Chapter Thirteen

“Take it down an octave,” Jon looked up from the table. “You’re a bit high…”

Samantha nodded. They were in Jon’s home studio working on vocals for a new song off the Lost Highway album called “Make A Memory.” Jon thought the harmonizing would be good for Samantha to practice so she could get a feel for the type of vocalizing she’d be doing live with them.

They had been practicing for a little over two hours, and Samantha was frustrated with herself. She kept starting out too sharply on the chorus, and then falling flat. And as much as she was comfortable with Jon and Richie now, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed in their professional presence.

Samantha blew a strand of hair out of her face. “Sorry – I’m having trouble transitioning from the verse to the chorus.”

Jon waved away her apology. “It’s okay, that’s why we’re working on it now. Just start the chorus one octave lower than the verse, and then gradually increase from there, okay?”

Samantha nodded.

“Okay, let’s start from the top,” Jon motioned to Richie, who began the gentle guitar riff.

Jon began to sing softly, practically whispering the words.

Hello again, it's you and me
Kinda always like it used to be
Sippin' wine, killing time
Trying to solve life's mysteries

Samantha watched him and gently nodded her head to the beat, counting the steps until her turn.

How's your life, it's been a while
God it's good to see you smile
I see you reaching for your keys
Looking for a reason not to leave

Jon nodded at her, and she started in smoothly.

If you don't know if you should stay
If you don't say what's on your mind
Baby just breathe
There's nowhere else tonight we should be
You wanna make a memory

They finished the last line, and Jon signaled to Richie to stop.

“That was better – much better,” he smiled at Samantha. Samantha felt a wave of relief pass through her body, and she grinned. “Thanks, it felt better too. I think I know what I was doing wrong.”

“Let’s do that one more time just so you can train your voice for it; your vocal chords automatically want to start a certain way and we need to make sure they don’t ‘forget’ and are trained for the future.”

They began again, and Samantha transitioned perfectly. This time, Jon smiled at her and nodded at her to continue through the song.

I dug up this old photograph
Look at all that hair we had
It's bittersweet to hear you laugh
Your phone is ringing; I don't wanna ask

Jon joined her and Samantha found it easier now to read his voice and adjust hers
accordingly.

If you go now, I'll understand
If you stay, hey, I've got a plan
We're gonna make a memory
You wanna steal a piece of time
You can sing the melody to me
And I can write a couple of lines
You wanna make a memory

If you don't know if you should stay
And you don't say what's on your mind
Baby just breathe
There's nowhere else tonight we should be
We should be…you wanna make a memory

Toward the end, Richie joined in and sent shivers up Samantha’s spine when he harmonized gloriously with Jon. As Samantha then continued her part, he provided the soft undertones for both of them, and Samantha closed her eyes, relaxing and finally enjoying the song.

They finished the entire song and both Richie and Jon burst into applause. Samantha grinned and blushed; she was pleased with herself too.
“That was very good, Sam,” Jon smiled at her. “Very good. I think you got this one pretty much down. There were a few minor pitch issues, but for the basic framework and structure, you got it.”

Richie beamed at her. “You did great, Sam. Jonny, let’s try her on another.” He winked.

Samantha laughed, “Oh please, not right now. I want to quit while I’m ahead.”

Jon laughed. “I know the feeling, baby. But I’d really like to get as much of this trial and error stuff done today so we can really feel you in for the right song next time. This was only one song, and yes, you did it beautifully, but we’re most likely not going to have you do ‘Memory’ on stage.”

Richie nodded. “Yeah, that’s true. Why don’t we try out one more song to get a feel for the harmonizing on that one – and if you do it quickly enough, maybe one more – and then we’ll call it a day. Fair?”

Samantha nodded. “Sounds good, but can I get some more water first?”

Richie rose from his stool while Jon went into the studio kitchen to get three more bottles of water. Wrapping his arms around Samantha from behind, he buried his face in her hair and kissed her neck. “You’re beautiful, you know that?”

Samantha smiled. “I’ve been told.” She turned around and wrapped her arms around his neck. “And you’re a smooth talker, you know that?”

Richie chuckled. “I’ve been told.” He dipped his head and kissed her gently. She closed her eyes and kissed him back, breathing in his musky cologne. He ran his fingers through her hair lightly, sending shivers down her spine, and she pressed her body against his in response.

“Hey lovebirds,” Jon’s voice made them jump and they broke apart. “I have your water if you’re still thirsty after swapping spit.”

Richie punched him in the arm and Samantha laughed, accepting the water gratefully.

“All right, teach,” she clasped her hands together. “Which song now?”

Jon took a pull from his water before he answered. “I’m still trying to decide. I wanted to try you out on ‘Lonely’, but that’s a really difficult song to harmonize.”

“What about ‘Leaving’?” Richie interjected.

“I was thinking that, too,” Jon looked thoughtful. “But we don’t have to do something from Lost Highway; just anything that will give her some more training in harmonizing and vocalizing with me.”

He crossed his arms and brought a finger to his lips in thought. “What about Miss Fourth of July?”

Richie raised his eyebrows. “What the hell made you think of that?”

“Hear me out. My vocals are pretty neutral; not too deep and not too high, which means she won’t have to compensate her pitch too much. That song is very flexible in regards to harmonization, and she could do something that balances between yours and my octaves in the chorus.” He turned to Samantha. “Do you know the song?”

“Yeah! It’s one of my favorites.”

Jon grinned. “Sweet. Let’s do that. I’ll tell you what, I’m going to have you just sing along with us normally; don’t harmonize. Then we’ll have a second go and see where you should get higher and lower, okay?”

Samantha nodded. “Sounds good.”

Richie began the riff and they started to sing; Samantha got through the entire song without missing a lyric. The three of them continued on for another two hours, testing and trying out, experimenting with pitch, octaves, volume, and timing, until Samantha had it down and could sing through the song with Jon to the end.

It was past six o’clock when Richie and Samantha packed up to go. All three of them were tired, but pleased with the day’s work, and Jon was more than impressed with Samantha’s capacity to learn and perform. “This is going to be great,” he said as he hugged her goodbye. “I’m really looking forward to how to this turns out. Rich, call me tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure thing, man,” he clapped him on the back and escorted Samantha to his car. As they pulled out of Jon’s driveway, he reached over and took her hand in his. Samantha smiled in the darkness; his hand was warm and soft. She gave it a little squeeze and he returned it gently, tracing the back of her hand with his thumb.

They drove along in silence for a short while, and Samantha watched the streets of New Jersey as they passed through. Every now and then she stole a glance at Richie, whose face was strangely illuminated by the streetlights, and she suddenly felt something flip in her stomach. He looked so damn handsome sitting there, his features somehow rugged and gentle at the same time, and the feel of his fingers on her skin was electrifying.

When they finally pulled up to her place, Richie leaned over to kiss her good night. Samantha kissed him, then took his hand. “Come inside for a bit,” she whispered. “We can watch a movie or something.”

Richie didn’t hesitate; he turned off the ignition and locked the car, following her inside the apartment building.

Once inside, they greeted Tommy and Gina, who were full of more energy than usual. “Would you mind if I took them for a quick run?” Samantha asked. “They really need it, or they’ll never sleep.”

Richie responded by taking a leash. “How about I go with you?” he winked.

They hooked the leashes to the dogs’ collars and took them outside. Samantha broke into a trot down the sidewalk with Gina, and heard Richie behind her urge Tommy on. “Come on, boy, we can beat those girls!” suddenly he and Tommy flew past Samantha, and she burst out laughing.

“Hurry up, slowpoke! Or can’t you keep up?” Richie called over his shoulder.

Samantha smirked at him. “Come on, girl, let’s go,” she didn’t need to tell Gina twice; the dog bounded forward and tore after her brother and Richie, who teasingly ran forward as soon as she got within reaching distance.

Sam and Richie raced down the sidewalk, laughing and being half-dragged along by the dogs, who were far faster and whined at their owners’ lack of speed. The pairs whipped around the corner and screeched to a halt momentarily at the crosswalk, only to bound forward and charge into the park. Richie and Tommy led the way, but only by a dog’s length, as Gina kept right on Richie’s heels.

They got a good distance into the park before Tommy ended the chase, and, seeing another dog, made a 90-degree turn to charge after it. Richie, not as quick on his heels, continued forward on momentum and was yanked backward, the leash flying out of his hand as he slid forward and fell backward on the ground. Samantha and Gina ran right past him before Gina followed suit and turned completely around to attack Richie with slobbery kisses; Samantha was yanked backward but kept her footing.

“Oh my God, are you okay? Tommy!” she called after the dog, who was happily greeting the tiny frightened Pomeranian, its owner laughing and grabbing Tommy’s leash. “I’m so sorry, sir,” she apologized.

“It’s quite all right, is that guy okay?” he nodded toward Richie, who was still on the ground at Gina’s mercy. Samantha noticed he was laughing, and she started to giggle. “Yeah, I think so, thanks,” she took Tommy’s leash and returned to help the rock star up off the cold grass, grabbing Gina’s leash as she did so.

“I’m so sorry about that, Tommy’s too strong for his own good,” she said. But Richie was doubled over laughing so hard she thought he might burst. “Richie?”

He held up a hand, “I’m sorry – did you see that?” he tried to catch his breath and was finally able to choke out a sentence. “Did you see how I just – whoop! – and then I was just on the ground – and it was so funny – but oh, that was kind of embarrassing…” he doubled over again, causing Samantha to giggle again. “I’m glad you find it so funny!” she began laughing then too, and the two of them laughed until they had tears in their eyes, causing people to stare as they walked by.

They walked slowly back to the apartment later, holding hands and keeping firm grips on the dogs’ leashes. Back inside, Samantha offered to call for a pizza.

“That sounds really good, I’m starved,” Richie patted his stomach. Samantha made a quick call and was promised 20 minutes tops.

Samantha uncorked a bottle of wine and poured them each a glass while they waited. “To staying on our own two feet,” she raised her glass in toast, smiling. Richie laughed and clinked his glass to hers. They drank deeply, and made their way to the living room to choose a movie for the night.

A couple of hours later, a half-empty pizza box lay forgotten on the table, two wine glasses stood drained, and Samantha lay in Richie’s arms on the couch as they finished Armageddon.

Samantha’s eyes were wet; the movie always made her cry. As the credits rolled onto the screen, she swiped at her eyes and laughed softly. “I’m such a hopeless romantic,” she said. “I always cry at that movie, no matter how many times I see it. It’s pathetic.”

“It’s not pathetic,” Richie said softly. “It means you have a heart.”

“You’re not crying,” she pointed out.

“I don’t have a heart.”

Samantha laughed. “Oh yes, you do,” she countered, resting her head on his chest and listening to his heartbeat. It was gentle and rhythmic, soothing in its steady beat. Richie kissed the top of her head. They lay like that for a few minutes before Samantha sat up.

“Are you thirsty? That pizza made me thirsty,” she got up and moved toward the kitchen. Richie heard her rustling around and the sound of running water, and then she came back around the corner.

“Here you go,” she set down his glass on the coffee table. He watched as she took a long drink, and she finally lowered the glass slowly.

“What?” she asked self-consciously. Richie shook his head. “Nothing. You’re just so damn beautiful.”

She blushed. Richie stood up and gently took her glass from her hand, placing it on the coffee table next to his. He smoothed her hair behind her ears and took her face in both of his hands. They were warm, and she brought hers up to them instinctively, looking into his deep brown eyes. He held her gaze intently and she suddenly saw more of that longing desperation to love and be loved in return.

Richie brought his lips to hers, brushing them lightly. Samantha closed her eyes and moved her mouth against his, as the kiss became more passionate. She ran her hands over his chest, feeling the tight muscles beneath his shirt, giving in to her own sensuality. She lifted her eyes to meet his again, and slowly pulled his shirt away from his jeans before pulling it over his torso. He raised his arms, and she pulled it over his head, listening as it dropped to the floor softly. She kissed his chest and neck, trembling slightly as his hands moved to the front of her blouse and began to slowly undo each clasp carefully.

When the black silk fell open, Richie slid his arms around her back and pulled her into him, reveling in the sensuous heat of her skin against his. He kissed her neck and the tender spot just below her ear as his fingertips traced her spine. Samantha quivered again, feeling the tenderness of his touch. His fingers stopped at her bra, and he unfastened it with an expert twist, making her breath catch in her throat. He continued to kiss her, pulling the straps over her shoulders.

Samantha gasped softly. There was a tantalizing freedom in the feel of her bare breasts against his hot skin, and as he bent to kiss them, she leaned her head back, feeling the warmth of his breath and the moisture from his mouth wherever it touched her.

She was short of breath as she reached for the snap on his jeans. Slowly, she unsnapped them and slid the zipper down. She kept her eyes on his as she ran a finger gently from his abdomen downward. He groaned as his breathing quickened, and he tugged on his loosened jeans, removing them and dropping them in a heap on the floor. Then, stepping closer to her, he lifted her in his arms and carried her to her room, laying her down on the bed tenderly.

Lying beside him, Samantha ran her hands over his now slightly sweaty chest, and felt his hands on her own navel, gently undoing her jeans. He unsnapped them and tugged the waist down, and she pulled her legs out one by one as the jeans slid off. He caressed her body, and ran his tongue up her middle, between her breasts, and back down past her hips.

He moved his fingers down to the hem of her panties, tracing the edge and causing her to tremble with anticipation. With one swift movement he pulled the thin lace off, and she gasped, suddenly fully exposed, and she writhed with desire. She yanked at his boxer shorts and pulled them off as well, needing to bring him to the same level as she was. When they were finally naked, their bodies pressed together in an almost electric embrace.

She was beautiful in the moonlight, and Richie continued to run his fingers along her skin, which was soft and supple and inviting. He felt her hands on his back, pressing him closer to her, but he continued to kiss her, not wanting to rush the moment. He ran his tongue along her collarbone, agonizingly slow, and she groaned softly in desperation.

When neither of them could take it any longer, she pulled him closer to her and arched her back as he slowly moved atop her. He kissed her fingertips one at a time, and slowly slid within her. Samantha drew a deep breath, and then slowly let it out with a sigh. Kissing softly, they made love with a deep yearning and passion that had been pent up inside both of them for far too long.

Their bodies moved as one, each of them in tune with the other’s needs, and each trying to please the other more than themselves. Richie kissed her endlessly, the moistness of his mouth lingering wherever it touched, and Samantha felt her body tingle with a growing urgency. When she came, she dug her fingers into his back, breathing hard and slow, trying to prolong the moment as long as possible. As her body calmed, she tried to catch her breath, only to be overcome again by another wave, and she shuddered against him as he held her tightly.

When they finished making love, Samantha was exhausted, and she wrapped her arms around Richie, holding him close. She lay by his side, thoroughly relaxed, and watched the moonlight create patterns on the blankets as he traced his fingers along her body.

They made love again and again throughout the night, holding each other and relaxing afterward. Samantha finally fell asleep in his arms, feeling at peace with the world, and Richie watched as she slept beside him. He brushed her hair from her face, emotions running through him so powerfully that he almost cried.

She was what he had been waiting for. He was sure of it. She was the answer to his desperate, heartbroken prayers, the reason he kept pushing through life after his world had collapsed around him six years ago. He bent over and kissed her ear tenderly, then brushed his lips over it, and whispered softly. The words were filled with a raw passion, and he hoped with all his heart, that though she was asleep, she would hear them in her dreams.

I love you.