Page 112 of Loving Taylor

She crossed her arms and pouted. I laughed and gave her a brief kiss. There wasn't anything I would deny her but she had no idea what I had planned tonight. She would understand later.

"You're no fun,” she said when I stood.

"Come on, I'll start the shower for you," I offered, pulling her to her feet. She looked tired.

We entered the bedroom we shared and I left her to rummage through her closet while I went into the adjoining bathroom to start her shower. I turned the taps and got the water temperature just right before I went back into the room. She was still standing in front of the closet with a frown I wanted to kiss away.

"Your shower is ready," I announced. She gave me a peck on the lips as she passed me on the way to the bathroom.

I lay down on the bed and gazed up at the white ceiling, thinking of how differently my life had veered off course since I had met Taylor.

And now I was making another big decision I had never thought I would. She made me want things I never thought I would. It was as simple as that.

When she finished her shower, my eyes went to the door as she opened it and stepped into the room with a towel wrapped around her body. I let my eyes sweep over her, taking in every beautiful curve—even the ones hidden by the small towel. I had her body memorized in my mind.

How was I supposed to resist her?

She gave me a seductive smile like she knew getting naked would be enough to derail my plans. I had to remind myself why I couldn't give in.Damn it!

"Out," she ordered. I let myself look at her for a few moments before I let out a frustrated sigh and got up.

"You're no fun," I repeated the words she had said earlier to me. She shook her head at me like she disagreed.

"I'll be out soon," she assured me just as I left the room, closing the door behind me.

She wasn't one of those girls who took forever to get ready. Just twenty minutes later she walked out.

"You're so hot," I murmured, knowing exactly how I would undress her later as my eyes trailed down her body suggestively.

"Don't look at me like that," she warned me but I couldn't stop the way my eyes drifted over her.

This time I wasn't strong enough to resist. I pulled her to me and held her hips. Just as I leaned closer, she moved her face and my lips landed on her cheek.

"We need to leave now or we'll be late." She stepped away from me.

She had me wrapped around her finger. I liked how she was more confident in herself and with me. She had come a long way from the naive virgin who had asked me to sleep with her. The memory brought a smile to my face.

I grabbed my keys and headed for the door.

"Is Jeff coming with us tonight?" she asked as she followed me.

"No. I'll be around so we don't need him tonight," I told her.

I opened the door for her and locked it behind us.

She hesitated for just a split second. She was feeling nervous. The only time she wasn't was when we were home. It was the one place she felt totally safe. I took her hand in mine and held it to remind her she had no reason to fear anything. I would keep her from harm.

Slowly I led her to the elevator. She shifted from one foot to another while we waited.

"Relax," I instructed.

"I'm good," she tried to reassure me but I knew her tell-tale signs that she wasn't. She didn't convince me even with the weak smile she gave me.

I put an arm around her and she leaned against me.

I had done everything I could to lessen the stress on her. Even going as far as putting pressure on Eric to do the right thing. Dragging it to trial and making Taylor relive it would only make it harder for her.

It had taken some pulling strings by Jeff to ensure Eric pleaded guilty. If he hadn't I would have done everything I could have to make him regret it. I didn’t look at it as underhanded or illegal. To me it was just speeding things up.