STELLA/CHARMAINE

I hit the torso body bag with a combination of punches and leg kicks. I don't know why Uncle Timo always assumes I can't handle what they talk about during these meetings.

I throw a fury of punches before I grab the body's neck and hit the abdomen with my knees, trying to get out all of my frustration on the inanimate object.

"Do you want to do some real sparring?"

I turn and see Enzo walking up to me, smiling. "I gotta tell you, I never thought you'd turn out to be a fighter, but then again, you always did have quite the temper and never were one to back down from a fight."

"Yeah, well, my dad wanted me to be able to protect myself, especially after that night." I dab at the sweat on my face and neck with a towel. "Are you guys done talking about me so soon?"

He frowns slightly at me. "For The record, I did ask why they keep you out of discussions that are about you. But your Uncle has his reasons, and I am on his territory so..."

I don't miss how he said 'Uncle' differently. But I don't want to put him in a position where he feels like he has to choose sides; I do that enough to JP.

Enzo walks over to the equipment area and puts pads on his hands and arms. "Okay, let's see what you got. I vaguely remember from our unfortunate reunion at the library." He smiles at me, trying to lighten the mood at the reminder of that day.

I follow him towards the center of the mat. He instructs me to throw a specific combination, and I follow through. "Good, but you're not turning your upper body with your hips like you should. Try it again and punch through the target."

I do it again. "Better. Again." I follow his prompts as he instructs me on the things I need to fix or alter.

"Let's try some kicks."

Forty minutes later, we make our way through the foyer, when JP meets up with us. "Good workout?" He asks me, smiling, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes.

"Yes, Enzo gave me a few pointers on how to pack more power behind my punches." I smile at Enzo, shadow boxing with him, and he ducks and dips as I pretend to hit him.

"I guess it's lucky he's here to help with your technique, principessa."

"I gotta head out, Stella. I'll talk to you later." Enzo says.

"Sounds good. Do you need a ride?"

"I left my bike just outside of the property; I'll be fine." He smiles.

"Okay, please be safe," I tell him as I hug him and watch as he walks out the door. I turn back to JP; he's frowning, pursing his lips.

I sigh, rolling my eyes. "I know that look, JP."

"What look?" He asks me, feigning innocence as he follows me up the stairs.

"It's the same look you had whenever Vince was around me," I say.

" Well, we both now know that Vince was an asshole trying to make me jealous, now don't we? So how do you know Enzo isn't doing the same?" JP asks as he follows me down the hall.

"Because he's not like that. And you seem to forget that I love you, and I'm yours, JP." I walk into my room, but he grabs my wrist, keeping me from walking away; I turn to look up at him.

"Say it again."

I grab ahold of his face so that I can pull him closer to me. "I love you and I'm your's, John Paul." I would never have imagined he would be insecure about me.

"Damn right, you are." His voice is low and husky, and his lips come crashing down on mine. He picks me up and pushes me up against the door, and presses his body against mine.

"JP, I'm all sweaty; I need to take a shower," I say, breathless in between kisses, but he only continues to kiss me hungrily, and I can feel his erection press against me as I moan.

He sets me down and tugs at my sports bra, and I help pull it over my head. He massages my breasts as he continues to kiss me feverishly while I hurry and kick my shoes off.

He grips the waistband of my yoga pants and yanks them down, along with my underwear. Then his hand palms my wet core, and his finger circles me as he licks and nips at my neck, and I moan as he slips a finger inside of me.

I unbuckle his belt and pull down his pants; tugging his boxer briefs down.

I take hold of him, stroking him in my hand while I kneel in front of him. The velvet smoothness of his hard dick has me licking my lips before I take him inside my mouth.

JP groans as he stands facing the door; his palms lay flat against the door as he starts thrusting himself into my mouth, and I grip his balls in my hand as he continues to fuck my mouth.

He groans when I squeeze him harder, but he pulls me up abruptly, lifting me in his arms, and plunges into me. He slams me against my bedroom door over and over again until I scream out his name, and I fall apart on him, and he releases himself into me.

My body sags against his, completely spent. I'm somewhat aware as he carries me to the bed, laying me down gently. He walks to the bathroom, and I hear him turn on the faucet to the tub; the calming scent of vanilla and lavender fills the room. He picks me up again, whispering in my ear how beautiful I am, that he loves me, and gently sets me down inside the tub. He climbs in behind me, and I lean back on him.

I sigh as I hold his arms, which are wrapped around me, before he starts rubbing a washcloth over my chest and neck. "That was amazing, Lover." He chuckles, his chest vibrating on my back.

"Is that my new nickname, princess?" He dips his head down, nipping at my ear and neck.

"You don't like it?" He drags the cloth down my arms and then back up slowly.

"It's better than 'drama queen, for that's for damn sure."

I laugh as I turn around to face him and lean over him, kissing his neck and grazing my teeth over his earlobe.

"Hmm, what about mio cuore? mio tutto? or mio bel principe? I kiss his jaw and the corners of his mouth before pressing my lips against his. (My heart, My everything, My handsome prince)

"As long as you say it in Italian, I don't care. You are so sexy when you speak it; you need to do it more, principessa."

"Really? So you wouldn't mind if I started calling you pagliacco? Asino? Or how about Coglione?" I grin at him. (Clown, Ass, Idiot)

"Okay, okay, I take it back. Don't call me anything in Italian."

I laugh again and move up to wrap my arms around his neck. He moves his legs underneath me, so I'm straddling him.

He runs his fingers slowly up from my hips until he cups my breasts, and I lean in to kiss him slowly; I feel his erection start to grow under me. "JP, I think something's wrong with me," I say as I kiss his face and then his neck.

"What do you mean, amore mio?"

His hand fists into my hair, and he pulls it back, so I give him full access to my neck and chest, and I moan as he licks and sucks on my skin.

"I can't stop wanting you, JP," I tell him in a breathless moan.

JP lifts me take him in; my knees are on either side of him as I slide down over him.

"Like this, having you inside of me," I say, not recognizing my voice.

"Well then, there's something wrong with both of us because I can't get enough of you either."

I rock on him slowly as he grips my hips, and I keep my pace slow, slower than our earlier session, but still just as erotic. He moans out my name before kissing me slowly as his tongue explores my mouth.

My nipples harden against his chest, and he pulls away to bend down and takes them in his mouth, his tongue circling and lapping my nipples. Our movements quicken but are still controlled, and as we reach our climax, he bites down on one of my nipples; not hard but enough to send me over the edge.

After we're finished and dressed, I tell JP I need a nap. A workout and back-to-back love sessions will tire a girl out, no joke. JP kisses me before he walks out, telling me he'll be back later.

<><><><><>

When I wake up, the sun is setting, and my room is dark. I stretch my arms over my head and point my toes; the movements pull at my tight, sore muscles.

I lean over, pick up my phone, and see I have a text message from Annalisa. I quickly respond, letting her know I had taken a nap.

I swing my legs over the bed and stand, stretching and twisting some more.

I head out to see where JP is.

I decide to check his room first, and as I get closer to his door, I stop when I hear shouting coming from inside.

"I'm not a fucking child, and I don't need to ask your permission on the decisions I make regarding my life! My decisions have nothing to do with you!"

"You don't know what the hell you are talking about, John Paul. You've worked hard to get where you are, and you're just going to fucking throw it away? For what, figlio (son)? You think you know what love is? You don't have a fucking clue!"

"And you do? Anthony Thomas Toretto, a man of priorities, right? You were never fucking there for mom!"

"Don't bring your mother into this, John Paul!"

"You're seriously going to stand there and lecture me on love? When you didn't take care of the woman you vowed to love. When she was sick, coughing up blood all over herself, calling out for you, where the fuck were you?"

"John Paul, I'm sorry, I wasn't there as I should have been."

"You're sorry?" John Paul doesn't say anything for a moment. "Well, I'm glad you're sorry, dad; it really goes a long way."

"I'm not going to have the same fucking argument with you, John Paul, but I will not sit back while you make a mistake with your life. You're young, do not do something you'll regret."

"It's my fucking life, not yours. You don't get to fix your mistakes through me! Get the fuck out of my room!" John Paul shouts.

I don't have time to react or find somewhere to go before the door is wrenched open then slammed shut, with a furious Tony looking right at me. My face burns, knowing I was caught eavesdropping.

He narrows his eyes a little before straightening his tie, walking away towards his room without saying anything to me.

I swallow hard at having such an intense stare-down with him. He's not necessarily the most talkative, but he's always been friendly, and he's never looked at me like that. I walk up to JP's door and knock before going in.

"I told you to get the fuck out of my room!" JP yells. His face is red, and the veins on his neck are bulging out while his hands clench into fists. His eyes soften when he sees me, and he exhales loudly. "Sorry," he mutters. "I thought you were my father."

"Are...are you okay?" I walk towards him cautiously. "Why were you and Tony fighting?"

JP turns away from me, running his hands through his hair. "It was nothing."

"It didn't sound like nothing, JP." I walk over to him and wrap my arms around him. He turns around and wraps his arms around me, and he brings his head down, nuzzling my neck; taking a deep breath.

"Was it about us?" He tenses in my arms. I pull away to look up at him. He doesn't meet my eyes. "John Paul, please talk to me."

He sighs before he looks down at me, running his hand through my hair, his hand caressing my face. "He thinks we are moving too fast; with everything that's going on, he thinks we should take some time apart until things settle down. So my focus isn't 'fucked' up."

"Do you think he's right?"

"Hell no!"

JP looks at me almost as angry as when I had first walked in, and I look away. "Look at me, Char." I move my eyes back to meet his intense gaze.

"I don't give a damn what he or anyone else thinks about us. All that matters is you. You and me." He brings my hand up to his lips, brushing them over my knuckles.

"I don't want to come between you and your father, JP."

"You know better than anyone that we are not close, Char. And we are never going to be. I can't forgive him for not being there when my mom and I needed him the most." He pulls me in for a hug.

I inhale deeply as his masculine cologne envelopes me.

"Come on, let's go out to eat. I don't want to be in the house." He tells me, pulling me out of his room by my hand. "Let's take the bike."

<><><><>

I'm pleasantly surprised when he pulls into a diner we used to frequent in high school.

"Wow, it's been a while since I've been here."

When we walk in, the scents bring on a wave of nostalgia, and memories of me, Annalisa, JP, Joey, and Damien eating here during lunch or after school on Fridays. I look over the table we used to sit at and can not only picture us eating and talking, but I can hear us laughing together.

A hostess leads us to a booth, and we look over the menus once we sit down. I order a bacon club sandwich and tomato basil soup while JP orders a double cheeseburger with fries and a strawberry milkshake.

"So, how long are you going to be gone on this next business trip, coming up?" I ask as I take a sip of water.

"About a week, and then I'll be home for a couple of weeks before I fly out again." He tells me, checking his phone.

"Where are you going this time?"

"Chicago again and then Miami. The trip to Miami will be longer, though, since Timo's opening a resort there. He's having me oversee the construction after they break ground." He tells me.

"Oh? That'll be good, already putting your degree to use." I smile at him. "How long?"

"A month."

"A month!" I exclaim, nearly choking on my water.

JP smiles back at me. "Is my principessa going to miss me?"

I pout at his annoying smirk. "No, no, I am not," I petulantly respond while folding my arms. "It's just; I'll be leaving not long after you get back.

"We'll figure it out, amore mío. Even if you were to leave before I can get back, I'd fly out to see you and help you settle in." He grins at me, "Admit it; you'll miss me."

I purse my lips, not meeting his gaze.

He reaches across the table, grabbing my arm to hold my hand. "See, I think you are going to miss me, amore. Or maybe it's just my tongue you'll miss." He winks.

"JP!"

"No, I bet you'll miss my hard, throbbing dick the most. Slamming into your wet, warm pu—"

I practically jump over the table to clamp my hand over his mouth, with my face red, while he laughs uncontrollably.

The waitress walks up to our table, thankfully not a moment sooner, with our food. She gives me a questioning look as I lean back off the table to retake my seat.

We sit talking and laughing while we eat our food.

I reach over and take a couple of JP's fries, smiling as I do.

JP raises an eyebrow. "Sure, have some of my food, princess."

"Thanks, don't mind if I do!" I grin back at him.

"Toretto?"

We turn towards the voice calling out for JP, and my eyes widen when I see Dean Esposito, the first guy that took me out on a date, in high school.

He looks the same; broad shoulders, with the same athletic build like JP. His black, wavy hair is styled back, away from his face, with his dark blue eyes, bemused and vivid, looking at JP.

"Shit, man. It's been a long time. What have you been up to these days?" He shakes JP's hand, and they exchange in a manly hug. JP tells him he just graduated from Columbia and just enjoying the summer for now.

Dean tells him he graduated from NYU and is interning at a law firm in Manhattan.

He also expresses his condolences to JP; word spread about Damien, except he heard he died in a car accident.

Dean turns to look at me, finally noticing as I sit eating more of JP's fries.

"Hey, my name's Dean Esposito. JP and I went to the same high school, played football together." He gives me his hand to shake, and I frown at him as I finish swallowing my food.

"I know who you are, dumbass. It's me, Charmaine."

Dean's eyebrows furrow in confusion as he takes in my appearance. "Charmaine Bracco?"

I narrow my eyes at him; I don't look that different. "Yes, I've colored my hair, but I don't look that different, do I?"

He keeps staring at me. "Hello? Dean?" I wave my hand in front of him, and he shakes his head as if in a daze.

"No, it's just you look...damn." I blush as I look over at JP, and his eyes narrow at Dean. He watches as Dean sits down, next to me, still staring; JP sits down, too, observing Dean. I turn back to my food but eat some of JP's fries again.

What? Fries are addicting, okay?

"Wow, so what have you been up to, Char?" Dean asks me.

I clear my throat as I finish eating a fry. "Nothing, just graduated from Columbia, too. I'll be traveling to Paris soon for some baking courses."

"You look amazing," He says, smiling at me, and I smile at him tentatively. Okay...this is getting awkward.

"Dean, let's go, man."

We look up, and I'm having flashbacks of high school as some of the schools most elite are standing at our table. The guys that girls wanted to be with and the one's guys wished they could be, look at us as Dean stands up.

"Look who I ran into, guys," Dean informs them even though they can see for themselves. JP gets up again, shaking hands and man-hugging each of them.

All the old familiar feelings of feeling less than around the popular kids in school come back, full force.

While I did play sports in high school, I mostly kept to myself because of how strict my Uncle was. I mean, I was always around Annalisa, JP, Damian, and Joey, but I was good at making myself invisible, even around them.

Dean gestures to me, making me feel self-conscious, to have them all look at me. "Danny, Mike, Jace, you guys remember Charmaine Bracco."

Their eyes widen, and a couple of their mouths open slightly. Before a chorus of "yes, yeah, of course, we do," Ring out.

I wave at them, politely and Dean sits back down next to me. "Pull up some chairs guys, let's hang out for a bit before we go."

The guys grab a couple of chairs, and JP sits back down, pursing his lips, clearly not liking the extra company. Jace sits next to him while Danny and Mike place their chairs at the end of the booth.

We sit and talk about some of our high school memories. They laugh as they go through some of the pranks they pulled on each other or other classmates, like most popular kids do, completely oblivious to the torture they put other classmates through.

JP catches my expression at some of their off-putting pranks and winks at me, making me smile.

"Hey, you guys remember that Halloween Dance? You two came in second, in the couple costume contest, against Sammy and Jacob. I can't even remember what they came as, but you two were the couple from that old movie Tom Cruise was in." Jace says with a faraway look on his face, trying to think of the movie.

"Top Gun, the movie was Top Gun." I remind him.

"Yeah, that's it. You guys were Maverick and Charlie; you pulled it off well since your hair was shorter and lighter and all curled up and shit. Not to mention, you looked smokin' in that outfit, too." Danny says, and I flush as they all nod.

"I thought for sure you guys would win; I mean, you even came on your bike, man!" Mike says to JP.

"Nah, can't go up against a Ken and Barbie; that's what Sammy and Jacob came in costume. A lot of people didn't even know who we were." I look at JP and laugh, thinking about that night.

"JP probably wouldn't even know the movie if I didn't make him watch it with me," I tell them, smiling at him, but his lips are pursed, watching me, and I narrow my eyes at him.

What's his problem?

Dean casually puts his arm around me, taking my attention away from JP. "What are you guys doing tonight? We're heading over to Lucky's to get some drinks. You guys should come." He says, but he's only looking at me.

"Another time," JP answers for me. "We've got to go."

We get up to leave, shortly after and JP pays for our meal. As we head out, the guys walk out with us, still talking about some of their favorite high school moments.

Dean keeps his arm around my shoulders as we walk up to JP's bike.

"There it is; you still have that sweet ride, I see," Dean tells JP as he admires his bike. The rest of the guys head toward their car, waving bye, but Dean stays behind to talk with us.

"Well, it was great to see you guys." He shakes JP's hand and turns to hug me catching me by surprise. The hug lingers a little longer than expected, but he pulls away right as I was going to say something.

"We should get together before you leave, Char," Dean tells me.

"That's not going to happen," JP tells him, his voice low.

"Oh, come on, man. Don't tell me you're still doing the whole big brother act around her, dude?" Dean says, exasperated with a shake of his head. He puts his arm around my waist as he talks to JP, and I can see JP's jaw muscles twitch.

"She's my girl, Dean." JP looks at him coldly while I roll my eyes at his behavior.

"Your girl?" Dean questions and looks between us.

"You heard me. Move. Now."

"JP..." I try to intervene.

JP steps forward and grabs my hand, pulling me towards him, and Dean looks at us, his eyebrows raised.

Dean laughs lightly. "Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You definitely didn't look at her like a brother should when we were younger." He shakes his head again, chuckling. "Anyway, we should still get together, all of us." He emphasizes the all, smiling at JP.

"Sure," JP tells him. Dean smiles and winks at me as he walks away, getting in the car with his friends, and they drive away.

"Let me get this straight; you can give me shit about Victoria pawing me in public, looking at me, touching me, and I'm just supposed to bend over and take it up the ass while guys do that to you?" He turns, looming over me, furious.

"You had every opportunity to introduce us as a couple from the get-go, and you didn't!" I tell him, returning the anger he's radiating. "It's like you're ashamed of me. You didn't do it with Victoria and now with them.

You want to keep up that same image you had in high school, and I don't fit the mold of your usual type of girl. If that's the case, then what the hell are we even doing, JP?" I turn away from him.

He sighs loudly. "How can you even think that, Charmaine? I'm just still on edge over the argument with my dad and just overreacted, I'm sorry." His voice lost the anger and edge to it. He comes up behind me, putting his arms around me.

"Well, why didn't you tell them, though?" I ask him quietly.

"It's not because I'm ashamed of you, amore mio. You are my dream girl, Char. I was thrown by seeing him first of all, and then the others showed up, and I can't just blurt out, she's mine, back off! Without looking like a complete coglione."

I laugh as I turn around in his arms. "Yeah, but you're my idiot." I reach up on my toes and rub my nose up against his.

"And just so we're clear, comparing what just happened with what Victoria is and does around you is not the same damn thing, JP." I reach down to grip him hard. JP flinches, then looks down at me. "So stop comparing these types of situations to her, capisce?" I squeeze harder.

"Fine, okay, fuck." He tells me, and I grin at him before I let go. He picks me up quickly, making me squeal, and sets me on his bike as he begins kissing me roughly.

He kisses my jawline and my neck, and I hold on to him with my legs.

We hear a few disapproving clicks of tongues from passerby's, and I chuckle and pull away.

He leans down, leaving soft kisses on my face while I smile. "JP, you big stud..."

He pulls back to look down at me, amused, and I lean up, kissing him and move my lips over his jawline, whispering my favorite line in the Top Gun movie. "Take me to bed, or lose me forever."

JP laughs deeply before finishing the quote. "Show me the way home, honey."

And I melt into his arms as he kisses me passionately before he drives us home and then follows through with taking me to bed.

*****

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