Page 38 of Vex

Gently grasping both sides of her face, I slide my hands so I’m cupping her neck and use my thumbs on her jaw to tilt her face up to mine. I stare down at her shocked eyes for a moment before claiming her mouth. It’s a slow and sensual kiss. A claiming kiss. I ignore the dead silence that falls around us and sink myself into the connection with Taja. After a perfect moment, I slowly pull my head back and watch her eyes open. I know by the look in them that she’s here with me, uncaring also about our audience. I give her another brief, hard kiss and then place my forehead against hers, still gripping her neck.

“Hey, baby, sorry I’m late. Had to help Pooh first. What do you need me to do now that I’m here?” I question in a low voice.

Taja places a quick kiss on the underside of my jaw before pulling out of my grip. She doesn’t go far though. She leans back in, placing her head against my upper chest and wraps her arms around my torso. I pull her tight to me and just hold on for a moment. I enjoy the hell out of it too.

Pulling away again, she answers, “Just glad you’re here. Thanks for sending over the drinks, ice and coolers. That helped a lot. Want a beer?”

Before I can answer, a loud, long whistle splits the air, and I swing my head in the direction it came from. I see Tessie, sitting on top of a picnic table with Bella and several other girls around her age. She’s grinning from ear to ear and holding both thumbs up. I wink and return her smile.

“Holy crap! When did this happen, and why didn’t someone tell me?” hollers Suki from beside us. Suki’s not happy with either of us.

Looking around the yard, I enjoy the look of shock on my club family’s faces. Trigger’s got his forgotten beer bottle halfway to his mouth, and Tammy’s jaw is near the ground. Trudy’s got the biggest eyes I’ve ever seen while Petey’s grinning before giving me a chin lift. Chubs has even stopped eating for a moment to gawk. Lucy, like Petey, is simply smiling. Those two always seem to know what’s going on before anyone else does.

“We’ve caused some eyebrows to raise,” Taja informs me. “Why’s everyone looking so shocked?”

I chuckle because it’s true and I don’t care. I drop a light kiss on Taja’s mouth before answering.

“I guess they never thought they’d see me in a relationship.”

“Is that what this is?” Taja asks in a soft voice.

“I think so. You okay with that?”

“Maybe. Depends on why you suddenly want that with me,” she replies suspiciously.

I’m aware that Suki’s standing close enough to hear us, so I drop my mouth next to Taja’s ear to whisper quietly.

“Because of you. It’s all you. It’s not what you’re thinking so forget that right now. Let’s go blow what’s left of their minds, and we’ll talk later. Yeah?”

Pulling back, I get a blinding smile from Taja along with a nod.

“No, no, no, no! No whispering you two! What the hell? Didn’t we have a chat, Vex? Taj, girl, really?” Suki grumbles from beside us but neither of us pay her any attention. We get busy. Working beside Taja, we get everyone fed and the day goes off without a hitch.

“You let me preach to you this morning and never said a word, Taja. What the heck?” I overhear Tessie saying while I’m sitting on the couch enjoying a beer.

“I didn’t know what to say. I like Vex, a lot, but I wasn’t sure it was returned,” Taja responds.

“It looks returned to me,” snorts Tessie.

“Well, yeah, now it does.”

“I should have realized before when I caught you two swapping spit in the driveway. I was so excited about working at the garage that I kind of skipped over that. Oh my God! Did you do him then?”

“Tessie! Hush your face! No, I didn’t do him then. We are not having this conversation,” Taja exclaims in an exasperated voice.

“You’ve given up your V-card to God’s hottest creation yet failed to mention it to me? What’s wrong with you?” Tessie continues berating Taja.

“He kissed me at your party! Who said anything about sex?”

“That wasn’t a kiss between two people who haven’t seen each other naked. That kiss was like public sex. You can say what you want, but you’ve gotten down and dirty with that Hawaiian God.”

“Tessie, stop! I’m not giving you details for Christ sake.”

“So, tell me big sister of mine, what’s it like to have your hands all over that…”

“You both know I can hear every word, right?” I interject then grin when I hear one of them squeak. I grin even bigger when I hear a door slam.

I finish my beer, kick off my boots and stretch out on my back. Flipping on the TV, I find a ball game to watch. A few minutes later, I hear footsteps on the stairs. Tessie sits herself on the coffee table between my position and the TV. I raise my eyes to meet hers.

---