by Alexa Aston
Dash flashed his sexy trademark smile and lowered his head again. His tongue replaced his fingers, moving in and out, causing her to jerk. His hands gripped her hips to anchor her. He delved deeper, driving her to the point of madness. She heard herself saying, “Yes. There. There. Oh, right there. Yes. Yes. Yes!”
Suddenly, violent tremors possessed her as he continued to pleasure her. The little cries she heard sounded as if they came from someone else because she’d never made noises like this in her life. Gradually, the orgasm slowed, leaving her sated and weak.
Dash worked his way back up her body until he was kissing her mouth again. The weakness fled as Sydney felt recharged in an instant. His kisses grew more insistent and she matched him in passion, feeling sexy and powerful for the first time.
He pulled away from her and leaned over the edge of the bed. She watched as he retrieved his shorts and fished out his wallet from the pocket. He removed a small foil packet and tossed the wallet onto her nightstand. She hadn’t even thought about contraception and was glad he’d had the ability to do so. Her brain was mush at this point. He placed the condom on and turned back, giving her a slow, heady kiss. Sydney gave in to the kiss, pushing aside any doubts.
Then he was in her, filling her, moving slowly. She arched against him and clasped her arms around him. Their dance began gradually and built. Her hips rose and fell as his hands glided through her hair. His mouth never left hers as the pace increased. Then she was flying, out of control, like riding a merry-go-round in fast-forward. Higher, longer, deeper, rising.
She heard a muffled scream of pleasure and it hit her—it came from her. Never had she felt so wild and free. Dash came as she did. Sydney clung to him, her nails digging into his back. Then he collapsed on her, spent. He quickly rolled to his side, carrying her with him.
She faced him as he panted, mirroring her own ragged breathing. He laid a palm against her face.
“You are amazing,” he said softly and kissed her gently. His forehead came to rest against hers. His arm went around her and drew her to him.
No one had ever told her that. Then again, no one had ever made her feel what she’d just felt. Craig’s lovemaking had been solid and perfunctory. Wake’s was brief foreplay where she stimulated him, followed by what she’d come to term the two-minute drill. It was over before it got started and Wake never wanted to cuddle after.
Yet right now, in the arms of a man she barely knew, Sydney felt cherished.
Everything about what Dash did tonight had been different. He’d cared for her pleasure before his. He made her an equal partner. And he held her now as if she were a priceless treasure.
A tear escaped. This stranger had done more for her than either of her two husbands.
“What’s wrong?” Dash asked. His thumb stroked her cheek, wiping the tear away.
“Nothing,” she said, meaning it. “You were perfect.”
“No, you were perfect. Seriously.” He moved closer to her and brought his other arm around her. Her cheek rested against his chest.
Sydney knew total contentment. She closed her eyes.
◆◆◆
Dash opened his eyes. He must have dozed off. He glanced at the clock. It was just after one in the morning. He looked down at the warm, sleeping woman in his arms. Her auburn hair spilled across his arm and chest. He lifted a silky lock and rubbed it between his fingers.
He’d felt a rollercoaster of emotions as he’d made love to Sydney. Physically, it had been phenomenal but he’d also felt emotionally tied to her. Drawn to her. Connected in a way he couldn’t explain. Sex had always been sex to him. He’d had great partners. Skilled partners. He walked away satisfied more often than not.
Yet tonight, with Sydney, had been so much more than anything that had come before it. It was as if he were a jigsaw puzzle—and Sydney had been the final, missing piece. The essential piece that completed him.
That scared the shit out of Dash.
He wasn’t looking for permanent. He was only twenty-nine. Talented. Famous. He could have any woman he wanted with a crook of his finger.
Looking at Sydney, he didn’t want any woman. He only desired one woman, the one slumbering in his arms.
He wouldn’t think about the L-word. No way. He pushed it into a far recess in his mind. Dash knew he needed to spend more time with Sydney. See where this might take them.
His car. He’d left it at Rhett’s.
He unwrapped his arms from Sydney and eased away from her. She stirred. He reached over and clicked off the light which was shining on her face, hoping she wouldn’t awaken.
She rubbed her eyes sleepily and then looked at him.
“Are you leaving?” Her tone sounded resigned, as if she were disappointed to catch him sneaking off.
“No. Well, for a few minutes. I left my car at Rhett’s. I thought I’d move it here.”
“Why?” She pushed herself up on one elbow.
“I don’t want Rhett and Cassie waking up in the morning and finding my car in their driveway. I don’t want them to know I spent the night here.”
“Oh.” Dash heard the hurt in her voice. He needed to correct that immediately.
He brushed her hair back from her face and kissed her. “I know this sounds crazy but I feel protective of you.”
She smiled lazily. “So you don’t want the Corrigans to think I’m easy? That Mr. One-Night Stand Dash DeLauria had his way with me?”
“Yes. No. I mean . . . I don’t know what I mean.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Yes, I have a certain reputation where women are concerned. If I’d spent the night with anyone else, I don’t think I’d care what the Corrigans thought. This sounds really crazy. I only met them yesterday. I train with Leo. He invited me along on this he-man marathon training session that he was putting some of his other clients through.”
Dash took her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. “I like Rhett. A lot. Cassie, too. And Ken and Melanie. Hanging with them—and you—last night, was like being around normal people. Not Hollywood types. I’d like to be friends with those guys. They’re both stand-up guys.”
He brought their joined hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “And I know they like you. Who wouldn’t? So, I want them to have a good opinion of me. I’m more than what the tabloids say I am, Sydney. Both in my personal life and in my acting. I want to impress them. Impress you. I said I feel protective of you and that means your reputation, too. Which means going to get my car.”
She gave him an enigmatic look. “I get that. I like all of them, too. I’m sorely lacking in the friend department.” She pulled their hands toward her and kissed the back of his. “And I like you. I like that you’re watching out for me.”
“Then maybe we need to watch out for each other.”
Without meaning to, he was kissing her again. Desire flickered in him quickly. Sydney was a stunning woman but her inner beauty was a bigger turn on than he could’ve realized. His hands stroked up and down her body, her satin skin warm to the touch. It hit him that he didn’t have another condom. He never left the house without one. He’d been a Boy Scout and always believed in being prepared. He only had the one, though, and that was long used.
He discovered it didn’t matter. He was interested in her pleasure, not his own. He let his hands and mouth do the talking and brought her to a climax that had her bucking on the bed like a wild bronco in a rodeo. She finally quieted. Moonlight shone over her naked, exhausted body.
Dash kissed her forehead and pulled the sheet over her. “I’ll be back,” he promised.
He slipped into his shorts and shirt. His shoes were still in his car so he’d have to jog barefoot back to Rhett’s. He eased the front door open, happy to see she’d at least locked it. Within five minutes, he arrived at his car. He dug his keys from his pocket and drove his convertible back to Sydney’s place.
As he got out, he realized that he hadn’t called Herc to wish him goodnight. Dash always called Herc, no matter
where he was. Even out of the country filming, he always made the effort. He hadn’t last night. That’s how wrapped up he’d been in Sydney Revere. Regret washed over him. He didn’t like to let Herc down. Their parents had done enough of that. He’d have to make it up to his brother today.
He entered the Revere beach house as quietly as he could and re-locked the front door. He checked the back door. Still unlocked. Passion had clouded his head as he’d brought Sydney into the house. He locked it. He wasn’t kidding when he warned her. All kind of nut jobs were out there. Locking doors was important. Suddenly thirsty, Dash wandered into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. He downed it and refilled it, this time sipping more slowly.
As he drank it, he came back into the living room. He went to turn off the light before he crawled back into bed with Sydney and stopped. Curious, he flipped open the binder sitting on the table.
It was the storyboard for No Regrets.
CHAPTER 9
Sydney yawned and stretched. Her hand shot out behind her to feel for Dash since he was no longer pressed against her back. When she didn’t find him, she rolled over.
The other side of the bed was empty. She ran a hand along the mattress. Cold to the touch.
He hadn’t come back. He’d lied to her.
Disappointment flooded her. Maybe lied was too strong a word. Sure, he said he was coming back, but maybe when he got in his car, he had second thoughts. Or he had actually come back and left again. He might be one of those guys who never stays the night with a woman. She rolled over and glanced at the clock. A little after five. She’d never get back to sleep.
Sydney drew the sheet around her, deciding to think about last night before she jumped out of bed. Dash DeLauria was incredible, all lean, sleek muscles and a fabulous kisser. He was a considerate lover, giving way more than he took. She’d been hungry for him in ways she didn’t know existed. It was as if he could read her mind because he gave her everything she could have wanted—and more. She had to remember, though, Dash was a player. A Hollywood flirt. He could have any woman and did. He changed bed partners more often than she changed her sheets so she shouldn’t feel down about him leaving after bring her to orgasm multiple times.
She doubted what had happened last night between them would be repeated. As a rising Hollywood star, he wasn’t looking for anything permanent. She was too damaged to give it to him even if he did want more. She hoped it wouldn’t be awkward between them when he came in to audition tomorrow morning. Sydney would give him a warm smile but, other than that, she would treat him as any other actor reading for the role.
In her heart, though, she knew Dash would win the job with ease. She assumed that would be one of many things she’d talk about with Cassie when they drove back to LA later today. She wouldn’t say anything to her dad. She’d let Dash’s audition speak for itself.
Sydney ran a hand lightly over her stomach, already wishing for Dash’s touch again. She brought her fingertips to her lips and found them still swollen from their lovemaking. She lay in bed for a few more minutes, replaying moments from last night. Though she was simply another name added to the long list of Dash DeLauria’s conquests, she didn’t regret it. He had made her feel alluring and sexy for the first time in her twenty-nine years. Now that she knew she had it in her, it gave her a newfound confidence, despite the fact that she had little sexual experience. Neither husband had demanded sex very often. With the backbreaking hours she put in at her law office, she dragged home bone-weary, sex being the last thing on her mind. In fact, she couldn’t imagine any of her co-workers having a satisfactory sex life. The law drained every bit of energy from them.
She thought about what she wanted to do with her life. She’d enjoyed storyboarding this movie and wouldn’t mind doing it for another movie. Casting for the roles in No Regrets wouldn’t take more than a couple of weeks, if that. Then her part in the film would be done.
So, what was next? The endless possibilities excited—and frightened—her at the same time. She had plenty of money in the bank. Long hours left her little time to spend the generous salary she’d earned as an attorney, much less what Craig had left her. Maybe now was the time to start her first novel.
With that in mind, she threw back the covers. She used the restroom and splashed cold water on her face before running a brush through her hair. Coffee was next on her agenda. Once she got some caffeine in her, she’d play around with a few of the ideas she’d come up with on the plane and see if any of them might be worth pursuing.
Sydney threw on a short floral robe that her mom had loved. Her hand skimmed her arm, feeling the silky texture She only wished she could inhale her mother’s scent again on it. Monica Revere had always worn Shalimar, drawn to its heady vanilla perfume. Sydney still wore the same fragrance as her signature scent but it interacted differently with her skin.
She shuffled down the hallway and froze when she reached the entrance to the living room.
Dash was still here.
Her heart did a double time beat. He looked so ruggedly handsome, with morning stubble and rumpled hair lending to his sexy vibe. She longed to run her fingers through it. His brow was creased in concentration. What could he possibly be focusing on at five in the morning? Then she saw what he had in his hands.
Her storyboards for No Regrets.
Hurt and betrayal enveloped her. It was as if she’d taken a physical punch to her gut.
Sydney padded silently into the room and stopped a few feet from him.
“I see you got what you came for.”
Dash looked up, startled. He glanced down at the notebook in his hands and closed it. He raised guilty eyes to hers.
“It’s not what you think, Sydney. I can explain.”
Her invisible armor came up, creating a force field around her that nothing could penetrate. She’d had a lifetime of practice calling it into play. She wouldn’t get angry. She didn’t want him to think she cared that much.
She would call this asshole out for invading her privacy. For shamelessly using her to further his own career.
“No explanation needed, Dash. You did your usual thing. Slam, bam, thank you, ma’am—only this time you had a bigger payoff at the end. I should’ve known you wouldn’t have been interested in someone like me.”
He shot her a wounded look, as if he were the injured party. “That’s not true and you know it.”
“Do I?” she asked evenly. “I don’t know you. All I know about you is that you love ‘em and leave ‘em. Well, you had your jollies with me last night. I’ll admit that you know what you’re doing. That was the best sex I’ve ever had. You know all the right buttons to punch. Good for you. If I would’ve known the price I was paying for having your undivided attention would be for you to access my storyboards, I would’ve passed. Fast. I’m sorry I couldn’t make it easier for you and left the script out, as well.”
“It wasn’t just sex,” Dash insisted. “When I walked you home last night, it was because I wanted to do that. I wanted to get to know you, Sydney.”
She sniffed. “I’ll give you credit. You’re a really good actor. I actually imagined you were interested in me. And for the record? I believe you would’ve nailed the audition without having seen that.” She indicated the notebook on the table. “But it was a cheap trick talking your way in. Oh, and I love the part about how you had to go move your car because you felt all protective of me.” She gave him a brittle smile. “That was a nice touch.”
He stood and latched on to her arm. Sydney looked down at his tanned fingers wrapped around her pale flesh. She jerked away.
“I want you to leave. Now. Let’s pretend like this never happened.”
“But it did,” he said softly. “I wish you’d listen—”
“I listened plenty last night.” She shook her head. “You really fooled me. Hollywood has no idea what a terrific actor you really are.”
“Sydney.” His blue eyes pierced her to her core.
&
nbsp; She wasn’t having it and looked away, refusing to be pinned down by his magnetic stare. “Leave me with a little dignity, okay? It’s hard enough knowing how you used me. Just get out.”
She walked out of the room on rubbery legs and was surprised when they carried her all the way to her bedroom. She shut the door and turned the lock before climbing into bed. She didn’t think he’d come after her but it didn’t hurt to ensure that he’d stay on the other side of the door.
Hot tears spilled down her cheeks. Thank goodness she hadn’t cried in front of him. Men saw tears as a sign of weakness. In her case, these were tears of anger. She’d wanted to scream at him. Claw out his eyes. Slap him. But she didn’t want him to know how much he’d affected her. How he’d already claimed a piece of her heart.
She heard a car engine start, revving loudly and then squealing out of the driveway.
He was angry?
Hell, he was the one who’d gotten caught sneaking a peak at her storyboards. He was the one who’d sucked up to her. Blatantly used her to gain access to her work. It appalled her the lengths he’d gone to in order to gain inside information on the role he was up for.
Sydney curled into a ball and buried her face in the pillow. Immediately, she sat up quickly and stared at it in frustration.
The pillow smelled like Dash. It had his essence. She pulled the sheet up to her nose. Same thing. All male. All Dash.
Angrily, she jumped from the bed and yanked the sheets and pillowcases off. She marched to the laundry room and stuffed them into the washer, throwing a laundry gel pack in and setting it on the hottest temperature possible.
If the sheets came out smelling like him after that?
She’d burn them.
◆◆◆
Dash was furious as he turned onto PCH and headed south toward LA. Sydney hadn’t let him get in a word. She’d claimed he’d used her and sarcastically complimented him on what a great actor he was by tricking her into bed. She’d ordered him out. He knew when a woman was that angry, she wouldn’t listen to reason.
