*~*Jon's POV*~*

David and I sat out on the balcony, sipping on a fine Rose wine and watching the sunset as the cruiser sailed toward the coastline and the New Year. "Is it strange to make a wish on New Year's?" I ask him.

He chuckles and offers me a white truffle. "Not at all. Have to admit, it's been one for the books." I savor the sweet and inhale David's cologne mixed with sea salt.

"I don't wanna go home." I rest my head on his shoulder and he gives me that sweet Lema smile. It's something I won't ever tire of.

"We won't just yet, then," he says and kisses me deeply. "We'll stay as far from Jersey for as long as you want." My eyes take in the rest of his appearance and my mind wanders to the lustful hours before.

We'd taken a long steamy shower together earlier and dressed for the party later that night. As he fixed his hair, I had come out to find that David had laid out my clothes for me. I smile at the blue shirt. He seemed to like me in blue.

I slipped on the soft black jeans and roll my eyes at how snug they seemed to be. I'm sure he's deliberately swapping my jeans for a smaller size just so he can perv on my ass. I chuckle as I pull the shirt on next. I was standing at the mirror, drying my hair, when he comes up behind me.

"Those jeans look mighty fine on you, Johnny," he growls. I lean back into his arms and smile at him, his gray shirt with those top three buttons undone and showing off his Joker tattoo makes my mouth positively water.

"Thank you...you don't look so bad yourself," I smile and turn to face him, tracing my cool fingers over his warm chest. He's still damp from the shower and I lick my lips. We didn't make it out to the balcony until an hour later.

The lights of the coastal town started to shine in the distance, little pinpricks of sparkles, as we edge closer and closer, eventually the music filtering over the noise of the cruiser slicing through the water.

David stood and took my glass, setting it with his on the nearby table. "Ready to party? Try and forget everything for a while?" He pulls me up and we sway side to side.

"You know...for someone who once said he hates romance, you do seem to truly enjoy it," I say. He kisses me and I melt.

"I never said I don't enjoy it, Johnny," he whispers. "I just swore that I'd never let anyone into that part again." He cups my jaw and gives me another kiss. His curls tickle my face and I smile.

"How hard do I have to knock to get in?" I ask.

"Oh darlin'," David chuckles, "you broke through that barrier already. You have nothing to worry about."

My heart swells a little hearing those words, just as it did when he said he loved me those few months ago. I duck my head a little, nod and smile sweetly up at him.

The boat pulls up to its slip and the engine cuts off. He takes my hand in his, knowing we are safe here in the isolated paradise and leads me onto the dock.

"I just wanna enjoy the night with you and leave fucking 2013 behind," I confess.

We stroll up the pathway to Eden Rock and were shown to a table for two toward the back, letting the music wash over us as we take our surroundings in. A long platter of local sushi and sashimi was brought to the table along with a bottle of wine, several delicate sauces available for us to savor.

"This," David says, taking the two wine glasses from the waiter and handing one to me, "...is to a new year with new adventures...together, whether they be good or bad. Best friends, brothers...and lovers."

"To...us," I reply quietly as our glasses clink almost soundlessly amid the celebratory noise. I slip my free hand down to his thigh and squeeze gently.

David lets out a low grown and picks up a delicate piece of sushi with his chopsticks. He dips it into a thin brown sauce and lifts it to my lips. I open obediently and feel it melting on my tongue. He's watching me with a raised eyebrow and offers me another.

"Mmm...you enjoying that, baby?" He asks, swiping off a fall drip of sauce from my chin, licking it from his finger. I nod and savor it as he takes a bite, chewing slowly and washing it down with wine. I follow his lead but my eyes dart to the left after a flash of light.

My head swirls this way and that, quickly taking in all the people. In my haste, I spill my wine into David's lap.

"Oh fuck," I mutter and grab him a cloth napkin.

"You okay, Johnny?" He asks and pats dry his pants. Another white flash catches my gaze and I jump closer to him. He wraps an arm around my shoulders. "What's up? Hey! Johnny, look at me!" He snaps his fingers in my face but my breathing is quickening.

"Cameras!" I whimper, my anxiety starting to creep up my throat to choke me.

"Hey hey...it's probably just the spotlights. Jon, Jon just brea--"

"David! Jon! This way!" Our heads shoot up as the shout, several cameras popping up from the hedges behind us and to the side. "How long have you to been together?!!"

Eden Rock security swarm the table and David yanks me up roughly. "Jon, don't let go of me!!" He shouts and security attempts to push away the converging photographers and shouted questions.

"Are you two officially coming out as gay?!" Cameras are shoved in our faces, bright flashes blinding us both. "What happened to Dorothea and Lexi?! Do you have any comment on the leaked video?!"

I curl my hands into fists at the last comment. David's face reflects the same betrayal and shock. He pulls out his phone and dials a number. "Airport, Vicky...Twenty minutes...Now!"

"Jon, what about Richie?!! Is this the end of Bon Jovi?!" The paparazzi jostle us as David and I fall into a desperate sprint down the docks with security, hot tears stinging my eyes. "What would your fans say if they knew you two were an item?!!"

Security guards close off the dock gate as David drags me inside and slams the door shut. "Pack...now...

I stand rooted to the spot, the questions hurled at us still ringing in my ears and tumbling around my head. They eventually gave way to the big question; how did they find out? I felt the small amount of food swirl sickly with the wine and I made a dash to the bathroom and fell before the toilet just in time for the contents to make a reappearance.

David kneels next to me and a cool cloth dabbing my fevered skin. "I'm so sorry, baby," he whispers.

"Not your fault..." I gasp, "How though?"

"I don't know but we can't stay here. I'll find out if it's the last thing I do." He hands me a glass of water to rinse my mouth out.

I straighten and lean against the countertop willing the shakes to stop. "What video were they talking about? Have you seen anything?"

David looks up from his packing and shakes his head. "I've been a little too occupied with a certain guy to pay much attention to the media," he says with a smile, picking up a bottle and handing me a small green pill. "Take it. It'll help your anxiety."

"Baby? We'll be okay, yeah?" I ask and swallow the pill.

He strokes my hair with gentle fingers, trailing them down my cheek. "Of course, we will. Just relax and I'll pack."

I take in the confidence in his eyes and nod once before leaning forward to kiss him, "What would I do without you. Thank you." Instead of sitting on the bed, I kneel down and bow my head. He gives me a kiss on the head and I watch him stride the room, our bags filling up higher and higher.

In a flurry, we sneak out to the car with security. Most of the paps are gone but a few stragglers remain. We keep our heads down and rush into the waiting car.

I can feel David's eyes on me during the car ride as I fight against the urge to just fucking die. The ride is tense and bumpy. I lay across the backseat, my head in his lap and pull his warm leather jacket to black out my vision.

His smell embraces me as completely as the darkness, his hands run up my waist and down my arm. "Do you need anything from me, Johnny?" He asks. My fingers slide over his thigh but I don't grasp to arouse. Instead, I hold onto him for comfort and concentrate on the flow of blood beneath the skin.

"We're here," David sighs and I peek out from the jacket. The door opens and I sit up. "It's okay. They can't get in." He exits the car and helps me out. We're at his villa high up in the coastal hills, light from the tiki lamps reflecting off an infinity pool with its own waterfall and bar.

My eyes drag through the darkness and I breathe in relief at the tall stone and iron barrier along with the parameter. Lema always was a stickler for security with cameras and alarms.

We watched as the driver left and the tall gate locked behind him. I feel my best friend and lover wrap his arms around my waist. My throat closes and I yank myself from his embrace.

*~*Later that Night*~*

I slowly descended the spiral staircase, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. David was in the den wearing his favorite flannel pants and no shirt, reclining back on the chaise sofa and strumming his guitar absently. Those fingers dancing gracefully over the six strings made my heart melt.

"Hey look who decided to join the land of the living," David joked.

"Sorry, baby." I trail my slim hand down his neck and chest.

He sets the guitar next to the sofa and pulls me into his lap. "No need to apologize to me, darlin'," he whispers, wrapping his arms around me.

"What if they come back? We should have gone back to Jersey," I whimper and bury my nose in his blonde curls.

"I'm right here with you, Jonny," he whispers, fingers grazing my cheek as he moved a stray bit of grey hair from my face. I tilt my head to the side and his lips find mine, enjoying a rare quiet moment after the utter fiasco tonight.

What would the band say? What if Richie found out? Oh god...Dot and Lexi...the kids... "God I fucked up, Lema," my voice trembles. "I'm sorry, baby...fuck I'm sorry!"

"Shh," is all he says in reply, stroking my hair. "You didn't fuck up, darlin'. We'll deal with it together."

He picks up a tablet and lowers all the blinds. The dim orange light from the sofa side lamps bath the room in a warm glow. I curl up into him and trail my fingers through his chest hair. "The kids..."

"...will be just fine," he finishes and I look up at him through tears. He kisses each one, following the watery trail to my lips. I whimper when his tongue gently presses through, caressing my own.

"I...I can't do this now," Jon said pushing him away. "How? How did this happen?"

David sighs and his drops onto the sofa cushions. The TV, currently tuned to some news channel, becomes little more than background noise. "It had to have been on the boat," he shrugs. "I mean, it was bound to happen eventually...right?"

"And in local news, two members of the popular rock band Bon Jovi were spotted in a very compromising position. The 51-year-old leader of the band was caught cozying up to his keyboardist, David Bryan, on their private yacht just off the coast of Gustavia close to Nikki Beach.

"The source, who asked to remain unnamed, sent in these scandalous photos of Bongiovi and Bryan after his own sexual advances towards the rockstar were rejected. Neither Bongiovi nor Bryan would comment but can be seen here, captured by reporters, running hand in hand from the glamorous Eden Rock lounge."

"What?" I whip my head towards the TV in time to see a video of David kissing me in the pool. My breathing speeds up, becoming shallower and hands tremble. "Fuck...no..."

"Previous sexual advances?" David asks. "Who? Johnny...who? Do you know who did this?"

I don't want to look him in the eye. Lying is out of the question. But I lived up to my end of the deal. I got him a job on my fucking yacht as he demanded. He'd shown me photos of me with Richie and with David, threatened to send them to the media if I didn't get him more money.

This was the one fucking secret I couldn't have going public. "James..."

I could almost hear the gears turning in David's head as the name ran through his memory. "James? James from Security? I wondered what the fuck he was doing here. Thought you'd brought him for protection," David replies, shaking his curls. "When? When did he...try to...when did he make advances towards you? Fuck...tell me, Jon!"

"It started before Richie left and through the whole tour," I explain, scrubbing my hands over stubble. "At first it was money then he started demanding girls. After he showed me photos of you and me," I sigh and avert my eyes, "He wanted me, nothing less. I gave into it but he wouldn't stop."

"And what? Did you feel like you would inconvenience me with this information?" I can hear the hurt in his voice and shake my head vigorously. "Jon, we could have stopped this early on." Fuck, he's disappointed. I hate disappointing him.

I turn in his lap to face him. "Lema baby, I was just trying to protect you and--"

"By bringing that psycho to the one place we have just to get away from all the mayhem?" He moves a little and I slide off his lap onto the sofa. David starts pacing the lounge, the muscles in his arms and chest flexing. "Does Matt know anything about it?"

"No! He can't!" I exclaim. "You know how my family is!"

"Did you even think about how this would affect...I dunno...anyone other than you?!" He stares at me for several moments, waiting for me to say...anything. Words evade me for the first time ever. I whimper when he grunts in frustration and storms out of the room, the one bedroom door upstairs slamming shut.

I follow him shyly but flinch back when I hear his crying from inside. "I'm sorry, Lema...I'm sorry," I whisper over and over like a mantra, sliding down the wall and curl up on the carpet. Eventually, I let David's sobs and the ticking of my watch to lull me to a shallow slumber.