by Box Set
Greg tilted his head to the side as if he was trying to remember. "Meryl Streep, I think. We were on the same late night show. If they hadn’t introduced us in the green room before the show, I'd probably have embarrassed myself in front of four cameras and three hundred people in the audience that day. She's as amazing in person as she seems on TV.” Greg shook his head. “Before that, I think it was Robert Redford. God, I was sure he'd think I was a complete disaster, but he seemed to take everything in stride. He even complimented the movie I'd produced that we were showing at Sundance."
"Oh my God, I love both of them so much," Sylvia leaned closer, excited, before thinking twice and sitting back. "I'm sorry, you probably—"
"Hey." He reached out and caught her flailing hand.
She closed her mouth immediately, staring at him. Earlier at the restaurant, she had been the one who’d initiated contact, but after that, neither of them had touched the other with intent. Now, Greg was tangling their fingers together and squeezing them before laying their joined hands on the seat between them.
"I don't mind. Stop assuming I mind talking about my job and my life. Sure, I'm not comfortable with some topics, but I’ll tell you if they come up. Don't think that because some journalists asked me the same question in the past, that you can't ask or that I'll get angry."
"Okay," she said after a long moment of silence they’d spent staring at each other. Their hands were still joined, and Sylvia could feel the warmth of Greg's skin against her colder fingers. She imagined that warmth was slowly spreading into her, as well.
She held her breath as he unbuckled himself, then watched as he slowly leaned toward her. Her pulse sped up, and her gaze dropped to his mouth as she wondered what he was going to taste like.
The first brush of his lips against hers was soft, as if he was asking a question. She tilted her head up toward him, and he kissed her again, this time more insistent, more assured of his welcome. He traced her lower lip with the tip of his tongue, and she opened up for him, deepening the kiss right as her free hand found its way to his neck. The heat spread through her body quickly, and she gasped into his mouth when he put a hand on her hip, right below her waist.
They pulled apart after some time to catch their breath, but they still stayed close. Greg rested his forehead against Sylvia’s and ran his thumb back and forth over her hip.
She suddenly felt fragile, as if she would come apart if his hands weren't there to ground her. It was both terrifying—she had never wanted to be that person for whom one touch of a man could turn her into a delicate being—and exhilarating. This was something she’d only experienced a few times after watching the most incredible performance, one that touched her deeply and seemed to rearrange something inside her, even if temporarily.
There was nothing pretend about it at all.
Chapter Eight
Holy shit, what the hell? Greg tried to calm his breathing, and he was working hard to contain the whirlwind inside him. Whatever he’d expected, it wasn’t this.
He didn't want to move, didn't want to take his hands off of Sylvia. He closed his eyes, anchoring himself in their connection, something that was honest and weirdly fragile. Something that had nothing to do with the charade they were supposed to play.
It took him a while to realize the car wasn't moving anymore, but then he ignored it. It didn't matter. He wasn't ready to leave, wasn't ready to let Sylvia get out and walk away from him. And from the way her fingers tightened in his grip, she wasn't in any hurry, either.
Greg leaned in for another kiss, this time slower, but deeper, hungrier for more of that pull he felt between them. He grazed her lower lip with his teeth, then sucked it into his mouth to run his tongue over delicate flesh.
Sylvia ran her nails behind his ear, making him tighten his hold on her. His cock was getting harder, and the need to get as close as possible surprised him with its intensity.
There was something about her that spoke to Greg. Not only now, but ever since she had smiled at him in that back alley, pale-faced and a bit embarrassed, but still charming. There was something that pulled him in, made him want more—more time with her, more smiles from her, and now—more of her taste.
When they broke apart this time, she ran her tongue over her lower lip and lifted her gaze to meet his. Her eyes were brighter in the dim light of the car than Greg had ever seen them, and he smiled, letting go of her hip so that he could run his thumb over her cheek and the line of her jaw.
Sylvia smiled back and leaned slightly into his touch.
"Do you want to come upstairs?" she whispered, and he nodded before she even finished the question.
"Yes," he whispered back, to make sure there was no doubt, and then kissed her softly before pulling back and glancing at Jack, who stared diligently into his phone and ignored them completely. "This is our last stop for the day," Greg said louder, catching Jack's attention. "Go home and get some shut eye."
If Sylvia didn't want for him to stay the night, he could always get a taxi.
After they said their good nights, he and Sylvia watched Jack drive away before looking at each other. Even in heels, she was still small enough that her shoulder fit under his arm when Greg tugged her closer.
"Come on," she said and pulled him by their joined hands.
They didn't say anything more as they entered the building and walked up the stairs.
At her door, she fumbled with her keys as he brushed his nose against her temple and cheek, inhaling the mix of scents that he realized he could already recognize—the scent of her shampoo, her perfume, her.
When she finally pushed the door open and they got inside, she turned the lights on and they left their jackets and shoes by the door. Greg watched her walk to a little kitchenette barefoot and in her little black dress, and something shifted inside of him, like pieces rearranging in a new way. He suddenly couldn’t stand so much space between them, so he followed her, plastering himself to her back as she reached to the glass cabinet above her head.
She sighed, melting against him and dropping her arms down, and he pressed closer, trapping her between his body and the counter. He gripped her hip again with one hand, moving the other to her stomach and splaying his fingers wide. His pinkie landed over the line of her panties under her dress, and he brushed his finger back and forth. She leaned further against him, tilting her head back to rest against his shoulder.
One of her hands covered his on her stomach, and she ran her nails lightly over his forearm. Greg tightened his grip on her hip as he fought the shiver down his spine. His hard cock was pressing against the small of her back now, and for a second, he imagined dragging her dress up and fucking her here, against the counter.
"I guess you're not thirsty after all," she whispered, and he chuckled into her hair.
"Not for anything you could find in a bottle."
She nodded and then pushed back a little to wiggle out of the confines of his embrace.
"Come on then." She caught his hand and pulled him forward, leading him down the small hallway to her bedroom. All Greg could think of now was getting her naked.
She turned to him as he closed the door, and then they were kissing again. Her hands were in his hair, keeping his head close as if she wanted to make sure he wouldn't pull away.
As if.
He circled his arms around her waist, moving one hand lower to run his fingers over the curve of her ass. Sylvia moaned into the kiss and he smiled. He wanted to get more sounds like that out of her tonight. He moved his fingers up and down a few times before flattening his hand, cupping one of her buttocks.
As they broke off their kiss to catch their breaths, Greg tilted his head so he could leave a line of kisses along her neck, and Sylvia's grip tightened in his hair as he licked the dip of skin right next to her collarbone. She moved one of her hands to tease his earlobe with her fingertips, as if she already knew it was his sensitive spot.
Greg turned her around again and reached for the
zipper of her dress. When he pulled it open all the way, he inhaled sharply at the expanse of skin right in front of him—to touch, and kiss, and taste. He wanted to map out every inch of her back, every curve and every line, but his erection was getting more persistent.
He slowly pushed the sleeves of the dress down, his mouth following the path of the fabric along her shoulders. When the dress fell onto the floor, Greg leaned in to lick the line of her spine from between her shoulder blades up, ending high at the nape of her neck, where he bit her lightly—not enough to leave any mark.
Not yet, if he was lucky.
Sylvia shivered under his touch, her breath coming faster. She turned back to face him and reached out to unbutton his shirt. He used that opportunity to look at her, in her black, strapless bra and black panties, perfect curves of her body right in front of him. He couldn’t keep his hands still on her hips. His thumbs rubbed circles right above her hipbones, and he had to fight not to shove her down onto the bed.
But as soon as the last button of his shirt was free, that was it. He pushed Sylvia to lie down and didn’t take his eyes off of her as he quickly undressed the rest of the way. She lay there on top of the dark red cover, watching him with a heated look. When he took off his pants and underwear, she arched up to unhook her bra before tossing it off the bed. A moment later, the only piece of clothing between them was her panties.
Greg leaned over Sylvia, only letting their skin brush as he rested his elbows on both sides of her head. Their lips met again in a kiss that soon left them both fighting for breath. He couldn’t wait to be inside her. She scooted further up on the bed to rest her head on the pillow and he followed her, but he forgone her mouth this time. He nuzzled at her throat and moved lower, slowly covering her in light kisses as he brushed one of his hands over her stomach, fingertips dipping under her panties from time to time, making her arch into his touch.
Yes. He loved how responsive she was.
She moaned loudly when he flicked his tongue over her nipple a few times before sucking at the tip. She tugged at his hair, and it sent shots of heat down his body, making his cock even harder.
"Fuck, Greg," she breathed out above him.
"I've got you." He resumed his trip down her body, kissing down her stomach and licking into her navel. Then he ran his tongue right over the line of her panties, feeling her shiver in response. He grinned up at her. She was watching him, her eyes dark with dilated pupils, and her skin flushed under his touch.
Finally, he hooked his fingers into her panties and slowly pushed them down her legs before throwing them away.
She was completely naked now.
Greg looked up and down her body—all the places his lips had been and the ones he hadn’t made it to yet—and he swallowed down a groan of pleasure. He nudged her shin so that he could rest his knee between her legs, but she rolled over onto her side and reached to the drawer of her nightstand. She turned onto her back again a few seconds later, handing him a condom between her fingers.
The second he took it from her, she opened her legs wider, and he could kneel between them easily. Her eyes were fixed on his cock and Greg had to bite down on his lips to stall a sudden rush of heat inside him. He rolled the condom on and then reached out to run his thumb over her folds, slipping between them to find her clit. She arched up, inhaling sharply, and he grinned, rubbing harder. She was wet under his fingers, and when he moved them lower to her entrance, he had no problems slipping one inside her.
"Come on," she urged him breathlessly, before letting out a moan as he curled his finger up.
He breathed in sharply, her words making him impossibly harder, but he slipped in another finger, moving in and out as he watched her bright eyes going darker as she moaned, tightening her muscles around his fingers.
Greg swore as the sensation seemed to travel all the way to his cock.
“Want you.” Sylvia’s hands clasped his shoulders hard as she spoke, and he couldn’t wait any longer. He pulled his fingers out and looked up again to watch her as he pushed his cock into her slowly.
Her body was hot and slick and as he moved further inside, the pleasure rolled over him in waves. He leaned over her to catch her lips in a kiss as he went as deep as he was going to get. Sylvia hooked her legs up over his hips, pulling him closer against her, and they quickly fell into a rhythm, moving in counterpoint as they sped up, chasing their orgasms together.
As he shifted to the side, she gasped at the change of angle, and Greg kissed her, swallowing every sound she made. He wanted to drive her crazy, wanted her to come apart under him. He reached down between their bodies to find her clit again. He rubbed it in small circles, fast and hard, and she shouted into his mouth, clutching his shoulders almost painfully. She came with her thighs trembling, her legs falling to the side, and he let go of her to balance himself as he pushed into her again and again until he came inside her before her tremors subsided for good.
Greg rested his head next to hers, and he let himself catch his breath as her fingertips ran back and forth behind his ear, sending the smallest of shivers down his spine, dragging out his afterglow.
He didn't feel like moving ever again.
Chapter Nine
Sylvia didn't feel like moving ever again. Greg was a warm weight on top of her, and her entire body was loose, relaxed. She blinked up at the ceiling with a grin on her face as she ran her fingers gently behind his ear.
They separated only long enough for Greg to dispose of the condom, and then he was back, leaning against her side to pull her into a kiss. Soon, their earlier position was reversed, with him lying against the pillow and her resting half over him. They traded lazy, amazing kisses that were far from perfect in technique, since both of them smiled too hard to make it work properly.
"You're incredible," Greg told her as she lay with her chin on her hand resting on his chest. He brushed his thumb over her cheek and jaw like he had earlier, but then he ran it over her lower lip, too, and she caught it between her teeth. She meant it like a joke, and she released him right after, but she didn't miss the way his eyes widened for a split second. She filled it away for the next time, refusing to consider that they might not get another chance to do this. There was no reason for them not to.
"You're not too bad yourself," she said, smiling.
He chuckled and she could feel it against her body. "Such high praise."
"You don't need to fish for compliments," she teased, relieved they were still comfortable with each other, not awkward and distant now that the afterglow was fading away.
He smirked and lowered his voice as he said, "I'm an actor, honey, I'm made to be complimented on my performance."
Sylvia laughed so hard she had to hide her face between his shoulder and the pillow. It took her a while to calm down, and when she did, Greg was looking down at her with a pleased smile on his face as he lay on his side, head propped on his elbow.
"That was terrible," she said but leaned closer for another kiss.
"You wound me," he whispered against her lips, pulling her in so that their bodies were pressed together again, skin to skin.
Her nipples hardened, and her gaze fell to Greg’s lips. His cock was soft, but she could feel it against her thigh, so close to where she wanted him. When Greg kissed her now, she couldn't help thinking it was exactly like how he’d moved inside her earlier—insistent and deep. She opened up to him the same way she had earlier, too, giving him her all and letting herself be swept off of her feet. She ran her hands over his back, using nails from time to time to make him shiver when she brushed them over the dip of his spine.
After she did it yet again, she found herself flipped on her back, with his face hovering right over hers.
Greg smirked.
"You want to play, we'll play," he told her, pecking her lips before sliding down until he was lying between her spread legs. She didn't even manage to say anything before his fingers were slipping where she was still wet, with his tongue foll
owing suit.
The first lick over her clit made her buck her hips as a jolt of pleasure rushed through her. Greg licked and sucked as she rocked into him, chasing the sensation. She moaned when he pushed two fingers into her, scissoring them inside her and moving them like a counterpoint to his tongue. Since she was still sensitive from before, she came ridiculously fast. She shouted at the intensity of it, gripping the bed cover as she squirmed under him, but Greg kept her down with a tight hold on her hips and worked her through it with teasing licks.
She finally pushed his head away while she was still trembling with aftershocks. He pulled back and made a trip back up her body, slowly this time, as he kissed her stomach, breasts, and neck. When he finally got to her lips, she hummed with pleasure, knowing she was tasting both of them on his tongue as she licked into his mouth. She clamped her hands on his shoulders hard, making him grunt into the kiss. He ran his hand over her side, up and down, and that was when she realized she was still feeling the afterglow tremors right under her skin.
Their kisses slowed down after a while, but they kept touching each other as if they wanted to reassure each other they were there and this was real.
Or maybe it was just her.
Sylvia push that thought away, not wanting to spoil the moment.
"You're staying the night?" she asked when she felt herself getting sleepy. She was comfortable and warm, and Greg’s closeness made something inside of her settle.
Greg pulled back a strand of hair that fell onto her face and smiled gently. "I’d like to. If you're okay with that."
She smiled back and snuggled closer to him before resting her head on his arm. She closed her eyes. "More than okay."
Waking up on Saturday morning to the smell of pancakes was the best way to start the weekend, Sylvia decided. Especially when, after a quick visit to the bathroom and getting some clothes on, she entered the kitchenette to see Greg, dressed in his boxers and undershirt, tossing another pancake onto a heap of them on a large plate.
