Page 28 of Trusting Laurence
“For the love of all that is holy, Lia. Now is not the time to go all Ms. Independent on me. This is serious. These guys are dangerous and have no conscience.”
One look at the thunderous expression on Tahlia’s face and Larry knew he’d made a big mistake. Shit! Definitely not the way to win her around to his way of thinking.
“Lia ...”
“Don’t.” Tahlia held up a finger. “You’ll be wasting your breath.”
Larry shot to his feet, going over to the window. He stared out the glass, not saying anything while his mind worried at the problem. How the hell was he going to convince Tahlia to go into witness protection? He got so lost in his thoughts he startled at the soft touch on his arm.
He turned his head to look at Tahlia as she stood beside him. She held herself with a quiet confidence that had been missing before. He opened his mouth, intending to argue his cause, but words failed him. Closing it again, he blew out a frustrated breath.
“I’m sorry, Laurence. I can see my decision is hard for you to accept. I’m not doing it to be difficult. But I cannot back down on this. I’ve fought long and hard to get myself, my life, back. If I go into witness protection, it’s like I’m losing that all over again.”
Larry put a hand on either side of her neck, squeezing gently. “I get it, sweetheart. I do.” He dropped his forehead to hers. “But this situation has me worried. Please consider it at least.”
“No. I can’t run out on Maddie again. I won’t. Therehasto be another way.”
He gritted his teeth. Not sure whether he wanted to shake some sense into her or kiss it into her, he stepped back. What he hadn’t anticipated was that she might feel the same. When Tahlia leaned into him and placed her lips on his, he was so taken aback a feather would have knocked him over. It didn’t take him long to recover.
In the back of his mind, he realized it was probably areallybad idea. He just he couldn’t help himself.
Larry leaned into the kiss. Took control. Hauling her soft body up against his harder frame, he nibbled along her bottom lip before running his tongue over the seam of her lips. A silent request for entry.
She opened for him. Welcoming him as her tongue dueled with his.
10
Tahlia went up on tiptoe to push closer to Laurence. She felt herself fall deeper into the kiss. This time, she wasn’t taking a back seat and letting it happen. She leaned into her newfound confidence and gave as good as she got.
She was done being the cowering victim. With the help of her therapist, she’d worked long and hard to build herself up. To learn to defend herself so as never to repeat the abuse she’d suffered at Marcus’s hands. The more she’d learned to do so, the greater her self-confidence had grown. Now she felt ready for this.
Laurence cupped her head in his hands, angling it to his liking, and deepened the kiss. Tahlia felt it all the way to the tips of the toes she was standing on. She’d known that if she was ever lucky enough to find herself in a situation like this, it would be phenomenal. She just hadn’t believed she ever would.
As she’d stood before God and congregation and made her vows, she’d truly believed it would be forever. Now that she found herself in Laurence’s arms though, she intended to soak up every last moment. Store it deep in her heart to treasure and remember when he was gone again.
Her heart racing, her breathing erratic, excitement flowed like molten lava through her. She burned for him. When Laurence broke the kiss and drew back, she moaned in disappointment.
The look he gave her was intense, silently asking her questions her soul knew the answer to.
“Lia. Sweetheart.”
Before he could say more, Tahlia placed a finger over his lips. “Please, Laurence. If you’re going to say what I think you’re going to, please don’t. For once, just go with it.”
Not giving him an opportunity to say more, she kissed him again. This time, she was the one to deepen the kiss. Poured all the feelings she’d been bottling up for years, that she’d never expressed, into the kiss.
She heard and felt the low rumble that issued from his chest. Felt his hands on her hips, the grip tight. No doubt she’d have bruises in the morning. But each one would be worth it if she could be with him this one time. There was no telling if she’d ever get another chance.
Once again, Laurence broke the kiss. “If we’re doing this, I sure as hell am not doing it out here. You deserve more than that,” he murmured, voice husky.
He reached out his hand to her. Knowing what was coming next, Tahlia’s knees went weak, but she placed her hand in his, her trust. Trust had become a commodity to be earned, but this was Laurence – her Laurence. And she’d waited for this moment for years.
Tahlia squeaked when, without warning, he bent and lifted her into his arms. He strode the short distance to her bedroom. He lowered her feet to the floor when he reached the bed before leaning in to kiss her until they were both breathless.
Desire rocketed through Tahlia’s body, and she grew damp in anticipation of what was to come.
Laurence reached for the buttons on her blouse. One by one, he slowly undid each fastening as if he were unwrapping a gift.
That delicious sense of anticipation grew as he reached the point where her shirt was tucked into the waistband on her skirt. Finally. She feared she would combust if he didn’t get her clothes off soon. She craved the feel of his hands on her naked skin.
