| The boys stayed for two more days and helped the girls move in. Kelci still kept JC at bay, but finally his badgering paid off and she agreed to see him again before he left. Rachel had even clued him in on the control issue. Now, after a promotional tour across the country, all members of NSYNC were in NYC for the album release party and Kelci was in JC's hotel bathroom getting dressed. They had spoken nearly every day in the last few weeks and he felt like they were getting closer again. "How does this look?" He looked up to see her dressed beautifully in black boots with three inch heels, tight very low slung black leather pants, and a snug, but not suffocating brown leather vest that matched the natural highlights in her hair. Her curls were left loose and framed her face, which seemed to glow and sparkle slightly. He stood stunned at the sight of her and she fidgeted, not able to read his thoughts. "OK...um...I brought a dress just in case...I'll just be a second," she sighed and headed to the closet to retrieve the more elegant outfit. "No...God, no!...this...Wow!" "It's OK?" "Damn! I mean, I KNEW you were beautiful, but..." "But what?" she blushed as she fished for the compliment. "C...you're stunning..Hot...sexy...absolutely...wow! Vivacious...vixen." "Vixen?" "Yes," he grinned and pulled her close. "Vixen because you seem so totally innocent about your ability to scream SEX!" "I'm not screaming anything," she smirked up at him. God how she loved to be close to him. "Yo, JC!" came the loud, deep voice of Dre through the door. "Come on, handsome." He led her out and she smiled at his outfit. His ass was snugly fitted into his own black leather pants and his strong shoulders were covered in a tight blue long sleeved shirt that brought out his eyes. "Damn! Leather, huh, Kelci? Bondage and shit," Joey teased as he laid eyes on her for the first time that visit. "My sex life is none of your business." "At least not until it starts effecting JC's performance on stage," Wade teased as he, Justin and Brit joined them. "Whatever," Kelci rolled her eyes and hugged Brit, but kept her left hand in JC's right. "You have a good flight?" Brit asked as she stepped back and Justin ogled her neck. "Yeah, but I don't think Rach shut up for two seconds about Lance." "Like that's anything new," Chris stated from behind Kelci. "Hiya, doll. How are you?" "I'm good. Hi, Danielle. It's nice to meet you." "You as well," Danielle smiled and they shook hands. "Who are we waitin' for?" Lance asked as he and Rachel joined them. "No one. Mama Phyllis, Papa Joe, Momma Lynn and everyone are already en route," Dre stated and all headed to the elevators. "Is any of your family coming tonight?" Kelci asked JC as they rode down. "Ty and Jenn and, of course, my beautiful lady. Are you doing the press line?" "Yeah." "By yourself or with us like Brit?" he asked and brushed a curl out of her eyes. "Whichever you prefer." "With me...by my side." "OK. What about Rach?" she asked as the group headed through the lobby. "I don't know. It'll depend on if they are going public or not. She'll probably head in with Dani." "But they'll be OK?" "Yes, baby. One of the guards will be with them," JC reassured and the fans went crazy as they exited the hotel. JC and the guys stopped to sign autographs and, to her own surprise, Kelci's signature was demanded as well. She signed for a few minutes with Randy by her side and JC just beyond him. Most of the fans offered pleasant comments about her relationship with JC, but a couple girls did call her names and assured her that he would lose interest soon. "Guess we'll see," Kelci smiled and allowed Randy to lead her into the Suburban where Justin, Wade and Brit waited. Kelci hopped in beside Wade and JC joined them in the backseat as Randy sat next to Justin. "OK. I'm in the center for pictures and we get out first," Justin stated firmly. "I mean, look at these killer threads and my baby is slammin' tonight. Plus her single comes out in two weeks. Gotta keep the public drooling and you KNOW who the star of NSYNC is." "Right, baby," Brit cooed and Kelci furrowed her brow. "Leave it, C. It's not worth it," JC whispered and rubbed her firm thigh. She raised her right hand to play in his hair and he leaned back into her. His head fell back on her shoulder as Justin raved about HIS success and she ran her hands down JC's chest. He sighed with a smile and she pulled him closer, burying her nose in his hair just above his ear. "Justin needs a slap of reality. I mean, it takes all FIVE of you." "I know." "Just look at writing credits on THIS album. Five for you and three for him then one together." "Yeah, I know," JC whispered, his hand squeezing her thigh. "And as far as whose date looks better..." "I win!" "Ha!" she laughed and kissed his ear. "I'm sorry I make your stressful life harder." "You don't. You just challenge me and that keeps it interesting. I don't think I could ever walk away from you whole." "I can't either." "That's good to hear," he grinned and reached up to kiss her. Kelci's heart raced and her stomach filled with butterflies as she took a deep breath then whispered, "I love you, Josh and I'm incredibly proud of you and your hard work." "I love you, too." The smiled on JC's face was permanent the entire night and he kept winking at his girlfriend in the press line. He posed with the guys for pictures as Kelci chatted with Rachel before she was asked to pose then she worked the press line, but kept as low a profile as possible, even though it didn't seem to work very well. "Kelci, have you heard the new album?" Jann Carl of ET asked and Kelci stepped up between Lance and JC. "I've heard a couple of songs and, the ones I've heard are just...wow! These guys work so hard and the sound is just...fun with a twist of funkiness." JC grinned and pulled her closer as the next question came, "Is it hard to love a busy guy like JC?" Kelci smiled and winked at JC, "It's not hard to love him, but it's a challenge to see him. We both work at it so it's gettin' better." "Well, if anyone is up for the challenge, it's a Tomb Raider." "You got the part?" Joey asked and she nodded. "Congratulations." "She found out when she was moving," Lance informed. "Well, thank you all for your time," Jann smiled and Kelci noticed Justin's snarl that was tossed in her direction. "Baby, I think I should head inside," Kelci whispered. "Why?" JC asked and leaned down a little so her lips were at his ear. "You uncomfortable with the cameras?" "No, but I think it's pissin' J off that I'm gettin' more attention than Brit." "So?" "I don't want to cause problems between you guys." "Fuck him. You stay right here with me....where I need you," he requested firmly. "OK, Josh, if that's what you want." "I do." |