Brett flinched at her words. “I’m sorry. I was talking to some guys from the ski circuit. We were catching up. I miss skiing so much.” Taylor’s eyes filled with tears as she listened to Brett and then she reached out and gathered her in her arms. “I know, honey.” Brett started to cry, her body shaking with sobs. “I wanted to ski in the Olympics and win a gold medal.”
“I know. I’m sorry you won’t be able to do that. I would do anything to give that back to you.”
“I’m sorry I hurt you.” Brett wrapped her arms around Taylor and buried her face against Taylor’s neck. “I wouldn’t hurt you for the world.”
“I know, honey. It’s okay—everything is going to be okay.”
“I love you, Taylor, so much. I will always love you.”
“I love you, Brett I’m so proud of you that you didn’t have a drink. You’re going to be just fine.”
“Rachel called me an idiot for staying at the bar.” Taylor chuckled softly, Brett sounded so indignant. “She told me to chew your ass off for not calling me.”
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Going to chew my ass off?”
Taylor smiled as she tightened her hold on Brett. “I think I’ll wait until you really make me mad.”
“Rachel is a good friend.”
“Yes, she is. Let’s go home. Are you going to be okay to drive?” Brett pulled away from Taylor and wiped her face. “Yea, I’m fine. How did you find me?”
“I drove Roselin’s car and I saw your SUV parked on Main Street.”
“I love you, Taylor.” Brett touched Taylor’s face. “I’m sorry.”
“I know. Come on, honey. Let’s go home.” The two women drove home and entered the quiet house together. Neither woman said a word as they stood in the living room until Taylor reached out and squeezed Brett’s hand. “Go to bed, honey. We’ll talk in the morning.” Brett’s heart pounded loudly in her chest. “Are we okay, Taylor?”
“We’re fine, Brett.”
Both women headed for bed, exhausted and a little raw over what had tran-spired. Brett lay awake long into the night, thinking of her behavior and the impact on Taylor. She had seen the look of hurt on Taylor’s face and she would give anything to take back her actions.
The following day was taken up by workouts and business details for Taylor.
Brett had spent over an hour on the telephone in her office. Taylor waited to talk to Brett until after they had finished eating dinner with Roselin. She had grown quickly tired and excused herself to go to her room a short time after dinner. Taylor and Brett were attending the late movie at the Boulder Theater and finally had a chance for some conversation on the trip to town.
“Honey, Jeb and I spoke yesterday and he’d like to come up for a quick visit to talk to me about some business stuff. He’d also like to see you. Would that be okay with you?”
“Of course it would. Taylor, is your business okay? I know you’re refusing my mother’s payments.” Brett had been bothered by that fact since she had discovered it over a week ago.
“Brett, my business is fine. Honey, I can’t let your mother pay me for something I choose to do.”
“But …”
“No buts, please. Jeb also asked me to tell you something. He’s a recovering alcoholic, honey, and he wanted you to know. If you need to talk with him about anything, all you have to do is call him.”
“That’s nice of him. You know, most of the time I don’t miss drinking at all.
It’s kind of nice to be totally aware of everything around me. Then out of the blue I want a drink. It’s so odd. Last night the glass of Scotch sat in front of me and I wanted to take a sip. And then I thought of my mother and you and it didn’t seem so important to drink. Does my being an alcoholic bother you?”
“No, honey, it doesn’t.” Taylor slid her hand over Brett’s muscled thigh. “I love you just the way you are.”
“Yeah! You want to skip the movie and go to lookout point and neck?”
“I’d love to.” Taylor laughed at the suggestion. Brett was always surprising her with unexpected comments like that. The night before was forgotten as the two women allowed themselves to enjoy the evening ahead of them. Taylor knew Brett’s struggles were much more than alcohol. She was finding herself day by day, and each day was going to be a challenge. She understood how much Brett missed her former life.
“Here’s an even better idea. We go to the movie and then I do my level best to seduce you when we get home.”
“I like that idea even better.” Taylor’s face lit up with pleasure. She was waiting for Brett to make the first move when it came to their lovemaking. Brett reached down and covered Taylor’s fingers with her own, holding her hand tightly as they drove the short distance to town. She loved Taylor with every breath in her body, and earlier that day she had told her mother she was going to marry Taylor. Her mother had given her daughter her blessing and a suggestion.
Maybe she should talk to Taylor about her plans. She also had pointed out to Brett how important it was to talk to Taylor about her feelings about her accident and her injuries. She shouldn’t keep anything from Taylor if she wanted to be with her.
Tonight Brett was going to do that and more. She had a single carat blue-white diamond set in a solitary setting burning a hole in her pocket. She had thought to wait until she had a job and her future was more stable, but her mother had convinced her that time was fleeting and that she shouldn’t waste any more of it. Roselin had an ulterior motive. She wanted to see her daughter in a committed relationship before she died. She wanted to make sure that Brett would have a family, and that family would include Taylor. Taylor needed a commitment, and Brett needed the support of a loving partner.
The movie, a comedy that completely missed the mark, was totally dismal, and the two women walked back to the car, hands linked as they shared their disappointment. Brett and Taylor made the quick trip back to the house in comfortable silence. They walked into the house together before Brett spoke.
“Would you like to sit out on the back deck with me for a little bit? It’s not too cold and the moon is full.”
“Sure, honey.” Brett led the way to the back deck where a padded bench sat facing the cloud-shrouded mountains.
Brett held tightly to Taylor’s hand as they sat down. She turned to face Taylor. “I wanted to thank you for being completely understanding with everything while I’m trying to get things together. I’m sorry about last night. I never want to disappoint you.”
“Brett, you’re doing just fine. I know this is hard for you. I want to be there for you. How could I do otherwise? I love you.” It was that simple statement that made the words in Brett’s heart bubble out.
“I love you so much, and I’ve learned that life can change overnight. I don’t want to wait any longer to ask you something.”
“What honey?”
“I want a life with you. I know your business is very important to you and I’d be willing to live anywhere you want. I’ll love you for the rest of your life and I promise always to be faithful. I know you want children, and I promise to be a good parent. Will you marry me, please?” Taylor was so overwhelmed and surprised by Brett’s hastily spoken and unexpected proposal that she burst into tears, much to Brett’s astonishment. But she was able to respond without hesitation. “I love you, Brett. I want to marry you and live with you. I would love to raise children with you. Yes, I will marry you.” Brett heard only the word yes, and she was elated. She wrapped her arms around Taylor and kissed her, every bit of love in her heart poured out in that one kiss. It was a long time before either woman pulled away.
“Taylor, I have something for you. If you don’t like it I won’t be offended, but I wanted to be traditional and a little bit old-fashioned. It’s important that you know how much you mean to me.”
“I know, honey.” Taylor’s face was streaked with tears as she listened to Brett.
Brett slipped slowly to her knees in front of Taylor
and handed her the ring box, her eyes glistening with her own tears as she waited for Taylor to open the box. Taylor knew how painful kneeling was for Brett but she remained kneeling waiting for Taylor to look at the ring. She opened the black velvet box and gasped. If she had ever asked for a diamond ring, it would have been this very one, stunning in its simple setting. It was sparkling brilliantly, each facet cut to perfection to enhance the blue-white coloration. Taylor would have been happy if it had been a plain gold band.
“It’s perfect, honey, so very perfect, just like you.” She leaned over and kissed Brett softly, telling her with her lips just how much she loved her. “Now, would you please get up off your knees? I know that has to be painful.”
Awkwardly, Brett stood up, grinning happily as she pulled Taylor up into her arms. “This is what I was shopping for yesterday. I would have taken you with me otherwise. I wanted to surprise you, and it was worth it! Can you stand a little more news?”
“What?”
“Do you want to take a quick trip with me to New York in a couple of weeks? The U.S. Ski Team has asked me to be the coach of the Olympic team. Their representative called me today and we spoke for quite awhile. They’re willing to move the training center to Boulder if I take the job—that is, if you agree that I should take the job.”
“Do you want the job?”
“Yes, but not if it gets in the way of us, you’re more important than any job.” Brett had learned a very valuable lesson. Taylor would always be the most important part of her life. She would make sure she kept nothing from her.
“If you want the job, I want you to take it.”
“I love you, Taylor.”
“I’m glad, because I love you so very much, and I’m so proud of you.” The two women kissed and then Brett slowly moved Taylor into the house, tugging on her hand. She pulled her all the way into her room and shut the door.
She gently guided Taylor over to the side of her bed. Taylor still held the ring box open in her hand. Brett removed the ring from the box and placed the empty box on her night table. Then she turned to Taylor who waited breathlessly for Brett to slide the ring on her finger. Brett leaned over and kissed her ring finger softly then stood up and slipped the ring onto the third finger of Taylor’s left hand.
Without a word, Taylor reached up and began to slide Brett’s shirt up and off her body. She wanted to touch her so badly. She had been waiting an eternity for this moment. Brett shuddered as Taylor’s hand touched her bare shoulders and caressed her back. They shared a kiss that increased in intensity as Brett’s tongue moved hotly through Taylor’s mouth. Taylor suckled on her tongue, forcing a moan from her as she rapidly unzipped Brett’s pants and pushed her panties and slacks down in one smooth motion. She would wait no longer to touch her.
Rachel’s words echoed through Taylor’s mind. She didn’t let anyone touch her.
Taylor would touch her and be the only woman to ever touch her again.
“I want to love you, honey. I’m going to be the only one to ever make love to you.”
“Please, love me. It’s been so long,” Brett murmured, as her hands worked to remove Taylor’s shirt and bra.
“Lie down, honey.” Taylor pushed Brett back until she was flat on the bed.
Then Taylor removed the rest of her clothes and slid gently onto Brett’s naked body, resting on her arms as she looked down at Brett’s face. Brett moaned as Taylor’s hips nestled against hers. Taylor sighed and felt Brett’s wet center against her thigh. She bent and pressed a kiss to Brett’s throat and then her upper breast, as her lips whispered across the fragrant skin.
“I love your body. I missed you so much,” Taylor breathed against Brett’s mouth, and her fingers traced over her full breasts and squeezed her taut nipples.
Her fingertip swirled around Brett’s nipple, and then teased it with sexy little tugs. Her mouth found the other nipple and sucked heavily on it.
She teased the swollen peak with her teeth, as Brett cried out in pleasure. Rubbing her tongue back and forth, Taylor drove Brett crazy with her attentions.
Brett’s hips pushed up against Taylor’s as she gasped.
“I’m going to come.”
“Not yet, honey.”
“Oh, please, it’s been so long.” Brett could barely speak; she was on the razor’s edge of pleasure and pain.
“I know, but I want to taste you.” Taylor’s hand moved slowly over Brett’s stomach stroking the skin just above the glistening black curls. She felt Brett’s body vibrating underneath her and knew her lover was close. She rose up on her arms and slid down Brett’s body until her mouth was above her wet center. She wanted more than anything to make perfect love to Brett. She bent and stroked her clitoris with her tongue.
“Oh God, please, Taylor, please.”
Taylor surrounded Brett with her lips sucking her hard as her long fingers filled her deeply. “Now, honey, you can come now.” Taylor’s fingers filled Brett tightly. Her body jerked and her hips arched against Taylor’s wonderful mouth. Just as Brett’s first orgasm finished rolling through her body, Taylor moved up her body, her fingers still deep inside Brett and she fit her hips over her hand, her mouth meeting Brett’s in a kiss, her tongue tasting her. Her hips moved in the same rhythm as her tongue as she drove Brett up again into a blistering orgasm. Brett cried out once more and her arms trembled against Taylor’s back. Brett began to cry, and Taylor kissed the hot tears away with soft, gentle kisses. She slowly removed her fingers and then held her as she wept.
“You’re the only one that I’ve ever let love me like that.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re the only one I ever let put her mouth on me. You were always the only one Taylor. It’s always been just you, only you.” Taylor’s body had been so ready for Brett’s touch that her words alone made her come, and she cried out as her body shook against Brett’s.
“I love you, Taylor.” Brett gently rolled her onto her back as Taylor looked up at her.
Brett bent over the love of her life and met her lips in a kiss, one to cherish and one of hope and complete love. Her fingers caressed Taylor’s breasts and teased her nipples, and her hips rocked against Taylor’s in a rhythm as old as time. Taylor’s hips arched up into Brett’s as their bodies slid against each other in remembered moves. It had always been like this with them—as natural and as perfect as lovemaking could be.
Taylor felt her body began to fall, and she locked her fingers in Brett’s hair and pulled her close in a kiss. She slid into her orgasm rapidly as it shimmered and sparkled its way through her body until she was incandescent with pleasure.
“Brett, I’m …”
Brett moved her hips harder into Taylor until at last she went slack on the bed. Brett’s head rested on her chest as she caught her breath. Taylor’s hands moved to Brett’s back, slowly stroking up and down. The need to touch Brett was still overwhelming.
Brett started move off Taylor, and Taylor’s arms tightened around her. “Please stay on top of me. I like to feel the weight of you on me.” Brett reached up and met Taylor’s mouth in a kiss, her tongue sliding against Taylor’s upper lip before entering her mouth. Their mouths met in kiss after kiss as passion once again surged through their bodies.
Taylor became ravenous to touch Brett again, and her hand slid between their bodies and found her pulsing clitoris, swollen and hard. Taylor’s fingers surrounded and squeezed, milking Brett until her head arched back and she groaned. Taylor drank in the vision of Brett succumbing to her orgasm. She was so sexy, so beautiful. Taylor felt her body react to Brett’s vulnerability. Brett’s hand slid between them and into Taylor, driving her immediately over the edge, crying out as she held Brett against her body.
In the aftermath of their intense experience, Taylor lifted her hand and looked at the ring glistening in the dark. She began to weep softly. “I’m going to marry you, honey. I’m going to love you for the rest of your life.”
“Yes, you ar
e.” Brett clasped Taylor’s left hand and kissed her finger next to the ring.
They slid into sleep still holding each other, unwilling for one moment to let each other go. They had been through so much to finally be together, and nothing would ever come between them again. Taylor knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that Brett would never sleep with another woman. She trusted her beyond belief and would do so for the rest of her life. She knew Brett would struggle with alcohol and the loss of her career, but she also knew that Brett would do her best to deal with it, and Taylor would be there for her.
Brett was first to wake and found Taylor tucked up against her back, her arm draped around her waist. She turned around to face Taylor, and her breath stopped in her chest as she watched her lover sleep. She felt tears slide down her cheek as she gazed at her beauty. She lay quietly watching Taylor for almost an hour, until Taylor’s eyes fluttered open to find her lover watching her with love-filled eyes.
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“This is for real, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.” Brett smiled and picked up Taylor’s hand where the diamond sparkled and turned so Taylor could see it. “You are truly mine at last.”
“Yes, I am, for the next hundred years or so.”
“So when do you want to have a baby?” Brett asked as she snuggled up against Taylor.
Taylor couldn’t help but laugh as she saw the childish delight on Brett’s face.
“Don’t you think you ought to marry me before you get me pregnant?”
“We can have a commitment ceremony this weekend. I figure you could be pregnant within a month.”
“A month?” Taylor’s eyes opened wide as she looked at Brett in surprise. “I think we ought to wait a little bit longer than a month, but I think a commitment ceremony real soon is a requirement. I want your mother to be there.”
“Yes, it’s important that she knows I found my soul mate.”
“I have the feeling she already knows that.”
“So can we tell her that you’ve officially said yes?”
“Of course.”
“I asked her for her blessing before I asked you to marry me.”
Magic in Our Hearts Page 12