by Ashley Munoz
I was driving out of the lot, about to turn left, when I saw Taylor’s white Beamer illuminated under the white parking lights. No other cars were out there, and at first, I wondered if Holden had picked her up. The two of them would likely have a cute little romp in the sheets when finally connecting over the shared pregnancy.
Fucker.
Seeing her in the locker room a few days ago had been a punch to the gut. I didn’t even know why I cared that she saw me…and not that it even mattered, but I didn’t want Angela to drag me in there; I also didn’t make it a habit to be an asshole to every girl I saw. Usually that was just reserved for Taylor. I had planned on thwarting any attempts Angela made toward me, but I hadn’t realized she was going to go down on me the first chance she got. She was all teeth and sloppy tongue, so it made things a thousand times worse in turning her down. When I saw Taylor slam that door open, there was no mistaking the flash of anger that bled into her face. She didn’t like that I was with Angela. It was the same look I’d seen her use at the wedding, then at the yogurt shop. With everything in me, I didn’t want to care that hurt flashed in those ocean eyes, or that she bit her lip in a similar fashion to when I had eviscerated her in the apartment last spring. I didn’t want to admit that seeing it hurt her made my chest ache in a way that was unwelcome.
Seeing her car in the lot only took those flashes of hurt and ideas of jealousy and tossed them into the fire she’d set by going with her baby’s father. Why act as though she felt something for me but go and play house with him? She couldn’t have it both ways, and with me, she’d never have it at all. Like it did back when she’d told me it was Holden she meant to kiss, the walls around my heart fortified, reminding me that I felt nothing for Taylor, nothing but common decency to keep her safe as my best friend’s little sister.
Ready to leave her car and the feelings associated with Holden and her reuniting behind me, I continued forward, only to catch sight of the indoor light in her car popping on through the partially uncovered part of her front window. The tinting job made it nearly impossible to see anything, but I knew someone was in her car. Fuck, if she was in there with Holden, I was going to punch him in the goddamn face.
Swinging back toward her spot, I quickly parked and jumped out. I could hear music playing as I drew closer, and now that I was feet from her, I could see the glow of a screen inside.
Knocking on the tinted window, I waited to see what in the hell was going on.
After a few seconds, the passenger door opened, and a head of blonde hair poked out.
“What do you want?”
I looked down, confused about what exactly I was seeing. Takeout bags sat on the floor of the seat she was currently perched on, wearing sweats and an off-the-shoulder sweater. A duffle bag sat in the driver’s seat, and the back seat was currently set up for someone to sleep there.
“What are you doing out here?”
“Nothing, just hanging out,” she explained—poorly. Her dainty fingers toyed with the handle of her car door as she awkwardly held it open, looking up at me.
“Right.” I moved, opening the back door, realizing she had to have unlocked the doors to open hers.
“Hey,” she protested from the front seat.
I was right—there were blankets, two pillows, and a sleeve of Ritz crackers resting next to the makeshift bed.
“Are you sleeping in here?” I moved so I could catch her expression.
Even though it was dark, I caught her reddening face and the way her stature faltered.
“I…it’s just temporary, until I can find a place. I only plan on staying in here two, three nights a week. The rest I’ll drive back to my parents’ house.”
I shook my head, because this girl was unreal. Only Taylor, darling stepdaughter to the millionaire Charles Shaw, would consider sleeping in her car over a hotel, a damn house, or with the fucking father of her child.
“Why aren’t you in a hotel, or with Holden?” Fuck if I wanted to suggest the prick, but he’d be better than this.
She wet her lips, still half kneeling on the passenger seat, her arm holding the door open.
“I’m not staying with Holden…and regarding the hotel, I considered it, but it’s such a waste of money, and it’s so hard to get a parking spot here. I figured why not just park here and kill two birds with one stone?” She shrugged.
I rubbed my forehead, the dots finally connecting. That was why she had been in the locker room, not because she was getting fucked by Holden…but because she had nowhere else to shower, which might mean she wasn’t with her baby daddy at all. Some kind of warm sensation moved through my chest as if a piece of ice was thawing, but anger quickly came through like a fire and burned the sensation up.
“Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?”
That bare shoulder rose toward her ear again in a shrug. “I’ll lock the doors.”
“You don’t know what sort of monsters roam these streets at night, parking lots like this, looking for some stupid college kid who was dumb enough to leave his fancy car. Locks don’t keep them out, baby.”
“How would you know?” Blue, daring eyes tried to search mine, but I looked away.
“I just do…now get in the driver’s seat and get ready to follow me.”
I turned away from her, already annoyed with the imaginary images of her getting robbed in the middle of the night.
“No, I don’t need you to—”
“Don’t argue with me on this,” I warned.
We were already sitting ducks in a war waged on these streets when the civilians of Rake Forge went to sleep. She was naïve and ignorant to how dangerous it was to be outside during their business hours.
“Juan, I don’t want…” She tried again, but I gave her a look so severe it shut her up. The next thing I knew she was letting out a huff, attempting to climb over the console.
“What are you—stop, you can’t fit.”
She gave another huff while her shoulder moved toward the steering wheel. “Yes I can.”
So goddamn stubborn. I shook my head, bringing my fingers to the bridge of my nose.
“See…just had to wiggle a little.” She beamed up at me, pushing the tip of her finger to the start button.
I turned and headed back to my car, preparing to drive and watching to ensure she followed. Once I saw her lights flick on, I put the car into gear and started out of the parking lot. Just as we passed the gate to the first parking lot, I saw a familiar set of wheels drive past. El Peligro was already out and hunting tonight and likely had set their sights on her car. A shudder ran through me at the idea of what they would have done once they broke in and saw her inside.
I drove just ten minutes away from the school and then continued up the hill toward the nicer homes until I turned onto the tiny slice of driveway that led to my new house. Fury fueled me forward, faster than I probably should have been driving. How long had she been sleeping in her car? Why would she rather risk her safety—her baby’s safety like that over asking me for help? I had seen her out at ten at the yogurt shop—what was that, two weeks ago? Fuck. How long had she been doing this?
I keyed in the code and waited for the gates to open and for the white Beamer behind me to follow me in. Tall trees lined the path, providing ample privacy. Small lights were woven into the branches, allowing us enough light to see the property ahead of us.
We slowly maneuvered forward until we were both parking in the circle driveway. It was a massive, white, stucco-style house with clay shingles and arched windows, and gaping openings stood to my left, like a small mansion. It was nicer than I’d initially assumed, but as soon as I had driven through the gates and saw how many small touches my uncle had requested for me, it was beyond anything I could have imagined.
Taylor’s door slammed; her thin frame came up close to mine.
“This is your place?”
“Yeah…it’s new.” I walked forward, not in the mood to explain it all to her right then. I
was still too angry that she’d consider sleeping in her car over asking to stay with me.
I opened her passenger door and dug for her duffle then slammed her door.
“Get the shit you need for tonight.”
She scuttled toward her car and dove inside, grabbing a cord and her phone and a pair of sandals. Then she was at my back, her arms full and her eyes wide as we walked in through the oak door together. It felt just like it had when I’d opened her door, knowing she’d be on the other side—like coming home. Strangely this place hadn’t felt that way until now.
I heard her let out a tiny gasp as we entered the foyer with its marble floors and the mural on the ceiling.
“My uncle designed the place,” I explained, moving into the house. The living room was my favorite place with its lush sofas and lounge chairs. There was a massive fireplace, big enough to stand inside, and I couldn’t wait for rainy weather to try it out.
Taylor followed on my heels, not saying a word. The house was already lit up with small lights here and there giving accents and enough light to see the small pieces of furniture that littered each space in a complementary way.
“The kitchen is open, get whatever you want.” I walked past it, not going inside. She could make out the ten-foot island, the chrome hood over the gas oven, and the butcher block counters. The whole house had more of a bohemian theme with potted plants and cozy touches.
We crested the stairs; she was still on my heels as we walked past a bathroom.
“You can use whatever you want in the house…it’s still new to me, so there might be something I’m not sure about. I don’t have staff or whatever the fuck you’re used to at your parents’ house, so hopefully you know how to make yourself food.”
“You don’t have to be rude,” she meekly said from behind me.
She was wrong. If I wasn’t mean, I’d be nice, and if I were nice, I’d do something I’d regret, like I had when she had dragged me by the collar and kissed me. I had kissed her back with as much passion because I had wanted her. She had been a constant beat in my chest that wouldn’t stop, a rhythm that wouldn’t change chords. She was constant. Then she had finally pressed her lips to mine, gently tugging my heart from my chest, only to trip over it on her way out the door.
“Here’s your room.” I ignored her and walked along the padded carpeting. There was already a queen-sized bed with fresh, white linens. “There’s an attached bathroom suite, so make yourself at home.”
Taylor moved around me, setting her things down on the white dresser. I set her duffle down, realizing the initials MS were inked into the handle of the red fabric.
“This is Mal’s duffle bag.”
Taylor shrugged from her spot near the bed. “I didn’t exactly want to lug around my Coach luggage while apartment hunting. I was hoping to find a spot by now, but I wanted to keep a low profile.”
“Using Mal’s stuff is perfect since it’s so peasant-like, right?”
Her face turned red, her fingers turning into fists.
“Look, I didn’t ask to stay here. I didn’t ask you for a handout.”
She stormed past me to the bathroom.
“You’re just not used to people treating you the way you deserve to be treated. Thought you were fucking Holden—how come you aren’t in his dorm right now?”
I watched as she turned the handles, starting the bath in the massive sunken tub.
She didn’t answer, just started stripping.
I turned away, hating how quickly she was able to thwart my asshole attempts. She knew I wouldn’t stay in her bathroom, being a dick to her when she was getting naked. She was my best friend’s little sister. There was no way I was crossing that line…not again.
“I’ll be gone by tomorrow,” she said to my back, her voice sounding muffled as if she was pulling material up over her head. I blinked to get the image out of my head.
“You’re staying here until you have an actual address to send your mail to.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” she yelled at my back, and because I was sick of having a screaming match without seeing her, I turned around.
The sight of her naked rendered me speechless. Fuck, she had perfect, round breasts with pink, peaked nipples. Mallory had once mentioned that Taylor had had them worked on, but fuck if I cared about that right now. They were perfect.
Her stomach was still trim, except for the roundness near her belly button forming a bump. The way her hips flared in perfect proportions, cradling her naked cunt…fuck me.
She walked closer, seemingly aware of the effect she was having on me. It wasn’t until she was directly in front of me that she tipped her head back and arched her back, making her tits press against my chest.
“You know what I think?” she whispered, wetting her pink lips. Her blue eyes darted up and down my face.
I didn’t respond.
“I think you want to touch me, and I think you don’t want to stop, and that really bothers you.”
She wasn’t wrong, but like hell would I cave and let her win. I tilted my head to the side.
“How exactly do you think I want to touch you?”
She stepped closer, bringing her hands to her breasts. “I think you want to touch me here.”
I eyed her, not moving an inch. “Where else?”
Her chest heaved, but her eyes stayed locked on mine while her left hand drifted down her body until she was cupping herself. “Here.”
“You know what I think, Taylor?” I tucked my hands into my pockets, keeping a blank expression. “I think you want me to tell you to touch yourself.”
Her small intake of breath told me I was right. I took a step closer until her forehead nearly pressed into my chin. Our bodies were almost touching, all her soft curves fitting perfectly against my hard edges.
“I think you want to stand there, touching yourself while I watch. I think you want to get yourself off with an audience. Do you like the way you feel, Taylor? Are you wet?”
Her eyes briefly closed while her fingers worked in and out of her folds. I could hear that she was wet, and if she looked directly at my cock, she’d see that it was indeed hard.
“I’m soaked.” She leaned her head to the side, letting out a small sigh.
I waited, unsure if I should go there. It would bypass where we’d just started taking things, but fuck…I couldn’t help myself.
“Taste yourself.”
I’d just confirmed what she’d suggested about me wanting to tell her what to do.
I expected a smirk, or for her to break away from me saying she told me so, but there was no smirk. She kept her eyes locked on mine while she slowly brought her fingers to her mouth and sucked on them. Her eyes closed briefly as a low moan left her chest.
I ached to unzip my jeans, fist my dick, and play along with her, whatever this game was where we told each other to touch ourselves, but this was something we shouldn’t have been doing.
“Do you want a taste?” she whispered, returning her hand down to her wet entrance.
My chest inflated with desire as I watched her eyes close once more, waiting for me to decide. One problem with this scenario—and there were many—was whether or not Taylor was hoping to call my bluff. She could easily seduce me to the point of obsession, only to walk away, leaving me with blue balls and a healthy dose of embarrassment.
Instead, I decided to take the choice from her entirely.
“Taylor.” I breathed against her neck, her eyes dilated while her fingers worked in and out of her center. “Get in the bath.” I took a step back, sneering down at her. “You’re filthy.”
Then I turned on my heel, ignoring the pull in my chest and the ache in my dick.
I woke up the next morning feeling hungover. It was ridiculous, really; I hadn’t had a sip of alcohol, but the fact that I’d jerked off in the shower to images of Taylor standing there, lowering to her knees, and going down on me had burned so hot inside me that I was hard again th
e second I crawled into bed.
I dreamed of Taylor sneaking into my bedroom and waking me up with her lips, her blue eyes watching me in the dark while her fingers roamed over my body. I had a wet dream like I was in middle school again, and just like then, I wanted to burn my sheets so no one would ever know.
“Good morning,” Taylor said cheerily, walking into the kitchen dressed and ready for the day—a small mercy, as was the fact that she wasn’t acting mopey about the previous night’s interaction. She had every reason to be pissed at me. What I’d done was fucking shitty, but like always…she bounced right back.
“Morning,” I muttered in response.
She seemed much more chipper than I did. Had she slipped that hand back in between her thighs once she crawled into the tub? Had she thought of me or imagined someone else? Fuck this wasn’t good. I didn’t want her to think of me, and we needed to stop seeing each other naked and standing in close proximity to each other while aroused.
“I wanted to thank you for allowing me to crash here last night. It meant a lot…but I have some other plans on where I can stay for the time being.”
I sipped my coffee, watching as the sun invaded the kitchen from the skylights. The living room was bathed in it too.
“You have a new address already?” I thought I had made myself pretty clear.
She faltered, tucking silky-white hair behind her ear. “Well, not exactly…but I have some ideas.”
“Then you’re staying here.” I moved past her.
“Juan, seriously…drop the act. What the fuck is your issue with me? I didn’t ask for you to be all big brother with me, or to take care of me since Mallory isn’t here. No offense, but I’d rather be homeless than deal with your surly remarks every day.”
Shit.
I watched the floor, waiting for some kind of idea to pop into my head. If I was nice to her, I’d be truly fucked because I wouldn’t be able to resist her, and I knew my heart would never survive her again.
“Okay…” I gripped the counter. “Fine.”
Her posture shifted, like this announcement surprised her.