by Jenna Payne
Sydney sat back and rubbed her hands over her eyes, brushing off the last of her tears and casting off the burden that was her parents. She looked into Max’s eyes. She saw pity, and pain, but she also saw love. The kind of love she always dreamed about. She’d laid out her deepest, darkest secrets and he loved her. Searching his eyes, Sydney leaned in and kissed him tenderly. That fear she’d felt all these years, the instinct to run away every time someone got too close, melted with the heat of his touch. Sydney lay back on the sun-warmed rock, pulling him with her. Her hair fanned out behind her head, her eyes heavy with desire. Max melted on top of her, his desire straining at the fabric of his jeans as he rested on one elbow to look at her. With his free hand, he slowly unbuttoned her shirt, pushing the fabric to the side and moving her sports bra up to release her swollen breasts. Her skin was flushed with passion as he leaned down to take her erect nipple into his mouth, sucking slowly, using his tongue to tease her. Sydney moaned from deep in her throat, her hips pushing against him as she gave herself to the sensation. Max’s hand slid down her flat belly and into her waistband, pulling her button fly open in one smooth motion. Max released her breast and kissed down her stomach, leaving a trail of warmth as he headed further down. His hands slid under her, and she raised her hips to help him remove her pants. He pushed them down past her thighs, his mouth following the fabric as it revealed her sweetness. Sydney gasped as he mouth covered her, his tongue diving and darting into all the right places. She writhed against him as her passion increased, her breath coming is short gasps as she struggled to get her muddled thoughts into place. She was near nirvana when he stopped suddenly, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he left her hanging on the edge of the cliff, a light breeze away from plummeting to her death.
She heard his zipper and the rustle of fabric, and her mind screamed yes! Max covered her with his body, her world exploding when he entered her. She wrapped her arms around him, a scream building and dying on her lips as she rode the passion. Max continued as her orgasm rose and fell like waves. He watched her face, enjoying how each emotion played across it. She squealed and moaned, the pleasure overwhelming her with each subsequent wave as it crashed over her, engulfing her. When he knew she’d had all she could take, he let go, riding the final wave with her as his own pleasure overtook him. The world around them ceased to exist as they gave themselves over to their feelings. Exhausted, they lay on the warm rock, entangled as one, the warm sun caressing their skin as they caught their breath.
***
They rode in comfortable silence on the trail back to the stables. Sydney kept glancing at Max and smiling shyly. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that she’d never given herself over so completely as she had that afternoon. Max winked at her, enjoying the way the pink crept up her neck. They could see the stables up ahead and Sydney was sad that their magical afternoon was nearly over. They rode side by side onto the property, greeting people as they passed. Sydney was about to dismount when she heard a voice that made her blood run cold.
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t my precious daughter and my horse. Hi Sydney,” the voice sneered, “did you miss your dear old Dad?”
How had he found me?
James Clark sauntered up to Max, who had dismounted and haltered his borrowed mount. He stuck his hand out to Max, who looked at him with obvious distaste. Max didn’t return the gesture, and James lowered his hand with a smile.
“I see my sweet girl has landed herself the great Maxwell Stryker. I wonder, did she tell you that she took off with my money and stole that horse? I’m surprised a billionaire would shack up with a common horse-thief, but stranger things have happened.”
Sydney’s head started spinning. A billionaire? Suddenly, it all made sense. The helicopter in the tiny town of Pinedale, the fact that Max didn’t seem to have an actual job outside of volunteering at CFR. It was obvious that the “anonymous donor” who’d paid for all of their equipment and the state of the art building that the search and rescue team worked out of must have been Max. No wonder he hadn’t cared about her past. To him, six million was nothing. Does that mean I am nothing to him, either?
She spun Concerto around and took off at a flat gallop into the woods, putting as much distance between herself and the two men as possible. Just when things started to seem right in her world, it all came crashing down. Sydney ducked low along Concerto’s neck, moving with him as his hooves ate up the ground underneath him. He moved over the terrain as if on wings, the tears from the wind streaming down her face as she tried to outrun her past. How did Dad even find me? She had no idea, but one thing was for certain. He wasn’t going to take Concerto from her.
Concerto rounded the corner and lost his footing, going down hard and sending Sydney flying over his head. She had a brief moment of panic before pain exploded throughout her entire body and the world went dark.
Sydney lay there, fighting to regain consciousness. She had to get away, she had to fight. No matter how hard she pushed against the darkness, it pulled her back down, swallowing her whole. She struggled against the pull of the enveloping darkness, nearly resurfacing only to be pushed down again. She heard a steady pulse in her head; saw a burst of light that made her wonder if she was dying. Pain exploded again as she was shoved and pulled, the sound getting louder, drowning out the faint sound of voices calling her name. She gave up the fight as euphoria claimed her and the pain subsided.
***
Max manned the controls of the chopper, trying not to panic as the nurse in the cabin yelled at Sydney, “stay with us, don’t give up Sydney.” She’d covered a lot of ground in a very short time. It had taken them almost an hour to get to the chopper and find her, lying crumpled in the dirt, her horse nowhere to be found. Concerto had returned to the stables, in bad shape. Max had informed the stable’s owner over the radio that he was to get that horse to a vet immediately. Max would spare no expense and he made it clear to the man that anything he could do to save horse was to be done. Max would deal with James later, and that man would regret chasing Sydney down. When Max was through with him, James would never dare show his face again. He didn’t care how much money it took, Sydney would never lay eyes on that horrible man again.
The nurse hollered at him over the pulsing of the chopper’s blades, “She’s fading fast, how far out are we?”
“Ten minutes,” Hold on Sydney. Max pushed the chopper as fast as it could go. He’d waited his entire life for a woman like her, he wasn’t about to lose her now.
Epilogue
Sydney sat in the padded glider on the wrap-around porch. Her broken bones were finally healed, and the casts had come off a week before. Her body remained bandaged, but the bandages were nothing compared to the heavy plaster. She watched the horses in the field running and smiled. They would never replace her Concerto, but Sydney’s heart would heal as her bones had. It had been almost two months since her accident and she hadn’t heard a word from James. Max was vague about what had happened, but she knew that he’d called on the family lawyer to make sure James would never hunt Sydney down in such a way again.
Max had never left her side while she lay broken in the hospital bed. She’d awoken from her haze to see him bent over her bed, tears flowing freely as he bargained with God for her life. She’d tried to reach out to him, to tell him that she was fine, but her arms were impossibly heavy; her lips cracked and dry after weeks in a coma. All she had managed was a soft groan, which had Max standing straight up and running to call for a nurse. She was finally awake and the joy and relief were evident on his face. He touched her face, made her promises about their future together and she’d fallen back to sleep, the pain and broken bones too much for her to bear. She slipped in and out for days before she was finally able to stay awake long enough to start physical therapy. Within a week, she was ready to go home, and Max talked her into living on his sprawling ranch outside of Pinedale. The property edged up to the Wind River Range and went for as far as the eye could see.
Sydney wasn’t sure if she was ready for forever, but the promise of a real bed and a home nurse to help her recover in the fresh mountain air was enticing, so she said yes.
Max devoted every waking minute to caring for her, carrying her out onto the porch each day so she could watch his horses and enjoy the warm sun. She hadn’t asked what he’d done with Concerto. She’d heard enough in the hospital as she slipped in and out to know that he’d been badly injured. There would never be another horse like him, and Sydney grieved for that quietly each night as she lay in bed. She’d ride again; her physical therapist had insisted that it would help her heal. But for now, just looking at the horses in the pasture tore at her heart.
Sydney looked up as a truck and trailer pulled into the drive. Max had a cabin and stalls available on his property, far enough from the main house to afford quite a bit of privacy for the people who rented it. It was a common sight to see them pulling in on their way to the cabin.
The truck drove straight to the house, apparently unsure of where they were going. Sydney still couldn’t stand on her own yet, and was about to call for Max when the screen door to her left flew open and Max hurried out. He spoke to the driver for a minute and she parked the rig right there on their front lawn. Max walked to Sydney, his face covered with a broad smile.
Oh no, she thought, he’s bought me a horse. Sydney didn’t know what to say to him. She wasn’t ready, but it was clear from his face that he’d done this for her and she didn’t want to hurt him.
He took the porch steps in one leap and scooped her up out of the chair. He carried her to the trailer as the woman opened the door and unhooked the horse. Sydney was trying to find the words when the horse began to back cautiously down the ramp. Her throat constricted with unshed tears as a scarred and battered Concerto carefully picked his way off the trailer. Max looked at her and her tears spilled freely. Somehow, Concerto had survived his fall, though his coat showed the leftover marks of his pain. He walked slowly, a slight limp in his bandaged leg. The vet walked him up to Sydney and she buried her face in his neck. He was alive and he was here.
Max whispered in her ear, “Concerto belongs to you now. If there was any doubt before it’s gone now. I’ve seen to that. You never have to worry about your father coming for him again.”
Sydney started sobbing, rubbing her hands over his neck and through his mane. Her fingers caught on a tiny braid. She’d probably left it in the last time she’d prettied him up for some event. She pulled the band on the braid and started working the braid out when her fingers brushed against something hard. She pulled on it as she unwound his hair and the object out in her hand. The thin, simple ring was beautiful. Sydney looked at Max, confused. He smiled at her and winked, his intention clear. Not only was he giving her back her horse, but he was giving her the rest of his life. Sydney looked deep into his eyes and said the one word that would make everything right in their world.
“Yes.”
THE END
In a League of His Own
Bonus Story 17 of 20
My Bossy Billionaire
Twelve years ago, at eighteen years old and fresh out of high school, I dreamed of stardom and riches. I moved out to California hoping that Los Angeles would provide a better future for me than Iowa.
After multiple failed auditions and no money, I decided to apply for a part-time secretarial position with a little company, Jones Corp. I had no experience, but I did have my wit.
I don’t know what Mr. Jones saw in me, but he must’ve seen something good because he picked me over a whole slew of other applicants. It’s not like being a secretary was the “it” job, but I was satisfied.
Here we are today and I’m still working for Jones Corp. I am now working as the Executive Secretary directly for Mr. Jones. His little ten-employee business has grown to a multi-billion dollar corporation trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
Mr. Jones is not just a boss; he’s also been a father figure where I had none. My father left my mom and me when I was one. I hate to say it because it’s so cliché, but he left for beer and cigarettes one night and never came back.
Mom played both roles while I was growing up. And while she didn’t show it or say it, I knew she was heartbroken that such a man would leave his family to fend for himself. If I ever meet that bastard I’ll be sure to give him a piece of my mind.
Needless to say, I’m not famous nor am I rich, but I do make quite a nice living—all thanks to Mr. Jones. When he was successful in his business endeavors, he always made sure I received a nice bonus. Now don’t get me wrong, he didn’t play favors. All of his employees received bonuses as well. Of course that doesn’t stop the terrible office rumors going around.
Aside from that, life can’t get any better than this. What thirty-year-old can say they’re doing well in their job and loving it?
I’m still going to auditions every now and then and hoping that I somehow will get picked for a show, but that’s the last thing on my mind. Mr. Jones has always been there to take care of me so I will always be there to ensure his business runs smoothly.
Today, Mr. Jones has called a meeting with his top executives. While I may only be a secretary, Mr. Jones always includes me in all his meetings. I’m not there just to look pretty however. I take notes and follow up with deadlines and reports when he gives out assignments to his executives.
As I enter the room, I take roll call to ensure everyone is present. Mr. Jones normally likes a list of all attendees at the end of all meetings.
As I take note of everyone walking into the room, I notice a tall, brown-haired, blue-eyed man sitting in the corner. I’ve never met him before but he seems oddly familiar.
I ignore him for now and go about checking everyone off as they come in. Lastly, Mr. Jones walks in and starts the meeting.
“Good morning staff,” Mr. Jones starts off. “I called this unexpected meeting today to discuss my retirement and the way ahead for Jones Corp.”
I hear a few groans in the background. I begin to take note of Mr. Jones speech.
“As you all know, I’ve been running this company for a long time, but frankly, there comes a time when we must all move on. For me, that time is now. I want to introduce you to the new CEO of Jones Corp, my son, John.” Mr. Jones waves his hand to the man sitting in the corner.
Of course, that’s why he looks so familiar. I’ve seen his picture on Mr. Jones’ desk. Of course, that was a younger John. This John is much older than the one in the picture.
He’s no longer cute little John, but handsome and tall.
John stands next to his dad. “Hello everyone. It’s good to see you all here. A little about myself: I graduated from Stanford University with a degree in business. From there, I’ve operated a few small businesses overseas. I’ve had years of schooling and experience that I hope to bring here. With the new wealth of knowledge, I’m sure this company will remain successful and continue to grow. All I ask in the beginning is to please be patient with the changes that are going to happen within the next few months as I transition in and my father transitions out. I’m very excited for this opportunity and I look forward to working with each and all of you.”
John steps down and takes his seat. Mr. Jones takes over.
“Are there any questions?” Mr. Jones asks.
From the back of the room someone asks, “Sir, what’s your expected retirement date?” It’s Lyle, one of the newest executives who came on board a few weeks ago.
“Well, to be honest, I’m planning on handing the company over to John today. Of course the paperwork will follow suit. But, I’ll be in and out during the transition.”
Wow, this is right out of the blue. Mr. Jones never does anything without first letting me know. This comes as a surprise even to me.
“Allie? Allie?” I snap back into reality.
“Yes Sir?” I answer.
“Please see me in my office after this meeting,” Mr. Jones tells me.
He turns b
ack around to address the rest of the staff, “That’s all folks! Please get back to business as usual.”
Mr. Jones and John exit first. I sit back and wait while everyone exits the room.
“I’m so excited for the new change!” I hear someone say.
“Not me, I love working for Mr. Jones! I’m sad to see him go,” someone else responds.
From across the other side of the room, I hear a female executive whisper, “John is so cute! I can’t wait to see what changes he has for this company.”
I roll my eyes. Girls in the corporate world are just like how they were in high school. It doesn’t change. While I try to stay out of the company gossip, I can’t seem to distance myself from being included in it. I’ve heard multiple rumors of how I’m the boss’s pet simply because they think Mr. Jones favors me over the rest.
All those rumors are simply not true! I’m just very good at my job. If only they could see that Mr. Jones likes me because I work hard.
After everyone exits, I head off to Mr. Jones’s office.
***
“Sir, you wanted to see me?” I poke my head through the closed door.
“Yes, come in Allie.” Mr. Jones motions me forward and gestures for me to sit next to John.