THE REST OF the week progressed relatively quietly. Alex was waiting each evening when Sydney returned home from work and they would spend the evenings cuddling on the sofa in front of the television or fireplace, then retire to the master bedroom together. She knew Sydney worked hard not to allow either of their libidos to override her caution due to Alex’s injuries. Alex thought she was being too cautious, and their lack of intimacy became a source of frustrating humor between them on almost a nightly basis.
One afternoon Alex found a photo album on a shelf of the entertainment center and pulled it out. They spent some time together that evening turning through the pages of photos together. Sydney pointed out her now deceased parents and their Midwestern home, as well as photos of her and her sister growing up. They soon came across a couple of family photos that included a young man. In many he had his arm around Sydney. Alex simply pointed to him in one of the photos and looked at Sydney. She raised her eyebrows in a questioning expression.
Sydney nodded slowly. “Richard Morrison,” she said. “We were engaged for a while, up until a couple years ago.”
Alex’s heart skipped momentarily and she silently told herself to relax. The relationship had ended a long time ago.
“Engaged?” she said. “Really? So you were almost a Mrs. Richard Morrison?”
“Yeah. Well, no, not really.” Sydney hesitated. “It was never going to work. He seemed like a good guy, and for a while I thought it could work. But he was a little controlling and not entirely supportive of my hopes and aspirations.” Alex had the distinct feeling Sydney was minimizing some of the facts, but didn’t interrupt as Sydney continued.
“I finally figured out it just wasn’t right and I couldn’t go through with it,” Sydney said. “I guess now I know why, huh?” Sydney smiled and looked into Alex’s eyes, then leaned over and kissed her. Alex let her trepidation fade away and returned Sydney’s kiss, then they moved on with the photographs.
When they finished looking through the photo album Alex asked a difficult question as Sydney got up to put the album back on the shelf of the entertainment center.
“What’s your sister going to think about you and...women?”
Sydney once again paused before answering. She straightened the various albums on the shelf as she seemed deep in thought.
“I’m really not sure,” she finally said. “I hope she’s okay with it. She’s the only family I have. I guess we’ll find out eventually, won’t we?”
Alex nodded in response, then her mind returned to something she’d been contemplating over the past couple of days. She reached down inside herself and tried to develop the courage to say what she wanted to.
“What?” Sydney asked, coming to a standstill in front of Alex, apparently sensing there was something hanging between them.
Alex reached out with her hand, indicating that Sydney should come closer and take a seat. She gently pulled Sydney to sit on the couch beside her.
“I want to tell you something. And I don’t want you to feel like you have to even respond. It’s just something I want you to know. Especially if you’re even thinking about talking to your sister, about us, or maybe just about you. You deserve to know how I feel.” Sydney nodded and Alex plunged ahead.
“Syd, I have no interest in dating anyone else. I haven’t had any interest since you and I...well, since our first date. I don’t want you to feel pressured at all, but I have no intention of seeing or being with anyone.” She looked up into the eyes of the woman sitting beside her and felt Sydney’s hand come to rest against her cheek. She drove on with her thoughts.
“I think our relationship is moving to the next level, at least for me. I mean, I don’t spend repeated nights at just any woman’s house. That’s something that people who are in a relationship do.”
“In a relationship?”
“Yeah,” Alex said. “You know. Like a step beyond just dating.”
“So you think we’ve gone a step beyond dating?”
“Well, yeah. Don’t you?”
Sydney smiled. “Alex, I feel the same way. I want to be with you, and you exclusively.”
Alex smiled when she heard this statement, then figured she’s make it formal.
“Well, in that case,” she took Sydney’s hand in hers. “Sydney Rutledge, will you be my girlfriend?”
Sydney smiled and leaned in and kissed Alex. “Yes, Sergeant Chambers, you better believe I’d like to be your girlfriend.” She kissed Alex again, then added. “And if Regina or that little law clerk even look at you wrong, from this point on, they answer to me.”
THURSDAY EVENING CAME and Sydney and Alex retired once again to the sofa in the den. Alex sat at the end of the sofa, leaning back and partially reclining against several pillows arranged against the corner and armrest. She sat with one leg extended along the length of the sofa and the other leg hanging over the edge.
“Come here,” she said when Sydney moved toward the other end of the couch. Alex patted the cushion, indicating to Sydney that she should have a seat on the sofa between her legs. Sydney sat down and Alex drew her backwards to recline against her chest. Sydney initially hesitated.
“What about your side?” she said as she sat but resisted leaning back against Alex.
“Don’t worry about that,” Alex said. “I’m good.” She put her arms around Sydney and pulled her into her. “And getting better,” she added with a smile.
They sat together just watching the fire for a while, Sydney leaning back with her neck and throat exposed as she reclined with her eyes closed. Alex gently brushed Sydney’s hair from her neck and then kissed the tender area. She continued kissing Sydney’s neck and worked the kisses down to the base of her neck, gradually moving the loose fitting blouse aside.
Sydney smiled and leaned her head back farther, allowing Alex greater access. Alex gently turned Sydney’s head, granting her access to her lips. Sydney reached up and cupped her cheek as they met in a passionate kiss. Lips parted and tongues met. Alex allowed her hand to drift to Sydney’s chest, coming to rest lightly on her breast.
She massaged Sydney’s breast through her blouse, feeling her nipple immediately respond. She moved her hand lower and slowly pulled the bottom of the blouse from Sydney’s waistband. She began to release one button at a time, opening the garment from the bottom up.
Alex was pleasantly surprised when Sydney brushed her slow moving hands aside and began rapidly unbuttoning her blouse from the top down as the kissing continued, now more intense, more demanding. When their hands met in the middle, freeing the last button, Sydney covered Alex’s hand with her own and moved it beneath the material. She pressed Alex’s hand against her breast and Alex heard as well as felt Sydney’s quiet moan of pleasure.
Alex’s body responded and her hand seemed to move downward on its own and she deftly dealt with a second article of clothing that stood in her way.
Alex moved her kisses down Sydney’s chin to her neck and felt Sydney’s quickened heart rate as her lips caressed the skin covering her pulse point. Her heart sang as she was once again able to bring such pleasure to her lover’s body.
Moments later Sydney collapsed against her as the final ripples of orgasm faded away. Alex wrapped her arm around Sydney and pulled her close, her head rested against Alex’s chest and shoulder. Sydney lay there with her eyes closed as her breathing gradually returned to normal.
Alex was spent, yet exhilarated. She leaned her cheek against the top of Sydney’s head as she recovered, her heart rate gradually slowing. Alex knew she’d been close to orgasm herself simply from the sight and feel of her lover. She soon felt Sydney’s fingers stroking her arm and Sydney’s lips caressing her neck.
“Are you proud of yourself, Sergeant Chambers?” Sydney asked quietly. “Because you should be,” she added with a smile. Alex smiled back at her.
“You inspire me,” Alex said. “Sometimes I just can’t keep my hands off you.” She leaned down, intending to deliver only a flee
ting tender kiss.
Sydney met the kiss with greater passion and their lips lingered. She turned within Alex’s arms, as she maneuvered to face Alex.
It was now Alex’s turn to moan. Sydney pulled away from the kiss with a sultry smile on her face and looked deep into Alex’s eyes.
“I want to touch you,” she said, then leaned down and kissed Alex once again. “I’ll be careful.” Sydney moved her lips farther down Alex’s neck. “But I want to touch you everywhere.” She stopped and looked at Alex again and Alex found herself unable to speak. She could only nod in response. “Good.” Sydney rose to her knees on the cushion, kneeling between Alex’s legs. Without hesitation she grasped the bottom of Alex’s t-shirt.
“Let’s take this off.”
Alex sat forward and allowed Sydney to pull the shirt over her head. She wore no bra and Sydney smiled as she dropped Alex’s shirt to the floor.
“Now lay back and relax,” Sydney said and guided Alex back to partially recline against the pillows at the end of the sofa.
Sydney’s still unbuttoned blouse allowed the exposed skin of their stomachs to come in contact. Alex couldn’t keep her hands from responding and she tried to reach under the blouse with both hands. Sydney pushed up to a kneeling position, just out of Alex’s reach. She slowly let the blouse drop from her shoulders and join the t-shirt on the floor beside the sofa. She reached back to unclasp her bra and that too dropped away. Alex reached up for Sydney’s now fully exposed breasts but Sydney stopped her.
“No way,” Sydney said with tender forcefulness. She took each of Alex’s hands and pushed them down to the pillow on either side of Alex’s head.
“It’s my turn now. I’m going to make sure you realize you belong to me.” She kissed Alex again. “Make sure you have no doubt in your mind.”
Sydney again brought her lower body into contact with Alex, this time allowing her hip to grind a certain very sensitive area.
This brought an audible gasp to Alex’s lips and her shoulders and arms tensed, her fists clenched against the pillow. Alex pushed her hips up to meet her, to force greater contact, but then gasped in pain.
Sydney stopped immediately and pushed up, looking into Alex’s face.
“Alex? Are you okay? Should I—”
“Don’t stop! For Christ’s sake, don’t stop!” Frustrated arousal was written all over Alex’s face. “I just have to let you...please...don’t stop.”
Sydney nodded then lowered herself to kiss Alex’s lips once again. “Tell me if anything hurts.” She kissed Alex’s neck. “Don’t move. Just let me do all the work.”
Alex’s breathing quickened and she moaned in pleasure as Sydney’s lips ventured over her body. She was vaguely aware of Sydney removing her remaining clothes, then nothing existed for her except the amazing sensations being created by her lover.
Later, she felt Sydney move and Alex opened her eyes to watch her pull a light blanket from the back of the sofa and draped it over the two of them. They lay together after their lovemaking, with Sydney resting partially atop Alex, her cheek lying against Alex’s chest.
Alex rested against the pillows with her eyes closed, comfortable in the silence and the close contact she had with Sydney. She felt Sydney’s hand rest gently against her cheek.
“Hey, are you all right?”
Alex grinned and opened her eyes.
“All right? I can assure you, I’m much better than all right.” Alex raised her head to kiss Sydney. “You’re amazing,” she said, stroking Sydney’s bare back beneath the blanket.
“We should head for bed,” Sydney said. “I think you’ve had enough activity for the day.”
Alex examined Sydney’s clothing, hanging off her in disarray providing clear evidence of their recent lovemaking, and couldn’t disguise her small smile of satisfaction. This was not lost on Sydney, who pulled Alex to her feet.
“Come on, stud. Off to bed with you.” She gathered their discarded apparel and led the way up the spiral stairs to the bedroom above.
Moments later Alex was dressed in her boxers and an oversized t-shirt, her standard sleeping attire, and was lying in bed awaiting Sydney. When Sydney came out of the bathroom and approached the bed, Alex couldn’t help but admire her lover’s body, which was by then covered by an old worn t-shirt of Alex’s. When Sydney joined her Alex pulled their bodies together.
“You look delicious in a t-shirt,” she said as she began to nuzzle Sydney’s neck. “But you look more delicious without it.”
Sydney laughed and pushed Alex away.
“Sergeant Chambers,” she said. “You’re incorrigible. Remember I have to work tomorrow. Besides,” she continued, “you need to conserve your energy. You’re still healing.”
Sydney rolled over, putting her back to Alex as Alex muttered in mock frustration, “I don’t know, I thought I did pretty damn well for an invalid.”
Sydney giggled and reached behind her and took Alex’s hand, pulling her over to enfold Sydney in a spooning position. She kissed the palm of Alex’s hand then held it around her, tucked to her stomach.
“Yes, Sergeant. You did pretty damn well.”
They were both fast asleep in each other’s arms within minutes.
THEY AWOKE THE next morning and lay in one another’s arms for several minutes. Alex finally spoke the words she’d been thinking for a couple days.
“You know,” she said. “As wonderful as all this has been, I think I’m healthy enough to be on my own again.” She glanced down at Sydney to measure her reaction. “I don’t need to be a burden on you anymore.”
Sydney’s head came up sharply.
“You haven’t been a burden,” she said. “I understand if you feel well enough to go home, but you haven’t been a burden. It’s been nice having you here.”
“Nice?” Alex asked, a mischievous smile on her face. Her hand drifted lower to gently squeeze Sydney’s derrière.
Sydney matched the smile. “Yes, nice.” She leaned up and kissed Alex. “Enjoyable. Stimulating. You know, nice.”
“Well, I’d like to show my appreciation for your hospitality,” Alex said, her hand moving to massage Sydney’s back once again. “Let me take you away for the weekend?”
“Sounds enticing. What did you have in mind?”
“Well, I know we’ve talked about the mountains. Maybe Big Bear or Arrowhead? Running Springs?” Alex said. “Somewhere with snow, fireplaces, candlelit dinners?” She could tell from Sydney’s expression she liked the idea.
“We can head up as soon as you can get out of work today,” she continued. “Maybe you can pack a few things before you head downtown. I’ll drive home and pack some stuff and wait for you there and we’ll head out from my place in the afternoon. Does that sound the slightest bit enticing?”
“Absolutely enticing,” Sydney said. “But are you sure you’re okay to drive?” she asked.
“Uh, you do remember last night? We...I mean...” Alex laughed quietly. “Yeah, I think I can make a twenty-minute drive home on my own. We’ll figure the rest of it out from there.”
Sydney buried her face in Alex’s neck and giggled as well. “Yeah, okay,” she said, kissing Alex’s jaw. “I guess you’ve proven you’ve got enough energy for a quick twenty minute drive.” She worked her way to Alex’s lips, pressing a lingering kiss there, then pulling away and looking once again into Alex’s eyes. “I have something to ask you, too.” Alex raised her eyebrows in query.
“If I were to clear a drawer or two for you, and maybe some room in the closet, and make some room in the bathroom, would you use it?”
Alex was shocked for a moment as she thought about what such an action meant. “You mean keep some stuff here? Are you sure that’s what you want? I mean, are you comfortable with that?” she asked.
Sydney leaned in and kissed her once again, then nodded. “Yes,” she said. “I’m absolutely sure.”
Alex hesitated for a moment, knowing this was the first step to a really seri
ous commitment. She had fled from Regina over the “move in” conversation and that had been after almost a year of a dedicated relationship. So why was she not running now? Why did this feel different?
“Yes,” Alex finally said. “I’d like that.”
Sydney displayed a mischievous smile. “Good, since I already put your clean clothes and toiletries away yesterday afternoon.”
“Really? Just a little presumptive, aren’t you?” Alex replied with a smile as Sydney climbed out of bed. “Am I really that easy?”
“A girl can hope, can’t she?” Sydney said. “Why don’t you go back to sleep for a while and I’ll see you at your house this afternoon.” She leaned down and kissed Alex then retired into the bathroom.
About thirty minutes later Alex was nodding off when Sydney gave her a tender kiss goodbye. She awoke again on her own a couple hours later and finally got out of bed. She smiled when she went into the bathroom to shower and discovered her small collection of toiletries carefully placed amongst Sydney’s and her few items of clothing carefully folded in a drawer. It was a virtually empty duffle bag she carried with her downstairs to the kitchen.
There she found a second, equally pleasant, surprise waiting for her. Sitting on the counter with her keys was a single key, obviously to Sydney’s front door, and a garage remote. A note in Sydney’s handwriting read:
Alex—this way you can come and go as you please.Your truck is in the garage. Can’t wait to see you this afternoon. Drive home safely. XOXO Syd.
Alex smiled as she hooked the new key onto her keychain, tucked the note in her pocket, picked up the remote and headed out the door. She managed to convince the doctor’s office to fit her in for a last minute appointment then headed home to research and make reservations for the weekend getaway, and pack. Her heart skipped a beat when the knock came at the door in the early afternoon.
Chapter Twenty-one
SYDNEY RUSHED THROUGH the day in hopes of escaping as early as possible. She had two preliminary hearings that were fortunately heard before lunch, then met with detectives handling another upcoming high profile case being prepared for jury trial. She worked through lunch on some related issues and was heading northbound up the 110 Freeway by two p.m., arriving at Alex’s house shortly afterwards.
White Roses Calling Page 30
