Belonging: Book Two in The Everett Gaming Series

by Drew Sera

  I opened the front door and came upon Sydney kneeling on the floor with her hands on her thighs and her head down. No, I want her see her face. I tilted her head upward and she smiled widely when she saw the flowers. I suddenly became aware of what Matt wrote on the paper. When just looking at her makes my chest ache.

  “I have a present for you, sunshine.”

  I held the flowers out to her and she eagerly took them and held them to her chest. She was so excited by the flowers. Something so simple obviously made her day. Thankfully the lady put them in a vase. I knew Colin wouldn’t have something like a vase in his house. And if he did, I’d give him shit over that.

  “They’re all so pretty and full of character.”

  She carried them to our room and sat on the bed holding them, and continued to talk and smell them while I went into the closet and pulled out some stuff for an overnight visit, just in case. I didn’t need anything because I had stuff at my place, but I tossed some jeans, a tee shirt and sweatshirt in a bag for her for tomorrow. I was going for comfortable clothes for her. I added to the bag her converse, panties, socks and a bra and set the bag next to her on the bed. I pulled the iPad out and connected so we could talk to Colin before our date. He was sitting in his room eating breakfast when we logged on.

  “Stuffing your face, Col?”

  He nodded and swallowed quickly.

  “Hey guys. Getting ready for the night out? You kids be responsible.”

  “Yes, dad.” I rolled my eyes at him and Colin nodded upward at the flowers and gazed at Sydney.

  “Some guy give you those, baby?”

  She laughed and instantly Colin and I looked at each other and smiled. Her laughter filled us with joy. Pure joy.

  “Anthony gave them to me. They’re all gorgeous and smell wonderful. Even the dark one.”

  I peeked up at Colin. I was pretty sure he’d pick up on the dark flower. He met my eyes and shook his head. I found it interesting that Sydney called it dark instead of black.

  “Why do you think it’s pretty? It’s ugly, sunshine. Not pretty like the yellow ones.”

  She frowned and looked down at it. “It’s not ugly. It’s special. Besides, you said you picked them out. You wouldn’t have picked out an ugly flower for me.”

  When I looked up at Colin, he was laughing.

  “Well, the flowers are beautiful, baby. You guys have fun tonight and Sydney; let Anthony take care of you tomorrow. Don’t fight him or push him away.”

  “I won’t fight him. Why do you think I’ll fight with him or push him away? I’ll be good. I won’t be bad, I promise.”

  At the same time Colin and I both said that’s not what he meant and that she misunderstood. We didn’t want her to think that we thought she was bad or going to misbehave. Sydney gets hung up still on being good or bad and fearing consequences.

  I jumped in the shower while Sydney got ready. She had gone shopping with Gina today and found a black spaghetti strap dress. It looked amazing on her, but I knew she was self-conscious. She had a light sweater on the bed that she’d wear tonight. I stood behind her and finished tucking in my shirt while I watched her avoid looking in the mirror at herself. Colin can really help her with her self-esteem.

  “Can you please help me with the zipper in the back, Sir?”

  As I stood behind her, I kissed her delicate neck while I tugged the zipper upwards. She still had a lot of cuts and wounds on her back that were healing. In time they’d be gone. Physically. I didn’t know how long the emotional wounds would linger. That is yet to be seen.

  “You’re beautiful, Sydney.”

  I made eye contact with her in the mirror and when she started to look down to shy away, I caught her chin. I shook my head at her letting her know I didn’t want her looking away.

  “I still look bad, Sir. I might have a beautiful dress on, but I still have all of these.” She whispered as she held her wrists up and pointed to some cuts and scars.

  I set my chin on her shoulder and took her hands in mine so she’d stop pointing out superficial shit. I laced my fingers with hers on each hand and looked into her blue eyes in the mirror.

  “I didn’t say that you looked beautiful,” I paused and took her earlobe in my mouth and sucked briefly. I whispered in her ear, “I said you are beautiful, sunshine.”

  I gave her butt a playful swat and handed her the sweater she had sitting out. With that, we headed to Urban Towers. I held her hand while we drove but I could feel her anxiety building about tomorrow.

  “Sunshine, talk to me. Why are you so quiet?”

  “I’m nervous about tomorrow.”

  I gave her hand a firm squeeze hoping to infuse some strength in her. “I know you are, sweetie. I will be there for you. I promise.”

  I winked at her and got to see my smile. Tonight was going to be about fun because I had a feeling tomorrow was going to be difficult at best. I held her hand and kept her as close to me as possible as we made our way through the casino. My goal for tonight was pleasure and a chance to treat her to a nice night out.

  “Mr. Graves, your table is ready.”

  Our table was situated on the side of the restaurant that overlooked a quiet waterfall. I know how much she liked the waterfall at work, so I thought this would be perfect.

  We picked up our menus and as if on queue, Sydney asked me if I should select her dinner. I picked her hand up and looked across the table in her eyes and ran my thumb over her knuckles. I helped her with ordering because she seems to like that and it removes one worry from her shoulders. After we ordered, I sat back and admired the view of Sydney. I imagined her in many scenarios that featured rope. Nothing advanced like suspension or tying her to an apparatus, just wrapped in rope. A nice pattern around her breasts or maybe her legs wrapped up in a sexy pattern. Sydney would start to make eye contact and then look away. So shy.

  “Do I make you nervous, sunshine?”

  “No, Sir. I just...” She stopped talking and gazed around the restaurant and then looked back at me. “Sorry. I haven’t been to many nice restaurants. You and Colin have taken me to a lot of nice places. I just was taking it in. And getting used to just you and me.”

  I leaned forward in my chair and took hold of her other hand. She looked like she was starting to get jumpy the way her eyes started dancing around and I wanted to calm her.

  “Just like the night I took you to Colin’s party, I’m still me. You’ve been used to me for a while now, sunshine.” I gave her a few minutes for that to sink in and calm her mind from running away with itself. I took a sip of my Coke and eased back in my chair.

  “So, tell me Sydney. How does a cutie like you get through high school and college without a date?”

  “Um, I don’t know. I wasn’t very popular or pretty. Just average. Boring.”

  She seemed to be going back in her mind, remembering things. Her cheeks were red and I decided not to venture down this road. It looked like it might be painful.

  While we waited for our dinner we talked about movies and music and hobbies. I learned a lot about this little light sitting in front of me. She liked various styles of music, didn’t watch much television or go to the movies. While we were talking about movies, her eyes got really bright and she seemed to get excited about the topic. She revealed that her guilty pleasure were superhero movies and it made me smile as I watched her explain which comic book character movies she liked the best. She was animated as she spoke of a handful movies but the X-Men movies were her favorite. It was wonderful to listen to her speak about herself and interests. I wondered how much of this stuff Howard knew or if the asshole ever bothered to find out.

  “Tell me about your hobbies, sunshine. What do you like doing in your spare time?”

  “Um, spare time. Hmm, let me think a second.” Her eyes danced around the table and then her eyebrows perked up but then fell again. “Um,” her voice trailed off again and her eye contact dropped. I squeezed her hand and her eyes met mine. “Promise
you won’t laugh, Sir?”

  “Sunshine, I won’t laugh. Why do you think I’d laugh at something you enjoy doing?”

  I wondered if she’d been laughed at over this before. Maybe by Howard.

  “Um, it’s kind of dorky. Stupid, maybe.”

  “Tell me, sunshine. I want to know you. All of you. I promise I won’t laugh. You should know by now that I’m not judgmental and I don’t break promises.”

  She smiled, sat up straighter and began rubbing patterns on the back of my hand with her fingers as I held her other hand. I was curious about what she liked doing but felt ashamed about it.

  “I like to write.”

  Sydney looked down as if afraid to see my reaction but then looked up at me through her eyelashes and a small smile appeared on her face when she realized I found absolutely nothing wrong with it. I met her smile with one of my own.

  “It’s not stupid, Sydney. I think that’s great. What sort of things do you write about?”

  “Um, just stuff. Stuff.” She said rather quickly and I swear that I saw her eyes fill up with tears. Sydney looked away and I felt that I needed to move away from this topic. Things were making sense to me though. It’s how she dealt with Howard. She had no one to talk to, no one to help her, no one to hold her, no one to bandage her up. She dealt with it all on her own and the only outlet she had was a piece of paper and a pen. I’m so glad Colin gave her that notebook. He has no idea how good it’s been for her and I was going to tell him. He needed to know that he was doing something right with her too. I squeezed her hand and nodded at her. I hoped she knew that I understood why she most likely liked to write.

  As we continued to talk about ourselves, she kept using the word “um” every now and then, which indicated that she was nervous. I had hoped the longer we sat together talking, the word “um” would be used less until it faded away. But it was still very present.

  “Sunshine, why are you nervous? And before you try to deny it, please know that I can tell you’re nervous.”

  She set her fork and knife down and looked over the ledge to the waterfall. Fuck, I can’t do this right. I can’t get her to talk like Colin can. I say the wrong things.

  “Sorry, Sir. It’s just a lot to take in. This is a really nice place and you’ve brought me here.”

  “Yes. Yes, I did. I wanted to. Period.”

  I got the impression that she felt like she didn’t belong again. She seemed to get what I was saying and didn’t argue with me.

  “You and Colin are too good to me.”

  “You deserve to be treated well. You’re a sweet girl.” And I’m in love with you, I wanted to add but didn’t know the right way to say it. When I say it to her, it’ll be the right way.

  We continued to chat away and when the waiter came by I pointed to the M&M brownie sundae on the menu while Sydney looked down at the waterfall. I didn’t say anything but sat looking at her while we waited for the dessert. Her eyes hold a lot of emotions. She’s a cautious girl and is afraid to trust, yet somehow she’s trusted Colin and me from the beginning. And she’s learning to trust our friends, because she knows we trust them. She trusts our judgment and is getting better. But I can’t help but go back to her trusting Colin and I so quickly. She nearly dies at the hands of a so-called Dom, but she easily trusts two very dominate males. I didn’t know for sure if I could take care of her the way she needed, but I knew that I’d gladly die trying. And so would Colin.

  The dessert was placed on the table and Sydney and I were each handed a spoon. I looked over at her and saw the brightest smile I’ve seen.

  “Anthony, it has M&M’s!”

  “I know. Don’t worry, I’ll eat around them, sunshine.”

  I motioned for her to dig in while I snapped a picture of her eating the sundae, smiling and then sent it to Matt and Colin. It’s so easy to make Sydney smile. She’s not a complicated, bratty sub. She’s perfect for me.

  After we ate she and I strolled through the casino and I showed her a lot of the restaurants and bars. We walked outside by the pools where music was playing. I pulled her against me and took her lips. She didn’t hesitate and kissed me back. Mine. She blushed and smiled. So fucking cute. I could take care of her. Give her everything under the stars. With her hand in mine we continued to stroll the grounds of Urban Towers.

  “So, how did your interest start in rope and rigging? The rope photographs at Irons are impressive.”

  “I sort of fell into it, I suppose. Kind of a quiet way for a kinky guy to get off. I was pretty young when I joined Irons and took advantage of every opportunity to learn things. A Master was giving lessons on erotic bondage. I picked up on it and started doing it in the club with some subs in rope. The rest, as they say, is history.”

  We headed back inside and I led her over to a set of elevators for penthouse residents. She didn’t know that I lived here. I held her hand and let my wallet hoover over the card reader and then the elevator opened. She and I leaned against the back wall of the elevator and we were greeted with the automated voice.

  “Destination, penthouse.”

  I took a chance and glanced down at her and my eyes were met with her smile and a flirty gleam in her eye.

  I smiled at her and squeezed her hand. While I watched the floor numbers zip by I began to second-guess my decision to bring her up here. I knew it was a positive step for me but I hadn’t really thought about how she’d react. Would she think I was bringing her here expecting sex? That wasn’t the case at all. I had never brought a woman here. And until Sydney, I’ve never wanted to. But this was a part of me and I wanted to share it with her. It wasn’t nearly as nice or comfortable as Matt or Colin’s places were, but this was mine.

  We arrived on the top floor and I led her down a corridor to my door. Five penthouses made up the entire fiftieth floor and one was mine. I swiped the card and the door to my sanctuary popped open and lights began to come to life. I held the door open and motioned her in. She smiled and stepped across the threshold and I followed. I noticed that valet had sent the overnight bag up and was sitting on the counter.

  I let her explore the entryway that spilled into the kitchen, dining area and great room. It was an open floor plan and the great room had floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the Las Vegas Strip. It was a bachelor’s party place though I’ve never used it as such.

  “Oh, wow! Look at this, Anthony!”

  Sydney quickly walked over to the windows and looked up and down the Strip. I slowly wandered behind her and watched her look out the window.

  “This is the coolest hotel in the city I bet. This view is amazing.”

  I leaned against the window and looked down at her while she gazed at the city lights. She didn’t know that I brought her to my place and thought we were in a hotel. How would she know anyhow? I never told her I lived here. As I glanced around, I realized how sterile and empty this place really is. It always has been empty. Except now, I had this beacon of light wandering around in here. I brushed the back of my hand down her cheek and felt my heart begin to beat faster when she leaned into my hand. She smiled and looked up at me. I felt that funny ache in my chest and stomach. This love shit is going to kill me.

  “This isn’t a hotel, sunshine. Urban Towers is a casino but all of the living space in the towers is owned. People live here.” I paused until I saw the light bulb go off. She turned and looked around the place and then back at me. “I live here. This is my home.”

  “Yours? But…” she turned and looked at nothing. Nothing here would signify that a person calls this their home.

  “I never really cared much for decoration. Obviously.” I smiled at her and she took hold of my hand and continued to gaze out the window.

  “This is the most amazing view.”

  “I used to think that too, until you popped into my life. Then I discovered that the best view is waking up seeing you asleep on my chest. You’re what I love looking at.” I waved my hand at all the lights and the view. �
��This doesn’t smile back at me or make me feel good. You do.”

  She looked nervous again and began looking down. She was frowning and I could tell that she was thinking because her eyes were moving rapidly from side to side.

  “Hey,” I tilted her head so she’d look up at me. “What’s wrong? Do you want to leave? We can. I just wanted to bring you here and show you where I live.”

  “You…you like looking at me?”

  She was at a loss over that? Colin really can help her in the self-confidence department. I smiled at her and told her that I enjoyed looking at her and watching her smile. I poked her nose with my finger and moved away from the window towards the kitchen.

  “You’re going to have to get used to that, sunshine.” I took my blazer off and tossed it on a chair before I made it to the kitchen. “Would you like some coffee?”

  “Yes, please.” She followed me to the kitchen and hopped up on a barstool. I probably surprised her when she saw me move around the kitchen knowing where everything was. I started the coffee and rolled up my sleeves and kept my eyes on hers. I stretched my arms out just to the side of me and leaned on the counter gazing at her. She innocently sat there and continued to look around.

  “I like your blue cabinets. They match your car and your watch. Is blue your favorite color?”

  I nodded and watched another smile appear on her face. She told me that blue was her favorite color too. I smiled and poured us each a cup of coffee and we headed over to the couch. I sat on the couch and propped my arm up on the back of the cushions and she leaned right into me. I felt my chest start to act up again but I didn’t worry about it now. I welcomed the feeling.

  “I can’t believe you brought me here, Anthony. Colin told me that you don’t bring anyone here.”