Page 65 of Tell Me Softly
“I don’t even want to be the captain. I never did …”
“Kami,” he interrupted me, looking me in the eye. “You’re not the kind of person who becomes a leader. You were born one. That’s a gift, and some people have it and others don’t. Look, I like Kate, as much as she might have fucked up today, but she can’t hold a candle to you.”
“Don’t say that,” I said, defending her reluctantly. But then I stopped myself. Why the hell should I be defending her? She was no one, she didn’t deserve it, and she was the one who had taken a friendship that had lasted for years and put it at risk trying to take my place.
“She’ll get over whatever’s happened and come crawling back to you asking for forgiveness,” he said, very sure of himself.
“You don’t know her, and it shows.”
As Taylor shrugged, I noticed he had a black eye, and I reached up to touch the bruise.
“What happened?” I asked.
“Someone elbowed me right when I was shooting a three-pointer. I still got it, though.” He grinned briefly before turning serious, pinning me with his eyes. I couldn’t say how many things I felt as he said, suddenly serious, “You told me we were supposed to talk.”
“I know…” I said softly.
“I waited for you all last night. I wanted to see you. Just you. Then I hear you were watching a movie with Julian? Why wouldn’t you watch a movie with me? Why aren’t you giving me a chance?”
I still had my hand on his cheek. Now I lowered it onto the bed between us where we were both sitting.
“Because with you, it wouldn’t have been possible to just watch a movie.”
With that, the atmosphere in the room changed. It got hotter, and there was something magical that seemed to fill it—a magic that only Taylor was capable of. Something at once calm, peaceful, and very warm.
“What would it have been, then?” he said, leaning over softly.
But before I could answer, his mouth was already touching the hollow of my neck. He missed me first, several times, brushing me with his nose and his lips, causing a powerful reaction instantaneously. Then his tongue came out, and those kisses grew much more intense.
“You’re right,” he admitted, “we wouldn’t have made it ten minutes into that movie.”
“Taylor…” I tried to stop him, but it was like trying to stop an oncoming freight train.
“Just let me taste you a little,” he said, almost begging me. “Just a little…” I didn’t have time to say yes before he kissed me on the lips. It wasn’t like that day we were in class. We were both alone now, and no one could stop us from doing what we wanted.
But did I want it?
My body seemed to. Taylor kissed so well, touched me so skillfully.
His hand was in my shorts, under my panties, and I said, “Taylor,” forcing the air into my lungs even though he was leaving me breathless.
“That’s right,” he said, “say my name. It drives me crazy.” And he slid a finger inside me. I fell back on the bed, and he lay next to me. His finger was jutting in and out, slowly at first, then faster. He kissed my mouth, my neck, then went lower down, lifting my shirt with his free hand and nipping at my nipple.
And I realized my brain was toying with me. Because I was imagining it wasn’t Taylor kissing me, it was Thiago. Thiago putting his fingers deep inside me. Thiago nibbling my ear. Thiagowhispering all the things he wanted to do to me.
“Kami, you’re so wet,” Taylor said. And that was enough to make me stop liking it. That one word. Kami.
But before I could tell him to stop, someone knocked at the door. Taylor sat back and cursed. “What the hell do they want now?” he complained. “They should be out celebrating.”
Don’t ask me why, but I had a feeling about what was about to happen. I hurriedly arranged my clothes as Taylor opened the door. Thiago was standing there and barged in. He looked at me first, then at Taylor.
“We’re going back to Carsville,” he said, clenching his jaw.
“What? Why?” Taylor asked, still lingering by the doorframe.
“Coach says you don’t deserve a celebration. We’ve got two cheerleaders wounded and we barely eked out a win in a game we should have coasted through. Pack your bags. The bus leaves in half an hour.”
“What the hell? We’re supposed to play paintball!” Taylor shouted.
