by Ann Lister
“I'd like to take off your pants, Sydney,” he said. “Would that be okay?”
She helped him tug off the garment but held her panties in place. He pulled her to him. His hand disappeared into the back of her panties, kneading the flesh. Between them, he felt her hand tentatively moving over his groin, then gently grip his erection through the pants.
The resistance of his zipper gave and Sydney's fingers curled over the waistband of his briefs, her knuckles brushing against him. He slid his hand over her hip and pushed it into the front of her panties. He found the wetness between her legs just as her fingers circled his sex.
They explored each other for long moments, the sexual tension in them reaching fevered pitches, mouths fused. They were close to delirium, completely caught up in the moment and the pleasure. A quiver escaped Sydney's mouth and vibrated inside Ben's. He smiled lazily at her.
“This is another spot you can feel a woman's pulse,” he whispered. “And, you are positively throbbing right now.”
Sydney bit her bottom lip and pressed her pelvis into him. She could feel herself racing toward another orgasm faster than she wanted, but the movement of Ben's fingers felt amazing.
His skin was on fire. The friction he was creating in her hand as his hips gently rocked back and forth in her palm was electric. She began to tremble and her thoughts blurred.
“Baby, if I feel you come, I'm going to lose it, too. I won't be able to hold back,” he said, his voice a low, seductive rumble.
The visual his words created in her mind pushed her over the edge. Her spasms started almost immediately - as did his. Ben closed his eyes, exhaled loudly, and climaxed.
Several seconds passed. Sydney gazed at the tranquility in Ben's face. Finally, his eyes slowly opened and his mouth slid into warm smile.
“You can't say I didn't warn you,” he said.
“I'm not complaining.”
Ben aligned her hips against his again, his face turned serious.
“I would have given anything to be inside you, Sydney,” he said softly.
She touched his face thoughtfully. Her eyes began to mist.
“I know, Ben, but I'm not ready. I hope you can understand.”
“I do - completely. It will give me something to fantasize about.”
“Maybe someday if you're patient, I can make that fantasy a reality for you.”
Ben ran his fingers down the length of her spine and settled them on her bottom, gently rubbing. “I'm a very patient man, Sydney.”
“You may have to be,” she said against his open mouth.
Three loud knocks at her door broke their embrace. Sydney jumped from the bed in a panic and began searching the floor for her discarded pants and shirt.
Ben stood up and laughed. “Relax. I'll go see who it is.”
He peered through the peep-hole in the door and spied Mike standing in the hallway. He smiled to himself and opened the door.
Mike was carrying Sydney's camera equipment in both his hands. As soon as he saw Ben standing in the doorway, shirtless and with his pants half zipped, the smile faded from his face.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Mike asked.
“I should be asking you that question,” Ben said.
“I went back to your bus and got Sydney's camera equipment. I thought she might want it.”
“Yeah. She probably does. I'll make sure she gets it,” Ben said, and took the bags and cases from Mike's hands.
“I'm sure you will,” Mike said.
Ben nodded and shut the door with his foot.
Sydney came from the bathroom buttoning her shirt and followed Ben to the table where he was setting her equipment.
“Mike knows about us?” she asked.
“He's known for weeks that I'm crazy about you. Apparently, I'm pretty transparent with my feelings,” he said, and circled his arms around her waist. “Does it upset you that Mike knows?”
“I'd rather no one knew about us, Ben,” she said, and surveyed the contents of her bags. “It isn't professional for me to be…involved with the people that employ me.”
Ben spun her around to him and kissed the tip of her nose. “It's okay. I promise not to tell your boss.”
“You're impossible,” she said.
Ben sat on the edge of the bed and watched her digging in the bags. “We have a two week break in the tour coming up soon,” he said.
“Yes, I know. I can't wait.”
“Do you already have plans?”
“I'm going back to New York and sleeping,” she said. “How about you? Are you heading to Maryland?”
Ben nodded. “After you get some sleep, would you consider visiting me?”
Sydney turned and faced him. “Visit?”
“Yes, like a vacation - which is something we could both use, and my place is right on the beach.”
“I'm not sure that's a good idea, Ben.”
“You can stay in the guest room, if that's what you're worried about.”
“I'll have to think about it,” she said.
“Consider it and let me know,” he said, reaching for the room phone. “Are you hungry?”
“Hungry for what?” she asked.
“Room service. I'm starved.”
CHAPTER TEN
The next day, Sydney flew with Ben and the band to San Diego for two shows at the outdoor Amphitheater in Chula Vista. All of it was a blur of controlled chaos, but both shows brought rave reviews in the local press. The last show before the break was in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
The one night they had off while in Vegas, Ben took Sydney out on the town, hitting a club called Tao inside the Venetian, Pure at Caesar's Palace, and finished the evening serenading her on stage with an acoustic guitar at the House Of Blues at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. It was nearly dawn, when the limo returned them to the MGM Hotel. Ben ordered them breakfast delivered to his suite, then fell asleep in his bed, with Sydney resting soundly on his chest.
When the tour went on break, most of the guys and crew stayed on a few extra days at the hotel for a little R & R and Sydney took a red-eye flight back to New York. Before she left, she promised Ben she'd meet him in Maryland before the end of the week.
Four days later, Sydney pulled her rental car into the driveway at Ben's beach front home. Before she had a chance to get out of the car, her cell phone was ringing.
“Sydney, it's Carol. Why aren't you answering your apartment door?”
Sydney laughed. “Because I'm not there.”
“Where are you?”
“Maryland.”
“What the hell is in Maryland?”
Sydney paused before answering and smiled. “Ben.”
“Oh, no!”
“Carol, don't start. He makes me really happy and that's all that matters.”
“I take it, your ‘feelings’ developed into something more?”
“I took your advice and told him everything,” she said. “His response and his actions since have been heartwarming. He's very special.”
“You're in love.”
Sydney's eyes began to fill with tears. “I believe I am,” she said.
Carol sighed loudly. “Be careful.”
“Always.”
Sydney placed her phone into her backpack and sat for a moment in the car trying to collect her thoughts before she went to find Ben. She was nervous to be spending so much uninterrupted time alone with him. She wondered what would come of it, how she would feel about him when it was time to go back to work. If nothing else, their time together would either bring them closer or drive them apart.
She stepped from the car and took the wooden planked pathway around the side of the house that led toward the beach. She pulled her suitcase along behind her, making a clacking sound as she went.
The house was exactly how he had described it, a two story contemporary style home with the front almost completely made of glass. It was nestled between sand dunes, with steps leading to the beach fro
m a large wrap-around deck. Two more smaller, private decks protruded from the second floor.
Sydney left her bags on the deck and walked to the railing overlooking the beach. The sun was shining brightly in an almost cloudless sky. Sea gulls flew over the dunes and water's edge looking for their next meal. The sand stretched out several hundred feet toward the ocean and was empty, except for Ben.
He was sitting down facing the water, wearing nothing more than a pair of faded shorts, his back already very tanned from the sun. Her heart began to beat faster at the sight of him.
She slipped out of her sandals and left them on the deck, then took the steps down to the beach. With each step, her nervousness grew. Several times she had to wipe the dampness of her palms onto her short denim skirt.
“I finally made it,” she said, standing beside him.
Ben's head turned quickly at the sound of her voice, a brilliant smile lighting his face. He stood up and embraced her tightly.
“These last four days have been hell without you,” he said.
She bent against him and accepted the kiss he offered.
“You look amazing in that skirt, baby,” he said. His eyes twinkled with mischief. “Makes me want to…”
Sydney playfully pushed him away with her hand. “Stay focused, Ben. Why don't you show me the house.”
“I guess I could do that,” he said. He took her hand and led her toward the structure.
“I would have been happy to pick you up at the airport,” he said.
“I know, but I like to drive. Living in the city doesn't give me much of a chance to get behind the wheel.”
Ben grabbed her suitcase and slid open the glass doors, then stepped inside his house. The first detail Sydney noticed was all the natural light flooding the living space. The soft cream shades, off-whites, and pale neutral tones of the walls, furniture and flooring enhanced the brightness of the interior.
The kitchen was on the right and an informal eating area on the left. Beyond that was an expansive living room with a cathedral ceiling and a two-story stone fireplace on one end of the room. A short hallway off the living room led to a room that Ben was using as an office.
He led her up the stairs and across a catwalk that allowed you to look down into the living room or kitchen area. He turned a corner and stepped into a bedroom done in shades of pale yellow, soft pink, and mint green and set down her bags.
“This is the guest room,” he said. He moved across the soft carpet toward a glass sliding door and opened it to the private deck. “You're welcome to stay in here,” he said, and turned to face her. “The bathroom is in there.”
“This house is absolutely gorgeous,” Sydney sighed. “I don't know how you can stand to leave it.”
“It gets more difficult with each passing year.”
“I love all the natural light,” she said.
He took her hand again and led her back across the catwalk. “I want to show you my room.”
Ben's bedroom was twice the size of the guest suite. The walls were muted gray with white trim boards and carpeting in a darker shade of gray. The side that faced the ocean was almost all glass with a door that slid open to another private deck. His bed was huge with a thick cotton comforter colored in thin stripes of navy blue, red and white. Six pillows created the head board. In a corner of the room, several guitars sat in stands with a plush chair beside them. The master bath was massive on its own with a separate shower and whirlpool tub.
Sydney released an audible sigh, as she walked across the room and stepped out onto his deck. “I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this.”
“I'm glad you like it,” he said, standing beside her at the railing.
“What's not to like? The view is breathtaking.” Her eyes scanned the vastness of the horizon.
“The sunrise here is amazing,” he said.
Sydney glanced at him and laughed. “You expect me to believe you're up early enough to see the sun rise?”
“Actually, its more like I haven't gone to bed yet when the sun is rising.”
“That sounds more believable. The parties you have here must be outrageous.”
“No parties here, Sydney. This place is my private retreat. Only my family knows I own it and that's the way I like it.”
He came up behind her and circled her waist, crossing his hands across her lower belly, then nuzzled against her neck. “I'm really glad you're here,” he said, kissing the skin below her ear. His fingers worked at the front button of her skirt and pulled down the zipper.
“Why don't you put on your bathing suit,” he asked, and pushed the skirt below her hips.
Sydney turned and faced him, his mouth quickly covered hers. His hands pressed her against his expanding groin, his fingers slid into the back of her panties.
“Ben, if you keep this up, we won't ever see the beach.”
Ben sighed loudly into her mouth. “I see your point, but damn! Your mouth is sweet.”
Sydney touched his face and smiled, then bent to pick up her skirt. “I'll be right back.”
“I'll wait for you downstairs.”
Several minutes later, Sydney made her way down the stairs wearing a bikini top and a pair of faded jean shorts. She was carrying a camera and a tripod. Ben was waiting on the deck.
“I thought this was supposed to be a vacation,” Ben said. His eyes were glued to the gentle bounce of her breasts.
“It is.”
“Then, why are you carrying camera equipment?”
“I want to scout out some locations to shoot the sunrise,” she said. “Come on. I noticed a few spots on my way out here that have potential.”
“You're serious?”
“Why not?”
“Okay, fine, but how about I show you my darkroom first,” he said.
He tugged, her toward a set of stairs leading to the basement of the house. At the bottom of the stairs and to the right was a laundry room. A separate room to the left contained his photography studio with an attached dark room. Ben opened the door and switched on the lights. The room was neat and orderly with work tables around the perimeter covered with equipment and several cameras. Another table in the center of the room had dozens of photographs spread across the top.
Sydney smiled at the sight of all the equipment. “You really do have a darkroom?”
Ben laughed. “Did you really think I was making that up?”
“Honestly yes, I did.”
“It's very real, Syd. I had Charlie Nichols design and install it a couple of years ago, just like I told you. I'm still learning how to use all the equipment though, but that might have to wait until after I retire from the band. I rarely have any time to work down here.”
Sydney stood beside the table with the photographs and started examining Ben's work. Most were black and white shots taken of the local wildlife and the surrounding beach landscapes. All were nicely framed with excellent use of available natural lighting. He had a good eye for composition and a styling all his own. She picked-up a photograph of a fisherman standing at the end of his boat, hauling in the netting. This shot was taken using color film and vibrant colors of red and blues exploded on the paper.
“Ben, these are really good.”
“You think so?”
“I've seen professionals that can't frame a shot to save their lives and you've managed that and a lot more. I love your style.”
“Maybe you could give me a few pointers while you're here. I'd especially like to hear the secret behind your black and white techniques.”
“You want me to give you pointers?”
“Why not? You're the professional - certainly not me.”
Sydney set the photograph back on the table and turned to him.
“Okay, I'll teach you everything I know,” she said. “Your first lesson starts tomorrow morning. We'll be shooting black and white composition of the sunrise.”
Sydney drifted from the room and went back upstairs. “And maybe if you're
an attentive student, I'll even show you how to develop our shots,” she said.
Ben saluted Sydney and followed her outside to her rental car and sat in the passenger seat. They drove down the road a short distance, then Sydney pulled the car onto the soft shoulder of the road and parked.
“Grab my camera,” she said to Ben, then collected an over-sized beach towel and a tripod from the back seat.
Ben stood quietly in the sand and watched her get to work. She carefully spread out the towel and set-up her tripod, then squatted beside it. His eyes scanned her backside. He studied the delicate muscle structure beneath her skin, the subtle flare of her hips and then his eyes settled on the tattoo inked just above the crack of her bottom.
“Ben, can I have my camera?” she asked.
He jumped at the sound of his name and handed her the camera. She attached it to the tripod and made several adjustments to the settings before she was satisfied and quickly snapped off a succession of pictures.
“Sit with me,” she said, and made a few more adjustments to the location of her tripod.
He knelt beside her, careful not to get in her way.
“Take a look,” she said, and moved away from the viewfinder of her camera.
Ben slid behind the camera and peered through the tiny opening.
“Look beyond the beach grass,” she said. “What do you see across the inlet with the sailboats?”
Ben squinted and focused his eye. “A lighthouse.”
“That whole scene will look amazing tomorrow morning when the sun rises and hits the masts of the sailboats. It will look like a Monet painting.”
He looked at her and tipped his head. “Are you really serious about getting up to see the sun rise?”
Sydney moved behind her camera again, laying flat on her stomach, and leaning on her elbows. “Maybe I won't bother going to sleep?” she said, and took a few more snapshots.
“I like the sound of that much better,” he said, and laid beside her.
His hand went to the small of her back. His lips found her bare shoulder. He kissed her skin softly, then rubbed his cheek against it, reveling in the smoothness. “Your skin is so hot, Sydney,” he sighed, dragging his tongue across her shoulder blade, then slowly inching down the length of her spine. When his mouth reached her tattoo he began kissing circles around it.
