It’s easy to recognize the looks on the pilots’ faces, the eager expression people get when they’re excited to meet me. Well, not me, but Andrew Forrester, mega-A-list actor. These guys were told to specifically act as if they didn’t know me and instead, they’re acting like giddy schoolgirls. Fuck!
One of them speaks as we reach the doorway. “Mr. Forrester, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he says, shaking my hand and acting like a complete asshole.
Out of the corner of my eye I catch Sydney’s expression. She’s completely perplexed as to why the pilots would be ass-kissing their passengers like this. I turn back to the over-eager pilots and give them a dark look that lets them know I’d be more than happy to rip their hearts out of their chests if they don’t stop fangirling all over me.
Shocked at my anger, they immediately tone it down and politely shake Sydney’s hand. “Miss.”
She returns the gesture, dumbfounded as to what just happened, I’m sure.
This is one time I’m glad that she doesn’t ask a lot of questions. We get in the car and sit in awkward silence all the way back to Sydney’s loft in the Village. It’s dark in the car, but I can tell that something’s not right. Her posture is stiff and she won’t look at me or touch me.
Is she dumping me now that we’re back in New York? Did I do something to piss her off? I’m wracking my brain but I can’t think of anything specific. She only started acting weird after I woke her up on the plane. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and my stomach cramps when I think of Sydney breaking up with me.
Shit.
Bruce stops in front of her apartment and she leaps out of the car as if it’s on fire. Great, she can’t wait to get away from me, running again. I’m not giving up this time. She’s going to fucking talk to me.
“I’ll bring your bag up Sydney,” I tell her as I smoothly lift it from the trunk, making sure my hat is down low and my coat collar is turned up so passersby don’t recognize me.
She doesn’t thank me for helping her up. Instead, she makes a face when I insist on accompanying her to her door. She knows me well enough by now to know I won’t let her drag it upstairs alone. Plus, I’m not letting her off the hook. She’s going to tell me what I did that made her act like this.
Sydney avoids eye contact the entire elevator ride up to the 8th floor. I stare at her, willing her look at me, but she’s stubborn and determined. I don’t even rate a glance. When the elevator doors open, she sprints down the hall to her door just to get away.
At least Sydney holds the door open for me and waits in the foyer instead of slamming it in my face. She’s expecting me to drop her bags and leave immediately. Fat fucking chance of that happening. I carry her luggage to her room and set it next to the bed, taking a seat in one of the chairs by the windows to wait.
Having no choice, she follows me into her room and slowly sinks into the opposite chair. I can see her trembling from stress, her gorgeous face looks tired and worried, her eyes are wide and fearful.
“Sydney, are you upset with me?”
Don’t tell me you’re leaving me.
I rest my elbows on my knees to get closer to her, staring into her eyes and holding her gaze.
“No, Drew. I’m not upset with you. I’ve had the best weekend. Really, it was wonderful. I’m…I guess I’m just nervous about work tomorrow.”
She’s lying to me, I know it and I’m sure she knows that I don’t believe her. What is she really worried about? Is it whoever hurt her before? I’ll kill the bastard if that’s what it is.
I lean back, frustrated that she’s not going to elaborate. She said it’s not me and I have no choice but to believe her, pushing her will only drive her further away. “One of these days Sydney, I’ll get you to trust me. If you say it’s not me, then I believe you. But I don’t like leaving here knowing that you’re upset and won’t tell me why.” I reach out and take her shaking hands in mine and kiss our intertwined fingers.
If she only knew that I’d happily take a bullet for her. All she has to do is tell me what she’s afraid of, who she’s afraid of, and I’ll do my damnedest to fix it.
Syd’s made her decision though, she isn’t ready to let me in. I drop her hands and stand up, crushed by her unwillingness to confide in me. She jumps to her feet when I get up, her eyes glassy and wet with unshed tears.
Shit, don’t fucking cry. It’ll destroy me.
“Drew. I’m sorry I can’t tell you. Please, be patient with me. I have…issues that I’m dealing with. And I am dealing with them. I don’t want you to feel like any of it is your fault. You’re perfect. This weekend was perfect.”
She stretches up on her toes and kisses me, hesitantly. I have no idea how to respond, she’s upset and I don’t want to be a dick and take advantage, so I just stand there uselessly. When she runs her tongue over my mouth, I instinctually wrap my arms around her and kiss her back. The thought crosses my mind that if she freaks out and leaves me, this may be the last time I kiss her. I tighten my grip and greedily devour her mouth with mine. Forgoing breathing just to taste her a little longer.
When it ends, I lean my forehead down to hers and give a cryptic, but honest response. “Whatever it is Sydney, it can’t be that bad. It won’t change how I feel about you. And hopefully, if you ever find out something about me that is unexpected or surprising, you won’t let it change your feelings for me. Call me tomorrow after you leave work.”
Inside, I’m freaking out knowing there’s a chance that she may not call me.
“Yes, I’ll call you tomorrow.”
I kiss her quickly one more time and leave before I do something stupid, like scream and punch a wall out of frustration. I hope I can wait until I get home to do that.
CHAPTER 19
White hot rage flows through my body, exploding out of my fists as I duck and punch my opponent in the side. Shit! He catches me on the chin and my head snaps back. Shaking it off, I land a diagonal kick to his ribs and he grunts in pain. Before he can retaliate, I cuff him with a left cross on his jaw.
“What the fuck!” Damien roars and loosens his gloves and head gear, throwing them on the floor.
I stand there, staring at the mat as sweat drips down my back. He’s pissed and he should be. We’re supposed to spar, not actually fight and I caught him twice in a row. Hard. Being a lefty gives me a huge advantage in the ring and I just used it against my best friend when he wasn’t expecting it.
“What is your fucking problem today, Forrester? This is bullshit!” Damien stalks out of the cage and grabs his water, taking a long drink before turning his flashing eyes on me.
“Sorry man,” I say lamely as I step down from the ring. “I have a lot of shit going on in my mind.” I make a random hand gesture over my head.
“Don’t fucking take your problems out on me,” he hisses. “Get your shit together before you get in that ring, understand?” He snatches up a towel and wipes the blood from his nose.
“Damn Damien, I don’t know what to say.”
Jesus, I’m a fucking pathetic ass. What kind of man takes his girl troubles out on his best friend?
“Well fucking control yourself. I know that’s a problem for you sometimes, but I’m not going in that cage with you until you can manage it!” He throws down the towel in disgust.
“Fine. You’re still coming to California though, right?”
Damien’s supposed to train me while I film Mind of the Enemy over the next six weeks. I play a CIA operative during the Cold War with Russia. I have to stay in shape, which means I need Damien.
“Are you going to stop being a prick?” he asks. I look over and see the corner of his mouth turn up.
“I can try. But you and I both know that prick and Drew Forrester are synonymous, so it may be a difficult transition.”
“Yeah, I know.” And he does know. After this many years of knowing me, he’d be blind not see what an asshole I am most of the time.
I unstrap my gloves and throw th
em in my bag, holding out a taped hand to my best friend. He doesn’t hesitate before clasping it and shaking wholeheartedly.
“I’ll see you later.” I grab my gear and take off, pissed at myself.
Bruce is waiting out front, so I jump into the back seat of the Town Car and slam the door. “Home,” I snap. He pulls out into traffic and I run my hands through my damp hair. I can’t let this thing with Sydney affect every area of my life like this. All I can do is hope that she follows through on her word.
Once I get home, I shower and start packing for California. Keeping busy will stop me from obsessing over her.
The buzzing of my phone a few hours later pulls me from my misery. Sydney. She called.
“Hey babe,” I say, trying to exude calm instead of relief.
“Hey.”
“Are you headed home?”
“Yeah, stuck on Lexington. Traffic is pretty bad.”
Something’s not right. She sounds freaked out. Ten brief seconds on the phone with her and I’ve forgotten about my shit and am paying close attention.
“Sydney, you sound weird, are you ok?” Do you need me to kick someone’s ass for you?
“Ummmm, I had a really shitty day at work, that’s all.”
Bullshit, something’s going on.
“I don’t like this. I need to see you. Can I come over?” I ask her. I’m silently thankful that she called, but my gut is twisting at the tone of her voice, at the thought of someone upsetting her.
“Yes please. I’d like to see you.”
I close my eyes and thank god that she wants to see me. All that freaking out for nothing.
“I’m at home packing for California, so just have your driver swing by and get me and I’ll ride over with you.”
“Okay, I’ll see you in thirty to forty-five minutes depending on traffic,” she says. She sounds a little better than she did when she first called.
I grab a small bag and shove a change of clothes and my toothbrush in it and pull on the hat that Sydney gave me in St. Bart’s. Hopefully, her driver won’t look hard enough at me to see my face. Since it’s already dark out, I don’t think it will be a problem.
My phone buzzes from my pocket.
Sydney
I throw my bag over my shoulder and leave my brownstone the second her car pulls up to my curb. I can’t be on the sidewalk any longer than necessary.
I open the back door and slide in next to Sydney. She looks gorgeous as usual, but stressed out, also as usual.
She smiles at my duffel bag and my Good Luck hat. “Wishful thinking, Mr. Forrester?”
I can’t help but smile back at her playfulness. Maybe my Sydney is back. “A man can hope, Sydney.” I kiss her lightly on the lips. “We can talk later, just relax babe.”
She seems happy to accommodate my request, cuddling up under my arm for the quick drive over to her loft.
We ride the elevator in silence again, this time surrounded by a completely different atmosphere than yesterday. Sydney leans against me, letting me wrap my arms around her protectively. Her day must have been really shitty to allow me to comfort her like this. Yesterday she acted like she wanted to slam the door in my face and never see me again.
She lets us into the apartment and I drop my bag by the door, wanting to help bring her out of her bad mood. I gather her in my arms and hold her tight. “Are you hungry? I can order something.”
“Actually, I really want to soak in the tub. Care to join me?”
The thought of being naked in the tub with Sydney sends a wakeup call straight to my dick. I lean down and whisper in her ear, “A guy would have to be crazy to turn down an invitation like that.”
She smiles and heads to her room to start the bath. Instead of following, I turn toward the kitchen and grab two beers out of the fridge. I think we both need a little help relaxing tonight.
The water is running when I enter the bathroom and find Sydney standing in her work clothes with her hair all knotted up on her head, looking lost. I set the bottles on the edge of the tub and walk over to her.
“Let me undress you,” I whisper. I remove her jacket and place it on the counter. She lets me lead as I pull her silky tank top off and toss it aside, her eyelids heavy with desire.
“Turn around.” She doesn’t even hesitate my terse command. I unzip her skirt and let it drop to the floor. Sydney kicks it away and waits for my next demand. Compliant Sydney is sexier than I could have imagined, which I did, a lot.
I hold out a hand and guide her to sit on the side of the tub. Running my hands down one long, toned leg, I reach her tiny foot. I carefully remove her high heel, my eyes never breaking contact with hers. I do her other leg, letting the shoe fall to the tile floor. I shift forward, nudging her thighs apart with my body so I can move closer to her. I take my hat off so I can press kisses up and down her flat stomach.
Turned on to a point where I may not be able to stop, I get up and undress quickly, throwing my clothes in pile. “Stand up, Sydney.” My voice is laced with desire. She immediately gets up from the edge of the tub.
The sight of her makes my pulse race through my veins, she’s so beautiful. I reach around and remove her bra, hardly able to believe that she’s mine. Her body is pressed into my front, searing my skin with her heat. I run my fingers along the waistband of her panties, letting them fall to the floor before I kick them aside. Shit, all I want to do is lift her onto the counter and pound into her until she screams my name. My dick is so hard it feels as if it’s going to explode if I don’t do something about it.
A silent struggles ensues in my head, my mind fighting my body for control. I hold out a hand and help Sydney get into the steaming water. Sliding in behind her, I hand her one of the beers and take a giant swig of my own.
“Mmmmm, the water feels so good,” she moans.
My dick is pressing into her back and if she’s going to make noises like that I’m going to lose the ability to restrain myself. “You feel so good. Talk now or later?”
“Later,” she sighs, melting back into my chest.
If she doesn’t want to talk, then maybe I can help her relax. I place my beer down and put some of her body wash on my hands. I lather it up and slide my hands over her soft skin, down her arms, her chest, then to her breasts. When she whimpers and arches her back, I freeze in place. She’s as turned on as I am. Does it make me an asshole to want her so badly when she called me to comfort her after a bad day?
Fuck it, I’m hard as steel. If she wants me to touch her, then that’s what she’ll get.
I move my hands over her breasts again, this time tugging on her nipples and rolling them into stiff peaks. I pour more soap into my hands and wash down the curve of her back and around her small waist. She presses her ass against my stiff cock and I can’t think about anything but sinking into her.
As usual, when I’m around Sydney, my brain takes a back seat and my libido takes over. I reach down and slide a my hand down her abdomen and over her clit and she moans. She starts pushing her tight, round ass back against my dick again, driving me insane and increasing the aching in my balls. The hot water, the smell of her skin, the slick soap… my senses are consumed by need. After thinking for twenty-four hours that I might never be with her again, touching her naked body overrides all of my rational thoughts.
I don’t notice her hand until it reaches back, grips my cock and places it at her entrance. I nearly come right there from the searing pleasure. She slides down onto it, letting me fill her up completely and I convulse from the sensation.
“Ahhhh, Sydney.” She stills for a moment, then starts bouncing up and down on me, her pussy gripping tight as she slides back and forth. “Fuck, I can’t believe how good you feel.”
I can’t restrain myself. Any shred of willpower has been demolished by the searing pressure of her tight heat. I’m overwhelmed by her responsiveness, by the hot electricity pulsing through my cock as she strokes it with her slick sex. It’s
never been this intense for me, both physically and emotionally. I lean forward and bite at her neck and shoulder, rasping my teeth over her skin as she writhes on my dick with reckless abandon.
“Yes Drew, oh God,” she screams as she slams up and down, grinding her sweet ass wildly on top of me. I’m close to losing it, so I grab her waist and help to lift her up and pull her back down over and over as I thrust my hips to hit that sweet spot. The raw carnality of it engulfs me and spreads out from my throbbing cock to every nerve ending in my body.
I groan as my balls tighten and I come spectacularly at the same time that Sydney falls over the edge, throbbing endlessly as her pussy clamps down. Her willing body accepts every last drop that I release as it pulses around me.
Holy fuck! I’ve never felt anything like that before. I can die now and say that I’ve experienced the best sex a man could ever have.
Sydney collapses back onto me, her damp back to my chest, as we both catch our breath and come down from our climax. I’m so spent I can barely move, so I lay my head back on the cool tub and close my eyes. I feel her turn around in the water to face me. When she moves and I slip out of her, my brain switches back on and panic sets in.
What the fuck did I just do?
Holy shit, I just fucked her without protection! Even in the shower in St. Bart’s I was able to stop in time to pull out before I lost my mind. I never lose control like this. Stunned, I still can’t believe I just screwed her without a condom. I’ve never forgotten before, that’s how much this girl gets under my skin.
Sydney is facing me, we’re sitting chest to chest with her legs around my waist. Is she going to hate me? I fucking hate me right now. I wouldn’t blame her for hating me. I’m supposed to be the one that protects her and right now, I feel like a failure.
I lift my head and find her inches from my nose. Cupping her face, I kiss her softly on her gorgeous, pink lips while I stroke her cheeks with my thumbs. Sydney snakes her arms around my neck and kisses me back affectionately. I don’t think she realizes what just happened.
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