I notice Brent peeking out the window and I motion to him to give us a few minutes. He gives me the thumbs up sign and lets the curtains fall together. I inhale deeply and no words come out.
Lyrics says, “Tan, it’s me. What do you want to tell me? Just say it.” She’s exactly right!
“I don’t want to lose you. Deep down, I know I should let you go and never look back, but I just can’t. I wrote the fucking song and all, I thought I had a plan. Really, I thought I was so fucked up and lost but singing with you tonight told me otherwise. I’m just pissed off. I’m so fucking pissed off at myself for being so damn vulnerable, and I couldn’t understand why you’d want to be with me anymore. How could I be the husband you deserve? I’ve always been the one to protect you, make sure you are safe and happy, but now you may think differently of me. Here’s the thing though, you are my Lyrics and I am your Tanner. Hell, I wasn’t good enough for you before all this, but we belong together. Dylan, this road isn’t going to be an easy one, but I want you to be my wife. It’s always been you and me. You have been and will always be my life. No matter what, I will always protect, love you, and cherish every moment you grant me. What do you say? Will you still marry me come April 25th?”
Chapter 12
‘You don’t know redneck until you hurt my man.’
Lyrics –
I allow Tanner’s words to settle in my head for a moment, and then ask, “You done?” He shrugs and kind of smirks. His hand folds over mine as I lay my hand in his. I say, “First off, of course I still want to marry you. This is the first real issue that has ever happened with us. Yes, it’s a massive one and I wish more than anything it didn’t happen, but it did and we are still alive and together. I don’t blame you at all for what happened, not at all. I do, however, blame Jennifer, entirely. That being said, there is one thing that I want if we are going to be together. A simple demand, if you will.”
I wait for his response before continuing and Tanner’s face is almost comically scared, “What is this demand you have?”
“I know you and Chip have something brewing to get Jennifer, but I want in on it. She didn’t just do this to you. You got hurt because she wanted to hurt me and she did. Now, I want to end this shit. I can’t sit back and wait for karma or some other bullshit to give her what she deserves. What kind of woman would I be if I allowed this whack nut to violate you, fuck with us, and just sit back and hope justice finds her? That’s not me, babe. The last face I want her to see is mine, thanking her for making us stronger.” Tanner is looking at me as if I’m crazy.
“Um, I’d prefer you just let me handle this.”
I quickly say, “When I close my eyes to go to sleep, I see her grinding on you, licking you, and that disgusting smile as she looked to the camera. I want to fucking kill her.” He takes his hand from mine and runs it through his hair.
He fades to a ghostly shade of white as he whispers, “You want to kill her? You think you could take her life
“Yes,” I say as I look him dead in the eye. He shakes his head and looks at me again. Tanner puts his hand on my face and turns me so I am looking directly in his eyes.
“Neither of us are murderers. My plan isn’t to kill her, Dylan. It’s to ruin her career and reputation, not turn me into some killer that ends up rotting away in a jail cell. You really think I’d let you throw your life away on a piece of crap like Jennifer or on anybody? Listen here, Penelope Garcia, watching Criminal Minds doesn’t actually mean you can pull off a murder, baby girl.” I can’t help but laugh.
“Okay, so I’m not a murderer, but I want to be part of taking her down, whatever that means.”
Tanner smiles and pulls me into his delicious lips. He says, “Damn, redneck woman, remind me not to ever really piss you off.”
I raise my eyebrows and say, “You know you don’t mess with a redneck woman’s man.”
“I do now.”
I run my hand through his short hair and say, “You look very sexy with the new look. Okay, it’s a bit fuck boy-ish, but still very hot!”
“Glad you like it. Just needed a change.”
Mom comes out and says, “Let’s eat!” We both hop up and head inside. Everybody is already sitting around the table, when we take our seats.
Dad says, “Everything okay?” We both nod yes.
I say, “Mom, it smells delish, can’t wait to dig in.” Tanner’s Dad says a quick prayer and the eating fiasco begins. Mom made a huge ham, her famous cheesy potatoes, green bean casserole, sautéed carrots, sweet potato pie with extra marshmallows per my request fifteen years ago, and steamed veggies. Every Christmas dinner she makes my favorite dessert, Lemon Merengue pie. Of course, she also makes a couple pumpkin rolls, apple pies, and pumpkin pies.
When I pull my face away from all the food, I take a minute and look around the table. This is my family. Seeing the love in Dad’s eyes as he looks at Sophia brings a smile to my face. Twenty-two years he went without dating so he could just be my Dad, even though I begged him to date. It is so great to see him with such a wonderful lady.
I break the silence and say, “So, y’all have a special anniversary coming up!”
“Forty years on February 21st,” Mom says.
“Holy crap! We’ve been married for ten years and I’ve almost killed him more times than I can count,” Cassie says. Everybody laughs.
“Have you actually tried or just thought about it?” Brent says.
Cassie gives a crazy look and says, “Well, that’s for me to know and you to find out.”
“You know you love me way too much to kill me. Plus, you’d be stuck with these two rug rats all by yourself.”
She leans over and kisses him and says, “Very true.” Tanner links his hand to mine under the table and gently rubs his thumb the length of my hand.
Sophia chimes in and says, “If we make it to forty years, we’ll be about one hundred years old. Do you think we’ll still be, you know?”
“Yuk!” Brook yells out.
The laughter rolls and Brent says, “You don’t even know what you know means.”
“It means kissing each other.”
“Exactly!” everybody says.
When Mom brings the dessert out, she hands me a big cake cutting knife and says, “Baby, would you cut the pumpkin roll?” Tanner takes the knife from me and flashes a big smile.
“I got this, killer,” he whispers. I bust out laughing and grab it back.
“No playing with knives,” Tucker says. We both stop and I give Tanner a crazy look and raise my eyebrow up and down at him.
He stands up and says, “I understand there may be some confusion about our wedding date. Let me clear it up right now. Come hell or high water, on April 25th 2017, I will make my best friend, Dylan Brooks, my wife. Everybody knows that we’ve been through some things lately and I’ve been a complete d-bag, but I’m back and my head is in the right place now. Can’t say it’s going to be an easy road, but I know who I’ll be traveling it with. The support y’all have shown me means the world to me, especially you, my Lyrics. So, Brent, what do you say about being my best man?”
I am in shock from this impromptu speech. I look at Mom and she wipes a tear from her eye.
“Hell yeah, little brother, of course I’ll be your best man,” Brent says.
Tanner bends down and kisses my lips so softly. He says, “I love you baby.” I say it right back to him. He sits back down and I look around the table and says, “Cassie, I’m hoping you will stand with me and that Tuck will be our ring bearer and Brooke our flower girl. Sophia, I’d love to have you up with me too but I think I’d rather see you sitting next to Mom and Dads.”
Sophia smiled and wiped a tear from her eye.
“Thank you honey, I’m honored.”
Dad winks at me and I feel like I’m ten years old again. Seeing him happy brings such joy to me, it’s been so long since he’s been in love, with somebody here on earth.
Mom gets up and begins clearing
the dishes. We all get up and begin helping. I can’t stop looking at Tanner. He is happier than he’s been in a while, since Australia. His brown eyes meet mine and he smiles at me. My insides liquefy as I smile back.
Mom leans over and whispers, “What don’t you two kids go relax, we got this.”
“Are you sure?”
She smirks and says, “Oh honey, my prayers are being answered. Please, go use that swing on the porch, it’s only up for you two anyway.” I give her a kiss on the cheek and then walk over toward Tanner. He’s in a heated conversation with all the men about football, but when he feels my hand in his, he stops and we walk outside.
I head to the swing and he asks, “Where ya going?”
I awkwardly reply, “The swing?” He pulls me into him and I feel his tongue on my neck, right above my collar bone.
“Follow me,” he says. Without hesitation, I do as he says. My entire body is craving him, his touch, his lips. He walks me around to the barn, which is toward the back of the property. He opens a cabinet and grabs out two blankets. I’ve been in this barn as many times as he has, but I never knew there were blankets in here. He spreads the blankets out while keeping his eyes locked on me. He comes to me and says, “I’m gonna make love to you the way I’ve wanted to since I was getting ready to come home. Lyrics, I didn’t know what to do, maybe I still don’t, but I will not lose you. You are my everything.” My heart is pounding as he slowly begins undressing me. His lips never part from my skin. It’s cold outside but I’m standing naked in the barn, completely warmed by his touch. He trails his kiss up my neck while his hands roam free on my body. As his finger slides between my wet folds, his breathe escapes him and he says, “Fuck, so wet.” He lays me down on the blanket and spreads my legs wide by pushing his thighs against mine as he lowers his mouth to my very needy pussy. The feel of his soft wet tongue dragging between my folds releases a moan that I can’t control. He is leaving nothing behind. My pelvis begins thrusting from desire, and he stretches me open with two fingers. The only time he stops devouring me is to tell me how tight I am. Luckily, the barn is far enough away from the house that nobody can hear us. He’s licking me with such passion that I feel my walls begin to tighten up and my orgasm builds to the point of no return. I grab his head expecting to run my fingers through his hair, but he cut it all off. He quietly laughs and then goes harder and deeper, begging for my come. With a rush of electricity, I come hard and long. He doesn’t ease off until I beg him to. Fully clothed, he stands up and says, “Ready to go inside?”
I laugh and say, “Tanner Staff, get your sexy ass undressed and fuck me.”
“Damn girl, you don’t have to tell me twice.”
“You really are all kinds of messed up!”
He smiles and says, “Maybe? But I’m your all kinds of messed up, so I’m good with it.”
He takes his shirt off and he’s noticeably thinner, which makes his muscles that much more defined. Before he gets the chance to unbuckle his jeans, I rise to my knees and begin doing it for him. His stomach is warm against my knuckles as I slowly unbutton one button at a time. Never do our eyes part. Dragging his pants and boxers down and off him, his cock is at full attention and begging to be in my mouth. I wrap my hand around his shaft and begin slowly stroking him, up and down. His head tilts backwards as a low growl of ecstasy escapes his throat. My mouth begins to water with anticipation. I can’t hold out any longer. The fresh taste of his swollen cock makes me carefree as to where we are. It feels like it’s been so long since I’ve had him this way. His big hand wraps around the back of my head as he pushes himself further down my throat. I can tell he is too close to coming so I pull back and lie back down on the blanket. My legs are wide open and my pussy has an invisible “welcome home” sign on it!
“You’re so beautiful, baby. Tell me what you want,” Tanner says.
“I want you inside of me, I need you now.”
He folds onto my body as his hard cock edges its way into my tight hole. He pushes himself deeper and deeper until his entire shaft is in me. So many emotions are bubbling up inside of me; I want to laugh and cry all at once. His mouth owning mine, our body heat radiating energy, and the way he fits perfectly inside of me. My Tanner is back. He’s back and I’m never letting him go. He grabs my legs and pulls them up as he thrusts deep in me.
“I love you, Lyrics. Oh God. I’m gonna cum baby. Where do you want it?” he says with a winded breath.
Without thinking, I say, “Come inside me baby. I love you Tan.”
He’s fucking me hard and with a semi muffled grunt, his hot fluid streams steadily in me. He wraps me up in his arms and gently kisses my lips, repeatedly.
“In three months, you will be my wife.”
Wow! Something hit hard hearing him say those words. Tears begin to stream down the side of my face. He wipes them away.
“You do still want this, right?” he asks.
I snort laugh and say, “Ever since I was thirteen years old I’ve wanted to be your wife. Yes, of course I still want it.”
He kisses my nose and says, “That’s good baby ‘cause I realize that I can’t, and don’t, want to live without you.” I’m speechless. He says, “We should probably head inside now.” I nod in agreeance.
Chapter 13
‘There’s a deviant side to that angel soul.’
Tanner –
I feel reborn. Christmas was incredible with the family. When we left to head back to Austin, I knew everything was going to be just fine. Tonight is New Year’s Eve and we are going to Shiner’s Saloon on 6th Street to celebrate. Ménage is one of the bands there tonight and I owe Tyler a thank you and a handshake.
This past week has been a real eye opener for me. I’ve come to accept that what Jennifer did to me says a lot about her, not me. The hate in me has lessened but not the desire to ruin her. Lyrics has a list of the next six shoots Jennifer is supposed to be on and told me to text it to Chip.
Chip sent me a text saying, “Perfect, I’m on it.” He knows many influential people in this industry, and his reputation is flawless. Jennifer Temple’s career is on life support and she has no idea!
It’s nine p.m. and I’m getting dressed for tonight. The bathroom door opens and holy mother of Christ! My jaw pops open as she steps out in a dress I’ve never seen before. This dress catches every delicious curve on her body. The neckline frames her perfect breasts and the way it hangs to her feet is sexy as all get up.
Lyrics smiles and says, “What do you think?” Words don’t come out quickly.
“Damn girl, I think I’m the luckiest man of the planet. It’ll be nothing short of a miracle if we make it out of this apartment.”
She flashes me her seductive smile and says, “I thought you’d like this.”
“You thought right. You look beyond incredible.”
“And you, you are delicious. My sexy cowboy.”
I gently kiss her lips, making sure I don’t mess up her make-up or hair. I really want to peel everything off her and bring in the New Year with a bang!
I tell her, “Babe, if I get to five, you know we aren’t leaving, right?”
She smiles and says, “Don’t tempt me. Okay, let’s get going.”
I take her hand and lift it up to my lips, gently kiss her beautiful hand and say, “After you my lady.”
We walk into the bar and it is completely packed. Immediately I spot three girls that I’d been with before, so I lead Lyrics the opposite direction. Sometimes I forget that she knows everything about me. She spotted them before I did. She locks her hand in mine and gives me a smile. After small chit chat with some friends, we make our way to the bar. The bartender is Tina. She is gorgeous and very much out about being a lesbian. She’s much more interested in Lyrics and always has been.
She leans over the bar and gives each of us a kiss and says, “Dylan, you look absolutely stunning.”
Lyrics smiles and says, “Thank you, you too.”
Tina looks at
me and says, “Oh, you look nice too.”
I laugh and say, “Whatever, you don’t mean it.” Tina laughs and pushes my shoulder.
“Let me guess, two shots of Jack and two Shiners?” We both smile. She says, “Like an old married couple already. By the way, let me see that rock.” Lyrics puts her hand in Tina’s and Tina gawks over the ring for a moment. She looks at me and says, “Good job, handsome.” She brings our drinks and I beat Lyrics easily this time. I see Tyler across the bar, near the stage.
I say, “Babe, I’ll be right back.”
She grabs my hand and says, “Tan, let it go, please. He was only trying to help me.”
I kiss her hand again and say, “I know. I need to rectify something with him though. I’ll be right back.”
Tyler looks up at me and he puts his guitar down and walks toward me.
I say, “Got a minute?”
He looks at his phone and says, “Yep. I have about fifteen before we go on stage. So, what’s up?”
“I want to thank you. I know you really dig Dylan, and I fully understand that. What you said to me the last time we spoke really hit me hard. I’m not leaving her. Hell, I can’t leave her. Thanks man. You’re a good man and I just wanted to tell you that.”
Tyler shakes my hand and says, “I ain’t that good, bro. If she’d have considered it, I’d have stolen her at any given chance.” I smile and he does too. He says, “So, you gonna sing tonight or what?”
“Hadn’t planned on it.”
“You wanna? I know the crowd would shit if you got up on stage.”
“Y’all know Casey Donahew Band, No Doubt?”
“Absolutely. I’ll intro you right after our last song.”
I shake his hand again and say, “Cool, thanks bro.”
I head back to Lyrics, who hasn’t taken her worried eyes off me for one second.
“What was that about?” she asks.
“Just apologizing for being an asshole.”
“Wow. Okay then. You ready to slide a bit?”
I take her hand and lift her to her feet and say, “Wouldn’t want to miss one dance with you.” The song ends as we make our way to the floor and immediately George comes on. I spin her into me and the scent of vanilla, spice, and whiskey wafts into my breath. Our bodies move perfectly together and the feel of her chest rising and dropping on me is a comforting feeling like no other. We slide around the floor as if we are the only two out here. When the song ends, the DJ announces Ménage so we head to the bar to watch them. Tina brings us another round and I’m anxiously awaiting Tyler to call me up to the stage. Lyrics is going to freak out! I’ve never performed a song from Casey Donahew; hope I don’t fuck it up.
Soul-O (Music & Lyrics #2) Page 6