Chapter Five

As the sun peaked through the darkening shades of the bedroom, Samantha started to stir.

She had had the most wonderful dream! She’d dreamed of David, and that hadn’t happened in years. Oh, he was always there, ever-present in her brain, like a Greek god on a pedestal that nobody could touch. But he had been so long ago for her, and she wondered why, after all this time, that he had come back into her dreams so strongly.

As she emerged from the fog of sleep, it didn’t take long for the memories of the previous day to come flooding back to her as she turned to look at David sleeping so peacefully next to her, his blond curls a tussled mess around his face, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm that told her he was still soundly asleep. Oh my goodness she thought, it wasn’t a dream at all. She was here, in Paris, with David! She slid quietly out of bed and after locating a robe hanging in the closet, headed to the bathroom to wash her face and take care of a few other personal things, returning quickly to the room where she found that he was still breathing deeply.

Samantha walked out to the living room in search of a coffee maker but, finding none, decided to call down to room service. While on the phone she glanced toward the baby grand as a flood of memories of the night before came rushing back to her at full speed. There on the floor was her dress, her shoes and David’s clothes, all tangled together in such a way that she started to feel wet just thinking about their night together. Samantha was lost in her thoughts until she heard a light tap on the door and the beckoning of “room service”. After receiving the items, she knew exactly what she should do.

Feeling more than a little randy, Sam entered the bedroom once again and crawled back into bed, reaching below the covers to find David’s morning erection. She began stroking him. Softly at first, she slid her hand up and down his shaft causing him to twitch a little, but still not waking him fully. She kissed his lips gently and watched as he licked his lips in response, a smile invading whatever dream he was having.

She continued stroking him, increasing the speed and pressure with which her hand moved. She kissed the Joker and his abdomen then, just before dipping her head farther down, below the sheets, to take him into her mouth. She started at the tip, licking and sucking slowly up and down his stiff cock before relaxing her throat and taking his entire length, one inch at a time, into her mouth. Up and down she moved, using her lips and tongue to say good morning to him properly.

David was dreaming. The beautiful woman was giving him the blow job to end all blow jobs and he was smiling and relaxed in ways he hadn’t felt in more years then he cared to imagine. April had never enjoyed this kind of intimacy and so it wasn’t something he was accustomed to. This particular dream was so vivid! He moaned as his body reacted to her movements, not quite sure then if he was awake or asleep but knowing that either way he didn’t want to miss a thing. He groaned and stretched, bucking his hips to gently encourage her movements.

Suddenly, his eyes shot open!

This was NOT a dream. It was Samantha and she was quite intent on the task at hand. She noticed that he was now awake, taking a break from having her mouth full of him.

“Well good morning, you. Sleep well?” she said with an evil grin as she headed back down where she wanted to be.

“Oh no, no no no you don’t. Get back up here, woman,” he said with an evil glint in his still sleepy eyes. “I want in on this party, not just to be a spectator.” He coaxed her up so that they were face to face, kissing her deeply, his tongue feeling as if he could touch the back of her throat, tasting himself on her breath.

Suddenly wide awake, he turned the tables on her, flipping her quickly over so that she was lying on her back and straddling her waist so that she couldn’t move. He reached down to run his fingers through her soft fold, flicking her clit as he went and smiling at how wet she already was and at her gasp of pleasure.

Reaching for a condom, David sheathed himself and entered her fully in what seemed like one fluid motion. He moved quickly and with much more force than the night before, this morning sex was the fast, hot and heavy kind. David pulled himself almost all the way out of her, causing her eyes to go wide and her breath to catch, pleading for more without uttering a word. He complied with her unspoken request by slamming back into her and repeating this motion over and over until she began to lose all track of time and place. She lifted her hips off the bed, matching his movement stroke for stroke until she couldn’t hold on any longer.

Seeing that she was close to the edge, David encouraged her.

“Sammy, open your eyes. I want to watch you explode into a million pieces,” he said in a low, guttural voice from the back of his throat. She complied with his request, locking gazes with him as his thrusts increased in urgency.

“David!!!!!!!!!!!!!” she screamed as she headed over the edge, never breaking the lock his eyes had on her.

He slowed his movements slightly to allow her to regain a monochrome of sanity, giving her a moment to her to catch her breath before resuming the pace from before. This time he was going to go with her over the edge. He grabbed her hands, lifting them above her head and holding on as if his very life depended on it. Moments later she was screaming again and so was he as they both spilled over the edge and into oblivion.

“A man could get used to waking up like this,” David whispered in her ear jokingly as they both came back to reality.

She just smiled. Inside, she couldn’t have agreed more, hoping that she would get the chance to wake up with him again tomorrow.

“What would you like to do today?” he said to her then, hoping that she was willing to include her in whatever plans she had.

She thought about her previous “pre-David” plans, hoping he would be interested in what she was thinking.

“I was thinking of going to The Louvre” she said. “Interested?”

He nodded. He had already planned to spend some time walking the halls of that magnificent museum.

“But let’s get some breakfast first,” he said. “Suddenly, I’m starving!”

“Done. It’s waiting in the other room. Come on, there’s coffee too” she said with a wink and a flick of her head. “We can sit for a few minutes and plan out our day”.

…………………………

David stood in the steaming shower, letting the water relax his body as his mind continued to race a mile a minute. How could he have gotten so lucky, running into his precious Sammy after all these years? They had only been together that one summer, but David had never forgotten her. Oh, there had been countless women over the years, especially when the band was on the road. Then he had met and married April and thought for awhile that he had found the same kind of happiness that he had had with Samantha. Of course, April had broken his heart when she announced that she wanted a divorce and a sense of hopelessness had invaded David’s psyche. It was that feeling that brought him to Paris in the first place. And Paris had brought him back into the arms of his first love. He smiled.

Now that I’ve found her again, I cannot let her go.

He hadn’t even wanted to let her go long enough to return to her room to get cleaned up and changed. He’d finally had to relent because obviously she hadn’t had any other clothes in his room, but he vowed to himself that that would change before the day was through. He had no intention of sleeping alone as long as they were here together. Now all he had to do was convince her.

Exiting the shower, David dressed in a pair of dark denim jeans and a beige t-shirt with some sort of non-descript pattern. Making sure he had everything he needed for the day, he headed down to the lobby to meet up with Sam.

Hailing a taxi, David and Samantha headed toward the Louvre, unquestionably the most famous museum in the entire world. Even with their early morning activities, they had still managed to leave the hotel early and were grateful to find that the line to get into the IM Pei pyramid was not as bad as either had read it could be.

After purchasing tickets to see the permanent exhibits, they headed toward the Mona Lisa, following the map they had been given through the 14th-15th century wing. It was really easy to get distracted as they walked, between David cracking jokes about what he “saw” in the painting and then alternately pulling her to him and giving her a quick kiss or inhaling the scent of her hair as they walked hand in hand.

Next they headed toward the statue of Aphrodite, David once again choosing to crack a smart-assed comment. “I don’t think we need to see the Goddess of Love, we did just fine on our own last night” he whispered in her ear from behind her while they stood near the famous statue. “Besides, she has no arms, what fun would that be if I didn’t have them to hold down over your head”. Samantha turned seven different shade of red then, turning and swatting at him over her shoulder.

They continued exploring the museum, taking in the Egyptian antiquities and the 18th century artwork that reminding David a lot of being at Jon’s estate.

After several hours of walking around, the couple decided they had had enough museum for one day and both longed to get outside into the gorgeous weather. After a quick stop in the gift shop to buy a souvenir, they decided to head out and find some lunch.

Nearby they found the Café le Nemours and, choosing a table outside, David and Sam had a leisurely meal of baked eggs with a side of arugula salad and warm baguettes with butter & raspberry jam. Both were still somewhat lost in the mysticism surrounding the circumstances that brought them together but both were equally happy to be there together. They touched each other always, whether it was by holding hands or playing “footsie” under the table. It seemed that neither could get enough of each other.

David broke the silence first by telling an old joke he had heard a long time ago.

“Do you know why, in Paris, they only eat one egg at a time?”

Sam gave him a very odd look, knowing David’s penchance for bad jokes, and just waited for the inevitable.

“Because in France, one egg is an oeuf!” he said, hitting the table in such a way that would make Tico cringe.

Samantha just shook her head and groaned.

He was still the joker that he had always been. She smiled inside; it was part of what had made her love him the first time around.

With the mood light, their appetites sated and the general air of bliss surrounding them both, David knew it was time to talk to Sam about his earlier thoughts.

“Sammy” he started, taking her hand once again and looking into her eyes. “I know that we just “found” each other again, and that things happened pretty quickly between us last night. But I don’t want to be away from you anymore. I want us to spend the rest of our vacations together, how would you feel about that?”

Samantha’s stomach felt as if the cast of Cirque du Soliel was rehearsing inside of her. She felt the exact same way but hadn’t wanted to presume anything and had therefore been hoping that David would broach the subject first.

“David, I would love nothing more than to spend the rest of my…” she thought for a moment, wishing she could say life, a sly smile appearing on her face, “…vacation with you. Yes, I believe that would be perfect.”

“Then you’ll move your things into my room?” he added tentatively. “I mean, it seems silly to me to have two rooms if we intend on being together the whole time” he said, raising his eyebrows to give her a hopeful look”.

Samantha thought about this for just a quick moment. She knew he was right and was thrilled he had asked.

“Let me call them now and tell them I’ll be checking out of my room tonight.”

Chapter Four

Samantha sipped the champagne slowly, not wanting the bubbles to tickle her nose and make her sneeze. Once David drained his glass, he took the strawberry and held it to her lips. She bit into it playfully, causing juices to trickle down the side of her mouth towards her chin. David caught the drizzle by kissing Sam’s chin, making his way back up the side of her face slowly with a combination of licks and kisses that was driving her crazy.

She returned his kisses, nuzzling from the front of his neck to the back, running her fingers through his curly locks and kissing him sweetly. She was feeling just slightly light headed, her emotions taking over and her inhibitions gone out the window, and it was then that an idea hit her. She whispered into his ear. “What’s a girl gotta do to get you to play a little for me?” Her voice was low and sexy and caused shivers to shoot through David’s body, covering him in goosebumps.

She could feel his grin long before she actually saw it. David took her by the hands and led her over to the piano bench. He loved to play more than anything and wanted the chance to try out the gorgeous piano in the suite. He kissed her lightly before closing his eyes and laying his fingers silently on the keys for a few moments as he gathered his thoughts. He started to play, the melody soft and haunting, permeating every pore of Samantha’s psyche. She watched as his nimble fingers played lightly over the keys, feeling herself growing more and more aroused, imagining those fingers playing over her body.

Turning to him, her gaze liquid and slumberous, she said softly, "That was so beautiful. Thank you." He looked down at her, his heart pounding as he recognized the look in her eyes. It may have been years since he'd seen it, but it was unmistakable.

He raised his hand, fisting it into her hair to gently pull her towards him. This time, when their lips met it was like an immediate fire had touched them both and they both pulled back for a brief moment, almost as if the feeling had shocked them simultaneously. When they came back together, his tongue prodded her lips lightly until hers parted and he was able to dive in the way he wanted. She tasted so wonderful, a mix of champagne, berries and her own natural taste, and it was almost too much to handle. He forced himself to break the kiss and sat back, feeling the need to speak.

“Sammy,” he started, “I want to be with you so much right now and I think you feel the same way. But I don’t want you to think that I’m just interested in some one night fling. I’d never treat you like that. Please, will you stay with me?” his voice was slightly shaky but sincere, his eyes never leaving their locked position on her face.

With just a smile, Samantha turned her whole body to face him on the piano bench. She unbuttoned his shirt slowly, causing it to fall backwards off his shoulders, baring The Joker tattoo that was emblazoned on his right pec. A small grin appeared then on her face as she traced the design with her fingers, admiring the detail and handiwork of whomever it was that created it for him. She bent her head to kiss it lightly several times, using her tongue to arouse David even more. She moved to the other side of his chest and marveled in the way that he was slightly hairy on one side but smooth on the other. The best of both worlds she thought to herself.

David was barely in control of his senses at this point and her kisses were driving him to distraction. Grabbing her hair once again he coaxed her up from where she was teasing his chest and kissed her soundly as they stood, David pushing the piano bench out of the way.

Her turned her then and pushed her back against the piano, the keys sounding in an odd but strangely erotic timbre as her back hit them. He reached around to untie the dress at the neck, causing it to fall to her waist and bare her breasts as he pressed his chest against hers. He started kissing her then, beginning at her hairline and working his way down slowly… ears, neck, shoulder, lips, throat, chest, arm and finally to her hard nipples. He took her into his mouth, sucking with the hunger of a man who had been hunting for much too long without finding the sustenance that he craved.

His tongue ran circles around first her left and then right nipple while his hands caressed her back and the keys continued playing their erotic love song.

Samantha was pushed back against the piano, her back arched as he urgently tickled and teased her nipples. His hands felt so good on her back, warm and soft in spite of the ever-present calluses from his playing. Her eyes were closed, her hair hanging back as she fell deeper and deeper into the erotic world they were creating.

David ‘s hands found the zipper of the dress at the small of her back and undid it with ease, causing the dress to fall to the ground with just a small move away from the keys of the piano. The sight he saw at that moment… Samantha splayed against the instrument, wearing nothing but a black g-string and her silver sandals, was almost too much for David to handle. He wanted to be inside her and he knew this first time was not going to be slow and romantic, but he vowed to himself that he would make it up to her later.

He broke his hold on her then, needing to find protection but not wanting her to move from her place on the piano.

“Wait right there,” he motioned, palm outstretched urgently. “I’ll be back in a moment.” Heading for the bedroom, he hoped that he still had what he needed in his dop kit and was very happy when he found them, tucking them into the front pocket of his pants and returning to Samantha in the other room.

Taking her face in his hands, one on either side, he tilted hers to one side and his to the other as he pressed his tongue into her mouth urgently, once again taking in the taste of her which he could not get enough of, stopping briefly only to nibble at her bottom lip playfully.

Samantha reached for David’s pants, deciding that he had way too many clothes on in comparison to her. As she undid the button and zipper, the loose-fitting slacks hit the floor, leaving David in nothing but a pair of silk black boxers. She started to kiss him again, starting at his adams apple and making her way to his chest, visiting The Joker once again on her way down. She continued pressing kisses to his abdomen, following his little treasure trail down toward his boxers that were doing nothing to hide his arousal. She just grazed his erection teasingly as she continued kissing her way down him…down one leg and up the other until his knees nearly gave way beneath him. On the way back up, she cupped his sac with one hand and kissed his shaft through the silk of his boxers, causing a deep, guttural groan to emanate through his entire body. She continued her way back up his body, keeping her hand in place, kneading and tickling him the entire time.

As she stood back up, David grabbed her by the hand, unable to wait another moment while she pleasured him. He needed to taste her. Walking her to the back side of the piano, he twisted his finger into her g-string, causing it to pull away from her body so that he could slip it down her legs and away. Then he started his exploration of her, once again starting at the nape of her neck and making his way down her entire body with his tongue. When he got to the light hair at the top of her sweet spot he stopped suddenly, looking up at her with the eyes of a demon possessed. In one quick, fluid movement he stood, grabbed her at the waist and lifted her to sit on the back of the piano, causing her to gasp, and giving him greater access to her warmth and wetness. But first he teased her, kissing her legs from top to bottom. When he got to her feet her carefully unbuckled her sandals and tossed them to the side, allowing him to kiss the bottoms of her feet and take each of her toes into his mouths seductively. Continuing his journey northward toward the prize he knew was waiting for him, he made sure to stop and lick the backs of her knees as he passed them, inhaling the scent of her perfume once again.

She thought she was going to come unglued!

As his assault on her senses continued and he made his way up her thighs, David’s gaze rarely left Samantha’s face, her passion and desire growing deeper as the color of her eyes darkened in response to everything he was doing. He stood all the way up then and moved between her legs and closer to the piano to kiss her deeply on the mouth again, biting at her lips and tangling with her tongue in such a way that told her what she was about to experience. He stopped, gazed once more deep into her eyes, pushed her back gently so that she was lying prone over the back of the piano and then ducked his head between her legs.

Touching the tips of his finger to her swollen clit, he was surprised to find how wet and sensitive she was. She drew her breath in and arched her back the moment he touched her, grabbing futilely for something to hold onto but finding nothing on the smooth surface of the piano. He ran his finger down, into her soft folds, feeling even more the extent of her desire for him. He dipped his finger all the way into her, causing a loud gasp to escape her throat.

“Oh God David!” were the only words she could manage.

He kept going, adding another finger, turning them until the tips found her G spot, making her loud gasps turn immediately into low, rumbling, non-verbal mewing.

God! He knows exactly where to touch me, she thought incoherently.
In and out and in and out his fingers went, causing her to twist and turn her head and body as she got closer and closer to tumbling over the edge.
Just when she thought she couldn’t take anymore, he stopped, pulling his fingers out of her slowly. She cried out as if in agony, trying to focus her eyes so that she could look at him. When his face came into focus she watched as he inserted his fingers into his mouth, his tongue lapping at her juices left there. Her eyes caught his and she saw that they were dark with passion, a playfully evil glint showing through in the corner.
Not wanting to let her come too far down from her place on the edge of oblivion, he took her hands in his as he dipped his head between her thighs and sent his tongue where his fingers had been just moments before.

Within a matter of moments, the feel of his warm mouth against her wet and very swollen lips drove her up and over the edge, screaming as she went, her breathing labored and sweat having formed between her breasts and on her abdomen. He stood, kissing all the way up her body until he stood close enough to her to bring her up into a sitting position, holding her close as she came slowly back to earth.

Once her breathing was somewhat normal again, he lifted her up and off the piano and he carried her into the bedroom. Laying her down on her back, he quickly went back to the other room to retrieve the items he had put into his pocket earlier. Entering the bedroom once again, he found that she was sitting up, propped against some pillows. Her eyes were still mostly lost in passion and she had the most beautiful smile on her face.
As he approached the bed, she sat up, scooting to the edge of the bed and reaching for his silk boxers, which appeared as if they would bust their seams any moment now due to his ever-growing desire. Taking them by the edge, she pulled them down and off of him in one quick movement. She took in the look of him, totally naked in front of her for the first time since they were, well.. teenagers really, and marveled at how gorgeous he really was. He was in amazing shape and it showed everywhere.

He pulled her up to stand, so close to her now that the tip of his manhood grazed against her warm, wet folds. She was so beautiful, exactly as he remembered only better. She had aged very well. He ran his hands through her tussled hair and pulled her in for a long, slow lingering kiss.

He wanted to be inside her more than anything.. Pushing her back against the pillows, he joined her on the bed, sitting on his knees. He quickly grabbed at one of the condoms that he had set on the bedside table and sheathed himself. Positioning himself between her open and inviting thighs, he pushed himself gently inside her, just a little at first, pulling out and then pushing in a little farther each time until he was deep within her, her walls contracting around his hardness. They kept their eyes locked on each other as they made love; a slow, gentle, tentative act that had both of them remembering the years long past and relishing this newfound time that they had together. As the tension inside them both began to build once again, their lovemaking became more urgent but no less tender, and he could see that she was on her way up and over the edge.

With a final, loud moan in unison, David and Samantha went together over the edge, his seed spilling as her walls contracted around him so tightly that he could think of nothing else, nobody else, except for that moment in time and how he really didn’t want it to end.

Making short work of the condom, he gathered Samantha into his arms, whispering into her ear.

“Sammy, you feel so good. Please stay, sleep with me rather than going back to your room?"

Turning to face him, lifting a hand to his cheek, she wrapped her other arm around him and pulled him close, instinctively recognizing the need for intimacy was as strong in him as it was in her.

"Of course," she breathed, "like you even have to ask."

Chapter Three

Walking back to his room, David flipped open his cell phone and hit speed dial to get his assistant. A wealth of information, Jenna could always be counted on to help with whatever he needed, especially in a pinch.

“Hey doll, how are things stateside?” he said as she picked up the receiver.

“All’s well Joker” she loved calling him that cause it made him laugh and she knew he could use all the laughs he could get recently. “I have a couple of messages for you, but I’m guessing that’s not why you are calling. What can I do ya for?”

“I need you to work your magic and get me a table at La Jules Verne tonight. 8:00pm. If anyone gives you a problem, ask to speak to Alain Ducasse, he’s the chef.

“D, I know who Alain is, I’m not a novice at this, ya know” she quipped. “What’s the occasion?”

“I met up with an old friend” he said, the wide smile on his face apparent in his voice over the phone.

“Well, well, well.” She said will a little bit of sass mixed with hopefulness. “You got it boss. I’ll call ya back in a few when I get it all arranged” she said and disconnected the line.

Arriving at his room, he made a call down to room service to arrange for a car service and to place an order for later, giving the concierge specific instructions of how and when he wanted the items delivered. He had just hung up the phone in his room when his cell phone began ringing.

“Hey Jen, s’up?” he said as he answered the phone.

“You’re all set for tonight, Alain was so excited to hear you were coming up to see him. Said he’ll take good care of you” she replied. They talked for a few more moments about the messages she had for him, taking notes as he told her how to respond.

“There’s one more thing. You got an invitation to a benefit that VH1 is throwing for the Save the Music program. It’s late next week and it’s in Rome. I guess they are interested in taking the program international. You know me, normally I wouldn’t bother you with this while you are on vacation, but since you are already in Europe, are ya interested?”

David thought about it for a moment. If things continued to progress with Sam, maybe he could talk her into accompanying him to Rome for a few days. She did say she was here for a couple of weeks, didn’t she?

“Call ‘em back and tell them I’m going to try to clear my schedule but don’t make any commitments just yet. I’ll let you know in a couple of days”. They chatted for a couple of more minutes before disconnecting the call.

........

“It was nearly 7:00pm and Samantha was putting on the finishing touches for the evening. She had showered and washed her hair, which had been up in a ponytail all day. Deciding to wear it down tonight, her soft reddish-blonde curls bounced playfully just below her shoulders. Her normally brown eyes were accented with green contact lenses and she wore just enough make-up to compliment but not overshadow her natural look. She was so glad she had packed a couple of dresses just in case, and was wearing a backless little black dress that tied at the neck and was very simple in the front. Accented with silver jewelry and silver sandals with a three inch heel, she stepped back from the mirror to take it all in, thinking she was pleased with the outcome. Classy with just a kick of sexy she thought to herself as she picked the bottle of Thierry Mugler’s Angel that she always travelled with, spraying it lightly behind her neck and knees.

She heard his knock on her door.

As she opened the door, what she found on the other side was nothing short of breathtaking. David had dressed in black dress pants and a pale pink button down shirt with the top two buttons undone. The shirt had French cuffs and he wore cufflinks with the faces of comedy and tragedy on them. He topped it off with a beautiful black jacket with the faintest hint of a silver pinstripe. He was holding a white rose that he handed to Samantha as he took her other hand, turned it over and placed a light kiss in the center of her palm.

Electricity shot through her like she had just been struck by lightning, causing her knees to feel as if they would give way any moment.

“You are gorgeous!” David said, smiling, as he stepped into the room. He made a spinning motion with his finger and she complied by turning for him but never took her eyes off of his. He couldn’t help but inhale her scent deeply. It was unlike anything he had ever smelled on a woman. He couldn’t explain it really, but it was like taking in a deep seated memory, something so familiar that it was part of his very psyche but at the same time new, exciting and full of promise. All he could think was that he wanted her more now then he ever had.

“You clean up pretty well yourself” she responded, taking him in again from head to toe. He had certainly turned up the charm factor a notch, not that she was complaining. She hadn’t wanted anyone as badly as she wanted David right now in longer than she could remember.

Heading for the elevator that would take them to the waiting car, David held Samantha’s hand like he had no intention of ever letting go. As they entered the elevator, David moved behind her, one hand at her waist and the other running her hand through her hair, once again inhaling her intoxicating scent. He nibbled at her neck just a little which made Samantha sigh as she relaxed into him.

It was now obvious to the both of them that each was interested in rekindling their long ago romance. The night was about to get much, much better!

Exciting the hotel, David was once again glad for the relative anonymity that allowed him to occasionally travel undetected when he wasn’t with the band. It was only a matter of time until someone caught a picture of him and then the “David girls” on Backstage got a hold of it. He knew, like the rest of the guys, that the “Jovi network” was strong and vast and that news shot through it like wildfire. However, for tonight at least, it seemed that he was safe from fans seeking pictures and autographs. He didn’t always mind that but he relished his privacy… and hers.

David led Sam into the car by the small of her back, following her as he verified with the driver where they were headed.

“Le Jules Verne, sil vous plais” David said to the driver holding open the car door for them.

“Where are we going?” Samantha asked, a hint of anticipation in her voice which made him smile.

“Trust me, baby” David answered, once again using an endearment that he had used with her so long ago. “I promise that this will be a night you won’t soon forget”.

Arriving at the base of the Eiffel Tower, Samantha sucked in her breathe as they exited the car. The sun was just beginning to set and the entire tower was awash with the light of the setting sun mixed with the lights on the tower itself. The effect was extraordinary.

“Let’s go! They are expecting us” David held Samantha’s hand in his while his other hand instinctively set itself on the small of her back as he led her to the lift that would take them up the tower to the second level.

As the couple entered the opulent surroundings of La Jules Verne, Samantha tried hard not to appear completely awe struck. She had read about the restaurants in the tower but had also read that reservations were always needed two months in advance, so she hadn’t even bothered. The maître de took them to a corner table right at the intersection of two windows that overlooked the outside of the tower and the city beyond. A small, flickering candle adorned the white linen covered table, set with gold and amber place settings. It was the most romantic place Samantha could imagine. Just as they were settling in, a robust man came barreling over with a bottle of wine in one hand, followed by a waiter with a bucket of ice.

“David, David… finally I get you into my restaurant”! David stood, shaking the man’s hand.

“Alain, my friend. It’s so good to see you. Allow me to introduce this beautiful lady to you.. this is Samantha Majors, a very old, very good friend”.

Alain took Samantha’s hands and placed a kiss on each of her cheeks. “I will make for you a special meal, if you will allow me” he said. They both smiled and agreed and as Alain went off to his kitchen, David and Samantha toasted to each other and drank the wine as they talked.

As they were waiting, she asked him to tell her more about being part of an internationally popular band like Bon Jovi. He was surprised to find that, while she knew about the band and their music, she wasn’t an overzealous, crazy fan, the likes of which followed them everywhere.

“Obviously, it’s been the best business decision I ever made. I’ve been blessed to do what I love and make money doing it while getting to travel the world and see things that most average Jersey boys don’t often get to see”. He told her about some of the ups and downs of their success, about how they almost broke up after the New Jersey tour in 1990 but were, thankfully, able to come out of that dark period and go on even better than before. He told her how his career almost came to an end when he nearly sliced off his finger with a circular saw, showing her the ever present scar that, he said, reminds him each day to be thankful for what he has.

Dinner was spectacular, every dish that Alain presented was better than the one before it. They ate poached lobster, veal w/ duck foie gras and potato soufflé and passion fruit sorbet for dessert. The two never took their eyes off one another throughout dinner, even taking turns feeding each other from the various dishes. David would take a bit of something and lick his lips enticingly, causing the electricity to return to Sam’s insides and in turn Sam would put the fork in her mouth and moan seductively as she tasted whatever item she was currently having. The tension in the air between them was so apparent that even the waiters noticed it and would retreat quickly after making sure everything was to their liking.

Once the meal was complete, neither David or Sam thinking that they could ever eat again, they thanked Alain and made their way out of the restaurant. Deciding to go up to the top of the tower, they took in more of the pink lights of Paris. It was while they were overlooking the Seine that David suddenly stopped walking and, spinning Samantha toward him with the hand he had been holding all night, put his hands up to her cheeks. He held her face just inches from his and whispered, “I’m going to kiss you now.”

Before she had a chance to respond, Samantha felt his soft, warm lips against hers and she drew her breathe in. A flood of memories washed over her as his lips brushed against hers. He had always been an amazing kisser and time had not changed that. His teeth grazed her bottom lip, nipping at it urgently but tenderly. As he continued his sensual assault, her lips parted as his tongue glided in, tangling with hers as the tastes of dinner overwhelmed them both. By the time the first kiss was over, both were breathing just that much heavier.

“I feel like the luckiest man in Paris right now. I can’t believe we are here, together, after all these years,” he said to her before enveloping her into a hug and kissing her deeply again. His movements became more and more urgent as he caressed the smooth, warm skin of her back where the dress was cut away.

His hands were so soft and warm on her skin and Samantha thought she might shatter into a million tiny pieces right there on the observation deck. The second kiss was even better than the first and she relished how tender and sensual he felt. She also felt something else, evidence that he had even stronger thoughts that would lead them well beyond kissing if she wasn’t careful. Why be careful? she thought to herself. We are here and we are back together, at least for now, we should make the most of it, right?

Descending the tower, David’s mind was in a swirl of emotions from just sheer happiness to relaxation to lust for the woman with whom he was walking. They were heading back toward the hotel and he wanted to ask Sam to come back to his room with him but didn’t want her to think he was just out to use her for a one-night stand. Their evening had taken on a different feel now as the sexual tension between the two grew. Each time they kissed, whether at the tower or in the car, the timber of their desire grew more and more urgent.

Finally as they reached the hotel and approached the elevator, David asked the question on both of their minds. Entering the elevator, he pulled her into a close embrace and whispered into her ear.
“Sam, come to my room with me?”

She trembled slightly in his arms but was not for a moment unsure if this was a good idea. Pulling back from him slightly, she looked at him deep in the eyes then, seeing the same passion that she was feeling, his normally light blue eyes having taken on a deeper, richer hue. Her answer was clear, words not even needed as she smiled at him. He pushed the single button to his floor and then turned to kiss her deeply once again.

He continued his assault on her senses all the way from the elevator to the door of his suite, kissing her lips and neck and inhaling the scent of her hair as then walked. Opening the door to his suite, he motioned her inside and closed the door behind them, pushing her up against it and delving for her lips and tongue once again. Her hand fisted into his hair as she met his kisses with fervor and gave it right back to him just as urgently. They had barely gotten through the door so far, she thought, heaven knows what was going to happen once they got all the way into the room.

Finally he broke the kiss and pulled her into the room. His suite was exquisitely decorated in shades of beige and white. Sam walked through the suite, admiring everything the she saw. The piece de resistance of the room, not surprisingly, was a beautiful white baby grand piano sitting near the French doors that led to his balcony, which overlooked the city and the Le Tour Eiffel where they had just come from in the distance. She opened the door to the balcony to take in the view of the city from here. David, in the meantime, had called down to let the concierge know that they were ready for the items he had ordered earlier and then joined her on the balcony.

“I can’t believe I’m here with you” she said, emphasizing the with you since she had obviously already come to Paris on her own. “It’s been such a long time and our lives have taken such different paths, I never expected to see you again, especially not like this.”

David had walked up behind her, encircling her waist with his arms and setting his chin on her shoulder as she spoke. She could sense the smile on his face even though she couldn’t see it. He spoke quietly into her ear. “I’ve been so lonely for so long, I had forgotten how this feels. You are right about our lives being so different but I know there must be a reason that we ended up in the café at the same time today. I feel so lucky to be here with you tonight too and I’m glad to know you feel the same way.” They stood together like this then, neither of them speaking for quite a bit of time until a knock at the door broke the spell between them.

Walking back into the room, David answered the door, directing the waiter to put the items on the nearby coffee table. After accepting a tip from David, the waiter thanked him and left the room.

“Champagne?” he inquired toward Samantha, who was sitting on the piano bench, running her fingers over the covered area where the keys were underneath.

“Thank you. What else have you got there”, she looked at him with a sparkle in her eye.

“Strawberries. They enhance the flavor of the champagne” he said with a slight bit of silliness in his voice at having unintentionally quoted a line from Pretty Woman. He placed a berry in each flute and poured the bubbly beverage over them, beckoning her to join him on the couch.

“To old friends… and new beginnings” he said, holding up his flute and clinking his to hers.

Chapter Two

Standing and motioning towards Sam so that she placed her hand in his, David grabbed the book from the table, placed his papers in the recycle bin and the two began to walk toward the back of the cathedral. As they walked, Sam explained what she had already seen earlier in the day.

Lining the sidewalks along the river were vendors, some in small booths and others on blankets, selling their wares to anyone who would stop long enough to look. Some had books, others photos and postcards, some had little Parisian trinkets for the tourists. David and Sam glanced from one to another as they walked, not stopping at any until they came across a wonderful old woman, sitting in an ancient rocking chair, tables filled with stacks upon stacks of old sheet music. David grinned like a kid in a candy store.

“You never get tired of it, do you?” Samantha asked him as he thumbed through the stacks of dusty, weathered papers.

“Never.” he paused, looking for just the right words to properly convey his feelings. “For me, music is just as important as the blood in my veins and the food I eat to sustain me. Every time I sit at a piano I feel at peace. It calms me when I am irritated; it excites me when I’m sad.”

Samantha just gazed at him as he spoke. Memories of a younger David came flooding back to her, remembering how he played for hours and hours each day when they were together. She recalled how she used to love to sit and listen to him work through whatever piece he would be working on, whether it was an intricate classical piece or something by The Beatles or Elvis. It was obvious to her that that passion had not wavered in the years since they had seen each other and, if possible, it had grown even more.

David continued looking through the music, choosing a few pieces for his collection. He handed some coins to the old woman, thanked her and the two continued their walk along the river and over the bridge.

As they crossed the street, a small street sign caught David’s eye. It was non-descript and his French was not that great, except that the content was unmistakable.

Samantha felt his entire body tense and stopped to look at him.

“What is it?” she said, speaking quieter than normal for some reason that she couldn’t explain.

“It’s a Holocaust Memorial” he said, almost in a whisper.

The sign said something about Memorial des Martyrs de la Deportation. Walking tentatively in the directions of the sign, they could see a small staircase that led underground. Descending the shallow stone steps, Samantha and David both stopped dead in their tracks. It was indeed a Holocaust Memorial, hidden right in the middle of Paris. The room was small and dimly lit. A small flickering light was in the center of the room and there were four caverns that were roped off, but each of the four were covered in lights representing all the victims of the Holocaust.

The temperature in the underground cavern was significantly cooler than it was outside and Samantha shivered, instinctively reaching for David’s hand, holding it tight. The two stood in stunned silence for what seemed like an eternity, taking in the surroundings.

What stood out the most to Sam was the lights. The walls were covered in them in all directions, each one signifying a life lost so many years ago.

“You had family that survived this, didn’t you” she said, not meaning to pry but feeling the emotion swelling in David.

“Yes. My grandparents on both sides were in camps in WWII” he answered quietly. He was very emotionally overwhelmed and was so glad to have Sam there to share these feelings with him. “They didn’t talk about it much, but we always knew.” He went on to tell her that he suspected that the reason that this memorial was hidden underground this way is that the French were very big resistance fighters but that ultimately they, too, had fallen to the Nazi regime and were embarrassed about that to this day.

After a few more minutes in the memorial, David and Sam walked back outside. Their moods seemed to mirror each other, both quiet and contemplative at first but as time passed both came out of that and they began to talk and joke around more. They continued their exploration of the area for a few hours until both saw that the other was getting tired.

“Sammy, I was serious earlier about celebrating your new account and your first time in Paris, so if you don’t have any plans for the evening, I’d really love to take you to dinner,” he said, his smile as wide as his face and his eyes bright with hope. “And frankly, I’m just not ready to let you go again so soon”. He winked at her then, causing them both to break into wide grins.

“I couldn’t agree more” Samantha answered, happy that she wouldn’t have to say goodbye to him just yet. “And really, did you think I was going to let you go so soon? I’ve missed you David, and I don’t think I realized how much until today.” She squeezed his hand, which she hadn’t let go of all afternoon.

“Why don’t I take you back to your hotel and that way I’ll know where to get you later?” David suggested.

Sam nodded. “That sounds perfect. I’m staying at the Royal Garden Champs Elysees.”

David stopped dead in his tracks, turning to her and laughing. “I know exactly where that is. I’m staying there too”.

This must be fate, they both thought as they headed toward the hotel, both realizing how unbelievably lucky they were to have found each other again like this.

Both were now feeling like this vacation had just gotten a whole lot better

Chapter One

He was done. Not done as in done-with-Bon-Jovi done, but emotionally and physically done. He was looking for an escape. Escape from the world... from the band, the touring, the shows he had completed and most of all, escape from the bad memories and experiences that had consumed much of the past two years for him. So when the opportunity had presented itself to just run away for a couple of weeks, he came to the only place he could think of where he could move around virtually unrecognized, enjoying the culture of a place he loved and just getting some much deserved, much needed R&R.

Shifting his sunglasses higher on his nose, the sun bright and crisp on this early autumn day, he toyed with the croissant that sat in front of him. Tearing off a corner and wincing as the steam from the still hot from the oven pastry singed his fingers, he popped the buttery treat into his mouth and followed it closely with the dark coffee that he loved so much. Looking up from his newspaper, David Bryan sat back, relaxing for the first time in years, soaking in the sights and smells of the Parisian café.

The divorce was like a slap in the face. Quite literally, it had taken the breath out of him. He understood that the lifestyle of wife of a rock star was hard on her, but he hadn’t realized how hard until the day he walked into the foyer of his New Jersey home and found his bags packed and his wife sitting there waiting, sadness mixed with determination on her face. She had been helpful and understanding in regards to the kids… at least at first… but even that had become a huge burden as of late, just another in a long list of stressors that had taken over his life.

The band had, it seemed, gone from one major tour to another in a matter of months. He loved being on the road, being with his “brothers” and playing the music they loved for the people who loved it, but even that had gotten to be too much at the end. David was cranky and irritable throughout the tour, but his friends had chalked it up to the divorce. By the time the last date wrapped, and the guys went their separate ways, he was glad he had his Broadway shows to get going, because it gave him something different to concentrate on.

The musicals had both opened successfully, one on the west coast and the other on the east, and he was enjoying the reviews that had come from this new type of performing that he had found. Being the composer of a Broadway show was very different than being part of one of the most successful rock bands of the past 25 years, and he relished his behind-the-scenes but right up front role in both shows.

But now that they were done, he was faced with long days and lonely nights. He had forgotten what it felt like to be alone and he didn’t like it one bit. Without anything to occupy the hours of his day, the hurt and anger had begun to take over. His life had become a narrow, shallow version of what it once was and now all he wanted was to find a cure, a path back from the darkness that consumed him, and something, or someone, to help bring the joy back into his life.

* * *

Samantha continued her slow walk around the cathedral, half entranced by the early Gothic architecture and half just really enjoying this well-deserved down time. She had worked hard for the last eighteen months closing the biggest ad deal in her company’s history, forgoing almost all vacations during that time in order to get the job done. She had been planning this time away carefully, pouring over internet sites and travel shows for months before deciding on Paris. Now that she had arrived, she intended to see and do it all. She was accustomed to doing things on her own and often relished the fact that she could come and go as she pleased, seeing and doing exactly what she wanted to do. This trip was no exception, but there was that little part of her that wished she had someone to share this all with. Stretching as she stood there, allowing the early autumn breeze to permeate every pore of her being, continuing to read about the building and the meaning behind all of the intricacies of it’s creation, Samantha realized that she was finally beginning to relax.

Once she had seen the entire exterior, her thoughts once again turned to the paragraph in the book about the “world’s best hot chocolate”. She decided to give it a try, and headed toward the river.

Just as the guidebook had indicated, as she crossed the footbridge she could see the café off to the right. It appeared to be a typical Parisian café with a dozen or so small tables out front. It wasn’t very crowded, two or three patrons scattered about, so she chose a table and took a seat. The waiter came to take her order, hot chocolate and a croissant, and she began reading her book once again.

It was when she looked up briefly as the waiter returned with her order that she first saw him.

At least she thought it was him.

No, it couldn’t be… David Rashbaum?

She hadn’t seen him since the summer before college, but he was unmistakable. While his look had changed throughout the years, his hair was his hair and it was still one of his best features.

And it’s not as if she lived under a rock, she knew that he was part of the super group Bon Jovi and, while not a diehard fan, she knew and enjoyed their music whenever she heard it.

The question was… would he remember her?

She considered this question as she ate her snack and drank the “world’s best hot chocolate”, deciding that the guidebook was indeed correct about the quality of the drink. She kept stealing glances at him, as the memories of their time together came flooding back into her psyche
.
The first glance was to make sure that she wasn’t imagining him.

She wasn’t.

The second was to see if it was really him.

It was.

And boy did he look good.

Thinking back to that summer before she had gone off to college caused her to shift a little in her seat. Samantha had gotten an internship opportunity in New York City and had gone up there with another friend and gotten an apartment in the East Village.

It was during this time that she met a young classical pianist who immediately caught her eye. They had had a very steamy summer, spending every waking moment they could together and becoming great friends in the process. At the end of the summer Samantha went off to Boston College on a full ride to their prestigious advertising school while David was Juilliard-bound, or at least that is what she thought. As often happens when couples are living apart, they had tried hard to keep it together during the first few months apart but by the first of the following year they had lost touch, not speaking or seeing each other again… until this moment.

And now, she had to decide whether she should say something to him.

She wasn’t sure.

Samantha, being a big believer in fate, decided that there must be a reason that they both ended up in this café in this foreign town at the same time. But she didn’t want to disturb him either. As it turned out, she didn’t have to worry about bothering him.

Several minutes passed. Sam, having finishing up her food, her mind racing a mile a minute as she pretending to read her book while really just surreptitiously watching David, looked his way at the exact time that he happened to glance in her direction. Their eyes met for a moment before David glanced down and back up at her almost instantaneously.

Was that really her? How could she be here of all places? Does she remember who I am?

Deciding to trust in the fates, Samantha decided to get up as if she were leaving and approach him. “Excuse me,” Samantha said, “I hate to bother you, but…”

“Samantha? Samantha Majors? Is that really you?”

“David Rashbaum, it really is you!” Samantha said with glee, her wide smile lighting up her face.

David stood to give her a deep hug, motioning for her to sit with him. “In the flesh, Samantha. God, what the hell are you doing here in Paris?”

“I can't believe you're here... after all this time.” she replied, trying not to sound too anxious. “As for the why, let’s just say I am taking some well deserved time off.”

David laughed at this, thinking back over the last couple of years and the stress he was now desperately trying to purge. “Same here. Damn, so what have you been doing with yourself?” David noticed that Samantha still looked as good as the last time he had seen her. A little older, but she wore the years well.

Samantha was still in shock after not seeing David is so long, almost a lifetime ago it seemed. She had never truly forgotten him and maybe had even put all other guys in her life up against him. "I've been following you career, ya know... it seems amazing to think of all you've accomplished with the band. How did that all happen? Last I had heard you were headed to Juilliard?”

“I was. I was all ready to go, and then I got a call from Jon, who I used to play with back in high school. Let's just say it was an offer I couldn't refuse.”

Samantha could see the twinkle in his eyes as he talked about Jon and the band. She knew that he still loved it more than ever, in spite of being obviously burnt out. “It's gotta be a really interesting life, being on the road, seeing the world and doing something you love so much.”

David considered this question carefully before answering. “It is interesting, but it can be exhausting too. I mean, I wouldn't trade the years on the road with these guys for anything, ya know? But some days...”he trailed off, not sure he really wanted to dump everything on Samantha. They were close once -- really close -- but it had been a long time.

Sam could see he was avoiding something and didn't want to press him. They needed to get to know each other again first. “Tell me what else is going on with you. Are you married? Kids? Where are you living when you aren't on the road? Oh crap, is that too many questions?” She laughed then, the familiar twinkle in her eyes caught his attention right away and his grin grew wider.

“Sammy, you haven't even begun to ask too many questions.” His eyes shone with laughter, and he saw her quick smile at the use of her old nickname. “Yeah, I'm married -- shit, was married for a while.” He grinned sheepishly at her. “Sorry, it's still pretty new, the "was married" thing. Anyway, I have three great kids and I'm still in Jersey, though I have a place in California and split my time between the two. How 'bout you? You get someone to sweep you off your feet?”

A brief shadow overtook her normally light attitude, but just for a moment. Nobody like you, she thought, but didn’t say out loud. “No, nobody special. I was engaged once, but it didn't work out.” She laughed then, but it was a laugh laced with sarcasm and a little pain and David recognized it immediately and waited to see what was going to come next. “I guess he thought our honeymoon would be more fun with his assistant than it would have been with his new wife... it is what it is, right?”

“Jesus, Sammy, I'm sorry, sweetheart.” The endearment slipped out as, for a moment, the years slipped away. “Well, he was clearly an idiot.” He watched as her emotions played over her face, and thought it'd be a good idea to change the subject. “So, you know all about what I do, what do you do?”

Samantha told David about school and being offered the junior executive position at her firm right after graduation and how she had worked her way up the ranks to senior partner.

“I'm a Senior VP at MM&P, we're a Fortune 500 advertising agency in New York. I really love the work and I've worked hard for it all my life. Thus the reason I'm here now. I just won a multi-million dollar account that has consumed the last 18 months of my life. I finally got the chance to escape for a couple of weeks, so here I am.” David could see in her face that she was very proud of what she did for a living and what she had accomplished.

“Congratulations! Well, I think we should celebrate. Do you want to have dinner?” He winced as he thought he sounded a little presumptuous. “I mean, if you don't already have plans.”

Samantha laughed again, going on to explain that this was her first time in Paris and her first day, in fact, and how she was planning to spend the rest of the day exploring in and around Notre Dame. He eyed the tour book that was sitting on the table.

Realizing the gift he’d been given at seeing Samantha again, and hoping to prolong their day together, David asked, “So, what are your plans for the rest of the day and would you like some company?” He held his breath, hoping for a positive response. Her mere presence had already begun to relax him and he wasn’t ready to give that up just yet. He wanted to spend more time with her and was hoping she wanted to do the same with him.

“I would love that”, she replied.

Prologue

It was the most perfect of early autumn days in Paris. Not at all hot, but not too cold either, and not a cloud in the sky. It was her first day in Paris and Samantha was standing in the plaza in front of Notre Dame, one of the most famous buildings in the entire world, and she didn’t want to miss anything about it. She had been careful to pick just the right tour book, finally settling on one by her favorite Travel Channel host. His manner was a lot like hers, casual and full of information that would be interesting to someone who was more interested in “local flavor” than all the same tourist traps.

As she stood in the plaza and read the book, looking up at the awesome structure in front of her, something in a small box caught her eye. Looking for the world’s best hot chocolate? “How odd”, Samantha thought, “that such a question would be in the middle of the chapter she was reading on Notre Dame.” Of course, she couldn’t just ignore it, so she continued to read.

Follow the cathedral around to the left, until the flying buttresses end. Turn to your left. See the river with a small footbridge over it? Walk over that bridge onto Ile St. Louis and turn to your right. See the café there, called Le Flore en L'Ile? Go there, sit outside, order the hot chocolate and take in the view of the cathedral from a totally different vantage point. You won’t be sorry.

As if the book was somehow talking to her, Samantha began to walk, following the instructions in the book. Little did she know that this simple act was going to change the focus of her entire vacation, and maybe even beyond?