Dylan and Taylor (Soul Mates 101 Series) (7 page)

“Oh, baby. Is that why you’re so good at it?”

“Brett! Shut up!”

“Sorry, shortcake, but you had that one coming. Hey, I’m grateful.”

“They were a little too soft,” she says, cracking up.”

“Damn, it’s getting toasty in here already,” Austin says, grinning at Chelsea. “Thanks for getting that practice time in, Chels.” Her face turns red, and they’ll be pissed at me every time the guys bring this up. Oh well, it’s funny tonight.

On Dylan’s next turn, he’s the first to make three in a row. “OK, we’re answering questions again.” He winks at me, and this can’t be good. He’s setting me up for something. I feel it. “Drink, Taylor.”

I drink, still worrying about what lies ahead. Cody makes another shot and tells Jasmine to drink. Everyone appears curious as they wait for his question. “Jasmine, are you pissed at me for kissing you?”

She gives him a serious look before a naughty grin stretches across her pretty face. “No, Cody that was bad—ass.” All of us laugh.

“Hell yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.” He gives Dylan a high five.

Brett makes the next shot. “Drink Cody, so you can get a little drunker to put some more moves on Jasmine. And the question is, is that your plan?” Laughter erupts once again.

Cody smiles at Jasmine. “I’ll leave that up to her, but I’ll get a little drunker just in case.”

Her alluring gaze reaches him, and I get the impression they’ll be sharing a bed this week. When it gets back to Dylan, he makes his shot. “Yes!”

Oh shit, he’s overly excited. Here it comes.

“It’s only fair that I ask Taylor the same question I asked Jasmine last time we played. Taylor, have you ever kissed a girl?” he asks with that charming grin that gets me excited every time I see it.

I feel as if a hundred thoughts run through my mind at once. This could be an opportunity to show the group I’m not an uptight bitch, so here goes. “No, I haven’t, but there’s a first for everything, right?” I say brazenly, boring my gaze back at Dylan.

“Hell … yes,” he says slowly, never taking his eyes off of mine.

Jasmine raises her hand. “Me, me, me.”

I want our kiss to be erotic to get Dylan excited, so I have to fight letting out a giggle as I walk over to Jasmine. I slip one of my arms around her waist and take hold of some of the back of her hair with the other, pulling her close.

With Jasmine’s face inches from mine, I slide my tongue between her parted lips. She squeezes my hips as our tongues twirl together deliberately and sensually.

Hers tastes like pineapple, and I’m curious what she’s drinking tonight. Jasmine isn’t into girls any more than I am, but she does love instigating the shock factor.

“Fuuuck,” Dylan says with a low, drawn out groan.

I can just picture Matt’s mouth hanging open from his verbal reaction. “This. Trip. Is. Awesome.”

I let go of Jasmine’s mouth and lick my lips, not taking my eyes off of hers. I think we nailed it, and it takes all my will not to giggle.

“Cody, it looks like you have some competition,” Dylan says.

“I don’t care. I’ll join them if they’ll let me.”

I let Jasmine go and turn around about the time Dylan smacks Cody on the side of the head. Do I sense a little jealousy here?

“Hey, what was that for?” Cody asks.

Dylan doesn’t answer as he gazes at me keenly.

“Hannah’s tongue tastes like cotton candy, and Taylor’s tastes like cherries,” Jasmine says, giggling.

I can’t help but giggle now. “Yours tastes like pineapple, Jasmine.”

“You were not lyin’ Morgan when you said Taylor’s a blast when she drinks,” Cody says.

Dylan tosses his quarter on the table. “OK, it’s too hot in here. We have to quit playin’.”

“Can’t take the heat, Dylan?” Morgan asks.

“You shut it, Morgan. You have someone more than willing to scratch your itch,” he replies, chuckling.

“You’re not kidding,” Matt says, laying a big kiss on Morgan.

Dylan

Taylor’s assertiveness has me so damn excited. Honestly, it’s mostly from that kiss. I became hard the second her tongue went into Jasmine’s mouth. Everyone scatters around the great room and kitchen. I glance over to find Cody making out with Jasmine in a chair as she sits on his lap. I’m happy for the dude.

Taylor’s alone at the bar, so I approach her. I’m going to make sure I’m sleeping next to her tonight. “Damn, girl, what are you drinking? Maybe you just need to get that in IV form.” I close in on her, our skin almost touching. “I like seeing you this carefree. Watching that kiss was hot as hell, but I think you and I can do better.”

I can feel the heat around us as I pull back and gaze into her eyes. Those deep pools of mystery are tilted up at me. “Show me,” she whispers.

This woman’s too much. I grab her hand and pull her into the dark hallway off the dining room. I push her into the wall and press my body against hers, our erratic, hot breath sharing space. My hands glide behind her neck and up into her thick hair while tongues are slipping into mouths and lust is being unleashed. I swear I’m going to fucking explode.

Taylor’s hands work their way under my shirt, and feeling them on my skin sends me out of control. I push with more force, the hardness in my jeans pressing against her as I groan into her mouth. She rubs against me as her hips circle in sync with our greedy tongues. Releasing my lips from hers, I suck in a breath before putting my mouth to her ear.

“Taylor, it feels incredible being this close to you.” The back of my hand runs down her cheek while the other one stays tangled in her hair.

“I feel the same about you, but I’m not feeling too well.” She pulls her hands up and holds her fingers against her temples. “Oh my head’s spinning. I’m really drunk.”

I bury my face into her neck and blow out several sharp breaths, trying to suppress my hunger for her. She has to believe she means more to me than the other women I’ve been with, so I can’t have sex with her when we’re drunk. After kissing her forehead, I lift her chin.

“Sunshine, I’m taking you to bed.”

“I don’t know if I feel well enou—”

Still holding her chin, I cover her lips with my thumb.

“So we can keep each other warm, nothing more.” I take her hand and lead her through the great room. Some of our friends watch as we start walking up the stairs. I’ll catch hell for this tomorrow, but I don’t care.

Hannah

Brett and I look from the kitchen and see Jasmine making out with Cody as she sits on his lap. Austin and Chelsea are curled up on the couch, and Matt and Morgan are upstairs. I don’t see Dylan and Taylor anywhere. Interesting. It’s great to see us becoming couples. The odds of us all staying together when we’re so young are not in our favor, but I can hope.

No matter what, I’m determined to at least keep our friendships intact. It won’t be easy, but I’ll fight for it because this group is special. We’ve become so close in a short amount of time, and I believe we’d do anything to help each other. Oh—my—gosh. Dylan has hold of Taylor’s hand and is walking past us to the stairs.

“Daaang, I did not see that happening this fast,” Brett says after they’re out of sight.

“She won’t sleep with him tonight,” I say.

“Baby, are you honestly saying they’re going to cuddle? Dylan’s not that kind of guy. Maybe they didn’t have sex earlier today, but he’s not going to let that happen twice. They’re both drunk. It’s going to happen tonight.”

“He’s different with her. Something happened in that Escalade,” Chelsea says from the great room.

“I can’t believe he’s getting her to mess around after the way they fought in the past. With their personalities, it will be ugly if this blows up,” Austin adds.

Dylan

When I come out of Taylor’s bathroom, I see she’s already in bed and on her side. I shut off the light before I undress and climb in with her. The second I roll over, I feel her body moving until we’re molded together.

I don’t think she understands what this does to a man. My dick’s already in pain, and I have a feeling it’s going to stay this way. Even though it will only make my night more difficult, I’m too curious as to what she’s wearing, so I take my hand and run it down her arm, feeling the sleeve of her t-shirt.

Moving it onto her waist, I notice how short and snug her t-shirt is, giving me the pleasure of touching a lot of bare skin. I then move my hand over her hip and feel only her silky panties, and so help me, I think I will die if I don’t get to be inside of her soon. She doesn’t even flinch, leading me to believe she’s passed out now.

Unable to resist, I pull her even tighter against me, draping my arm over her waist. That kiss was amazing but only made me fall for her more, and I still don’t know if we can get along during daylight hours without drinking. This is a messed up situation right here, but I’m going to enjoy the feel of her soft, warm skin any chance I get.

A Step in the Wrong Direction

Dylan

Like the night in the vehicle, I wake up turned on and jerk away from Taylor. After rolling onto my back, I place my hands behind my head. She stirs and rolls completely over, nuzzling her face against my side and placing her hand on my chest.

It makes me feel good to know that when I move away from her, she finds a way to be close to me, but I think the chick’s trying to kill me. Soon I’m going to have to take matters into my own hands. Literally.

Her black panties appear as her whole leg comes out of the sheet and snakes its way between mine. Every slick move she makes over my body pushes more air from my lungs, and I can’t resist running my hand through her hair as I think about her being burrowed against me.

She’s burrowed her way into my heart, too, but I can’t shake an uneasy feeling that it’s not going to be that simple to win her over. What’s happened to her to make her so scared to trust me?

“Good morning,” she says without moving.

“Good morning, Taylor. I’m sorry if I woke you. I couldn’t keep from touching your hair.” I hope she can’t feel my heart pounding under her hand.

“I’ll be right back,” she says, sliding away from me and out of bed.

I didn’t expect her to get up so abruptly, and I never expected her to walk in her t-shirt and panties to the bathroom, giving me a show of her entire backside. With her shirt barely covering her waist, I can see all the outline of her shapely figure. I wonder if she has clothes in the bathroom or if I’ll get the same show of her front.

I weigh whether I should close my eyes or look at her when she exits the bathroom. Man the fuck up, Dylan. Of course you’re going to look at her, and she’d expect it if she returns dressed the same. This woman is driving me insane!

Taylor

I try desperately to straighten myself up, removing the make-up from under my eyes and running a brush through my hair. I debate on brushing my teeth but figure it will make him think I’m looking for a make out session.

About the time I’m going out the door, it hits me that it’s not going to be the same walking toward him as it was walking away. Remembering that we’ve lain together almost naked, I suck it up and open the door.

Looking at his eager green eyes, I watch them scan my body from head to toe. I crawl back under the sheets and face him. Dylan still has his arms crossed behind his head, elongating his rippled abs.

He looks mouthwatering as I admire his toned physique that only has a sheet draped across it. An image of me straddling him and running my hands down his firm chest to his happy trail comes to mind until his voice snaps me out of my fantasy.

“Are you feeling OK this morning?”

“I can tell I was drunk, but I feel OK. I guess it’s a good thing it only takes a few drinks to get me there. I have a one drink rule when I’m not with my friends because as you witnessed, I can get carried away, so it’s been awhile since I had that many.”

“So, you feel the events from last night were you getting carried away?” he asks.

“Yes, a little. I have mixed feelings about partying since my parents struggled with substance abuse.”

“Taylor, do you feel you got carried away when we kissed?”

I look away as my heart begins working overtime. I didn’t expect to be put on the spot about our kiss, and I instantly feel vulnerable. The thought of admitting my feeling for him scares me.

“I guess you answered that,” he says with frustration as he moves to the side of the bed and begins putting on his jeans. I don’t know how long I’ve been silent because of all the thoughts racing through my mind like news scrolling across ticker tape.

Panic washes over me. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Exactly. I knew what I thought of our kiss when I woke up. I didn’t need a second to question it,” he says angrily as he puts his ball cap on backward.

I swallow hard. Having his hat on that way and not wearing a shirt makes him look even sexier. I wish I could bring myself to tell him. He shakes his head at me as I sit up in bed.

“You have no intentions of letting me in. I watched Brett do this shit to Hannah, and I’m not letting it happen to me. I don’t believe you’re even looking for what they have, but I am.”

“Dylan, let me explain,” I say desperately.

“Why bother, Taylor? You’ll just do the same shit again. I don’t know anything else to do to get you to trust me, so I’m done tryin’.” He slams the door behind him.

Feeling as if he carried all my blood out with him, I sink down in the bed and sob, feeling more alone than I ever have.

Dylan

I hear Taylor crying before I even make it to my room, and it makes my heart ache, which pisses me off more. I don’t want to care about her. I try to play my guitar, but I’m too angry to concentrate, so I go downstairs.

“Hey, dude,” Matt says.

“I sit down at the dining room table without saying a word.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asks as he sits across from me eating his breakfast.

“Someone here is a real pain in my ass.”

“Did you try to score last night, and she threw you out?” Brett asks.