His wide shoulders lifted and lowered. “My pain had gotten bad. The bones did not heal properly. They had to do some bone smoothing so while they were in there...” He let out a breath. “Doc said it would help with the tightness of the earlier surgery. It does feel better.”
It was not just the scarring that caused Taylor to hesitate when it came to a relationship. Allison was sure something else happened. With most of the surgery concentrated on his hip, his movements were no doubt impeded.
Walking around so to stand before him, she smiled up at him. “You know there are many ways to be intimate. Whatever is going on right now...it won’t stop me from wanting to be with you.”
“I know. It’s just that, eventually it will bother you.”
“Is it not supposed to get better? Are we talking about your hip or something else?” It occurred to her that perhaps something had gone wrong during surgery and he’d been rendered without the ability to become erect. No that wasn’t it. Just moments earlier on the couch...
His eyes grew round as he figured out where her thoughts went. “No. Yeah, I still can. Shit Allison, let’s figure this out. Show me what you mean.”
“What? Now? Here?”
“I’m being an idiot. I don’t want to lose you.” He took her hand and placed it just below the waistband of his pants. His top buttons were undone and there was an obvious bulge just below. “Show me.”
And queue the fish out of water mouth opening and closing. Not only because of being caught off guard but the sudden faster heart beat.
Pulse racing, her breathing hitched and Allison couldn’t wait to show him exactly what she’d been daydreaming of doing to him.
Chapter 22
Taylor couldn’t move. Not only had he just uttered words that could not be taken back, but also he was pretty sure his legs would give out if he took a step.
Damn Allison was breathtaking. She’d done her best to tone down her appearance with a baggy sweatshirt and those jeans that hugged her curves just right. But the smolder in her eyes and the light pink of her lush lips sent every single ounce of blood within him to rush between his legs.
Hopefully he’d not make a fool of himself and drop his load in a minute flat. She cocked her head to the side in thought, her lips curving into a wicked smile.
“Come here.” Taking his hand, she guided him to the couch. Once in front of it, her half-closed eyes moved from his mouth down the length of his torso to his pants. She pushed gently on his hurt side and then on the right until his pants were down to his knees.
Taylor helped her out and pushed them off with his feet. And, there he stood in boxer briefs, erection so hard it pushed out the flimsy fabric announcing there was little more she had to do to excite him.
“Wow,” she whispered and didn't that just make him want to crow like a fucking rooster.
Guiding him to lay back on the cushions, Taylor allowed it, more than happy to give her free reign over his body.
With one foot on the floor, his left side and stretched out leg were cushioned against the plush leather of the couch. His already fast breathing spiked when she loomed over him and pulled off the now offensive hoodie. Beneath it she wore a flimsy excuse for a tank top and no bra to constrict her full breasts. She slipped out of the jeans and wearing satiny blue panties and matching tank, she straddled him just below the hips.
Her lips curved when he reached for her. “Come here. I want your mouth on mine.” Allison complied and he took full advantage. Kissing her and driving his tongue between her lips while running his hands all over her satiny bare skin.
Allison wasn’t quite sure what was about to happen. Here she was prepared to make love with Taylor and without a clue what would or wouldn’t hurt him.
The time he took devouring her mouth as if starved gave her a feel for how strong he was. She’d straddled him, being careful to keep her weight on her legs and not on his injured hip. Yet when he pulled her against him, the fact didn’t seem to bother him. Excitement and adrenaline had a way of numbing pain, so she’d not been swayed by his actions as much. Men would go to extraordinary lengths to cover up their weaknesses.
No matter that he’d undressed and shown her his battered body, Taylor was a proud strong man, not used to vulnerabilities. Once again lifting just enough to not put her whole weight on him, she looked down at Taylor.
With half closed eyes and a devilish grin, he lifted a brow. “I believe you were going to show me something?”
Of course, she was. If Allison had her way, she’d dive straight down and take him into her mouth. But the buildup would be what made the whole thing worth it. Not just for him, but for her as well.
Already her breathing was labored. The rapid succession of her heart’s beats seemed to match Taylor’s pulse when she pressed her lips to the side of his neck. She’d found his erogenous zone. The spot just below his ear brought happy grunts.
The sexy sounds erupted and she lingered at the spot, licking in a circular motion before nipping the tender skin, just enough to let him feel it.
His body was enticing in a way only a man’s could be. He was all male; hard, and muscular with peaks and valleys in just the right places. She ran her hands down his pectorals, enjoying the feathering of hair down the center.
Allison hadn’t been with many men, but she was experienced enough to know this was a time to slow down and savor. Literally.
“Hey.” His piercing hazel gaze swept over her. “Take off that top.”
Unable to keep from it, her lips curved and she straightened. It was nice to be admired so openly. As if in a trance, Taylor remained still. Watching, his gaze following her hands as she lifted the tank up her sides and over her head.
Her pulse accelerated when he reached out to cup her breasts. “Damn, you are so fucking beautiful.”
Of course she didn’t believe him. In a strange way, Allison wanted him not to admire her so much, while at the same time hoped he’d continue to lavish her with praise. Talk about confused.
Pushing her shoulders back, she allowed her head to fall back and she closed her eyes.
“Oh.” Allison’s breath caught when he circled her nipples with the pads of his thumbs. Sweet heat raced from every extremity sending waves of need.
Each movement was slow and measured. Both were uncertain of which path to take, but also determined to continue forth.
Good. It felt so good. Each touch, breath and kiss just enough and yet leaving her wanting more.
Taylor glided his palms down her sides and Allison took the opportunity to move down. She licked a path down the center of his chest, trailing her palms behind. With her mouth, she pushed the waistband of his boxer-briefs aside, while gently tugging them down far enough to free his erection.
His stomach sunk when he inhaled sharply. Taylor had not expected this. By the way he trembled, the excitement that he felt was accompanied by apprehension.
Taking his hardness in hand, Allison looked up to meet his gaze and licked her bottom lip. It was gratifying when his lips curved in response.
Gently, she trailed the fingers of her right hand across the edges of his scarring. “Is it tender here?”
“Ugh…no…a little,” he finally admitted.
“Okay. I will make sure to avoid that area.” She kept her voice soft and husky. The tone not really made up, but more a result of the fire burning within.
Unable to keep from it, Allison laved the underside of his erection. From base to tip, she licked every inch, loving the subtle saltiness. After doing it twice, she took the tip and sucked it into her mouth.
“Fuck,” Taylor murmured, and his hips jutted up just a bit. “That feels amazing.”
She took him in and pressed her tongue against the silky underneath while taking him in deeper.
With each stroke Allison took more of him into her mouth until he hit the back of her relaxed throat. She wanted to go harder, faster, but held back.
It was so different with him right n
ow. Without any kind of persuasion, he did indeed move her to do more, to be open. Brazen. Maybe that was the word for it. Allison wanted to experiment, to try new things. Pictures of their naked bodies intertwined formed, sending her already hot body into a furnace of desire and want.
Taylor’s fingers weaved through her curls as she sucked harder and harder, taking more and more of him. Slurps and soft gagging noises filled the room, as she couldn’t stop herself. She needed to finish him off, to taste his release.
“Shit,” Taylor gritted the word out, his entire body tensing. “I’m gonna come. You might want to move.”
Instead of doing what he said, Allison continued the assault. Her cupped hand trailing behind while the other caressed his sac. To have someone so strong undone by her was a high she wasn’t ready to give up.
“Ah!” Taylor came with force. His muscular body tensed and a hoarse cry filled the room as Allison continued licking and sucking to ensure he was completely and utterly satisfied.
Finally, he went limp, his broad chest lifting and lowering with each hurried breath. Allison wiped her mouth on his thigh. What would happen next? She needed her own release. Perhaps it was time to put her money where her mind had gone just moments earlier.
“Come here,” Taylor instructed. He tugged her none too gently up past his chest to once again lay over him. “Let me take care of you.”
It didn’t take long. Within ten minutes, Allison was thrashing and screaming while Taylor’s hot mouth worked her sex, his fingers slipping in and out of her.
Chapter 23
Tori grinned when opening the door to find a half-dazed Allison. “Sorry I’m so late returning the car.”
“No worries girl. Hope you had fun.”
“Umm hmm.” Allison didn’t look her in the eye, but instead held out the keys. “I filled it up.”
Moving aside, she gestured for Allison to come inside. “Wanna come in and have a glass of wine?”
The only light in her living room came from the television. She’d been watching a superhero show and it was on pause. “We can stare at Captain America.”
Allison shook her head. “No thanks. I better get home. Going to Billings early in the morning to look at cars.”
“Okay I’ll watch you from here.” Tori walked to the edge of her small yard to keep an eye on Allison until the lights came on upstairs.
By the sheen in her friend’s eyes, she held back a steamy secret. Tori chuckled as she settled back into the couch. She’d give her a day, then armed with wine and chocolate, every single detail would be coaxed out.
Her cell buzzed. It was certainly a busy time for it being almost eleven at night.
“Hello.” Tori’s eyes widened when Captain America’s broad chest filled the screen. Not wanting another distraction by the form of her mother or sister calling, once again, she paused the movie.
“Hello?”
“Hey. You talk to my brother?”
Tobias. Great. Tori scowled at the phone. “What the hell are you talking about Tobias?”
There was a stretch of silence. The sound of shuffling came next. Afterwards it was as if bedding moved and then a clearing of the throat.
“I didn’t mean to call you. Thought I called my sister.”
Right. The man was usually pretty creative in finding ways to antagonize her. This one was pretty lame.
“Whatever.” She wanted to hang up, but curiosity got the best of her. “Is something wrong with Luke?”
“Like you give a damn.”
Her eyes narrowed. “About Luke, yes I do. About Taylor too. You on the other hand, not so much.”
“Good thing the feeling is mutual.” Tobias didn’t hang up. She could hear his breathing.
Tori’s finger hovered over the red button on the screen. “Are you going to answer my question?”
“Luke’s okay. He had a small episode, but Leah helped him through it. My sister found out some information about a center that is getting good results from a treatment they’re doing.”
Although she didn’t care much for Tobias, at one time she would have died for him. Luke on the other hand, had always been distant and reserved. Now since returning from several tours to war zones, he’d developed into an outright intimidating man.
The hulking muscular handsome Luke had been through hell and survived. Every inch of him exuded a silent “barely there” restraint.
“Ok. Glad to hear it.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Taylor said something else, but Tori didn’t hear it. She’d moved the phone away from her ear.
“Kiss my ass,” she called out and this time Tori did hang up. It was best to do so than to try and have any kind of civil conversation with Tobias.
Yes, she was aware she’d been a bitch when she’d broken it off years ago. Although just a teenager, even then, she should have had more decency than to break up with her fiancé the way she’d done it. At this point, it was water under the bridge, for her at least. Hell, twenty years had passed since the breakup. And both had been married and divorced in the time since. One would think a person would have dropped the resentment issue.
For Tobias, the entire situation seemed to grow worse with each passing year. It was almost as if he resented her more and more. Some days she considered that perhaps it would be best to move away. The blame was hers after all. All of it.
Tori never tried to attack Tobias on that front. However, they’d moved past that point a long time ago. Tobias latest tactic was to pick fights with her on any topic. Leah had once kidded that the constant bickering had turned into a sort of love-language between them.
The only thing between her and Tobias was animosity. That her stomach tumbled at seeing him was never because of attraction anymore. No, what she felt was dread at whatever brought him around and what he’d say or do that would anger her to the point of wanting to lash out physically.
So much for the next day starting out well. Rain pelted at her bedroom window and while Tori showered and got dressed, an employee called in sick. Something about cooler weather and rain. It made people want to stay home. Hell, she wanted to stay home.
Good thing she loved her job. Owning Victoria’s had been a dream come true and Tori did enjoy it most days.
To put the cherry on top of her craptastic morning however, Tobias’ truck was parked just down the block. She would have to walk past it to get to the restaurant.
Umbrella up, she rushed across the street to avoid running into Tobias. A woman stood under an awning and waved to her. It was an older woman, Ellen, the owner of a small bookstore one street over. “Hey Tori. You won’t believe this...”
What Tori couldn’t believe was that the woman wanted to have a conversation in the pouring rain. She hesitated when Ellen, who’d pulled her hood up, hurried toward her. “My tire is flatter than a pancake and I have to visit my husband at the senior center today.”
Tori craned her neck to see a man was crouched down replacing the tire. “You actually got someone to come out and change it? I would have loaned you my car.”
“Oh honey.” Ellen patted her shoulder. “Sweet Tobias offered to change it. He would have taken me, but said he’s got someone coming to town today.”
Sweet Tobias? Right. Tori looked again and sure enough it was him. The man was drenched, but didn’t seem to mind by the grin when he looked to Ellen. “All done Mrs. Dean.”
Once again Ellen patted Tori. “It’s a shame. You let a good one go. I bet his sweetie will start pressuring him for a ring soon.”
Sweetie? Tori blew out a breath and rolled her eyes at the retreating woman’s back. Whoever the “sweetie” was, she could have all of “sweet Tobias”.
“Hey,” Tobias called. “You don’t have to rush. You won’t melt that’s for sure.”
Not wanting to scream out an obscenity, Tori mouthed “Fuck You,” and flashed him the middle finger.
Chapter 24
All hospitals smelled the same. Sickness had a very specific
smell. It lingered in the cold air-conditioned air coating everything. The hallway to the room was long, but it was easy to see which room Felicia was in. Cops stood just outside the door refusing to leave. By the shadows under the eyes of the first one Taylor approached, they’d been there since the night before.
Three officers had been shot. One had died. Felicia lingered, one foot barely on the right side of living. Recognition flickered in the tired officer’s gaze. “They’re not letting anyone in right now. A doctor and a couple of nurses just rushed in. The machines were all bleeping.”
Taylor moved around him and peered through the glass into what looked to be controlled chaos. A man in a long white coat stood over the bed. With one hand he pressed a stethoscope against Felicia’s chest and everyone looked to a monitor. The doctor barked out an order and made sweeping motions to a nurse. Still talking and directing, he then reached for a long syringe that the nurse held out.
It was obvious to Taylor they were attempting to restart Felicia’s heart. His hands curled into fists as adrenaline rushed over him. He wanted to rush in and scream into her ear, tell her to fight. She’d beaten the odds before. There was no reason this time it had to be different.
He both struggled to breathe and then held his breath unable to take his eyes from the doctor’s face. The doctor’s expression was schooled, unreadable as the man stared at the monitor and once again pressed his stethoscope to Felicia’s chest.
The man’s brow crinkled and he said something to the nurses. One of them looked toward the glass meeting Taylor’s gaze. The older woman was obviously experienced because he couldn’t read anything in her expression either.
Once again the doctor said something and all three seemed to relax. Their shoulders fell, it was then Taylor knew.
Broken: Taylor Page 13
