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TYLER

YES AND NO. Two of the simplest words in the English language, yet each held such power. Accepting or rejecting a request. Agreeing or arguing a situation. One was positive, the other negative, yet each with the power to alter the direction of a course. And I knew whatever the answer was, it would forever change my life.

For the past ten or so years, I’d convinced myself that I had found peace and fulfillment. It came in the form of doing asIpleased, whether changing career paths, buying my dream car, dating a variety of women . . . giving up music. But it wasn’t until now that I realized doing whatever I wanted hadn’t brought me the satisfaction I thought it had. It was an empty achievement because I didn’t have anyone to share it with. How ironic was it that my revelation came in the form of this beautiful, complex woman straddled across my lap; the same one who hadn’t wanted any part of my life outside of work and mutual friends? She had done the impossible and brought music back into my life, and she was willing to tolerate the messiness of my personal life.

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Yes?” I hated that uncertainty mixed with hope in my voice. I was almost afraid to believe she said, ‘yes.’

“Please be patient with me, Tyler. I mess up, a lot.” She laughed. “But you already know that about me.”

I tried to speak, but she shushed me with her fingers. “No, let me just say this. I’ve always worried about how I’m going to be affected in a relationship. I know I tend to back off before I can be hurt. But for the first time, I’m scared I’m going to hurt someone else. No matter what, Tyler, I don’t want to hurt you. So please be patient with me. Help me to be strong again and learn to give myself to you without letting me get lost in the darkness again.”

“I promise, sweetheart. Dream big, and I’ll help you to soar. I won’t let you get lost.”

I felt her heart pumped wildly against my chest. I didn’t give her a chance to respond. My hands slid into her hair and pulled her face to mine. Our eyes stayed locked on each other’s until just before our lips met. The other times we’d kissed had been harder, more demanding. They’d been more about passion, but this time I wanted to slow things down. Our mouths explored each other’s with short, gentle, breathless kisses until they sealed together, and our tongues entered the play. She pressed her hips harder into mine and desire took off through me like a rocket. I knew she felt it, too. Like magnets drawn to steel, my hands slid under the soft cotton of her shirt and lifted it over her head. She quickly mimicked my movement. She closed her eyes as my thumbs brushed the exposed laciness that covered her breasts.

I needed her the same way I needed air. She felt so soft and delicate in my embrace. It brought out a strong desire to protect her and never let anything ever hurt her again. I trailed my mouth down her neck, pausing to inhale the spicy peach scent that was her. With one hand, I gently pushed her backward, so I had the space to latch on to one peak, sucking it through the lace while I continued to roll the other in my fingers.

I found the front catch on her bra and deftly unsnapped it, pushing aside the material. Tan skin against pale, strong against fragile, all inflaming my desire for her. “I need to taste you,” I breathed and drew one of her breasts into my mouth. “Tyler,” she gasped, squirming on my lap against my hardness. “I need you.” As her hips flexed, her softness found the hard bulge beneath my zipper. She ground against me, and I bucked my hips slightly. “You like that, kitten?” I whispered next to her ear when she whimpered.

I pushed her further back until her head touched the music rest, and her shoulders moved restlessly against the keyboard. Discordant sounds that matched the ferocity of our passion reverberated from the strings. Slowly, I dragged one hand down her stomach, hip, and thigh, leaving goose bumps in its wake. Once it reached the hem of her skirt, it continued its journey until it reached the silk of her panties. She continued to unabashedly grind harder against my straining erection. I slid my thumb under the material to find her folds slick with desire. Her breath came in little soft gasps until suddenly it evolved into a mewling as I rubbed her toward a release. I leaned forward, trapping my hand between our bodies and sucked on a breast again until I felt her splinter into a thousand pieces, the piano playing an erotic concerto as her body twisted and jerked against the keys.

I slowly withdrew my hand and kissed my way up her throat until I could bury my head in her neck, where I felt her pulse hammer fast against my face. As her breathing slowed, I pulled her back up until our chests were flush with each other. She collapsed against me, her arms limply holding my shirt.

“Wow,” she finally breathed. “I didn’t expect that.”

I chuckled and kissed her pink cheek. “I think everything about us is unexpected, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“I would,” she said quietly. She placed her hand on my cheek, rubbing it gently with her thumb. “I wouldn’t have run from you so many times. I was embarrassed that first morning, and then I was just too nervous about what other people thought, or letting my past dictate my future. I’m sorry, Tyler.”

I clasped her hand on my face. “It’s part of the journey that brought us to this place, Jen. We were on separate paths before, but now they’re merged, and we’ll find our way together, okay?”

“Okay,” She nodded as she rocked against me. This time, it was me who groaned. “Now, how about you? I think you got ‘stiffed’ here just now only taking care of me, don’t you? Thank goodness we have that pesky first date out of the way.” She reached between us and unbuttoned my shorts. I felt the zipper slide down, and her knuckles brush along the length of my cock that was straining under the confines of my briefs.

“Shit.” The feel of her hand as she relieved me from the restraining material was gasoline on a fire. I slid my hands underneath her ass, stood up with her legs wrapped around me, and walked to the couch with her still in my arms. Smiling mischievously she pushed me backward until I rested against the arm of the couch. I watched as she shimmied down to the other end of the couch, pulling my pants with her. “You always take care of me. Now, it’s your turn.” She smiled seductively and lowered her head. I jerked as she cupped my balls and licked the tip of my erection. “Jen,” I gasped, but she ignored me, sliding her mouth down to take as much of me as she could. My hand wrapped in her hair. “Jen,” I tried to warn her one more time, but she just sucked and licked harder, not letting up until I bucked hard under her, unable to do anything but ride out the waves that shook my body as she took everything I had to give.

I felt her crawl back up my body and opened my eyes. “That was unexpected,” I quipped, my voice edged with huskiness.

“I’m growing very fond of unexpected,” she smirked.

“Then you’ll love this,” I growled. She squealed and flung her arms around my neck as I sat up and scooped her over my shoulder and started toward the stairs. “Tyler!” she shrieked. “I’m too heavy.”

She had to be kidding. Her cute ass was right in my face, and I gave in to the urge to smack it. She squealed, and then I felt the sting of a slap on my own backside. I entered my room and unceremoniously dropped her on the soft mattress. She landed with a slight bounce and grinned at what she thought was playfulness until she noticed the carnal look I gave her. “You still have too many clothes on,” I growled. I hooked my thumbs in the waistband of her skirt and jerked it off along with her panties.

“Semi-clothed to naked in two seconds,” she teased. “Someone’s in a hurry.”

She thought she wanted slow? She got it. “You don’t like hurried, hmm? We’ll see about that.” I braced myself on my arms as I leaned down and kissed her lingeringly. It was slow and sensual; a lover’s kiss. She tried to convince me into intensifying it with her tongue, but I avoided her teasing and nibbled on her neck instead, causing her to squirm with need.

“Tyler, please, I want . . .” She sucked in a sharp breath as I sucked one of her nipples into my mouth and bit down. I raised my head. “You didn’t want hurried, remember?” I murmured.

She shook her head. “I changed my mind,” she begged.

“Too late,” I whispered.

I continued to bite and suckle her breasts. I let one of my hands slid down her heated skin until it stopped at her lower abdomen. Her muscles tensed in anticipation, but I left it there, lazily drawing circles with my thumb. She grabbed both of my arms and tried to shove at least one of them lower, seeking relief from the built up tension I could already feel. My chuckle over her impatience vibrated against her skin as I finally acquiesced and shifted to my side.

“Yesss,” she hissed as I thrust my finger in and out while she writhed against me. I teased her until I could feel her legs begin to tremble, then suddenly withdrew my hand. Mewling with need, she tugged on my hair, but once again I ignored her. Instead, I brought my face between her thighs and repeated my previous movements with my mouth and tongue. “That’s it, Tyler. Please!” she cried out.