Cry to Me

Sidney closed the double doors behind him, trying to be as quiet as possible. Dragging his tee shirt over his head, he tossed it haphazardly into the closet close to his laundry hamper before heading into the en suite.Splashing water over his face after he brushed his teeth, he thought about the evening.He fucked up and he knew it.He should’ve asked her directly about the internships instead of acting like a pouty child.Wiping his face with a towel, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye, something that didn’t usually sit in his bathroom.On the tank of the toilet was a see-through bag of various things belonging to Dulci, and the item that took up the most space was tampons.Looking in his trashcan, he was relieved that there wasn’t an empty wrapper at the bottom.The idea of Dulci having a broken limb and a period made him shutter.She more than likely felt terrible, and a menstrual cycle on top of that would’ve been hell for her.

He changed quickly and moved toward his bed, climbing in in front of her as she slept. Settling in on the same pillow, he noticed that her eyes were red and puffy, like she’d recently been crying.He wondered how long she’d been asleep, or if she’d been crying while he was talking to Carly.Brushing hair from her neck, he grew concerned with how sweaty she was.He could see moisture sitting on her skin.Her upper body was exposed to the temperature of the room, which was cool, and his tee shirt that she was wearing was drenched in sweat.He hoped she wasn’t getting an infection, something that the orthopedic surgeon discussed with Dulci at length, but when he felt her forehead and cheeks for a fever, she felt normal.

“Are you checking me for a fever?” Dulci murmured, half of her face smashed into the pillow. She opened one eye in enough time to see him physically jump, her voice startling him.

“Yeah. You’re sweating buckets,” he explained as he climbed off the bed, heading back into the bathroom to find his thermometer.

“Its kind of hot in here,” Dulci muttered quietly as she shifted to sit up, wincing as she used sore muscles in her broken arm.

“I have the thermostat set pretty low. Its pretty chilly in here.”He held the thermometer out for Dulci.

“I’m fine,” Dulci brushed the thermometer away.

“Dulci, just do it, please. For my peace of mind,” he forced the thermometer back in front of her.

She thought about getting up and going back into one of the guest rooms for her own peace of mind. She didn’t want to argue with him anymore about anything.She was tired, slightly painful, and feeling a little nauseous, and the memory of his attitude wasn’t making her feel better.She looked up at him and her contempt quickly changed when she saw how worried he looked, true heartfelt concern registering all over his face.She took the thermometer and stuck it in her mouth, hoping he wasn’t right, but feeling very fortunate at his attempt the take care of her.With the finishing beep, she pulled it out of her mouth to find her temperature was normal.

“Its normal,” she sighed, handing the thermometer back to him.

Sidney was truly perplexed. He was feeling a little chilly and she was actively sweating like she was running a 10K on a thread mill.He couldn’t let her go back to sleep in a damp shirt, and before he let her lay back down, he offered her his hand, earning a quizzical look.

“That can’t be comfortable,” he pointed at the large circle of sweat on her chest. After she looked down at herself, she took his hand and slid out of bed.He pulled the hem of the tee shirt over her head, getting it snagged on the cast.

“Christ,” he chuckled as he tried to get her shirt over the cast, earning as smile from Dulci. After a couple more tried, they were both laughing at how ridiculous and comical they probably looked.

“I think it’s stuck in the back,” Dulci turned, stifling laughter at how pissed off Sidney looked with the tee shirt. After some poking and prodding, the tee shirt broke free.Bunching the right sleeve of the dry tee shirt, he pushed the tee shirt over the cast, holding the shirt open for Dulci to get into before he pulled it down over her hips, his hands lingering there longer than they should have. Keeping her gaze, Sidney thought about how to start the discussion that needed to happen.

“What does the internship entail?” he broke the silent gaze with a sad, hesitant smile. He wanted her to be able to do anything and everything that she set her mind to, but hoped she would choose a program within a reasonable driving distance.

“Sid, do we have to talk about..” Dulci started exasperatedly, looking away, disappointed that he’d restart their argument and sour the night again.

“I want you to do it,” he interrupted, putting her head between his hands, forcing her to look only at him. She looked at him completely skepticism and bewildered, replaying the entire fight in her mind.Moving out of Pittsburgh was the initial problem, and now he was telling her that he wanted her to leave, pending her acceptance into the Pittsburgh program.

“Well, I don’t want you to leave, but I want you to do what you love, what you’re passionate about, and if that means moving to LA for three years, then I want you to do it.”

On the one hand, Dulci was over the moon that he was being supportive, but on the other hand, she wondered what changed his mind. He was very forthcoming in how much he disliked the idea for the entire afternoon and evening.

“If I did take the LA offer,” she closed her eyes and sucked in a lung-full of air, preparing for the worst, “would we still be together?”

“Of course,” he responded with an amused, don’t-be-absurd look on his face.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you about it sooner.”She pulled him close, hugging him the best she could one-armed, laying her head against his warm chest.

“No. You were right to have reservations about telling me until you knew for sure.I was being a selfish asshole. I should be the one apologizing. I don't handle change very well, and the idea of you moving made me feel out of control and irritable."

"Well, you felt left out, and I understand how awful it would feel to have someone close planning something substantial without your knowledge,” she looked into his eyes ruefully. “I haven't had to answer to anyone in a long time.”It was an honest answer, and Dulci hoped he would understand.

"You never answered to Henry?"

Hearing Henry’s name come out of Sidney’s mouth in their moment of sincerity caught her off guard.He knew that Dulci and Henry weren’t a couple.Why would he insinuate that they were?They’d discussed her relationship with Henry at length a couple of months ago while they were still coming down from extraordinary sex.Why would he bring up the past?Was Henry still a threat in Sidney’s eyes?

Finding her voice, she answered.“I never really talked much to Henry when I saw him,” she blushed, realizing how provocative and promiscuous she made herself out to be.“I never told him much about my personal life because he didn’t mean much to me other than sex.”She shrugged, hoping she not only answered his question, but that she laid any uneasiness of Sid’s about Henry to rest.He looked shattered, crestfallen, and a bit angry as he took a deep breath.

"So you're telling me that I'm on the same level as your old fuck buddy?" Sidney asked with injury in his voice.His hand fell from her face, feeling like he’d been punched in the stomach.

"No!" She gasped, grabbing his hand quickly, squeezing it to make him look at her. "Why would you even consider that?"

"Dulci, you just said you told him nothing about your life because it was different. And yet, something as big as a move for a couple of years is deemed insignificant to mention to me, your boyfriend. You can't see the parallel?"

And it was back to the internship dilemma."A thousand times I'm sorry! You're right! I fucked up by keeping the internship from you," she threw her left arm up animatedly, waving it around exasperatedly. She'd hoped their argument was over and that they'd moved forward. She didn't have the strength or energy to continue.

Leaving him standing in the middle of the room, Dulci sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her eyes tiredly. How did their day get so out of hand, and how do they move on. She wracked her brain trying to figure out how to overcome the hurdle. With Henry, there weren't emotions and feelings to consider. She'd go about her daily life, and when one needed the other, they'd call, meet, and fuck until the early morning hours. Dulci recalled many times when they said almost nothing for hours, just conversing with their bodies. Remembering further back to Jason, their one fundamental disagreement, the abortion, was enough to end their relationship permanently. Was one omission about her future enough to end it in Sidney’s eyes?

The dip of the bed beside her brought her to the present. "The reason I’m so vehement about this is because you’ve managed to become the most important thing in my life.You mean the world to me, so much so that I don’t want anything to jeopardize that," Sidney said quietly, eyes flicking back and forth between hers, wanting to see her register what he was saying. Pushing her fallen hair behind her ear, he gave her a light kiss in an attempt to lighten the mood, only to have the kiss blossom into something stronger, fuller, boiling with heat on both ends.All of the fear surrounding secrets, all of the panic, shouting, arguing, all of the uncertainty and insecurity in both of them manifested itself into the kiss.

Clumsily, Dulci climbed onto his lap without interrupting their very fervent and intimate moment, straddling him as she tried to get as close to him as possible.She wondered for a moment if he’d push her away, remembering a claim he made in the bath that he wouldn’t have sex with her while she was wearing the cast, but when he dipped both hands down her back, finding residence in her underwear to caress her backside, she sighed audibly into his mouth.

Sidney worked her with his mouth two fold, to show her how significant and vital she was and that she was much, much more than a plaything to him.He left a trail of kisses, bites, and sucks along her cheek, chin, ear, and neck as he held her in place with one hand at the base of her neck, letting the other creep under his tee shirt to caress her breasts, rolling her nipple around with the pad of his thumb. Lowering her back, he leaned forward, cupping her clothes breast with his hand, and brought her nipple between his teeth, pulling gently before he lapped at it with his tongue, saturating the fabric in the process. She moaned as she drove her hips into him, trembling slightly as he repeated, digging her nails into his knee. He smiled as he heard her panting, seeing her chest and stomach rise and fall quickly with the pleasurable sensation he was giving her. Pulling her back up, he kissed her again, sucking her bottom lip as he forewent disrobing her the conventional way. Avoiding the earlier debacle, he tore the tee shirt in half, making Dulci gasp into his mouth as she felt the cool air hit her chest. He pushed the tee shirt off of her shoulders, relieved that the shirt slid over the cast with ease. He slid his hand into the front of her underwear, feeling the evidence of her arousal as he slowly brushed his pointer and middle finger repeatedly over her clitoris.

"Fuuuuck," he groaned quietly into her mouth and she pushed harder into his hand, enveloping him inside of her. Her heavy breathing and moaning was driving him wild, and the smell of her dampened skin was intoxicating. He pulled his own shirt off as she continued to grind against his hand, and almost came when she subtly spit in her hand, pushed it into his pants, and warped it around him, stroking him slowly but fully.

Taking her around the waist, he scooted them both back into the center of the bed as they continued their searing kiss. Rolling them over, he let his mouth trail south, hitting all of her favorite erogenous zones, spending a significant amount of time on her nipples. Pulling both of them simultaneously, one with his fingers and the other with his teeth, he used his free hand to peel away her underwear as she flexed her hips upward, desperate for friction. Taking his mouth further, he kissed down the center of her stomach, taking the meaty part of her vulva gently between his teeth before he latched on to her clitoris, sucking and flicking his tongue together.

"Oooooohh," she groaned loudly as she coiled herself onto his sheets and duvet. Her guttural moan made him even harder, egging him on breathily as she whispered his name repeatedly. Switching between shaking his head from side to side and big circles, he sucked harder, making her legs shake. Pushing her knees into the mattress, she was even more exposed to him. Looking at the most intimate and personal part of her, he wondered if Henry or any other guy had ever been there. Looking up to her, he found her watching him, eyes heavy with desire, mouth ajar as she breathed heavily. When he looked back down, he could hear her audibly gulp, breathing hitched a little more, and he thought she was telling him that going there would be too much, but she never pulled away or said anything to deter him. Crawling back up her body, he pulled her back on top of him, shimmying out of his boxer briefs in the process.

As Dulci lowered herself onto him, he held her in place, armed weaves and wrapped tightly around her body as they both groaned long and low. Flexing his hips sharply and deeply, Dulci cried out something incoherent, throwing her head back as he found that spot. Doing it again, he held her head back, grabbing the hair and pulling as he peppered her neck and clavicle with nips.

"Ride me," he growled in her ear before taking the lobe between his lips. Dulci started moving, grinding against him so that he penis stimulated her g-spot. Without warning, he thrusted into her again, causing her entire body to tense with pure sensation. She was wrapped around him, but he could feel her toes curl against his legs, her legs trying to press together against his, and her arm wrapped tighter around his shoulders.

"You like it deep," he murmured against her skin, thrusting hard again, and he could tell she was close. The tightness made him dizzy as she rode him more.

"And hard," he growled as he pushed hard again, making all of her clench around him. He had to close his eyes because the look of her, the way her face was blazing with ecstasy and her body was a pink and flush, was making it hard for him not to come.

"Oh fuck," she breathed in a whisper, and it sounded so delicious that he weaved his hand into her hair again, holding her head and face close to his.

"Look at me," he demanded huskily, and when she opened her eyes, he kissed her hard, breathing her in and out before he pulled back, taking her surprise before he thrusted into her again, making her come completely undone. He held her close as she shuttered and quaked on top of him, filling the room with intimate noises of sexual release. He finally let go only after she was finished, gripping her hips as he came.

Stretching the next morning, Dulci woke to find herself alone in bed, Sam as her only companion, kicking her feet as she dreamt. She noticed a note on the bedside table. Putting on her glasses, she read the note.

D,

Went for a workout. Be back soon. I love you.

-S

The sentiment made her smile as she clutched the piece of paper to her naked chest like an infatuated adolescent. Sam army crawled over to her, pawing at her leg excitedly.

"Let's go out."

Finding some underwear and an oversized sweatshirt in her suitcase, she descended into the kitchen, letting Sam outside. Searching through his cabinets, she found an old, dusty coffee maker. Searching for coffee and filters, she found both in a top cabinet, too high for her to reach on her own. She found a stepping stool in a nearby closet, and when she stepped up, she was still too short.

“Seriously?”

Sidney entered in through the back door, closing it quietly behind him as he took in the sight. Dulci was scantily clad, wearing nothing but black underwear, a sweatshirt, which was hiked up as she reached on her tiptoes for something. He quietly walked toward her, admiring the view.

"Need some help?"

"CHRIST," Dulci jumped, nearly falling off of the stepping stool. She grabbed her chest, stepping down the stool.

"Sorry," he chuckled, kissing her quickly before holding up two coffee cups from Starbucks.

"I didn't even hear you come in."

"I came in through the back door. I saw that Sam was outside, so I figured the door was unlocked," he explained as he handed her a Starbucks cup of coffee.

"Are you hungry? I was thinking of making breakfast," she offered as she took a long sip of her latte.

"I would love breakfast," he murmured against her lips as he kissed her, "but my dad is waiting outside and my mom is on the way over to make us breakfast."

"What?! He saw me?" She shrieked, looking toward the windows, pulling her sweatshirt down unsuccessfully.

"No. I told him you weren't descent and he told me to get him when you were dressed. I wouldn't let anyone purposely see you like this," he kissed her again.

Quickly, Dulci climbed the stairs, Sidney trailing behind her as she awkwardly worked her way out of her sweatshirt. In an attempt to help, Sidney picked up a bra and brought it to her, helping her into it before hooking it behind her. He watched as she fixed the straps on her shoulders, noticing a bruise creeping up her arm above the brim of her cast.

"How's your arm?" He asked, giving her a kiss on her neck from behind, wrapping his arms around her. She leaned into him, letting her head fall over to give him better access. Taking the bate, he kissed her up and down her neck and shoulder, smiling as she sighed.

"Dulci, as much as I want to repeat last night, my dad's outside, and I'm not breaking my promise again." He laughed as she physically sulked in his arms, and swatted her butt playfully as she walked away towards the bathroom.

"Oh, and my entire extended family is coming over later for dinner," he called, chuckling as her she glared at him in the bathroom mirror.

Dulci watched as Sidney navigated the busy Pittsburgh airport rush hour traffic, gazing at his serious profile, landing on his lips as he chewed them anxiously, drumming his thumbs on the steering wheel.

"Motherfucker," he mumbled at the driver in front of him who was driving mind-crippling slowly. Stuck at another light, he took a large, purifying intake of air, ridding himself of the rising road rage.

"Remember your cousin's terrible but hilarious impression of Beyoncé?" Dulci attempted to distract him, bringing light to their weekend. He burst into loud, infectious laughter, and soon they were both in stitches.

"And then your aunt's impression of Jack Sparrow. That was pretty impressive."

The two reminisced about their weekend until they reached Dulci's house. Taking both of their luggage, Sidney deposited their bags next to her bed before going back outside for the giant delivery box at her door.

"Did you order something?" He asked, placing it on her kitchen counter.

"No. It's probably a birthday gift from a family member," she shrugged. "I need to call Dr. Harrison. I'll be right back. Open the box," she told him as she walked out if sight.

Breaking the packing tape with his keys, he opened the box to find a black tissue paper covering that read, "Happy Birthday," in gold calligraphy. Pushing the paper aside, he pulled out an item, a penis ring with a dildo looking concoction hanging off of it. It didn’t take long for him to decipher its function; double penetration. The box contained various cuffs, gags, ropes, restraint systems. He pulled out butt plugs, anal beads, and other battery operated insertion toys. At the bottom of the box was a matte black photo album with a satin paisley pattern. "Dulci" was writing on the front in what looked to be the same gold calligraphy. He tentatively opened it, instantly regretting it when the first photo was a picture of Dulci's face mid-orgasm, the face he told himself that no one else would see.Flipping the pages, he was faced with pictures of her hog-tied, partially suspended, face down into the mattress, gagged, bound, and it made his blood boil. It was from Henry.

"Thank you, Dr. Harrison. I'll be in tomorrow," he heard Dulci approach the kitchen.

"So what's in the box?" She called out before she turned the corner to the kitchen.

Before Sidney had a chance to answer, Dulci walked toward him, stopping abruptly as her eyes caught light of the toys and restraints on the counter along with the photo album, opened to a picture of her in a compromising position.She looked at Sidney, only to find him looking anywhere but at her.

Notes