The Music of My Heart *NSYNC Fanfiction: (Ch 19)
This serial is romantic fanfiction based on public personas. I don't know these people in real life. This chapter is NSFW.
Sunrise painted the ranch in pink and gold, spilling through the window of Zoe's cabin. The early morning light caught the silver threads of JC's tousled hair across her pillow. His arm rested across her bare stomach, his breathing deep in slumber.
Zoe traced the contours of his face- the puckered lips, the lashes just brushing his cheek, the faint creases beside his eyes from years of squinting…or smiling. The weekend had just begun, but she counted down the hours until he'd leave.
Sunday would arrive too soon.
JC's eyes opened, the bright blues immediately fixed on her face. "Watching me sleep?" His voice was a sexy, low growl, a rumble that vibrated through her.
"Maybe." She rolled to her side. "Just thinking."
"Dangerous." His hand slid up her stomach to cup her breast, thumb grazing her nipple. "Especially before coffee."
"I need to tell you something."
“Mmm?” His hand stilled. "Should I be worried?"
"No." She scooted closer, pressing a kiss to his bare skin. "Just... I know we talked about this but I get why you pushed this so hard. I see it and this is important to me. Being here, working with Kelly. I know the plan was to fuck off all weekend, but…I need to stay focused, even with you here."
JC rolled onto his back, exhaling slowly. "You think I'm a distraction."
"The best kind, handsome." She sat up and straddled him in one fluid motion, relishing the sharp intake of breath as she settled on top of him. "But still a distraction."
His hands cased her body, landing on her hips. His fingers dug into the soft flesh as he gazed up at her, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Seems like you're the one doing the distracting right now."
She rolled her hips, feeling him harden beneath her. "Just a momentary diversion," she whispered, leaning down to brush her lips against his. "For a few hours, anyway. Kelly likes me in the studio by nine."
JC's eyes darkened as his hands slid up her sides to grope her breasts, then moving higher to cup her chin. His fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her closer for a deeper kiss. "Then we'd better make this time count."
The gentle exploration of early waking transformed into desperate, urgent yearnings. His stubble scraped against her skin as his mouth traveled down her neck.
"Fuck, I need you," she gasped as his teeth grazed the sensitive junction where neck met shoulder. Zoe felt the thrill of being both vulnerable and ravenous.
JC flipped her onto her back in one smooth motion, his weight pressing her into the mattress, delicious and commanding. His eyes burned into hers, intense with something that made her heartbeat stutter.
"You can have me," he murmured against her collarbone. "I’m literally right here."
Zoe's legs fell open, welcoming him between them as his mouth continued its descent. He trailed hot kisses down her stomach, pausing to dip his tongue into her navel before continuing lower. The first swipe of his tongue against her slick flesh made her body jerk off the mattress.
She arched into his mouth, fingers clutching at the sheets beneath her. JC gripped her thighs, holding her firmly in place as he worked her with devastatingly slow precision. He knew exactly how to touch her, how to taste her, drawing patterns that made her whimper and writhe.
"Fucking….holy shit," she gasped, fingers digging into his scalp, holding him in place while her hips rocked against his mouth. "Fuck…yes! God, do not stop. Right there."
JC growled against flesh, the vibration ricocheting through her core like lightning. He devoured her with primal hunger, while his thick fingers curved inside her, stroking that spot that made her vision double, then blur.
"Your pussy tastes like heaven," he murmured against her, the words themselves making her throb. "Could eat you for hours."
"I want to come," she demanded, rolling her hips against his face, chasing the pleasure. "Show me you can do more with that mouth than talk."
He sealed his lips around her clit and sucked—hard—while his fingers plunged in and out like a piston.
“Uh! Uh! Uh! Fuck yes, I’m coming!”
The words burst from her lips in jagged syllables, each one punctuating the shudders that wracked her body. Her cries shattered the morning silence as she crested the wave of her orgasm.
JC’s tongue and fingers worked in perfect, ruthless harmony, pushing her higher and higher until she crashed over that exquisite edge. “Oh my fucking God,” she gasped, legs squeezing his shoulders as her fingers dug deeper into his hair. “Baby, I’m—gahhhhhhh!”
Words dissolved into a guttural cry, her entire body seizing in an intense, quaking release. Her hips rocked against his face, her voice raw and uninhibited as it bounced off the cabin walls. He gripped her tighter, holding her captive to his relentless mouth. She was helpless beneath the onslaught, thighs trembling as he drove her straight through one orgasm and into another, even more powerful one.
“Shit! Shit! Shit!” Zoe was lost in the storm of sensation, barely able to breathe, let alone speak. Her nails scraped against his skin, pulling him closer as she shattered again. He groaned into her as she came hard, then harder, her body jerking uncontrollably. Exquisite aftershocks left her gasping, bare skin drenched in sweat.
JC moved up her body with grace, leaving a trail of wet, open-mouthed kisses. When he reached her breasts, he sucked each nipple into his mouth, teasing them with teeth and tongue until her back arched off the bed.
He paused, eyes meeting hers in silent question.
"Don't you dare stop now," she commanded, sucking in ragged, uneven breaths even while wrapping her legs around him.
“No fucking way,” he mumbled, before he was inside her, filling her completely. Zoe's nails dug into his shoulders as he set a relentless pace, driving into her with abandon. The headboard slammed against the wall, punctuating each thrust.
"Yesssss," she hissed, meeting him stroke for stroke. "Harder. Fuck me harder."
JC's eyes flashed with primal hunger. He grabbed her wrists, pinning them above her head with one strong hand while the other gripped her hip, angling her body to take him deeper. "Like this?" he growled, driving into her with such force the entire bed frame shuddered.
"God, yes!"
"You.feel.so.fucking. good," he rasped against her neck, each word a staccato beat between thrusts. "So fuckin’ wet. So tight. So warm. You feel amazing."
His tone was low, barely controlled, a growl spilling into the heady air as he buried himself inside her with reckless intensity. Her gut-level cries fueled him, spurring him on while he pounded into her. The mattress strained
Zoe teetered right on the edge again, a few hard pumps away from toppling into another orgasm. "You gonna come for me again?" he panted against her ear, voice strained with his building release. "I need to feel this pussy squeeze me."
"Yes, yes, fuck!" She writhed, consumed by the urge to feel him let go, to pull him over the edge with her. "Give it to me, nice and deep. I need it."
"Goddamn," he groaned, burying his face in her neck. "You are gonna be the death of me."
“Got to make your trip worth your while.”
“You’re doing it, honey. Fuck, Zoe, you’re doing it," JC groaned, his control snapping. His hips stuttered, rhythm faltering as he drove into her one final time. "Take it, take it, take it—-yeahhhhhh…."
His words dissolved into grunts as he emptied himself inside her, his entire body shuddering with the force of his release. The aftershocks of pleasure rippled through them both as he collapsed against her, his weight a welcome anchor.
Their hearts thundered in tandem, sweat-slick skin sliding together. Zoe panted as she pressed her lips to his temple, tasting salt and sex.
For several minutes, neither spoke. The room filled with nothing but slowing breaths and the distant sound of the horses nicking. JC finally rolled to his side, pulling her with him so they faced each other, limbs still tangled.
"That's one way to start a morning," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I could get used to that.”
Zoe laughed, finally disentangling herself from his embrace. "Don't get too comfortable. I need to shower. You stay here, otherwise we’ll be all day."
"Aw, you take the fun out of everything." But his smile was affectionate as he watched her nude form climb out of bed and head for the shower.
Under the hot spray, Zoe tried to shift mental gears. From lover back to student.
From Zoe-and-JC to Zoe the developing artist. It wasn't easy.
**************************************
Kelly's eyes glinted with mischief when they arrived at the main house forty minutes later. She stood at the kitchen island in yoga pants and an oversized Texas Rangers sweatshirt, her blonde hair piled in a messy bun atop her head.
"Well, look what the cat dragged in," she said, a knowing smile playing at her lips. "Sleep well?"
"Like a rock," JC replied smoothly, accepting the coffee mug she offered.
"I'll bet." Kelly's booming laugh filled the kitchen. "I'm guessing y'all worked up an appetite. There's breakfast burritos keeping warm in the oven."
Zoe felt heat creep up her neck. "Thanks. Sorry we're a little late."
"Honey, it's Saturday. The schedule's loose." Kelly poured herself more coffee. "Besides, I figured you two had some catching up to do."
JC moved through Kelly's kitchen, retrieving plates while Zoe pulled the burritos from the oven. It struck her how comfortable he seemed here, as if he could make himself at home anywhere.
"Did you work on those lyrics I asked you to take a look at?" Kelly asked, settling onto a barstool.
Zoe nodded, grateful for the shift to shop talk. "Yeah, I made some good headway yesterday. That bridge still gives me trouble though. The words are there but the flow feels off."
"We'll crack it today," Kelly assured her. "JC, you want to sit in? Your ear might be exactly what we need."
"I thought you'd never ask," he said, his eyes lighting up with genuine excitement, then lighting onto Zoe’s gaze. "If… it’s okay with Zoe.”
Their conversation from earlier hung between them. JC was making an effort to respect her boundaries, to let her take the lead.
"Actually," Zoe said after a moment's consideration, "I'd love your input. Both of you at once could be exactly what this song needs."
"Dream team," Kelly declared with a grin. "So eat up. We've got work to do."
The studio barn looked different during the day, with sunshine streaming through skylights to illuminate the space in golden glow. JC whistled as they entered, taking in the state-of-the-art equipment and thoughtful design.
"This place is incredible," he said, running a hand along the mixing board. "You've built yourself a real nice sanctuary here, Kelly."
"I had this whole place gutted and rebuilt," Kelly said, pride in her voice. "I needed something that was mine, you know? Not beholden to a label or producer telling me what my sound should be and only letting me be there for a certain amount of time. Fuck that. I can live in here if I want.”
"That's why you started your own label?" Zoe asked, settling onto a stool with her guitar.
"Damn straight." Kelly flipped switches on the console, powering up the equipment. "If twenty years in this business has taught me anything, it’s that the only person who really gives a shit about your art is you."
JC nodded, a shadow crossing his features. "Had to learn that one the hard way."
Kelly's hazel eyes flickered between them. "Alright, enough industry trauma. Let's hear what you've got, Zoe."
Zoe positioned her fingers on the guitar's neck, took a steadying breath, and began to play. The song, "Wreckage," as they'd dubbed it, had evolved over the past week. What had started as a sketch of emotions was taking solid form, the lyrics no longer dancing around the subject but confronting it head-on.
As she sang, she was acutely aware of JC watching her, his expression unreadable. The song was about fear—fear of reaching for something you wanted and losing what you have.
The parallels to their situation weren't subtle.
When she reached the problematic bridge, she faltered, the transition still awkward. Kelly held up a hand, stopping her.
"There. That's where we keep hitting the wall." Kelly turned to JC. "What are you hearing?"
JC was quiet for a moment, eyes closed as he replayed the section in his head. "It's…fighting itself," he said finally. "The melody wants to climb, but the lyrics are pulling back. You're trying to make two different emotional states coexist."
"Exactly!" Kelly exclaimed, pointing at him. "That's what I've been trying to pinpoint."
"But maybe that's the point," Zoe suggested. "The song is about contradiction. Wanting something but being afraid to want it."
JC moved to the guitar stand in the corner, picking up an acoustic and settling onto a stool. He strummed a few chords, fingers finding the progression she'd been playing. "What if," he began, adding a minor seventh that shifted the entire feel, "we could just lean into that contradiction?"
He played a progression that started hesitant, then built, mirroring the emotional journey of the lyrics. "Then here—" his fingers moved up the neck, "—we let it break open. Surrender to it."
Kelly's eyes widened. "Yes! Then bring in that descending line we were playing with yesterday, Zoe."
Zoe grabbed her guitar, joining him on a nearby stool. They worked through the section, building and rebuilding, Kelly occasionally jumping in with suggestions or pulling them back when they veered too far off course.
Hours passed in a blur of creativity. Lunch was delivered at some point, sandwiches that sat half-eaten as they continued working. By mid-afternoon, the bridge had transformed—no longer awkward but a powerful moment of surrender after resistance.
"Play it from the top," Kelly directed, moving to the recording booth. "Let's hear how it flows."
Zoe began again, JC backing her on guitar. When they reached the newly reworked bridge, something clicked into place. The tension, the release—it felt right. When she finished, silence hung in the air for a moment.
"Holy shit," Kelly squealed, her face splitting into a wide grin. "That's it. That's the one."
JC nodded, a quiet satisfaction in his expression. "Feels right."
"What do you think, Zoe?" Kelly asked.
Zoe strummed the final chord, letting it ring out. "I think... we just found the heart of it."
"Perfect!" Kelly clapped her hands together. "Let's record a proper demo before we lose the magic. JC, you good to lay down guitar?"
"Absolutely."
Kelly bustled around the studio, setting up microphones and levels while explaining her process to Zoe. JC sat quietly with the guitar, occasionally playing fragments of the song, refining his part.
As they prepared to record, Zoe caught his eye across the room. A moment of understanding passed between them—this was why she was here. This was the work. And he got it, respected it, valued it.
They recorded the demo in three takes, Kelly insisting on capturing the raw energy rather than perfection. When they finished, she played it back through the studio monitors, the song filling the space around them.
"Damn," Kelly said when it ended, satisfaction in her tone. "That's going to be a bang hard as shit on your EP."
"My EP?" Zoe's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait…I thought we were working on material for your album."
Kelly laughed at her shocked expression. "Honey, this song has your name all over it. This is your story, your sound. I'd be crazy to take it from you."
JC nodded in agreement. "The best songs find their rightful home."
A comfortable silence settled between them as Kelly made notes on the session. Zoe felt exhilarated but drained—the familiar aftermath of intense creativity.
"We should celebrate," Kelly announced suddenly. "Y'all want to grill out tonight? I've got steaks that need eating and a fire pit that needs lighting."
"Sounds perfect," JC replied. "Need help with anything?"
"Nope. I need to find my children, so I’m out of here. Take some time to yourselves, then bring your appetites. I've got some nice bourbon we can break into."
Kelly headed to the main house while Zoe and JC walked back to her cabin. The spring afternoon had turned brisk, the sun's warmth fading as it began its descent behind the jagged ridgeline to the west.
"That was incredible to watch," JC said as they walked, hands brushing occasionally. "You two have a great creative flow."
"Adding you to the mix took it to another level," Zoe replied honestly. "That bridge wouldn't have happened without you."
"I don't know about that. You were close, just needed a different perspective." He paused, searching her face. "How are you feeling about everything?"
Zoe considered the question seriously. "Overwhelmed. Like I can barely process everything that's happening. But also... I’m ready. I've been preparing for this my whole life without realizing it."
"That's exactly how it should feel." His grin was full of pride. "You're going to crush this, Zoe. I've never been more sure of anything. I can’t wait to see where you go."
The sincerity in his voice made her throat constrict. "Even if it means we don't get to see each other as much as we want?"
"Especially then." JC stopped, turning to face her fully. "Look, I know I've been sending mixed signals. Pushing you away, then flying halfway across the country to see you. But I meant what I said. Part of loving someone is wanting what's best for them, even when it's complicated."
"Love?" The word hung in the air between them.
JC didn't flinch. "Yeah. Love. Or at least the beginning of it." He took her hands in his. "Don’t pretend you don’t feel it too.”
“I won’t. I feel it.” Zoe stepped into his space, pressing her body against his. "Show me, though," she whispered against his lips. "Show me what that looks like."
They barely made it through the door of the cabin before clothes started coming off. This time was different—less frantic pounding, more deliberate love making. JC's hands moved over her body with reverence, his mouth following paths traced by his fingers.
He backed her toward the bed, lowering her onto the mattress. Kneeling between her legs, he looked down at her with such intensity that she felt exposed in more ways than just her nakedness.
"You're so beautiful," he murmured, hands skimming up her thighs. "Every…single…part of you."
Zoe reached for him, pulling him down to her. Their bodies fit together perfectly, as he entered her with a smooth, deep thrust that made her gasp into his mouth.
"I've got you," he whispered, setting a languid pace that built pleasure slowly. It was different from their usual hurried, desperate, passionate encounters. This was connection, communication through touch and breath and synchronized movement. JC maintained eye contact as he moved inside her, his gaze never wavering.
It was almost too much. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, emotion welling unexpectedly. JC kissed them away, his thrusts deepening as he sensed her approaching climax.
He held on to her tightly, as though afraid the force of her emotions might carry her away. "Let go," he urged softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "This is for you."
When she came, it was like shattering and being rebuilt all at once. Her back arched, her body taut against his. JC felt the tremors ripple through her as she cried out, the sound of his name barely audible in her throat. JC followed shortly after, his release crashing down on him as her convulsions drew him in deeper.
He buried his face in her neck, his body tensing, her name a whisper on his lips.
Afterward, she laid head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat gradually slow.
"We should probably shower before dinner," Zoe said eventually, reluctant to break the peaceful moment.
"Probably," JC agreed, making no move to release her. "Five more minutes."
She smiled against his skin. "Five more minutes."
Five minutes turned to fifteen before they finally dragged themselves from the bed and into the shower. Washing each other led to another round of lovemaking, steam and hot water adding to the sensory overload as JC pressed her against the cool tile wall and took her from behind.
By the time they made it to Kelly's house, the sun was setting, casting long shadows across the property. Kelly had the fire pit already blazing, steaks marinating nearby, and an array of vegetables ready for grilling.
"There they are!" she called out, waving from her spot by the fire. "I was about to send out a search party."
"Sorry we're late," JC said with a grin. "Got caught up."
The evening unfolded in easy camaraderie. Kelly grilled the steaks to perfection while regaling them with stories from the road—the wild venues, cramped tour buses, and mishaps that seemed catastrophic at the time but became funny in retrospect.
Zoe watched them together, her gaze volleying between two powerhouses, these industry veterans who had survived the machine and emerged intact, their passion for music surviving despite the business that surrounded it. She wondered if she could do the same—hold onto the joy of creation through whatever came next.
As the night deepened, the conversation turned more serious. Kelly refilled their bourbon glasses, firelight dancing across her features as she leaned forward.
"Level with me, Zoe. You getting any decent offers yet?"
"Nothing earth shattering," Zoe replied. “Though, RCA is suddenly very interested after telling me I wasn't good enough a few months ago."
Kelly snorted. "Typical. If someone else smells money, they want to say they had the first crack. Suddenly you're their top priority."
"I've been telling her to hold out," JC added. "Wait for the right deal, not just the first one."
"Smart man." Kelly nodded approvingly. "This industry will chew you up and shit you out if you let it. That's a huge reason I started this program with you," she continued, gesturing around the property. "To give artists like you a fighting chance. The space to develop without some suit telling you to sound more like whoever's hot this week."
"I'm grateful," Zoe said sincerely. "This has already changed so much for me."
"You’re the one doing the work," Kelly corrected. "I'm just providing the space. But speaking of space..." She glanced between them, eyes settling on their hands, fingers intertwined on the bench between them. "You two figured your shit out, huh?"
JC laughed. "Working on it."
"Good." Kelly's smile was genuine. "Don't let the business get in the way of what matters. That's the mistake everyone makes."
"Is that why you moved your show to New York?" Zoe asked. "To prioritize what matters?"
"Something like that," Kelly replied, twirling her glass. "Sometimes you need a fresh start to remember why you fell in love with music in the first place."
She raised her glass. "To building something new."
"To building something new," JC and Zoe echoed, glasses clinking in the firelight.
Later, when the fire had burned down to embers and Kelly had retired to the main house, Zoe and JC walked back to her cabin hand in hand, the vast Montana sky blanketed with stars above them.
************************************
As Zoe feared, Sunday morning arrived too soon. She awoke first, watching the play of early light across JC's sleeping features. She traced the line of his jaw, the curve of his lips, trying to memorize every detail.
JC stirred, eyes opening to find her watching him again. "We have to stop meeting like this," he murmured sleepily, a smile tugging at his lips.
"I'm gonna miss you," she said simply, not bothering to hide the emotion in her voice.
"I'll be back," he promised, pulling her closer. "Whenever you want me. Whenever you need me."
"I always want you." She pressed a kiss to his chest, just above his heart. "But—"
"But you need to focus," he finished for her. "I know. And I respect that. Doesn't mean I won't be counting the days until I see you again."
"How about we make today count, then?" She slid her leg across his body, her thigh brushing against his growing arousal. "I want to memorize you before you go."
"I'm all yours," JC murmured, watching intently as she took control.
Zoe maintained eye contact as she lowered her head, pressing open-mouthed kisses down his chest, across his stomach, following the trail of dark hair that disappeared beneath the sheet. JC's breathing quickened, his fingers gathering her hair in a ponytail as she took him into her mouth.
"Fffffffuck," he hissed, his head falling back against the pillow.
She took her time, savoring his taste and texture, memorizing what made his breath catch, what made his hips lift from the bed. The power in giving pleasure was intoxicating—hearing the soft groans he tried to stifle, feeling the tremors in his thighs as he fought to maintain control.
"Zoe," he gasped, tugging gently at her hair. "I need to be inside you."
She released him with a provocative smirk, crawling back up his body to claim his mouth. The kiss was all tongue and teeth and groans of hunger. His hands roamed her skin, leaving fire in their wake as she guided him to turn onto his side. She pressed her back against his chest, drawing his arm around her waist, lifting her leg to allow him access from behind. When he entered her with one smooth thrust, they both issued a deep moan at the new angle, the deeper connection.
JC's arm locked around her waist like a steel band, crushing her against the hard planes of his chest. He pulsed inside her, stretching her in this new position.
"Goddamn, woman," he groaned, his voice a rough scrape against her ear. "Your ass pressing against me... so fucking perfect." His teeth caught the sensitive skin where her neck met her shoulder, biting down just hard enough to make her gasp.
His free hand blazed a trail of fire across her body—palming the weight of her breast, rolling her nipple between his fingers until she whimpered, then sliding lower to where they were joined. His talented fingers found her slick, swollen clit, circling with deliberate strokes.
"Yeah, that’s it," he encouraged when she bucked against his hand. "Let me hear how good I make you feel. There’s no around. You can scream as loud as you want."
"Fuck! Yes!" She screamed, panting, unable to form more coherent thoughts as he increased his pace.
"That's my good girl, taking it deep," he praised, his deep tone dropping to a filthy growl. "This sweet pussy is gonna come on my dick right now. I need to feel you dripping down my balls when you lose it. You’re so fucking wet for me. Let me feel how much you need it.”
His fingers moved more insistently, every syllable pushing her further. “Say my name when you come," he commanded, relentless and breathless. "Come on, Zoe. Come hard."
She reached back with a free hand, threading her fingers deeply through his hair and tangling in it, holding him close as their bodies locked together like a puzzle. Every thrust, every touch, every whispered word drove her higher. When his fingers quickened their pace between her legs, possessive and flurried, she broke with a loud, keening wail, the sound rising from somewhere deep inside. Her body clenched around him in erratic pulses.
JC followed her over the edge, his arm holding her in a vise-like grip as he shuddered against her, inside her.
They remained joined for long moments afterward, neither willing to break the connection. As JC's breathing slowly returned to normal, he pressed tender kisses to her shoulder, her temple, any part of her he could reach without moving away.
"I might never let you leave this bed," Zoe murmured, lacing her fingers through his.
"I wouldn't complain." His chuckle vibrated against her back.
They dozed like that, limbs entangled, until JC's phone buzzed on the nightstand. He groaned, reaching for it reluctantly.
"Eric confirming my flight details," he said after checking the message. "Car's picking me up in three hours."
Reality intruded on their bubble, the outside world demanding their attention once more. Zoe sighed, burying her face in his forearm. "I wish time would slow down," she mumbled against his skin.
"Me too." JC pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "But then again, the sooner I leave, the sooner I can come back."
"Oh then get out,” Zoe said, laughing. Then, in a quiet voice added, “Promise you will come back, though?"
"Wild horses couldn't keep me away." He tilted her chin up, looking into her eyes with an intensity that made her breath catch. "This is just the beginning, Zoe. For both of us."
Despite the impending separation, despite the challenges ahead, Zoe believed him. This was just the beginning—of her career, of their relationship, of everything that mattered.
And unlike the song, she wasn't afraid to reach for it at all.