Piecing Together Sydney (A Sydney West Novel Book 3) (5 page)

The next night the four of us went out to a bar for some drinks and to act like normal college kids. Jason dared Amelia to a rematch of pool. I told him not to, but men didn’t always listen. Hunter missed out on the first game, so he sat back and prepared to watch his girlfriend take down his best friend…again.

“I’m going to get drinks.”

“And wings!” Hunter shouted after me.

“All right!” I moved past a couple sitting at a table and walked over to Jason as he rubbed blue chalk on his pool stick.

“I’m going to beat her this time.” He looked determined as his eyebrows furrowed together.

I kissed the tip of his nose. “Whatever you say, babe.”

He grabbed my wrist. “You don’t think I can win?”

I glanced behind me and saw Amelia kissing Hunter. Good, she wasn’t paying attention. “I don’t want to get in the middle of my maid of honor and future husband is all. I told you my piece and that this isn’t going to end well, but you refused to listen.”

A frown deepened the wrinkles around his eyebrows. “But I can beat her.”

Amelia laughed. “Please. I’m going to kill you like I did in Arizona and this time I have more witnesses.”

Jason glanced around the packed bar and swallowed.

I looked behind my shoulder to see Amelia’s smug look. “Regretting it yet?” I whispered to Jason.

He rubbed the pad of his thumb on the back of my hand, as if it was some kind of lucky charm. “Nope. I’m going to win and prove you wrong. I need to win back your faith.” His lips curled at his joke.

I kissed him and nudged my man toward the table. “Good luck. I’m getting the drinks now.”

“Don’t forget wings!”

I flashed Hunter a smile. “Those too.”

He gave me a thumbs up and turned his attention to the game between our best friends.

I forced myself to the bar. It was tough getting through the maze of bodies. We were at the Heart of the Ocean. I normally hung out at the bar and the dance floor, never knew they had a pool table last year. A girl with pink hair with some kind of glitter streaks got two drinks and left. I squeezed myself in and waved the bartender down. He had long dark hair tied back in a braid.

“What are you havin’?” He shouted over the music.

I leaned over the counter. “I need two Sex on the Beaches, a Long Island ice tea, and a mojito…and an order of chicken wings.” I almost forgot the food. Hunter wouldn’t have forgiven me all summer.

He nodded. “Okay. I’ll have it out in a bit.”

I leaned back on the counter and watched the people dance. It was like some kind of sick mating call, one I used to long to do almost every night.

A guy with the chest of a heavy weight champion lifted his beer at me and walked over. Great, someone thinking he could get into my panties. Maybe the old Sydney would’ve gone to a back room with him, but not the new one.

“Hey, sweet cheeks. What are you doing here alone? Need company?” He forced himself next to me, causing the stick thin guy in the beach scene shirt to fall off the stool. The beefy guy sat down on the now-clear stool and touched my thigh.

I moved my legs away from him and gave the bastard one of my meanest glares. “I’m not alone. I’m getting drinks for my fiancé and myself.”

That didn’t stop him from reaching across me, touching my collarbone. “He shouldn’t have sent you alone. I’m much better.” He trailed his hand down my arm and took my hand. “Let me show you.” He tried to yank me away from the bar into the mess of bodies.

“No!” I slapped him across the face with my free hand, which happened to be my left. My ring spun around and scraped his face when I hit him, leaving a bloody line along his cheek.

He touched his cheek, looked at his fingers, and saw the blood. “You little tramp!”

A girl with raven black hair and a bright red dress came between us. “You need to go.” She pushed the guy and he fell on another dude that was twice his size.

The other guy got pissed and shoved the dirtbag off of him, muttering some kind of threat. The girl turned around and gave me a once over.

“Gaby?” I smiled at seeing my old high school friend again.

“In the flesh!” She gave me a bone crushing hug and released me. Gaby snagged my left hand and whistled. “Damn, you weren’t lying on Facespace were you?” She looked up at me. “You’re really getting hitched?”

I nodded and pointed toward the wing my future husband and our friends were in. “Yup, I’m tied down and retired from the party lifestyle.”

She frowned. “You were my girl! Now everyone I went to school with is married and/or popping out babies.” She eyed my belly. “You’re not having a little one as well, are you?”

I hugged myself. “God, no! I’m getting married because I’m in love, not because I’m knocked up, you idiot.”

She laughed, throwing her head back. “God, we need to have a fucking amazing bachelorette party for you then! When is the big day again?”

I licked my lips and looked down the bar, seeing if the bartender was ever going to give me my order. “My wedding is July twenty-second.”

Gaby pulled her cell phone out from between her breasts and typed something. I wasn’t sure if she was making a note or texting someone.

“Okay, I made a reminder for myself.” She gave me a pointed look. “Don’t forget to invite me to your bachelorette party!” She gave me air kisses on either side of my face. “I need to go see a man about a horse.” Gaby winked and touched her nose. She meant she needed to see her dealer about some coke.

“It was nice seeing you. I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop. My friend Amelia is in charge of my wedding planning, but I can still invite people.”

“Awesome-sauce. See you soon.” She waved and disappeared into the chaos of dancing people.

The bartender finally came with my order. I paid and took the tray back to my cozy corner of the club where three people were waiting for me.

I held the tray above my head as I zigzagged back to the pool table. Jason was sweating like a cowboy who had been out in the hot sun all day. Amelia leaned back on her stick, examining her fingernails. I looked down at the table. Only one solid ball and three striped were left on the table. I had a feeling Amelia’s was the solid one.

Hunter stole the tray from me like he hadn’t seen food in days. “Finally, my wings!” He dug in and ignored his drink.

I sat across from him and sipped my Sex on the Beach. “Calm down, man. You don’t need to eat like a wild animal.”

He tore meat off the bone with his teeth and rolled his eyes, not bothering to reply.

“Hell yeah! I told you, loser!” Amelia said in a sing-song voice, running around the table.

Jason sank into the chair next to me, grabbing his mojito. “I think she does something to the pool stick,” he murmured.

I laughed. “She’s just good, but hey, you wanna play me and—”

He watched me over the rim of his glass. “Don’t try to baby me. I know I could beat you with my eyes closed.”

I clenched my teeth. That was probably true, I was lucky to hit the balls and keep them on the table, but that was harsh. “Fine, we can drink each other under the table then. I’m good at this game.”

Jason opened his mouth, but didn’t respond. I probably didn’t want to hear it. Whatever he wanted to say was most likely something smart assy.

I took a wing before Hunter ate them all. “So now what?”

Amelia sat down next to her boyfriend and lifted up her Sex on the Beach. “To winners!” she said and took a sip.

“Oh Amelia, you and this mean streak you get when winning. Would you even let a child win?”

She pressed her lips together in thought. “I don’t know, maybe not, unless they cried a lot. Then I may throw the game for the sake of my ears.”

I nudged Jason with my elbow. “See, you should cry and then—”

His eyes went dark, like those of a killer shark. “You finish that sentence and the wedding is off.”

I chuckled nervously. “So-rry.”

Amelia squeezed her orange into her glass and pushed it away, leaving the drink half finished.

“Are you going to drink that or play with it?”

She slid it over to me. “You can have the rest. It’s too sweet.”

I downed hers and then mine. “Should I get more?”

Jason cracked his knuckles, glancing over at Amelia. “No, I think it’s best if we all go back to the beach house.”

Hunter ate most of the wings and grabbed his glass with fingers covered in barbeque sauce. “We could order pizza.”

I tilted my head. “Do you never stop eating?”

He grabbed his chest. “Ouch.”

Amelia kicked me under the table. “My man likes to eat. Nothing wrong with that.” She turned to him, wiping some sauce from the corner of his mouth with her fingertip.

“Ugh, too lovey dovey.”

Jason draped his arm around my shoulders. “I thought you were more into that stuff now.”

I shrugged him off. “Don’t test me.” I winked, letting him know I was joking.

A girl in six inch heels and a white dress that barely contained her breasts and ass stumbled into the room. She pointed to the pool table. A guy in jeans and a Kiss shirt followed her. She couldn’t set the game up to save her life and kept giggling to herself.

The guy had his eyes glued on her. It was clear he didn’t want to play the game. He was more interested in getting her out of that dress. He closed the distance between them, whispering something in her ear. She twisted her ankle, and he caught her and didn’t let go of her arms. He led her away.

Knots formed in my stomach. I was never that bad when partying, but I could’ve been. I liked control, so I always tried to make sure I was in charge as much as I could. The guy only picked the place simply because I liked to leave before dawn and that was hard if we were in my bedroom.

I turned my back on them. Jason flashed me a lopsided smile, making me feel warm and gooey inside like a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie.

“Let’s go home.” I placed my hand in Jason’s and stood. “We don’t need this place.”

He pulled me into his chest. “All I need is you.”

Amelia and Hunter got up and held hands. They paused next to Jason and me as we stood still pressing our foreheads to each other. I loved having someone to connect with and not even need to say a word and be understood.

“Who is lovey dovey now? We’ll be at the car…”

Jason smiled before kissing me on the lips. “Come on.”

We walked out to the Charger. The night air was salty and warm, the perfect mix. The air in Arizona was always dry and dusty. Maybe after I got my doctorate Jason and I should settle down in California. I could open a therapy office somewhere, and we could surf on the weekends. That sounded like paradise.

Amelia and Hunter retired to their bedroom, but didn’t go to sleep. Their bed needed to move away from the wall more.

I laid in Jason’s arms as we watched a sitcom. When it ended, a news show about celebrities came on. The female host smiled into the camera. She was wearing a long leopard printed dress.

“Hello. Today, Brad Penn and Lacey Moore were seen holding hands after a concert in Italy. Maybe their old flame is back on? In other news…”

I grabbed the remote and clicked the TV off. Brad was a summer boy of mine last year, though I knew he was using me because of something between Lacey and him. It was kind of obvious with him muttering her name as he slept.

I didn’t need any rock star when I had Jason King. He was my other half and the one who patched my heart back together.

“Jason, I love you.” I buried my head into his chest. His arm wrapped around me tightly, making me feel warm and tingly all over.

“I can’t wait until we’re married and everyone knows how crazy we are for each other.” His words tasted like sweet dark chocolate.

A giggle escaped my lips. “God, we
are
crazy.”

Jason kissed my jaw and moved down my throat toward my breasts. I threw my head back and let him continue going south. No man has ever made me come like Jason, like explosions of passion, and still made me feel safe and cared for. Like I was a princess. Better yet, a queen.

The calendar turned to June. Our wedding was in a month. I rolled over and untangled my legs from Jason’s. He was still in a deep slumber; his lips twitched as he dreamed. My heart ached at how much I loved that man. The bed was warm, but I needed to get up to pee. As I slipped out of the sheets, he muttered something. I tiptoed into the bathroom and tried to be as quiet as I could.

I opened the door slowly, planning on tiptoeing back into bed, when I spotted Jason sitting up and looking around puzzled. His short hair stuck up in odd places due to bed head.

“Hey, did I wake you?” I crawled into bed and snuggled close to him again.

He enveloped in me his arms. “No, but I moved my arm and felt only empty space. I guess that woke me.”

I nuzzled his neck. “We’ve become that lovesick couple, haven’t we?”

He chuckled, making his Adam’s apple bounce. “Maybe, but we’re getting married. I think people expect us to love each other so much it makes others nauseous.”

I traced his hair line down his stomach to the edge of his boxers. “I guess. What should we do today? Amelia and Hunter are gone all day and maybe all night too.”

Jason kissed the top of my head. “Remind me why they’re ditching us?”

I sat up, propping myself up on my elbow. “Amelia wants a little break from wedding planning and to enjoy the summer with her boyfriend.” I shrugged, raking my teeth over my bottom lip. Jason’s breath hitched. The reaction I was hoping for. “I don’t want to leave the bedroom today. I think we need a break from the wedding too…” I rubbed my lips together and looked up at Jason through my lashes.

“That’s one of the best ideas I’ve heard.” He flipped me onto my back and kissed my collarbones. I wiggled under him. He knew I preferred being on top and liked to tease me.

“Come on, baby. You’re killing me.” I couldn’t get out from under him. His body pinned me to the bed.

He cackled, grabbing both my wrists in one hand and holding them above my head. “Be still, and I’ll let you go.” His tongue ran down my throat to my chest. He nibbled at the top of my breast. His free hand unhooked my bra, freeing my breasts. “I love it when you only sleep in a bra and panties.”

I sucked in my breath, trying to keep from crying out in need. My body felt like it was on fire and he kept fanning the flames. He let go of my wrists, running his hands down my waist. I raked my nails down his back.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured, kissing my stomach. “I love it when you moan.” He bit me right above my left hip.

“Jason!” I cried. He had to work harder for my moan.

He flashed me a sinister smile and tore my panties down my legs. His boxers went next. I placed my hand in front of my sweet spot.

“No love without a glove. We’re not having a baby while still undergrads.”

I sat up as he peeled himself off of me.

“You’re on birth control and I’ll pull—”

“Don’t even finish that.” I pointed at him, narrowing my eyes. “That is a stupid method boys came up with to trick girls into—”

He held his hands up. “I was kidding, Syd. Didn’t mean to get on a touchy subject.”

I folded my arms, but it looked more like I was cradling my breasts due to their large size. “Whatever. Just get a condom. I like having two safe guards, and then I’m going to fuck you until you shout my name and forget you ever made that ridiculous joke.”

His silver eyes glided down my nude body. By the looks of his member growing in size, I knew he liked what he saw. I leaned back on the pillows as he searched for a condom in the dresser drawer.

“I thought we had a new box. What happened to it?” Between my thighs hummed, and this wait was making the ache grew more intense.

“It got shoved in the back when we did laundry.” He held the box up like a well-earned trophy. “Got one,” he said, pulling a square from the box.

He jumped back into the bed. I took it and bit the foil open with my teeth. “Finally,” I purred, sliding the rubber on his stiff cock. I stroked him a few times. It was fun to tease him. “You ready for me?”

Jason kissed my lips and moved to my ear, sucking it into his mouth like a piece of candy. “I’m always ready for you.”

His words sent a thrill through me, like the tick of a roller coaster going up a huge hill. I pushed him into the mattress. “Good.” Jason looked delicious as I straddled him. His hands gingerly caressed my breasts. His thumbs rubbed my nipples until they were pulsing and turned into hard pebbles.

I arched my back as I lowered myself onto him. He fit perfectly inside of me. My walls welcomed him home. Jason’s hands moved to my hips as I rode him.

“Fuck, Sydney. I love you and this…” One of his hands slipped to where our sexes met. A finger moved to my nub, forcing me into overdrive. I dug my nails into my own scalp, tossing my hair over my shoulder.

My hips moved as he rolled himself under me. It was a perfect match. I screwed my eyes closed as I drew higher to my climax. It was as if I was soaring and able to reach out to the clouds. Jason released into the condom. I continued to rub onto him and found my own release a few seconds later.

I laid next to Jason. We cuddled and let our bodies mold to each other.

“Want to watch a movie and maybe order some pizza later?”

He kissed the edge of my mouth. “That sounds perfect.”

The entire day was spent in bed, except for when Jason had to toss his boxers on and get the pizza at the door. We watched three movies and had round two of mind blowing sex. I’d never tire of Jason. He was a never-ending adventure.

The house was quiet with just us in it. If we were silent, sometimes we’d hear a seagull or an airplane fly over the house. Everything about Malibu was peaceful and refreshing: the salty air, the man in my bed, and mostly not having college hang over me like a death sentence.

“We’re going to need to come up with new moves for the honeymoon,” Jason said, shattering my thoughts.

“Why do you say that?” I stared above us at the ceiling. There was a tiny crack in the corner.

Jason cupped my breast, gently rubbing circles around my nipple until it peaked for him. “We’re using all our good moves here, and we’re so close to the beach. I don’t know how our honeymoon will beat this. Sex with you is just…I have no words.”

I laid my head down on his chest. His heart pounded in my head. “Our honeymoon will still be amazing because we’ll be alone for days and just eat and have sex.” I laughed. “Plus it will be ‘legit’ and not sinful anymore.”

He laughed. It sounded deep with my ear on his body. “I like the sinful part. We’ll just find a new way to be wicked.”

I licked my lips and grabbed his dick, making him tense. “I’m always wicked, darling.”

Jason forced me on my back. “You are a naughty girl, and I’m going to teach you a lesson right now.” He placed his mouth on my thigh and moved toward my sweet point. His tongue entered me and I melted as he worked his magic. He replaced his tongue with three fingers, rubbing and moving in and out until my body was sweaty and throbbing for more.

He stopped and slipped off the bed. I touched myself, rubbing to keep from going bat-shit crazy. “Jason! Where are you going? I don’t—”

A foil wrapper rustled, and he was back on the bed. “Just getting what you wanted first, Syd.” He slid on the condom and plunged into me.

“Fuck, yes.” I moaned and arched my back up, meeting his rhythm.

I came and we spooned as I fell into a dream world where sex filled the air. Jason hummed to me, holding me close. He inhaled my hair, making me feel precious. No one has ever made me feel like a beautiful doll and a powerful woman at the same time.

Our day off from wedding planning was one of the best days of the summer yet. In a few weeks was the big day. I’d be Mrs. Sydney Anne King, and I loved the ring to it.