Page 63 of Dismantle & Prevail

Pointing to my chair, I say, “Go sit. Now.”

“What? No! Give me my damn laptop back!” Taylor protests, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Go. Now. I’m not playing with you, Taylor. Sit your ass in that chair now.”

Throwing her hands up in frustration, she spins around and the second her back is to me; I smack her ass.

Taylor tries to spin around, but my hands on her shoulders stop her.

“What the hell is your problem, Aries?!”

Not bothering to respond, I guide her to sit in my chair. With her arms crossed over her chest, she stares up at me, frustration written all over her face.

I can’t help the chuckle that escapes me as she tries to stare me down, her nose scrunching.

My arms cage her in the chair and I lean close, our noses brushing. “I thought I told you to stop looking.”

Taylor’s breath hitches, and she shifts in her chair. Judging by the heat on her cheeks, I can tell she is flustered. Backing up slowly, she tries to gain an ounce of space. “You know I couldn’t do that, Ace.”

Taking a deep breath, her warm vanilla scent fills my senses, and I rest my forehead against hers. “Don’t you understand that if anything happened to you because of me, it would be my demise?”

My hands grip the side of the chair, and I lean back, my gaze burrowing into hers. “Don’t you understand I am completely consumed and captivated by you? You are the color to my dark, lonely world. Without you, my life is black and white and utterly dismal.”

“Ace.”

A groan escapes me, my head falling to her shoulders. “When are you going to stop fighting this? When are you going to let me show you just how invigorating life could be with me by your side?”

My patience has snapped. I know I promised to give her time, but every day she isn’t mine is torture. I see the way she looks at me. I know how her lips feel against mine and how her body melts into mine. While I understand her hesitations, I wish she would just take the leap and see that the fall isn’t so scary when I’m there to catch her.

“Okay.”

My head snaps up at Taylor’s whisper.

What did she just say? Surely I’m dreaming.

“What did you just say?” I ask, my voice shaking.

“Okay.”

“Okay what, Butterfly?”

Her head hits the back of the chair in mock frustration. “Damn, Ace. You’re really going to make me say it, aren’t you?”

A smirk spreads across my face. “Yes.”

“I’m tired of fighting it. I’m tired of living scared of the unpredictable future. I’m scared shitless of how this is going to go, but if you have shown me anything since your confession, it's that I’d be stupid to pass up the opportunity to know what it feels like to be loved by someone as cunning, smart, and fearless as you.”

The second the words leave her mouth, my lips are against hers.

Fucking finally.

Sinking down to my knees, I devour her. Our tongues tangle and Taylor’s fingers twist in my hair.

A groan escapes her and my control snaps.

My hands move to her waist and I pull her down into my lap, my ass hitting the floor. A yelp escapes her, but that doesn’t stop her from tugging on my hair and sinking her teeth into my lower lip.

Fucking hell. This girl is going to send me to an early grave.