The Hitman's Secret Love Child: Second Chance Romance

by Terry Towers

  “So Sidney, the picture of you and Batman, who we now know to be Elijah Abraham, was taken just a day after it was reported you and Anthony broke up. So was this a fling that was going on before the break-up? How long have you been having an affair with Elijah?”

  I opened my mouth to respond, but Sidney placed her hand over mine on the folding chair and answered, “Elijah and I were not having an affair before the break-up with Anthony and just to set the record straight it was Anthony who cheated, not me, with his co-star. So I’d appreciate not being painted the bad guy in all of this. Yes, Elijah and I kissed at the convention a day after I asked Anthony to move out. He was hired that morning, we spent the day together, there was an attraction and we went with it. And been together ever since, end of story.”

  The reporter’s attention shifted to Anthony. “Is that true? Did you cheat on your co-star Sidney with your former co-star?”

  I looked over at Anthony, wondering if he would come clean or not.

  Anthony cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably in his chair, and then flashed the reporter a smile. “Look, Sidney and I both knew it was over. We were living in the same house, but that was about it and the truth is we hadn’t seen each other for over a month prior.”

  “But you let people believe she was the one cheating on you?”

  I fought to keep a smirk from my lips seeing Anthony looking so uncomfortable. And I was so proud of Sidney, it had been bothering me that she was taking the heat for something she wasn’t to blame for, but I’d kept my mouth shut, I wasn’t in show business, she was so I trusted her best judgment even though it was in direct conflict with my own.

  “I don’t recall ever saying that. Although, I will admit that I didn’t dissuade anyone from thinking that. I’ve been very busy preparing for this role and following the rumours that the media is making up about my ex isn’t something I spend much time doing.”

  “So is there still something going on between you and your former co-star? With Ashley Grant?”

  “No. It wasn’t serious to begin with.”

  The reporter turned back to Sidney. “Let’s get back to the photo, what possessed you to pose for the Batman and Catwoman picture?”

  “I didn’t expect to be recognized and I certainly didn’t expect it to go viral. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing.”

  “I see.” The reporter’s gaze lowered to our intertwined hands. “You two look very close.”

  Sidney looked over at me and smiled; I returned the smile. “We are.”

  “In fact you seem to glow when you look at Elijah. How serious is this relationship?”

  God, I was so glad the questions weren’t directed at me. I really don’t understand why I was even asked to sit up on stage with them, I had nothing to do with the movie.

  “Serious.”

  The reporter looked at me. I nodded. “Serious.”

  She shifted her focus to Sidney. “How serious exactly? Is it a sexual thing or…”

  Sidney looked at me and smiled before turning her attention back to the reporter. “I’m in love with him.”

  If it weren’t for the roar of cheers and whoops of celebration sounding around us I would have thought I’d misheard. Of all the places to say that for the first time, she chose an interview in front of thousands of people to be seen by millions! I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but words were at a loss for me right now. Glancing over at Anthony, I noticed he was just as visibly shell-shocked as I was feeling. In fact, Anthony looked like someone had slammed their fist into his stomach. Yup, that’s right Anthony, she’s chosen the rent-a-cop. Whether her declaration was enough to sway Anthony to give up on the idea of them together or whether it only gave him more reason to pursue her only time would tell.

  Leave it to Sidney to do things in a big way. She’d never said it before, or even hinted towards it. Of course, after the night at the beach neither had I, I didn’t want to push her.

  “Elijah, you seem to be a little surprised by Sidney’s statement,” the reporter said.

  I redirected my attention to the reporter, who was grinning a smile of self-satisfaction. I’m sure she was mentally patting herself on the back and already calculating whatever bonus the media firm would offer her for this.

  “I apologize.” I brought Sidney’s hand to my lips and kissed the back as my gaze locked with Sidney’s. “I love this woman more than anything in the world.” A rosy blush coloured Sidney’s cheeks. I turned my attention back to the reporter. “But what is there not to love about her? She’s the perfect woman. I couldn’t be happier.”

  A chorus of “awwww” came at us from all directions.

  Fuck, I wanted to take Sidney home and ask her if this was real. I wanted to think it was, hoped it was, but this whole thing was on the fly. Maybe she felt it was a good idea to really play it up. I really needed to get her alone and clear this up.

  The reporter shifted her focus to Ian and I breathed a sigh of relief. Now that it was out in the open, Sidney would be expecting me to walk the red carpet with her, go to premieres and charity functions. Everything between us was going to change from this moment on. My life in the shadows was over. How in the hell was I going to be able to do what I do best with my face in the tabloids and on the television? But that was the price to pay to be with her. No matter how much I wanted to be with her and was thankful to finally have her in my life, a part of me mourned the loss of who I was.

  ~*~*~*~

  Sidney

  “Are you upset with me?” I asked, pressing the switch to put the panel up between us and the driver who was taking us back to the apartment. Elijah hadn’t said much since the interview. He’d stayed at the sidelines as we shot the Times Square scene for the movie, which included an intense kissing scene. After what had happened at the interview I know it’s safe to say none of us had been comfortable with the intimate scene. In fact, there were a couple of times I was scared Elijah was going to storm on set and knock Anthony out, but he’d kept his emotions in check. This was going to be hard for him, especially the couple of sex scenes that were lined up over the coming weeks, but we’d deal with that when it came. However, before all of that I needed to know what he was thinking about me announcing my feelings to him in front of the crowd.

  Elijah looked over at me and frowned. “Why would I be angry?”

  “’Cause you haven’t said much to me since we got in the car. There’s this uncomfortable silence going on between us.” I shrugged.

  He turned to face me. “What you said at the interview, was that real or staged for the sake of the reporter?”

  I wasn’t sure if I felt bad he’d question it – couldn’t he tell how I felt about him? – or was insulted that he’d even question it in the first place. Granted, I’d kept those words and to a certain extent the emotions to myself up until that point, mostly because I wanted to make sure that’s exactly how I felt before verbalizing my feelings, but still. Perhaps for a private person like him, to say something like that in the way that I did was a little uncouth. I just didn’t know. The thing I did know was that it hurt that he would question it.

  “What do you mean, staged?”

  We stared at each other for what felt like an eternity, but was more like a minute.

  “Is that how you really feel?”

  “What do you think?” I challenged.

  He sighed. “I don’t know, Sid. You’re the one who has told me on several occasions that you’re not there yet. Then all of a sudden you’re in love with me. It’s a little surprising.”

  I huffed, giving my head a shake and sinking back into the car seat, folding my arms over my chest. I was trying to keep my cool, trying really hard not to go off the rails on him. “So you think I’d just say it for the publicity?”

  “I’d hope you wouldn’t.”

  “But you think I might?” I frowned looking over at him, my anger building. “You’d really think I’d do something like that, after everything we’ve been t
hrough?”

  He sighed, raking a hand through his hair in frustration. “You know how I feel Sid, I just wish you’d have said it in private instead of hitting me with it for millions of people. I’m sure the look of shock on my face will be posted for the world to see.”

  “I’m sorry I sprang it on you like that. It should have been a private thing and I’m sorry. Really, I am. It just came out to be honest, before I even knew I was saying it.”

  He turned in the seat to face me directly again. “All right then.”

  “All right?”

  “We’re alone. So go ahead?”

  I laughed, giving my head a shake at him, feeling a blush creep into my cheeks. The bugger was putting me on the spot. It had been easy on the stage because there was no expectation, but now that he was looking at me with such intensity I was feeling insecure, even though I knew how he felt. Stupid, I know, but I was actually feeling insecure.

  “Sidney?”

  I chewed at my lower lip.

  “Sid. I’m not going to let you play shy on me.” There was a playful twinkle in his eyes as he eyed me, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he ran his thumb along my jawline. “Is there something you want to say to me?”

  Closing my eyes, my body swooned at his touch. How could he possibly have questioned my feelings for him? When I reopened my eyes he was staring at me, his emotions in his eyes. “I love you, Elijah.” Without the pressure, the words tumbled from my lips.

  His hand slid to the back of my head and just as his lips came crashing down on mine the vehicle stopped. Elijah groaned against my mouth, pulling back and flopping into the leather seat with a sigh. Looking over him and to the building I groaned out loud to see a couple of news vans sitting outside of the building no doubt awaiting us.

  “Do you want to go to a hotel?”

  I shook my head. “Get your keys ready and we’ll just push our way through. It’s only a couple of reporters. They’ll take some candid pictures and once they’re locked out we’ll be free and clear. This isn’t near as bad as at the comic con.”

  He laughed. “But you had Batman protecting you at the con.” I pressed the button to lower the privacy divider and leaned forward.

  “Did you want to keep going ma’am?” the driver asked.

  “No, stay in the car, we’re going to make a run for it.”

  “Very good, Miss Lopez.”

  “Ready?” Elijah asked with his hand on the door handle.

  “Yup.” Grinning we both counted to three together and he pulled the handle. We were out in seconds slamming the door behind us. The reporters had lightning speed, but they were no match for us. Elijah had the card key out and swiped it as the first of the two reporters approached, photographers on their heels taking photographs.

  She opened her mouth to ask a question, but Elijah already had the door open and was tugging me inside. “Set up an interview with my publicist,” I said as I was pulled inside and the door closed, separating us from them. Elijah pressed the call button for the elevator. Maybe I’m a publicity whore, but I couldn’t resist.

  I wrapped my arms around his neck, stretched up against him and claimed his lips with mine. Cameras flashed in rapid succession. The elevator dinged its arrival and the doors slid open and as our kiss continued, Elijah directed us into the elevator and pulled his lips from mine long enough to press the button for the third floor.

  As much as we wanted to keep our relationship a secret a while longer, I have to say a part of me enjoyed not having to hide it any longer. I loved him, loved him with every fiber of my being and I didn’t want to hide it from anybody, not anymore.

  Chapter 21

  Sidney

  “Ohmygod, Elijah!” I laughed as we stepped out of the elevator and Elijah pinned me against the hallway wall and began kissing his way down my neck. “Shouldn’t we wait until we get into the apartment?” Despite my protest I moaned as waves of pleasure and anticipation flowed through me.

  “We’re getting there.” Grabbing my outer thighs, he hoisted me up onto his hips and walked the rest of the way to his door. Pinning me to the wall again, he unlocked the door to his apartment and pushed it open. He released me and grabbing my hand pulled me in after him and slammed the door shut.

  As soon as the door was shut, Elijah shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it to the floor. I did the same with my leather one and then grabbed onto the front of his shirt and began fumbling with his buttons, but damn the buttons didn’t seem to want to work with me each one nearly impossible to undo in my haste. I managed to undo three properly, the other three being ripped from the fabric and sending the remaining buttons flying across the room.

  “I’m sorry!” I cringed, realizing that I’d just damaged a $500 shirt, but proceeded to slide it off his shoulders.

  “I don’t care.” Grabbing the hem of my tight tank top, he yanked it up and tossed it to the floor and then pushed me up against the wall again. Grabbing my thigh he hoisted it up onto his hip and slid his hand up and under my skirt and to my ass cheek.

  I slid my lips along the side of his neck and nipped lightly. “I love you,” I murmured, nipping at his earlobe as I grasped the ridge of his hardening cock over his pants. “I love you, love you, love you.”

  “Fuck baby, I love you too. I fucking love you.” He groaned loudly, sliding a finger under my panties and plunging it into me, stroking my inner wall.

  I cried out, clinging to him and grinding against his hand. It felt so good to finally say it and hear it said back. It was freeing and sexy and hot as hell to my ears. Hotter than anything dirty he could have said to me, although I enjoyed that as well.

  “Elijah. Mmm.” I fumbled with his belt and pants, grateful that he had me pinned to the wall so I could keep my balance on one foot.

  With his pants finally undone I gave them a hard yank, along with his boxers and sent them to the floor at his feet. Grasping his cock in my hand, I began to stroke him, stroking him in time with his finger inside of me.

  “Are you going to fuck me right here by the door?” Not that I was complaining. I’d be happy with him fucking me anywhere.

  He pulled back just far enough to look me in the eye; the hunger in his gaze sent a shiver so intense through me that I moaned. “Most likely. Then the sofa and the bed, maybe the kitchen counter. Definitely the shower.”

  I laughed. “You’re going to kill me.”

  “I promise it’ll be a death to remember.”

  Sliding his finger from my throbbing core, he grasped the thin material of my panties and gave it a tug, ripping the delicate fabric from me. Removing his fingers from me, he pressed his cock at my entrance and thrust hard up into me.

  I cried out, my nails digging into his shoulders as I hung onto him. He had me sandwiched tight against the wall, making it next to impossible to move against him. I was at the mercy of his cock slamming into me, sending wave upon wave of pleasure through me and his demanding lips as they came crashing down on mine.

  God, I loved everything about him. His taste, his smell, his body. He was so damned perfect it was mind-blowing. And he was all mine. My orgasm came swiftly, building so quick and releasing so hard I was left with my head spinning. But he didn’t let up, slamming into me, over and over, sending me on the journey once again.

  Elijah pulled his lips from mine. “I’m going to come, Sid.”

  “Then come. Please. Come. I’m almost there.”

  His thrusts came harder, more violent. His cock within me thickened and pulsed. And with one final thrust he groaned, his forehead pressing against mine, and releasing a stream of his cum into my greedy, dripping core. The feel of his come filling me sent me spiralling with him, my pussy clenched around him milking him for every drop of his seed as I cried out.

  “God, I love you. Elijah, oh Elijah.” Tears filled my closed eyes as I was overcome with emotion. The most incredible man on the planet was pressed against me and he was all mine.

  “I love you,
Sid. I can’t remember not loving you.”

  ~*~*~*~

  I moaned softly as I slowly woke. I was sore, but it was a good sore, a really good sore. A smile spread across my lips. True to his word, Elijah took me in the living room, kitchen and shower and then once more when we made it to the bedroom before we fell to sleep. Maybe I hadn’t told Elijah the way I felt in the best way, him being such a private, passionate person, I’m sure it would have been preferable if it had been more romantic, but it was said, and in my typical flair it had been done in a big way.

  “Elijah.” I reached for him next to me on the queen-sized bed to come up empty and groaned. I hated when he did this to me. He was one of those happy early risers, making good morning wakeup blowjobs next to impossible. Ah well, his loss. If the bugger would stay in bed he’d get to indulge.

  Sliding from the bed, I padded naked across the bedroom and into the living room. As soon as I reached the living room I could smell breakfast and my stomach immediately grumbled. Oh, it smelt good. Living with him was not doing my figure any favours. Those ten pounds that I was required to lose I had yet to get started on.

  Tomorrow. I’ll do it tomorrow, I told myself.

  Entering the kitchen, I crossed my arms over my naked chest and watched him as he prepared breakfast in a pair of jogging pants and nothing else. My eyes scanned his beautiful sculpted body. I tried to ignore the scars, but it was hard, they were a reminder of his traumatic past. I wondered if he even saw them anymore, and if he did, did they propel him backwards in time to the days when he lived in horror of what the day would bring?

  Suddenly he jerked back from the stove and cursed the “fucking bacon.”

  I laughed. “If you prepared oatmeal and yogurt for breakfast you wouldn’t have to worry about burning yourself.”

  “If I made those I’d starve to death.” He spun around, spatula in hand, and he froze as he set eyes on my naked body. “You’re naked…”