Behind the Scandal

by M.A. Stacie

  Kyran shifted closer to Taylor and patted the side of his face. “Going to miss me? I could call you every night at bedtime and read you a story.”

  “Fuck off,” Taylor said, laughing and turning away. “Your stories are too smutty anyway.”

  Kyran chuckled, then pointed across the field toward Levi and his bike. “I guess I should go and play with my new nephew.”

  Taylor spluttered and coughed. “Levi isn’t your nephew, and he sure as shit isn’t my son.”

  “Keep telling yourself that. My tip for you is to stop denying it when you’re at the altar, okay?”

  Taylor was left staring at his brother’s back as Kyran bounded over the porch fence and raced across the field toward Levi.

  “Blue? Are you in here?” Taylor shouted into the quiet cottage. She hadn’t come out to play with her son, nor had she come back into the kitchen to deal with Levi’s cake. His shoulders relaxed when he saw her sitting on the couch, staring out the window. “Lib, seriously, your kid is crazy. Kyran didn’t even need to show him how to ride. He just got on the thing and went! Who does that? I mean . . .”

  He focused on the paleness of her skin and the way her body shook, then closed his eyes. “Babe, I wish you’d believe me when I say I never touched Tori against her will.”

  “I believe you,” she said.

  “Then what’s—”

  “He called,” she whispered, her voice raw and rough. “Chase. I told him I had the money.”

  Taylor whooped, throwing his hands in the air. Libby flinched at the sound of his excitement, and he paused. “And he accepted it? That’s what he wanted?”

  Libby nodded and pulled her knees to her chest, still not making eye contact. “It’s all too good to be true. I’ve run from him for so long, and now . . . well, I can’t believe it’s really going to be over.”

  “You need more drama in your life, Libby?” he asked with a smile. “I could do that. Maybe an argument or two? Or would you like me to start leaving my stuff around your house? I could leave the toilet seat up.”

  Libby huffed. “You’re a dick.”

  “I know, babe, but you wouldn’t be without me . . . or my dick.”

  She opened her mouth again, but before she could say a word, Taylor kissed her. He was confused by the feelings surging within him, but when he kissed her, his world settled on its axis.

  Libby nibbled on his bottom lip before sliding her tongue along it. Already she knew what drove him nuts, knew just what he liked and how to turn him on.

  He couldn’t leave now. He wouldn’t survive. He needed her.

  Libby grasped his T-shirt, pulling him close, so close he lost his balance and toppled onto the couch. He barely missed knocking her out with his elbow.

  “Sorry.” He framed her face in his hands, stroking her tears away from under her eyes with the pads of his thumbs. “It will be over soon. He never got that close. You went out every single day to search the land and found nothing. That’s got to count for something, right? Kyran will transfer the cash, plus a little extra to sweeten him, and he’ll leave you alone. More importantly, the bastard never even needs to know about Levi.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  He cocked his head. “Blue, do you enjoy looking over your shoulder?”

  Her frown lines deepened. “Of course not.”

  “So be happy. Be free.” He kissed the tip of her nose and grinned. “Be with me.”

  Libby giggled, and he felt like a king. He snorted at his childishness.

  “What?”

  “You just make me smile.”

  This time it was Libby who kissed him. “Does that make you smile, too?”

  The sultry cadence of her voice had his groin tightening, and if he missed the glint in her eyes, he sure as hell didn’t miss the slow roll of her hips.

  “Do you want to play, Blue?”

  “Maybe.”

  Taylor pulled her to straddle his lap. “Then we’ll have to be quick before everyone starts to miss us.”

  “So business as usual, then?” she said, teasing, allowing him to unbutton her plaid shirt.

  He palmed her breasts through the cotton bra cups and licked his lips. “Found your sense of humor?” He brought his lips to the warm, soft swell of her breast. With each small kiss, he moved closer to her erect nipple, eventually hooking his finger into the material and sucking the taut peak into his mouth. Libby whimpered and reached down to grab his erection through his jeans.

  Her touch, even over the denim, escalated his temperature and sent his arousal from a low buzz into a deep ache. He’d gone from one drug to another—her. The scary thing was, he wasn’t sure he could ever detox from her. Libby Karlin had embedded herself so deep in his heart—in his soul—that he couldn’t imagine his life without her. She was integral to his life now.

  “Taylor?”

  He blinked, confused to see her kneeling at his feet, her fingers at the waist of his jeans.

  “Are you with me here? Or did I get this all wrong?” Her cheeks flushed as she searched his face.

  Brushing his knuckles along her cheek, he said, “You didn’t read this wrong. I want you. I always fucking want you.”

  Her lips turned up in a small smile as she tilted her cheek into the palm of his hand. “Good,” she said, popping open the button of his jeans. “And I thought you were going to be quick.”

  “Can’t be anything with my clothes still on.”

  “I only need to remove these.” She tugged at the denim, and he raised his hips, allowing her to pull his jeans down his legs. Without the restriction of any underwear, his cock bobbed in front of her face.

  “I should be comforting you,” he said.

  Libby waved her hand between the two of them. “This. This is what I need right now. To forget.”

  It was growing difficult imagining his life without her. Burying the sudden sensation of loss, Taylor caressed Libby’s cheek, and she cupped his balls and placed one long lick along his shaft.

  “Holy fucking hell,” he gasped, his hips bucking closer to her face.

  She lowered her mouth onto his cock and swamped him in her warm, wet bliss. His fingers delved into her hair, tightening and holding her close. At the same time, her fingers played across his sac as she twirled her tongue around the head of his swollen cock. With each swirl, Taylor moaned.

  Her breasts rubbed against his thighs as she tried to gain some kind of friction for herself. He wanted to give that to her, but the gentle suction of her mouth on his erection was so divine he couldn’t bring himself to make her stop. The way she slipped her tongue over his engorged head, the way she stroked her fingers against his balls, had him grunting and tugging on her hair. Lust took a stranglehold. She was making him lose it, fast. He tried to talk himself down, to recite the alphabet along with random multiplication, but she had him undulating. When she hummed around his cock, his thighs trembled and his stomach twitched. She was killing him, but what a magnificent way to go.

  Libby looked up at him as she circled the base of his erection with her fingers. Her mouth remained sucking the head as her hand pumped up and down his length. A growl emanated from his chest, and he tossed his head back and slammed it against the back of the couch. He felt no pain; every part of his body was focused on his groin.

  Libby licked the tip of his erection, and he swore he forgot how to breathe. She smiled and stroked his balls before pressing her tongue flat on the underside of his cock. He gripped the arm of the couch as she guided her tongue along every inch of him.

  Taylor’s balls clenched, and his breathing grew ragged. “Babe,” he gasped. “I’m gonna . . .” His fingers tightened in her hair as her name ripped from his lips. He exploded into her mouth, spilling his seed against her tongue.

  She continued sucking and licking him until he spasmed, unable to take any more of her touch. Libby giggled and snuggled against him. She rested her head on his heaving chest as he folded his arm around her.

  “
I still think I should have been the one comforting you.”

  “You did. And anyway, it doesn’t matter anymore, right? He’ll be gone. It’ll be done.”

  Taylor kissed her forehead. “Done.”

  “So everything goes back to normal tomorrow?”

  “As normal as it can be. Kyran gave me the number of a therapist earlier. He’s already spoken to the guy and explained what’s going on with me. He also asked if I wanted to go home.” He felt her body stiffen. “I told him I wasn’t leaving.”

  “Why?” she asked, her voice little more than a whisper.

  “Because I want to see at least one thing through in my life.”

  She nodded. “Oh.”

  “And because I can’t tear myself away from you.” He inhaled. “I think you should know . . . I’m falling for you. Real fucking hard. Can’t think of anyone but you morning, noon, and night.”

  Libby kissed his chest. “Good.”

  “Good?”

  “Yeah. You’re not alone in those feelings, Taylor. We’re in this together.”

  Chapter 20

  Taylor couldn’t sleep. Time was ticking off his stay at Hunter’s Hollow. He’d spent the last two hours trying to work out what he was going to do about it all. He struggled with the options, having no idea what he wanted to do.

  Since his brother had returned to Sea Pointe, the clock ticked louder. He had one month left. Four short weeks until his time was up. Until he had to leave the woman who’d saved him.

  Libby slept beside him, snuggled into his side. She slept better now. They hadn’t heard from Chase since Kyran had transferred the money into his account. He’d gotten what he’d been after. Libby and Levi were safe.

  The protectiveness that surged through him when he envisioned them took his breath away. His brother was right—he was in deep with her. No matter how many different ways he thought about it, he wasn’t sure he could be happy without her. Libby had entered his life when he was at rock bottom. Bit by bit she’d helped him to resurrect himself. How could he walk away from her?

  He turned onto his side, careful not to wake her. She murmured, and her nose wrinkled in the most adorable way. She had no idea how stunning she was. He recalled his first day and how the vibrancy of her red hair had been like a beacon. She’d shown him the way.

  She had more freckles than before, the sun having caused a new breakout across her nose. He wanted to kiss every single one of them and then go back for seconds. The freckles didn’t stop on her face. He was well aware of the small dots scattered over her body, especially the ones that formed a little circle next to her navel. His dick hardened just thinking about that patch of creamy white flesh.

  Taylor tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I love you,” he whispered. “I do. I don’t know what that means, or what we do about it. I just needed to say it. I love you.”

  He leaned closer and kissed her forehead, smiling when he felt the skin wrinkle in a frown under his lips. She was such a grouch in the mornings.

  “Mom? Taylor?”

  Taylor rearranged the blanket across their nakedness the moment he saw Levi in the doorway. “Hey there, brat,” he said, keeping his voice low.

  Levi rubbed his eyes, his stuffed monkey dangling from his grasp. “Is it breakfast time?” He patted his tummy. “I’m starving.”

  Taylor slipped from the bed, thankful he’d put his boxers back on for a bathroom call in the middle of the night. He ushered Levi toward the kitchen, ruffling the kid’s hair. “Pancakes okay for you? I don’t think there’s any syrup. Banana?”

  “Sure.” Levi climbed onto a stool and watched Taylor prepare the food.

  “Milk?”

  “A big glass, please.”

  Taylor sent him a mock salute and poured two large glasses.

  “Is Mom sick?”

  He paused his pouring, tilted his head, and asked, “Why would you think that?”

  “Mom never sleeps in. She’s always up real early. Pops tells her to get more sleep but she doesn’t listen to him.”

  “Your mom is fine. She had a late night, and maybe she’s taking Josh’s advice. I’m here to feed you, so there’s no need to panic.”

  Levi lifted his monkey onto the counter. “Can Nuts have a banana, too?”

  Taylor shot Levi a quizzical look and was about to point out that the monkey was stuffed, when he caught himself. The kid was six. “Um, sure. Does he want a full one?”

  Levi giggled. “He can’t eat a full one, silly.”

  “My bad, dude. I’ll sort him out after I finish your pancakes, okay?”

  The kid watched him while he ladled the mixture into the pan, licking his lips and inhaling deeply. “They smell good.”

  “Pops showed me how. I couldn’t even toast bread when I got here. Now I can at least cook a decent breakfast.”

  “Mom doesn’t eat breakfast. She just has coffee.”

  “Well, today she will eat, and she’ll do it in bed. We’ll take it in to her, yeah?”

  Levi bounced in his seat with excitement. “Breakfast in bed! I tried to do that for her once, but the milk sloshed all over the counter and I couldn’t squeeze any juice out of the oranges. Mom was upset when she saw the mess.”

  Taylor chuckled. “I bet she was.” He scooped up the pancake and placed it onto a plate before slicing a banana and tossing it on top. “Here you go. Eat.”

  “You’re bossy. Just like Mom.” He shoved three slices of banana into his mouth and chewed quickly.

  “That’s because you’re hard work.”

  “Mom says that, too.” He pulled apart his pancake, ignoring Taylor when he handed him a fork. “She smiles more now you’re here. She likes you, doesn’t she?”

  “I sure hope so, because I like her, too.”

  Turning his big brown eyes on him, Levi grew serious. “You won’t make her cry, will you? Because sometimes, at night, she cries. I cuddle her, but she still cries.”

  Emotion gripped him tight, making it impossible to speak. How could he explain to Levi that he wasn’t here to stay? That in the end he was going to make his mom cry?

  The realization of what he’d built here hit him hard. When he’d fallen in love with Libby, he’d also fallen for her son, and now the kid was asking him not to break their hearts. He didn’t want to, and even though he was in no rush to go back to Sea Pointe, the simple fact was that, at some point, he had to. His whole life was there.

  Clearing his throat of the boulder that seemed to have lodged there, Taylor finally spoke. “I’ll try not to, buddy.”

  “You never call me that. You call me brat or kid.”

  “Maybe I think we’re friends now, so it’s okay to call you that.”

  Levi scrunched up his nose, just like Libby had done in her sleep. He shrugged. “Okay then, you can be my very best friend. I don’t have one of those.”

  “Not in school?”

  “Nope.” He brought the pancake to his lips and asked for another one before biting into what was left.

  Taylor poured more batter onto the pan, grinning when Levi offered Nuts the monkey a slice of banana. “Is school okay now? No more trouble from that little shit who cut your lip?”

  “Nope,” Levi said and shook his head. “Aster doesn’t come near me now. I play with Cole sometimes.”

  “That’s good. At least he stays away from you.” He placed the fresh pancake on Levi’s plate. “We should make some for your mom now.”

  “That would be very nice.”

  Taylor looked toward the door at the sound of Libby’s sleepy voice. The sight of her made his knees weak. She leaned against the doorframe, her red hair tumbling around her shoulders. She looked sexy as hell in his plaid shirt and a pair of loose, white socks. Only hours before, those long, toned legs had been wrapped around his waist as he’d pounded into her. His cock grew hard at the memory.

  Dropping the spatula, he walked around the counter, he gaze never dropping from hers. The side of Libby’s mouth
lifted in a coy smile, and when he got closer, she raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck.

  “Morning,” he whispered against the side of her neck, loving the feel of her body against his.

  “Good morning.”

  He kissed the skin just below the collar of his shirt. “It really is—good, that is.”

  “Ew!” Levi shouted. “Are you two gonna kiss? Gross.”

  Libby laughed and dropped her forehead to rest on Taylor’s chest.

  “I could kiss you, if you want, brat,” Taylor said, smiling.

  “Ew!”

  “Guess it’s just breakfast for you, then, babe.” He took her hand and led her to a stool next to her son. “Sit and I’ll get you some juice.”

  “You should have woke me. I could have started breakfast.” She started to run her fingers through Levi’s hair, tidying his unruly curls. She carried on even when her son tried shrugging her off.

  “Why would I wake you when I’m perfectly able to make pancakes myself?”

  “Because Levi is my responsibility.”

  Taylor’s head reared back. “You’re going to play that card? I can be trusted with a six-year-old, Blue. I’m not going to—”

  “Hey,” she said, moving from the stool and around the counter. “That’s not what I meant. I’m sorry.”

  “If you guys are going to kiss again, I’m leaving. Can I watch TV?”

  Libby nodded, then pulled Taylor to her and placed her arms around his waist. “I suck. Honestly, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that no one has ever let me sleep while they cooked breakfast.”

  Taylor kissed her forehead. “I know my cooking leaves a lot to be desired, but it’s not so bad.”

  “Mm-hmm. How can I repay you?”

  He shook his head and rubbed his hips against hers. “You could . . .”

  Libby slapped his chest. “Do you ever think of anything else?”

  “Around you, babe? No.”

  “You kept a lid on it while your brother was here.”

  “And now”—he kissed her—“he’s not. But Levi is, so I’ll stop.”

  “Shelve it for later.” She winked. “Now didn’t you promise me breakfast?”