Page 48 of Only Everything
“Get off me. Was it all lies? Or maybe this is just a game to you. You love bomb me until I’m so confused, and then you just pull back like nothing you said matters.”
“That’s not me, Taur, that’s you.”
“At least I’ve been honest about it. I can’t say that for you. Who’s this woman, Reid? An old girlfriend?”
“I never dated her or anyone.”
She thrashed against me, and I adjusted above her, adding more pressure to my hold.
“Did you fuck her?”
“No.” I kept my tone light, intentionally.
“I don’t believe you. You said she wished this was a date. She wanted you. She probablystillwants you.”
“I’m sure she does.”
Something just short of a growl left her. “Get off me, dammit. I have to go.”
“Go? Like this? All angry and throwing a fit?”
“I’m angry because you lied.”
“Whoa.Watch it.” My tone came out so deep it had Tauren looking like a deer in the headlights. “I didn’t lie about how I feel for you. It’s you who can’t make up yourmind about us. You can’t even say you won’t be with anyone but me. Yet, you expect me to do the same?”
“Because I needed time. I…I thought—” More she struggled, thrusting out her chest as I breathed heavily through the fight. Tears were so full in her eyes, they were on the edge of spilling free. “I hate you!”
“You love me. You’re angry.”
She jerked, fighting harder to break free. “Damn right I’m angry. Is she pretty?”
“I’m sure you’d think so.”
“You don’t?”
My head lowered as I let my lips hover and brush over hers. Tauren made a deep sound. She jerked her head but not far enough to where I couldn’t reach her lips. As I lowered, her head turned. With our struggle, the unbuttoned sleeve on my flannel gave view to my carved-up forearm. It had her gasping and spinning to face me.
Tauren
Tauren
Tauren
I squeezed my hold so hard she cried out.
“I’ve only ever had eyes for you. You know this. All I fucking want is you. But I want all of you. I want us together. To hell what anyone else thinks.”
Tears spilled free, and Tauren turned away from me as she sobbed. I closed my lids, calming, and tugging against her ear lobe, nuzzling against her face. A softsigh left her, and her body softened. I immediately pulled back, and it had her words rushing out.
“I want…I’m trying so hard. Reid, I really am. I?—"
“I know you’re trying. You know where I am when you’re ready. Be safe out there. Like I said, if I’m not home by eleven tonight, lock the door and the deadbolt. I have the key.”
“Asshole. Do us both a favor and don’t come home at all.” The softness left her as Tauren pushed from the sofa, angry all over again. She snatched her purse from the floor where it had fallen and didn’t look back as she barged through the front door, slamming it shut behind her. My lips twisted, and I hated lying and seeing her upset. I reached in my pocket to pull out my phone. When her car started and gravel crunched from her tires, I pulled up the app from the tracker.
“Sorry, baby, but something’s not right. I don’t think you’re seeing the entire picture, and I can’t have that. We’re right there. You want me.You want this.You just need to be reminded of it. All I need is for you to say you won’t see other people. I need you to commit to something. Just… fuck. Choose me, dammit.Me.”
My whispers carried through the empty cabin as I headed for the counter to snatch my keys. Tauren’s car made it to the end of the long dirt drive, stopping at the main road. For a good minute, she sat there. Where I expected her to turn left, my head tilted as she turned right. She wasn’t going to Asheville like I expected. She was headed the few miles to our hometown. Back to Black Mountain. Backhome.
