Finding Serenity

by Amanda Perry

  She glances up at me, then back down to my chest. Her fingers travel from the piercings to the tattoos wrapped around my shoulder and down my side. “This is sexy,” she murmurs quietly.

  “Which part, the piercings or the tattoos?” My hands ball into fists at my sides while I force myself to allow her to explore. She wants to take her time, and I’ll let her no matter how much I want to take her quick and hard.

  “All of it,” she admits as her nails rake over the tattoo on my side.

  At my grunted response, she smirks and sits back on her heels. “I have a tattoo. Wanna see?”

  If it’s on her body, then fuck yes, I want to see it. Rather than speak my mind, I simply nod. The breath leaves me as she pops the buttons of her shirt one by one. She takes her time, her eyes never leaving mine. My gaze follows her fingers until she reaches the last button. Unable to control myself, I reach up and push the shirt off. Freckles cover her shoulders, and I promise myself I will kiss every one of them before the night ends.

  My eyes travel down her body but freeze when I land on her sides. My body tenses, and my vision goes red. She frowns at the sudden change in me and looks to where my attention has gone.

  Before she can say anything, I pull her down to lie on her back and straddle her hips. She squeaks in surprise and watches me with wide eyes.

  My hands hover over the hand-shaped bruises on her sides. “Was this from the other day?”

  She nods and swallows hard.

  “Does it hurt?” My fingers finally touch the deep purple marks.

  She shakes her head and her hands cover mine. “I’m fine, Syn. They’re ugly, but they don’t hurt.”

  I shake my head at her and lower my face closer to hers. “Nothing about you is ugly, Taylor.” She smiles softly, and I grin. “Except maybe these jeans. They’re horrible and should probably come off right now.”

  She scoffs and smacks my chest. I cover her laughter with a kiss, this time harder than before. She follows my lead, taking everything I give her. With one hand on the bed by her head, I lift my body and blindly search for the button on her jeans with my free hand. She catches up on my intention and helps me get them off. She continues with the tit for tat routine, grabbing at my jeans and helping me out of them. The little vixen pulls my boxers down with them, and I wish I thought to do the same with her panties.

  She breaks the kiss for a second. “I want to see you.”

  I roll us to put her on top of me, and she straddles my hips. When my hardened cock hits her panty-covered center she gasps and throws her head back.

  I like the way her gasp sounds, and I want it again. I trail my hands up her thighs and rub the insides with my thumbs. “Take your bra off, baby. If you get to see me, I get to see you.”

  She bites her lip as she reaches behind her and unhooks the bra. She pulls it down her arms slowly. My patience vanishes, and I grab the bra to pull it the rest of the way off and toss it over her shoulder. She rolls her eyes and giggles at my impatience, but when my thumbs reach the edge of her panties, her exasperated eye roll turns into one of pleasure.

  She bites down on her lip, and her hips move with the rhythm of my thumbs. When one thumb hooks onto her soaked panties and pulls them to the side and the other rubs the same circular motion on her clit, she shatters. I didn’t expect her to go off so quickly, but it’s the hottest fucking thing ever. Her head drops back, and she makes tiny whimpering noises. Her hips jerk up and down while her thighs tighten around me, and her fingers dig into my chest.

  “Holy shit, I have to see that again.” My finger pushes through the lace of her panties, and I tear them away easily.

  Still gasping for air, Taylor’s jaw drops. “You ruined them.”

  I shoot her a wicked smile. “I’m about to ruin a lot more than your panties, baby.”

  She gets no time to reply before I distract her. I run my hands up and down her body, making sure to pay special attention to her perfect tits. Round, pink, and hardened into little peaks, they beg to be sucked and licked. Unable to deny this girl anything she clearly wants, I sit up and pull one bud into my mouth, nipping and sucking while she squirms in my lap. Her bare center hits my cock and while I groan, she stills. I smirk against her nipple because I know why she froze.

  She slides down my legs, taking her tits with her. My lip pokes out in a pout. “You stole my treat.”

  Aside from the quirk of her lips, she ignores me. Her attention goes straight to the tip of my dick. “What is that?”

  I bark out a laugh and shake my head. “You talking about my dick or the piercing, babe? Either way, I hope I don’t need to explain how they work.”

  She smacks my chest and glares at me. “I know that, but...”

  “But what?” I raise a brow and wait.

  She simply shakes her head. “How the hell did you get the courage to do that?”

  “I had just enlisted, and the guys and I went to celebrate. I had a few too many, and someone dared me to get it done.” I tap the ball on the top. “Next thing I know, I’ve got an apa piercing, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to try to take it out. It hurt like a motherfucker. I was blackout drunk, yet I remember that pain.”

  “You seriously got pierced?” She snorts and lowers her head for a better look. She’s so close I feel her breath, and my prick twitches. She shoots me a mischievous smile, and my balls tighten. “You’re going to make a mess, Syn.”

  She tsks at the small drops beading on the tip. Her tongue darts out to lick them up, and I drop back onto the bed. “Holy fuck.”

  “Something wrong?” she asks innocently.

  I try to answer, but before I can, she pulls me fully into her mouth and sucks hard. My hips and back arch off the bed, my head thrown back with a loud moan. Her mouth is fucking magic. She doesn’t let up or slow down. She sucks and licks until my body shakes with the effort it takes not to blow my load down her throat.

  “Tay—” I grunt as her tongue swirls around the rim. It takes a few short panting breaths for me to talk again. “Fuck, babe. If you don’t stop, I’m gonna cum in that perfect little mouth of yours.”

  She hums, and it’s my breaking point. I grab her under the arms, pull her up, then roll us over to put her under me in one move. Her expression is one of pure satisfaction. The damn minx wanted me to lose control.

  “You’re a tease,” I growl, kissing her hard and fast.

  She wraps her legs around my hips, and I take the invitation to drive into her in one thrust. We break the kiss and take a second to catch our breath and gain some bearings.

  “Syn,” she moans, her nails raking down my back. “If you don’t do something, I’m not responsible for my actions.”

  I smirk even while my body breaks out in a sweat. Holding back may kill me, but it’s worth it. “Do something like what?” I slide out of her slowly. The piercing does its job, and she arches off the bed. “Like that? You want me to do that?”

  “Oh, god, yes.” She shuts her eyes tightly and digs her nails into my back as I slide back in slowly. “Please, Syn, go faster.”

  I listen to her directions and pick up speed but keep my thrusts gentle. “Is that better, baby?”

  The bite of her nails in my back only makes it harder for me to hold back. She digs them in, and it stings in the best fucking way possible. I lean down to nip at her shoulder and neck, only pausing to whisper in her ear, “Tell me what you want, Taylor.”

  “You,” she shouts, her legs tightening around my hips. “Syn, I need you, please. Go faster.”

  “I’m going faster,” I remind her. My face drops to the crook of her neck to hide my own painful struggle.

  She moans low and long, her nails going down my back, a light burn left in their path. “Harder, then. Fuck me harder. Damn it, Syn. Fuck me harder.”

  She thrashes her head back and forth, her hips thrusting hard under mine, desperate for the little push she needs.

  My control drops, and I stop the torture for both of us. I gi
ve her what we both want. I drive into her hard and fast, pumping in and out, over and over, while her moans grow louder and louder. She starts to scream as her release grips her, but I swallow it with a hard kiss. Her release brings me over the edge. Her walls squeeze me hard, milking everything from me, and I gladly give it to her.

  It feels like hours of the best orgasm of my life. Finally, both of us collapse onto the bed. Our intertwined bodies slick and shaky. Taylor runs her hand through my hair to push it away from my forehead. The gesture hits me hard—it’s not something a girl in search of a quick fuck would do. Not that I thought Taylor wanted that. It’s what I’m used to. Girls want to fuck and fly. It used to be fine with me because I never wanted anything more until now, until Taylor. It surprises me how much I enjoy holding her close and doing the after-cuddle shit I never wanted before.

  If agreeing to try something different with my best friends and Taylor means ending up like this more often, then it may be worth it.

  The best sex of my fucking life isn’t the only cause of my swift decision. I already knew she was beautiful, smart, and funny, but now, I know she fits against me perfectly. She said she wanted me, not only sex from me, and she let me have her. There’s no way I can deny this perfect girl anything she wants, and if she still wants me, I will do whatever it takes to keep her.

  Her recent history with Marak and Allistar hurts. But the idea of letting her go kills me. The next time the subject comes up, I plan to tell the guys I want to attempt this shit if they do and if Taylor does.

  The odds of all five of us agreeing to this relationship are slim to none, but I’ll risk it for her. I’ll risk it to keep my brothers and my girl. I’d do anything for my family and the people I love. If it keeps the serene smile on her sleeping face, I’ll do whatever she wants.

  The last thing I remember before I pass out with Taylor’s fingers in my hair is thinking I got in a great workout after all.

  22

  Taylor

  Something hard pokes me in the ass and startles me awake. I sit straight up and check behind me. My eyes find an incredibly hard, ready to go Syn. The night before flashes back to me. Syn woke me up twice after our first time together. He couldn’t keep his hands off me, and if I’m honest with myself, I couldn’t keep mine off him. His body matches his name perfectly. After the last time he woke me, the two of us passed out as the sun began to shine outside.

  Sounds of dishes being clanked around and people talking bring me back to the present. What the hell did I do? I was supposed to stay away from the guys, not instigate an all-night sex-a-thon with Syn.

  Because I’m a complete coward and don’t want to face the morning after talk with Syn, I sneak out of his bed. The first shirt I grab is his, and I toss it on before I manage to tiptoe to my bathroom for a long, hot shower. As I let the hot spray relax my deliciously sore muscles, I come up with a half-assed idea.

  I can call Evelyn and Michelle, tell them my problems, and ask them what I should do. They’ll probably tell me to stop being a whore and keep my damn legs closed. While I’ve told myself the same thing for weeks, I’m required to listen to them because they’re my best friends, and I can’t let them down.

  It’s a terrible idea that will never work, but at this point, I’m out of ideas. First, I hoped to make things casual with the guys. Then, I tried to keep my distance from them. Neither worked, so I went for all out avoidance. Somehow, my most recent plan landed me in bed with Syn. The details on how I went from point A to point sex-a-thon aren’t ones I wish to dwell on.

  Instead, I turn the water off and take my time doing my hair and picking my outfit for the day. My auburn hair drops down past my shoulders in loose natural waves. My makeup is the usual bare minimum, but at least I don’t look like I just jumped out of a trash can...or Syn’s bed.

  With no more tasks to prevent me from my plan, I plop down on my bed and scroll through my phone. I see a few calls from people I don’t really want to talk to, two of which are from my mother, and a long text from her about how I can’t avoid her because she’s my mother. Her text says she knows I locked down a rich man and I need to help my mother out because she gave birth to me, and that I owe her since she should have gotten half of Grammy’s estate instead of me. The woman is a delusional nut job if she believes she’s owed anything by anyone.

  Finally caught up, I pull up the group call and wait on my girls to answer.

  Evelyn picks up first. “What up, bitch. You miss me yet?”

  Michelle answers her end before I can reply, “Hello, lovely. How are things?”

  I smile fondly at their completely opposite personalities. I love my best friends and miss them like crazy. “Hey, how’re the vacations going?”

  “Oh, you know, the typical boring sitting in the sun, tanning, and meeting some hot men.” Evelyn sighs dramatically. “It’s such a burden, but I shall bear it without complaint.”

  Michelle scoffs, “Eve, you’d better not bare anything. You need to slow your damn vagina down before it falls off.”

  Normally, I’d agree with Michelle, but I have no room to talk. Instead, I turn the subject to something different. “What about you, Michelle? How’s the little button doing?”

  “You guys…” She sniffs, and panic crawls up my throat. “You won’t believe how cool it is to feel my little one move around inside my belly. It’s totally worth having to pee every three minutes.”

  Evelyn and I release simultaneous sighs of relief. “Don’t cry when we ask about our little niece or nephew. Fuck, woman, I almost had a heart attack.”

  “Yeah, bitch, what she said,” Evelyn growls, then the three of us laugh. God, I miss these bitches.

  Michelle gets pulled away from the call by Dylan. “Yeah, honey. I’m ready to go.” She comes back on the line seconds later. “Guys, Dylan is taking me out for lunch. I have to get going. Can we talk later?”

  “Actually, I was about to go get a massage with my mama. Taylor, you okay if we pause this convo? Is there anything you need to talk about?”

  I shake my head and force the tears back with a hard swallow. “Yeah, I’m good. You guys go have fun. We can talk later.”

  There’s a pause on the line before Michelle speaks up, “Are you sure, sis? Is something wrong?”

  “No.” I clear my throat. “I’m good, everything is great here. Go do fun shit and text me later. I love you, bitches.”

  “Love you, too, bitch,” Evelyn chirps. “Call me if you need me though, I mean it.”

  “Same. I’m always ready to drop anything for you guys. I love you both so much.” Michelle sniffles, and I chuckle through my silent tears after we hang up. Michelle is already an emotional person, add in the pregnancy hormones, and I don’t envy Dylan at all.

  After a quick swipe across my cheeks to check for any stray tears, I stand and head for the kitchen. The need for caffeine overwhelms me, and I don’t want a repeat of the killer headache from last time I deprived myself. One step out the door, and I nearly run into Allistar.

  “Hey.” He leans against the wall in the hallway outside my bedroom, his hands shoved into his pockets.

  My heart speeds up at the mere sight of him, and I forget to use my words. He must notice the short-circuit in my brain because he gives me a soft smile until I remember I’m supposed to breathe. After an intense, minute long staring contest, his smile drops, and it morphs into a serious, deep frown. The same expression he had when I first stepped into the hall. “Why’d you lie to your friends?”

  “What?” His accusation pulls me from my Allistar haze. “I didn’t lie to anyone.”

  He shakes his head. “You told them you were fine. You’re not fine, Taylor. You were crying.”

  Part of me wants to yell at him for eavesdropping on my private conversation, but it’s pointless since I do the same thing. He’s right, anyway, and we both know it. Instead, I shrug and go for flippancy. “They’re busy with other things. They don’t need me spilling my drama right now.
It’s not fair to them.”

  “Do you think they’d agree?” He draws his brows together and watches me intently.

  First, I shrug again, then shake my head. “No, probably not. But I don’t want to upset them right now. Especially Michelle, she’s so emotional it’s not even funny. The pregnancy hormones are going to be the death of Dylan, I think.”

  Allistar starts to grin at my joke, but it drops quickly. “It’s about everything going on here, isn’t it? The reason you called them and the reason you were crying?”

  I nod, unable to speak past the sudden lump in my throat.

  He sighs and drops his head back against the wall. “Things are really complicated right now. It would be stupid to say they’re not. Unfortunately, I have no real answers to help any of us. I wish I did, but I don’t.”

  “Do you hate me, Star?” My question barely comes out as a whisper, but it’s been haunting me since they all started acting differently. I need to know who does and doesn’t want me around.

  Allistar’s head snaps down, and his wide chartreuse green eyes lock on mine. “Of course not. Why would you think that?”

  Because I slept with you and two of your friends, and I can’t stop myself from falling hard for all four of you despite my desperate attempts to stay far away and not ruin your lives. I shrug. “No reason.”

  “Taylor.” Allistar shakes his head and rubs the bridge of his nose. “I don’t have the answers. Not for you, me, or the guys.” He pushes off the wall and takes three strides, closing the distance between us, to rest his hands on either side of my face. “But, I can tell you with certainty, that none of us hate you. Not even a little bit.”

  I find myself hoping beyond hope that he’s right, but I can’t believe it to be true when they act completely different than before. Allistar’s eyes search my face for something. I’m not sure if he finds what he’s looking for, but he doesn’t say anything else.