Page 50 of Piece Of Me

She moved until she was half on his chest and looked at him. “I guess I am.”

He played with her hair and shrugged. “I’ve never met anyone I cared to bring back.”

She seemed to be considering something. “Just ask,” he said. “I won’t lie to you.”

“Why me?”

This was new territory and Taz needed to get it right. “You’re special. In a way I can’t articulate. It could just be chemistry, but I’ve had chemistry with women before. This is different.” He caressed her cheek. “I don’t know what that means yet. I hope that’s okay.”

She nodded, eyes big and shiny. “That’s the most honest thing a man has ever said to me. Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” he replied, tucking her into his arms once more. “I’m just sorry you’ve had shit men in your life.”

“Malcom was…he…I just…” She tumbled over her words and stopped, burrowing into his chest.

Anger flared, coming from a place deep inside him that if lit, would spread into something ugly. The thought of this faceless son of a bitch hurting the woman he held was enough to poke the bear. He had to take a moment and get his shit together.

“We can talk about him if you need to.”

“Who are you?” she asked lightly, her heart-shaped face open and vulnerable.

Taz all but growled, this possessive thing inside him now awake. “I’m the man who’s going to make you scream his name one more time before I fall asleep.” He pulled her close so that he could kiss her senseless and murmured against her mouth. “That’s if you think you can handle one more go?”

Scarlett bit his bottom lip and pushed him back. “I’ve got three words for you, mister.” She straddled him, her breasts heavy and full. God, she was fucking beautiful. She bent low and whispered, “Ride ’em cowboy.”

CHAPTER 16

Somewhere a bird chirped, its song bright, excited, and unrelenting. A part of Scarlett was annoyed, but the other part knew exactly how the bird felt. However, wasn’t it too early to be this happy?

Slowly, Scarlett opened her eyes. She blinked away the last bits of sleep and took stock of her current situation. She was on her side facing a window in a bedroom that wasn’t hers. A warm body was at her back, and every single muscle she owned was sore. A soft smile touched her face, and she bit her lips, remembering the night before. God it was the most delicious kind of sore.

Heat touched her cheeks, and she closed her eyes again. The things Taz had done to her. The things she’d done to him. When he’d bent her over the third time and he used his fingers there, while his tongue was there…

She blushed and rolled onto her back, then glanced over to the man responsible for more orgasms than she could count. No, that was a lie, she’d had at least ten. Maybe more.

Taz was asleep, on his stomach, one arm flung over his head, the other curled against his chest. His hair was a mess, from her hands no doubt, and she bent close to smooth a lock from his eyes, studying him. With his features relaxed she saw the young man he’d been, and she bent closer still, noticing a small scar near his hairline. She touched it. Kissed it. But he was deep under.

“I wore you out,” she murmured, delighted, but suddenly restless. Carefully she slipped from the bed and tiptoed into the adjoining bathroom, where she stilled at her reflection in the mirror. Had she ever looked like that? So…so damn satisfied?

Scarlett padded over to the sink and peered closer. Her mouth was swollen from kisses, her color was high, and her eyes glistened. She angled her head to the side and spied something at the base of her neck, then moved closer still for a better look.

Was that a hickey? She giggled and found another love bite near her ear. Geez, she hadn’t had one of those since high school. What would her brothers think?

Did she care what anyone thought? The answer to that was a big fat no.

She rummaged in the drawer and found a spare toothbrush, still in the package, and used it to brush her teeth. Then grabbed a washcloth from the linen cupboard and did a quick clean up. After that she returned to the bedroom and found her panties on the floor, along with her dress, which was rumpled but would have to do. Her sandals were near the door. She grabbed them and, with one last look at Taz, left his bedroom.

She paused on the landing, then curious, walked to the girls’ room which was across the hall from Taz’s. She leaned against the doorframe, eyes wandering the room. There were twin beds, separated by a large window, one made up with pink bedding, the other with purple. A host of stuffed animals crowded the beds along with a pillow on each with their name embroidered. She walked inside the room with a smile. Cameron liked unicorns as much as she liked Barbie.

They each had their own dresser but shared a bathroom. A walk-in closet was divided with one girl on the left who preferred purple, Ryan she thought. And the other side mostly pink and green. A small table underneath the window was home to several framed photos and Scarlett wandered over for a look. There was a photo of Taylor and Matt before the accident, a beautiful shot of the two of them just after the twins were born, as well as a couple pictures of Martha and her granddaughters. But it was the photo of Taz holding the girls at about six months or so that caught her attention. She picked it up and ran her finger over his face. Even then there was the kind of love only a parent could have.

He really was the whole package.

Scarlett put the photo back and headed downstairs to the kitchen. She was ravenous but needed caffeine more. There was no Keurig, no pods in this house. She found coffee grounds and a filter and once she had a pot brewing, searched for her phone which was in her bag somewhere in the foyer. She found it and walked back to the kitchen as she found Benton’s name and waited for him to answer.

“You’re up early,” he said. “Thought I wouldn’t hear from you at least until noon. You have a good time last night?”

She blushed, because she’d had the best time, but that wasn’t something she wanted to discuss with her big brother. “I’m just letting you know I’ll be home soon.” She glanced at the clock. It was just past seven. “Give me an hour or so.”

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