Perfect Betrayal

by Season Vining

  “I’m going back to sleep,” Taylor announced.

  “It’s Monday. Your yoga instructor will be here at ten. Go get calm estate.”

  “What? You mean namaste?”

  “Yes. That’s what I said. Now get up.”

  “I’ll get up in an hour.”

  Suzanne nodded and left the room.

  After a few minutes of lying in bed and staring up at her ceiling, Taylor got up and showered. She threw on some yoga pants and a tank, wanting to be comfortable for the torture that was to come. As she made her way to the seldom used gym in the basement, she ran into Levi at the top of the stairs.

  “Hi,” she said as they descended together. Levi offered only a nod, though she caught his gaze roaming over her body. When they reached the first floor, Levi turned to walk away. Taylor grabbed him by the wrist, the feel of his skin beneath hers forcing memories to play out in her mind. “Levi, that kiss,” she said. “I can’t stop thinking about it—about you.”

  Those weren’t the words she had wanted to say, but suddenly she couldn’t remember the right ones. This confession left her open and vulnerable. It showed her weakness instead of her prowess. His eyes met hers, alight with some emotion she couldn’t place—or didn’t want to. Here, beneath the grand chandelier, they displayed a kaleidoscope of colors.

  “That kiss was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”

  He yanked his arm from her grip and disappeared down a hallway. Taylor frowned at the floor and continued down to the basement.

  As hard as she tried to meditate while stretching her body in pose after pose, all she could think about was Levi. Nothing had ever been this hard for her. She never had to be the pursuer. Taylor wasn’t sure she liked having to do all the work. Then Levi’s handsome face and poetic words came to mind during Warrior pose, and as she transformed into Mountain pose, she had a feeling he would be worth every bit of effort.

  For lunch, Taylor met Reese at their favorite sushi place. After being seated on the patio, they sat quietly and watched people pass by.

  “Oh, look at him,” Reese said, nodding to an older gentleman in the corner of the restaurant. “He’s hot.”

  Taylor laughed, “No, he’s not. He looks like Beau’s dad.” She focused harder and realized it was George Upton. “Wait, that is Beau’s dad.”

  He was seated alone, sipping scotch. Taylor knew this not from the color of the drink but because she had once been a part of his family. His tan skin, too-white smile, and black hair with gray at the temples made George Upton look like money. He had soft but masculine features that reminded her of Beau. Taylor smiled, remembering all the times spent at his house as a child. George had been around a lot. Consequently, Taylor had more memories of this man than of her own father.

  George caught her gaze and grinned, raising his glass in her direction. She gave a slight wave and returned her attention to her menu. There was something off about his smile; it was not the warm good-to-see-you smile she usually received. This one was dark, as if he held secrets behind his perfect teeth.

  “Damn, if that’s what Beau is going to look like when he grows up, you better snatch him up now.” Reese plastered on her best smile and gave George a tiny wave.

  “Stop that! Beau and I are better off just being friends.”

  “What’s up for tomorrow? Want to go with me to the Plaza? I need to get a new phone.”

  “Can’t. I’m going to do that volunteer thing with Ade.”

  “You were serious about that?” Reese said, her eyes flicking over to George Upton and back to Taylor.

  “Yes. Why not?”

  “Girl, I could think of a million reasons not to go to Santa Ana.”

  “Snob,” Taylor said, hitting Reese’s shoulder.

  “I’m not a snob. I’m just better than everyone else.”

  Taylor rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink. She loved Reese, but sometimes the girl just needed to be slapped around a bit.

  “Whatever. Okay, check out this girl’s hair,” Reese said discreetly. “Nineteen ninety-five called, they want their scrunchie back.”

  Taylor laughed and looked around for their next victim. “Forget the scrunchie, look at that waiter at the bar,” she said.

  The man was tall and lean with dark hair and light eyes. His muscled arms flexed and strained as he opened a bottle of wine. Reese watched Taylor watching him and shook her head.

  “What?” Taylor asked.

  “You’re pathetic.”

  “Oh, come on. He’s hot. You can’t deny that.”

  “I’m not sure what your attraction is to service industry workers. He looks just like your little maintenance man crush.”

  Taylor looked again and noticed the resemblances to Levi, the strong jaw and tattoos peeking out from his uniform sleeve.

  “He does not,” Taylor insisted, crossing her arms and scowling at her friend.

  “So I guess you haven’t slept with him yet?”

  “No. Resistance is strong with this one.”

  “Maybe he’s gay,” Reese said, pouring soy sauce over a piece of sushi and popping it into her mouth.

  “Definitely not. But he’s got a big I’m-poor-and-life’s-not-fair chip on his shoulder.” Taylor shrugged and used her chopsticks to grab some noodles.

  “Look, I’ve seduced my fair share of men and, believe it or not, I’ve had to work for it a time or two.” Reese sat back and lifted her sunglasses to the top of her head as the waiter refilled their drinks. “There are two ways to approach a situation like this. Not that I approve,” she clarified.

  “Not that I need your approval,” Taylor countered.

  “One, you could invest time and actually get to know him. Find out what he likes, what makes him tick. But in this case, I think that’s probably not necessary.”

  “So what’s the second way?”

  “Piss him off.”

  “What? That’s it?” Taylor asked, gesturing wildly with her chopsticks. “I piss him off all the time.”

  “No, I mean really make him angry. You’ve got to get him so worked up that he loses control. Anger is a powerful, passionate emotion, Taylor, and as long as you don’t let him run off, you’ll get what you want.”

  Reese chewed on another piece of sushi and smiled. Taylor thought about her theory. She knew that Levi was a passionate person. She knew that she could use that against him. Taylor could read the signs clearly. Levi wanted her as much as she wanted him. She just didn’t understand what was holding him back, why he wouldn’t surrender to those desires. Maybe it was their four-year age difference, or maybe the fact that he was an employee of her father’s. One way or another, she would find a way to break him down.

  “Ladies,” George said, approaching their table.

  “Hello, George,” Taylor answered. “Aren’t you breaking the rules right now?”

  “Some things are worth breaking the rules for,” he said, his eyes never leaving Reese.

  “Oh, George, this is Reese Sutherland. Reese, George Upton.”

  “A pleasure,” he said, shaking her hand, his fingers stroking the skin on the inside of her wrist. “Quite a pleasure.”

  Reese gave him her best seductive smile and released his grip.

  “You girls have a fantastic lunch. It’s on me. Taylor, it was good to see you.”

  He smiled at Reese, not a friendly kind of grin between strangers but a seductive smirk. George gave Taylor a squeeze on her shoulder before making his way to the door.

  * * *

  All morning Levi and Crystal searched the two guest bedrooms and one accessible office on the second floor. Still unable to get into the locked office, Levi knew their search could not be complete without it. Each time they cleared a room without finding the safe, his frustration grew. It ate away at him and brought feelings of inadequacy and failure.

  “Just take a break, man,” Crystal said. “Find somewhere to chill.”

  He made his way to the pool house and looked bac
k at the Hudson residence. He knew it was just a building, but he felt as though it was a live being taunting him, proving him incompetent. It slept at night and formulated new plans on how keep Levi out, how to keep its secrets hidden.

  Rain began to dot the concrete outside, creating a pattern until it was completely soaked. Levi tapped out the melody to Amos Lee’s “Night Train” on the window. He blew out a breath, creating an instant patch of gray condensation on the glass and watched it disappear just as quickly. Behind him, the door opened and closed. He didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

  “I’ve been looking for you,” Taylor said. There was no sound besides the rain outside.

  “Well, you found me,” Levi answered, keeping his back to her and emotion out of his voice.

  “What are you doing out here?”

  “Thinking.”

  “About?” Taylor asked.

  “Nothing important,” he said, shrugging and looking over his shoulder. He turned back toward the window. Levi stood a better chance against her if he wasn’t faced with the wet, sheer fabric of her T-shirt clinging to her body or the way slick tendrils of hair stuck to her face and neck. “Did you need something, Taylor? Or are you just here to give me hell?”

  “Why do you do that? Why do you always assume the worst from me, Levi?”

  “Because you haven’t proved me wrong yet.” His words were strong and delivered the blow he hoped they would. Silence engulfed them until Taylor stepped toward him.

  “So let me prove you wrong now,” she said, her soft voice directly behind him. Taylor’s body molded to his from behind. She slid her hands over his shoulders and dragged them down his biceps. “Let me in, Romeo.”

  Her touch felt comforting, and for a few seconds he let himself enjoy it. But then her hands continued their journey around his body, over his stomach and down to his crotch. He stepped away and spun to face her.

  “Stop,” he groaned. He hated how much he wanted her and that it was evident in the strain of his voice.

  As if a switch were flipped, something changed in Taylor. She went from smoldering temptress to raving bitch in two seconds flat.

  “Are you gay? Is that the problem?”

  He shook his head, smirking at her attempt to break him. Taylor knew better; she was just trying to push his buttons. He wouldn’t allow it. “That’s it, isn’t it? I knew you were too pretty to like girls.”

  “Taylor, stop being a brat.”

  “What happened to you, Levi? Did you have an abusive childhood? Did you have a drunk for a mother?”

  “You shut the fuck up!” he yelled. His voice seemed to echo in the small room, and Taylor cringed. Levi stepped to her, his hot breath fanning down onto her face. His hands formed fists and he shoved them in his pockets to maintain control. “Don’t say another word about her.”

  He could see a fire inside her now and knew this would not end well. Taylor squared her shoulders and stood up taller.

  “That’s it. You have mommy issues, right? Did she smack you around a bit? Did she whore around on your dad?”

  “No, Taylor!” His loud voice boomed and she shrank away from him. “None of that shit happened, because my mom was dead!”

  Never in his life had Levi wanted to hit a woman so badly, so he did the only thing he could—he threw open the door and ran away from that house, away from his failure, his dead mother, and the infuriating Taylor Hudson.

  * * *

  “Levi!” she yelled, her voice getting lost in the pelting rain. “Levi! Stop running!”

  Taylor ran after his retreating form as fast as her legs would move. She stumbled a few times but refused to take her eyes off his back, terrified that she would lose him. She wrapped her arms around her waist, completely soaked and chilled from the rain. Her now transparent shirt stuck to her skin, and the wet denim of her jeans weighed her down. She kicked out of her shoes and kept moving.

  “Levi, please!” she yelled again, her desperate voice wavering.

  Levi’s pace slowed and he finally stopped, but he didn’t turn around. The green material of his uniform was like a second skin, the rain making it appear black. His fists clenched and uncurled, the ligaments in his arms raised like cords. For an instant, she questioned herself. Had she pushed him too far?

  Taylor caught up to him near the edge of the property. She never came out here and was surprised to find a picnic table and an old metal shed. Levi stood before her, his shoulders rising and falling with each breath. She moved close enough to touch him but didn’t dare.

  “Levi,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.” He shook his head, still refusing to face her. “Stop running from me. Stop denying what you want, what we both want,” she said between panting breaths.

  Taylor trembled when he finally turned toward her, a fierce look in his eyes. His jaw ticced, the muscles of his neck strained beneath the taut skin. He looked like a predator, and if she hadn’t wanted him so badly, she would have had been terrified.

  He stalked toward her as if she were his last meal before execution. Taylor stumbled backward until she was pressed against the shed. Under the cover of trees, they were not completely exposed to the downpour.

  The closer Levi got, the quicker her pulse thundered in her ears. Taylor’s breaths came faster and she felt dizzy from the need and the want churning inside.

  Levi stepped forward and closed the space between them, pressing his body to hers. The warmth of his skin penetrated their cold, wet clothes and soothed Taylor’s shaking body. His green-gray eyes held hers. They displayed worry and doubt and fuming anger.

  The need to touch him took over. She reached up and removed his hat, throwing it into the trees. His messy brown hair fell into his eyes, beautiful and imperfect. Taylor ran her fingers through it, scraping her nails against his scalp. She wrapped her fingers around a handful and refused to let go. Time seemed to stand still as they held on to each other and exchanged bated breaths and heated glances. Fat drops of rain fell around them in a melodic plunk, plunk countdown.

  Taylor lost her breath when Levi leaned in and attacked her lips. The force bumped her head into the wall, but she didn’t care. His kiss, the taste of his tongue and the nip of his teeth, made her indifferent to anything that wasn’t Levi. She moaned into his mouth. He swallowed it and pressed her harder, held her tighter. His fingers clawed into her ribs before sliding down and cupping her ass through her soaked jeans.

  Levi’s lips left hers. Taylor gasped for air, turning her face to the sky and welcoming the rain that fell between the branches. He traveled down her neck, licking and sucking, his warm tongue igniting her. She scraped her nails along his scalp and grabbed a handful of hair, pulling him back to her lips.

  Taylor’s fingers fumbled with the buttons of his work shirt, but her lips never left his. When she got them undone, Levi peeled the soaked shirt from his body before reaching behind his head and yanking off his white T-shirt as well. Taylor took in the sight before her. Beautiful ink covered his upper right arm and shoulder. The smooth skin of his defined chest was a stark contrast against the images of fire and water inked into his flesh. Taylor traced the line between them.

  Levi fisted the thin material of her V-neck T-shirt and pulled. The fabric ripped easily in his hands, and the sound shocked them out of their frenzied lust. Levi took a step back and watched Taylor. They were mirror images of water-slicked skin and heaving chests, swollen lips and desire. The art of his arm and shoulder looked like glossy wet paintings on a marble canvas.

  Levi reached out for her again and pulled her in for another kiss. His hands and lips were punishing, and Taylor loved the feel of it. She slid her hands down his chest and stomach, drifting over hard muscle to find his belt buckle. Her hands worked quickly to get his offensive pants out of her way. Soon she was granted the beautiful sight of his tented gray boxer briefs.

  Levi kicked out of his pants and stood like a shrine among the trees. Their eyes met again as Taylor tried to say everything
she wanted to say—yet she couldn’t. She wanted him. She wanted this. His expression was still one of lust and fiery hate. Levi let out a hiss as her cold hand skated down his body and grabbed hold of him. He was soft skin and hard warmth in her hand, everything she imagined.

  Reluctantly, she let go and moved her hands to her own jeans. Taylor unfastened the button and slid the zipper down, working hard to push the wet material from her legs. Naked and cold, she went to him. Taylor pressed her lips to his chin, his jaw, and then just below his ear.

  “Levi, please,” she said.

  His arms slid around and lifted her off the ground. Levi walked her over to the picnic table and placed her on top. He didn’t hesitate or ask permission before entering her. Taylor cried out against his shoulder, biting down on the salty skin there.

  At that moment, Taylor felt like a circuit that had been completed. As if this was what she’d been missing her whole life. The smell of rain and nature mixed with Levi left her dizzy. She lay on the table as Levi held her thighs around his waist. His rough fingers dug into the flesh of her thighs, pulling Taylor against him with every thrust. The combination of their bodies crashing together, the biting pain of the wooden table on her back, and the complete fulfillment of Levi inside her sent a blissful kind of pleasure through her. It was an erotic pulse that originated at her center and radiated outward, stinging her fingers and toes. Levi slid one hand between them and pressed his thumb to her sensitive bundle of nerves. Taylor gasped, her back arching up.

  “Give it up, Taylor,” Levi growled into her ear, his first words since all this began. “It belongs to me and I want it so fucking bad.”

  Those words sent Taylor flying over the edge. She cried out and clung to him as he continued to take her body relentlessly.

  “Is this what you wanted, Taylor? Is it?” he asked, his voice a low and feral snarling sound.

  “Yes, yes,” she answered on each breath. “Yes.”

  Levi’s rhythm increased now, divine and punishing at the same time. She clawed at his skin, needing him harder and faster—just needing him.