“What the fuck is she doing here?” I ask Taiya, my heart slamming against my chest. I refuse to let anyone ruin what Taiya and I have, what we have worked for all this time to get our relationship the way it is. I finally have my wife back, and no one is going to get between us.
“We need to talk,” Sarah says, standing up. She looks the same as she did the last time I saw her. Blonde hair, brown eyes, and a model’s figure. I had no idea back then that she was bat-shit crazy, but one learns from their mistakes.
“What could we possibly have to talk about?” I ask, sitting down next to Taiya and taking her hand into my lap. She allows me to do it, which is a good sign.
“I’m pregnant,” Sarah says, throwing a smug look at my wife.
“And good luck to the sorry bastard that knocked you up,” I tell her, confused as to why she felt the need to tell me this.
“That sorry bastard would be you,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest and looking triumphant. The fuck? I have never slept with her in my life, and I haven’t even seen her since the time we kissed.
“You’re kidding me, right?” I say slowly, wondering what her game is. She clearly doesn’t want Taiya happy, or to be with me. Why? I have no fucking idea. She’s probably jealous of Taiya.
“Don’t act innocent. Two months ago, we slept together and now I’m having your baby!” she says. It’s official-- this bitch has lost the plot. And I’m the one who is going to have to pay for it.
I turn to Taiya. “She’s lying. I would never cheat on you,” I tell her, my voice taking on a pleading tone.
Taiya purses her lips, and pulls her hand away from mine. I close my eyes, squeezing them shut, knowing this is the moment where I lose her. At least until I can prove my innocence.
“Get the fuck out,” Taiya says. I think she’s talking to me, but I look to see her saying it to Sarah.
“Didn’t you hear what I just said?” Sarah says, narrowing her eyes.
Taiya scoffs. “I heard you. And you’re a lying bitch. First of all, I trust my husband. Second of all, I’ve read too many romance novels to know that trusting the bitch of the story, is never a good idea. If you’re so adamant that the baby is his, come back when he’s born and we can do a DNA test. Which will prove Ryan isn’t his or her father. So if you’re even pregnant at all, perhaps you should go and find the real father. I understand that might take some time to go through all the names of the men you’ve been with, so you best get to work.” With that, she stands up and storms into the bedroom. I open and close my mouth in surprise. How amazing is my woman? I block out Sarah’s whining and bitching and escort her out the door, slamming it behind her, then walk into the room where Taiya is lying on the bed, her pet bird sitting on her stomach.
“You okay?” I ask her, kneeling on the bed.
She puffs out a breath. “Yeah, it just sucks. I don’t know what I ever did to her.”
“She’s just jealous,” I tell her, lifting my hand to touch her, but moving it back when the bird makes that scary hissing noise. Taiya giggles, and almost getting my finger bitten was all worth it.
“Thank you for believing in me,” I say quietly. “I thought you were going to kick my ass out.”
She leans her head to the side. “You’re not that stupid to lose me twice.”
I chuckle at her comment. “You’re right about that.”
She gets up and puts Leo on top of his perch.
“Are we going to have make-up sex now?” I ask. “I could really go for some.”
She puts her index finger on her chin. “I don’t know. Does that count as me running into one of your ex conquests?” I can tell from her voice that she’s teasing me.
“No.”
“How about we just snuggle?” she says, getting back on the bed and leaning into me.
I yawn. “Snuggling is good.”
I don’t know how to put it into words what her trust means to me. I feel like I’ve just won a gold medal or something. Fuck. I’m obsessed with her.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
*****
“You’re not fucking wearing that out!” I say for the second time, hoping from my look she knows I’m serious.
“You don’t control what I wear,” she snaps, putting a pair of big dangly earrings into her ears.
“You might as well be naked!” I say, looking down at her beige fitted dress. It clings to every curve on her body, showing every little detail. “No, it’s not happening.”
“Except it is,” she replies, pouting her lips as she smothers them with gloss or something.
“I’m going to be a walking erection all night,” I mutter.
“Well, I’ll take care of that when we get home,” she says flippantly. Is she even listening to me?
“Tay, every fucking guy is going to be staring at you, going home and probably…”
She raises her hand cutting me off. “It’s just a dress.”
“Yeah, maybe for a fucking stripper,” I say without thinking. Her face instantly changes, and I know I’ve pissed her right off. “I didn’t mean that,” I try to backtrack. “Don’t be mad.”
“What do I know? I’m just a stripper,” she sneers, stepping out of the bathroom and into her closet, where she pulls out the highest pair of fuck me heels I’ve ever seen. “Yes, I think these go with tonight’s theme, apparently.”
Me and my big fucking mouth.
I head into the kitchen and pour myself a drink, waiting for Taiya to finish getting ready. We’re heading out to dinner and then to a club with Reid and Summer for Summer’s birthday. I’m chewing on an ice cube as Taiya enters the room, dressed to kill and ready to go. She has Summer’s gift in her hand, in a shiny pink gift bag. I stare at her dress once more, which now looks even sexier paired with the heels. I don’t know where to look… cleavage, thigh, legs or just the hourglass shape of her mid-section. My hard on isn’t exactly welcomed right now, considering we need to leave and she’s pissed at me. Although much can be said for angry sex…
“Are we going or are you going to stand there staring all night?” she asks, tapping her heel.
I sigh and put my glass in the sink, then walk to the front door and open it for her. “Are you bringing a jacket?” I ask, unable to contain the hope in my voice.
“No,” she says sweetly, walking outside. I lock up and head to Reid’s, then we all get in a cab and tell the driver directions to the restaurant.
“I love this dress,” Summer says, eyeing Taiya.
“You can have it,” I add in, ignoring the scowls from both women. Reid turns from the front seat with an amused smirk.
“Stop being an ass, Ry,” Summer says softly, her voice laced with steel. “Taiya looks freaking amazing.”
“Apparently, that’s the problem,” Taiya adds dryly, crossing her arms over her chest. It’s Summer’s birthday, which I don’t want to ruin so I decide to keep my mouth shut on that topic.
“Did you like the gift, Sum?” I ask her, effectively changing the subject.
She claps her hands together. “I love it!” Taiya and I got her tickets to a concert where several different R & B and rap artists are performing. It’s funny because now Reid has to go and sit through it as well, and he isn’t a fan. Two birds with one stone. Make Summer happy, and annoy my brother. Taiya also got her a perfume and some other girly items. Reid turns his head once more, his blue eyes narrowed on me. He calls me a ‘bastard’ with that one look, and I tell him ‘ha ha’ with mine.
“Anything to make you happy, Sum,” I say, and I see his eyes and expression soften. Oh yeah, Reid will be going to that concert; he will hold a damn sign if he has to. Anything for his woman. I take Taiya’s hand in mine. She silently complies, and I rub little circles on her palm with my thumb. We share a look, and then she breaks out in a smile.
Time to enjoy the night out with my favourite people in the world.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Taiya
“What are you reading?” Ryan asks, sitting down next to me on the couch.
I lower my book to peek at him. “A romance book.”
His eyebrows almost hit his hairline. “Is it porn… I mean erotica?”
I roll my eyes at him. “It does have sex in it, yes.”
He grins. “Want to re-enact one of the scenes?”
I bite my bottom lip, getting a little aroused at the thought.
“You liked that idea, didn’t you? Hmmm,” he says, leaning forward and kissing me on my mouth.
“Am I like the heroes in your books?”
I laugh. “You wish.”
“You’re right. I’m way better,” he says, smiling lazily.
I shake my head at his huge ego. “You need to get over yourself. Besides, the hero in this book couldn’t even get it up for another woman when the love of his life left him. You definitely didn’t have that problem.”
Silence, then, “So his woman left then he couldn’t even get it up for another woman?”
“Yep.”
“I’m a man, beautiful,” is his reply. “Perhaps he should see a doctor if he can’t get it up.”
“It’s romantic,” I scowl at him.
“It’s romantic that he can’t get a boner?”
“For anyone besides her, yes.”
He sighs, and pulls me onto his lap. “Is this really in the book or is this just a dig at me?”
My body starts shaking in silent laughter. “Did you really just say that?”
I flip back a few pages in the book and find the paragraph, then show it to him. He reads it quickly, frowning.
“I can’t believe you thought I made it up,” I mutter, closing the book.
He places a kiss on the back of my neck. “Apparently, I know nothing of romance books.”
“That’s okay. I love you anyway,” I say, leaning back into him. “I can’t remember the last time we both had a day off and just did nothing.”
“I wouldn’t say we are going to be doing nothing,” he says, reaching his hand down to cup my breast. “I don’t think I will ever get enough of you.”
The man is seriously insatiable. Not that I’m complaining. I suck in a breath when he turns my body, lowers his head and gently bites down on my breast through the soft cotton of my white dress. I watch as he then moves to my mouth, giving me a kiss that makes my panties wet. I tangle my hands in his hair, pulling on the ends, silently demanding for more. I straddle his lap, grinding myself into him, letting him know I mean business.
“Insatiable girl,” he mumbles, voicing my earlier thoughts about him. I grin against his mouth in reply, and resume kissing him with everything I have. My hands soon start to wander, running up his six pack of abs, feeling each sculptured curve. I end the kiss, moving my hands to pull his T-shirt off and throwing it behind me. I sink my teeth into my lip as I take him in. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing him. Eye-fucking candy. And he’s all mine.
“Did you just mumble ‘mine’?” he asks, looking a mixture between turned on and amused. His lids are heavy, but there is a slight smirk playing on his lips.
“Did I?” I ask breathlessly, my eyes roaming down his body.
“Yes, you did, and I’m pretty sure that’s my line,” he says, running his large hands up my thighs, reaching for the hem of my dress and lifting it up over my head. The dress gets caught in my mass of curls, so I reach up and help him get it off. “Beautiful,” he breathes, running his thumb over my lace bra. I lick my lips as he swipes my nipple through the material. Impatient, I lean back and unclasp my bra, letting it fall, sliding the straps off my arms and throwing it on the floor. Ryan is sitting there in nothing but his jeans, and I’m straddling him in nothing but a pair of tiny silk leopard-print panties. I imagine we make quite the picture. I place my hands on his chest, my darker skin contrasting against his fair. I trail my hands down to undo his top button, trying to pull his jeans down with no luck.
“I need them off!” I growl. “Why do you have to wear such tight jeans?” I complain.
Ryan blesses me with a deep chuckle, lifting his hips up and helping me pull his jeans down to his thighs. I can see his cock straining through his boxers, and I grin pulling those down as well.
“There you are,” I mumble, lowering my body onto the floor so I’m on my knees before him. I lick my lips and look up at him.
Then I rock his world.
*****
“Here’s your drink, thank you,” I tell the man, sliding over his scotch. I don’t know how I ended up working at the bar tonight, when I have no idea what the hell I’m doing. Jade is sick, Tag is off today and has gone away with his little girl, and Summer and Reid are on the other side of town spending some time with Sephie. That leaves Ryan and me at the bar. And it’s a disaster. I’m so lucky to have someone as patient as Ryan as my husband, considering I’ve only been here two hours and already have dropped a glass and made two wrong drinks. I turn to look at him, charming a group of people and making five drinks quicker than I make one. Yeah, I think I’ll definitely stick to dancing.
“You okay?” Ryan mouths, and I nod and force a smile, turning to serve the next person in line. She orders a cocktail I’ve never heard of, so I quickly look down at the laminated chart Ryan gave me to use, showing me what to put in each drink.
An hour later, the bar has died down and I smile when I see a familiar face.
“Hello stranger,” he says, and I instantly feel bad that we haven’t spent any time together since Ryan and I got back together, apart from one family dinner.
“Hey Scott, how are you?” I ask, leaning across the bar to give him a peck on the cheek.
“Good, how are you? I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever,” he says, drumming his fingers on the bar table.
I wince. “I know. I’m sorry. What are you doing tomorrow?” Ryan is just going to have to suck it up, because I don’t want to be the person that ditches her friends the minute she gets into a serious relationship. Marriage. Whatever. Scott was there for me when I was heartbroken and I’ll never forget that.
“I have work all day tomorrow, but I’m free on Wednesday,” he says, smiling welcomingly.
“Shame, you’re busy Wednesday night, Tay,” comes a smooth deep voice from behind me.
I turn and frown. “Busy doing what?” I have two dance classes and that’s about it.
“Busy fucking me,” he says in a serious tone. I look at him, blink twice. Open my mouth, then snap it shut. I swear I thought I just heard him say…
“Did you just say…?”
“Yes,” he says, before I can finish my sentence.
I tighten my lips and narrow my eyes. “Don’t be rude,” I whisper-shout, then turn back to Scott, whose wide-eyes are solely on Ryan. “Sorry,” I mouth, trying to smile a little to make the situation less awkward. Which it doesn’t, at all. I clear my throat and then continue. “Wednesday works fine.”
“You’re not going out with him, Tay,” Ryan says, his tone final.
I bite the inside of my cheek. “Since when do you control my life?”
“Since you’re trying to spend the day alone with a man who clearly wants in your pants,” he says, his eyes still on Scott, who looks like he wants to be anywhere but here right now. And I don’t blame him. Even I want to be anywhere but here. I turn my back to Ryan, hoping he gets the point. Of course, being Ryan he doesn’t, and decides to move in closer, getting in my personal space.
“I don’t want you going somewhere alone with him,” he says, his voice softer now. He must have noticed I was pissed off and is trying a different approach. Smart man.
I give Scott a drink on the house and he goes back to the table with his friends. I really don’t like being spoken to like that in public. If Ryan had his concerns, he should have pulled me aside and spoken to me quietly, not pee all over me in front of anyone within earshot. I serve another three people and I feel his gaze on me the entire time, but I don’t look at him. I
just try and pretend he’s not there, which is pretty hard. It’s extremely difficult to ignore a tall, muscled, sexy man, standing there, watching your every move.
“How long are you going to give me the silent treatment?” he asks, standing directly behind me and gripping my waist gently.
I drop the tea towel in my hand and sigh. “And this is why husbands and wives shouldn’t work together.”
He kisses the top of my head, and turns me around to face him. “I was jealous,” he admits. I lift my gaze to him, surprised by his admission.
“Jealous?” I repeat softly, wanting more of an explanation.
“I know you two are just friends, but… he knows you. He knows you well, and I don’t like that. I want you to be only that close with me,” he says, pursing his lips.
“He’s just a friend, Ryan.”
He rubs the back off his neck. “A friend who you were around while we were separated. I don’t know. I’m not good at explaining things. I just don’t like it. I know he has feelings for you; trust me I know. You can deny it all you want, and fuck, I don’t blame him because you’re amazing. But, you’re mine, and I don’t want him even thinking he has a chance.”
“Ryan--”
“And how would you feel if I was hanging around with a female friend?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.
I puff out a breath, not liking that one bit.
“My point exactly,” he says, looking smug.
I suck in my cheeks. “He doesn’t want me. He knows that we’re only friends. Do you really want me to be the type of person that just ditches all the people that were there for her when my heart was broken?”
“At least I fixed it,” he mutters under his breath, looking down.
“I didn’t say that to make you feel bad. I was just trying to get you to understand.”
“I know,” he says, placing his hand on my back. He’s about to say something else when more customers walk up to the bar, wanting drinks. “To be continued later.”
This Time Around (Maybe) Page 13