Page 21

Chapter 20

Taylor

I run a hand through my hair, lean my elbows on my knees, and drop my head. It’s late, really fucking late, and both Pen and Hudson are asleep; well, Hudson’s gone back to sleep.

He fussed an hour ago and I quickly grabbed him before he could wake his momma up. I changed his diaper and fed him before settling him again, and Pen didn’t even stir, which is good.

When she got home from work, she broke down in my arms, and it fucking gutted me. I spent the rest of the evening keeping her and our son in my arms. Even when she fed Hudson and changed him, she did it right near me like she couldn’t bear being an inch away, showing me without realizing how much I actually mean to her.

After she fell asleep in my arms, I carried her to bed, placed Hudson in his, and cleaned up her condo. Then, I just sat here, my head all over the place.

She loves me. She’s proven that when I got knocked out and then cemented it over the three days that I was still away, needing to be in contact with me by video chat. She just won’t give in to me, and I don’t know why.

My phone vibrates, and I quickly grab it and see that it’s Tony.

“Hey, Tone, how’s Avery doing?” I answer.

She’s finally fucking divorcing her husband and is now living with Tony. Something a lot of us, including Tony, mentioned could be too soon after leaving her abusive husband, but Avery wanted to make her own decisions.

She acted like she hasn’t had one decision that was her own even though she has all this time. While yes, her parents pushed her in the direction that they wanted. She followed when she could have gone the same route as her sister, but she wanted the lavish lifestyle and now we’re all treating her with kid’s gloves, including Tony.

Turns out she hit Harry first when he called her a slut and when Pen shouted at her for putting herself in that kind of situation Avery had a breakdown.

I get it, I do, she had put up with a lot with Harry but she wasn’t forced to walk down that aisle. Even after seeing Tony beforehand and she wasn’t forced to stay with him while screwing her brother-in-law. Losing her shit on Pen because she didn’t like hearing some fucking real truths was out of the question, though, her father shouldn’t have encouraged the situation to begin with. Especially when everyone knows Harry’s an abusive prick.

The fucker beat four of his ex-girlfriends and his dad had to pay them off just so it didn’t affect Tony.

“Actually, it’s not Tony,” Avery replies and I sigh.

“Is Tony aware you’re calling me?” I ask her, and she snorts.

“Hell no,” she admits, “Actually, he told me to give you and my sister some time now that you’re home especially with how I acted at the hospital, but well…”

Her words trail off, and I chuckle.

“You want to meddle hoping to make amends with your sister huh?” I confirm, and she hums.

“Only because I know my sister and I think you are most likely confused right now,” she says, “She’s finally broken part of her walls for you, but not all of them, and I know I didn’t help today especially when she was trying to help me. I just wanted to let you know the reason why….”

“Okay…” I lean back on the couch and confirm, “I’m listening.”

She sighs and admits, “It’s our father,” I frown but don’t interrupt, and she continues, “She loves you, Taylor, she does, so don’t think otherwise. I mean, she wasn’t just trying to find you because of Huddy. She regretted the moment she left your place that morning. She was struggling to control her emotions and life. For years she’s rebelled against our family and only held onto her virginity for as long as she did because she knew how much more Dad could have gotten for her with it still intact, and she wanted to piss him off.

Our parents wanted her to be the perfect lawyer to take the firm with that ass Zane by her side despite knowing she never wanted to be a lawyer. They expected more from her without considering her feelings,” she sighs, “Our parents were close with Zane’s and dad promised her hand even after she declined several times. He tried pushing the contract on her for years just like mom tried pushing dancing and frilly dresses on her but all that did was push her away from them. To the point there isn’t much of a relationship between them.” She quiets for a moment while she allows me to take in her words before she continues, “She used to be a daddy’s girl until she overheard him having a conversation with Mr. Andrews. Dad said his daughter is worth more than a certain amount, and that is when she decided she was done with him and done with being mom’s doll. She only tolerated their presence because of me. She was trying to be my support because I decided to continue with the wedding that they pushed on me until she announced that she was pregnant. He disowned her and she promised not to go public with what he was trying to force on her if he ensured Harry didn’t hit me again. So yet again, she’s putting everyone else above her needs while we all walked away when she needed us the most. It all happened in front of the Andrews and dad, well he messed up, he stood back and allowed Zane to slap his pregnant daughter.”

I tense, and anger shoots through me at this new information.

That fucker hit her!?

Avery admits, “Dad did knock him out once she left after confirming he’d ensure Harry didn’t hit me again, but it was too little too late for him, and he knew that. So he spent months trying to get Zane’s family out of the practice before he finally decided to make amends with Penelope.”

“She’s hardened herself because of her childhood and doesn’t know how to let people in, and the only reason she’s allowed her dad back in her life now is because of the love he shows my son,” I confirm.

Avery sighs, “Exactly, and I think the only way she can fully open herself up is by emptying her feelings on Dad. Something, I’m sure he is waiting for. He knows she only tolerates him because of how amazing he’s been with Hudson and because he held her hand when she gave birth, giving them a certain bond again. She doesn’t have much of a relationship with our mother anymore, which well, I don’t really see changing but with dad, she’s still hurt.”

I lick my dry lips and ask, “So what do I do then? Because I don’t know how much longer I can go without moving her into my place and making her mine. I’m ready to just pack her shit without her blessing.”

Did that sound like I was an asshole alpha? Maybe. Do I care? Not one bit.

Avery answers, “By allowing her to go at her pace. She’s already opening up to you, Taylor.”

“Avery, who are you talking to?” Tony asks in confusion, and I smirk as Avery mumbles, “Uh oh, busted.”

“Wait, is that my phone? Please don’t tell me you’ve butted in after how you treated your sister at her place of work of all places?” he demands, and I chuckle.

“Thanks for the call, Aves, and good luck explaining you’ve butted in,” I state, and she groans, making me laugh as I hang up and place my phone on the table.

Sighing, I stand and stretch, then go into the kitchen. I grab a glass and pour myself a glass of water, taking a quick sip before I hear the door to Pen’s room open and I look up and lock eyes with my girl wearing nothing but my shirt. Meaning she’s changed out of the sweats she arrived home in, and I put her to bed.

Her hair is a mess, and she looks tired as fuck. But she is beautiful, and everything around me disappears, all I see is her.

I don’t move, instead I watch her closely as she takes in my bruising, her eyes tearing up and I fucking hate it. I fucking wish I could take her pain and worry away.

“Firecracker,” I rasp, not able to cope with her pain. We lock eyes, and I don’t know who moves first. One moment we’re staring at each other from across the room, and the next, I’m meeting her near the couch as I slam my lips against hers and I pick her up. My hands on her juicy ass, her arms wrapped around my waist.

Our tongues meet as she wraps her legs around my waist and without much thought, I move us to the couch and lay her on the sheets, my body going over hers. I grind my hard cock against her warm sweet panty-covered cunt, making her squeeze her legs and moan. The sound is sent straight to my cock, which twitches and leaks at the tip wanting her tight heat. While yes, I said she wouldn’t get me until she gave in, I fucking need her, and I know she needs me.

Letting my lust take over, I grip her hair with one hand and yank it, causing her to arch her neck and gasp with pleasure. I move my lips to her neck and bite down as I move my other hand between us and grip her soaked panties before yanking them hard, tearing them from her body.

“Taylor…,” She says moaning, gripping my hair back. I push two fingers inside her, her walls instantly squeezing me. I move my lips to hers, pushing my tongue into her mouth and kissing her hard and deep while moving my fingers roughly inside her.

Pen screams into my mouth as her cunt strangles my fingers, and her pussy gushes as she cums. Soaking between us, I moan, loving how her body responds to me and gives in so easily.

I don’t let her come down from her high. While her walls flutter, her orgasm taking over her, I let go of her hair and remove myself from my sweats, and without breaking the kiss, I remove my fingers and then guide my cock inside her, slowly pushing in.

Pen gasps, and I moan as I say, “Fuck me, Firecracker, you’re tight…,” before stilling once I’m fully in.

Our breath mingle as I unlink her arms from around my neck, then link our fingers before pressing them on the couch near her head and without breaking eye contact, I move my hips back, then thrust forward, hard but slow, making love to her.

My balls already feel heavy, but I try to hold my release off, wanting to enjoy this.

Her eyes water and I place my forehead against hers as I swivel my hips, ensuring my pelvis pushes down on her clit, making her moan, and I rasp, “You and me; it’s us always, Penelope. I’m falling for you, so fucking deeply, and I’m man enough to admit that to you. I promise, you’ll always be my priority, you and our son.”

Her tears fall, and I kiss her. She kisses me back fiercely, our tongues tangling and I move my hips faster, and her walls begin to flutter again.

She squeezes my fingers, and I tilt my hips, going faster and harder, hitting her g-spot, her body tightens as another orgasm shoots through her body. My spine tingles, my balls tightening as her cunt squeezes me hard, and I come, painting her walls. I moan into her mouth before kissing her deeper while I bottom out but swivel my hips over and over, causing her legs to tighten around my waist, aftershocks of her orgasm hitting her.

Once I know she’s finished, I don’t break the kiss. Instead, I let go of her hands and wrap my arms underneath her, wanting all of me pressed against her. I kiss her harder while she laces her fingers behind my neck, holding me tight.

I don’t plan on letting her up for air all night until she realizes how much I fucking need her.