We hadn’t said a word all the way to my apartment, and I knew by the time we’d reached my parking lot, it might be too late.Taz had already steeled himself for the worst possible outcome and apparently wasn’t willing to fight.
“I guess I’ll go,” I said, reaching for the door handle.“Good luck out on the road.I know you’ll?—”
“Don’t go.”His voice was raspy as he curled his hand around my wrist.“Or at least let me come up.I want to talk about this.Please.”
“Okay.”I was grateful that he was at least willing to talk.I’d had some time to think on the twenty-minute drive back to my apartment, and while I didn’t have all the answers, I wasn’t ready for us to be over.
The walk to my apartment was silent, with his hand on my back, and my body tense with dread.
Once we were behind the closed door, I asked, “Can I get you anything?—”
“You can tell me you still want me.”He reached for me, hauling me against his chest.“That’s all I need to hear right now.”
“I’ll always want you, Taz.”I had a feeling even if we ended things, a part of me would always belong to him.“That’s not what this is about.”
He seized my head in his large hand before curling his arms around me, as he whispered in my ear, “Here’s the thing.I need you.And I’ve never needed anyone before.”
My heart swelled, knowing how hard it was for him to admit he needed me.
“And on the drive back here, knowing you might be ready to cut me lose, I realized…” His fist was tight in my hair and I could feel his desperation when he whispered, “I think I’m falling in love with you, Grace.”
I closed my eyes, letting his words wash over me.Acknowledging the truth of his words… I could feel them, while opening the gap to allow my own truth to flow in.I was falling in love with him too.
“Say something.”
I tipped my head back to look at him.“I’m falling in love with you too.”
He released a breath before resting his forehead against mine.“Thank God, so we’ll figure this out.Together.”
“Taz…” I knew better than to make compromises I couldn’t live with, even for someone I cared about.“I don’t know where we go from here.We still need time to think about that, and work through it.”
He kissed me, pressing my body into his erection.We couldn’t solve this problem by falling into bed, but he was leaving tomorrow and I wanted him tonight.
“I need to feel you,” he whispered, drawing his lips across my jaw.He was squeezing my ass, holding me hard against him.“I need to be inside you.”
“I want that too, but?—”
“No more talk, baby.Please.”He was undoing the tie to my black wrap dress, sucking in a breath when he saw my black lace thong and matching demi bra.“I just need to feel right now.To get lost in you, and block everything else out.”
I needed that too.It had already been an emotionally charged night, and a stressful few days, wondering what the hell was up with him.
“Yes,” I whispered, reaching for the buttons lining his tight gray shirt.My fingers worked quickly, suddenly desperate to get him naked, to feel that connection that made me believe we could overcome anything.
We couldn’t strip each other fast enough as he finally tore my panties off with a grunt before pinning me against the door and driving into me with no preamble.But I was more than ready to take him.To remind myself that he wasmine.Soon there’d be screaming women calling his name in packed stadiums, but tonight I wanted to be the only one screaming his name.I wanted to be the only voice he heard ringing in his ears when he went to bed alone every night, on the road.
He was rough, erupting with impatience, as he held me prisoner with his body… and eyes.“Mine,” he whispered, echoing my thoughts.“Just remember that.You’re mine.”
I nodded, my mouth hanging open with the intensity of the orgasm building.I could feel it all the way from the tips of my toes.The buzz was absorbing me, making it impossible to speak.
“Say it,” he demanded.“I need to hear it!”
“Yours,” I said, forcing the word past my lips as he picked up the pace, demanding my body keep up.“I can’t stop it.”It was more than a bodily surge.My heart was bursting too, with love for this incredibly complicated man who’d broken down walls I didn’t even know I had.
“Don’t even try, baby.”
I let myself go, trusting him to hold me, to support me, to love me.
I felt the rush of his release flood me, rendering me speechless.I didn’t know if it was the intensity of the moment, the fact we’d admitted our feelings for each other, or the fear of the obstacles we’d have to break down to be together, but something shifted when our eyes locked, like we both understood this was a turning point.
