Authors: Heather Leigh
“Syd, I love the new you.
” Drew grins and gives me a big kiss. “But I don’t think I could kick that many asses if anything happened to you in that mob. So let’s just play it by ear and stay in a hotel if we have to. I’d be willing to bet we could get a room at the Warren. I hear they just redid their nightclub and it’s pretty impressive. All the cool celebrities want to go there.”
I punch his arm lightly.
“Smartass.”
Chapter
37
Drew’s agent, Quentin Adair, is checking us into the Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood while we wait in the car like children. I know it’s better not to just walk into the lobby together and stand around at the front desk while guests stare at us, but I feel a little useless, forced into having someone else take care of me while I just sit here. Plus it’s late, our flight from Teterboro got into Van Nuys over an hour ago and we just got to the hotel. I swear Los Angeles traffic could stand up to New York City traffic any day of the week.
While I’m sulking, Drew is in a great mood. He keeps trying to feel me up in the back seat, saying that as long as we’re sitting in the back of a car in the dark we might as well make out. Tired of fending him off, I allow him to slip his hand up my shirt, just too fed up to protest anymore.
He takes advantage of my moment of weakness and
pulls the cup of my bra down, rolling my nipple with his thumb and forefinger. I suck in a sharp breath, and he takes that as a green light. Drew yanks up my shirt and draws my nipple into his hot mouth, sucking and nibbling until I’m writhing on the back seat.
“Drew, Quentin
will be back soon.”
He doesn’t m
ove his mouth away to answer me. “Don’t think about him while I’m trying to seduce you, Sydney. I don’t like it.”
So jealous
.
Drew continues torturing my stiff peak, then tugs down the opposite side of my bra, releasing my other breast and begins laving
that nipple. He bites me causing me to gasp out loud, and vanishes, pulling my shirt back down.
The front door of the car opens and Quentin hops in. He turns in the seat and hands Drew an envelope and two key cards. “Here’s your info and your keys. You’re in the Presidential Villa, so you’ll have a little bit of a walk. D
rew, you know the way, right?”
“Yes, thank you for doing this. Sydney wanted to just walk right on in the front door,” he says,
ratting me out in front of someone I just met.
My mouth falls open an
d I smack his chest, “Don’t be an ass, Drew.”
Quentin laughs, “Man, I love to see someone who doe
sn’t kiss your butt, pretty boy.”
I like Drew’s agent
a lot. He’s down to earth and about as un-Hollywood an agent you could find. He kind of reminds me of Drew, a man’s man: honest, direct, and a little rough around the edges. Drew told me that Quentin signed him back in Boston, where they’re both from.
Quentin was visiting family back home and went to see his nephew in a small playhouse production of Ibsen’s
A Doll’s House
. He was awestruck by nineteen year old Drew’s performance as the complicated Krogstad. Shortly after, Quentin got Drew his first major role as Finn Connell in the Thomas C. Sullivan film
Greater Good
. Chad got an Oscar for directing, and Drew became a star overnight.
I had Drew tell me all of this on the flight from New Jersey, so between that and
some help from a Google search I did on the plane, I hope I know enough about his work to be his girlfriend. I don’t want to seem ignorant when it comes to Drew’s acting. I stopped short of watching any of his movies. The Google search was intimidating enough, similar to the search I did on my dad. Massive amounts of information about Drew are out there for anyone to read. I hate it. I looked at his IMBD page and his Wikipedia page, both seemed accurate to my knowledge, which is zero.
I also broke down and read a blog about the night Drew confronted Adam and Kiera at Verve. I shouldn’t have done that.
3/9/14
Written by Kate M.
Superhot superstar Andrew Forrester almost came to blows with sexy Brit rocker Adam Reynolds last night at the NYC launch party for Verve, the swank new nightclub at the top of the Warren Hotel. A partygoer tells us that Reynolds and an unknown smokin’ hot redhead were getting cozy when Reynolds’ ex Kiera Radcliff confronted the other woman. The redhead immediately left the hotel after exchanging words with Radcliff.
Forrester arrived thirty minutes later, looking incredibly a
gitated, and headed straight for Reynolds and Radcliff who were still arguing over the departure of Reynolds’ mystery date. Forrester reportedly got in Reynolds’ face and was yelling at him over the beautiful redhead. A female friend intervened and convinced Forrester to leave the nightclub before any punches were thrown.
Who’s the redhead that has these two gorgeous hunks fighting over her? What did Radcliff say to upset the unknown woman and cause Forrester to come to her defense? Will it affect the chemistry between Forrester and Radcliff in the movie they are supposed to start filming soon? We hope to find this lucky girl soon and get some answers!
If that weren’t bad enough, there was a picture of Drew inches from Adam’s face, his fists balled up at his side. Drew is obviously shouting and Adam is holding his hands up in a gesture meant to calm Drew down. And the best part? There’s one-hundred and five pound Leah in her form-fitting little black dress, trying to push Drew away from Adam with Kiera Radcliff right behind her, looking quite pleased with herself.
I turned my computer off after that, disgusted
by the article. After thinking about it for a while, I conclude that it didn’t say a single thing that wasn’t true. Well, except for the ‘getting cozy’ with Adam part. I’m just mad at myself for putting Drew in the position where he felt he had to defend me to Adam and Kiera. And now, after meeting her? The thought of Drew working with her makes me physically ill.
Quentin had a bellhop get our luggage out of the trunk
when we got here, so Drew and I jump out of the car and head straight for our villa. We have to take an outdoor path to our room, but Drew knows exactly where to go. He tugs my hand impatiently, hurrying me along. I smile, knowing he wants to continue what he started in the car. It’s his own fault if he’s feeling frustrated, I told him several times to stop.
When we
get to our villa he hurriedly swipes the keycard, unlocking the door. Drew pulls me through and slams the door shut behind us. I turn to see him standing in front of the door, giving me a look that would make any female’s panties combust on the spot.
Drew takes a sultry step toward me, yanking his shirt over his head and
throwing it aside as he moves. Instinctively, I take a step back. He tilts his head and gives me a wicked smile. “Is that how it is, Sydney? Are you going to make me chase you?”
I attempt to answer him, but can’t make any noise come out. I have no idea why I stepped back. It’s purely a visceral reaction to him stalking toward me. My heart is beating a million miles an hour from the devilish look on his face and the physical perfection of his bare torso. I take another st
ep back, unable to stop myself.
“I see.” H
e unbuckles his belt and unfastens his button fly. Taking two slow steps, he kicks off each shoe and licks his lips. “I will catch you, and then I’m going to make you scream for teasing me.”
Holy shit
.
“I
’m not teasing you,” I whisper, the combination of excitement and nerves sending a rush of wetness between my thighs..
He takes another step toward me and
strips off his pants and socks. I move back again, matching his forward movement by going back with each step. Drew is standing in front of me, clothed only in his low slung black boxer briefs. I realize I’m blatantly staring at the huge bulge in his briefs and flick my gaze back up.
“
Eye fucking me again, Sydney?” He moves toward me again.
“No,” I c
roak and step back into a wall.
Knowing
that I’m trapped, Drew closes the final steps and puts his hands against the wall on either side of my head. The heat from his body is like a blowtorch to my skin. “Why are you trying to get away from me?” He trails his lips up my neck and murmurs in my ear. “Don’t you want me, Sydney?” He starts unbuttoning my jeans.
I like this version of Drew, he’s intimidating but hot as hell. He dips his hand down
the front of my pants and slides a finger against my heat. “Always so wet. I think you
do
want me, you just like to drive me crazy.” He removes his hand and puts it inside my shirt, tracing damp circles on my breast.
“Drew
.” I throw my head back against the wall as he tortures me. Reaching out, I rake my nails down his hard chest, trailing them across his defined abs and stopping at the waistband of his briefs. The sharp intake of his breath and the flinch of his skin when I touch him lets me know that he’s hovering on the edge of losing control of himself. I remove my hands and pull my shirt off, my breasts still exposed from when he freed them from my lingerie in the car.
“God you’re so
fucking hot. You have no idea what you do to me, to my self-control.” He reaches around and unhooks the lace bra letting it fall to the floor. Closing his eyes, I see the muscles in his jaw working as he tries to restrain his lust. When he opens his eyes and looks into mine, I know that he’s not going to be able to hold back much longer. I unzip my jeans and shimmy them down then reach to him and slide my thumbs under the waistband of his briefs, and tug hard, forcing his body against mine.
Drew groans when his hard shaft presses into me. I hike one leg up around his hips and lock him tight against the lace of my panties.
“I want you,” I tell him, tilting my head and dragging my wet tongue across his collarbone.
He steps back from me, breaking my grip. His eyes wild with desire, Drew shoves down his boxer briefs and grabs the fabric of my panties on each hipbone. With one sharp tug, he tears them apart and flings them aside. He presses back against my center and reaches under my knee to lift my leg up
as he thrusts into me roughly.
“Fuck, you feel so good,” he grunts as he pulls up my other leg.
I use my thighs to clamp down around his hips as he slides his hands under my backside and holds me against the wall. I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him, probing with my tongue as he brands me as his. Drew drives into my slick heat over and over at an unrelenting pace as I pant into his mouth.
“
Don’t hold back Sydney.”
I feel the building pressure of my climax rising as his strokes quicken. He rotates his hips into me roughly and I shatter, screaming his name as I spiral into a powerful orgasm. Drew bites down on my shoulder
as I pulse around his shaft, and he comes in violent spurts. He holds me against the wall for a minute, letting us both return from our high. I nuzzle his neck and inhale, loving the scent of him mixed with sex.
Not wanting to lose contact,
Drew carries me over to the bedroom nearest to the door, keeping us locked together. He places me down on the bed and lies on top of me, gently kissing me as we catch our breath.
“I love you so much, Drew.
” I knead his strong arms and shoulders, reveling in the feel of his powerful body.
“I love you too, Syd.” H
e presses one last kiss on my lips and rolls off of me, turning and pulling me close to him. His hand spreads out over my belly, protective as always, and we fall asleep.
Chapter
3
8
There’s a knock on the door of the villa and Drew lets in his family. We’re having brunch in our suite with the Forrester’s, his parents Andy and Caroline and his sister Allie, before we all go to the movie premiere later.
Drew’s sister comes flying through the doorway, giving me one of the most enthusiastic hugs I’ve ever received. “I’m so glad my brother found you!” she exclaims as she releases me from her arms. “Is it true you’ve never seen a single one of his movies?” Allie flicks her wavy brown hair out of her eyes and the whole family turns to wait for my answer.
“Ummm, well yes. It’s true. Tomorrow will be my first one,” I say, feeling the prickly heat staining my cheeks. Drew has been talking about me behind my back.
“Oh my God!
It’s so great that you don’t think he’s some hot shot celebrity!” his sister squeals. “You realize that you, me and my mom are the only three women on earth who aren’t impressed by Drew’s ‘Sexiest Man’ title?” I glance over at Drew’s mother, Caroline, who’s nodding in agreement. “I can’t even tell anyone who my brother is, if I did people would be on my doorstep to meet him and the line would wrap around the earth three times, no joke!” Allie laughs.
The brunch has already been set up by the staff from the hotel, so everyone takes a seat at the dining room table and we pass around the dishes.
Drew’s dad, Andy looks at me smiling, “Sydney, we saw your interview on
Late Night Report
. You did well for someone not used to being on TV.” It’s a little disconcerting looking at him; he’s an older version of Drew but with brown eyes and gray in his hair.
“Yes, Sydney,” Caroline says, turnin
g her familiar green eyes on me. “You were just charming dear. I’m so sorry about what happened to your family, though.” She pats my hand sweetly.
I don’t want to cry. I swallow the bite of fruit I was chewing
before I answer. “It was tough, but I’m here now and that’s what’s important.” I give her a shaky smile and sip some orange juice.
Mr. and Mrs. Forrester, or Andy and Caroline as they insist that I call them, are obviously ecstatic that Drew has found me. They are well aware that I’m only with Drew for love and nothing more. I don’t want the fame and I have my own fortune. According to them, they couldn’t want anything better for their son. We haven’t told them about the pregnancy yet; we figure we can worry about that after we get through the media storm that tonight is going to create.
His dad describes his job as an architect for the city of Boston school system, designing new schools and making improvements to the older schools that are falling apart. I love any kind of design, so I listen intently as he tells me about his work.
Caroline Forrester is a tiny powerhouse. She’s only about five foot three inches and one hundred pounds, maybe. She has shoulder length hair, the same rich brown color as Drew and Allie. She used to teach elementary school, but retired when the fans and women coming to the school got to be too much to be safe for the children
“So you can’t teach anymore?” I ask, the shock I feel evident in my voice.
See, fame destroys a lot of things that people never think of.
“No, I still teach. I teach kids at the inpatient cancer ward for the Boston Children’s Hospital, through Drew’s charity.” Caroline takes a bite of her French toast. I must look as lost as I feel because she continues, turning her gaze on Drew. “Drew, you did tell Sydney about your wonderful charitable work, didn’t you?”
He shifts unco
mfortably, twisting his napkin. “No Mom, it never came up.”
I stare from Drew to his mother and back. When I look
over at Allie, she just shrugs. “He doesn’t want the attention,” she says. “He’s really modest that way. For a big-headed, super sexy, world famous celebrity that is.” She smiles sweetly at her brother as she says the last part.
“You have a charity?” I
ask softly, looking at Drew as I speak.
He’s embarrassed to talk about it,
an adorable blush spreading up his neck. “Ummm, yes. It provides teachers and equipment to children who are hospitalized for long periods of time, mostly on the cancer units.”
Caroline reaches out and pats my hand
. “It’s a wonderful organization. We have offices in six major cities in the U.S. now. We started with just me, at one hospital in Boston.” She beams as she talks about her son’s accomplishments.
“Mom, you and the Grady’s did all the work. I didn’t do anything. Stop referring to it as my charity,” Drew admonishes his mother.
“Stop it Drew,” his dad says, holding up a hand. “Without the money, there is no charity. You’re just as important in keeping it afloat as the Grady’s and your mother.” Andy addresses me. “Sydney, Drew donated the startup money, does fund raisers to get more money every year and continues to contribute personally. He thinks it’s nothing, but it’s not. It’s everything.”
How did I get such an amazing man?
“Who are the Grady’s?” I ask Caroline, since it’s obvious that Drew doesn’t want to discuss this.
Allie obliges my curiosity.
“Drew’s best friend died of a brain tumor in high school. His surviving twin brother and their parents are the Grady’s. They run the charity.”
Could I possibly love him anymore than I already do?
“That’s wonderful, Drew.” My eyes sting from holding in tears. I lean in and place a kiss on his strong jawline.
He glances over and gives me a small smile. Yep, I just fell in love with him more. We finish eating and
his family heads back to their villa next door. Everyone wants to rest before getting ready for tonight.
“That one,” Drew says, wandering in from the living room of our villa. I’m trying on one of the dozens of dresses that he had sent to the hotel by various designers. Each designer hoping to be the one dressing the ‘mystery redhead’ that the blogs have been wondering
about since the incident at Verve. They have no confirmation that Drew is bringing the unknown female to the premier, he’s getting dresses for his sister for all they know. Which, technically, he is, since his sister is in the next villa, and she has a rack of dresses of her own to try on.
Right now, I’m standing in the living room of the Presidential Villa at the Sunset Marquis, while a stylist and a seamstress whip off the dress that I chose to wear tonight to Drew’s premier. I went with the one he loved, a red Narciso Rodriguez floor length crepe gown with a top-stitched bustier and double shoulder straps that make the back different and visually interesting. It just needs minor adjustments so the seamstress is busy at work, there’s only three hours until the red carpet, and it needs to fit perfectly.
Normally, this would have been done weeks ago but this is a special exception and Drew made it happen somehow. He forced his poor assistant, Jane, fly out here the morning after I told Drew I would go with him to the premiere. He gave her instructions to call every major designer and get a dress in my size, telling them it was to be worn by Andrew Forrester’s date at the red carpet debut for his new movie. The designers, knowing that Drew never brings a date to his events, and that the person wearing it might be the woman who caused the infamous blowup at Verve, jumped at the chance to dress me.
W
hen I get to meet Jane, I like her immensely. She brought the dresses by the hotel earlier today. Forty-five, short and slightly round, she’s patient enough to put up with Drew’s demands, but strong enough to deal with him when he acts like an ass. He told me that he couldn’t possibly do his job without her.
I sit down and remove the 4” gold and bronze cutout patent leather Louboutin sandals that I chose to go with the gown and set them on the floor. Drew comes over and sits next to me, sliding a finger up the open edge of my robe from my breast to my collarbone. I give him a reprimanding look, the seamstress is at the dining room table
with only a thin wall separating us and he’s getting frisky?
“Drew, stop it,” I hiss. He laughs and kisses my cheek.
“How are you feeling?” I know he’s asking about the pregnancy.
“Fine.
” I try not to twist my mouth into a scowl.
I’ve been a lot more nauseated today than normal. I’m not
even nauseous, it’s more of an ache just below my stomach. I’m sure it’s from the rich food we had this morning at brunch, but Drew gets way too worried about every little thing and if I told him I was unwell, he’d refuse to go to his own movie premiere. Besides, it’s not nearly as bad as I felt a few weeks ago.
Drew arches an eyebrow at my sharp response and says nothing. He takes my hand and presses a kis
s to my wrist. “I’m going to go check on my parents next door, I’ll be right back okay?”
“Sure baby, go hang out with y
our parents. I’m going to go lie down while my dress is finished.” I know he wants to have a beer with his father and watch SportsCenter. He’s missed having guy time with people who don’t treat him differently. He needs to loosen up before the premiere anyway.
He’s very tense about my debut. I know it bothers him that he can’t protect me from all of this crap that comes with his job. The scrutiny of the press, the rabid female fans, men who will drool all over me, it drives him nuts that he can’t control any of it. It’s interesting how little he cares about what people think or say about him, but he gets downright disturbed when he hears about anyone trying to get to close to me.
He read a few of articles on some of the major tabloid websites the day after the interview with my mom. Bad idea. He broke one of the laptops in his brownstone after reading a bunch of sexually explicit comments from men who, in Drew’s words, needed to have ‘his foot put in their disgusting asses’. I tried to keep him away from the computer after that.
The ache in my abdomen worsens
, so I curl up on the huge bed in the master bedroom. I must have dozed off for a while because someone knocks on my door at some point and comes right on in.
“Here you go Miss Tannen,” the tiny elderly seamstress says as she
enters the room with my gown. I shake the sleep from my body, stand up and remove my robe, wearing only my strapless bra and thong panties. She helps me try it on again and I slip on my heels. It’s perfect. I look tall and fit and almost exactly like my mom. How did no one ever figure this out? My last name was Allen for God’s sake! She undoes the zipper for me and we hang it up until it’s time to go.
I hear voices downstairs and look at the clock. Hair and makeup must be here. I don’t know if I’m ready for this. I take a deep breath, ignore the pain in my gut, and
walk into the living room.
They’re almost done caking a pound of foundation on my face when Drew returns to the villa. Allie is sitting next to me, getting the finishing touches on her makeup while the hairstylist is spraying a heavy coat of hairspray on my ‘artfully tousled’ hair. Why spend two hours and a bottle of hairspray to look like you just rolled in from a day at the beach is beyond me, but it looks gorgeous so I guess that’s what counts.
“Hey babe,” I call out as Drew comes into the room. “Want to help me get into my dress?” I wink at him.
“I’d rather keep you out of your dress if you don’t min
d,” he jokes back suggestively.
“Ewwww, stop it!
” Allie covers her ears so she doesn’t have to hear her brother discuss getting me naked. “The whole shirtless, sexy thing is gross enough to have to deal with all the time; I can’t be a part of listening to your over the top flirting!”
“Sorry Al, it’s Sydney’s fault for being so gorgeous,” Drew says as he grabs my hand and tows me toward the bedroom. I give Allie an apologetic look just as Drew yanks me in and shuts the door.