Every ounce of resolve inside me had shattered the moment she said I was her choice. And by this point my aggression had morphed into something else entirely. Moving closer to her, putting a stop to all her screaming, as my ears could not take another second of it, I reached for her face and pulled her to me. She stopped talking and fighting the moment our lips touched. And her response had me believing every bit of truth in her words, because she opened up to my kiss completely. Her mouth and her body were mine.
In that second our fight was over. And ending it, feeling her in my arms again, kissing her, tasting her—it felt like I could breathe again. The best part was we’d broken past some sort of barrier. And with no walls between us, every emotion I’d ever felt with Sydney was amplified.
Light touches quickly changed from gentle to greedy to rough.
A moment later, I had her back pressed against the brick wall of the building, her skirt up around her waist, and my mouth moving down her neck. But as much as I wanted a repeat of last night, as much as I was dying to be inside her again, as much as she seemed to want all of that too, I knew we couldn’t do this in broad daylight. There was the sound of people and cars off in the distance. The others were waiting on us, likely to come looking for us at any moment, and as much as it killed me I couldn’t keep going.
Pulling her skirt back into place, breaking our kiss, I took a step backward.
She rubbed her finger over her lips, staring at me. “Wow,” she whispered.
Damn. I was in love. There wasn’t anything sexier on this earth than that very look. I took it in and took a breath. “Sydney, sweetheart, you need to know that I’m probably always going to be the guy who likes ‘to fuck and have a good time.’ But the difference now, the difference that has been there since our first time together…the difference is you’re the only girl I want to be that guy with. I’m sorry for doubting you for a minute there. Sometimes it’s hard to believe a girl like you would ever choose a guy like me. As much as it might not seem like it, I do have my insecurities. Are we okay?”
She nodded.
I smiled. “And you still choose me?”
“Yes,” she said, returning my smile.
“Good. Then I am so fucking ready for this to begin.” I reached out my hand for hers. She gave it me. “Come on, princess. We should go inside before the others come looking for us.”
CHAPTER 15:
SYDNEY
There were butterflies floating around in my stomach and multiplying by the second. It was all Rhett’s fault. Making this decision to be with him, on more than a physical level, was like taking a nose dive off a cliff. There was no 1-2-3 go, there was no moment of hesitation, there was only a jump and the wonderful sensation of free-falling. All I could do was hope that either the bottom would never come, or that I knew how to work the parachute before I hit ground. I hoped for the former. I didn’t want the bottom to come.
Because every time Rhett looked into my eyes, I felt giddy and excited. We were walking back through the hotel, glued to one another, hand-in-hand, and we were never going to make it to the others because we kept stopping along the way for little, stolen kisses.
“Stop, Rhett,” I told him when it happened for a third time, halfheartedly pushing him away. “I’m worried about Georgina, about Noah telling her Ben’s alive. What if she reacts badly to the news that he’s not actually dead? We need to get back to the others. We should be there for them.”
“I know,” he said, putting a pause to our fun and taking a step away. “I’m worried too.”
“And we can’t tell them about us.”
An immediately scowl came to his face. “Why?” he asked slowly.
I didn’t want to upset him. We were finally getting along and on the same page. But we had to do this my way. “Honestly…” Jeez, there was no easy way to say this. So I blurted it out. “Because my brother hates you.”
He chuckled. “Well, that was apparent the moment he hit me in the face because of one little kiss. You know, I had the worst black-eye for nearly two weeks because of him. But what does everyone else have to do with that?”
I squeezed his hand. He just needed to trust me on this one. “Because…we can’t tell other people until I tell him. And you’re going to have to find a way to make him like you. Somehow. My brother is my family.”
“Okay,” he said easily, surprising me. “Done. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes, Sydney. I just got you. I’m not going to screw this thing between us up five minutes in. Or ever. So, c’mon.” Now he was tugging me across the lobby. The moment we were in eye-shot of the others, he dropped my hand, increased the distance between our bodies, and the happiness that had been on his face completely disappeared. Indifference, boredom, and a little bit of distaste remained in its place. Talk about scary—the way he could do that. Maybe Nate West wasn’t the only actor in the room. I tried to match his emotion, but I think trying only made me look like a constipated bitch.
“What happened?” Georgina whispered to me immediately. She’d rejoined the group. Not only that, she seemed a hell of a lot better than I ever expected.
“Rhett and I got into an argument.”
“What did he say?” she wanted to know.
“Nothing. Nothing worth repeating.” My eyes darted past Georgina to Rhett. He glanced at me at that very moment. Maybe his face showed nothing but discontent, but his eyes said opposite. We were good. Better than good. And I couldn’t wait for the next time we could be alone together. There was still so much I wanted to say to him. But, alas, that time would have to wait. “How are you?” I asked Georgina, returning my focus to her. “How do you feel about Ben?”
“Really good.” She smiled. “My brother is alive! Why does everyone expect me to be upset? And we’re going to Disneyland. This is going to be the best day.”
I guess our plans had changed. Disneyland was still on the agenda. And I guess Georgina was much stronger than any of us, except maybe Noah, gave her credit for.
* * *
Disneyland was amazing. The rides, the atmosphere, the characters, the food—all of it was more fun than I ever could have guessed. I’d never been. Paris. London. Rome. I’d been around the world and back, but I’d never been to an amusement park before. Somehow that seemed wrong, probably a testament to my strange childhood. But, either way, that wrong had now been corrected today.
Luce had left the group earlier, deciding to spend the day with her uncle who lived in town, so there was no tension coming from that angle. I had to wonder if that decision was about me. I also had to wonder if she had feelings for Rhett. These were questions I couldn’t ask. At least, not yet. Meanwhile, Georgina was exceptionally happy and every time we spoke she only seemed excited about seeing her brother again. Which was good. I was happy for her. As for Rhett and I…well, even if no one else knew, we were also in a really great place.
I think.
He was an expert at the whole ‘ignore-me-all-day’ thing.
The one time he spoke more than a few words to me was to tell me to put sunscreen on, which turned into a slight argument, because obviously I wasn’t about to let him boss me around when everyone else thought we weren’t getting along. Yes, I was blonde. Yes, I had fair skin. Yes, I had a tendency to burn. But no, I didn’t need the reminder. And I was very quick to tell him that. Then again, even if I’d complained, it was nice knowing he was thinking about me and trying to look out for my wellbeing.
After Disney, Ellie, Noah, and Georgina were planning on heading over to Carrie Stone’s house, the elderly women that Ben had been living with for the past nine months, to have dinner. It had been scheduled and Ben knew Ellie and Noah were coming, but he had no idea they were bringing Georgina along too. Which, hopefully, wouldn’t be too much of a shocker for him. Rhett and I had been invited, although neither of us had accepted. There really was no need for Rhett to go. Obviously. As for me…it was still too soon. I couldn’t s
ee him again when Georgina still hadn’t. That didn’t feel right. Plus, after my afternoon with Rhett, I was no longer sure if I even could see him. I’d meant every word I’d said to Rhett, but that didn’t mean seeing Ben again would be easy.
So I couldn’t.
At least for today.
And that meant the others were taking me and Rhett back to the hotel, where who the hell knows what was about to happen between us next? The whole day had felt like a pause of sorts. Like our conversation and all the feelings from earlier, were on hold, waiting for our next moment alone to pick right back up where they’d left off. And judging from the way those moments had ended…I knew whatever was coming next would be intense.
Rhett seemed unaffected by this inevitable fact. Or at least, he was really good at keeping up the charade that we weren’t completely ready to rip each other’s clothes off the second we were alone again. The entire drive across the city he’d been talking about Nate West while Nate was fast asleep in the middle seat. I almost wanted to tell him to stop and to just let the guy sleep in peace, but I think talking was how Rhett distracted himself sometimes, so I let it be.
“He’s totally into you,” Rhett whispered to Ellie. “You do realize that, right Ellie May?”
Without making a sound, she turned around and punched Rhett in the upper arm. I guess she didn’t like his ‘Ellie May’ nickname. I didn’t blame her.
“Ouch, woman,” he groaned. “I just wanted to make sure you told him you like the ladies and that he knows he’s barking up the wrong tree. He’s a nice guy and all, but don’t let him pressure you just because he’s Nate West.”
“I’m still so embarrassed,” Georgina huffed softly from the front seat. “Asking him all those questions earlier about what he did for a job. Why didn’t one of you stop me? I didn’t know who he was and I feel like such an ass.”
It had taken Georgie half the day to figure out who Nate really was. No one had said anything, not even Noah, because it had been pretty hilarious watching her talk to him like he was a regular guy.
“It was cute,” Noah told her. “Too cute to stop.”
She sighed and buried her face in her hands. But then she turned around to say to Ellie, “I hate to say it, but I agree with Rhett…he likes you. What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Ellie quickly said. “He knows I’m a lesbian. And thanks for your concern, you too Rhett, but I’m not someone who can be easily pressured. Don’t you already know that about me?”
“Sure. Sure,” was Rhett’s only response.
We reached the hotel, where the others left us. Stepping out of the SUV, the chilly night air took my breath away. The day had been so warm, the night now such a contrast, and I wasn’t dressed for this type of cold. We said goodbye to the others and then I followed Rhett into the building.
The lobby was bright, empty, and quiet. The elevators weren’t far. We said nothing to one another as we both headed in that direction, the sounds of our shoes echoing through the big, open room. At the elevator doors, I pushed the up button and we waited.
“Did you have fun today?” he asked, breaking our silence.
“Yes. Did you?”
He shot me this sideways look that had my heart speeding up. “Almost. But it was pure torture being a dick to you all day,” he admitted. He pressed the sleeves of the gray thermal shirt he wore up to his elbows and then immediately tugged them back down into place.
He was fidgeting. It was cute.
But…he really hadn’t been a dick to me at all today. He really hadn’t been anything—not mean, not nice, just sort of there. “And I thought you were being your regular self all day,” I joked.
The elevator dinged as the doors slid open.
“Ha-ha-ha,” Rhett deadpanned as he waited for me to step on first and then followed me inside. I pushed the number five for our floor as he moved to stand behind me. The second that door closed, his hands were on me, moving up and down, tracing gently over my body, while his lips kissed in a lazy way along the back of my neck. Much like the chilly air a few minutes ago, he took my breath away.
My hair was up in a pony and the subtle feel of his lips pressing against my bare skin made a chill, one completely unrelated to temperature, run through my body.
“Rhett,” I whispered, wanting to give into his touch but also holding back. “Why did you come on this trip?”
“For you,” he said against my skin, his answer automatic, not something he had to think about.
“Why did you bring Luce?” I asked next.
“To make you jealous,” he said even easier.
“What?” I breathed.
His hands still touched, teasing and exploring above my clothes. “If I was going to have to witness you falling in love with another guy then I felt like I couldn’t be alone on this trip,” he told me. “Luce is just a friend. She’s a good friend. The stuff that happened between us happened a long time ago and even then it didn’t mean anything.”
“Does she know that?”
“Yes.”
“Okay,” I said, still feeling slightly insecure. Not a feeling I’d ever experienced with Rhett. But everything had changed in the last twenty-four hours. Everything.
“Okay,” he repeated.
The elevator reached our level and we both stepped off. He grabbed my hand and led me down the hall. Neither of us said it, but I knew we were both going to the same room, to his room. I knew we’d be having sex again in only a matter of minutes, maybe seconds. I knew it would be every bit as intense as the tight, wound-up feeling that currently squeezed at my chest and at my insides.
I wanted him. I wanted this.
And at this point, I was no longer even considering the consequences.
He used his key to unlock his door and then we both went inside his room. It was the mirror image to the room I’d been sharing with the others. Two queen beds, a desk, a TV, two nightstands, and a bathroom. Your basic hotel room. What appeared to be Luce’s suitcase and clothes were spread out all over one side of the room. Why did that bothered me so much? I’m not sure. But it did.
Rhett approached the desk beside the door and emptied his pockets of his belongings. Then he let out a long breath, his hands gripping the desk for a moment before he glanced back in my direction. I hadn’t even moved two feet into the room. My body was straight tingling and my nerves were all over the place. The feeling was so extreme that my throat felt thick, my breathing not quite normal, and my balance a little shaky.
Even if I wanted to choose someone other than Rhett, it seemed like I had no freewill in the matter. My body wanted him. Period. And my mind was quickly starting to catch up to my body’s demands.
He took another deep breath then asked, “Want to order room service?”
“No,” I told him.
“We could go out to eat. There are lots of places within walking distance. Or the restaurant in the hotel looked decent.”
“I’m not hungry,” I whispered. I couldn’t eat right now even if there was a plate of creamy lobster Alfredo, my favorite, sitting right in front of me.
“Shower?” he suggested, his face so earnest and gentle as he asked.
“Yes.”
The second I said the word, he pulled at the bottom of his shirt and yanked it over his head in one fluid motion, exposing his hard chest and abs. He tossed the shirt onto his bed. A moment later his shoes were gone, his belt unbuckled, and he was letting his pants and boxers drop to the floor. My mouth dropped along with them. He had one hell of a fine body. One I didn’t get to see at all last night since we’d both remained relatively clothed. And more confident than a man in a three piece suit, he stalked across the room and scooped me up in arms.
I squealed at his sudden movement as he carried me into the bathroom. “You’re kind of insatiable, you know that right?” he told me.
“Or maybe I feel like I’ve been denying myself and now that I have you, I need to make up for all the time we’ve lost.”
“Yeah?” he asked, pressing those perfect lips of his to mine.
“Yeah,” I whispered back against his mouth, grabbing his neck to bring myself closer to him.
Rhett’s kisses weren’t rushed or impulsive. They were controlled, steady, and adoring. With no barriers between us, this kiss almost felt like a first kiss. Without breaking our connection, he set my body down on the counter, settling in between my legs. I was clothed, he wasn’t, and I loved the warm feel of his naked body against me. I traced my fingers over his skin, exploring and enjoying the hell out of this moment.
We never ended up taking a shower. Instead, he peeled away each piece of my clothing one by one, until I was equally naked and practically ready to beg for him. Then he bent lower in front of me, gripping my bare thighs tight, yanking my ass to the edge of the counter so that I was in a better position for him, and he kissed me…down there.
Okay…so…we’d done everything else expect oral sex before. And as comfortable as I was becoming with Rhett, this was the one thing that still terrified me. I immediately started to protest but, dammit, if he didn’t listen. Instead he spread my legs wider apart, telling me to shhh. Seriously, he told me to shhh. Then he pressed his hot, wet, open mouth against me. I loved his lips. His lips belonged to a porn star. But his lips against that one spot—holy shit! I couldn’t even fight him.
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