CHAPTER 16
In the early morning hours Seth dreamed of his hands gliding over Fawn’s ivory skin, her moans were soft and her body was warm when he took her. Only when the quivers subsided did he realize it wasn’t a dream. Even in sleep they had turned to each other, slowly arousing and pushing sleep away until their bodies mated.
He pulled Fawn close and felt her drift back to sleep. Confused with his feelings for her he lay awake for a long time contemplating them.
She was famous, something that would never change. Would he be able to deal with that in the long run? Was he ready for committing to someone? Even if he was, Seth wasn’t sure he was willing to move cross country. The Hamptons was where he had always lived, even though he had travelled the world with his parents, the Hamptons remained home. Would she be willing to move?
Seth had never seen himself getting married and having children and for the first time in his life, holding Fawn as night started to turn to dawn, he found himself thinking he wouldn’t mind it with Fawn. He wouldn’t mind seeing her swell with their children, hear her laugh at him when he starting to lose his hair, and to listen to her sing when he was old.
His mother would be so glad; it was exactly what she had wanted for the past few years. Having her only son settle down and having children. Maybe that was why Seth had fought the idea for so long. His whole life he had done what had been expected of him. Ever since he had told his parents he didn’t plan on working in their hotels, his father’s blatant disapproval had hurt him. Knowing he would never gain his father’s respect or approval Seth had done everything in his power not to gain it. He had become more and more ruthless and arrogant as he refused to take responsibility.
Over the past few weeks with Fawn, not only had he taken responsibility for her album and had even put in more time at the hotel, but he had come to realize that he didn’t need his parents’ approval. He needed his own. He could see himself making music and living with Fawn, whether his parents approved or not, it was something he wanted to do.
The big question was would Fawn be willing? They hadn’t spoken about what would happen after she returned to California and suddenly Seth feared she only saw him as a holiday romance.
He couldn’t imagine someone else touching her, running his hands through her hair. Fawn was his.
Seth softly ran his fingers along the curve of her back until Fawn moaned in her sleep. “Seth?”
Content and happy, Seth smiled as he kissed her forehead. “You’re my girl.”
Fawn smiled sleepily before kissing him and drifting back to sleep.
Seth woke from a noise outside. As wakefulness pushed the sleep aside he heard the noise escalate. Someone was shouting. He tried to get up but found his legs tangled with Fawn’s, her head on his chest still fast asleep.
He softly nudged her. “Fawn, move over baby.”
Fawn moaned as she clung to him tighter. “Don’t get up yet.”
“I have to baby; I’ll be back in a few.” Seth pushed himself off the bed and dragged on his jeans as he made his way to the front door.
As he opened the door cameras flashed in his face as multiple voices shouted.
“What’s your name?”
“Is FAWN here?”
“Is it true that you’re Seth Northman, son of Roger Northman?”
Disorientated and confused, Seth slapped the door closed before taking a few deep breaths. He walked to the spare bedroom where the window overlooked the driveway. Luckily it was privacy glass, Seth thought as he opened the blinds to see what was going on outside his house.
He heard Fawn’s phone ringing in his bedroom and thought about answering it before it woke her when he heard her sleepy voice. “Dom?”
At the mention of his name Seth noticed Dom at the front of the small group of people, standing between them and Seth’s house. As the people shouted questions at Dom and cameras continued snapping his house clarity prevailed. Reporters.
Seth closed the blinds in the spare bedroom before moving through the house and ensuring all the blinds were closed. He had just closed the last one in the kitchen when a furious Fawn walked into the kitchen still talking into the phone.
“Great! Thanks for phoning Dom first Callie. Yes I think he’s outside trying to ward them off.”
Seth watched as she furrowed her brow and started chewing on her thumbnail. “No the house is secure. All the blinds are drawn so we’re fine inside.”
Starting the coffee, Seth couldn’t help but wonder if it was John on the line.
“Callie I’m not going out there and giving them a statement. I’m in goddamn sweats and don’t even have make up with me. It’ll be in all the papers first thing tomorrow morning. FAWN CAUGHT FORNICATING IN THE HAMPTONS, or something even worse.”
Seth shook his head at the catchy headline, but she was right. She couldn’t go outside now and face the reporters. Seth tried thinking of a way to lure them away when Fawn shouted into the phone.
“Just get them away from here Callie. I don’t care how you do it, just do it!” Fawn slammed the phone down on the counter before turning to Seth. “Did you tell them?”
Seth poured them both a cup of coffee taking his time. He felt his own temper start to rise at her accusation but knew she was only attacking him because she was upset. Handing her the cup of coffee, he met her topaz gaze before answering. “Yes Fawn. After we made love before sunrise I waited until you fell asleep before I phoned every contact I had in the press to tell them about your whereabouts, because I didn’t think of it sooner.”
Fawn opened her mouth to shout at him before what he said slowly sank in and she closed it again. She narrowed her eyes and pointed a finger at Seth before she spoke again, this time her voice was low. “You didn’t have to phone them Seth. You might’ve said something to a friend, mentioned I was staying over. Something might’ve slipped when you least expected it. Think!”
Seth closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he denied it when he remembered. “I could’ve mentioned it to the guys on Monday evening at Garret’s. But Fawn, Stefan knew you were in the Hamptons since the first night we spent together, why would he or any of them do this? They would know it would hurt us.”
Fawn laughed caustically. “That’s just it Seth. If you’re not in my position you don’t think about what a few innocent words could do. They might’ve mentioned it to their girlfriends or family and now I’m stuck in your house without make-up or descent clothes to face them with.
Seth had remained calm the whole time but his own temper snapped. “Fawn if you want them gone, I can have them gone within a few minutes. But don’t act like I’m keeping you hostage. You came here last night of your own account. No one forced you! If you want make-up, I’ll get you goddamn make up!”