When Stephen put his hand up, stopping me from going around him and pummeling Jake to the ground, I almost lost it. I don’t know what he said to her, but by her voice and what she said, I knew it was bad.
My hands fisted at my sides and I knew I was seeing a red haze filter through my eyes. I’ve never been as angry as I was in that moment. Not even with her mother and that fucking shithead did I get this mad.
One of my best friends. That was my fucking girl he was cutting. And hell if I didn’t want to rip into him like a raging bull.
“Gage?” I heard my mother’s voice from the kitchen, where our parents, Lily, and Christina were setting everything up. By her voice I knew everyone became quiet, waiting for some kind of explosion.
Stephen diffused the situation quickly. Although I was going to have a word with Jake regardless. I heard how her voice wavered and quaked at saying she knew she wasn’t good enough but wanted me anyway. That she wasn’t going to give me up. All the perfect, sweet things she said at the end. But that also meant Jake called her poisonous, venomous and diseased. That wasn’t going to be tolerated.
I wasn’t going to start a fight on Thanksgiving though. This was a day to be thankful and I was so very thankful God finally allowed me to have her as my gift. Stephen knew me so damn well. Sometimes it was annoying, but I knew he didn’t want to ruin this holiday any more than I did. Jake messed it up enough.
Even through dinner and desert, there was a tension there that hadn’t been there before and it stayed thick and heavy.
When it was over, the women kicked the men out and since it was just Stephen, Jake, and Jake’s dad, Thomas, who was our boss and fire chief, we went out back. Normally we did the cleaning, but I think Thomas had something to do with us not doing it this time, because he took us outside and far enough away that no one could over hear us.
“Boys, you’ve been friends for a very long time. Family, whether its blood or not. I’ve never witnessed high tension between the three of you or seen y’all ever fight each other.” Shows what he knows. Stephen and I have had a few when he was going through his own hell several years earlier. But they didn’t need to know that. I caught Stephen’s eye and he rolled them. Knowing what I was thinking about. He wasn’t that high strung anymore. Thank God. “The fact that’s it over a woman? Well, son, what do you have to say for yourself?”
Was that a slur against Taylor? It better not be. Or the man I came to respect and thought of as a father figure would make me have to do something I might regret doing.
“Nothing, dad.”
“Boy, you don’t judge a person by their past mistakes, or their pasts period. Your momma was a stripper before I married her.”
All three of us were taken aback at that surprising news.
“Hell, don’t look so shocked, boys.”
“Mom was what?”
“A bonafide, go-all-out stripper. One of the best I had ever seen and when I laid my eyes on her…that was it. It wasn’t long after that that she got pregnant with you. She was the only woman I saw myself with. Whatever Gage’s girlfriend’s done in the past, who gives a shit? All you need to know, Jake, is that he loves her. What I’ve seen of the girl, she’s quiet, keeps to herself, and keeps herself at a distance so we don’t judge her. That she’s safe without giving too much of herself away that there was trouble in her past. That’s not how family works. Gage is a grown man, Jake. And I already saw the look on your face, Gage and I know you’re pissed and it’s well deserved. But speaking as your boss, I need y’all to be over this. Jake. If you want to keep your friendship, then I suggest you accept Taylor and be the brother she’s never had. Stephen sure as hell doesn’t have a problem. Alright, that’s settled. I don’t want to hear any more of this. We start a 48 tomorrow morning so this shit better be settled.”
“Sir.” Jake said and then we followed suit. His dad nodded and walked away. Jake looked over to me, and said, “I’m sorry, Gage.”
“I’m not the one you should apologize to. If Taylor accepts your apology, then we’re good.”
He nodded and walked towards the house.
“You were going to say something, weren’t you?” Stephen looked, glaring his dark blue eyes at me.
“No. Our secrets are ours, Stephen. You’re my best friend and a brother to me.” I put out my fist and we bumped knuckles.
“That’s right. Now let’s go home and show our women how thankful we are.”
We walked towards the kitchen where Taylor was looking out from the screen door. I winked and she rolled her eyes. Damn. I would never get tired of that sassy side of her.
“Heard that did you?”
She nodded and a sexy tilt of her lips told me she didn’t mind.
Stephen said, “Yup. By the googly eyes you’re giving her, I’m sure we’ll both be extremely thankful by the time work comes around. So do try and get some sleep after all those thanks.”
“Asshole.”
“Fuckwad.”
“Loser.”
“Moron.”
I shoved his shoulder, making him almost stumble and I took off towards the screen door, opening it to Taylor’s waiting arms.
“You’re lucky you got her in your arms, buddy, or I’d lay your ass low.”
I laughed and walked with Taylor towards the living room, where mom was saying her byes to Thomas and Teresa. Jake and Lily were arguing quietly outside and when they saw us, they quieted. Lily shook her head and bound over to me. Her arms flew around me, squeezing me tightly.
“Thanks, Gage. I’ve never had quite a dinner like this. It was perfect.” She backed away and looked at Taylor. “Your sausage dish was amazing. I’ve never had that before and I think I ate way too much!”
Lily wore her heart on her sleeve so I knew she accepted Taylor for who she was and it didn’t matter to her. Taylor made me happy and that made Lily happy. Even though she didn’t know her all that well. I didn’t know her well at all but she was a beautiful young woman who only wanted to see the best in people even when some people just kept on trying to bring her down.
“Stephen, Christina, so good to see you!”
We said our goodbyes, and they left, leaving me, Taylor and my mom talking by the truck.
“Gage?”
“Yes, mom?”
“The wonderfulness of you.”
“Huh?”
She winked and hugged Taylor tight before walking to the front door. She turned and waved saying, “God bless the both of you. I’ll see y’all Sunday, hear?”
Automatically, both Taylor and I said, “Yes, ma’am.”
We looked at each other and laughed.
I opened the passenger door to lift Taylor’s sweet delectable body inside. I leaned in to kiss her throbbing pulse at the heart of her neck.
“Your heart is racing so wildly, Tay.”
“Isn’t yours?”
“Why don’t you bend down and find out yourself?”
I crooned my neck to the side, and her sparkling green eyes lit up. That hot gaze kept steady on mine before closing softly, placing her soft, full lips on my neck. Her kiss was soft and still for a moment and my cock had already been stirring, was now at half-mast with her soft kiss.
Then she licked over the flesh, then unexpectedly, she sucked that skin between her lips and teeth and fed on my neck while her hands went to grip the material of my button-up shirt. Her nails clawed at me before pushing me a little forward so she could sit facing me, the heels of her feet reaching around the back of my thighs pulling me into the v of her legs. Her pretty pink sundress bunched up as she pressed her center over the hard ridge of my dick.
I felt her lift up then ground against me, telling me she needed me as much as I needed her.
“Y’ALL KIDS GO AND PLAY AT HOME!”
Taylor flew back and her eyes widened with embarrassment and her cheeks flamed.
“Don’t worry, Taylor. My mom loves you. She’s only teasing.”
“She might be only teasing, but I definitely don’t want to do this right here in the driveway. I can never keep myself under control with you, Gage Marono.”
“Good. And babe? My sweet, beautiful, sassy, sexy woman, I’m big enough that the only thing anyone will see is my dick filling out in my jeans when I turn around.”
“Well, I don’t want them to see that either!”
I threw my head back laughing. Damn, she was crazy, sexy, and beautiful.
“You wanna drive and I sit shot gun?”
“Are you crazy?”
I shrugged. I didn’t give a shit if she drove. My truck could be standard and automatic so it didn’t matter.
“Go for it, babe.”
I lifted her and placed her behind the wheel and lifted myself inside. I put the key in the ignition and started it. The truck rumbled to life and she looked over at me with wide eyes.
I didn’t live far so it wouldn’t be that long of a drive anyway. No dings. Hopefully.
“Are you sure?”
“Trust me, Tay. Being able to look at you drive this monster makes my dick even harder. So put me out of misery and back out the drive already.”
Her eyes lit up and then looked down right at my crotch. Her teeth captured her bottom lip and tugged.
“I want to touch it.”
“You will, but for the sake of not being used to the truck yet, let’s wait. As soon as we get home and the door shuts, you can do whatever the hell you want, Taylor.”
“Can I taste you?” Holy hell. Her tongue darted out and licked around the soft lips as her brilliant gaze went back to mine, “Please?”
Nervous excitement sparkled in her green irises and I couldn’t help the groan that escaped.
“Yes. Whatever you want. Now drive.”
And she did. It took us no time at all and I swore I held on for dear life as she raced home, not caring that she was going faster in a much bigger vehicle than hers.
She pulled in the driveway and slammed on the breaks just before the garage door. Jesus.
“Enthusiastic, aren’t we?”
“Sorry. Gage. I do…like you a lot. More than anyone in my entire life. You make me want to be a better woman for you. You make me the happiest girl in the world. No one’s ever cared about me. About Taylor. You pushed your way under my skin and made sure you stayed there. I’m…not ready to say it yet. You were right, I am scared. But I can show you.”
“Taylor, you can have anything your heart desires.”
“Just you.”
“Come on, firecracker. Let me take you inside.”
Moments later we were safe and secured inside and I carried her up to our bedroom. Exactly where she belonged. Like a wanton, she flung her sundress over her head and underneath was a strapless white bra, and matching lace and silk panties that were already wet. Damn that little wet spot looked so fucking hot. She went to the front clasp of her bra and before I could say anything, she rushed it off, tossing it by her dress. Her hands went to her panties and I stopped her.
“Leave them on, Taylor.”
Looking her over, the way she looked was one of the hottest things I’ve ever seen. Every time I looked at her so delicate, vulnerable and sweetly displayed for me, I couldn’t help but thank God for making me one lucky son of a gun. The need burning in her gaze as she looked me over was driving me absolutely wild.
Her finger pointed towards me and she wiggled it saying, “Now you.”
I shook my head no.
“What?”
I pulled my shirt over my head at least. I toed off my converse low-tops and walked towards her with purposeful sexual intent.
“That’s all you get for right now. First. I’m going to taste you.”
“Oh.” Her hands went back to her panties and mine manacled over her wrists.
“Just relax and leave them on.”
“Why?”
“You’re going to like this. I promise.”
“Gage. You drive me wild. You’re driving me crazy.”
“You and me both.”