“One-night stands aren't usually like this." I joke, and I'm surprised by her wide-eyed expression. A thought whispers through my head, she's never done this before. "Taylor, have you done this before?" I bounce my finger between us.
“What? A white guy?” Her mischievous smile earns her a quick kiss. "Yes."
“That’s good to know, I guess. But no, a one-night stand?”
Her head drops and I lift her face with my hand bringing her beautiful dark brown eyes back to mine. The shake of her head is subtle. I would have missed it had I blinked.
"No?" I confirm, and the pressure of her response is real. I have to decide quickly on how to proceed.
“No.” The next question is on the tip of my tongue. Then she adds, “I’ve only had one sexual partner.”
I step back. She moves forwards. I give her a stern look.
“Zachary.”
“Zach.” I smile despite knowing this can’t happen tonight. It can’t. Why would a man turn this woman away? To cheat not once, but twice.
"Zach, I know this is not normal, and I wouldn't blame you for changing your mind. But I hope you won’t. I feel like I have to do this to move on.”
"You're not playing fair here, Taylor."
“Because we’re talking too much.” Her sexy smile makes my heart warm, and I remind it this is only for one night.
Men like me don't get women like her. She's fated to a man deserving of her, and I know that's not me. And for a brief moment, I think about taking Taylor back to her car. Then she grabs the hem of her dress, lifting it over her head. Her orange laced bra is paired with matching panties.
I drop my head back, squeezing my eyes closed. But I can’t scrub the sight of her perfection from my mind. Her hands crawl under my shirt and up my chest. Then I feel her tongue swirl around my nipple. She tosses my shirt across the room with a feminine flick of her wrist, then she unzips my pants with a flirty twist of her hips, dropping it like it's hot. She stops hovering over my cock before standing, and it's over.
I gather her in my arms, and her legs wrap around my waist. Her mouth covers mine. The urgent thrust of her tongue matched by the arching of her back. I walk up the stairs lowering her to my bed. I hover over her letting my eyes feast on her beauty. If I can only have her once, I want all of her. I seal the deal with a kiss.
I kneel starting at her toes and kissing up her legs. I smell honey on her skin as I nip and sample my way up. I bite the inside of her thigh, sending her legs open. I lick my lips, ready to taste heaven, and she scoots back up the bed.
“Taylor, is there something else I should know?” She crosses her hands over her patch of pleasure.
“I’ve never done that.”
“That what?” This woman is something else. I crawl on the bed following.
“You know what I’m talking about and don’t laugh.” The last part sounds like a whine. I grip her thighs loving the firm thickness in my hands. I slide her from the headboard.
"This is part of a one-night stand," I say matter-of-factly. Who knew I’d have this much fun tonight?
“Noooo…”
I nod.
“You do that,” she wags her finger toward her southern region, “to every woman?”
I can’t help but laugh. “Sorry, baby, no. Not at all.”
“Good.”
“But I will with you.” I lick my lips ready because I know it will be unforgettable like her.
“You will?”
I nod, scooting her until she’s flat on her back. “And, Taylor, you’ll love it.”
“Love is a strong word. Not sure I’m a fan of it. Which is neither here nor there.”
Her eyes dance with nervousness, but it will fade soon. It could be selfish, but the joy of knowing I'll share this first with her makes me eager. Tonight, she’ll see what she’s been missing.
“It’s a strong and accurate word. Now, stop talking.”
* * *
Zach slithers down my body, and I look up at the ceiling. A bubble of anticipation circles in my stomach. The guys have mentioned it in passing. I was too unsure to ask questions. I chalked it up to dating and having sex with Les as a teenager. We pretty much stick to missionary. Every once in a while, we had sex on the couch. But that's basically the extent of my sexual knowledge.
He’s between my legs kissing down my stomach. I tense when his tongue dips into my belly button.
“Zach…”
His head comes up. "Yes, baby?”
“This makes me so nervous.” The words stumble out, and I take a deep breath as waves of anxiety rush through my body.
“We'll try, and if you're still nervous, I'll stop.”
I can't imagine him stopping, but his patience makes me relax. I run my hand through his hair.
“Are you regretting this?” I ask.
“I think you’ve changed my Memorial Day blues for good.”
“Really?”
"Really. Thank you." He sits up and kisses me. “Enough talking.”
I stare up wondering what the heck have I agreed to. But I've always been curious. Then I feel his tongue sweep across my clit. I gasp clinching my legs. He grips my thighs with his hands, lowering my heat onto his long thick tongue.
I grab a handful of his hair. His mouth works me, and I can't believe I've never done this. He picks up the pace as my butt lifts from the mattress. I feel release within my grasp, and he's doing it with his mouth.
Then he thrusts and sucks, and I scream his name. He pulls back with the look of raw maleness, slipping a condom over his manhood. I look at his package. He lays back and tells me to come to him. I gladly follow his lead.
"Ride me, baby."
I pause, this is a night of newness for me. I can’t stop to think about how I’ll feel in the morning, or about what’s next. His knowing eyes search mine.
“Straddle my body.” His command sends heat flowing through my veins like lava as he pats the mattress on either side of him.
I obey.
"Lean towards me, and I'll help you."
I bring my chest to him, and he grips my hips. I kiss him tasting myself on his mouth, and I thank him with my heart for his patience.
“Ready…”
I place my hands on his shoulders. He thrusts, filling me. We groan in unison.
“Zach…” He’s big and fills me from wall to wall.
“Sit into it.”
I sit back, rocking my hips. I get lost in the rhythm of his caressing, his words. It hurts so good. And for the second time tonight I feel release calling my name. The thought of him doing this with another causes my eyes to fly open, and I see pleasure written across his handsome face.
“Oh shit…I gotta fill you, baby."
He flips me on my back, and the strokes are deep. His hips slamming into mine. This is death of the best kind. Then he pulls out and plunges deep once more, a chorus of our cries fill the air. The pleasure is pure and explosive.
I pass out immediately.
Chapter 3
Taylor
I have a meeting in less than ten minutes, and there's no way I'm making it on time. Last night was… I can't find the words. My body is still quivering from it all. Zach loved my body from top to bottom and back again until I left. I showered and changed into some borrowed clothes. He dropped me off, and I wonder if we'll see each other again.
Is that what I want?
The fact that I haven’t thought about Les is telling. He could have stayed at my house for all I know. I’ll deal with it later.
I'm back at S&J. It's before business hours. I wave at Martinez as I head back to the conference room, the moment I enter the conversations stop.
This is pretty much our office. The owners let us use the space since Ben, Hunter’s husband, was a manager here until he started working for Platinum Prestige.
The fact that I look like a bum is not missed by anyone in attendance. Hunter is talking, but all eyes are on me. I feel exposed like they all know what
I did last night.
I take a vacant chair next to Parker. I’m still having an out of body moment because I’ve been thoroughly sexed and I know they know. Parker hands me the agenda. I read it to avoid the questioning stares.
I would have skipped the meeting, but I have to go over the database I'm building. Hunter hits her stride, and I focus on the timeline. Every guy has her head down, taking notes. We're growing at a slow and steady pace, to date, we've signed a dozen clients.
Ben takes over adding in details about the balance of the workload while Hunter is on maternity leave having the twins.
Most of us met in high school bonding over the fact that we have guy names. Hence the “guys.” This business venture has sealed our bond as friends and sisters.
Hunter, Charlee, and Harper are the OGs of the group. They’ve known each other the longest. I met the others through Charlee, so I naturally gravitate towards her. I honestly float between the internal clusters, hanging with pretty much all of them. But Parker, Jordan and I live in the same subdivision, so we hang out several times a week.
The meeting shifts, and each guy gives a quick update about their assignment. I take notes. I'm building a database to house our contacts, services, and incoming leads, which means I'm using the skills I acquired in college. Jordan is building a custom app. She and I are planning to have coffee later at my place to compare notes.
The others are focusing on products and services. Harper is working on getting a lease for a private plane, and Parker is scouting office space.
Hunter calls for a break, but no one moves. I glance up from my notes to find nine pairs of eyes on me. Ben excuses himself. I watch him go, and I glance back at them, as my heart drums in my ears.
Might as well get it over with. “I had a one-night stand." I blurt it out and wait for the wave of responses. But no one says a word.
I’m surprised.
When I need it said like it is…or the untamed god-honest truth, there's one guy to talk to…Charlee. So, I look at her, our resident mouthpiece.
“I’m utterly confused. How can you have a one-night stand with your man?” Her forehead scrunches.
“I told Les to move out.” I hear the wave of responses I expected before. Questions, high fives, the constant chatter between them keeps me from having to respond to their glee. It kind of hurts. None of them liked Les, but it wasn't their choice but mine.
Harper changes chairs, moving closer to me. "Honey, what happened?"
Harper is the soul of us. Keeps us honest. I’m usually our assessor of the risk factors, protecting my guys like a mamma would shield of her beloved cubs.
“Jovonta came by to tell me she’s pregnant again.”
I'm sure I could hear a pin hit the floor. I glance down at my hands. I have nothing to be ashamed of. I didn't cheat. But after last night it makes me wonder if that is why he went elsewhere.
I can’t stop my thoughts from seeing Zach between my thighs, Zach inside me, Zach screaming my name. No, if I had to endure Jovonta to have Zach, so be it.
“So, you find out Les cheated again, and you're smiling?" Charlee smiles that wicked one when she's about to turn up. "Aaaahhhhh shit! You did the nasty!”
Charlee hops to her feet doing some crazy woman dance twerking and the guys are laughing like hyenas. I join in and find myself huddled in a group hug. I lean in accepting their love and support.
“Can you please tell us? Did he—”
“Charlee!” the guys say in unison.
“Y’all ain’t right. Let this girl go her whole entire life without a little licky-licky.”
Heat floods my face. I duck my head to keep them from seeing my cheeks turn red. “Y'all are wrong for not insisting," I confirm.
“Oh, dayum!”
We laugh and sit back at the table. I can't tell the guys everything since I haven't processed it all. So, I share enough to get a little breathing room.
“I met him here last night.” I keep Zach’s name to myself. No point in being specific since we didn’t exchange numbers.
“Did he ask or you?”
“I did.” The collective head whip causes a gush of air to move through the room. "We shared a couple of drinks, and I told him about Les and his baby mama drama. Then I asked him to take me home."
“Then what?” Charlee asks.
“Y’all know.”
“No, we don’t," Parker says, leaning forward on her knees.
“We basically did stuff.” I giggle. “Dang. Just know I had a different experience.” I shrug and wait for the next question.
“So, you’re done with Les?”
“Yes.”
The room falls deathly silent. I've been here before, we've been here before. Not the one-night stand but the Les fucking up part. Then he has a way to wiggle past my defenses. The number one reason is always saving the years we've spent working on our relationship. He's one of the oldest relationships in my life. And he was the single piece of hope that I could one day have a normal family.
Husband, wife, and kids.
I tug at the sleeves on Zach's shirt. I hold it up to my nose, smelling his scent. I smile, wondering what he's doing.
“He got it like that?” Parker asks.
I freeze. Looking at the sleeve near my nose.
“So, you understand the definition of a one-night stand is it’s for one…night?” Charlee holds up her index finger.
“Charlee I’m not stupid.” I'm offended. But part of me wants a repeat, which means it wouldn't be a one-night stand but two unless we see each other before the day's out. What is wrong with me? I’m trying to find a loop hole to a one-night stand.
I fall forward not caring that they’re all looking at me. This is awkward and uncomfortable. But I get it. This is what we do. I’ve just never been the center of attention.
"You want to go back for more." Jordan reads me.
“Okay. So, it was amazing.” I groan. “I mean amazing amazing. And no! Charlee I won’t tell you the nasty details because they are nasty. Like the good kind that will have me thinking about—” I stop, covering my face with my hands.
“Hot dayum!”
I don't know who said it because they're all squealing around me like the cheerleaders of my life. This is the best part of our friendship. The guys are down when I'm right or wrong. They question me, but I know this is a soft place for me to land.
“Taylor!”
I turn, and Les is standing in the doorway. Ben and Asher are standing over his shoulder.
“What do you want? I’m in the middle of a meeting.”
He glances between the guys. This was another downfall of our relationship. He hates my guys, but we're a package deal. He mumbles his comments under his breath and it’s another strike against him.
"We need to talk," Les says.
“Speak your piece.” I cross my arms.
“Alone.”
"Talk now or leave. They stay, or you can leave." I can see Parker and Jordan from my peripheral vision. I want to turn and hug them all. But first, I need to get rid of him.
“I can explain,” he says.
“Oh, this should be good.” I hear from behind me.
He snarls at someone over my shoulder.
“I’m waiting.”
“I was dropping off Vonnie and—”
“Please tell me you’re not going to give another sloppy ass excuse.” Harper stops the ridiculous response in its tracks.
I turn to Harper, and I smile. My girl is coming out of her shell. Must be Liam’s influence.
“Save the bullshit. Les this is the second time you’ve done this. It’s over. We’re over.”
“We can get past this Taylor. We can’t just throw over ten years like that.”
“Apparently that’s not true, because you did it, not once but twice. Les, I loved you. And at some point, I have to draw the line. This is it." I draw a line in the air. This has nothing to do with Zach and everything to do with Les. I allowed this
behavior to continue, and now I'm reaping the consequences.
“Loved?" He reaches for me, and I step back.
“Did you move your things?” I ask.
“No, because we need to talk about this.”
"We just did, and I want you out by noon. Goodbye, Les."
He opens his mouth to respond, and Ben steps inside the room, telling him it's time to leave. I brush away the tears running down my cheeks. I'm not sad. Maybe it will hit me later when I get home. Right now, I embrace the relief of knowing I'm moving on.
I feel an arm wrap around my shoulders. I lean my head on Parker’s shoulder. “Proud of you.”
“Me too.” Harper rubs my back.
“Want us to head over to your place?” Hunter asks.
“No, you guys have helped enough. I need to do this part alone.” I turn to face them. “I need to close this chapter.”
They nod, and I hug each one accepting their words of encouragement. Hunter closes out the meeting. I have notes to review on the database. But my only task at this moment is watching the only man I’ve ever loved to leave my life for good.
Chapter 4
Zach
I can’t stop thinking about Taylor. I'm honestly not the one-night stand type. My career as a soldier and now building a technology company left me with no time for anything other than work. But Taylor was…is different. I should have asked for her number.
It’s been a few weeks, and I’ve been by S&J daily hoping to see her again with no luck. I considered asking the bartender since he knew her by name, but I decided against it. She was clear that it was meant to be a one-night stand. An ache fills my chest at this reality. I should have done more. I guess the memories will be all I have of her.
I focus on the document on the screen in front of me. I started a consulting company before leaving the Marines. I type the finishing touches on the proposal I’m pitching at the end of the week. Work is the best way to move forward.
I work until I can’t see the words on the screen. I hear the chime of my phone. I rub my eyes and check my text messages. I smile as I read the text, I’m in town. Close your laptop and meet me at S&J.
Chosen Love: A BWWM Romance (Blazin' Love Book 4) Page 2
