Dylan and Taylor (Soul Mates 101 Series) (15 page)

The guys don’t know it, but I’ve grown up around poker. I sure wouldn’t be stripping off any of my clothing. My dad’s band and the crew love to play on the road, so I’m a pro. I try not to give it away too early, but it’s hard for it not to show. Besides Matt and Cody winning once, I smoke everyone repeatedly.

I put the ‘playing hard to get’ plan into play. I pretend I don’t care that Dylan and I are only going to be friends as I sit across from him. In the end, if that’s all we can be, I don’t think I’ll be this cooperative. My heart won’t be able to take being around him, so I’ll have to isolate myself once again. I don’t want that. I love this bunch.

“Damn, Taylor, you’re just full of surprises,” Brett says.

“I have a few more up my sleeve. Of course, all of you might have won more hands if you weren’t drunk already.”

“True, that’s definitely why you won,” Cody says.

I’m sitting next to him, so I push his shoulder with my hand. “I wouldn’t go as far as saying that.”

Matt stands up from the table. “Enough of this. I can’t keep having my ego crushed by this woman.” He winks at me, and I think it’s the first time we’ve ever made eye contact. He’s another one who I’ve figured out is a lot like me, guarding his heart at all cost. I wish I knew his reasons. I go into the kitchen to get something to drink.

“Taylor.”

It’s Dylan’s voice, so I don’t look at him as I keep moving around the kitchen. “Hi.”

“I’m sorry about earlier. What I said didn’t come out right.”

“It’s fine. Vincent being my dad is too much for you to deal with, so we’ll just be friends.” It’s definitely not fine, but I glance to him and give a weak smile.

“I don’t want to just be friends, Taylor.”

“Please let it go. It was hard enough for us to get along before you knew about my dad. Adding the anxiety you feel over that to the mix is a recipe for disaster. I think we made that obvious earlier today.”

“I’m sorry. I’m trying to work this shit out in my head.” He moves closer to me, and I instantly feel the butterflies in my stomach. I’m not the only one with a plan here. He knows how to charm me. “That was some pretty impressive playing back there with those hands of yours.” He moves a stray strand of hair from my face, and I feel his tingling touch to my cheek.

“I’ve been known to do some pretty impressive things with my hands.”

Dylan throws his head back and chuckles. “That’s not the hands I was talking about, but I can’t argue with you there.” He pulls me into his arms, catching me off guard.

He confuses the hell out of me. “Are we sharing friendly hugs now?”

“If you continue to let me,” he says as he tightens his hold.

I pull back and gaze up at him. If he’s not going to give me more, then we can’t share friendly hugs. It’ll be too painful to be near him. I feel the change in my body as my breathing becomes shallower and my pulse races. I want nothing more than to attack him as a warm sensation spreads throughout me.

Feeling vulnerable and scared that he’ll hurt me more, I pull free from his hold. “I can’t give my heart to someone who needs time to decide if they want it or not,” I say.

“Taylor, you are not a patient woman whatsoever, but you sure expect it from everyone else. Let’s see,” he says as he rubs his chin. “I waited six months trying to get the woman I care for to want my heart, yet she can’t give me a day to sort out the biggest news I’ve heard in my life.”

My fists clench. He drives me insane! “Yes, but I haven’t pushed you away since I told you how much I care about you. You may have changed your mind about wanting me after you told me you’d never hurt me. Like I’m not going to be impatient about that. There’s the difference you big jerk!” I storm out of the room and up the stairs. Closing myself off from the world was so much simpler.

Turn the Page

Dylan

Dammit! She is the most stubborn woman, but I don’t want her to ever walk away from me again. I want her, and I’m sick of this shit. There’s so much desire and intensity between us. One of us is always holding the pin to the grenade. It’s time to throw the damn thing.

After Taylor leaves me alone in the kitchen, I realize everyone else is out of sight. I can hear their voices from the game room, so I get my coat and go out on the back deck. I feel her slipping away. Just when she begins to trust me, I give her a reason not to.

I’m in love with Vincent Page’s daughter. I thought I might be after I saw Sam hurting her, and I knew for sure when I couldn’t fall asleep without her. The completeness I felt after she came into my room to sleep showed me it was love.

Walking into her home and meeting Vincent would be terrifying, and I’m worried if I have sex with Taylor beforehand, her dad will see right through me. She’s twenty though, so surely he expects her to be having sex by now. I hear the door open and look back to find Brett walking out.

“What are you doing, man? It’s fucking freezing out here. Didn’t you get enough of the cold when we were grilling or when you were stuck in that SUV?”

“I needed somewhere quiet to think.”

“You need to quit thinking. I see so much of myself in you right now, and I wish you’d take my advice, but you aren’t listening.”

“I did hear what you said earlier. I see now what an ass I was to you when you fell for Hannah, but you knew who Hannah was from the beginning. I fell in love with Taylor before I knew who—”

“You think you love her already?”

“I don’t think, I know.”

“Damn, that’s big.”

“She wasn’t the only one misjudging all those months. We all misjudged her. She carries a lot of pain because of who she is, and it’s no wonder she was so guarded. I saw that pain in her eyes at the hospital, so I hung on with the hope that there was more to her, and I was right. But what if Vincent doesn’t want us together when he finds out? That would crush me.”

“I thought the same thing about Lorna and Todd, and it didn’t happen. There’s just no way her dad isn’t the cool dude, and I can tell now that Taylor’s just as cool, so take a chance, man, and come inside before my dick freezes off.”

I bust out laughing. I never thought Brett and I would be having heart to heart talks. The girls have done a number on us emotionally, but I’m still a male. I want her body as much as I want her heart. Now I have to decide what I’m going to do about it.

I spend the next hour playing PS3 with the guys while the girls hang out in the room with us, but I can hardly concentrate as I fantasize about Taylor. I was relieved when I heard her voice earlier and realized she had come back downstairs to be around everyone. She’s finally trusting our group, so the last thing I want is for her not to trust me.

She thinks we may not stay together, yet she sounds happy, and that worries me. Every time I hear her giggle, I just want to grab her up in my arms and carry her to bed. She has me wrapped around her finger. I sure didn’t show her that today, but she does. That’s it. I can’t take this another second. I love her, and I’m not losing her, so I throw down the controller.

She’s talking to the girls as I walk over and bend down, putting one arm under her legs and the other around her back. She stops speaking mid-sentence and looks at me shockingly as I pick her up. “Dylan, what are you doing?”

“Taking you to bed, sunshine, and I’m not tired.” I look down at her and smirk. Her eyes widen, her cheeks turn pink, and for once, her sassy, big mouth is shut.

There won’t be any talking or arguing tonight. I don’t hear a sound from anyone as I carry her through the cabin. She leans her head against my chest as I take the stairs, and I know she’s where she wants to be.

After carrying her into her room, I kick the door closed and drop her to her feet by the bed. I turn on a side lamp and face her. She looks up at me with those innocent eyes as her body trembles. She’s so sweet in her own feisty way. I have to smile at her. She’s the most gorgeous woman, and I’m making her mine.

Taylor

I’m standing by my bed facing Dylan after he abruptly picks me up and carries me away from our friends, announcing that he’s taking me to bed. I’m so caught off guard that I’m shaking.

He squeezes my waist and pulls me closer before he leans down and takes my mouth ever so slowly. He gently plants a single kiss to my lips, and I open my mouth, inviting him in as my fingers find his textured hair. His hot tongue mingles with mine, and it makes my heart flutter.

We share the slowest, hottest kiss as our tongues caress and twirl. Dylan’s showing me with his touch that this will be love making, nothing less meaningful. The feel of his warm hands moving up under my shirt cause my muscles to clench, and I know I’m wet from the lust dying to spill from me.

I don’t want him worrying about my nerves, so to show him I’m ready for this, I pull his shirt up. He finishes taking it off and tugs mine off. When I lock his gaze, he’s looking at me with so much desire.

He then kisses on my neck and along my shoulder as his hands reach behind me and unhook my bra. It falls, and he steps back to look at me. I undo my jeans and slip them off, along with my socks, never taking my eyes off of his. He runs his hand through his hair, and I can see how turned on he is as his eyes trail up and down my body.

I step toward him in only my black panties and pull his head to me, capturing his mouth as the passion builds between us. His fingers trace down my back and glide over the lace of my panties until my flesh feels the squeeze of his hands. They soon hook my panties on each side and the graze of them sliding slowly down my legs send a shiver racing from my head to my toes.

Dylan moves right down with them, so I fist his hair that is now at my stomach as I step out of my panties. He groans as he takes hold of my hips and brushes kisses up my stomach to my chest and then my neck. I might combust if he doesn’t get inside me soon.

He lets go and yanks off the rest of his clothes. I get into bed and watch him get a condom out of his jean pocket and put it on. OMG, I have now discovered another wonderful feature on his body. He’s in bed and on top of me quickly, stroking my hair and gazing at me intensely.

“Taylor, I wanted no talking tonight, but I have two things to tell you. One, I’m going to make love to you, but after that, all bets are off. Anything goes. What we have between us, sweetheart, is not staying bottled up any longer. Two, your body is gorgeous.”

“Thank you. I think yours is pretty amazing.”

He kisses my forehead before his lips graze along my jawline. The corners of my mouth are kissed before his lips meet mine. The tingling sensation seizes me as he works my nipples between his fingertips.

I can’t help but moan, especially when his wet mouth is on them, each one getting licks and sucks and swirls from his tongue.

“Dylan,” I whisper as I run my fingernails along his scalp. I can feel the wetness between my legs, and I have a voracious need to be as close to him as possible. “Please, do it now. I can’t wait any longer.”

He moves back up my body with a grin on his face.

“Patience, sweetheart. Didn’t I just have a talk with you about this?”

I swat his arm. “Dylan.”

In a split second, he’s serious again, seizing my mouth, and settling between my legs. He eases into me, and my heart melts even more from how thoughtful he’s being, knowing how long it’s been for me. Instantly enclosed in a pool of paradise, I surrender to my desire as pleasure blankets my entire body.

“You were made to mold to me when we sleep, Taylor, the way I was made to fit you perfectly when we make love.”

I fight the tears wanting to fill my eyes as I move underneath him with fluidity, my body shuddering from the overwhelming sensation pulsing through me. Feeling the urge to have him deeper, I lift my hips. He sinks farther in while letting out a loud groan. “You feel amazing wrapped around me, Taylor.”

The constant friction creates a shattering upheaval of pleasure inside me until I come around him, bringing him with me. Our bodies quake against each other’s as we fight for air. I’m overcome with emotion that anything can feel this incredible … that he can be this tender.

Dylan kisses me softly on the lips and forehead before he moves next to me. After disposing the condom and reaching to turn off the lamp, he pulls me against him.

“That was … wonderful,” I say.

“It was pretty damn wonderful, and just think, you get to carry with you forever that you were my first. I hope you feel extra special, baby.”

I pinch his waist. “Dylan, you’re a mess,” I say, trying to stifle a laugh.

“I’ll happily be your mess. I promise that you’ll never be bored.”

“I believe you, and that sounds nice.” My eyelids feel weighted down as I yawn and scoot my body closer to his. I’ve never felt so content in all my life.

***

I’m still lying in the same spot against Dylan when I open my eyes. The sun is shining brightly through the windows. I move my head up to his chest, longing to hear his heartbeat and have my skin cling to his. After a few minutes, I feel his fingers running through my hair.

“Good morning, sunshine. I see the sky is lit up from your rays today.”

“You can take credit for that one.” I giggle on his chest before rolling my whole body on top of his. I bury my face into his neck, barely touching my warm lips to his skin. He runs his hands down my back, giving me goose bumps.

“You’re asking for trouble early today. You can’t lay your naked body on top of mine and not expect it.”

He rolls us over until he’s on top of me. “You have beautiful eyes, Taylor.” He kisses my cheek.

“You do, too and beautiful hair.” I reach up and slide my hand through it.

“And you have the softest skin,” he says as he kisses my neck.

“And you have amazing muscles.” I run my hands down his arms.

He stops moving and looks at me with an unfed craving. He has another condom on in no time and sinks inside of me. I close my eyes and enjoy the thrusts of pleasure that pervade my core. His slow movement allows me to savor every single moment of pleasure that quickly sends both of us to our erupting climax. Dylan holds me in his arms after.