Taylor’s alone at the bar, so I approach her. I’m going to make sure I’m sleeping next to her tonight. “Damn, girl, what are you drinking? Maybe you just need to get that in IV form.” I close in on her, our skin almost touching. “I like seeing you this carefree. Watching that kiss was hot as hell, but I think you and I can do better.”
I can feel the heat around us as I pull back and gaze into her eyes. Those deep pools of mystery are tilted up at me. “Show me,” she whispers.
This woman’s too much. I grab her hand and pull her into the dark hallway off the dining room. I push her into the wall and press my body against hers, our erratic, hot breath sharing space. My hands glide behind her neck and up into her thick hair while tongues are slipping into mouths and lust is being unleashed. I swear I’m going to fucking explode.
Taylor’s hands work their way under my shirt, and feeling them on my skin sends me out of control. I push with more force, the hardness in my jeans pressing against her as I groan into her mouth. She rubs against me as her hips circle in sync with our greedy tongues. Releasing my lips from hers, I suck in a breath before putting my mouth to her ear.
“Taylor, it feels incredible being this close to you.” The back of my hand runs down her cheek while the other one stays tangled in her hair.
“I feel the same about you, but I’m not feeling too well.” She pulls her hands up and holds her fingers against her temples. “Oh my head’s spinning. I’m really drunk.”
I bury my face into her neck and blow out several sharp breaths, trying to suppress my hunger for her. She has to believe she means more to me than the other women I’ve been with, so I can’t have sex with her when we’re drunk. After kissing her forehead, I lift her chin.
“Sunshine, I’m taking you to bed.”
“I don’t know if I feel well enou—”
Still holding her chin, I cover her lips with my thumb.
“So we can keep each other warm, nothing more.” I take her hand and lead her through the great room. Some of our friends watch as we start walking up the stairs. I’ll catch hell for this tomorrow, but I don’t care.
Hannah
Brett and I look from the kitchen and see Jasmine making out with Cody as she sits on his lap. Austin and Chelsea are curled up on the couch, and Matt and Morgan are upstairs. I don’t see Dylan and Taylor anywhere. Interesting. It’s great to see us becoming couples. The odds of us all staying together when we’re so young are not in our favor, but I can hope.
No matter what, I’m determined to at least keep our friendships intact. It won’t be easy, but I’ll fight for it because this group is special. We’ve become so close in a short amount of time, and I believe we’d do anything to help each other. Oh—my—gosh. Dylan has hold of Taylor’s hand and is walking past us to the stairs.
“Daaang, I did not see that happening this fast,” Brett says after they’re out of sight.
“She won’t sleep with him tonight,” I say.
“Baby, are you honestly saying they’re going to cuddle? Dylan’s not that kind of guy. Maybe they didn’t have sex earlier today, but he’s not going to let that happen twice. They’re both drunk. It’s going to happen tonight.”
“He’s different with her. Something happened in that Escalade,” Chelsea says from the great room.
“I can’t believe he’s getting her to mess around after the way they fought in the past. With their personalities, it will be ugly if this blows up,” Austin adds.
Dylan
When I come out of Taylor’s bathroom, I see she’s already in bed and on her side. I shut off the light before I undress and climb in with her. The second I roll over, I feel her body moving until we’re molded together.
I don’t think she understands what this does to a man. My dick’s already in pain, and I have a feeling it’s going to stay this way. Even though it will only make my night more difficult, I’m too curious as to what she’s wearing, so I take my hand and run it down her arm, feeling the sleeve of her t-shirt.
Moving it onto her waist, I notice how short and snug her t-shirt is, giving me the pleasure of touching a lot of bare skin. I then move my hand over her hip and feel only her silky panties, and so help me, I think I will die if I don’t get to be inside of her soon. She doesn’t even flinch, leading me to believe she’s passed out now.
Unable to resist, I pull her even tighter against me, draping my arm over her waist. That kiss was amazing but only made me fall for her more, and I still don’t know if we can get along during daylight hours without drinking. This is a messed up situation right here, but I’m going to enjoy the feel of her soft, warm skin any chance I get.
A Step in the Wrong Direction
Dylan
Like the night in the vehicle, I wake up turned on and jerk away from Taylor. After rolling onto my back, I place my hands behind my head. She stirs and rolls completely over, nuzzling her face against my side and placing her hand on my chest.
It makes me feel good to know that when I move away from her, she finds a way to be close to me, but I think the chick’s trying to kill me. Soon I’m going to have to take matters into my own hands. Literally.
Her black panties appear as her whole leg comes out of the sheet and snakes its way between mine. Every slick move she makes over my body pushes more air from my lungs, and I can’t resist running my hand through her hair as I think about her being burrowed against me.
She’s burrowed her way into my heart, too, but I can’t shake an uneasy feeling that it’s not going to be that simple to win her over. What’s happened to her to make her so scared to trust me?
“Good morning,” she says without moving.
“Good morning, Taylor. I’m sorry if I woke you. I couldn’t keep from touching your hair.” I hope she can’t feel my heart pounding under her hand.
“I’ll be right back,” she says, sliding away from me and out of bed.
I didn’t expect her to get up so abruptly, and I never expected her to walk in her t-shirt and panties to the bathroom, giving me a show of her entire backside. With her shirt barely covering her waist, I can see all the outline of her shapely figure. I wonder if she has clothes in the bathroom or if I’ll get the same show of her front.
I weigh whether I should close my eyes or look at her when she exits the bathroom. Man the fuck up, Dylan. Of course you’re going to look at her, and she’d expect it if she returns dressed the same. This woman is driving me insane!
Taylor
I try desperately to straighten myself up, removing the make-up from under my eyes and running a brush through my hair. I debate on brushing my teeth but figure it will make him think I’m looking for a make out session.
About the time I’m going out the door, it hits me that it’s not going to be the same walking toward him as it was walking away. Remembering that we’ve lain together almost naked, I suck it up and open the door.
Looking at his eager green eyes, I watch them scan my body from head to toe. I crawl back under the sheets and face him. Dylan still has his arms crossed behind his head, elongating his rippled abs.
He looks mouthwatering as I admire his toned physique that only has a sheet draped across it. An image of me straddling him and running my hands down his firm chest to his happy trail comes to mind until his voice snaps me out of my fantasy.
“Are you feeling OK this morning?”
“I can tell I was drunk, but I feel OK. I guess it’s a good thing it only takes a few drinks to get me there. I have a one drink rule when I’m not with my friends because as you witnessed, I can get carried away, so it’s been awhile since I had that many.”
“So, you feel the events from last night were you getting carried away?” he asks.
“Yes, a little. I have mixed feelings about partying since my parents struggled with substance abuse.”
“Taylor, do you feel you got carried away when we kissed?”
I look away as my heart begins working overtime. I didn’t expect t
o be put on the spot about our kiss, and I instantly feel vulnerable. The thought of admitting my feeling for him scares me.
“I guess you answered that,” he says with frustration as he moves to the side of the bed and begins putting on his jeans. I don’t know how long I’ve been silent because of all the thoughts racing through my mind like news scrolling across ticker tape.
Panic washes over me. “I didn’t say anything.”
“Exactly. I knew what I thought of our kiss when I woke up. I didn’t need a second to question it,” he says angrily as he puts his ball cap on backward.
I swallow hard. Having his hat on that way and not wearing a shirt makes him look even sexier. I wish I could bring myself to tell him. He shakes his head at me as I sit up in bed.
“You have no intentions of letting me in. I watched Brett do this shit to Hannah, and I’m not letting it happen to me. I don’t believe you’re even looking for what they have, but I am.”
“Dylan, let me explain,” I say desperately.
“Why bother, Taylor? You’ll just do the same shit again. I don’t know anything else to do to get you to trust me, so I’m done tryin’.” He slams the door behind him.
Feeling as if he carried all my blood out with him, I sink down in the bed and sob, feeling more alone than I ever have.
Dylan
I hear Taylor crying before I even make it to my room, and it makes my heart ache, which pisses me off more. I don’t want to care about her. I try to play my guitar, but I’m too angry to concentrate, so I go downstairs.
“Hey, dude,” Matt says.
“I sit down at the dining room table without saying a word.
“What’s wrong with you?” he asks as he sits across from me eating his breakfast.
“Someone here is a real pain in my ass.”
“Did you try to score last night, and she threw you out?” Brett asks.
“I bet that’s what every one of you think, isn’t it?”
“Come on, Dylan. Can you honestly blame us?” Brett replies.
“To clear things up here, I’ve never tried to have sex with Taylor, and I sure as hell ain’t waitin’ around to, either, so are we going out tonight? I really need to find a chick that can get out of her own damn head for more than five minutes.”
“We’re going out, but you don’t need to be looking for a woman. I’m sure whatever’s going on between you and Taylor is just a misunderstanding,” Hannah says.
I glance at her. “I bet that’s not what you thought when Brett was dicking you around.”
“What the hell was that comment for?” Brett asks.
It’s the damn truth. Brett screwed around with her head, but then he saved her damn life and treats her like a princess, so I have no right to say shit now. “I’m sorry, man.” I knew my week was going to be messed up from Taylor coming here.
Revelations
Taylor
I promised Hannah I would try harder to fit in this week, so even if I can’t talk to Dylan, I need to spend time with everyone else. After showering, I pile my hair into a messy bun and put on red skinny jeans paired with a snug, black and white striped top. I go downstairs to get something to eat, and Hannah quickly finds me in the kitchen. “Can we talk?”
“I have a feeling I don’t get a choice,” I reply. The guys are in the game room, so we sit at the dining room table.
“What the hell happened with Dylan?”
I see I’m going to have a conversation with Ms. Mason the therapist. “I screwed up again. We kissed last night, and I inadvertently gave him the impression this morning that it didn’t mean anything to me. I’m scared to tell him how much I care about him. I guess there’s still a part of me that’s afraid of getting hurt.”
“What your parents put you through when you were young was awful. Sam treating you like shit and dumping you was no better, but you can’t punish yourself and be alone forever because of what they did.”
“It’s too late. He said he’s done trying.”
“He’s been trying hard to show you how much he cares about you, so I imagine he feels rejected. He’s probably going to do something stupid tonight to make himself feel better if you don’t make things right, and it won’t be because he doesn’t care. It’ll be because he does.”
“He’s been nothing but kind to me since we got here. Honestly, he’s always tried to be that way, but I would pick fights with him, so he wouldn’t be nice. I knew I’d fall for him and was afraid of getting hurt.” I sit up straighter and shake my head. “None of that matters now. He said it’s too late, so it’s done.”
“He’ll forgive you in a split second if you tell him how you feel. Now, let’s go plan out our evening.”
I follow Hannah into the great room. We’re pretty isolated in this area of Tennessee, but I find a bar that has a DJ and a dance floor, so I reserve a section for us since we have a large group. I also reserve a Hummer stretched limousine to take us out.
Late in the afternoon, Jasmine and I are watching a chick flick, and Cody and Dylan are in the game room. Our other friends are in their bedrooms napping. That’s what they’re calling it, anyway. I wish Dylan and I were curled up in my bed.
He comes into the great room, and I hope he looks at me, so I can try to speak, but he walks right past me without even a glance. I feel the pain in my chest. I want fix things with him, but it’s too late.
Cody is following him, but instead of going upstairs, he comes and stands near Jasmine, pulling his hat farther down on his head. I’ve noticed he and Dylan show their nervousness by messing with their hats. It’s really cute.
“Jasmine, would you want to hang out in my room?”
She glances at me. “Taylor, would you care if I went upstairs?”
“Of course not. I’m good,” I reply in an upbeat tone. It’s not true, but I’m trying not to ruin everyone’s week. I guess I should get used to being alone again since it appears I’m headed back to that lifestyle after this trip. I sit alone on the couch, trying to concentrate on my movie, but all I can think about is how Dylan and I are the only ones alone, and it’s my fault.
After the movie ends, I go upstairs, but before I get to my room, I hear Dylan playing his guitar. Desperately wanting to listen to him, I tiptoe to his door and sit down against the wall with my knees up to my chest. I’ve heard every famous guitarist play live and can play very good myself, so I quickly realize that Dylan is gifted.
His playing is sublime, and I feel I’m hearing something rare and special. I believe he writes music, too. I’m a music junkie, able to recall almost any song and artist, and this is nothing I’ve heard before.
Brett comes out of his bedroom, so I jump up. He’s walking toward me, grinning ear to ear. I am so busted. I’m terrified he’s going to say something to me, and Dylan will hear, so I place my finger over my lips, signaling him not to speak.
He goes on by with a smirk on his face. I have to do damage control, so I follow behind. I don’t want him to think I’m just stalking outside of Dylan’s room for any reason other than to listen to his brilliant music.
“Umm, Brett, I just want you to know I was only sitting there because I heard Dylan playing his guitar and wanted to listen,” I say on his heels as I follow him into the kitchen.
He turns around. “Taylor, you don’t have to explain yourself to me. I’m sorry I grinned, but it was funny seeing you sitting there. Dylan’s usually the one pursuing girls, so it was just surprising to see you hovering outside his bedroom.”
“Like I said, I was listening to him play. He has a rare gift, and I don’t think he knows it. I mean, his chord progression is unreal, and he adds a bluesy sound to some of his riffs. I’m surprised you all tolerate the loudness.” I gasp for air.
Brett looks at me suspiciously. “We’re used to it. The girls may not like it, but it doesn’t faze us anymore.”
“Then his legato and tremolo—”
“Whoa, whoa, take a breath, girl. How the hell do yo
u know all this?”
I become extremely nervous as I realize what I’ve done. So much for damage control. “Umm ... I play guitar.”
“I’m sensing from how nervous you look that there’s more you’re not telling me, and you need to spill it. I’ll just get it out of Hannah if you don’t.”
“Well, I don’t know if I’m ready to do that. Can’t you just leave it alone for now?” I watch Brett study me even more, and I know I’m not walking away with my secret intact.
He rubs his chin. “Hannah said something about your driver not being able to bring you here, so that leads me to believe your parents are very successful like hers, yet she’s never mentioned a word about your family. I’m sensing that has something to do with this, so you need to tell me.
“Dylan’s my friend, and I want to know what’s going on before you mess with his head about his guitar playing. He’s self-conscious about it already.”
“OK, I’ll tell you, but only if you promise not to say anything. I want to tell Dylan when I think it’s the right time. I don’t even know if he’ll touch his guitar again in this cabin once he knows who I am, so I haven’t wanted to say anything that way he’ll keep playing.”
“OK, I won’t. The suspense is killing me, so spit it out already.”
“My father is Vincent Page,” I say very quickly before I look away from him. Brett stands frozen, and I feel his eyes on me.
“Vincent Page … as in the Vincent Page from Strip it Off?”
I slowly look back at him and nod.
“You’re fucking kidding me? Us guys, our world has been turned upside down since I carried Hannah up those basement steps last May.”
“Look, I’m more private about my family than Hannah is. When guys find out, they always act intimidated by it.”
“Anyone who likes rock or guitar idolizes your father. I can see now why you keep to yourself more than the other girls. It always surprises me that Hannah isn’t more like that.”
Dylan and Taylor (Soul Mates 101 Series) Page 6
