Page 45 of Dismantle & Prevail
Taylor Sloane Morgan. The only person I will ever let speak to me in the manner she does. Her defiance, stubbornness, and caring persona drives me mad, while at the same time is the fuel that dismantles every wall in a heart that I never thought I would allow anyone to enter after Raynie disappeared.
The problem is she doesn’t even know because I have been too scared to lose her by showing what lies beyond the mask I have firmly in place.
Ever since I got back, the straps on the mask have been slipping. Every look. Every night I spend in her bed. Every subtle touch. Everything about Taylor since I came back to the compound has slowly but surely loosened the strings, and now it's hanging on by a thread.
And judging by the tension that is not filled with anger lingering in the air and the look of mild uneasiness on Taylor’s face, I know she can sense a change.
My hand raises to cup her cheek, but she spins around and begins to walk away. “See you later, Ace. Come find me if you need me.”
My control snaps. I reach her in a few steps and grasp her arm, spinning her around to face me.
Her long black hair sweeps across my face and the second our eyes meet, I abandon every sense of control and press my lips against hers.
My hands thread into her hair and Taylor freezes. I don’t pull back and I’m happy I don’t because seconds later, her lips are moving against mine.
Taylor rises on her toes, wrapping her arms around my neck, her body sinking against my chest as her lips move in sync with mine.
Fucking hell. She’s perfect.
Everything in my mind fades into the distance, my entire body being completely and utterly consumed by the girl I wished for years would notice me.
Now she is standing here wrapped in my arms, her lips on mine, and I feel as if the damn sun has shined for the first time in months. Hell, more like years.
Not wanting to scare her, I begrudgingly part from her, but keep my hold on her.
Taylor’s eyes are closed, her chest rising and falling at a rapid pace.
I wait in silence, allowing her to gather her bearings, but the second her eyes flutter open and meet mine, I search for any sign of regret.
I wait for her arms to drop from my neck and for her to run away, but she doesn’t.
I know her mind is running a mile a minute, but she doesn’t show it.
Her cheeks flush as she says, “What was that for?”
A chuckle escapes me. My hands move from her hair to her waist, pressing her body further into mine. “You said to come find you if I needed you. And I did. I’ve needed you like I need oxygen for years. I’ve just been too scared to tell you, but if the last few months have proven anything, it's that life is too short to be scared. I want to live, Hellhound. And I want to live with you by my side.”
Silence falls between us as I watch every emotion fall across her face. The wheels turn in her head so loud that I feel as if I can hear them.
Everything in me wants to bring her in close and tell her everything that has been on my mind for years, but I don’t. This may not be new to me, but it is very new to her and if I want a chance with this woman, who is the true definition of a warrior, I need to ease her into it.
“I–umm–”
I can’t help but smile at Taylor’s stuttering. The woman who has a comeback or response to everything, with the snap of a finger, is left standing speechless in my arms.
Squeezing her hip, I grab her attention, which has averted to anywhere but me. “Hey. You don’t have to say anything. I know it's new. But I need you to listen to what I’m about to say. Alright?”
Taylor nods and I brush my thumb over her exposed skin at her hip.
Goosebumps pebble her skin along the path my thumb takes, but her gaze stays locked on mine.
My voice is soft and low as I say, “Just because I feel this way doesn’t mean you have to. I will never force you into something that you don’t want to be part of. You are in control here, Hellhound. We go at your pace. I won’t apologize for kissing you because that was the best kiss of my goddamn life. But I will apologize for catching you off guard. Now I can’t promise I won’t go to the ends of the earth to convince you to be mine, but I will promise that if you say no. It means no and we will go back to being friends. You will always have a home here. There is no Braveheart without Taylor Morgan, whether you are by my side as mine, or by my side as one of the leaders of the team. Okay?”
Taylor stares up at me in complete shock and disbelief.
Once again, I want to say more, but I don’t. I just stand there with her in my arms as she processes everything.
After what feels like seconds, because no time with Taylor in my arms will ever be enough, she steps back, untangling her arms from around my neck, and shoves her hands into her back pockets of her jeans.
