Swept Away: The First Bloodline (4 page)

    
"That's what I thought. So am I taking myself home? You know, I might suddenly have to leave and you're not ready to go yet, so you're gonna need a ride home." She batted her eyes while mouthing the word please to Taylor.

    
"No, I will be going home with you tonight. And I will be alone! I'm not playing some game. You know me, games have never been something that I embarked in."
Unless he asked me to go with him in which case I hope he can read my mind because I don't think I will be able to think, to speak, to anything.

    
"Okay, suite yourself. If you're going home, then I'm going to have more fun. I'm going for a shot, do you want to have one or two with me to get some liquid courage flowing?" And there was that smile that Taylor knew and loved.

    
"Not even close. You know better than that." Shots had never been Taylor's thing. Doing shots to Taylor was similar to having a stomach virus she thought. Either way she'd wind up shit faced, then puke.  Wake up in the morning with embarrassment written all over her face and amnesia.             

    
As soon as the door opened again, she mindlessly went searching for him. This time the loud music blaring didn't faze her a bit. She didn't mind that it was like a maze working her way through the endless crowd of people that were either drunk or getting there.

    
Her body followed close behind Liz, but her eyes searched. Desperately, for the drug her body craved. Him. She just needed one more hit of her Valium and life would be perfect again. For a while anyways.

    
Taylor could hear Liz ordering her shot of hot damn, ordering her a fresh beer, but she couldn’t think about anything but him. Where had he gone? Did she have the right to even wonder? What was it about him that made her want to stake a claim? Why would he leave? Did she really look that pathetic that he only danced with her to make her feel better, she thought.

    
While she was playing 50 questions with Liz did someone else catches his eye? That would totally piss her off. No that couldn't be it, she thought.

    
When she had finally seen every face inside, her searching ended. Go figure. The first time she let her guard down and looked at another man he disappeared.
My luck. My life. Full of sorry goodbyes.
At least this one happened now instead of later.

    
The weight of the world was back on her shoulders. Crushing her. She couldn't think straight, couldn't breathe, she needed air before she began to hyperventilate.

    
"I'm going outside for a bit. Be back." She said calmly. Trying to keep her sour mood hidden.

    
"Wait I'll come with you."

    
"Liz, no! Go have fun. I just need some air. I'll be right back. It's nothing. Really. Just let me have this. I need this. I'm not going anywhere. I'll be back." She silently begged Liz to give her this. Turning away she didn't wait for Liz's answer. If she had waited, she knew Liz would have tried to talk her out of it.

    
"Okay." Taylor could hear the hesitation and she couldn't blame her. If the shoes were reversed she would've been more than likely irritated and hesitant about letting Liz go outside into the dark, cold night alone.

    
Not to mention, being outside a bar alone, at night, is it really the brightest idea in the world but it was what she needed. If the shoes were reversed. She was the sister. She was the one suffocating in this life that wasn't supposed to be this way. She was the one walking around like an empty vessel.

    
The cold air felt great against her heated skin. The club was hot, then the dancing and Damien. Who was she kidding, it was all Damien. She leaned her back against the side of the cool brick of the bar, attempting to regain herself and needing the building stability to steady herself.

    
"You know it's mighty cold out here to be just hanging out." His voice was deep and unexpected startling her.

    
Her heart jumped at the sound of his voice.
Where you been? How did you know I was out here? Why are you out here?

    
"Are you okay?" He asked the question but his facial expression hadn’t changed at all,
Are you even sincere?
The minute she thought it, his eyes narrowed, darkened, and demanded an answer.

    
"I, I'm okay."
Oh my God, did I just stutter again!
Jesus, can this get any worse. You're doing a piss poor job of hiding.
Again his face stiffened.
What the hell, is he reading my mind?
"What are you doing out here? After all its mighty cold out here as you so wittedly made that observation so clear." Taylor mocked him sarcastically. Throwing his words right back at him playfully. Besides, she really did want to know why he was outside to begin with.

    
"Looking around." Taylor watched as his eyes studied her face, her mouth, and down her neck. His gaze falling to her breast made her think for second her heart actually stopped. Her nipples which it already puckered from the air, elongated even further.

    
I should walk away from you but I can't.

    
"Looking around for what? It's late, it's cold, and there's nobody here but me." Now she wanted answers. After all, he didn’t have a problem with asking her questions. So why should she?

    
"Deciding what I want for supper. What about you?"                                         

    
"Getting fresh air. You normally scour the alleys at night looking for your next meal? I mean, why would you do that? It's an alley not the local grocer." 
Who gives a fuck how he decides what to eat as long as he eats me.

    
Taylor knew the minute the thought popped into her head, her eyes suddenly looked bugged out and she could have lit the alley with the bright shade she now wore on her cheeks.
I can't think like this!
This isn’t who I am.
What is wrong with me?
Taylor scolded herself harshly as she emphasized every word.

    
"I don't think anything is wrong with you. I think your perfect." He leaned his head towards Taylor and she suddenly was aware that he was going to kiss her. She could feel his lips brush hers.
I'm not ready for this yet.
I'm broken.
Physically, emotionally.
I have nothing to offer.
Please don't.

    
His eyes returned to hers as he gave her an inch of space. The space alone caused her to quickly change her mind and she silently begged for him to kiss her. Again, he leaned in, slowly closing the inch of distance.
Stop!

    
"What? What is it?" He looked frustrated, irritated, and flustered.

    
"I didn't say anything." Taylor was shocked, surprised, and amazed at how entombed to her he was.
How did you do that? Did I say it out loud?
Taylor thought she must have thought out loud, how else would he have known? She watched as he curved the side of his mouth into a sexy grin. 

    
“Taylor, you want to get out a here?"

    
Taylor's breathing rate immediately increased.
Shit this is it. This is it and I can't even answer him. I knew it. Just say yes, sure, okay, anything.

    
"I can't. My sister is inside."
Dammit. Way to go Taylor!

    
"She won't mind. I could go tell her if you'd like? I'm really good at negotiating and convincing people to see my way of thinking." His eyes stared at her mouth. His mouth only an inch from her. What was he thinking in that moment she wondered.

    
Taylor couldn't speak. The only response she could give was a quick nod. That was the best he was going to get from her at this point. His scent drove her completely mad.
Is he wearing cologne? Or is that just his natural musky scent?
His hand held Taylor's and she felt herself tremble in his touch as they walked back inside. The minute they were no longer alone she wanted to leave and be alone, with him again.

    
"Wait here. I'll be right back." His smile teased although she didn't have the slightest clue as to why. She watched as he disappeared into the crowd. Immediately feeling herself anxiously waiting for his return. She played with her fingers, her fingernails, just trying to keep it together until his return.             

    
She had a thought and then quickly lost it as she started quickly looking around to see

where he was.

Liz,

Leaving with tall dark and handsome. Oh my
God he is deliciously hot. Wish me luck! If he turns out to be a psycho killer, pray I get off first. LMAO. just kidding, seriously though, tell my kids I love them and you’re the beneficiary on my checking. Got ago. Love you.

Taylor

     "Are you ready?" His voice startled her.

    
"Yes." Taylor jumped at the touch of his hand to the small of her back as he led her out of the door into his car. She watched as he shifted from gear to gear smoothly. She didn't know how to drive a stick. Always wanted to learn, never having the opportunity. The small things in life that fascinated her curiosity she thought.

    
She flushed when she realized what had really caught her attention and it had nothing to do with the shifter. She was totally engrossed with the length of his fingers.  Long, not skinny, not fat, perfect fingers. In her mind thinking of the old saying about the size of a man, it can be judged by his fingers. Her inner Goddess began jumping excitedly up and down, while the real her was thinking holy shit, hope it isn't true.

    
It had been six years since any man had touched her and as hard as it was to believe, Taylor hadn't even touched herself. Again thinking of old saying, if you don't use it you lose it.

*****

     About the time she was feeling some heat from the car they stopped. She looked out the window and they were parked in front of this massive building. It looked old, rundown, abandoned even.

    
She felt nervous, scared, but it was more of the fear of not knowing. She wondered what they could possibly be doing at a place like this.

    
The building dark, looking as if it came from a ghost town. The only thing that would've made it even creepier than it was right now, would have been if the windows would have been broken out. In fact, if anyone wanted to film a horror movie, this building would have been great place to start.

    
Tall rectangle shaped. She looked up counting the windows. Seven sets of Windows equaled seven different floors she thought, wondering which one he was taking her to.

    
"Where are we?" She was curious but for some reason she really didn't care. She was with him and they were. And at this moment, that was all that was mattered to her. She just wanted to be with him. Her emotions were on a crazy out of control roller coaster. One minute she was scared, then excited, then back to being nervous or curious with questions and wanting the answers.

    
All Taylor knew for sure was that in the short time she'd been acquainted with him, she felt like her again. The anger was gone. She could feel her heart beat again pushing the blood through her veins. She didn't have any violent urges trying to escape from her. The view was clear again because tears no longer blocked her vision. She was totally alive again!

    
"At my place." And with that he got out, Taylor turned to open her door and with the blink of her eyes he was there, opening her door, holding his hand out gesturing for her to take a hold and leading her inside this massacre ready building. She struggled to breathe as she thought of him tying her up and putting on a hockey mask.

    
"Taylor, breathe." Taylor looked up at him and his mouth was curved up into a smile and all she knew was, she wanted him to kiss her. No hesitation. No second thoughts.

    
When his mouth hit her lips he owned them. He demanded her return. He conquered her mouth as if they were at war. She tasted him and enjoyed every second of it. A hunger inside her was now coming to surface begging for more.  When she thought she was sure to pass out from hypoxia, his mouth left hers.

    
When she opened her eyes, they were standing inside.
How in the hell?
Her silent question faded as her eyes began to scan the settings.

    
She was surrounded by bright bold colors. The couch red, velvet looking, with plush cushions.  On either side of the couch an orange, armless chair.

    
Huge windows of tinted glass covered the wall in front of them giving a view from the opposite side of the building of their little town. Dark almost black hardwood floors. The walls of a dark gray. Nothing like a bachelor pad at all.