Chapter nine

Especially for my birthday, I give you all a chapter on a Saturday :)

Wednesday afternoon Richie was getting ready for the show later that night. It was the fourth concert of the tour and Sarah would be there to watch. It made him even more excited to perform. Finally Sarah would see him play, really see, not on a laptop screen. It was important to him for her to see him play. He wanted to share his passion with her.

He had arranged everything and hoped Sarah would like it too. He didn't think she wanted to be in the big crowd so arranged her a seat behind the screens on the stage. She'd only be a few feet away from him but far away from the crowd. For now her private place would be perfect.

Closer to 7 pm, Richie changed into his stage clothes, they'd have to leave in a while

"How's this?" He showed Sarah his outfit.
"Good, I like it." She answered, she was still standing by the bed, her bag on the bed, picking out her own clothes.
"Yeah?" He asked.
"Yes, it's nice." Sarah assured him again.

Richie walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her. "Glad you like it." He bent down to kiss her. "We have to leave in a few minutes."
"I'm almost ready, I don't know what shirt to wear."
"Want my fashion advice?" He only half meant it as a joke.
"Your fashion advice?"
"Yeah, who do you think designed these clothes?" He gestured to his own outfit.
"Alright." She mostly knew what she had packed, he couldn't possibly pick out clothes she didn't want to wear.
"Sit down, I'll find you something." He started unpacking her bag.

He found several t-shirts but not what he liked. Some pairs of jeans and knee-length shorts, he put them on another stack and continued to empty her bag, finding more clothes and a book.

Finally he found tops, less fabric than tees, exactly what he was looking were. There were only two, they were exactly the same, just different colors. He recognized them as red and green. They didn't look red and green as the colors looked to others but he knew what they were. He remembered Sarah had worn red a few days ago so he handed her the green one, knowing it would look great with her blond locks.

"Does that work with jeans?" Sarah asked confused. The tops had both been something she just threw in her bag. How she forgot more important things was beyond her, she had packed more things she didn't wear than things she really needed.
"Of course it does. Go put it on." He ordered her, he knew she'd look good, she always looked good according to him.

Sarah took the top and went to the bathroom, still preferring to dress in private.

"Ah gorgeous." Richie said when Sarah walked back out.
"Really?"
"Yes, Really, the only possible way it could look better is on the floor." He joked.
"But we have to leave." Sarah pointed out.
"We do."
"Sorry." Sarah said apologetic, then reached up to kiss him.

Richie chuckled, he liked the idea of her clothes on the floor, they'd look perfect there and he'd see all the perfectness he was patiently waiting to see but how much longer would it be until he got to see her? Was she suggested something here?

Their drive to the venue wasn't too long, in about 10 minutes they arrived. As soon as they got out of the car Sarah could already hear the huge crowd. Amazed, she looked over at where the sound was coming from.
"Loads of people." Richie walked up behind her. "You won't be seeing any of them."

He took her hand and walked her to the other side of the stage where still nobody could see them.
"Usually my guitar tech stays here with my guitars but look, I got you a chair, even one for your foot." He smiled, pointing to the chairs on the side of the stage next to a big rack of guitars.

"Right, I gotta go, I'll be back in 10, right about there." This time he pointed over at the stage where he would be standing in a few minutes.

He turned around to walk away when Sarah's "Hey!" stopped him.
"What's wrong?" He asked confused.
"You're leaving without giving me a kiss." Sarah clarified for him.
"Oh, can't do that."

He walked back, wrapped an arm around her shoulders and kissed her deeply, making sure he got a full taste of her.

A few minutes later, Richie walked out on to the stage, glancing at Sarah before looking at the crowd. 30.000 would be today's total, or something around it. Europe always had huge crowds and he loved it. The more, the better.

He lifted his guitar and started the opening tunes to Raise Your Hands. Just with the opening sounds the crowd went wild with screams. That was one of the amazing feelings he never wanted to loose, performing gave him a rush, excitement, it was amazing.

Sarah liked the view from the side of the stage much better than the view of the camera. From here she saw Richie with the band behind him.

Every minute of it was amazing, the music, the lyrics, even the crowd she could hear singing along and screaming. It actually sounded like a lot of fun to be in the crowd. She'd have to do that some day too. Now she enjoyed her perfect view of her perfect man.

The songs seemed to never end, when finally the band walked off stage, Sarah thought the concert would be over but Richie didn't come find her and a few minutes later he walked back on stage. He smiled at her when he was handed another guitar and turned around again to face the crowd.

They played another four songs, two of which she knew some of the lyrics. She still needed to get the cd's and memorize the songs. She really started liking the band's songs and recognized some from a few nights ago. She even had the urge to stand up and dance around, something she'd never do but was scared Richie would see and stop playing to tell her to sit down and stay seated.

After the band left the stage this time, Richie did come and get her a few minutes later.
"Now we hurry out of here." He said and took her by the hand, hurrying to the car that was waiting for them with Jon already in it.

By the time they were driving away it was clear to Sarah why they were hurrying away, fans were already standing around the exits to try and see a glimpse of them but the cars were guided through and they were on their way to the hotel.

Richie didn't say much during the drive back, neither did Jon. They both seemed exhausted and trying to relax, so Sarah kept quiet and watched the houses pass by outside the car window.

She was comforted when an arm slipped around her waist and pulled her closer, she relaxed back against him. This time he did stink from the show.

Sarah wasn't sure if she should say anything or stay quiet like they were, maybe they liked peace and quiet after a loud show liked that. She leaned against him and turned her view back on the houses and trees outside.

Their car was the first to park at the hotel, their driver jumped out and opened the door for them to get out. Just like every time before Richie got out first and gave Sarah a hand, still regarding her ankle. It wasn't as bad anymore, as long as she kept it up and took the painkillers. A few times she had forgotten and Richie had to remind her when she complained it was hurting again.

Their walk to the hotel room was also quiet, almost making Sarah uncomfortable now, like something was wrong and nobody was telling her.

Once in their room, Richie finally turned to her, like he just noticed she was in the room too.

"Hey." He wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands on the small of her back, his fingertips reaching more below.
"That was amazing." Sarah finally said, a big smile on her face, still excited about the show.
"You liked it?" Richie smiled back at her. By the infectiousness of her smile, he couldn't help but smile back at her. He loved to see her smile.
"I loved it, much better than watching on a laptop screen." The real deal had been more amazing than she already thought about the show she watched on Richie's laptop.

Richie smiled and leaned in to kiss her. Happy that she was happy. He kissed her toroughly, making sure he tasted every inch of her mouth.

Lost in their kiss, he raised a hand to cup her breast and grind himself in to her. His erection was already very ready, lately it was always ready.

He walked her backwards to the bed, laying her down and climbed on the bed next to her, hoovering over her as he kissed her again.

His hand let her breast go to reach down and pull her top up. He pushed it up until he could see her breasts covered by her bra. He broke their kiss to look down at the vision for a second before he captured her mouth again, muffling the sound of what Sarah was going to say.

He ground himself into her side again, his hand roaming over her belly to her jeans. He had the button snapped and the zipper undone in a matter of seconds, trying to pull down her jeans, he broke their kiss again.

"Richie stop!"

He stretched his arms to look down at her, he regarded her face for a second, not sure of what he was thinking. Then he stood up from the bed in a hurry and walked out to the hallway with a slam of the door behind him.

Surprised, Sarah pulled her top back down and her jeans back up, fastening the button and zipper.

She knew it, she knew it would ruin everything. Was sex really that hard? She had closed herself off to it for ten years. To avoid getting hurt again but the thought of loosing Richie hurt too. She couldn't lose him over something like this, he meant too much for that.

It wasnt that hard to do, just open your legs and do it. Why didn't she just do that?

Tears started to well up, feelings of guilt and risks of loosing him flooded her mind. Would he leave because she didn't want to have sex? What they were doing now was nice, it was more than that, but this was too fast. Would he have gone on if she hadn't stopped him? Should she have let him? Have it done and over with.

She knew how she felt around him, but especially about him. Every time he touched her, his warm fingertips on her skin, she liked every sensation he created, every feeling he made her feel.

She thought their relationship was more than that, really knowing each other instead of just having sex, they meant more.

Hot tears streamed down her face. What was she supposed to do? She couldn't leave. She didn't want to leave him. He meant more.

She couldn't go after him, what if he came back and thought she had left. How would she find him anyway? Where did he go or what did he do when he got angry or needed some time alone? She didn't know. What if he didn't come back? He couldn't just leave her either, he wouldn't do that, he'd take a few minutes and come back.

Sarah lifted up the covers and settled in the bed, sure to wait for him to return, he couldn't go that far. She watched the hotel door and hoped for it to open and make him walk in so she could apologize.