Page 51 of One Last Time?
The smile on her face fell the minute I said that, and she stepped back, out of my arms.
“How?”
“He saw us yesterday. He came to look for me. It was just as you were leaving. He saw us together.”
She pressed her lips together and stared at me. “What did he say?”
I thought for a moment about whether or not I should tell her. I almost didn’t, but what would that achieve? She should know.
“He gave me an ultimatum. He threatened to fire me if I continued to see you.”
She gasped and shook her head. “What? He would really do that? Dylan, that is absurd. It’s not like we’re kids.”
“No. It’s not, but he has reason and grounds to. If he didn’t, this would be bullshit. He wouldn’t believe me when I told him I was serious about you. He wouldn’t believe me.”
She held my gaze. “You told him that?”
“Yes.”
“But… if he didn’t believe you, then the only other choice is to leave me.” Her eyes brimmed with tears.
Hearing her say that hit me hard because I didn’t want to leave her.
“Taylor—”
She held up her hand. “Don’t, please, don’t say it. I get it. I get it, and I understand. This is your career and your life. It’s not as simple as deciding to go left or right. Millions of dollars are at stake, like they always are… Money and business. Nothing else matters. Not even… me.” Her voice took on a frail edge and disappointment washed over her beautiful face.
Money and business were probably the thing that had kept me going for a long time. The chance for more money, the chance to work with Dad in the family business. As I looked at her and saw how hurt she was, those things faded in my mind. All of them.
The woman who stood before me was the most amazing being I’d ever come across. She’d been the only one to tame me and the only one to unlock my heart and make me feel things I’d never felt. She made me feel things I never thought I could feel. She’d told me that every guy she’d been with had taken advantage of her in some way. Working with her got me where I was. It secured Dad this deal he called the next level.
She’d given me an advantage, but no way in hell was I going to allow her to think I was just like the others. Or, that money and business were more important to me than her.
I stepped closer to her and cupped her face, lowering my lips straight to hers.
Just like every time I kissed her, this kiss felt different. But it wasn’t because of her. It was because of me.
I was different because I wanted her to know how serious I was about her.
Chapter 16
Taylor
* * *
My mind reveled in the velvet warmth of his kiss.
His kiss, urgent and yet exploratory, sent spirals of ecstasy through my body, searing the path to my soul.
I wanted to talk more. I wanted to ask him what we were doing about us, but I was too lost in the way he was showing me.
He was showing me what I’d hoped for all these weeks. It was all there in the way he kissed me and touched me. It was the sort of touch and kiss to say everything because sometimes, actions spoke louder than words.
Right now, they were deafening. Screaming at me from all around and deep within as every fiber in my being came alive. Alive as if I’d been given new life. Like this was the first time my eyes were opened to life and what I’d experienced before wasn’t living.
Dylan swept me up into his arms, lifting me and carrying me inside the house and up to my room. Into my bed, where layer, by layer our clothes came off.
Skin to skin we lay against the satin sheets, my body against his.
