smiled softly “Divorced. “

“Daddy’s girl?” JC teased.

Hannah snorted “Guilty. Nickname and everything.”

JC’s eyebrows lifted, amused “Oh yeah? What is it?”

Hannah blushed “...Annie...It makes no sense…” she laughed softly, her eyes lighting up.

JC grinned “Cute...Annie...Yeah I like that…”

“Your parents don’t call you JC, do they?”

He shook his head “Josh, mostly...JC just stuck from…”

“Right,” Hannah smiled. 

“I’m ...ok with Jace, too..” he teased. 

“Noted,” she smiled. 

“You uh...You want another beer?”

Hannah noticed the time on the cable box. They had been talking for an hour. If she left now, it was just a quick bite. If she didn’t...Was it a date? She looked back at him, noting the way his bicep flexed holding his beer. The curl in his hair that was fighting to break the styler he used to tame it. His calm expression as he waited for her to reply. What could a little more conversation hurt?

“Uh...sure..” Hannah smiled. “Maybe some water, too?”

JC smiled at her as he turned toward the kitchen “You got it...Be right back.”

Hannah sighed to herself as she watched him walk away. What was she doing…

Returning a few minutes later, he handed her an opened beer and a bottle of water. 

“Thank you,” Hannah smiled.

“Uh huh…” JC said, sitting back down on the couch. 

He grabbed the remote to turn on the tv.

“Are you a football person, or…”

Hannah laughed a little “You aren’t gonna make me watch the Raiders, are you?”

JC made a face “Hell no! Redskins all the way…”

Hannah smiled “I’m a Chargers fan...Kinda…”

JC laughed “I am ..SO...sorry…”

‘Hey they don’t always suck!” she shot back.

JC stared at her.

“Yeah...Ok…” she smirked.

She hadn’t figured him for a sports guy. It was refreshing. In this moment she didn’t see a boyband member or a famous person. He was just a guy...doing what guys do. Drinking beer and watching the game on a Sunday. She smiled and quietly watched the action onscreen, chuckling to herself as he reacted to a penalty call. 

After a few minutes, his phone buzzed. She watched him pick it up, scowling.

“Shit…” he looked over at her. “I’m so sorry...I have to make a call…”

“No worries,” Hannah reassured. “It’s your house…”

He held up a finger as he dialed and made his way to a quieter part of the house. “I’ll be back.”

JC headed into a spare room and growled when his call was answered.

“ANDY...Are you fucking KIDDING ME?”

“I’m sorry, man..I tried. I really tried. You know this thing has been like pulling teeth from the beginning.”

“Only because YOU guys have dropped the ball...Over and Over again…”

“I don’t know what to tell you, JC...The interest just isn’t there…”

“That’s bullshit and you know it…”

There was a sigh on the other end of the phone “Maybe if you weren’t so stubborn… HAD to make an album YOUR WAY, didn’t you..”

“I think I deserve at least that much…” JC countered.

“You can do whatever you want, dude...It never meant it was going to work out the way you wanted it to…”

“What about the single?”

“That’s still a go. I don’t see much of a point, honestly, but...We can still push that release…”

JC paused, rubbing his forehead. “Do that. “

On the other end, Andy let out a breath. “Fine. I will call you with more details later.”

“Looking forward to it,” JC said sarcastically before hanging up.

Making his way back to the living room, Hannah noticed the change in him.

“Is….everything ok?” she asked.

“Yep. Perfect.” JC answered, clearly lying. 

It wasn’t her place to pry. His eyes were DARK blue and his descent onto the couch was more of a crash than a sit.

“O-kay...Well they scored while you were-”

He had moved toward her faster than she had time to react, kissing her impulsively. 

Hannah pulled away quickly “You sure you’re alright?” she asked, eyes wide. She heard the tension in his breath. He was being more aggressive than usual, and she wasn’t exactly complaining. 

“Shut up…” he whispered, pushing her back against the couch gently as he pushed his lips back down on hers.

She smiled against his lips, feeling her pulse quicken. Yep. DEFINITELY not complaining...