I position myself over her, and my hands grab both sides of her face. “I would never, never make you do something you don’t want to do. Do you understand?”
She swallows nervously and closes her eyes for a brief second as the alcohol continues to take effect. “Taylor.” I give her body a little shake, and she opens her heavy eyes. “I’d never make you do that. Okay?”
She nods slowly. “But you told me not to talk. I was afraid you were gonna tell me to do something and then be mad at me if I tried to argue.”
I let out a long sigh. Fuck! What did I do? This is not how I planned the night to go. “Baby, I promise you with everything I have that I would never put you in a situation where you couldn’t say no. I would never make you do something you don’t want to do.” I lean down and softly kiss her lips.
When I pull back, her eyes are closed and her lips are parted as she breathes heavily. “I didn’t mean to upset you,” she whispers.
I release her face and run a hand down mine, the facial hair scratching against my palm. I hadn’t paid much attention to her at Rox’s club. I mean, yeah, I kept her close to my side, but I had business to take care of. That was my main priority. And I thought bringing her was the best plan I could have. Now, they know she belongs to me, and they won’t dare touch her. A lot of my business is done through my club and Blane bringing to my attention how short her shorts were and how small her top was got me thinking … I don’t want other men to look at her as if she is available. I never thought taking her tonight could have her pull away from me. That it would cause her to think I would force her to do something against her will. Hell, I didn’t even touch anything but her tonight. I didn’t want to frighten her, but it turns out I did anyway.
“You didn’t, baby,” I say softly as I lean down and give her one last kiss on her lips.
Her head falls to the side, a few strands of hair covering her face. Her arms fan out to her sides and her lips part as she softly snores. She’s out!
I help her get undressed. Once she is wearing nothing but her black lace thong, I place the covers up to her chin. I turn around to start undressing when a picture on her long dresser gets my attention. I pick it up as I run my finger over it. It’s of her family. She sits on the grass with her legs out in front of her. She has her dark hair down and the wind is blowing it to the side. Her mother is sitting behind her with her arms wrapped around Taylor’s waist. Her dad lies on his stomach beside them with Blane sitting on his back. They’re all laughing, looking anywhere but the camera. I feel a pain in my chest at what she lost. That she lost her mom at such a young age. She can’t be any older than five years old here.
She sighs and I turn to look at her in bed. Her dark hair with blue streaks fans out over her pillow, and she’s rolled to her side, giving me her back. I set the picture back down and get undressed making my way into her bed next to her.
I reach up and push some hair back from her face as my eyes roam over it. This is gonna be harder than I expected. But then again, I think a part of me knew she was gonna be a challenge for me. I just didn’t know that it would break me down. That she was gonna affect me on the inside. No woman has ever had me this confused.
My eyes look over her beautiful face and full lips. I feel that tightening in my chest return. How could I have thought I could bring her into this world? Why didn’t I demand more information from Blane in the beginning? I could call him right now; I could tell him that the deal is off. I could leave right now and leave her a note that this just isn’t going to work out.
I lift my wrist and run my fingers overNicole. I wish she were still here. She would know what to do. She would tell me to close my eyes and jump. To take that chance with Taylor and not to run. But she’s not here. And she can’t tell me what to do. So I have to make a decision. I just hope that it’s the right one.
TAYLOR
I open my eyes and see that I’m in bed alone. I let out a sigh as I place my hand on my forehead. I have a pounding headache and what little light enters my room is blinding. And I am hung over.
I roll over onto my stomach and a moan of pain falls from my lips. I have never been this sore and hung over in my life. Damn, did I fall down last night? Why am I so sore? I know it’s not from sex.
I open my eyes as I hear the front door open and close. “Thought you guys were staying gone all weekend?” I call out with my scratchy throat. All I get is silence.
“Savannah?” I call out again. Still silence.
I roll out of bed and then pull the sheet with me. I pull it up to the back of my neck and wrap it around myself, shielding my body from my brother; I just don’t care to put clothes on at this second.
I walk out of my bedroom and my right shoulder hits the corner of the door, hard. I can’t even walk straight. “Savannah?” I say again as I round the corner to enter the kitchen.
“Sorry to disappoint you.”
I come to an abrupt stop when I see Case standing in the kitchen. “What?”
He holds his hands out to his side with a smirk on his face. “I’m not Savannah.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I thought … you weren’t here when I woke. I just figured you had left,” I say.
“I did,” he says pointing at the bag on the kitchen table. “You were pretty drunk last night. I figured you would need some breakfast.”
I smile. I’m wearing a big, goofy grin that probably makes me look like a love-struck teenager, but I can’t help it. “Thank you.”
He walks over to me, and I notice that he still has on what he was wearing last night. The shirt brings back memories to mind. “I’m sorry,” I say softly.
“For what?” he frowns
“For snapping at you. For being jealous. I had no right to act that way.” It hurts to admit I was jealous, but I need to apologize. I don’t want him to think I am head over heels in love with him and that he’s gonna have to fire me.
He reaches up and places his hands on my face, and I close my eyes enjoying his hands softly gripping me. I love it when he touches me.
