Page 5 of Only for You: Tap and Taryn
Chapter 4: Rekindled Flames
Days blurred into a haze of stolen moments. Tap found himself at Taryn’s door every night after his shift, the pull of loving her too strong to resist. She’d greet him with that smile, the one that promised ecstasy, and they’d lose themselves in each other. It didn’t matter where they were when they came together, whether it was the kitchen counter, the shower, or her bed. Being with her again was addictive and he savored the way her body fit his, and the moans he pulled from her like music he’d forgotten.
It felt like they were building a real thing. So many meals together, whether day-ending or day-beginning, they’d talk, and laugh. Tap didn’t think he’d ever laughed so much in his life. Everything felt a little lighter, a little brighter.
They kept themselves somewhat reserved from the town proper. The fire between them burned too hot, and honestly Tap wanted to keep her all to himself.
But small town eyes noticed. Of course they did. Becky cornered him at the firehouse. “Tap, you and Taryn? You sure you’re up for all of that? After what she did? To you?”
“Mind your own,” he snapped back, but her words stung. And that sting made him question: Was he being a fool?
That night Taryn opened up for the first time about her marriage and the dissolution of the unhappy union.
“My ex was controlling.” She gulped a drink of her wine, something she’d asked for as fortification. “In all the ways you can think of. It didn’t matter where I told him I was going, he’d give me a time to be back by, and then he’d accuse me of cheating. I found out years later that he was projecting thatparticular trait. He’d decided we wouldn’t have any kids, that we’d move to Tanglewood, that we’d buy a particular car.” She blew out a slow breath. “I found out that he’d not only cheated on me, but had cheated on a family with me. I was the wife, but she was the love. Beautiful woman, two gorgeous children, house in the country, two dogs—basically everything I’d wanted he’d given to her.”
Tap crowded closer to her on the couch, taking the wineglass after she’d drained it. Her hands shook as she reached to cover her face, bursting into tears.
“Oh, honey.” He wrapped her up in a hug, maneuvering her into his lap. “Cry all you want.” She buried her face against his neck and let out a series of terrible sobs. “Honey, you didn’t deserve any of that. He’s a first class asshole, a cheat, a liar, and probably a terrible lay.” Taryn chuckled at the last statement.
“He really was. Then he’d get mad if he saw me touching myself. Ask me why I was so oversexed, who I’d been with that got me so wound up. I couldn’t just tell him it was because I faked it with him nearly every time.”
“Why not?” Tap gave her a squeeze. “Honesty is always the best policy.”
“By that point I just wanted out of the marriage. Then I found out about his family, and leaving him in the dust became the most important thing in the world. I didn’t want to be associated with him at all. Took my maiden name back and everything.” She sighed. “And then I came home. I wanted to be in a familiar place, filled with familiar and good people. I wanted to heal.”
“And have you?” He whispered the question against her temple. “Are you healed?”
“Yes, and no. It’s hard to explain.” She shivered. “In the light of day, I’d say I’m a hundred percent on the positive side. I never loved him, and flat hated him by the end. So by daylight I’m good. But at night?” She shivered again, turning more fully into his chest. “At night I’m afraid he’ll come back.” She paused, seeming to consider her words. “He wasn’t always the nicest person.”
“He hurt you? Taryn, did he hurt you?”
She nodded, eyes closed as her sobs broke through again.
“Never again.” Tap held her tighter, possessive growl in his throat. “You’re mine now. No one hurts you. Not ever again. I promise.”
He shifted them so he was lying back against the arm of the couch, nestling Taryn across his chest.Someone’s gotta be the first one. I dunno if this is the right time, but can it ever be a bad time to tell her how much she means to me?
“Taryn Stone, I want you to hear me right now. This is something that will never change, has never changed. I love you, woman. Always have, always will. Count on me to protect you. Count on me to follow your lead, because your voice has value. Your love is precious. You are precious.”
She lifted her head and offered her lips, one he took her up on immediately. One kiss led to another, to another, and soon he was hovering over her, both of them naked.
“Watch me, baby. Watch me love you. Gonna show you how good you make me feel. Watch us.” Tap angled his hips, and slid home. She was wet and tight, and moaned softly as Tap bottomed out inside her. “Feel that? That’s us, baby. All us. Forever and always. Love you.”
Their lovemaking grew intense, bordering on primal. He reached out and pinned her wrists, thrusting deep, whispering, “Say it. Only for me.”
“Only for you,” she cried, shattering around him.
He filled the condom with hot cum, her walls holding him tightly as she rode the waves of her orgasm. “My God, Taryn, how you honor me. Sharing yourself with me.” He draped himself over her, wishing he could simply stay that way, but he withdrew gently. She gasped lightly, and laughed.
“Nearly made me come again.”
“Wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.” This time it was his turn to chuckle. “I hope you heard me, baby. I hope you understand.”
She turned her face against his neck again and nodded.
***
One night the door was ajar when he arrived at Taryn’s home and he pushed in quietly, walking quickly through the house. He found her in the sun room at the back of the house, sitting on the edge of a couch, phone to her ear.
