She blinked as he stood, towering above her with a dark expression she’d never seen him wear before.
“You’ll take your hands off her if you know what’s good for you.”
The silky voice made her want to melt into a puddle. Sutton couldn’t help but grin as she glanced up and spotted Sidney standing a few feet away. He was dressed smartly in a pair of pressed black slacks and a black button down. The anger that flashed in his black eyes made her knees weaken, her nipples harden and the juices gush between her legs like a fountain. She’d never seen him so ruffled before, and the fact that it was due to her brought on an instant arousal. Who knew she was the type to like to play damsel in distress from time to time?
“Sutton, tell your supervisor everything is fine.”
“I am not her supervisor, and I told you to let go of her.” He punctuated each word with a step closer. Sutton took advantage of Jackson’s shock, tugging her wrist free as she came to stand by Sidney. The feel of his large hand on the small of her back was reassuring.
“Who is this, Sutton?”
“This is my boyfriend, Sidney.”
“Oh I see, the only one who’d put up with that cold fish act of yours is an older gentleman who’s probably more than happy to be with a younger woman.”#p#分页标题#e#
“I’ve never found Sutton to be cold in any way. It’s clear to me the error must lie with past partners. Younger men can be so rash. Only concerned with their own pleasure and pursuits in life, they miss the prize that’s in front of them until it’s too late to get it back.”
He spoke in a calm unaffected manner, yet his words cut like a razor. Silence fell as Sidney wrapped his arm around her waist.
“I don’t imagine we’ll be seeing you again.”
He turned, and she allowed him to guide her out of the cafeteria and up the hallway. She soaked up the warmth from his body. The run-in with her past had her off kilter.
“Since we just faced your baggage head on, it only seems fair I share mine. I know I overreacted the last time we were together, but I had my reasons. I took the time these past couple of weeks to work my way through … unresolved issues.”
Sutton turned to face him when they reached her car, and smiled. He was an unconventional sort of handsome. His nose was a bit too large, and slightly curved from his years playing rugby when he was younger. His salt and pepper hair was mostly salty. Still, right now he was her knight in shining armor. She wasn’t used to having someone defend her and fight her battles. It was something she could get used to.
She titled her head back to glance up at him a she leaned against the car, and slid her hands into his soft onyx strands of hair. She rose up onto her tip-toes and allowed her mouth to caress his in a gentle meeting of lips before she pulled away.
“Thank you.”
“I told you I take care of what’s mine,” he said.
“Am I?” she whispered as she traced a finger down his neck, smirking when he hissed.
“Are you what?”
“Still yours.”
“Yes, if you want to be.”
“I’ve missed you terribly, Sid. I won’t even attempt to lie about that. However, the disappearing act has to be addressed. I won’t be with someone who runs hot and cold again.” She shook her head as she pushed away thoughts of Jackson. This was her chance for closure, and a fresh start.
“I would never expect you to deal with that on a long term basis, Sutton, and that’s why I asked for some time apart.”
“Speaking of time, how did you manage to show up just when I needed you?”
“I was just leaving my office for the evening when I got Leigh’s text.”
“I’m glad. I don’t think he would have taken my brush off seriously.”
“That’s because he’s an arrogant horse’s arse.”
She laughed at his accurate description. “You hit the nail on the head there.”
“We should continue this in a more private location. Do you want to follow me back to my place?”
She nodded her head as they parted ways, and she slipped inside of her car.
Chapter Eleven
Sidney began his explanation once they were seated on his couch with drinks. She opted for water, but he found he needed a scotch to take the edge off. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass as she waited patiently beside him.
“When I met Christine, she was twenty-seven and I was forty-six. We were at a BDSM club event. I play often, but it’s not a practice of mine to take on submissives personally. So when she approached me, I didn’t think of anything more than the pleasure we brought one another.”