Nathan was so happy to have another weight lifted from his relationship. Sneaking around had its perks, but knowing that he and Sydney could now come and go from either of their homes had a certain appeal to it. He was watching her right now, dancing with her best friend in all the world. He envied what they had. The only friends he had were from work, there was nobody from his high school days, let alone the ones where he toddled. He watched her laugh and smile, her eyes so alive…and the envy faded as quickly as it appeared. She was his, he was hers, and he still couldn't figure out the math. He was still lost in his thoughts when she approached him, giggling, and took a seat on his lap.

"You okay?" she asked sweetly.

"I'm perfect," he answered, caressing her face. "Tonight is wonderful." He kissed her, thrilled to do so openly and in front of her friends. "Sydney, I love you."

"I love you too," she said, slightly concerned.

He pulled her closer, the two of them reclining deeper into the plush sofa in the sectioned off portion of the club. "I can't wait until this school year's over." He nuzzled her neck with his nose.

"Me either." She ran her fingers through his hair, tousling it more. "I am so lucky," she whispered in his ear. "Sometimes I have no idea why you're with me."

Nathan shook his head and smiled. "Baby, I was just thinking the same thing." He kissed her again, deep and heated. His hands roamed her back and she moaned into his mouth. He could feel her skin growing warmer and wanted to find a corner somewhere where they could…

"I am never going to get tired of seeing this." Arlen had plopped down on the other end of the sofa, a bottle of water in his hands. Sydney looked over at him and blushed. "Oh, don't stop because of me, honey, I'm just hydrating a bit."

"Having a good time, Arlen?" Nathan asked, Sydney sliding off his lap to sit beside him.

"Best birthday I can remember," he said, his voice thoughtful, "and not just because of you two, although…oh, it's just so precious and naughty at the same time…"

"And stunning to look at." David had walked over to join the conversation, two drinks in his hand. He handed one of the glasses to Sydney and she politely placed it on the table in front of her, thanking him. "And you're not going to drink it because?"

"Uh, not exactly in the mood, that's all." She shot him a look that told him to drop the subject, but he either missed it or ignored it.

"It's your favorite. Always has been. You hardly change things up when we come here because you say their amaretto sours are the best in the city and…come to think of it, I haven't seen you drink in months."

"I didn't realize that was a crime." Sydney started to lose her patience.

"Syd…" Nathan understood what was happening.

"Not a crime, but certainly less fun. You're brilliant when you've had a few…"

"I'm an alcoholic," Nathan said bluntly. "She's trying to be polite and not bring it up, but it's not a secret." He looked at her and smiled. "She's very supportive," he turned to her, "but honey, you don't have to not enjoy yourself because of me."

"I really hope you're kidding, Nathan, that would just be…" She shook her head. "Absolutely not."

His smile widened with relief. He didn't want her to feel she was giving anything up for him and she obviously didn't. "I want to dance with you again." He stood and extended his hand. She took it and they returned to the dance floor…and the chatter began.

"An alcoholic?" David asked. "Is she insane? She knows better than to…"

"David, what the fuck?" Arlen asked, his usual kind demeanor gone. "Can't you see how happy she is? How happy they are? You don't even know when the man took his last drink."

"I know enough about…the situation." He cleared his throat. "I've seen plenty and…"

Arlen slapped his arm. "Stop it. They've been together for months and this is part of the reason we didn't know about it." The man frowned. "She hates when we fuss over her about relationships. My best friend didn't tell me she was in love." He looked out at the dance floor, the two bodies moving in time with one another, the chemistry unmistakable.

David felt shame instantly. He knew that his addiction was far worse than someone drinking too much. "I'm sorry, darling. Just a bit protective I suppose." He looked up at them as well. "They are happy, aren't they?" There was a hint of jealousy in his voice.

Arlen's smile returned, he didn't pick up on his tone. "There isn't a doubt in my mind."

Nathan's lips had found Sydney's again, continuing what they had started on the sofa. When he pulled away from her, his voice was almost desperate. "I want to go home with you tonight."

"Well, we can do that now, can't we?" she answered, her hands fondling his rear as they danced.

"I want to make love in your bed..." He licked her neck. "I want to not sneak out in the middle of the night…" Nibbled the spot that made her body shudder. "I want to lie next to you, naked, all night and sleep until three in the afternoon."

Sydney's knees were weak. She looked at him and he was biting at his lower lip, the act oozing a sensual sexuality that caused her to drag him from the dance floor. She led him to the furthest corner, bathed in shadows. She pressed her body against his, kissing him wantonly. Her hips rolled without thought and she felt him harden against her leg…it wasn't the first time that evening.

"I didn't do this twenty years ago," he breathed, his hands running over her restrained breasts.

"Good, because I have no idea what I'm doing, and you have nothing to compare it to," Sydney confessed, taking his earlobe between her teeth. "I just know that you make me want…" Her breath hitched as Nathan's hand traveled up her dress and along her inner thigh. "…y-you."

He licked his lips, deliberately extending the act. "What am I going to find here?" She looked down, embarrassed, but he used his free hand to lift her chin. "Sydney, I've never in my life been so needy…you make me want things I never dreamed of. I love that I do this to you, don't be embarrassed." He stroked her through the soaked satin between her legs. "I wish my tongue was there, but…" he pushed her panties aside, stroking her folds briefly before sliding two fingers inside her. She yelped, but the music drowned out the sound. "…this will do for now." Sydney was trying so hard to control her body. Nathan moved them so she was completely in the corner, her body supported by two walls. He kissed her, lips and tongue messy, mind fogged. When he finally broke away from her, his own body aching, he realized how much she was restraining herself. "Oh, baby, enjoy it," he twisted his fingers and she whimpered. He put his mouth to her ear, his hot breath making her body shiver. "Fuck yourself…" She thrust against his fingers, her hands pulling at his shirt, wishing she could strip him right there.

"Christ, Nathan," she panted, writhing against him raggedly; her body couldn't focus on a rhythm. Tears were in her eyes, blurring her vision, but she had never been further from sad in her life. "I want you," she begged. "Please, baby…"

"Later honey, you know what I want now." She watched as his free hand dipped below the waistband of his pants. "You make me so hard…" He adjusted himself and his length was again untouched. She reached for him, but he gently pushed her hand away. "Later." Understanding, she thrust her hips twice more and Nathan felt her release. She fell forward into his chest and he slid his fingers from her body, bringing them to his mouth to tease her. "Mmm…" he purred. He held her as her pulse slowed, then casually led her back to the dance floor.

A couple of hours later, the party ended and Nathan went home with Sydney. She wanted a shower and Nathan wanted to relax. He had only wanted a glass of water when he stopped halfway down the stairs. He could hear Arlen and David in the kitchen.

"He's nice enough and all…"

"Nice enough?" Arlen asked, his eyes wide. "David, he's perfect for her! I couldn't have asked for a better birthday gift than this!"

David cocked an eyebrow. "So…my gift wasn't…"

"Oh, you know what I mean."

David smiled. "I do. Thing is…well, isn't he a bit…boring?"

"What?"

"Well, he's a history teacher, doesn't that imply boredom right away?" Arlen sat down at the kitchen table and glared at his love with disapproval. "What?"

Arlen sighed. "They have their jobs in common, they both adore music…did you see the way he was dancing with her? He was like sex on legs!"

Nathan smiled to himself, oddly pleased with Arlen's comment. At least Arlen's on my side…

"Lover, look at her past relationships, hm? Obviously you two didn't work out, though there was never any hope of that…but, well, I certainly made her happy in the bedroom – you heard one or two of those trysts…"

"Try dozens." Arlen rolled his eyes.

"Then John…oh, those two shook the house a bit, didn't they?"

Nathan hated that he was listening to this conversation, hated that he didn't just retreat to Sydney's room right away…and hated that he was now bound and determined to show the man downstairs just how capable he was of being absolutely everything Sydney needed.

He made his way back up the stairs without making a sound and paced Sydney's room for a moment. He heard her shower turn off and smiled, the act carnal. It was greedy, but would benefit them both…and he would talk to her…afterwards.

Sydney walked into her bedroom, her hair piled on top of her head and a towel wrapped around her body. She had assumed Nathan was downstairs, so she was pleasantly surprised to see him standing in front of her bed. "Hey, you," she said sweetly.

"Did I make you wet tonight?" he asked her, his eyes dark.

Sydney choked on nothing but the air. "What?"

"Not when we strayed into the corner, I know that answer, but when we were dancing…" He walked toward her, enjoying the unknowing look in her eyes. "…you were grinding up against me…" His eyes closed and his hips rolled. Truth be told he'd been aching for her for hours. "…I know you felt me against you." Sydney blushed, she had indeed felt him, hard against her. "Were you wet for me?"

Arlen's head turned, his eyes wide. "Oh my God, Kayla's monitor is in there…"

"Shhh!" David waved his hand. "Don't you dare think about turning that off."

"David, no, you…" Arlen stopped speaking as David's hand wandered his thigh.

"Audible foreplay, baby."

"God, yes," Sydney breathed. She ran her tongue along her teeth. "To be fair though, you also do that to me when I'm thinking about you in sixth period." She walked toward him, dropping her towel. "Hard for me now?" she asked, her voice innocent.

Nathan's response was to grab her roughly, his hands cupping her rear and squeezing. He rubbed his clothed length against her. "What do you think?"

Sydney smiled, her stomach flipping and her sex soaking. She moaned into his chest. "Baby, I don't know what's gotten into you, but…" Nathan trailed a finger up her spine, making her back arch. "…go with it."

"Might get rough," he whispered, licking her ear.

Her chest heaved, the sight inviting. "I hope so." She pawed at him, removing his shirt. "That fucking body of yours, Nathan…" She stooped, her tongue tracing the outline of his abdominal muscles.

"Like it, do you?" She slid up his body, nodding. "Anything else you like?" Her hand reached for his waistband, but he pushed it away. "Get on the bed," he ordered. He winked at her, letting her know everything was safe and he was needy. She loved that he had more than one side to himself in the bedroom, it was something she'd never before experienced. She did as he asked and sat down on the bed. "Spread your legs."

She wanted to push him, she loved when he let go and took control at the same time. She knew he'd never hurt her, even better she knew how much he wanted her and loved her. She pressed her knees together. "Mm…I'm not so sure, baby."

His hands went to her knees and he spread them apart for her. "Defiant girl, huh?" His head lowered and he breathed on her core, not touching her. "Maybe I shouldn't be down here..." Sydney whined, wishing she hadn't. A low laugh passed Nathan's lips. "I do this to you," a hint of wonder in his voice. "I'm the one that gets you this worked up?" His mouth was still inches away from where she wanted him. "Too hot to answer for me?" He breathed on her again, her hips squirming.

"Fuck, Nathan," she whimpered.

"Oh, that's my plan." He grazed her with his finger and she jerked. "Maybe just a little taste." He peeked up at her, sliding his finger into his mouth.

"Ahh…" She licked at her lips. "I don't care how you do it…Christ, I don't care what you do it with, but I need you…"

"You need me to…?"

Sydney swallowed, her body in pain from the want inside her. "Fuck me, Nathan."

He knew it was wrong, but he hoped the monitor in the room was picking up every last word. It wasn't that he doubted himself in the least…more of an alpha male response to put the rest of the "pack" in its place. Without hesitation, he dipped his tongue inside her, her taste making him buck against the edge of the bed. Sydney screamed out, another bonus of revealing their relationship. "So sweet…" He licked along her folds, his fingers further teasing her until he bit down gently on her clit. "Don't you fucking come yet," he snarled.

She didn't care what this classified her as. Nathan's dark side was a turn on Sydney had never expected and never wanted to live without. There was nothing more amazing than when they made love, but this…this was base human nature and something they had both lived without for too long. She wanted to thank Celia for depriving him for so many years, for creating the tiger that was crawling up her body, kissing and nipping at her as he did do…maybe one day she would.

"You make me so fucking hard, Syd," he growled, kicking the second leg of his pants off. "I think about you at night and I can't sleep…"

"Call me next time," she panted, "I'll take care of you." She reached down and grabbed him, her thumb circling the tip of his arousal.

"Do you think of me?" Had Sydney's skin not already have turned bright pink with arousal, she would have blushed. "Do you, baby?" He teased her, running his length along her folds.

"Yes." It was more a heated sigh than a word.

"Do I make you touch yourself?"

Her answer was instant. "God, yes…uhn…" His finger was inside her again, stroking the answers from her. "I think…my body's obsessed with yours sometimes…"

"Just me?" he asked, a little too loudly.

"Only you…Nathan, I want you…" She heard him tear open a packet.

"How deep, baby?" Her body shuddered and she couldn't answer. Nathan sheathed himself and looked down at his lover. Her rose tinted skin becoming slick, her lips full…he did this to her. Not the former lover in the kitchen, not the faux pirate that abandoned her, it was all him. "All the way then." He lifted her hips, placing her legs on his shoulders and buried himself in her, a guttural moan escaping his lips and a high-pitched yelp leaving hers. His hips began to roll into her, slow, tortuous, and wonderful.

"Fuck…so fucking good, Nathan…harder," she begged. "Fucking harder!"

David's hand was over his mouth and Arlen was grinning ear to ear. "I'm pretty sure he's going to take excellent care of her in the bedroom, honey." David reached for the monitor. "Don't you dare! You started this…I'm curious about the finish."

"Jesus, Syd…" He couldn't control his hips and he felt her clench around him. "That's right, baby…tighter…" She was screaming his name and he was relentless with her. He slowed only for a moment to keep himself from coming. He put her legs down and smiled. "Hands and knees," he said, but to Sydney, it sounded close to begging. She did as he said and he entered her from behind. She only stayed on her hands for a few moments before he brought her back up against his chest; one hand on her breast, the other below her waist, his fingers roughly working her clit.

She felt his body tense and she reached down to gently squeeze him. Loving the dirty talk they'd been using, she begged him, "Come for me." With a final groan, he did just that. They collapsed onto the bed, their mouths now hungry despite their exhaustion. Sydney had never once liked the idea of tasting herself, but somehow Nathan made it seem sexy.

When they broke apart for air, Nathan moved so Sydney's head could rest on his chest. "That was a little selfish," he whispered.

Sydney looked at the monitor obviously now, having an idea of what made the night go in this direction. "No, it wasn't," she whispered back. "I'm certain you made your point."

"Are you…"

"Absolutely not," she interrupted. "I like the dominant you."