Dylan and Taylor (Soul Mates 101 Series) (13 page)

“They’ve only been clean for five years, so they put me through hell for most of my life, and there’s no amount of money that fixes something like that. I can’t imagine anyone more perfect than you to take home to meet Vince. He’d love you for many reasons.”

“You really think so? You’re not just saying this stuff because you’re afraid I’ll take a walk?”

“I swear, Dylan.”

“I guess this could be a great thing.” I lean my forehead against hers. “My feelings for you are scaring the shit out of me, Taylor.”

“I’m scared, too, and I’m sorry, but you either have to accept who my father is and the erratic life that comes with it, or we have to just be friends.”

“You’re beyond just a friend. It’s too late to turn back now.” All Brett’s had to deal with crosses my mind. I recall encouraging him to sleep with Hannah early on, and I’m seeing now that it isn’t that simple when you care about a woman as unique as Taylor and Hannah.

“Let’s go downstairs with our friends. They’re mad at me, so I need them to see I made things right with you, and I also need a beer after this.”

“OK, but Hannah told me the whole story about Brett trying to avoid touching her after he found out about her mom. Please don’t do that.”

“I just need a little time to digest this, chick.” I swat her butt and pull her up from the bed before we go downstairs.

“You all don’t have to be mad at Dylan. He made things right,” Taylor announces.

“I imagine you don’t want us making a big deal out of this, Taylor, but it’s going to be hard not to. All us guys are huge fans of Vincent Page,” Cody says.

“Most people are, and I don’t care if you talk about it. I know it’s shocking and exciting right now. He’s a cool dude, and so is the rest of the band.”

Austin smiles. “You better have some drinks so we don’t get on your nerves since we’ll be picking your brain all night.”

“Then I think you’re right about the drinks,” she says before she goes to the bar. I grab a beer, and then we all hang out in the game room. My buddies do exactly what they said they’d do and ask Taylor a ton of questions about Vincent Page and his band. She doesn’t seem to mind, and after a few drinks, she’s probably sharing more than she should.

This woman is amazing. I’ve read about her dad’s drug problem. It was the one thing about him that always disappointed me. Taylor’s fragile emotionally, but the fact she hasn’t turned out like them shows she has strength.

At one in the morning we decide to call it a night. She grabs my hand to go upstairs, and I’m worried she’s about to be upset with me. “I think I should sleep in my bed tonight.”

I feel horrible after I see the sad and suspicious look on her face. “Why?”

“I’ve spent the last three nights wrapped up with you. It’s going to be a real let down when we go home if we keep sleeping in the same bed. Not to mention, after what you did to me last night, I don’t know if I can keep my hands off of you, and we’ve had a lot to drink yet again. I’d like us to be sober if we go further.”

“If? Please don’t push me away, Dylan.” She gives me a peck on the cheek, and I can tell she’s frustrated with me. Uncertainty fills me as I reluctantly walk to my room.

Counting Sheep

Taylor

It’s three in the morning when I glance at the clock on the nightstand. I can’t fall asleep, and I’m beginning to think I’ll never be able to sleep again without him next to me. I’m in love with him, and I’m worried he’s going to bail.

At four o’clock, I can’t take it any longer. I slip on my jeans and tiptoe to Dylan’s room. I walk in and hear him rustling around. “I’m sorry, Dylan, but I can’t sleep without you near me.”

“I can’t sleep without you, either, so please get your fine ass in this bed.” He throws back the covers. I don’t want to torment him, but I want as much of my skin against his as possible, so I strip down to my panties and climb in, facing away from him.

He drapes his warm arm over my waist and pulls me to him before he lets out a moan. “I don’t know of anything in this world that could feel as good as your warm skin against mine, sweetheart.”

I squeeze his hand that’s against my stomach. He’s just a sweet ol’ teddy bear.

***

Dylan’s fingers run through my hair before I feel his warm lips moving along my shoulder. He moves all my hair away from my neck and starts kissing it.

He’s getting me turned on big time. I roll over toward him and bury my face into the crook of his arm and chest before I shove my body flat up against his. His hand runs down my back and skims across my panties.

“Good morning. This is a nice way to wake up,” I say.

“Sunshine, I can’t do this. I’m going to explode if I feel you against me any longer. I’m sorry I started it.” He scoots away from me. “I don’t know how you women exhibit so much self-control.”

“Are you kidding? I don’t have any, so you can’t stop now that you woke me up and got me excited. You have to touch me, Dylan.” I lean over and kiss his chest.

“Don’t talk like that. Please don’t get mad at me, but I don’t know how I’m going to do it. You’re sacred. I’m not supposed to get to have sex with Vincent Page’s daughter.”

“I’m not going to give you a choice,” I say before I roll onto him.

“Dammit, Taylor. I’m gettin’ in the shower. I’ll meet you downstairs,” he says as he grabs me and rolls me off. He hightails it to the bathroom without a backward glance.

I walk over to the door and lean against it. “You sure aren’t living up to the Dylan I’ve heard about.”

“Go, Taylor. I know you’re standing there topless, and that’s flat out mean.”

“OK fine, but I’ll break you soon.” I walk back to the bed to dress.

“You did not just say that. This is too much to wrap my brain around.”

I giggle and go to my own room to shower. Afterward, I put together the sexiest outfit I can come up with, consisting of Alexander McQueen, painted metallic, red on black skinny jeans and a plunging, tight black t-shirt that says ‘I sold my soul to rock n’ roll’.

I put my best push-up bra on underneath and expose my neck by putting my hair into a messy bun. Surely, this outfit will make Dylan cave. All my girlfriends are stretched out on the couch and chairs when I get to the great room.

“Damn, girlfriend, you look like a bad girl today,” Jasmine says, grinning.

“Dylan’s being ridiculous about us messing around. I have to break him.” I don’t realize Matt’s walking through the room as I speak. He’s taking a drink from his water bottle and sprays it out everywhere.

“Baby, are you OK?” Morgan asks.

“Yeah, I just got choked.” He smirks.

I wait for him to leave the room and begin talking again. “He said I’m sacred, and he’s not supposed to get to have sex with Vincent Page’s daughter.”

Jasmine snickers. “Dylan’s afraid of having sex. Too freakin’ hilarious.”

Hannah scowls. “He’s pulling the same shit Brett pulled.”

“It figures the guy I actually want to have sex with won’t, but that’ll change by the end of the day.”

I’m sitting at the end of the couch, and Morgan’s in a comfy chair right next to me with her legs hanging over the arm. She raises her hand up to high five me. “You go girl.”

We get quiet when Dylan comes in and walks toward us. After pulling me up from the couch and into a hug, he whispers in my ear. “You’re torturing me with this outfit, my rocker girl.”

I can’t help but giggle. “Good.”

“Where are the guys?”

“In the game room.” He swats my butt and walks away.

I look at my girlfriends. “Oh, yeah. He’ll definitely be in my bed before the end of the day. If there was a seduction 101 class, I’d get an A in it after watching groupies throw themselves at rock stars over the years.” All of us bust out laughing.

Paybacks

Dylan

Does she honestly think I don’t know what she’s up to? Damn, I just want to take her up to my room and fuck her after seeing her in that outfit, but then I picture her daddy and my dick goes soft. This sucks.

“Listen to that damn laughter. They’re talking about me. I guarantee it,” I say as I walk into the game room. Matt chuckles. I guess he’s not going to waste any time to start shit. “Hey, Dylan, you broke Taylor yet?”

“Well, she likes me, so I guess so.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“And sex is not what I meant when I made that remark at the hospital. Why are you hung up on this?”

“I just find it humorous that you haven’t fucked her yet.”

“How do you know that?” I ask.

“I overheard Taylor tell the girls.”

“What are you waiting for, buddy?” Cody asks.

“She had to go and be Vincent Page’s daughter. How the hell am I supposed to have sex with her now?”

“Yeah, Dylan. What are you waiting for? That’s all the more reason to have sex with her,” Brett says, cackling.

“Oh fuck you, Brett.”

“Paybacks are a bitch. I have to say though that you’re probably going to come out pretty good if you two get serious. You’ll finally get to meet your idol, but do you see now what I was going through when I got with Hannah?”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it now.”

“All of you are going to shit when you see Taylor. She looks hot today, but you better not tell Morgan I said that.” Matt takes a drink of his water as the other guys play pool, and I can’t believe that just came out of his mouth.

“Don’t you look at her, asshole.” I glare at him good.

“Oh this is awesome. I’ve been waiting so long for this. Do you all remember how many times I had to hear Dylan say that shit about Hannah? I think I need to go see if what Matt’s sayin’ is true.”

“I swear if you all stare at her today, we’re going to fight.” I point at each of them.

“You’d fight me over a girl, Dylan? This gets better every minute,” Brett says.

They just keep laughing. I should at least be getting laid if I have to take this crap.

Chelsea walks into the room. “We’re going to put all the stuff to make sandwiches back in the fridge if you all don’t come eat soon.”

Austin walks over and kisses her. “OK, we’ll be there in a minute.”

I’m behind the guys as they follow each other into the kitchen, glancing at Taylor as they go by. I want to punch each of them. I walk over and pull her up from the couch, wrapping my arms around her tight.

“I really wish you weren’t wearing this outfit. The guys are going to check you out all day long.”

“They have girlfriends, remember?”

“That won’t stop them.”

“Oh, really? So having a girlfriend doesn’t even stop a guy from checking out his friends’ girls?”

“Umm ... that’s not what I meant.”

She’s silent for a few seconds before I see the twinkle in her eyes. “I’m screwing with you, Dylan.”

I swear everyone’s stressing me the fuck out today.

“You’re in trouble, chick.”

“I hope so.” She gives me an alluring look, so I let her go and hurry to the kitchen. I cannot give in.

Taylor

When Dylan abruptly lets me go and walks away, I look at my girlfriends. “This might be harder than I thought.”

We sit around until afternoon talking about our favorite TV shows, purses and shoes. I knew I missed my friends while I was in New York, but I didn’t realize how much until I got to spend time with them again.

If I can get Dylan to come around, my world will be pretty close to perfect. I feel so blessed to have this group of friends, guys and girls. I look out the window. “It isn’t snowing. We should get into the hot tub.”

“You’re going to feel like you did when you were trapped in that car on your way to and from the hot tub,” Chelsea says.

“I have a plan. Dylan seeing me in a bikini will be worth feeling the cold again. If I get my way, he’ll be warming me back up.”

Jasmine twirls her hair. “You’re something else, girl.”

“Hey, I’m on a mission. I’ve waited three years to have sex again.”

“It’s so great to see you this way, Taylor. You’re so much happier, and Dylan’s acting like he’s ten years older. It’s nice to have a break from his obnoxious behavior,” Chelsea says.

“I’ve never felt this happy, but I like that side of him, too. I just never wanted to admit it. I’ll go ask the guys.” I get up and hurry to the game room. “We’re getting in the hot tub shortly. Do you guys want to join us?”

“That sounds awesome,” Matt says, smiling.

I see Dylan glance at him and glare. “After what we went through the other night, I don’t know if you going out in thirty degree weather in a bathing suit is the best idea.”

I rest my hand on my hip. “Dylan, I feel perfectly fine now, and we have to walk a whole eight feet. I think we’ll survive, and if I’m freezing, then you can warm me back up.” I give him a sly grin.

“Yeah, Dylan. You can warm her back up. Can’t the girl have some fun?” Brett asks.

Dylan sighs. “OK, let us finish this game.”

I think about how stressed Dylan seems as I leave the game room. He doesn’t want to cave, so I’m going to have to step up my game.

Dylan

I look at my friends when Taylor leaves the room.

“You all are dicks.”

“It’s only fair, dude. Taylor’s the only one we haven’t seen in a bikini,” Matt says.

“I noticed Morgan’s not bowing at your feet this week, Matt. Are you a little jealous that Vincent Page’s daughter is throwing herself at me?” I’m playing dirty, but the sexual frustration I’m feeling after this many days of sleeping next to her is taking a toll on me, not to mention the shit the guys keep dishing.

“I’m enjoying watching you run from Taylor. Maybe you’re the one that’s been all talk over the years. And don’t you worry about Morgan. I always have her right where I want her.”

I let out a short laugh. “Yeah, that delusions about to blow up in your face.”

“Come on guys. Break it up, and let’s go change,” Brett says.

I leave the game room, trying to get my anger under control. Today sucks, and I have a feeling it’s going to get a whole lot worse if I don’t come to grips with this Vincent Page news.

Matt, Brett, Hannah and Morgan are already in one of the hot tubs when the rest of us walk out. I watch Taylor, Jasmine and Chelsea run in front of me with towels around them. Taylor drops hers, and I see all the guys look her way. She’s wearing a shiny, black bikini, and the damn thing is tiny. They don’t get to look for long since she gets in the warm water as fast as she can.