by Taras Ford
“I didn’t mean to be so abrupt with you,” he softened.
“I know.”
Trish and Todd joined them, sipping their champagne. “Enjoying the party?” Trish asked.
Before Sydney could answer, a photographer jumped in front of them, snapped a picture, and rushed off into the crowd. Trish looked on with a frozen look of shock.
“There goes my anonymity,” Sydney said, with a eyeroll.
Nolen smiled. “I told you—”
“I know. We should have stayed in New York,” she mumbled.
Chapter 17
When a Man Loves a Woman
Sydney entered the dark bedroom she shared with Nolen first. She dropped her purse onto the dresser and didn’t bother to turn when she heard Nolen close and lock the door. Feeling fuzzy in the head and warm all over her body from the champagne, she stumbled in her heels, trying to kick her way out of them.
“You need some help?”
“Are you saying I’m drunk?” she asked, spoiling her serious question by hiccupping.
Sweating in her mink, which seemed to weigh a ton, she turned and allowed him to help her out of it. He pulled the hairy coat from her shoulders and tossed it to a chair. Sydney cast her gaze downward. She grinned looking at her shoes. They were really cute on her feet.
“Something funny?”
“Mmmhmm…” she swayed. Her gaze went back over her shoulder. He shed his tuxedo jacket and then removed his bowtie walking away from her into the shadows. If she hadn’t drunk that fourth glass of champagne her vision wouldn’t keep blurring. Turning she put a hand to her hip. She waited for him to acknowledge her provocative stance. Even if she was drunk, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of admitting it.
He looked at her over his shoulder, smiling slyly. “You sure you don’t need any help?”
“I’m not drunk!”
“Of course you aren’t, Beautiful.”
Smiling seductively, she walked unsteadily toward him. “Like I said, I’m perfectly fine.”
“Ok, but I wouldn’t mind helping you out of that dress.”
Sydney stretched out her arms above her head and moved her hips in a slow circular motion. “Go ahead!” Nolen dropped his cufflinks into his pocket and then pulled out the tails to his white shirt as he approached. Sydney closed her eyes, tilting her head back and causing her locks she’d straightened to a silky mane, to fall in layers down her bare back. “Ummm, I’m waiting,” she breathed. When Nolen was excited, he could be a handful. Tonight she prayed for a little of the bad boy mixed with his tender loving. Her body ached for it.
He stopped directly behind her. Sydney stilled, the warm yet soft press of his lips grazed her left shoulder. Should she tell him her desires tonight? Will he know?
“You’ve teased me long enough in this,” he whispered, unzipping her dress. “Are you ready to play?”
“Yes.”
“Yes what?”
“Yes, please.”
Leaning into his chest with her head still tilted back, she exhaled as his cool hand slid into the opening of her dress and slowly worked its way to her breast. She bit down on her bottom lip. He pinched her nipple. A sharp sting went through her right breast, followed by a warm tingling sensation when he released her. The same hand went smoothly down the middle of her abdomen. Free and loose from the champagne, she felt weightless under his exploration. The clingy material of the dress dropped and gathered at her waist. Nolen stood still, his palm flat and reaching beyond her navel, his shaven jaw pressed against hers.
“I’ve wanted you from the first moment I saw you.” He said in a husky, bittersweet voice.
“When you saw me dance.”
“No. When I saw you alone.”
Sydney opened her eyes and remembered. He told her he saw her nursing her foot and praying for courage. A tongue traced the outer shell of her ear and she forgot the question. Had he asked one? Or was he just stating his desire for her again. She didn’t care. This was part of it. The slow seduction would soon burn away any thoughts but the ones of him.
Thumbs hooked the sides of her dress snug to her hips and inched the material down, until it dropped carelessly to her ankles. She hadn’t worn hose or panties. The dress didn’t allow for it. Sydney’s eyes lifted and she could see them before a mirror. She hadn’t noticed earlier. He was behind her, and the sliver of light pouring in from the windows to the far left chased enough shadows to reveal his face. Nolen’s expression was neutral, his gaze focused on her, and only her. She watched his strong hand as it slowly descended down the crest of her labia and parted her feet just a bit to grant him permission.
Two fingers tapped her slit, his gaze lifted to meet hers.
“I want to taste you first Sydney, I want the sweet taste of your pussy. May I?” Sydney shuddered with anticipation. She wasn’t big on oral until Nolen. And no matter how strange sex became between them, his mouth on her cunt remained her favorite part. Nolen could send her to another galaxy with tongue play. “Okay,” she exhaled.
“Bend over, grab your ankles.”
She did as he requested. As soon as she parted her legs wider and bent at the waist, gripping both ankles. Cool air from the room washed over her, and the inner folds of her sex part. The blood rushed to her head and she closed her eyes to keep from swaying. But he held her firmly with one hand to her hip. She opened her eyes and saw he sat on the edge of the bed. She didn’t question the position she just tried to withstand when his lips sealed over her clit and he sucked hard. The blood flow to her head caused her eyes to sting and her face to flush. She inhaled deeply pushing back against his mouth, which opened to lick her from the hood of her pussy to her anus. Her passion could not be restrained. It rose from the back of her throat and escaped as a soft tortured cry and the muscles in her legs began to quiver. He sucked on her tighter until she began rolling her hips and ass against his face. He released her clit to let his tongue’s foray over the tiny spot under the hood of her clit send her entire body into distress. Sydney could take no more, dropping to her knees as the orgasmic stream of pleasure released and released.
She heard Nolen curse behind her. He asked if she was okay. She could only grunt a reply. He grabbed her by the waist and heaved her up to his lap. He still hadn’t completely undressed but his cock was free. She saw them again in the mirror. She sat on his lap with her back facing him, her legs thrown over his powerful thighs. With a shaky hand she took hold of his penis and stroked up down his shaft. But her urgency made her actions awkward and clumsy. He didn’t seem to notice. He lifted her with his hands to her waist and angled her over the head of his cock. She was brought down swifter than she anticipated. Her thighs splayed apart, her feet curling around his calves.
She was full of him.
Nolen’s hand went to her throat, his other to her clit. “Move for me Beautiful. Move.” Sydney began to rise and fall the best she could. At first his hand to her throat was gentle, stroking the length of it with love. Nolen’s free hand toyed with her clit. He used the ball of his thumb to roll over it as she bounced on his cock. Sydney gripped her knees and clenched her teeth hard. Pleasure exploded between her thighs causing her vagina walls to clench and her body to spasm.
“Oh God! Oh yes! Oh yes!” she cried as he continued to pull and vibrate his index finger over her clit and push her further. Nolen’s hold on her throat tightened. She gasped and her eyes opened.
“That’s right Sydney.” He flicked his tongue at her ear. “You’re ready.” Nolen squeezed on her throat and her eyes fluttered shut as she bounced harder and harder nearing a climax. Panic hit her hard and fast when her breathing was cut off. The adrenaline pumping through her veins made every feeling and emotion intense and overwhelming just as rapture tortured her from deep within her clenching channel and she melted under raw, heat and pleasure. Nolen released her throat and air rushed her lungs. She collapsed back against him, panting. She knew he hadn’t come. He never did the first time. But sh
e was exhausted. He’d pushed her beyond the limits.
“Sleep.” She whimpered.
He kissed her cheek and lifted her from his cock, which came with her. He put her on the bed and removed the rubber from her channel, walking off to the bathroom. She curled over to her side shaking through the orgasm too exhausted to rub out the sensations in her vagina and throat. Somewhere in the room she could hear the tap turn on and water flow. The toilet flushed. Nolen returned, shed his clothes and joined her in bed.
“Sleep.” She begged.
He drew the cover over her and dropped his arm around her. Sydney smiled. He understood and accepted the night would end this way. Before sleep claimed her he did, drawing her tight into his embrace with his chest blanketing her back. He whispered into her ear. “I love you Sydney Allen.”
“I love you too Nolen.”
Todd reached for her, but she fought him off. They both became tangled in the sheets, as her small arms hit at his chest and face. He took the blows, gently shaking her awake. He had to roll and pin her back to the mattress to bring her out of the nightmare. Her hair was slick to her head, she felt feverish beneath him, her face damp with sweat. What the hell was happening?
“It’s me. Wake up!”
Trish opened her eyes. She double blinked at him and her bottom lip began to quiver. “Oh, God,” she gasped. He thought it was her fear, the terror of the nightmare she was trapped in. She pulled her arm free and touched his cheek. He soon felt the sting. She drew her hand away and he saw his blood. A sliver of it, from probably an even smaller scratch, still the sight of it frightened her to the point of tears.
“Don’t cry, hey, I’m okay. Calm down.” Todd pulled her close.
“I hurt you, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.”
“It was a dream, a nightmare.” He kept her pinned beneath him. He feared if he let up she would flee the room. Trish tossed her head side to side moaning. Todd didn’t know what to say or do. This wasn’t him. He wasn’t the guy for the job. But with her he couldn’t help but want to be. So he tried. “Sweetheart, it’s ok. We’re ok.”
She nodded, the tears lessened. He moved off her and drew her to his chest. She came hesitantly, but she did. He ran his hand up and down her back until she stopped shivering, and her breathing grew shallow and even. The silence between them helped. She recovered the way he imagined she did many times before, alone, with no one to protect her.
“Todd?”
“Yes?”
“I haven’t had this nightmare since I moved in with Sydney and Portia. Why am I dreaming about him again?”
“We’re moving too fast, Trish. You can’t just step back into this life. Seeing that Muffy woman and going to the party—it’s just making it all raw for you.”
“I just wanted to show you that I’m strong. I don’t want you to be with me because you feel sorry for me.” Todd looked down at her. “Do you honestly think that?”
“I don’t want your pity.”
“That’s not what we’re about.” he pinched her chin and tilted her face upward so he could look into her eyes when he spoke. “I admit I haven’t been the most sensitive guy. I’ve never appreciated anyone or thing but myself. I guess I’ve been my father’s son in that regard. But you and I are different. We’ve been through a lot and we survived it. Yes. That’s it. We’re survivors.”
Trish gave him a half smile and he finally felt the relief he needed to relax. “I love you for you.”
“Love?”
“How else do I describe what you do to me? I love the way you paint, the way you make me feel. I love the way you find humor in the simplest things. I even love those fried bologna sandwiches that you make me eat.”
He felt her relax in his arms. The first woman he said he loved and meant it. They hadn’t even had sex and he knew she’d be in his heart this way always. How was that possible?
“You’ve been honest with me.” Trish said. “I can trust you not to lie or turn against me, can’t I? You would never hurt me or use me, would you?” she asked.
“I swear it. I’ll never let you be hurt. You’re safe with me. He can never get to you again.” Trish lay back in his arms. “Thank you, and thank God.”
Morning -
Nolen laughed. He had a man’s laugh, a loud bark that shook the windows. Most days she barely noticed, but the sound of it this morning rattled her nerves.
“No more excuses, get dressed.”
Sydney searched for her underwear, wondering vaguely whether Todd was as playful with Trish as Nolen was with her. What man took pleasure in hiding your things, then watching you search for it? He was strange sometimes. Strange. She moved the cushion in the seat of the chair and found her panty. Nolen gave her a wicked grin. It wasn’t the pair that matched her bra. But she tired of the game and just wouldn’t wear a matching set.
“That’s not the right panty.” He said, his eyes narrowing on her.
“Shut up.” She mumbled.
He chuckled.
Maybe last night they finally crossed the line and had sex. Trish’s strange comments regarding intimacy had been to the back of her mind all evening when she watched them together. Todd followed her everywhere with his eyes, touched her as much as Nolen touched Sydney. They seemed really close. She stopped abruptly, then yanked her panty all the way up the bend of her hips. She remembered what she’d heard the night before. “I thought I heard Trish scream last night. Was I dreaming?”
Nolen, caught with his hands in her bag where she kept her underwear, stopped going through her things and looked back.
“Would you leave my stuff alone!”
He threw up his hands in surrender.
“Did you hear me? What I asked?”
“What?”
“Last night. I don’t know, but I thought I heard a scream. When I sat up, I didn’t hear anything else, but I was sure I heard it at first.”
“Well, she’s in the kitchen with Todd, cooking breakfast, and they look fine.”
“Weird,” Sydney said, shaking her head. “Just weird.”
“You’re taking too long. Let me help.” He said.
“No!” she grabbed her clothes and dashed past him to the bathroom. If he put a hand on her she’d end up back in the bed, with him making her crazy with his lust. She slammed the bathroom door and dropped the clothes on the sink. Looking at her neck she checked to see if there was any bruising. Though he held her tight during sex, he never left a mark. Sydney smiled, and then blushed as the memories of their passion came rushing back to her. She dressed, groomed herself, and combed through her hair that had begun to frizz.
“Sydney? It’s been twenty minutes!”
“Ok,” she said. As soon as she stepped out of the bathroom he grabbed her hand and marched her from the room to the kitchen.
Trish sat at the table; eating the french toast Todd had burned. She grinned at Nolen first when he pulled out Sydney’s chair for her to sit.
“Morning,” he said, noticing how she stared at him.
“Morning,” Trish said with her mouth full. “Sleep well?”
Nolen frowned. He looked to Sydney for the joke. Sydney shrugged. It was she who was screaming last night not him.
“Yes I did.” He answered Trish.
“You don’t talk a lot, do you?”
Nolen’s brows shot upward. “I think I talk quite a bit.”
“Not as much as Mr. Kodak over there!” Trish chuckled
Todd dropped the next batch of french toast onto a plate. “Very funny.” Nolen smiled. “No, not as much as Mr. Kodak,” he agreed.
Trish nodded. “So, what will you guys do while we’re gone?”
Todd set the new plate on the table in front of Trish and took away the dirty one. “That’s none of your business, pretty lady. Now eat up. You girls have a big day ahead of you.” Nolen slipped his hand under the table and squeezed Sydney’s knee. She shook her head smiling that she understood the night would be even more adventurous.
/> Breakfast went by with Todd sharing tales of celebrity gossip. Trish and Sydney ate it up, but Nolen seemed bored with the conversation. She noticed how he’d look away or slip into thoughts she knew he wouldn’t share. She worried about his silent brooding moments. When the driver arrived several minutes later Nolen kissed her bye and headed upstairs. Sydney made a mental note to uncover what troubled him when she returned. Without complaint she climbed into the limo with Trish.
“I wonder how Portia is,” Trish said, looking out the window.
Sydney shrugged off the question. After a moment, she changed the subject. “Did you scream last night?” Sydney asked.
“What?”
“Scream. I thought I heard a scream in the middle of the night.”
“Must have been a wolf or something.”
Sydney laughed, and so did Trish. “I don’t think there are wolves on the island, Trish.”
“Yes, there are wolves here. I saw one years ago when I was a young girl, except he actually turned out to be a member of my family,” she joked.
Sydney looked at Trish curiously. “You’ve been here before?”
Trish sighed deeply and nodded. “Let me show you something.”
Trish pressed the button and lowered the partition separating them from the driver, she spoke softly.
“Driver, can you please drive by Willow Street, in the Abbey subdivision, coming up off Montauk.”
“Yes, ma’am”
“Where are we going?”
“To hell,” she said and looked away.
Sydney eased over on the seat to sit next to Trish and touched her hand. “I want to know what it is that you’re keeping from me.”
“It’s hard to explain. If I could just spit it out, don’t you think I would?” Sydney gave her a worried look. She had never known Trish to be so irritable, but since they’d arrived in Nantucket, it seemed like her friend was unraveling before her eyes. Looking out the side window, she saw a line of massive mansions along the winding road. After a couple of turns, the car slowed in front of a three-story white stucco mansion with a pointed roof. The place was so large that it looked intimidating, even compared with Nolen’s penthouse.
