026

As she locked the door, June was still trying to work out what she needed to say to Jon, and how she was going to do it, but she turned round to find him giving a longing look at her curvy, slim figure, jaw clenched. His seductive smile wasn’t easy to ignore, and it made her abdomen stir with electricity. Damn, he really was a nice sample of walking aphrodisiac as they made their way towards the lake.

"Don’t you even dare to think it’s gonna be that easy", she chastised but kept the mood light, filtering the slight indignation she still felt as a result of the previous day’s scene.

"Finding you turned out to be quite a task. I had to get my hands dirty", he smiled broadly.

"I knew it was going to be easy for you to know I was here, since I heard John talking to you on the phone and spilling the beans. Then, finding Glenn on the map, not that big a deal. However, I do have to confess I’m in awe of you for having found the cabin all by yourself", June curved her lips downwards and nodded, "Well done, Mr. Rockstar"

"Well… that’s not exactly true…", he smiled and shrunk his neck until he buried his self-deprecating grin in the high collar of his jacket, which was zipped all the way up to his chin. He narrowed his sparkling eyes.

"Oh…", June chortled softly, he was admitting he had to ask for help. That was certainly a rare occurrence.  "Steven?...", she took her safest guess , the ranger, and he nodded with a tight, defeated, irresistible smile that eased her mood. June burst out in a throaty laughter that echoed in the solitude of the surrounding.

"He wanted to call you, then John, then your parents to get me clearance", Jon smiled at the recollection. "I practically had to jump through rings of fire to convince him to show me the way.

June laughed loudly when the image solidified in her mind.

"You know… even when it freaks the sweet love of God out of me to know there’s no safe place for me to hide from you in this world…it’s actually nice that you’re here", she nodded meaningfully, and put her arm through his, pressing her cheek against his shoulder as they continued strolling down the rocky path.

A mild, humid wind blew past the surface of the lake onto their faces, and as they walked, the sound of the pebbles beneath their feet reminded June of the soothing sound of maracas. Jon playing maracas. The image that breached inside her bubble of concentration almost made her moan in response. Not now, she ordered herself as she mentally repaired the invisible bubble.

To the sides of the path, the grass was thick, deep green, fresh and fragrant. The trees, in all shapes and sizes, struggled with each other to be the most noticed, some of them had branches that bent down to the ground, barely able to bare the weight of the fruits, some had naked roots that struggled to release to free themselves from the ground. In the distance, the water was crystalline and fairly still, only a few creases here and there product of the birds that flew oh so near to the surface in search of their next meal. They filled the air with their sounds and stirring. June told Jon how it never ceased to amaze June how the breathtaking scenery swept her off her feet every time, like it had since she’d first come here with her family at the age of four. Her tone was warm and melancholic. This was definitely one thing she was going to miss.

They started climbing down the steep and rustic wooden stairs that led to the beach, Jon taking the lead and holding June’s hands. They walked the rest of the way to the shore in silence, contemplating the landscape, choosing their words in their minds, none of them daring to draw first. June’s reaction had showed Jon that he’d crossed some sort of line into completely unknown territory. He hadn’t been able to get rid of the memory of her gaze, least of all the streak of disgust in it. Even when he secretly cursed his greedy self for having brought it upon himself, there was more to it than just his own actions, and it surely had a lot to do with a part of her he hadn’t got to know yet.

"Talk to me", Jon was the first one to speak once they reached the shore, right where the white, immaculate sand met the water. They began to walk along the shore.

"Maybe it’s better if we stop seeing each other", June spat out, as if she couldn’t contain the words any longer, but hastily added "Like this, I mean", Jon was startled, he’d probably never get used to her raw sincerity, but a certain lack of conviction in her voice encouraged him. "We had a perfectly honest, comfortable…friendship, why not keep it that way instead of turning it into…whatever the fuck that it turned into yesterday? It wasn’t fun at all, Jon", she scolded mildly, looking deep into his eyes.

"Is that what you want?", his eyes were now the exact same color as the lake, his brow furrowed, both from the daylight and from his concern.

"No. Of course not", her voice sounded more certain this time. "You?"

Jon smiled warily. "Whadda ya think?",he asked, tilting his head to a side and pursing his lips. June acknowledged silently and offered him a smile that threatened to crash in a thousand pieces at any second.
"We just don’t know each other as well as I thought we did"
"Let’s get to know each other, then", he challenged.

She paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully so he wouldn’t get the wrong impression. Inside her mind, however, words were swirling like an abundant river, banging and pushing vehemently against the walls of a fragile dam.

"I was so monumentally pissed at Winston when you came, but seeing you there was a sort of relief…until you went all jealous and possessive and sarcastic on me", June said as she stepped onto the wooden dock that ran at least 100 yards into the water. Two fishermen’s boats lay attached to it close to the end, but there was not one soul in sight. "I felt …ambushed. I don’t handle attachment well…I just can’t take it, it feels like a ball and chain", she grimaced.

At that moment, June had in Jon’s eyes the same consistency of a mirage: just when you think you have a hold on it, it falls apart in front of your eyes. He needed to reach out and touch it, so he stood in front of her and wrapped one arm around her waist, feeling how her tight, thin fleece jacket hung to her curves, his face only a short distance from hers.

"And how much longer are you planning on being mad at me?", he queried teasingly, with a sweet, sexy voice. His warm, dense, masculine scent drove her insane. Olfactory aphrodisiac. Someone should bottle that up.

"You know you’re really hard to stay mad at for too long", she purred, and she was able to hear in her own voice that the effect Jon’s proximity had in her had come across unfiltered. "But for the time being, I’m still a little pissed off"

"That bad, huh?", he pulled his head back to observe her lovely face, and his stare focused on her enticing full lips, that were parted in the center just enough to form a tiny round hole. His boyish charm was beyond exquisite.

"Let’s just say…that it’s better if you don’t do that again", she chastised playfully, a smirk slightly curling the sides of her lips as she placed her finger in the cleft of his chin. She arched her back and dodged Jon’s lips attempt at reaching hers.

"Whoa believe me, I won’t ever do that again", he chuckled with amused frustration at her resistance. "The Cohen stare of death is way creepier than my so-called stink eye. I'm not looking forward to being on the receiving end of it any time soon"

"Good. I just wanted you to know how upset I was"

"Trust me, gorgeous, I got the idea", he chuckled guiltily.

"Come", she said as she reached for his hand, releasing his grip and tugging him behind her towards the end of the dock. However, she stopped half way down and took off her boots, then sat on the edge, tucking one of her legs under her butt and letting the other hang down so the tip of her toes kissed the water. Jon smiled with his hands on his waist and hesitated for a second, but then took off his boots and sat down beside June, letting both his legs hang off the edge and his feet sink partially into the water.

June took the rebellious strands of hair over her forehead, twisted them a couple of times and secured them to her crown with a hair pin she produced form one of her pockets.

Jon’s lips quirked up in a half smile. He couldn’t help but comment in a gallant way.

"You look ravaging, Miss Cohen, as usual".His manners with the ladies had definitely come a long way since the times he hung out with the boys at Asbury Park to check out the girls in bikini.

"Still trying to charm your ass out of trouble, Mr. Bongiovi?", she looked askance at him with a sideways smirk, - cause it kinda works.

"Maybe…", his eyes twinkled, "…there’s something missing, though", he frowned and pouted, twisting his torso so he was facing her, his right hand holding the edge of the dock while he lifted his left hand and placed his index finger under her chin to lift it up, then moved her face slightly from one side to the other. Her moss-green eyes met his deep blue ones.

She gave him a quizzical look, then suddenly felt the splash of water sting her face. She gasped and frowned, momentarily baffled. "You sonnova…", she finally said when words found her, and Jon exploded in a deep, husky but most of all, contagious, burst of laughter. Aural aphrodisiac. She joined him, throwing her head back, exposing her long, soft neck. After a brief moment she lifted her head up again, this time with a beautiful, glowing, relaxed smile on her face as she wiped off the drops with her sleeves. He could be oh so charming…and oh so irritating when he wanted to.

"There you go…perfect", he placed a hand on either side of her head and pulled her close to plant a loud smooch on her delicate, tender lips. When they parted she looked at his handsome face, the slight cleft of his chin, and something stirred deeply inside of her. 

Jon closed his eyes for a second and opened them back up. His senses reveled in the vast beauty of the lake, and the delicate beauty of the woman that was staring at him right now. A woman that stimulated him on more levels than one.

"Com’ere", he ordered with mock sternness, then raised one leg so that his foot rested on the dock, and grabbed June by her shoulders, pulling her close to him so her back rested against his chest. He surrounded her with his arms and she relaxed against his embrace, bending her leg so it rested on the wooden deck. She felt so at home in his arms it frightened her. Jon kissed her hair, inhaling deeply. The illusion was complete, and the mirage felt solid and secured in his arms again. She felt his smile.

"What?"

"It’s just…I like it when I’m with you…", he exhaled meaningfully ,"…and when I’m with you…I don’t want to stop…well, being with you, as simple as that", he chortled softly. "I swear that sounded much more poetic in my head". June chuckled.

"Well, you know what they say, that poetry lies with pretty words"

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"Are you calling yourself a poet?"

It was Jon’s turn to chuckle now.

"You’re more like a troubadour, I'd say".

"Yeah, maybe…but I’d say I’m more like a love-r", he lowered his head so he could say it against her cheek. June tried to contain a burst of laughter, his tone was so cheesy it was cute.

"You do fit the physique du role, you know"

"That’s not…I mean…", he suddenly changed his playful tone for a more sincere, honest one. "I think that giving yourself completely to someone, body and soul must be one of the most amazing experiences any man or woman could ever have", he spoke, his tone turning more and more thoughtful with every second that passed, giving way to a tint of melancholy when he finished. "Trust blindly, jump to the abyss, have faith that it’s gonna work out… feeling it was worth every step of the way even when it crashed and burned in the end…and feeling you would still do it all over again, with a smile on your face"

Jon’s words touched June’s heart with such depth that it surprised her, and she was thankful that he couldn’t see the tears that she couldn’t prevent from pooling in her eyes. A place inside of her that once felt void felt awake now, pulsing and fluttering with something that resembled hope, or faith.

"That did sound poetic, Jon", she muttered once she was able swallow the lump in her throat. "That’s definitely one lie I’d be happy to believe", her tone was ethereal, as if she was speaking about a hermetic, mythical story.

"Well, I can assure you it’s no lie. That’s as real as it gets, June", Jon cleared with conviction and kissed her crown. Wait a minute. "June?", he frowned as the question emerged in his mind.

"What?"

"Have you ever been in love?"

Jon felt her tense in his arms, and she remained silent for what it seemed like days as she chose her words. Jon’s honest question merited an honest answer.

"I’ve drawn initials inside a heart, held hands while watching the sunset, yes…but I doubt that what I felt then was real love at all. So…fallen deeply, head over heels, jump to the abyss in love?…I don’t think so…no ", there was a faint, melancholic feel to her voice when she realized she had never actually gotten all the way. She rumbled in Jon’s arms, uncomfortable, as if it was a revelation for her, too.

Jon was so caught off-guard by June’s confession that he found himself at a loss for words.

June incorporated herself, pushing Jon’s arms gently away to release herself from his embrace, turning into a fragile mirage once again. She let her legs hang off the edge and leaned back against Jon’s bent leg, while he held himself up with his right arm. She seemed fragile, but detached and unattainable, and the feeling was like a torch that inspired to explore deeper into the mysteries of a millenary underground maze, the form in which June’s mind had chosen to represent itself inside of Jon’s head.

"You think so much it’s irritating"

"I can’t help it". Her tone had become more detached.

"Have you ever tried not to?"

"No"

"Why?"

"Because I've just never felt like it", she admitted ruefully and briskly stood up, extending her arm down to Jon. "We should get back now…it’s getting late and I’m famished"

He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and jumped up, nimbly enough that none of his weight would pass on to her arm. Jon chortled, baffled and intrigued.
“I've just never felt like it”?, he shook his head with disbelief. "That’s some piece of bold statement, missy. You don’t go through life 'not feeling like' falling in love…how’s that even possible?", he frowned, making his tone as light as possible.
"Yet here I am…", she said with a lovely grin as they put their boots back on.

Yes, behind that grin, there it was: the terra incognita, June’s intriguing unreachable core that Jon just knew was there, only dormant, waiting for a sparkle to turn her into a powerful erupting volcano. June was already a loving, lovable, incredibly sensual woman, how much the more she could be if she ever let herself go? Just the thought of it made Jon’s mouth water, but for now, he’d stay on known territory. It was wiser to process the newly acquired information before planning the strategy for the next phase of the expedition.

"Baby…", he grabbed her hips and pulled him close to his once again. "Let’s not argue again", he mercilessly unleashed his full-on, sex-charged husky purr, making June’s resolve crumble.

"We won’t have to if we stick to the rules", her voice was a soft, husky, sensual warning on her lips. "I thought we’d already discussed this"

"Rules?", Jon rolled his eyes. "This ain’t a game", he whispered in her ear, almost like a warning.

"Come on Jon, we’ve already discussed this. Cards on the table. That was the deal", she brushed her nose against his seductively, splaying her hands on his chest, feeling his hard muscles tense in response to her touch. Besides, she was right, that was the deal and he’d been the one to derail from it. "So?...I’m in if you’re in"

She’d gone back to being her usual charming, makes-you-say-yes-to-anything self. How could he resist her? Locking eyes, he reached for her hand on his chest and when it found it, he slightly slid his hand on top of hers, caressing it with the tip of his calloused fingers, making it tickle. June stared at him with half a smile that was between curiosity and awe, while he proceeded to wrap his fingers around her hand, and raise it up to his lips, twisting it gently so he could kiss each fingertip in turn. A deep groan resonated inside of June’s core.

"Always 'in'", he lifted his eyebrows, his lips curled in a delicious, devilish smile. June’s smile broadened and her cheeks blushed exquisitely at the implication. "But be warned: I hate to lose", he threatened stifling a smirk and pulled her close until she was plastered against him once again, her arms around his neck.

"There’s nothing to lose", she reassured convincingly against his ear, and sank her nose in his thick, mussed up mane. Or was there? The question was quickly washed off by the rush that invaded June’s senses when she felt Jon’s teeth graze her neck.

Man he was ready and willing to take any deal June threw at him, but a greedy part of him that didn’t like having limits to how much he could take of the booty was able to find his voice before Jon could stop it.

"And afterwards?", he asked as he continued to plant wet kisses along her delicate skin. He only realized what he’d asked when he heard it with his own ears.

Oh, that question. June pushed her head back and placing her hands on either side of Jon’s face, looked deeply into his hooded eyes.

"Who gives a damn about afterwards…just believe in this…"

June pulled him close for a kiss, but Jon’s hands fisted her hair at the nape of her neck, steading her head firmly in place. Then he lowered his head until his lips were almost touching hers. June held her breath, expectantly. All of a sudden, his mouth captured her upper lip, eliciting a breathless, sharp gasp from June, who kept her lips slightly parted. He started to gently stroke her upper lip with his velvety tongue, then proceeded to suck it into his mouth, softly grazing it with his teeth until it felt warm and tight. He repeated the exact same operation with her lower lip.

Once he was satisfied, he spoke secretively against her lips, gritting his teeth. "I think I might not have been clear enough…Do you have any idea how much you turn me on, June?". Another flush of warmth made its way through June’s veins as she groaned deeply and her hungry lips searched for his again. Cards on the table, what was left nested in the deep affection they felt for each other, was pure, crystalline, vibrant desire.

They kissed for a long minute, hard, insistently, their bodies molding to each other. Once he was able to taste her cinnamon taste in the back of his mouth, Jon parted the kiss and pressed his forehead against hers, then removed his hands from her hair and stood as close to her as he could possibly be without touching her. First, he stroked his nose teasingly against hers, then he let his lips hover over hers for a little while. June’s blood sizzled: Jon was so effortless, dangerously irresistible, multiplied by a million when he really meant it.

In the vastness of the landscape, the space that separated their faces became the space of their intimacy. He was just a man, and she was just a woman, breathing in each other’s scent.

A dog barking at them made them jolt simultaneously. It was Rufus, Steven’s collie, with his owner in tow.
"Hi Steven", June spoke gleefully, as if there was any chance of disguising the situation the tall, young man had just witnessed. His face was hidden behind a thick, chocolate brown beard. He was well-built, and according to what Jon had found out in the morning, he’d trained in the navy. "Hey, Rufus", she squatted to scratch the dog behind his ears, while it panted with its tongue hanging from its open mouth.
"Hi June, Mr. Bongiovi", Steven bowed his head and looked back up to the pair who was still standing on the dock. They proceeded to step down.
"I believe you two already met?", June’s eyes swept up to Jon’s and she bit her tongue, reminding him of his defeat, "though I have to say I’m somewhat disappointed in you Steven, for showing a complete stranger the way to my house", she stood back up. Steven’s ears became scarlet under his chocolate curls.
"Well…um…once we verified Mr. Bongiovi’s-"
"Jon, please", Jon rectified, his glow of charm practically palpable with bare hands.
"Jon’s…identity...I didn’t want to cause your brother any trouble. You know I wouldn’t let anyone approach your house if-"
"I’m just kidding, Steven, relax", June reassured, noticing his genuine apologetic tone, "I know you wouldn’t and most of all, I know how convincing Jon can be". She glanced at the accused, who was grinning with smug glee.

Steven recalled that morning’s “situation”, and acknowledged June’s comment with a soft chortle. The guy that had showed up that morning held some resemblance but looked fundamentally different from the leather clad, glamorous rock-star in John’s pictures and MTV videos, starting by the fact that he was missing one shaggy blonde mane.  The three of them started walking back along the beach while Rufus barked at and chased some birds that flew close around him.

"How long will you be staying this time?"

"I haven’t decided yet, maybe tomorrow…or Sunday…I don’t know"

"Don’t I get a sayin’ in this?", Jon asked, faking disillusionment at being ignored.

"I was speaking for myself…you know you are free to leave whenever you want", June challenged and shrugged, making it clear that there was more than one meaning to that sentence. Jon stuck his tongue out in revenge.

"It’s gonna be a lovely day tomorrow...sun’s gonna shine…", Steven spoke with a strong, hoarse voice in an attempt to regain some attention, then quickly moved on to the next item on his list. It was practically his job to know everything about everyone in the area. "Jack and Alice were here a couple weeks ago and told me you’re leaving, that right?"

"Yeah…you know…gotta keep on movin’", she grinned unconvincingly. Welcome back to Glenn: where everybody knows what you’re up to. Oh crap. The last place on earth where you want be if you’re trying to keep your affair with an international rock star under wraps. "Um... Steven...?", she put her palms together in front of her chest, the tip of her middle fingers touching her chin, her eyebrows curved in a sheepish plea. The group stopped at the landing of the wooden steps.

"Not one word". His voice was sincere and warm. "Alright, I’ll continue down the beach now, it’s nice to have you back June, even if it’s just for a couple days. Just let me know if you need anything, OK?"

"Will do", June replied with a genuine smile.

"Have fun guys", Steven waved a hand at them, his wide smile creating a half-moon white hole in his beard. "Rufus!", he whistled and in a minute the dog was walking by his side.

"Will do", Jon replied with a sideways smirk.

"Thanks Steven!"

Jon and June started climbing up the stairs, June leading the way. She felt Jon’s stare on her behind, and couldn’t help but recognize that she liked that boyish, childish, playful part of him. That and the fact that the blood in her veins was still thick and her lips still burnt by Jon’s kisses, sent a shiver of arousal up her spine. She suddenly couldn’t wait to get all tangled up with him in bed. 

"Not one word?", Jon inquired about June and Steven’s secret code.

"Mom’s able to squeeze information out of a brick if you let her, and Steven knows too much about what goes on here", she explained. "Besides, it’s only for your protection. If your PR manager ever finds out you are here, staring at his sister’s ass…"

"He won’t", Jon assured not without a fair amount of amusement in his voice. "And I’m glad he can’t read my mind, ‘cause I’m thinking about an interesting amount of ways I could put that ass to good use…"

"As classy and alluring as that sounds…", June replied with sarcasm at Jon’s rather sleazy tone, "…keep your pants on at least until we’re behind close doors", she chastised playfully. "l happen to have a reputation, people here think I’m a decent person, you know"

"Well, I’m sure Steven got quite an eye-full down at the beach"

"Steven knows how to keep his yap shut, not that sure about anybody else, though", she explained.

"He really does know a lot about you, doesn’t he?", Jon commented casually once they had arrived to the top, hoping it would sound as casual as it had in his mind. He looked at June and exhaled with relief: apparently it had, for June’s expression was as relaxed as usual. It was good to have breezy June back. He didn’t like the idea of being kicked down the stairs by a furious Cohen.  

"He does, we practically grew up together", explained June as they made their way back along the path, their arms around each other’s waist now that the surrounded trees provided protection from indiscrete eyes. "We used to come here every summer and on Spring break when I was a kid, and we still do sometimes, but mostly I come here on my own to write. He doesn’t look like but he’s actually John’s age. They were, are, buddies"

"Then how come I never heard of him?"

"You know my brother...If you don’t ask he won’t say"

"Guess it runs in the fam-", he interrupted his line when he saw the thick, dirty, gray clod of smoke.

"Shit! No!", June cursed sharply as she started running towards the cabin.