The Moment We've Been Waiting for~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Total Vaughn Lover
A/N: 17 Reviews? And I haven't updated for over a month? You guys are too much! Thanks so much for you awesome support. Truth is I've been working on my own fiction work for publication and that's why I've been falling behind. So I do apologize if I don't get around to this as much as I like to. Thanks for your support once again! And please keep reviewing!
P.S: After yesterday's mess between Vaughn and Syd where Sydney was crying at the end of the scene over naïve Vaughn (AGAIN!) I thought, man, we need a scene where Vaughn sort of resembles what we all want to see on the screen.
Part IV: A close call for Syd and an evening we both needed 2
I was amazed at how easily I was able to maneuver through Sydney's comfy little complex. Coming through the front door and being greeted by the tantalizing scent of Sydney's excellent cooking and the aroma of the red roses felt familiar to me as though I'd already been here a few times and perhaps, practically lived here.
I turned to lock the door, carefully balancing the flowers in one hand, at the same trying to reholst the strap the duffel bag that was already working down my shoulder without toppling over in the process.
Somehow I managed. Then I quietly made my way down the path I'd taken to the living room earlier that afternoon; only when I got there, I was sure I'd arrived in the wrong place. The room wasn't homey and full of bright light. In fact, quite the opposite, with dark-rose shaded lamps exuding just enough light so that I could see the counter that lied before the kitchen. It was very romantically dim. I found myself wondering if Sydney always kept in this dark to perhaps offer companionship during her darkest hours, or if she'd made this romantic world just waiting to be seduced for their first right together to be perfect. Had Sydney done this in hopes of me seducing her tonight? If that was the case, I was ready for it, heck, she knew I'd been ready for it that afternoon.
I stood there silently and peered over the counter as I let my duffel bag gently hit the carpet floor. Sydney was standing there with her back to me. She'd gathered all her hair into a low ponytail that rested on the nape of her neck. It traced through the definite shoulder blades that enhanced her beautifully formed upper back. Her head was bent down and my ears picked up faint chopping noises.
I couldn't' help it. All this felt normal to me, as if this were everyday life, as if it was Sydney that I'd married and was currently enjoying my second year of marriage with.
I stiffled a giggle that I felt coming on as I cautious trotted up to the kitchen counter, the bouquet of flowers behind my back.
I heard Sydney stop chopping and I froze. No, where were my stealth- moving skills, the skills I had burned into my brain during my training at the farm? Or was it the flowers? I knew Rose had a heavenly scent but really, was that overpowering enough to give me away?
I waited for Sydney to start chopping again but instead I was embraced by a spine-tingling silence, the kind of silence that made my heart fall to the pit of my stomach.
"Vaughn?" she inquired softly, trying to remain calm. I heard so much fear in her delicate voice that it took all of my self-control not to completely blow my operation: Surprise Sydney with back up flowers (in case she didn't think it was too funny). But I went along with it and ducked down, just as Sydney turned her beautiful head to scan the surroundings. I forced a hand to my face but it didn't suppress the grin that was readily forming. I could feel my lips stretch involuntarily. Funny that always happened when I could see Sydney's image clear in my mind as I did everyday on my way to the JTF, the night I had traipsed over to pick up Sydney to take her to our plane, just waiting to ship us to Santa Barbara~~~
Okay. I was not going to go there. This was promising to be a new chapter in my life. How was I supposed to do that if I kept lingering on the past? The answer was simple. I couldn't. So as I sat there in a ready to grapple position only I was holding flowers as opposed to a gun and I ordered my mind to fire away any painful memories, which could make the night successful.
"Vaughn," I heard her repeat, her tone even more shrill. "Vaughn, this is not funny, god forbid if you're trying to scare me as a joke!"
I bit my lip as I raised myself to a squat. Okay, so after the whole not waking up in the world as Sydney Bristow thing, it gave her the right to have the fear and the ammo to her anger. I only hoped she wouldn't be too angry with me when she found me in the kitchen.
Sydney became silent again and for a second I wondered if she was trying to creep up on me like I was trying to do to her. I carefully crept to the corner. Sydney's back was to me. All I could see was Sydney's long tan legs as they hurried to the entrance. Her one arm was raised before her head, the one lying against her thigh was holding what looked curiously like a silver cooking utensil.
What? Wasn't that a ladle? What did she plan to do, offer the possibly danger intruder a taste of whatever she was making before busting out with the martial arts? I felt a feel of pride overwhelm me though. I'd assumed every time she felt threatened that she went for her pistol, especially since being abducted from her own home, but it seemed I'd underestimated her. I had almost forgotten that she was as strong as she was beautiful and that she'd chosen to return to the CIA where dangerous missions were part of the job description.
I heard her try the door knob and I knew this was my chance to make my move. I slowly scrambled to my feet, then feeling foolish, I pulled a steam from the bouquet and stuck it between my lips. I'd seen it done on many romantic films and this seemed like the perfect time to try it out. The only thing I regretted about the action was the thorns digging into my poor tending lips. Damn, I'd forgotten roses had thorns. And all because every single thought in my head had been replaced by something that had to do with my anticipation for tonight, or just randomly good thoughts about the woman that I had put into the "wonderful," intelligence agency. Now, does everyone believe that I loved Syd, that I always did, only I was married so I'd felt obligated to take care of her life?
Hey, I thought I'd try.
I neared the counter. My eyes began watering from the steam as I drew my head to the pot to take a nice good sniff. Mmm~~~whatever my ex- girlfriend was making was going to be delicious. Heck! I knew she was homebody and I was lifted thinking that I would probably get from the intimate dinner the same pleasure I'd gotten from her that one time we'd made love.
I pulled my head away from the pot, grinning like crazy, one of my hands was holding the beautiful bouquet behind by back, the other one was leaned against the counter. I forced a lazy drawled expression to form on my face. If I was grinning like a fool, this wasn't going to work.
My ears picked up on a clicking noise that I deciphered as the locking of the door and then the sound of shuffling as she got nearer. She finally returned and when Sydney popped her innocent head through the doorway, I cracked up. Her eyes were naturally luminous but when they were huge in her delicate face they looked almost comical. Her mouth dropped and she almost dropped her ladle but caught it in the nick of time. Then she just gaped at me.
"Vaughn, hi~~~I didn't hear you come in," she gasped, running into the kitchen and examined my face with her palms as though she was making sure I was real and not some clever illusion. I heard relief in her voice and was immediately overcome by self-guilt.
I plucked the rose front my mouth so I could speak. I stared down at it as I shrugged my shoulders. "I let myself in, I hope you don't mind."
Sydney laughed dismissively as if to say, "I could never mind." I forced myself to give a wry smile. IT was hard to act all bubbly when I knew very well my little attempt at creating a romantic nuance to stir things up a little had caused her fear as opposed to laughs. "Actually, I heard you call my name, both times."
Something flicked across my lover's soft expression but it disappeared before I could it a name. "Really? Then why didn't you answer? You heard me way you better not be playing with my head?" she demanded, sounded slightly disappointed.
"I did," I paused to think then decided to give the lame but true explanation. "I just~~~I don't know. You were standing in the kitchen, and I don't know if anybody's ever told you this but you look real sexy when you're concentrating on dicing your veggies. And call me immature, I wanted to break through that connection and sneaking up behind you and making you yelp for a second seemed like a really good idea."
To my relief Sydney had really listened and it seemed she'd understood what the crushing and trying to impress part of me had been trying to achieve. She was grinning as she gave me a gentle whack on the head. I knew I deserved it so I didn't retaliate and just stood there, looking and feeling sheepish. Literally I felt as though I were some college student being chided by my favorite Lit teacher. Funny, I was technically four years older then her, but I never felt superior to Sydney, it really did feel like I was always learning new things from the young woman and not only on romance, but patience, self-control and even responsibility. After all it was because Sydney had been so mature and convincing about it that I had stayed together with Ms. Lauren Reed for as long as I had.
The slightly condescending situation disappeared when her amber gaze shifted to the single rose that I was holding in my hand. And it wasn't until she'd put her focus on it that I'd felt the pain from the thorns that were readily sinking into the flesh of my hand. She gingerly took hold of my hand and raised it till the petals of the blood-red rose was only centimeters from her nostrils she inhaled as though I was actually waiting for her to exhale.
"Oh Vaughn, is this for me?" she giggled, her eyes growing wide as though I had presented her with an engagement ring instead. She gazed at me with a very pleased expression. "Oh you shouldn't have. I should have known since you're such a romantic. Thank you Michael."
I almost choked from suppressing my laughter. All this over one rose? What kind or reaction was I going to get then if I presented her with a bouquet worth $110?
Well, I guess I was about to find out.
"Actually that's only of them from this bunch I bought right here," I stated with a lopsided grin as I pulled the flowers from behind my back and gently thrust it in front of her.
Sydney's mouth moved but no sound came out. I stood there for about a moment, feeling a little stupid as my girl carefully sifted through the bouquet , giving every rose a once over, I personally had no real attention for flowers, it was the thought that counter. But I knew Sydney to be a real green thumb like that Martha Stewart. So of course I'd put it in the hands of a professional, of as professional as I could get at the little flower shop on 3rd. In my opinion she'd done a good job, she better have with the special tip I'd paid her to do it on such short notice.
I knew my money would mean nothing if the receiving party wasn't jumping up for joy.
"Um~~~Syd?"
Sydney took the flowers from me then stood on her tippy toes to reward me with a kiss. It wouldn't have ended it I hadn't decided to bite her lip and pull away myself. Believe me had I more breath, I would have gladly been glued to her peach flavored lips.
"Sorry Syd, I needed to get some ear," I told her. "Your kissing, it's still breathtaking, I don't' know how I did without it."
Sydney gave me a shy smile as she mussed up my perfectly coifed hair. "Me either."
Oh, what I would give to strip down and jump on her right there on the kitchen floor. Self confidence was the sexiest attribute in my opinion and since Sydney had a lot of it of course she was perfect for me. Her head strongness and stubborness had intrigued me from day one.
She must have picked up on the rise of sexual awareness since she gripped my shoulder tightly and gave me a teasing smile. "You know what, can you lay these on the counter so I can go and finish the main entrée? And you should go ahead and get unpacked."
I gave her a confused glance. "Unpack? But I've only got a duffel bag with me. I mean, I'm only staying for one night."
Syd's smile disappeared from her face. She looked a bit grin as she shuffled over to the pot and began stirring it with a ladle. "Oh, okay, I mean, yeah. I'm sure you've got some alone time you need to sort through this big change in your life," Sydney said quickly, wanting to smack herself for what she thought was probably a lack of understanding. "But tonight is my night with you. I've got an exceptional dinner set up for you and~~~for those beautiful roses, I believe you deserve special consideration."
Special consideration? Didn't she know she'd given me all the special consideration I deserved by just allowing me back into her house?
"So go unpack. My bedroom is the door right beyond the television," she instructed me as she began chopping whatever she'd been initially chopping.
"Okay," I hollered back, trying to sound like I knew what I was doing as I headed over to the couch to snatch up my duffel bag. I flashed Sydney a glance. She looked up and smiled at me. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I cleaned out the top drawer for you so, go ahead and use that."
I felt an extremely strong sense of déjà vu and a second later I realized that she had to be referring to the other time, back when we'd just started dating. She'd offered me a drawer since I had a habit of coming over so often I practically lived there.
"Thanks," I replied as I headed over to the closed door. "I'll do that." But then I saw the table not set and set my bag down to put the dishware on their own place mats from the stack that was already on the table. Then I even reached for some of the roses and baby breath and arranged them with the arrangement that as already sitting on the table in its' own vase, giving it a touch of Vaughn. Then I leaned back to look at my work. I made sure it was something Sydney would be satisfied with and then I picked my bag up and walked through the door I'd opened earlier.
I was immediately uncomfortable, which I thought was reasonable since now I had knowledge that she'd been seeing a mutual friend of ours. And I knew how close Will was with Sydney so it didn't take much to imagine that they'd probably had a tryst or two. The darkness felt a bit cold and just a little frightening as though I'd stepped into a forbidden land.
I reached my hand to the side of the door and felt for the switch that came with standardly built houses. The room filled with a soft yellow light and my nerves were soothed now that I could see everything in the room.
In the middle was a queen-sized bed, complete with pillows, throw pillows, comforter, sheets and ruffles, all done in shades of light pink ranging from baby pink to a more sophisticated pale rose. There was a nice little bedside table with a frame standing on it. I went over to it and picked it up. It was a photograph of an outing that had included me, Lauren, Sydney and Weiss.
Such a great day of angst that had been, though you could probably never tell from out smiling faces. I set it back down, positioning it until it was at the angle I'd found it.
There was a bathroom connected to the bedroom but I didn't go in. Bathrooms I felt were private places and besides I never would spend enough time in there to really care. I instead walked over to the tall dresser. I could find and opened up the top drawer. It smelled refreshingly minty and woody, but it wasn't the familiar scent of moth balls. This didn't irritate my sinuses and it didn't cloud my vision as a chemical reaction would have. It instead comforted me and put me in almost an erotic hallucinating state.
But no, this wasn't the time. I had to save all of my emotional energy for tonight. I cast a glance out the door and call it coincidence but Sydney was always where I wanted her to be in my eyeview. I could still see over the counter. She seemed to be putting together whatever she'd made sure her eyes were cast toward the counter top.
With renewed determination I set my bag down on the bed and sifted through it. First thing I pulled out was my suit for tomorrow morning. I'd placed it in plastic and set it on a hanger to make the transition from my closet to Sydney's less damaging to the suit as possible. I smoothed it out, frowned at two very distinct wrinkles then hung it on the side of the dresser, trying not to cringe as the bottom of my pants laid in a folded heap. I pulled out my sweat pants, two white t-shirts, some socks, underwear and my grooming necessities and carefully laid it into the drawer with every move I made I felt more in place and more intuned with myself that the decision I'd made been a good one.
And this generous gesture that had mirrored the one from two years back proved to me that she had understood the situation and despite all the pain I'd put her through that she wanted me. She still wanted me, this bumbling French based CIA agent who wouldn't make a decision and had almost lost two women he'd cared about.
I slowly pushed the drawer back in and went to sit down on the edge of the bed. What I ended up doing was laying back, stretching my arms out, feeling the cooleness of the shimmery material against the nape of my neck and between my coarse fingers. I laid onto my side and grabbed a pillow and pressed it to my face. It was as if Sydney's shampoo had become a part of her pillow. It felt really nice to be surrounded by thing Sydney touched everyday. If I closed my eyes, I bet I could come pretty close to convincing myself that my life had become nothing but happy since this angel had made her presence known in my life.
"So I see you've settled in?"
I bolted up right as though I'd been caught poking through her diary. "What? Oh, sorry, I~~~I'm just~~~beat. Today had been a long long day."
"Long and rewarding, I hope."
I gave her a glance to chide her for even doubting that. I laid a hand on my hard abdomen and looked up at her. "So, is dinner ready, hon?"
"Y~Yeah, but you know my cooking is so good, reheating it won't ruin anything," she pointed out as she stepped into the room.
Whoa, was it steaming in here or was it really just me? I watched as Sydney shed her tank top and threw it on the floor to reveal a very nice and lacy red bra which I just watched stupidly. She pulled down her tan carpis to reveal a matching red bikini bottom done in the same lace and then that joined her camisole on the floor. She then pulled the ponytail holder from her hair and let it drape around her sexy eyes and kissable lips.
I was aroused and mind-boggled from all the references she was making to almost the place we'd just left off. Her straight forwardness and déjà vu including comments were driving me up the wall.
She then kicked one leg back and closed the door, staring at me expectantly. But even after she'd dimmed the lights and put on some R and B, I was standing as though I were rooted to the spot. This was almost like being under some kind of spell. I felt about willing to do anything my gorgeous woman wanted.
"Vaughn, what are you just staring at me for?"
"Y~You're just so ~~~beautiful," I gasped, 100% honest. No Lauren was beautiful, heck she had a body any man would want to hold and creamy skin that I couldn't help but want to caress. But Sydney's lean and toned body and maybe it was her beautiful thick brown locks stirred up a longing I'd never felt for my wife. "S~Syd, a~are you sure you want to do this?" I cautioned her, wondering what I wanted to protect her from.
"Y~yes, this is what I've wanted since I met you," she said in a husky voice. Then without warning she helped me tug off my sweater and t- shirt then lowered herself so she could unbutton my pants and then pulled them down. "Clear enough?"
Clear enough? She'd just torn my clothes off of me without hesitation. How much more clearer could she get? But for some odd reason I found myself protesting the action. "What about dinner, shouldn't we eat first? Wasn't that the plan?"
"I'm sorry I had no plan," she replied with a dark smile. "The only thing I planned to happen tonight was you coming here. I just cooked dinner to make things a bit honey. But what can I say, I've been anticipating this moment since our very close tryst this afternoon, and when I spied you in the bedroom~~~you should know very well your masculine sexiness would drive any girl wild. I got distracted."
Actually I believed it was the other way around but chose not to say anything. Knowing my luck, what I said would probably come out a lot different than I'd intended.
Then I felt her arms on my shoulder as she yanked me to her body and then she lowered her mouth to the side of my neck and gave it little seductive nibbles.
That was it. I could hold it back no more. "You're right," I agreed, huskily, dangeorusly. "Dinner can wait." I paused long enough to register her smile, then I went for it, full blow, I only hoped Sydney was ready to respond to everything I was going to give her, two years of mulling, pondering and longing to be in this moment. Then I held her against my body, until we hit the edge of the bed and then I pushed her down, climbed on top of her. Then we wrestled around in the sheets, making love to each other as though there was no tomorrow.
And after what we'd gone through, who would blame us for thinking we might not be in each other's arms again.
"God Syd," I murmured as I laid kisses along her breast bones. "This is what I've wanted, you're the only one who can please me like this. I'm sorry to think Lauren could ever be what you are to me."
I suddenly felt Sydney's knee come down hard on the last place a woman's knee should ever bee. "Syd?" I whined under all the pressure. She grabbed the back of my head and jerked me upward. "Don't you mention the word "Lauren," in my bed, especially when I'm just getting ready to believe you love me, and especially when I'm making love to you."
"Fair enough," I squeaked and let out a gasp of relief when she finally removed her leg.
"Note to self: Never EVER mention or make a ref to your ex-wife when you're making love to your girlfriend," I thought grimly, hoping I hadn't ruined the night right there.
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Till next time!!!
Total Vaughn Lover
P.S: I am working on my other alias fics, believe me, it's just like I said I'm in the middle or rewriting my novel for publication! Wish me luck!
A/N: 17 Reviews? And I haven't updated for over a month? You guys are too much! Thanks so much for you awesome support. Truth is I've been working on my own fiction work for publication and that's why I've been falling behind. So I do apologize if I don't get around to this as much as I like to. Thanks for your support once again! And please keep reviewing!
P.S: After yesterday's mess between Vaughn and Syd where Sydney was crying at the end of the scene over naïve Vaughn (AGAIN!) I thought, man, we need a scene where Vaughn sort of resembles what we all want to see on the screen.
Part IV: A close call for Syd and an evening we both needed 2
I was amazed at how easily I was able to maneuver through Sydney's comfy little complex. Coming through the front door and being greeted by the tantalizing scent of Sydney's excellent cooking and the aroma of the red roses felt familiar to me as though I'd already been here a few times and perhaps, practically lived here.
I turned to lock the door, carefully balancing the flowers in one hand, at the same trying to reholst the strap the duffel bag that was already working down my shoulder without toppling over in the process.
Somehow I managed. Then I quietly made my way down the path I'd taken to the living room earlier that afternoon; only when I got there, I was sure I'd arrived in the wrong place. The room wasn't homey and full of bright light. In fact, quite the opposite, with dark-rose shaded lamps exuding just enough light so that I could see the counter that lied before the kitchen. It was very romantically dim. I found myself wondering if Sydney always kept in this dark to perhaps offer companionship during her darkest hours, or if she'd made this romantic world just waiting to be seduced for their first right together to be perfect. Had Sydney done this in hopes of me seducing her tonight? If that was the case, I was ready for it, heck, she knew I'd been ready for it that afternoon.
I stood there silently and peered over the counter as I let my duffel bag gently hit the carpet floor. Sydney was standing there with her back to me. She'd gathered all her hair into a low ponytail that rested on the nape of her neck. It traced through the definite shoulder blades that enhanced her beautifully formed upper back. Her head was bent down and my ears picked up faint chopping noises.
I couldn't' help it. All this felt normal to me, as if this were everyday life, as if it was Sydney that I'd married and was currently enjoying my second year of marriage with.
I stiffled a giggle that I felt coming on as I cautious trotted up to the kitchen counter, the bouquet of flowers behind my back.
I heard Sydney stop chopping and I froze. No, where were my stealth- moving skills, the skills I had burned into my brain during my training at the farm? Or was it the flowers? I knew Rose had a heavenly scent but really, was that overpowering enough to give me away?
I waited for Sydney to start chopping again but instead I was embraced by a spine-tingling silence, the kind of silence that made my heart fall to the pit of my stomach.
"Vaughn?" she inquired softly, trying to remain calm. I heard so much fear in her delicate voice that it took all of my self-control not to completely blow my operation: Surprise Sydney with back up flowers (in case she didn't think it was too funny). But I went along with it and ducked down, just as Sydney turned her beautiful head to scan the surroundings. I forced a hand to my face but it didn't suppress the grin that was readily forming. I could feel my lips stretch involuntarily. Funny that always happened when I could see Sydney's image clear in my mind as I did everyday on my way to the JTF, the night I had traipsed over to pick up Sydney to take her to our plane, just waiting to ship us to Santa Barbara~~~
Okay. I was not going to go there. This was promising to be a new chapter in my life. How was I supposed to do that if I kept lingering on the past? The answer was simple. I couldn't. So as I sat there in a ready to grapple position only I was holding flowers as opposed to a gun and I ordered my mind to fire away any painful memories, which could make the night successful.
"Vaughn," I heard her repeat, her tone even more shrill. "Vaughn, this is not funny, god forbid if you're trying to scare me as a joke!"
I bit my lip as I raised myself to a squat. Okay, so after the whole not waking up in the world as Sydney Bristow thing, it gave her the right to have the fear and the ammo to her anger. I only hoped she wouldn't be too angry with me when she found me in the kitchen.
Sydney became silent again and for a second I wondered if she was trying to creep up on me like I was trying to do to her. I carefully crept to the corner. Sydney's back was to me. All I could see was Sydney's long tan legs as they hurried to the entrance. Her one arm was raised before her head, the one lying against her thigh was holding what looked curiously like a silver cooking utensil.
What? Wasn't that a ladle? What did she plan to do, offer the possibly danger intruder a taste of whatever she was making before busting out with the martial arts? I felt a feel of pride overwhelm me though. I'd assumed every time she felt threatened that she went for her pistol, especially since being abducted from her own home, but it seemed I'd underestimated her. I had almost forgotten that she was as strong as she was beautiful and that she'd chosen to return to the CIA where dangerous missions were part of the job description.
I heard her try the door knob and I knew this was my chance to make my move. I slowly scrambled to my feet, then feeling foolish, I pulled a steam from the bouquet and stuck it between my lips. I'd seen it done on many romantic films and this seemed like the perfect time to try it out. The only thing I regretted about the action was the thorns digging into my poor tending lips. Damn, I'd forgotten roses had thorns. And all because every single thought in my head had been replaced by something that had to do with my anticipation for tonight, or just randomly good thoughts about the woman that I had put into the "wonderful," intelligence agency. Now, does everyone believe that I loved Syd, that I always did, only I was married so I'd felt obligated to take care of her life?
Hey, I thought I'd try.
I neared the counter. My eyes began watering from the steam as I drew my head to the pot to take a nice good sniff. Mmm~~~whatever my ex- girlfriend was making was going to be delicious. Heck! I knew she was homebody and I was lifted thinking that I would probably get from the intimate dinner the same pleasure I'd gotten from her that one time we'd made love.
I pulled my head away from the pot, grinning like crazy, one of my hands was holding the beautiful bouquet behind by back, the other one was leaned against the counter. I forced a lazy drawled expression to form on my face. If I was grinning like a fool, this wasn't going to work.
My ears picked up on a clicking noise that I deciphered as the locking of the door and then the sound of shuffling as she got nearer. She finally returned and when Sydney popped her innocent head through the doorway, I cracked up. Her eyes were naturally luminous but when they were huge in her delicate face they looked almost comical. Her mouth dropped and she almost dropped her ladle but caught it in the nick of time. Then she just gaped at me.
"Vaughn, hi~~~I didn't hear you come in," she gasped, running into the kitchen and examined my face with her palms as though she was making sure I was real and not some clever illusion. I heard relief in her voice and was immediately overcome by self-guilt.
I plucked the rose front my mouth so I could speak. I stared down at it as I shrugged my shoulders. "I let myself in, I hope you don't mind."
Sydney laughed dismissively as if to say, "I could never mind." I forced myself to give a wry smile. IT was hard to act all bubbly when I knew very well my little attempt at creating a romantic nuance to stir things up a little had caused her fear as opposed to laughs. "Actually, I heard you call my name, both times."
Something flicked across my lover's soft expression but it disappeared before I could it a name. "Really? Then why didn't you answer? You heard me way you better not be playing with my head?" she demanded, sounded slightly disappointed.
"I did," I paused to think then decided to give the lame but true explanation. "I just~~~I don't know. You were standing in the kitchen, and I don't know if anybody's ever told you this but you look real sexy when you're concentrating on dicing your veggies. And call me immature, I wanted to break through that connection and sneaking up behind you and making you yelp for a second seemed like a really good idea."
To my relief Sydney had really listened and it seemed she'd understood what the crushing and trying to impress part of me had been trying to achieve. She was grinning as she gave me a gentle whack on the head. I knew I deserved it so I didn't retaliate and just stood there, looking and feeling sheepish. Literally I felt as though I were some college student being chided by my favorite Lit teacher. Funny, I was technically four years older then her, but I never felt superior to Sydney, it really did feel like I was always learning new things from the young woman and not only on romance, but patience, self-control and even responsibility. After all it was because Sydney had been so mature and convincing about it that I had stayed together with Ms. Lauren Reed for as long as I had.
The slightly condescending situation disappeared when her amber gaze shifted to the single rose that I was holding in my hand. And it wasn't until she'd put her focus on it that I'd felt the pain from the thorns that were readily sinking into the flesh of my hand. She gingerly took hold of my hand and raised it till the petals of the blood-red rose was only centimeters from her nostrils she inhaled as though I was actually waiting for her to exhale.
"Oh Vaughn, is this for me?" she giggled, her eyes growing wide as though I had presented her with an engagement ring instead. She gazed at me with a very pleased expression. "Oh you shouldn't have. I should have known since you're such a romantic. Thank you Michael."
I almost choked from suppressing my laughter. All this over one rose? What kind or reaction was I going to get then if I presented her with a bouquet worth $110?
Well, I guess I was about to find out.
"Actually that's only of them from this bunch I bought right here," I stated with a lopsided grin as I pulled the flowers from behind my back and gently thrust it in front of her.
Sydney's mouth moved but no sound came out. I stood there for about a moment, feeling a little stupid as my girl carefully sifted through the bouquet , giving every rose a once over, I personally had no real attention for flowers, it was the thought that counter. But I knew Sydney to be a real green thumb like that Martha Stewart. So of course I'd put it in the hands of a professional, of as professional as I could get at the little flower shop on 3rd. In my opinion she'd done a good job, she better have with the special tip I'd paid her to do it on such short notice.
I knew my money would mean nothing if the receiving party wasn't jumping up for joy.
"Um~~~Syd?"
Sydney took the flowers from me then stood on her tippy toes to reward me with a kiss. It wouldn't have ended it I hadn't decided to bite her lip and pull away myself. Believe me had I more breath, I would have gladly been glued to her peach flavored lips.
"Sorry Syd, I needed to get some ear," I told her. "Your kissing, it's still breathtaking, I don't' know how I did without it."
Sydney gave me a shy smile as she mussed up my perfectly coifed hair. "Me either."
Oh, what I would give to strip down and jump on her right there on the kitchen floor. Self confidence was the sexiest attribute in my opinion and since Sydney had a lot of it of course she was perfect for me. Her head strongness and stubborness had intrigued me from day one.
She must have picked up on the rise of sexual awareness since she gripped my shoulder tightly and gave me a teasing smile. "You know what, can you lay these on the counter so I can go and finish the main entrée? And you should go ahead and get unpacked."
I gave her a confused glance. "Unpack? But I've only got a duffel bag with me. I mean, I'm only staying for one night."
Syd's smile disappeared from her face. She looked a bit grin as she shuffled over to the pot and began stirring it with a ladle. "Oh, okay, I mean, yeah. I'm sure you've got some alone time you need to sort through this big change in your life," Sydney said quickly, wanting to smack herself for what she thought was probably a lack of understanding. "But tonight is my night with you. I've got an exceptional dinner set up for you and~~~for those beautiful roses, I believe you deserve special consideration."
Special consideration? Didn't she know she'd given me all the special consideration I deserved by just allowing me back into her house?
"So go unpack. My bedroom is the door right beyond the television," she instructed me as she began chopping whatever she'd been initially chopping.
"Okay," I hollered back, trying to sound like I knew what I was doing as I headed over to the couch to snatch up my duffel bag. I flashed Sydney a glance. She looked up and smiled at me. "Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I cleaned out the top drawer for you so, go ahead and use that."
I felt an extremely strong sense of déjà vu and a second later I realized that she had to be referring to the other time, back when we'd just started dating. She'd offered me a drawer since I had a habit of coming over so often I practically lived there.
"Thanks," I replied as I headed over to the closed door. "I'll do that." But then I saw the table not set and set my bag down to put the dishware on their own place mats from the stack that was already on the table. Then I even reached for some of the roses and baby breath and arranged them with the arrangement that as already sitting on the table in its' own vase, giving it a touch of Vaughn. Then I leaned back to look at my work. I made sure it was something Sydney would be satisfied with and then I picked my bag up and walked through the door I'd opened earlier.
I was immediately uncomfortable, which I thought was reasonable since now I had knowledge that she'd been seeing a mutual friend of ours. And I knew how close Will was with Sydney so it didn't take much to imagine that they'd probably had a tryst or two. The darkness felt a bit cold and just a little frightening as though I'd stepped into a forbidden land.
I reached my hand to the side of the door and felt for the switch that came with standardly built houses. The room filled with a soft yellow light and my nerves were soothed now that I could see everything in the room.
In the middle was a queen-sized bed, complete with pillows, throw pillows, comforter, sheets and ruffles, all done in shades of light pink ranging from baby pink to a more sophisticated pale rose. There was a nice little bedside table with a frame standing on it. I went over to it and picked it up. It was a photograph of an outing that had included me, Lauren, Sydney and Weiss.
Such a great day of angst that had been, though you could probably never tell from out smiling faces. I set it back down, positioning it until it was at the angle I'd found it.
There was a bathroom connected to the bedroom but I didn't go in. Bathrooms I felt were private places and besides I never would spend enough time in there to really care. I instead walked over to the tall dresser. I could find and opened up the top drawer. It smelled refreshingly minty and woody, but it wasn't the familiar scent of moth balls. This didn't irritate my sinuses and it didn't cloud my vision as a chemical reaction would have. It instead comforted me and put me in almost an erotic hallucinating state.
But no, this wasn't the time. I had to save all of my emotional energy for tonight. I cast a glance out the door and call it coincidence but Sydney was always where I wanted her to be in my eyeview. I could still see over the counter. She seemed to be putting together whatever she'd made sure her eyes were cast toward the counter top.
With renewed determination I set my bag down on the bed and sifted through it. First thing I pulled out was my suit for tomorrow morning. I'd placed it in plastic and set it on a hanger to make the transition from my closet to Sydney's less damaging to the suit as possible. I smoothed it out, frowned at two very distinct wrinkles then hung it on the side of the dresser, trying not to cringe as the bottom of my pants laid in a folded heap. I pulled out my sweat pants, two white t-shirts, some socks, underwear and my grooming necessities and carefully laid it into the drawer with every move I made I felt more in place and more intuned with myself that the decision I'd made been a good one.
And this generous gesture that had mirrored the one from two years back proved to me that she had understood the situation and despite all the pain I'd put her through that she wanted me. She still wanted me, this bumbling French based CIA agent who wouldn't make a decision and had almost lost two women he'd cared about.
I slowly pushed the drawer back in and went to sit down on the edge of the bed. What I ended up doing was laying back, stretching my arms out, feeling the cooleness of the shimmery material against the nape of my neck and between my coarse fingers. I laid onto my side and grabbed a pillow and pressed it to my face. It was as if Sydney's shampoo had become a part of her pillow. It felt really nice to be surrounded by thing Sydney touched everyday. If I closed my eyes, I bet I could come pretty close to convincing myself that my life had become nothing but happy since this angel had made her presence known in my life.
"So I see you've settled in?"
I bolted up right as though I'd been caught poking through her diary. "What? Oh, sorry, I~~~I'm just~~~beat. Today had been a long long day."
"Long and rewarding, I hope."
I gave her a glance to chide her for even doubting that. I laid a hand on my hard abdomen and looked up at her. "So, is dinner ready, hon?"
"Y~Yeah, but you know my cooking is so good, reheating it won't ruin anything," she pointed out as she stepped into the room.
Whoa, was it steaming in here or was it really just me? I watched as Sydney shed her tank top and threw it on the floor to reveal a very nice and lacy red bra which I just watched stupidly. She pulled down her tan carpis to reveal a matching red bikini bottom done in the same lace and then that joined her camisole on the floor. She then pulled the ponytail holder from her hair and let it drape around her sexy eyes and kissable lips.
I was aroused and mind-boggled from all the references she was making to almost the place we'd just left off. Her straight forwardness and déjà vu including comments were driving me up the wall.
She then kicked one leg back and closed the door, staring at me expectantly. But even after she'd dimmed the lights and put on some R and B, I was standing as though I were rooted to the spot. This was almost like being under some kind of spell. I felt about willing to do anything my gorgeous woman wanted.
"Vaughn, what are you just staring at me for?"
"Y~You're just so ~~~beautiful," I gasped, 100% honest. No Lauren was beautiful, heck she had a body any man would want to hold and creamy skin that I couldn't help but want to caress. But Sydney's lean and toned body and maybe it was her beautiful thick brown locks stirred up a longing I'd never felt for my wife. "S~Syd, a~are you sure you want to do this?" I cautioned her, wondering what I wanted to protect her from.
"Y~yes, this is what I've wanted since I met you," she said in a husky voice. Then without warning she helped me tug off my sweater and t- shirt then lowered herself so she could unbutton my pants and then pulled them down. "Clear enough?"
Clear enough? She'd just torn my clothes off of me without hesitation. How much more clearer could she get? But for some odd reason I found myself protesting the action. "What about dinner, shouldn't we eat first? Wasn't that the plan?"
"I'm sorry I had no plan," she replied with a dark smile. "The only thing I planned to happen tonight was you coming here. I just cooked dinner to make things a bit honey. But what can I say, I've been anticipating this moment since our very close tryst this afternoon, and when I spied you in the bedroom~~~you should know very well your masculine sexiness would drive any girl wild. I got distracted."
Actually I believed it was the other way around but chose not to say anything. Knowing my luck, what I said would probably come out a lot different than I'd intended.
Then I felt her arms on my shoulder as she yanked me to her body and then she lowered her mouth to the side of my neck and gave it little seductive nibbles.
That was it. I could hold it back no more. "You're right," I agreed, huskily, dangeorusly. "Dinner can wait." I paused long enough to register her smile, then I went for it, full blow, I only hoped Sydney was ready to respond to everything I was going to give her, two years of mulling, pondering and longing to be in this moment. Then I held her against my body, until we hit the edge of the bed and then I pushed her down, climbed on top of her. Then we wrestled around in the sheets, making love to each other as though there was no tomorrow.
And after what we'd gone through, who would blame us for thinking we might not be in each other's arms again.
"God Syd," I murmured as I laid kisses along her breast bones. "This is what I've wanted, you're the only one who can please me like this. I'm sorry to think Lauren could ever be what you are to me."
I suddenly felt Sydney's knee come down hard on the last place a woman's knee should ever bee. "Syd?" I whined under all the pressure. She grabbed the back of my head and jerked me upward. "Don't you mention the word "Lauren," in my bed, especially when I'm just getting ready to believe you love me, and especially when I'm making love to you."
"Fair enough," I squeaked and let out a gasp of relief when she finally removed her leg.
"Note to self: Never EVER mention or make a ref to your ex-wife when you're making love to your girlfriend," I thought grimly, hoping I hadn't ruined the night right there.
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Total Vaughn Lover
P.S: I am working on my other alias fics, believe me, it's just like I said I'm in the middle or rewriting my novel for publication! Wish me luck!