Extremely Famous

by Heather Leigh

  He leans in and hesitantly slides his lips over mine.

  “Say yes Sydney,” he breathes against my skin.

  “Yes,” I answer without a moment’s hesitation.

  He pulls back and his eyes dance with joy.

  “You planned this for me?”

  “For us, Sydney. To end the pain of the past and begin a new chapter. Come on.” He urges me forward as he steps toward the door and tugs on my hand. “The judge is waiting for us.”

  Judy is seated behind a desk in the front office of the judge’s chambers. She jumps up when we enter and smiles, then turns and knocks on the heavy door behind her.

  “Come in,” a deep male voice booms from behind the wood panel.

  Judy pushes the door open and lets us enter first. Judge Harrington is seated behind a massive antique desk, surrounded by overstuffed bookshelves and stacks of manila files. He gets up and circles the desk, shaking hands with both of us.

  “Nice to meet you both. I have your paperwork right here,” he says jovially.

  Judge Harrington is not what I would expect a judge to look like. He’s a pleasant, middle-aged guy wearing a regular pair of slacks and a dress shirt with the sleeves pushed up and his tie loosened casually. I thought he’d be much older and more serious looking, with white hair and a long black robe. Glancing around, I notice that he does have a robe hanging on a coat rack by the door and it makes me giggle.

  Drew gives me an amused look but I don’t say anything.

  “Have a seat,” the judge says, indicating the two leather chairs in front of his desk.

  He slides into his high-backed chair and pushes some papers across the desktop for us to see. Drew reaches out and takes them, reading them over.

  “Where do we…?” he asks.

  Judy scuttles over and shows us how to fill out the different papers. Where I need to sign and where Drew needs to sign. As I start to enter my information I notice the title of the document.

  “Confidential Marriage License? What’s that?”

  Judge Harrington answers for me. “It’s like a traditional marriage license except copies aren’t available to the public and the registration is sealed to anyone but the two parties involved. You don’t even need witnesses in the room, just me.”

  “So no one can find out?” I ask, a smile spreading across my face.

  “No one,” the judge responds.

  I look at Drew and catch him smirking.

  “Didn’t you just think of everything,” I tell him playfully. He gives me a full blown, Andrew Forrester, dimple-showing smile and I melt. God he’s so gorgeous, and thoughtful, and about to be mine.

  I finish filling out my form and hand it to the judge as does Drew. “I just need identification,” he says.

  I laugh, no one ever asks for proof of who we are. This is great, I think to myself.

  I pull out my ID and hand it over, a little embarrassed that it’s just an ID and not an actual driver’s license. I’ll have to rectify that someday. Drew hands his over and the judge checks everything out until he’s satisfied.

  He hands our ID’s back to us, stamps the papers, and scribbles his signature several times. “I have to collect the $25 fee,” he tells us, grinning at the ridiculousness of this situation.

  Drew smiles and reaches into his wallet and hands some cash to Judy who leaves to get him a receipt. Finally done with the paperwork, the judge stands up.

  “I don’t usually do marriage ceremonies in my chambers, but we can stand over there.” He indicates to an area in front of two towering bookcases on one end of the room.

  We get up and follow him to the empty space.

  The nerves I had managed to keep under control for the last half hour come flooding back all at once. Holy shit, I’m getting married!

  Then I realize this is what I want, more than anything. To belong to Drew in every way and him to me. He found a way to do it without the media circus, without the tabloids or any intrusions, and I love him for it. He took the saddest day of my existence and turned it into the happiest. I reach over and take his hand in mine.

  He smiles back at me, and I can tell that he’s been waiting for this day, waiting for me to get over my shit and let him love me.

  “This is happening,” I whisper.

  “Finally,” he says back, grinning.

  The judge clears his throat and opens up a book to a marked page.

  “It is the intention of you, Andrew James Forrester, and you, Sydney Scarlet Tannen to be married here today?” the judge asks us.

  “Yes,” we both say, me a little bit less confident than Drew.

  “Alright, face each other and repeat after me. Sydney, you’re first.”

  I take a deep breath and face the man I love. This is it Syd, don’t pass out.

  “I, Sydney Scarlet Tannen, take you, Andrew James Forrester, to be my lawfully wedded husband,” Judge Harrington says.

  I manage to repeat the words without stumbling on them or just flat out keeling over.

  “Now you,” he says to Drew. “I, Andrew James Forrester, take you, Sydney Scarlet Tannen, to be my lawfully wedded wife.”

  Drew says the words clearly, looking into my eyes the entire time. He is loving this moment. It’s written all over his face. Seeing his joy, I know I made the right decision today. After everything we’ve been through, we deserve to be happy.

  “If you have rings, you can exchange them now,” the judge says to us.

  Drew pulls two rings out of a small Harry Winston bag that he removes from his jacket pocket and slips one on my finger. He hands me his and I do the same, giving him a puzzled look.

  “I know we can’t wear them out, but we’ll have them and remember this,” he says to me, shrugging off my obvious concerns of being seen with them in public.

  I look down at my hand and see a perfect ring of small, elegant diamonds sitting next to the huge solitaire. “It’s beautiful,” I tell him, holding back the tears that threaten to fall.

  Drew is wearing a plain dark gray band in a strange metal that I’ve never seen before.

  “By the authority vested in me by the State of New York, I now declare that you are husband and wife, in accordance with the laws in this state.” The judge closes his book and smiles. “You may now kiss the bride.”

  “My favorite part,” Drew says. He steps to me and pulls me close, kissing me passionately and dipping me back.

  I laugh as he swings me around in a circle. “I guess you’re happy.”

  “You have no idea,” he whispers in my ear.

  We sign the final document and thank the judge, who promises that no one will know a thing about our visit or the reason behind it.

  Drew and I leave the office, laughing and holding hands and acting like complete idiots, our marriage certificate tucked away in Drew’s jacket pocket. Evan is waiting in the hallway and he tries to hand me his overcoat but I decline. There’s no media outside and no one knows we’re here. It is absolutely perfect.

  We dash across the sidewalk and into the SUV before a single person can recognize either one of us. Evan shakes his head in amusement and climbs in the front seat. A few minutes later, they drop us off at Drew’s underground garage and he dismisses them both for the day.

  Oh boy, alone!

  Excited, I hurry up the stairs but Drew slides an arm around my waist, stopping me before I can make it to the first floor.

  “Mrs. Forrester, I believe I’m supposed to carry you over the threshold. Since we can’t go through the front door, I’m going to carry you all the way upstairs,” he growls into my ear.

  I shiver in anticipation as Drew sweeps me into his arms and kisses me passionately.

  “I can’t wait to get you naked,” he whispers.

  “Then hurry.”

  The corners of his mouth curl up and he starts climbing. Three floors later he lets me slowly slide down the front of his hard body, sparking every nerve from my head to my toes.

  He holds me
still, up against him and his growing need. Drew kisses me reverently, then he releases me to start frantically removing his suit, desire blazing in his darkening eyes.

  Following his lead, I kick off my boots and start to help him with his suit, itching to get my hands on his skin. Frustration sets in when I can’t manage the buttons of his shirt. Drew grabs the front and yanks hard, scattering buttons all over the hardwood floor.

  Panting and desperate, I attack the hard planes of his chest without even bothering to remove the shirt from his arms, licking and biting and savoring every inch.

  “Turn around,” he commands, the urgency in his voice causing a delicious tingling between my thighs.

  I face away from him and he reaches under the thick sheet of auburn waves to unzip the dress that he chose. My wedding dress.

  When I step out of it, I hear him suck in a sharp breath. Turning back to face Drew, I see his eyes greedily devouring my body, wearing only the lacy ice blue bra and panty set.

  “Fuck Syd, you’re so fucking hot,” he growls. Drew shucks off his damaged shirt, and his pants and socks go next. Before I know it, he’s crashing back into me, grinding his hard length into my soft core.

  I moan into his mouth, the friction so unbearable that I have to have him in me … now.

  “Take me Drew, make me yours,” I pant.

  My words undo any remaining shred of control. He steps back and shoves down his boxer briefs, letting his heavy erection spring free from its confines. I eagerly reach behind me and unclasp my bra, tossing it aside. Then quickly step out of my panties until we’re both naked and panting.

  Drew grabs my waist and pulls me into him, then backs me up until I feel the low dresser pressing into my ass. He grips me firmly and puts me on top of the dresser, my splayed legs at the perfect height to accept him.

  “So wet,” he moans as he slides a finger down over my aching cleft.

  “Please,” I beg, licking my lips in anticipation.

  He twists a hand into my hair and tugs, angling my head back so he can watch me. “You want me to fuck you?” he grunts.

  “Yes.”

  “I’m the only one who gets to fuck you Sydney. You’re mine now.” He reaches down and positions himself at my entrance but leaves me wanting.

  I cry out in frustration.

  “Tell me that you’ll only be fucked by me Sydney, your husband,” he demands, sliding his cock up and down my sex, driving me mad with lust.

  “Only you, no one else. Ever,” I moan.

  Satisfied with my response, Drew plunges in roughly, driving until he’s buried to the hilt.

  I scream out his name and submit to the demanding pace that he sets. His hips thrust so hard that the dresser shakes from the force of each blow. Unable to control myself, I writhe and shriek from Drew’s intense lovemaking, from him branding me as his.

  He lifts one of my legs over his shoulder and the change in position sends intense waves through my body. The orgasm that follows is so powerful that it completely consumes my senses. As the fire licks through my body and spreads outward to every cell, I clutch his biceps and allow myself to feel every single second of it.

  When I finally come down from my high, I can barely breathe. Drew untangles his hand from my hair and rests it behind my neck, bringing my lips to his. Gently nipping at my mouth, he groans and lifts me off of the dresser and places me on the bed.

  I run my hands down his sides and feel something on his ribcage. A bandage? Was he hurt?

  Before I can ask Drew about it, his mouth is back on mine and he thrusts inside me once more.

  “God Syd, I love you so much,” he says gruffly. “You feel so fucking good.”

  He takes his time, making love to me slowly, biting and kissing and licking, until we both climax spectacularly together.

  Lying on the bed, limbs tangled, I run my hand over the large white bandage on Drew’s left side and frown.

  “What happened? Are you hurt?”

  He smiles. “No babe, not hurt.” Drew sits up and starts to remove the tape that keeps the gauze in place on his ribcage. He peels away the bandage and reveals a swath of black ink.

  “A tattoo?” I ask, tilting my head to read the black script that curves diagonally along his side..

  “For us, for our loss,” he whispers. “It’s where I went this morning.”

  It has been said that time heals

  all wounds. I do not agree. The

  wounds remain. In time, the mind,

  protecting its sanity, covers them

  with scar tissue, and the pain

  lessens, but it is never gone.

  “It’s beautiful,” I say, tears welling up in my eyes.

  All this time I thought that I was going through the loss of our baby alone, but he was hurting just as much. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that he lost his baby too.

  “Thank you for today, Drew. I love you so much.” I prop up on an elbow and look at him. “So, I’m curious about the clothes you chose for me.”

  Smirking, he traces a finger down my hip as he replies, “The shoes were old, the dress was new.” He grins as the shock on my face lets him know that I figured out what he did. “The necklace is borrowed.” He reaches out and touches the heart that lies at my throat. “And the lingerie is blue.” He smiles at the thought of the lacy panty set.

  I choke up. “You really did think of everything. It was perfect.”

  He swipes his thumb across my cheek, catching a stray tear. “Us against the world, baby. Forever.”

  “Forever,” I whisper back.

  CHAPTER 31

  Leah freaks out the next day when I tell her we got married. We’re sitting in Drew’s trailer on the set of his and Ryker’s movie when I break the news to her.

  “Holy shit!” she screams, jumping up from her seat next to me on the couch. “You’re fucking married?”

  “Shhh! Someone is going to hear you!” I tug on her arm, pulling her back down.

  “I can’t believe it! And I can’t believe you didn’t invite me!”

  “We didn’t invite anyone Leah. I didn’t even know I was getting married,” I exclaim. “My parents don’t even know.”

  She huffs loudly, as if it’s just so difficult to be my friend. “Well, I guess I forgive you. It sucks that you guys can’t even wear your rings,” she says, her gaze flicking down to my empty hand.

  I frown as my eyes follow hers to my naked finger, “Yeah, it does. But with the massive pack of rabid paparazzi following us everywhere right now, it’s better to not draw any more attention to ourselves.”

  “I agree.” She cracks an evil smile, “Drew must be going crazy not being able to tell anyone,” she laughs.

  “You’d be surprised,” I tell her. “I think that Nakedgate has given him a change of heart about how vicious the media can be.”

  “Nakedgate?” Leah scoffs. “That’s awesome.”

  “Yeah, it’s what we’ve been calling it.” I laugh with her. It feels good to be normal, having girl talk with my best friend.

  “So, what’s going on with your project with Adam,” she asks, changing the conversation fast enough to give me whiplash.

  It doesn’t escape her sharp eyes that I pale when she brings up his name. I haven’t told her about the kiss, or about Drew’s history with him.

  “What are you not telling me,” she prods. She knows me too well.

  I reluctantly tell her about the night out at the bar with Adam, our dinner the next day, how he kissed me, and how Drew reacted when I told him about it.

  “Oh my God,” she says, stunned. “Honestly, I used to think he wanted you in that way, but then he never made a move so I figured he truly wanted to just be your friend.”

  “I don’t know Leah. Part of me thinks he was just swept up in the emotions of the moment and didn’t really mean it in a romantic way. Part of me thinks he really just hates Drew so much that he’s doing all of this just to piss him off.”

  “No
way, it just doesn’t seem like him to be that much of a vindictive bastard. And you knew him before you even met Drew, there’s no way he could be that devious.”

  “I know. He really seems like a genuinely nice person. I just don’t know what to think. I have to finish the project, which will probably be another five months of work. Drew is going to go ballistic when I tell him I’m not quitting. He’s not going to want me seeing Adam.”

  “Can you blame him at this point, Syd?” Leah asks.

  “No, I can’t.” It’s going to lead to an almighty fight when I mention going back to work.

  The next few days are perfect. Well, as perfect as it can be when dozens of paparazzi are following you everywhere you go and the world can’t seem to stop talking about naked pictures of you. Like everything else unpleasant in my life, I avoid the Adam conversation for now, preferring to wait for the right time.

  Which would be never.

  Drew goes to work every day on his movie with Ryker, Breaking the Truth, that’s filming right here in the city. Most days I either go with him and work on my laptop or I head uptown to hang with Leah at her place. Since Leah has been with Ryker for a while, the press knows her by sight too. We’ve gotten pretty good at going out with our ‘human-repelling outfits’ on, so we can shop and eat out in peace.

  I even resume my daily runs, leaving out the back or having Bruce drops me and one of the SEALS off somewhere away from the paparazzi. Sal loves running and makes for good company. Interestingly, I’ve found that Steve absolutely hates it and tries not to be on shift during my usual exercise times.

  One of the guys accompanies me everywhere every day, but I find that I don’t mind anymore. Since the horrific naked photo scandal, I’ve pretty much come to terms with my new life and accepted everything that comes with it. The good and the bad; Bruce, Sal, Steve, Evan, Jane, my Dad, paparazzi, screaming fans, disguises… everything.

  The one thing I really miss besides my freedom is my loft. I miss Richard and the coziness of my own space. But I’m married to Drew now, and his place just makes more sense. It’s where he runs his company, it’s where Jane works, it has enough rooms to keep the guys overnight if we need them and still have some sliver of privacy.