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Chapter Nine
Adrian took Sydney's hand and led her to the dance floor. He rested one hand on her waist and laced the fingers of their free hands together as she rested her hand on his shoulder. They swayed quietly at first.
"You're letting me lead," Adrian commented, breaking the silence.
"Remember the first time we danced?" she asked him instead of replying.
"At the wedding," he responded.
"That feels like a million years ago," Sydney replied with a sigh.
"I thought Stanton and your little Alchie friend were going to die right there on the spot," Adrian said with an amused little chuckle.
"I'm not in the loop anymore, but I'm pretty sure the way they reacted that night is still the norm," Sydney replied.
"You were very brave that night…and that whole winter," Adrian said to her. "I don't know if I could have done all the things you did."
"But look where it got me," Sydney said to him.
"Where exactly is that?" Adrian asked, pulling her slightly closer to him.
Sydney looked up at him. "Far away from everyone I care about," she said. "Far away from you."
"I'm right here, Sydney. I'm not letting you go again. I won't," Adrian said firmly.
A wave of nostalgia washed over Sydney as she leaned in to close the rest of the space between them, pressing their lips together gently. It was like they had never been apart. Everything about being with Adrian felt as right as it always had.
Acting purely on instinct Sydney asked, "Can we go somewhere more private?"
"I thought you'd never ask," Adrian replied.
He pulled her off the dance floor so they could retrieve their belongings. After some hasty good-byes they exited the building and made their way to Adrian's place.
Once inside his apartment Adrian's lips were on Sydney's again. When they finished there they found her cheeks, forehead, jaw, earlobe, and finally her neck. He busied his hands with the zipper on the back of her dress.
Sydney tilted her head to the side and murmured softly as he brushed her skin over and over again with his mouth. Once he finally freed the zipper her dress pooled at her feet. He moved away from her neck and pressed his forehead to hers. She looked at him and licked her lips, her fingers pulling so quickly at the buttons on his shirt that they popped right off. Adrian chuckled and scooped her up into his arms, allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist. He held her with one arm and used his free limb to remove her bra. They made their way to his bedroom, pausing every two feet to kiss. Eventually they found their way onto his bed.
Adrian leaned her back against the mattress and hovered over her. Sydney focused her attention on getting his belt unbuckled so his dress pants could come off. He had far too much clothing on for her liking. He shifted back enough to kick them off easily after she released the zipper.
Adrian leaned down again, their bare chests touching. Her breathing quickened, causing her breasts to heave against his chest.
Adrian shifted his face away from hers and pressed a kiss in the valley of her chest. This elicited a whimper from deep within Sydney. He trailed his tongue along the tender skin before slowly taking her hardened nipple into his mouth and suckling, idly at first, but rapidly when she began to tug on the hair at the nape of his neck.
"More…"Sydney begged softly, rolling her hips up to fit against his.
Adrian hooked his fingers into the waistband of her panties and pulled them down in one fell swoop. Sydney kicked at the clothing as it touched her feet. She looped a digit into Adrian's boxers and pushed them down to join her underwear on the floor.
He leaned back down against her now completely naked body and kissed her deeply, sucking her tongue into his mouth. Sydney whimpered rather loudly at the urgency Adrian was exhibiting. He slowly trailed a palm down her body, completely worshipping every bit of her until he rested his fingers at her opening.
"Adrian," she gasped out as he eased a slick finger inside her. She arched up to meet the digit. He caught her mouth with his again as he slid his finger in and out of her tight entrance. The easy pattern of kissing and touching continued until he felt a wetness forming around his fingertips.
As he eased his hand away from her she reached out and grasped him in her palm. "Fuck," she cursed when she felt how hard he was. She stroked him slowly at first, but then with much more urgency.
"Oh god…" Adrian gasped. A warm feel spread throughout his body as she jerked him in her hand. He pressed closer and closer against her palm, absolutely existing on the feeling of her.
"Want you…" Sydney whispered against his ear, her breath tickling his skin so tenderly it took all of his strength not to cum all over her hand like a horny teenager.
Adrian swallowed hard and got his bearings. He pushed himself up and away from her hand and then slowly lowered himself into her.
A shock of electricity rang through both of their bodies as they clung to one another like a second skin. Sydney didn't know where he ended and she began.
After moans of utter pleasure and strangled cries of the others name they pushed over the edge together, both panting heavily as they came down from their high. Sydney rolled onto her side and Adrian spooned her from behind.
"Just stay a few more days. I know we can make this work," Adrian whispered when he was able to speak again. He pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
"I wish I could. I wish everything could be fixed that easily," Sydney said softly, the reality what she had just done hitting her. All she ever did was hurt him…
"If you would tell me what happened. Why you stayed away. What I did to make you never want to see me again…" Adrian said desperately. "I'd do anything…"
"I'm the one who has to ask for your forgiveness…" Sydney said softly.
A look of confusion washed over Adrian's face. "I don't understand…" he said to her.
It was time. Sydney rolled over to face him. "I told you I left Marcus because something changed," she said.
"I understand that part," Adrian said with a slow nod of his head.
"It wasn't that my beliefs changed or his cause changed," Sydney said. She braced herself for what was about to come out next. "It was because I found out I was pregnant."
"You're joking. No. That's not possible…" Adrian said, suddenly speaking very quickly.
Sydney had to keep going before she lost her nerve. "That night we spent together…yeah, it was possible," she said softly. "I couldn't stay with Marcus. I couldn't risk the baby…"
"Did you…have the baby?" Adrian asked, half scared to death she was going to say no and half scared to death she was going to say yes.
Sydney sniffled and nodded her head yes. "A girl. With eyes as green as yours," she said softly.
Adrian ran his hands through his hair, his own eyes welling up. "A baby…that you didn't think I should know about? A daughter. Why didn't you…? What the hell is wrong with you, Sydney?" he yelled at her.
"Please, you have to understand. I had just turned my back on…" Sydney tried to explain.
"Oh, don't give me that bullshit. You chose to turn your back on the Alchemists. That was all you. Your relationship with me had NOTHING to do with that. If anything it would have been easier to be with me. You! How could you, Sydney? How could you?" Adrian demanded to know. He got to his feet and started pacing back and forth across the room.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," Sydney said, leaning up in the bed. "Please, just…"
"Just what? Forgive you?" Adrian scoffed. "She has to be what…three or four years old by now? Does she even know about me?" he asked.
Sydney shook her head no. "I've never told her about you," she whispered.
Adrian stopped pacing and just stared at Sydney. "You're a real piece of work, you know that? For years Jill has been painting you as the bad guy, but I defended you. Even after you broke my heart and left all of us…I defended you. I said whatever the reason you left must have been a good one. I said Sydney always does the right thing. There must be some kind of logic behind this. I had no idea how wrong I was," Adrian said to her. "You're not brave. You're a fucking coward."
His words cut Sydney like a razorblade. She knew she deserved every last one of them, but that didn't make them hurt any less.
Before she could even try and defend herself Adrian continued. "I loved you…I love you, but I guess I'm the fool, huh? Someone like you isn't capable of love so how could I expect you to love me back?" he asked sadly. He shook his head and started to walk out of the room.
"Adrian, wait!" Sydney called after him, but it was too late…for so many different things.
