Demons (An AU Nathan Gardner Story)

Chapter 9 - Interruptions and Diversions

"Oh...right there...mmm...so good..." Sydney's voice echoed against the tiled shower wall, relaxed.

"Like that, hm?" Nathan was running a loofah along her lower back.

Sydney giggled, reaching behind her to caress Nathan's face. "Are we breaking our own rules?"

Nathan nipped the side of her neck. "We've been going at one another for...what day is it?"

Her giggle turned into a full-fledged laugh. "Still Sunday. You only got here last night."

"And what a night and morning it's been..."

Sydney rolled her eyes. "Nathan, it's somewhere around four in the afternoon."

Nathan turned Sydney to face him and gently took her into his arms - before pushing her against the wall of the shower. "Want me again before six?"

"Fuck yes." The words left her mouth before she could process them.

"Insatiable..."

"Sydney! I can't do it anymore!" Arlen's voice boomed into the bathroom, panicked. "He just...he pushes every button I have and..." He shoved the shower curtain aside, and his teary eyes went wide. "Holy shit! Honey, I..."

"Fuck!" Nathan yelped, not understanding what was going on.

"Oh God," Sydney groaned, her face instantly red.

Arlen backed up. "Leaving now...keep sudsing, kids!" He left the bathroom, swearing as he went to his bedroom.

Nathan looked at Sydney. "The best friend?" Sydney nodded. "The one who isn't going to say anything?" She nodded again, biting at her lower lip in frustration and a little bit of fear; she was scared that Nathan would never come back. "So, here, we basically can come and go as we please?" Sydney's face began to change and she nodded in response. "Well, we'd better make sure he's okay and I suppose you should introduce me properly since he just saw..."

"Every last perfect inch of your body?" she asked, relieved.

He ran his hand along her hip. "Yeah, that."

"You sure? Once you go Arlen..."

Nathan reached for the knobs, ending the comforting stream of water that had been relaxing both of their bodies. "Positive. Besides, I need to know if the noise will bother him."

"What noise?" Sydney asked, blushing as she understood.

"Suddenly so shy," Nathan teased, grabbing a towel from the rack just outside the shower. He wrapped it around Sydney, the act more intimate than he intended. To break the moment, he seized a drop of water from her neck, being sure to let his teeth graze her. A noise escaped her lips letting him know her thoughts were far from anything cozy.

They quickly dried and dressed, then found Arlen downstairs in the kitchen. He had a cup of hot chocolate in his hands and a bottle of whipped cream flavored vodka next to him.

Arlen's eyes were red-rimmed and watery. "I'm so sorry, Syd. There's no car in the driveway, I had no idea that..."

"Wasn't in any shape to drive last night," Nathan interrupted. "I took a cab here and, uh...hi, I'm Nathan." Nathan extended his hand and Arlen's features brightened a little.

"Arlen," he said, offering a firmer grip than Nathan anticipated. "So, you're the one who's taken all of my best friend's innocence, hm?"

Nathan laughed. "She's been telling you she's innocent, has she?"

"Well, maybe she hasn't been for years, but you've certainly reignited her."

"She's standing right here," Sydney offered, embarrassed, "and hasn't exactly been anything near innocent for quite a while."

"Well, sure, honey," Arlen said, now smiling, "but from what you've told me, you're a dirty little thing now and," his eyes went to Nathan, "I completely understand why. You're sinfully delicious, aren't you?" He took another sip of his hot chocolate. "And completely Syd's type." Sydney's eyes went wide. "Oh, Syd, he'd figure that out sooner or later."

"I'm your type?" Nathan questioned, a huge grin on his face.

"Dark features, a bit professor like, and under those clothes - well, I think that makes you everyone's type now, doesn't it?"

Nathan blushed, but quickly turned back to Sydney. "Well, I think it's safe to say that you're in my wheelhouse too."

"Okay, Arlen," Sydney chimed in, wanting desperately to change the subject. "What happened?"

"He found out where I was for my 'night away from David' and intruded on my brunch. My favorite of all the meals!"

Sydney frowned. "How'd he find you? You were over an hour away."

He shrugged, "Knowing him, he may have put a tracking device on me somewhere." He sighed overdramatic. "I should have listened to you Syd, if you couldn't change him, how..."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa..." Nathan looked at Sydney. "The fiancé that left you for a...Arlen's the..."

"Withholding some things, Syd?" Arlen wondered aloud. "Good way to keep things casual - until your roommate comes home early and..."

"It's okay," Sydney said, putting her hand on Arlen's shoulder, then her head. "It would have come up eventually."

"You two have a very different relationship, don't you?" Nathan asked.

"You've no idea," Arlen laughed. "Long story short, she wanted me to be happy and her ex decided he liked hardons more than..."

"Arlen!"

"Oh, it is what it is, honey. Anyway, I was convinced I could fix him and she gave me her blessing and now, two years later, I'm wishing she would have forbidden it."

Nathan began to feel a bit uncomfortable. "I'm thinking that I should probably get going."

"Oh, no!" Arlen begged, nearly tipping over his mug. "Don't end your sexcapades because of me! In fact, how about I cook us all some dinner while you two go finish up what I interrupted..."

"I really feel like I'm intruding and..."

"Please, don't go." Arlen's eyes were watering again, which confused Nathan as well as Sydney. "I know you two are being casual and everything, but I'd be so grateful for the distraction."

Nathan looked at Sydney, but she was the one who spoke. "Arlen is an incredible cook. He's taught me a lot over the course of our lives."

"Lives?" Nathan asked.

"C'mon," she continued, grabbing Nathan's hand. "We'll see how much noise he can stand." She looked over her shoulder at Arlen and winked. He mouthed the words "thank you."

Once upstairs again, Sydney reached for Nathan's clothes, but he stopped her. "I don't think so," he laughed.

"You wanted to test his threshold, remember?"

"And your life sounds a little more complicated than..."

"Why does that matter? We're just...we're not..."

"Syd, when I came here last night I placed everything at your feet that I thought I'd never burden you with. I just want you to know that..."

She shook her head. "I appreciate it, Nathan, I do, but it's okay. My life is...my burdens are...they're mine." She saw a stung look in Nathan's eyes and felt a brief pang of guilt. "It's just a lot of baggage and too much embarrassment, Nathan. I don't need you to look at me differently or to want to...end our unique arrangement."

Nathan was quiet for a moment, but eventually understood what Sydney meant. Her past sounded more painful than she initially let on and he didn't want to push. "I'm sorry," he said, inching toward her, testing things. He didn't want to keep her uncomfortable by any means. "Can I make it up to you?"

"Be rough with me." Her voice was sure.

"Syd..."

"You like it and I need it." She tugged his shirt up over his head. "Pin me down and make me beg," she whispered in his ear. She smiled in relief when she felt his body react.