LAUREN

 

“What time do you have to leave?” I asked, popping a piece of chicken into my mouth, and looking at him with what I hoped was an innocent expression on my face.

We had picked up my car, collected some food from a drive-thru and now sat casually eating it on the couch, pretending to be interested in the late night news.

Despite my attempt at resistance, climbing into bed with Tyler was foremost on my mind. Everything about him was driving me insane with desire. The glimpse of flesh that peeked between the buttonholes of his shirt when he leaned forward to grab more food from the coffee table. His mouth. Whether it be while talking, while eating, or rubbing his lips with the back of his hand, my mind was stuck on the way his mouth felt on mine. The urgent softness of his lips. Had Peta not interrupted us earlier, I’m sure I would have spent the entire time in bed with him, but now there was a certain nervousness in my chest.

Tyler casually slung his wrist over and studied the time. “Soon,” was all he said.

“How soon?” I asked.

“Is there something you had in mind that you wanted to do?” Tyler sat back on the couch, his head resting in his hands.

Colour crept up my cheeks even as I willed it away. “I just—”

He slid across the couch. “I hope you don’t think I came here for only one reason. Well,” he said, inching closer. “I did come here for one thing but it’s not what you are thinking.”

“And what am I thinking?”

“That I wanted to get you into bed.”

“And you don’t?”

He leaned forward, tilting his head so it angled into the crook of my neck. He was close enough that I could feel the heat of his breath, but not close enough to touch. “I do,” he said with a growl. “But that’s not the reason I came.”

My heart beat in my chest heavily. His lips brushed my skin with the lightest of touches and I shuddered, wanting to melt into him, press him against me and feel his body over mine. “Why did you?”

“Because I wanted to make sure you didn’t regret it.”

“What?” I said dreamily. All I could think about was getting closer to him. I inched forward and he kissed the smooth skin of my neck, causing waves of desire to ignite.

“That you didn’t regret me.”

“You?” I asked as his lips travelled up my neck. Never had anyone’s lips affected me so much. Never had I melted so quickly, so intensely.

His kisses trailed along my jawline. “Are you expecting anyone else?”

I shook my head, words having fled my mind.

“You sure?” His hand snaked around my waist and up my back as he leaned over me, guiding me back onto the couch and climbing on top.

I nodded and a gasp stuck in my throat as he caught my lip between his teeth. Claiming my mouth hungrily, his lips were urgent and rough as he dragged them over my skin. Moving down my neck, he nestled his head between my breasts, breathing deeply before searching out the fullness of them. The friction created by the softness of his mouth and the roughness of the material over my tender skin arched my back. He took his time, taking one nipple then the other in his mouth. The sounds he made tore at my emotions, tossing me between slow-burning desire and urgency. Moving further down my body, he lifted the hem of my t-shirt and stuck his head under it, kissing his way up my stomach until he settled back on my breasts, a sigh of contentment escaping before he took as much of the fullness into his mouth as he could. I sat up a little, fumbling with the material of his shirt until Tyler popped his head back up.

“Let me,” he said, undoing each of his buttons hurriedly and tossing his shirt to the floor. “I might get a few dodgy looks if I send two shirts to the tailor in that state.” He leaned over and hooked his fingers at the hem of my shirt, pulling it over my head and groaning when my breasts were free beneath him.

“I need to see you. All of you,” he said, toying with the waistband of my pants. He dragged them down my legs, taking my underwear with them as I twisted to free myself, then he nestled himself between my knees, his eyes dark and hungry as he took in my nakedness. “You are divine,” he said reverently.

There was a voice in my head that wanted to protest, but the look in his eyes stopped me. There was hunger and desire, tenderness and need. I didn’t need to hide from him. He saw all of me and he didn’t look away. Lifting myself to a sitting position, I ran my fingers along his shoulders and down his chest, resting them on the broad expanse of his pecs and pushing him back onto his knees. Tyler closed his eyes, taking in deep breaths as I marvelled at the way he was cut. The dark spattering of hair that dipped under his belt caught my attention and I pressed my lips to it. A sharp breath inflated his chest. I fumbled with his belt buckle, ripping it through the loops of his pants when I finally got it undone and tossing it to the floor to join his shirt. Tyler watched with heat in his eyes as I pushed his pants over his hips, moving side to side to assist me. And then he was free.

Shuffling back along the couch, I angled myself so his erection, hard and ready, was close to my mouth. Tyler pushed my hair to the side so he could see as my mouth hovered dangerously close to his hardness. I didn’t touch him, just held myself at a distance so he could feel the heat of my breath. He twitched beneath me and wrapped his hand through my hair, gathering it where it was messily piled on the top of my head, and holding it firmly. I held my mouth open, staring up at him and willing him to direct me. He did not disappoint. His fingers tightened on my hair, the pressure of it making my scalp sting as he guided my mouth. As I wrapped my lips around him, the hardness of him caused burning between my legs. Even though I had only felt him inside me once, my thighs clenched in anticipation of what was to come. Tyler’s grip on my hair loosened as I worked my mouth up and down his shaft. No other parts of me were touching him, only my mouth. I moved slowly, my lips and my tongue moving up and down as he groaned. The sounds of his pleasure only increased my desire to please him and I took more of him into my mouth, gagging slightly when he hit the back of my throat. Tyler twisted his fingers in my hair and pushed my head down a fraction further. I gagged again, surprised by the wetness that oozed between my legs as he encouraged me to take more. He moved me up and down, working himself into my mouth more and more until I reeled back, gasping for air. He pulled me up then, pressing his mouth to mine, no doubt tasting the lingering scent of him.

His mouth found its way down to my jawline, following the line of it until his lips pressed against my ear. “I want to taste you,” he said, his voice urgent and deep. “Can we take this to the bedroom?”

Removing myself from the couch, I stood naked in front of him and took his hand. We walked across the lounge and had just about reached the hallway when there was a knock at the door.

Tyler slumped, his head falling to my shoulder. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding,” he moaned. “How many visitors do you get?”

I laughed and pressed him against the wall, reaching down to take him in hand, and stroked him carefully. “It’s probably just Peta looking for an update. Just ignore it and she’ll go away.”

He devoured me hungrily, sinking down so his lips trailed between my breasts and over the soft flesh of my stomach. Stopping when he was between my thighs, he inhaled deeply.

Peta knocked again. Angrily.

Tyler dragged himself back up and placed a gentle kiss on my nose. “Maybe you should get it before she tears the door down.”

“Lauren?” a hesitant voice called through the door.

Tyler looked at me, one eyebrow lifted in a question. “Who’s that?” he mouthed.

“Lauren, it’s Drew.”

“Shit,” I said under my breath.

“I know you’re in there. Your car is up the driveway. Can we talk?”

“Just a minute,” I called out, sliding away from Tyler who banged his head repeatedly against the wall.

“Who the fuck is Drew?” he asked.

“Gabe’s flatmate,” I replied, running into my bedroom and grabbing my dressing gown. Tyler followed and I pushed him onto the bed, tossing a towel at him. “You stay here.” I pressed a kiss to his lips and avoided his hands as he groped. “Behave,” I whispered.

Tyler merely saluted and fell back onto the covers, the towel still in his hands and his erection protruding into the air.

“Hi!” I smiled brightly as I opened the door.

Gabe pushed past me. “Where is he?” he yelled, dishevelled and wild.

“Sorry.” Drew stood in the driveway, looking up at me sheepishly. “He saw his car outside. I couldn’t stop him.”

“Tyler!” Gabe’s voice boomed through the house. “Where the fuck are you?”

I ran to follow Gabe down the hall, grabbing his arm just before he reached the bedroom. “Gabe, don’t,” I pleaded. His eyes rested on me for the first time. They travelled over my body, taking in the loose-fitting gown and the flash of my breasts between the silky material. I jerked it tighter with one hand as Gabe half groaned, half cried.

“Fuck,” he said. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

“Gabe, please,” I said, trying to pull him away from the bedroom door. “You’re drunk. Now’s not the time.”

“Thanks to you, I’m always fucking drunk!” he roared. He lifted his fist and banged on the door. “Tyler!”

Just as he was about to bang again the door flew open and Tyler stood before him, only the towel wrapped around his waist hiding his nakedness.

“I would suggest you leave, little brother,” Tyler said darkly.

Gabe didn’t reply with words. Quicker than his drunken state implied, he lifted his fist and punched Tyler in the jaw. Tyler’s head flung back before he regained control, rocking his jaw between his finger and thumb before gritting his teeth.

“I will give you that one, little brother. But don’t think that—”

Gabe’s fist wound back for another punch but this time Tyler stopped him. “You should know better than to attack me when you’re drunk, Gable. It’s an unfair fight. One I believe we’ve had before. Many times.”

Gabe threw his weight at Tyler, knocking him to the ground. “Don’t you fucking even talk to me you useless fucking—” The rest of his words were lost in a mumble of fists and grunts, curse words and sweat.

Drew ran down the hallway and we both watched on in horror as the two brothers rolled around the floor, Tyler dodging Gabe’s flailing fists until he finally had him pinned down.

Gabe bucked underneath Tyler’s knee. “Get the fuck off me!” He strained against Tyler who held him until finally, the fight left Gabe.

“You going to behave?” Tyler asked, adjusting the towel around his waist.

Gabe nodded and then jumped to his feet somewhat shakily when Tyler released him. His eyes darted between Tyler and me.

“How could you?” he said, tears welling in his eyes. “How could you do this to me, Lauren? You know how I feel about you. You know how I feel about him.” He jerked his chin in Tyler’s direction. “You’re nothing but a fucking—”

Tyler moved towards him. “I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you,” he growled.

“I shouldn’t?” Gabe scoffed. “We’ve barely broken up and she’s already jumped into bed with you. How many times does this make? How many times did you fuck her behind my—”

“Enough!” Tyler roared. He advanced on Gabe, the height difference suddenly becoming very clear. “You will not speak to her like that. And for you to do so is highly hypocritical. How many girls have you found solace in since you two broke up? And never once did she ‘fuck me’ as you so eloquently put it, behind your back.”

Drew placed a hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “Come on, let’s just go.”

Gabe shoved off his touch, glaring at Tyler. “This isn’t over,” he hissed.

“As long as you keep it between you and me and leave Lauren out of it, I’m fine with that,” Tyler replied.

Gabe held Tyler’s glare a little longer, the threads of his neck bulging, before turning to me, the anger slumping out of his muscles. “Lauren,” he said, his voice broken. “Please?”

I swallowed the thick ball of guilt in the back of my throat and lifted my hand to his cheek. Tyler tensed. “I’m so sorry,” I started to say, but Gabe turned and strode away, not wanting to hear the words I couldn’t find.

“Sorry,” Drew offered. “I didn’t know what to do. He’s been so dark since you two broke up. I thought that maybe—”

“It’s okay,” I said to Drew, following him down the hall. “None of this is your fault. It’s all mine.”

Gabe was already in the car when we reached the door. Tyler stuck his hand out to Drew. “Thanks for looking after him,” he said. “For what it’s worth, I never set out to hurt him.”

Drew looked over at Tyler but didn’t smile, or take his hand. “I think you would have chosen someone different if you really meant that.”

I closed the door behind him and fell heavily against it, pulling my gown tight and covering my face with my hands.

“You okay?” Tyler asked, his voice low.

I nodded. But I wasn’t. I was exhausted and confused. I was wracked with guilt but at the same time, I knew I didn’t want to give him up. I wanted Tyler. There was a part of me that somehow knew we were meant to be together.

“I should probably leave,” he said after silence filled the room.

I nodded again and drew in a shaky breath. “I’m sorry that happened.”

Tyler let the corners of his mouth turn up a little. “Believe me, not as sorry as I am.” He pressed his forehead to mine. “When can I see you again?” He pressed a kiss to my nose.

“I’m coming up next week to take the next lot of photos.”

“Can you stay?” he asked.

“I’m not sure.”

“Ask Peta for time off. Come stay with me. A month. A week. A day. I’ll take whatever I can get.”

I nodded against his forehead and then crumpled into his chest, breathing in the scent of musk and mint that clung to his skin.

“I’m sorry,” I said again.

“You have nothing to be sorry for. You need to stop saying that.”

But if I had nothing to be sorry for, why did I feel so bad?