Exception (61 page)

Saying that their lips felt right on each other’s would be an understatement. They felt like they were made to share kisses. A perfect fit.

Lips and tongues moved in absolute synchrony, creating a kiss that was the perfect reflection of their relationship; the clear balance between the fire of passion and the peace of love and friendship. As they kissed, their hands explored familiar paths in a completely different light. He held her face and ran a hand over the lace covering her ribs and lower back, while she held his neck, and traced lines over his chest. Their familiar bodies had been transformed in uncharted territories, and the rediscovery had become the most thrilling mission.

“We better take a break or we’ll make this party something no one will ever forget,” Taylor teased, nibbling her lower lip.

Angling her head, she looked him in the eye with a wicked smile on her lips. “You can’t say we need a break and then bite my lip like that. Unless you mean a ‘Let’s go upstairs’ kind of break. Then bite away.”

Her comment made him laugh. It was mind-blowing to think how much things had changed in a day. How much Emily had changed in that day. Seeing her free and happy and clearly excited, the way she was, was the sexiest thing he had ever seen.

“Trust me, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than in that attic with you right now. But we have a little over an hour until midnight and, excluding the fact that we’ll need much longer than that, I bet Mom wouldn’t hesitate in dragging me, bare-assed, to celebrate my birthday down here.”

“I highly doubt that,” Emily replied smugly. “In fact, I think that if we decided to do it right here on the dance floor, Tina would be removing tablecloths to build us a tent and telling people to leave us alone.”

Wetting his lips, Taylor gave his girlfriend a look that was pure sex. If that wasn’t enough, he pressed his open palm against her lower back, bringing her hips flush against his and the clear display of his excitement, while his other hand traced the lines of her neck and collar bone until they were dangerously close to her cleavage. “If you want to put your theory to the test, I’d be more than happy to oblige.”

Emily clenched her thighs together in a feeble attempt to alleviate the burning building up inside her. “I bet you would, but I don’t like the idea of you parading the birthday suit around, especially with hair-flipping, inappropriate-dancing Katie around.”

Taylor looked at her confused. “You don’t like Katie?” The roll of eyes she gave as an answer made him snicker, before continuing, “That’s odd, everyone loves Katie.”

“I dislike every woman who’s got the hots for you. Always have and always will.” Her curtness and clear annoyance was hilarious.

Taylor chuckled against her skin, tickling her in the best way. “Jealousy looks good on you, babe. But there’s nothing to worry about; I’ve only got the hots for you. Always have and always will.”

His sexy whisper was followed by a line of even sexier kisses to the curve of her ear and jawline until they reached her lips where, attempting to prove his point, he delivered a deep, hot-as-hell-melt-your-bones kind of kiss that left Emily panting and moaning against his lips. It turned her previous jealous thoughts of blood, guts and chainsaws into silent wishes that the party would be over soon so they could finally retire to their room, and spend the night
not
sleeping together for the first time.

After a few more dances turned into smooches on the dance floor, the new couple went back to their table where they could rest their feet, and engage in conversation with other people, guaranteeing they would make good on their decision to cool off.

Penelope and Nate were the only two occupants of the table. They were talking and laughing in an overly touchy way that made Emily wonder if the behavior was new or not. As soon as Taylor and Emily reached the table, equal amounts of congratulations and snarky, teasing comments on what an entertaining show they were delivering were fired their way. Choosing to ignore them, they sat at the table for the next hour or so, enjoying their time with the family and friends that gathered around them.

The night was the best one in Emily’s entire life, and she didn’t think she could ever be any happier. Minutes before midnight the group, properly equipped with their hats and tiaras and confetti, moved to the sunroom which, according to Penelope, was the prime firework watching spot, and waited for the countdown to begin.

In the last minute of the year, as others filled the glass-walled room, Emily and Taylor folded their arms around each other. Stretching up, she kissed his lips. “Exactly a year ago, I was standing by the bar at OJ’s with Z. The place was packed and I was miserable and afraid of everything. He told me he felt like this would be not only a good year, but also a year of changes.” She looked at her boyfriend and smiled, her love for him completely overwhelming both. “And damn, Fruitcake was right. You happened, and changed everything. You’ve turned what was bound to be another crappy year into the best year of my life.”

Overwhelmed by her own feelings, Emily kissed his lips again. Unlike the majority of kisses they’d shared that night, this kiss wasn’t red-hot and burning with desire; it was intimate and gentle. It was a kiss meant to convey everything she felt when simple words just weren’t enough.

Parting from the kiss, he looked at her with a wide grin and spoke from his heart over the chorus of voices counting down from ten. “In January I would have laughed if anyone had told me I’d end the year with a girlfriend. And now the year is over and I’m counting down the seconds because I can’t wait to begin my first year together with the woman of my life. I love you Emily, and there won’t ever be enough New Years’ to spend with you.”

As the countdown reached zero, Taylor whispered his happy new year wishes against her lips, before placing a kiss on them. Their lips pressed against one another tightly as their tongues danced together, celebrating endings and new beginnings. When they parted their kiss, the sky was exploding with beautiful lights and colorful confetti was raining down on them, making the moment even more perfect.

“Happy birthday, my love,” she whispered in his ear.

He laughed and squeezed her a bit tighter. “Thank you for being my gift.”

“You’re welcome, but I’ve got something else to give you.”

His smirk and the sexy gleam in his eyes were enough indication to where his thoughts had gone to and, knowing it wasn’t in the direction of the innocent present she had brought with her from the States, Emily laughed. Feeling extremely bold and excited, she discretely pressed herself against him. “I like the way you think, boyfriend. Think we can be done here in two hours?”

“Or less,” he said, biting her lower lip and not so discretely lowering his hand to palm her behind.

The sound of someone clearing his throat busted their bubble, making them aware of the family and friends that had gathered around them. After a few minutes of hugs and kisses and friendly celebration Nate whisked Taylor away, moving back to the great room, and the impending start to his birthday celebrations.

Before he completely left Emily’s line of sight, he turned and called after her. “You never made your wish.”

Twisting her lips into a meaningful smile, she answered with a wink. “And somehow, I got everything I wanted.”

A
S PROMISED,
after exactly two hours of celebrating his birthday with friends and family, Taylor bid them goodnight and led Emily out of the grand room, where his birthday party continued.

With great music, delicious cake and a sizeable amount of birthday present donations to Mjönir, his brand new charity in favor of domestic abuse, the night had been great—perfect, actually. However, it was his birthday, and he wanted to celebrate it alone with Emily.

Holding her by the hand, Taylor made his way to the stairs. The heated atmosphere between them was escalating into boiling-point, which only added to the discomfort and annoyance they felt when several guests stopped them with happy birthday wishes for Taylor. The closer they got to their destination, the shorter Taylor’s replies and dismissals were.

As soon as they reached the third floor landing, which guaranteed they were far away from any prying eyes, Taylor pulled Emily towards him and, without hesitation, he bowed his head, drowning himself in the reservoir of the emotion within her eyes, pressing his lips hard on hers. He held her with a gentle touch—one hand cupping her face, the other on her lower back—but his lips weren’t gentle at all. They pushed against hers with a passion that put all their previous kisses to complete shame and made her feel that she wasn’t simply being kissed, she was being claimed by him. As she welcomed every movement of his lips, and every stroke of his tongue, she knew she was doing the same to him.

Needing to feel him closer, Emily placed one of her hands low on his back and pulled him to her, until every inch of his hard body was pressed firmly against hers. The delighted moan that escaped her when his erection dug into her belly, made all the gentleness in Taylor’s touch vanish.

Taking a few steps towards the hallway wall, Taylor’s hands moved from their previous locations. The one on her face traveled south, making its way over her neck and the side of her breast until it found her waist, while his other hand slid down over the fabric of her dress to her butt cheek and down to the back of her thigh where, in a swift movement, Taylor bought it up to circle his hips, so they could feel each other better.

His lips left her panting mouth to deliver slow kisses and nibbles to her neck, making her moan louder against his ear. Trying to alleviate some of the burning need between her thighs, Emily pressed her hip against Taylor’s, but the move only added to her agony.

“Tay, bedroom.” Her request was throaty and almost desperate.

The intensity in her plea put a smile on the lips that were now grazing her collarbone and cleavage. With the hand that had been holding her waist he brought the fabric of her dress up, uncovering her other leg, which he brought up to join the first around his hip. Once she was completely wrapped around him, he moved between her legs with suggestive thrusts that only teased her further.

A set of teeth took hold of the upper corner of Taylor’s left ear, pulling it gently from her breasts. “Taylor. Bedroom. Now.” She nearly growled the words, and there was no need to say it again. With her lips delivering heated kisses to his neck, and her legs still wrapped around his waist, Taylor moved in quick strides to the door leading to the attic at the end of the hallway, carrying her with incredible ease.

Once inside, Emily started to remove the various items of clothing he was wearing. Within the first two steps his tie was off and lost on the stairs, and her fingers were starting on the buttons of his white shirt. She’d made it to the third button by the time they reached the center of the room.

In an unexpected move, he unwrapped her legs from around him, placing them on the floor, and took a step backwards. Removing her face from his neck, she looked up at him and saw the hesitation, clear as crystal, in his eyes. “You’re sure you want this, Ems? Because it doesn’t have to be tonight, we can take this slower. We just make out or sleep tonight. I’ll wait.” Every desire in him opposed this message, but knowing him as much as she did, it didn’t take a lot for Emily to understand that, as much as he desired her his connection to her went far beyond that, and he’d be willing to curb his own needs to make her comfortable.

She realized that, throughout their entire relationship, he’d done that. He’d waited for her to be ready to exchange phone numbers, ready to open up, ready to admit to her feelings. And, despite feeling like it was impossible, the knowledge made her love him even more, and decide that he’d waited long enough. They both had.