The Online Experience

April 10, 1996 (Part 4)

After she's warmed back up and calmed down, I lifted Sydney's body out of the cooling water, carefully dried every last inch of her delicate, still new to me skin and took her to bed.  We laid wrapped in the warmth of her down comforter, her face buried against the dark hair of my chest with my arms circled around her, pulling her frame to me, reminding her that I was here, not going anywhere.  Her left hand rested gently at my hip, her fingertips trailing aimlessly over the sharp edge of my hip bone. If it weren't for the heavy anxiety weighing me down over what had transpired in the last few hours, there would be no stopping me ; I would devour every inch of her, learn every centimeter of her flesh with my tongue, but as enticing as her soothing touch was that wasn't what either one of us needed.  We didn't exchange a single word as we laid there, instead my mind went racing through the day and how one persons selfish actions had turned an otherwise amazing day completely upside down.  I didn't want that for Sydney, since our very first conversation online so many months ago all I've wanted to do was make her life better, happier. I never intended to expose her to the woman I'd been forced to marry for the safety of what could possibly be my unborn child. I'd become almost immune to the types of coarse words that flew from my wife's mouth on that phone call today, but I never wanted to subject Sydney to that.  I never wanted Sydney to know the hatred that my wife held no only for her, but for me as well. Drawing a deep breath, I let those words roll through my head; I married someone that for all intensive purposed appeared to hate me.  That thought alone sent a chill straight through my heart as I questioned what I'd really done and how I was going to make this all work out.  How exactly was I going to protect Sydney and my child, of that life truly is a part of me. After some time Sydney's breathing started to soften and her fingers stilled, her palm laying flat against the waist of my cotton boxers, molding to the curve of my hip.  I lay with her, holding her tight until she shifts her weight, rolling over and facing away from me within the confines of her small bed. I watched the soft lines of her exposed back as she curled deeper into the fluffy blanket and once she finally settled in I took that as my cue to get started on the task I'd been waiting patiently to attend to.

 Carefully I rolled out of her warm bed and threw on the black pair of pants I had folded and placed on her computer chair earlier along with an oversized, high neck sweater I grabbed out of my luggage. Pulling her bedroom door closed behind me I found my small black cell phone, with its screen illuminated from an incoming call, resting on the wooden coffee table in front of her couch. Grabbing the little device, I flipped it open and checked the screen to find 10 missed calls.  With the aggravated push of a single button I brought the device to my ear as the first ring was interrupted by the line being hastily answered.

"How the hell did she get Sydney's number?"

"Boss I've bee trying to reach you for the last hour where have you been? Are you alright?" The level of stress present in John's voice only agitated me more than I already was.

"Well John, I've been trying to deal with the fall out over here from my wife calling Sydney's apartment and ripping into her." I tried to calm myself as I drew a glass of cold water from the tap and brought it to my lips, taking a large gulp. "Now, where the fuck did she get this number?"

"I. . .I didn't know. . . umm. . ."

"I swear John if I have to come home early to sort this shit out you're gonna be looking for new employment before I even get through the god damn door. Now fucking answer me!" I tried to contain my raised voice, trying not to disturb Sydney who was still sleeping not too far away. 

"I didn't know Mayte was friends with Meg." taking a seat at the sturdy kitchen table I felt my brow furrow at that name.

"Meg?" I asked, my brow furrowing at the familiar name, but I was unable to match it to a face.

"Yeah Meg, my now ex-girlfriend. . ." his firm voice trailed off for a moment, "she told me an hour ago she gave Sydney's number to Mayte. . ."

"Meg? Sydney's friend?" my jaw nearly hit the table as I remembered the night Sydney walked through the door of my dressing room behind her inconspicuous friend.

"I'm sorry boss. She's been coming around the Park for a while now and I didn't even realize she had made any connections with Mayte. . ."I couldn't even focus on the words pouring through the line as I started to sink deeper into my own anger about what was happening and how all of this would effect the women resting just beyond the pale wood door. "Hey boss are you listening? Boss are. .?"

"What?!" My single word answer louder and more agitated than I intended it to come out, slapping my right hand over my lips, as though to quiet the noise I had already let break free.  Trying to take a deep steadying breath, I let my fingers slip down my face, gripping my chin as my eyes closed and I tried to steady my thoughts. "Sorry John," a loud, tired sigh passing over my lips, "I wasn't. What, what were you saying?"

"Matye apparently gave Meg some sob story about how Sydney is breaking up your otherwise happy marriage." I've never before felt a lump that large set right in the center of my throat. A lump so large I was afraid for a moment air wouldn't even pass. "Of course once they figured out who Sydney was, well. . ." John's voice came across just as anxious as I felt sitting at the kitchen table. From my right the tiniest creaking noise resonated, drawing my attention to the now open bedroom door and the sight of Sydney standing in the open door way. She looked no worse for wear from the events of the day. Her hair was hanging loosely over her shoulders, her body covered in a formfitting baby pink tank to that came to rest just above the waist of her black cheekie underwear. "Meg didn't see a problem giving away her number. I'm sorry boss, this is on me, if I hadn't been hanging around with Meg. . ."

"If you hadn't," my words directed solely at John, but my eyes were hungrily roaming over the curve of the supple hips that were slowly making their way toward me, "then I might not have met Sydney. Don't apologize."  Finally reaching me, I turned in the chair, my legs facing her as she straddled my tense thighs. My mind raced, worried how she would react once she found out her friend knew, her friend who clearly disapproved of what was happening.  Her arms wrapped around my neck as she gave me a the slightest questioning grin. "Thank you John, I have to go." without waiting for a response I closed the phone, throwing it on the table before landing my hands on the warm exposed flesh of her hips.

"Are you alright?" she asked as he right hand came up, fingertips raking through my hair as if to straighten it. 

"Meg gave her your number." words flat as I held my breath waiting to see anger, embarrassment,  disappointment, any emotion flash across her face really, but instead she only leaned her head to her right as she seemed to study me.

"I don't care." The smile raising on her lips made my brow furrow slightly and my lust swell. Bending her head down, resting her forehead against mine, as her eyes bore into mine in an unforgiving stare. "I'm sorry." gripping her hips tighter I puller her flush against my body.

"What on earth could you have to me sorry about sweetheart?"

"I didn't say it back." her teeth slowly came over her bottom lip, biting gently.

"Say what mama?" my head shaking with the slightest confusion.

"I love you too Prince." my heart twitched in excitement just as the lust in my pants did at the mere sound of those words passing over her glistening lips.  "I do. . .I love you." for all the women I've ever hear utter those words in my direction no one had ever made those words feel like the breath of life into drowning lungs, not until this moment.  As my lungs filled with her given breath of life, I crashed my lips down on hers, trying to seal those words between us forever.