He returned less than a minute later with a warm wash cloth and proceeded to clean the fluids from Addison’s thighs and pussy. She tried to feel embarrassed, but she actually felt taken care of. When he finished, he pulled the quilt up her bed and tucked it around her. He returned the wash cloth to the bathroom and came back to bed where he pulled his jeans off and got into bed with her. Addison rolled against him and held her breath as he pulled the covers over both of them.
“I’m not going to promise to stay,” he said quietly. “I spent years training myself to sleep in uncomfortable conditions for only a few hours at a time. Beds aren’t… comfortable for me.”
“But you’re going to try?” she whispered.
He nodded, holding her tighter against the hard muscles of his side. “I’m going to stay for a while. Watch over you.”
She yawned and smiled. “That’s creepily sweet.”
“Go to sleep, Addison.”
“So you can watch me?” she asked.
“Shut up, woman, before I put something in that mouth,” he warned.
She giggled. “I don't have time or energy for more of that tonight. I have a performance in just a few days and I have a feeling I got my music back. Maestro is going to be very happy when he finds out tomorrow.”
“You lost your music?” Daniel asked, gently brushing his hand soothingly through her hair.
“Mmm, when I lost you,” she murmured sleepily.
“It won’t happen again,” he said, hugging her tightly against his side.
“Do you promise?” she whispered, her voice drifting.
He didn’t say anything. She’d already fallen asleep.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Applause thundered through the concert house, reaching Addison where she sat on the stage. She smiled slightly, and waited for a signal from Maggie, who sat behind her. Maggie would let her know when the orchestra was to stand and take their bow. After a few moments she felt the light tap on her shoulder. She smiled toward the other woman and stood with the orchestra.
After another moment, she felt Maestro approach and gently take her elbow. One of the stage hands approached from her other side and carefully took her cello and bow. Addison thanked him and allowed Maestro to lead her to centre stage where he took a bow with his First Chair. She smiled graciously and accepted an armful of what she knew would be red roses.
Addison waved and thanked the audience before waving her arm back toward the rest of the orchestra indicating that they should share equally in the applause for their wonderful performance. Finally, after several more moments, Maestro handed Addison off to another stage hand so she could be led off the stage. She heaved a sigh of relief to be out of the spotlight.
Her relief was short lived when she found herself seized by an exuberant Erica as soon as she was in the shadows of the stage.
"Addie! You were simply amazing out there!" she gushed, hauling Addison away from the stage. "You were way better than everyone else, totally on point! Didn't you just love the dress I chose for you?"
"What do you mean?" Addison asked, confused. "I'm not wearing the same thing as everyone else?"
Erica spoke in a high-pitched, nervous voice. "Oh, I thought you knew! I mean, you said you didn't care what you wore and that I should just decide. I thought you trusted me. I mean it is my job to make these kind of decisions."
"Yes, Erica, of course it is," Addison gritted her teeth and tried not to sound annoyed. "Please tell me what I'm wearing that's different from the others."
"Well, it's the same classic long-sleeved dress as the women."
"I can feel that.” Addison gritted her teeth, losing patience.
"But yours is burgundy, while the rest of the orchestra is wearing black. As the First Chair I thought you should stand out. It turned out just beautiful! I think the Maestro was even a little shocked when he first saw you, but I think he likes it too!"
"Erica!" Addison gasped. "You should have told me!"
"Addison?" Claudia's voice reached Addison's ears. Addison turned toward her friend and reached out for her. Claudia enveloped her in a big hug that smelled like very expensive perfume.
"Is everything okay?" she whispered in Addison's ear.
Addison nodded. "Except for for the imminent death of Maestro's assistant, it's fine."
