TN Taylor's Temptation
Chapter 7: Verbalism

Character/Pairing: Wash/Taylor
Genre: Ship/Drama
Rating: Nc-17
Warning: Dirty Talk/Language
Spoiler Alert: All of Season One

Summary: Wash decides to take matters and Taylor into her own hands. But what happens when Taylor and Wash notice that things are not just fun and games. Could they be in a relationship?

AN: I love the hotness that is Wash/Taylor. I think they need to revisit the beginning of this interlude, so they can move forward to their happy ending. This is the last chapter and I am using a prompt from Bellakitse for it. The prompt was Wash/Taylor- abandon, but I used it as in to leave. I am also using a prompt from mrs_bree_v_d_k who prompted Wash/Taylor - eye, but I used it as in to give a black eye.

"I don't know why I'm acting this way." Wash folded her arms and glanced around the Command Center seeing that they were alone. "Damn it."

"Just tell me what happened." Taylor was trying to remain calm, but it was very difficult for him.

"You know what happened." Wash huffed out a breath and contemplated leaving, but she feared what would happen if she did. She didn't know how Taylor would react. She didn't want him regretting that they were kind of together.

Taylor stood up and walked around his Carno skull desk to get closer to her. "I know you punched her out, and she is in Medial. I know she said that she doesn't want Shannon to do anything about it. How about you fill in the gaps." His voice was clipped and demanding.

"That fucking whore, who shall not be named, pissed me off again. I…I…snapped." Wash blew out another breath and stared at the ceiling.

Taylor glanced at the floor thinking that it must have been something bad to make Wash hit a civie. "What did Dai…" Taylor paused in mid word because he saw movement. Wash was in his face and obviously pissed off at him because she gripped his shirt and jerked once.

He put his hands out to the side in apology. "The bitch who no one will name. Better?"

Wash let go but didn't move back.

"What the bitch do now?" Taylor saw a glint of pain in Wash's eyes before she covered it up with annoyance.

Wash didn't answer, but stepped back.

Taylor thought this was just perfect. Both women would not talk about it. Wash acted like her feelings were hurt, and Daisy was lying in a medical bed hurt. He pondered it would be easy if things were the other way around. He didn't give a damn if Daisy's feelings were hurt, and he knew how to deal with Wash when she had a black eye.

When Wash would not respond, he prodded. "Why'd you hurt her?"

"She had it coming." Wash jutted her jaw out defiantly.

"Yes, and apparently she had it going too."

Wash's head bobbed back and forth showing that she thought he was being a smart ass.

He continued speaking in dead pan. "They said when she tried to get off the ground that you landed on her and smashed her head into the pavement. They had to pull you off of her. She was unconscious. You cracked her skull."

Wash still refused to comment.

"I don't want her. Just ignore her."

"She wants you." Wash spat it out like an accusation.

"What do you want me to do? Let you kill her or toss her OTG?" Taylor felt exhausted dealing with anything related to Daisy. It was the third time that day that he had to deal with something relating to her.

"Yes." There was an evil gleam in her dark eyes.

Taylor rolled his eyes glancing to the side then back to Wash deciding to play the game if it would make her feel better. "To which one?"

"Both. You toss her skanky ass OTG then I can kill her without anyone knowing." Wash shifted her stance as if preparing for a fight.

Taylor knew she didn't mean it. "Then what? Every time some woman gets it into her head that she wants me you get to kill her?"

"No. Just the ones that start acting on it." Wash finally started to relax as the anger and pain subsided a fraction. "If I killed women who want you, I would have to wipe out half the population of women here."

"Doubt that." Taylor stepped closer and put his hand on her waist pulling her closer by her belt loop.

"Don't sell yourself short, Commander." Wash put her hands on his biceps that were flexed for her viewing pleasure. One finger absently traced the contour.

"Wash?" Taylor glanced over her face looking for any signs that would help him.

Her whisky eyes went up to his.

He continued speaking softer than his usual gruffness. "What did she do to you?"

Wash pulled back from him to give herself space. It was too intimate speaking at that proximity and with him reading her face.

"She said her usual that you were finished with me because you were bored because I'm shaped like a teenage boy." Wash moved around the room as if she didn't know what to do. "She said I'm too masculine to keep a man's attention and that my hair is the color of shit. The usual."

Taylor knew there was more and just waited for it. He was starting to toy with the idea of tossing the stupid blond OTG every time he heard the words 'she said'.

"She said that the fun and games were over. I wasn't really listening to her until she said games. When she said that, I stopped walking. She was right up in my face looking all proud and down her nose at me. She said you talked to her about me and that you were getting bored but didn't know how to break things off." Wash stopped pacing and went back to Taylor.

"And you believed her?" Taylor squinted one eye at her.

"No. Not really." Wash said defensively.

"Then why'd you deck her." Taylor replied sounding frustrated.

"She gave me this." Wash pulled something out of her pants pocket and held the item out to Taylor.

When he held his hand out to take it, she smacked it down in his hand. He peered down at a memory insert for a Plexpad. "And?"

"And, she showed me what was on it."

Taylor detected in her voice the trace of pain that he saw on her face earlier. "Whose is it?"

"Yours."

"Mine? What's she doing with it?" Taylor closed his hand as if to hide it.

"She said you left it at her place last night." Wash's face closed off into her blank military stare.

Taylor reached back to his desk and picked up his Pledpad seeing that one of the memory inserts was gone. "I don't know how she got this."

"She plugged it into her Plexpad and showed me part of what it said. I took it from her and threw her Plexpad on the ground. I demanded to know how she got it. She answered and said it was proof that you are done with me then I hit her." Wash sounded deflated and was peering across the room at the window.

Taylor plugged it in and brought up the last document that was viewed seeing it was his personal Journal. Ice crept into his veins at the thought of both women reading it.

It opened to a passage that read… 'I can't explain why my concentration and ability to reason seem to malfunction when she's around like it used to do with the other. She has become everything good and happy in my life. I look forward to seeing her every day. Even if we don't talk about it, I believe the feelings are mutual. At the same time, sometimes it feels like a betrayal…Like I am cheating on her with another, but I'm not. I just have to leave her in the past if I'm to move on with my new life…'

Taylor's mouth went dry. He grabbed his glass and downed every drop of water that was in it. He never wanted Wash to read his journal or anyone else for that matter.

He turned it off and set it back on his desk. "I never meant for anyone to read that. It's just a way for me to get things out. I don't know how she got it. I was never inside her unit last night. Watch the security feeds."

Wash tightened her arms that were wrapped around her middle now. "She makes you happy?"

"No. You make me happy." Taylor inched closer watching Wash as she continued to look over to the window.

Wash was quiet again and stared as if her eyes were not focused on anything.

"I was writing about you." Taylor forced the words out because this was a topic he did not like talking about.

"Yes I know. I wondered why you were avoiding me the last two days. You're trying to put me in the past." Emotions were surging in her body and she knew she would have to leave soon before she cried in front of him again. She was not use to crying and didn't want him thinking that she was using it as a weapon against him.

"No you don't know. The woman I was writing about having to leave in the past was…was Ayani. The new woman that makes me happy and I look forward to seeing is you." Taylor inched closer again while practically whispering.

Wash turned to him fighting to control her feelings because hope started to grow again. "You were writing about Ayani and me?"

"Yes." Taylor moved closer again. He gave her a few moments because it was apparent that she was trying to process everything.

When Wash visibly calmed he spoke again. "Don't listen to that crazy bitch."

"You have been ignoring me, so what was I supposed to think when she told me that and had proof?" Wash was not going to let it go that easily.

Taylor shifted his feet and decided for truth. "After the whole master slave thing, I needed some time."

Wash's mind ran over the new intel. "It bothered you that much to call me master while we were role playing. It's just pretend. I'm not really your master and you are definitely no one's slave."

Taylor's blue eyes danced with amusement. "That didn't bother me. It was stimulating, but I wouldn't want to do it all the time."

"So calling me master didn't bother you?" Wash inquired trying to understand.

"No. When I said master out loud in my mind I added chief as in Master Chief." Taylor grinned and nodded his head yes once.

"And mistress?"

"Military Mistress." Taylor's grin widened knowing that the first phrase meant that she was a respected member of the military and the second meant that she was a groupie that usually followed those members.

Wash let out a huff at the phrase that members of the military have for women that seem to follow around enlisted men like fans. She remembered that sometimes they shorten it to the name of the candy M&M. "I'm no green M and M."

Taylor stopped grinning. "No, but you're apparently into S and M."

Wash smiled at him and shoved his shoulder playfully but hard. "Ok stop it. I like to try things out. Most men don't complain about it. Ok. Then what did you mean by needing time?"

Taylor flexed his arms feeling defensive. "Not complaining just needed time to heal because there was no way in hell I was going to Elisabeth in Medical for help."

"You said you were ok that night." Wash accused.

"I was ok, just not fit for duty for a few days. I'm not in my twenties anymore." Taylor wondered if the younger men who were always watching her could keep up with her better. He pushed that thought down telling himself that they usually go at it two to three times a day, and Wash never complained that she was not getting enough action from him. His mind thought about the future, and he pushed that thought down as well.

"Neither am I." Wash glanced over his body. "So you're not done with me?" Wash's voice sounded almost normal.

He took her hand and placed it on the front of his pants and pressed her fingers around his hardness. "Does it feel like I'm through with you?"

"No." Wash's breathing sped up as she peered directly into his dominant eyes while her hand gripped the proof of what he was saying. She pictured undoing his pants and holding the heated skin in her hands working him knowing it caused him pleasure. She wanted to touch him, lick him and ride him in that order. She wanted to then feel him take over and use every inch of his throbbing shaft to bring her screaming as she bites down on his shoulder hearing him growl out his own release.

"What do you feel?" Taylor inquired wanting to hear her voice because it became more deep and luxurious when she was turned on for him.

"This." She gripped harder and he let his hand go because he knew her hand would stay.

"I want to hear you say the words. Describe it to me." He leaned closer and scrutinized her mouth that was slightly parted.

His lips moved forward, and he allowed a light press before he pulled back. He then ran the tip of his tongue along her lower lip waiting for her to answer.

"I feel you…hard…and ready for me." The intimacy of their gaze made it harder for her to speak the words. It didn't feel like some game from her notebook anymore, but real.

"And what do you think that I want to do to you?" Taylor's voice took on a deeper tone filled with gravel.

"Fuck me." Wash started to move her hand for emphasis.

Taylor shook his head no. "That's too easy an answer. Try again. Elaborate."

"You want me to talk dirty to you?" Wash watched the intensity of the electric blue eyes that were mere inches from hers now.

"Maybe a little." Taylor let an amused smile play on his face as he perceived it was now difficult for her to speak the words when it hadn't been before when they began this thing with her naked on his table.

Suddenly, she had no idea what to say because she tried blunt, but he seemed to need something more from her.

"What do you want from me?" When the words came out, she pulled her hand away from his pants because things had shifted and their unspoken words had little to do with sex even though their real words were.

It was as if with those few glances both of them knew that this was not a casual thing between them anymore. Sex games had turned into a monogamous relationship.

Taylor ignored the seriousness of the situation and decided to keep things lighter. "What I want from you? I want you to describe what you feel…" He let the words hang a moment knowing that she would think he meant about them being in a relationship. "…about what you think I want to do to you."

He put his hand on her bicep and let his hand trail down to her wrist. He inched her hand toward his pants again, but not enough for contact. He was waiting for her to decide if she wanted to talk serious or if she would let it go and focus on his body that always seemed to be begging for her.

Taylor told himself that he wanted her to choose his body, so that they could avoid any serious talks that would end what was between them. When she did not pick up where she left off and grab him, he knew this was the beginning of the end and that some part of him had pushed for it to happen.

Taylor let go of her wrist, and their hands fell to their sides.

He wanted her. He wanted her body and he wanted her friendship. He believed it was not fair to want a relationship from her because of the eighteen year age difference.

Wash watched him closely as she detected he was thinking about several things he was not saying. "You know that's not what I mean."

Taylor knew she did not care now, but five or ten years into the future he believed she would regret being paired up with him. He thought in the future that when she felt the reality of being with an older man that he might not be as fun and exciting as the younger ones that follow her around. He didn't want her staying with him then because of a sense of duty.

He had told himself before that if things got serious that he needed to be the one to break it off for her own good. He told himself that she would be happier with a younger man…that she could build a life with a man her own age. He had never heard her talk about children before, and wondered if she wanted kids.

Taylor felt heaviness in his chest and wondered if the stress was getting to him and that he might need to talk with Elisabeth tomorrow about another exam. She always told him that he was better than men half his age. She always went on about him having perfect cholesterol, blood pressure and eye sight.

He knew that he would then explain the sensations to her again and that she would grin at him. He would grumble about how doctors aren't supposed to grin when patients think that they are having a heart attack or stroke. He knew then it would make her grin even more, and he would leave in a huff. He decided to skip it.

He turned his back to Wash who was still watching him like she expected him to start talking.

He flexed his hands and took a deep breath. He decided to skip this situation as well. "Have we tried everything out that is in your notebook?"

Wash's voice was quiet when she responded. "Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Then, I guess we're done." Taylor spoke with no emotional inflection even though he felt as if his purpose in life was ending and as if a happy dream that once gave him joy was now lifting and reality was setting into his soul. The happy dream was gone, and he welcomed himself back into the nightmare that was his life. Emptiness.

Guzman walked in carrying a couple of Plexpad and was oblivious to what was happening.

When Taylor heard Wash step forward toward him, he walked straight to his desk and picked up his Plexpad. "Right. See you tomorrow at the morning briefing Lieutenant Washington."

He strode out of the Command Center before her honeyed words could sway him. He told himself it was for her own good.

Wash breathed in a shaky breath feeling completely stunned. Taylor had just broken things off with her and not because he wanted Daisy. She ran out of things in her notebook and he announced they were over.

Guzman turned to the sound. "Wash, are you alright?"

She shook her head no still unable to speak. She kept wondering if her obsessive behavior, jealously or sex games had driven him away. In the back of her mind, she heard Daisy's stabbing voice announcing that it was because she was boring and man-ish.

"Well, don't worry. It's not like you killed her. She grabbed at your arm first, so technically she is the one who started it. It's not your fault and no one died." Guzman took her silence to mean that she agreed with him, and he locked the report Plexpads up for the morning briefing.

Wash was still holding her breath when Guzman left. She realized she was still trying to force air into her lungs and breathed out then gasped in several times. She had forgotten how to breathe.

After the dizziness subsided, she decided this was exactly what Daisy wanted to happen so she could get Taylor alone. "Bitch!"

Taylor entered his housing unit and turned on a light. He glanced around at the empty dwelling and envisioned times Wash had been there.

He could see her getting a drink from his refrigerator while laughing at one of his antics. His eyes went to his table remembering how in the mornings she sometimes cleans her guns and knives topless saying she does not want to get anything on her clothing.

He made it half way to his bedroom to lay down when memories of waking up in the morning with her long soft hair carelessly tossed over his chest infiltrated his mind. Memories of his hand then brushing the silken hair back so that he could catch a glimpse of her face before she woke up started next.

Taylor stood still in the middle of his housing unit once again plagued by the memories of a woman that he had lost. The intensity of the sadness of it fueled his anger at himself as he picked up a weapon's locker and slung it into a wall. The impact knocked everything down off of the wall on both sides and shattered glass rained down on the floor. He let out a roar as if challenging it to move.

When the disorientation lessened as adrenalin seeped out of his body, he collapsed to his knees and lowered his head with the realization that he had messed things up again. He had no idea why his brain always malfunctioned around her. It was as if he was a teenager again trying to understand the workings of the world and the mysteries of women. "I'm a fool."

"Yes, you are." An insolent voice sounded from his doorway.

His head snapped to the side to peer up at Wash walking into his housing unit with her stride confident and her demeanor was commanding. "Fix the mess you made."

The ambiguity of her statement confused him, and he let it show on his face. He opened his mouth to explain why he left.

"Stow it." Wash's arms were folded over her chest as she walked up to him towering over him.

"You want to prattle on about how you're too old for me and how over time some of these younger men will start to look appealing to me. Right? Shake your head yes or no."

Taylor felt like standing up and shoving her out of his house, but he knew she was reacting this way because he hurt her. He nodded his head yes.

"You didn't feel like talking about it so you jumped to the end. Right?" Wash unfolded her arms and put her hands on her slender waist while flipping her air over to one side.

Taylor nodded again as he started to feel silly sitting in the floor while she barked at him. He stood up and their eyes locked.

"Did I leave anything out?"

Taylor shook his head no.

"Right. Not everything in life is about sex and someone your age should know that. If the sex is good and everything is fine for both people then it only makes up like ten percent of the relationship. If there is something wrong with the sex then it makes up around ninety percent. Sex between us is great. Agreed?"

Taylor watched her almost wide eyed and shook his head yes.

"Then clean up the mess you made with your temper tantrum while I get us something to eat. I swear to god you get hateful when you're hungry." Wash pointed to the broken glass on the floor then turned away from him as if he had never broken things off with her.

Taylor watched in awe as Wash strode to the kitchen and washed her hands before dropping meat into a frying pan.

She paused as she started chopping unusual vegetables. "What are you waiting for?"

"Demons." Taylor said with a straight face.

Wash blinked at him not understanding.

"I always thought when it froze over demons would be loose to roam the world." Taylor smirked at her. "You said you would cook for me again when hell froze over."

Taylor was rewarded when Wash's scowl melted into smile as she laughed at him. "Alright you. Get busy or I'll get done before you."

Taylor's smirk became wicked as his voice deepened. "That's not something you have to worry about with me. I always make sure you get done first."

"Funny. You got me twice now. You're on a roooooole." Wash winked at him playfully as she prepared to start dicing again, but lingered on his face as he spoke again.

"Yes. I've got you." The meaning of the words settled in for both of them.

It was a phrase he had used once when he saved her life while she hung from a cliff. She reminded him of it the day she presented herself naked to him in the Command Center when their interlude began. He had tried to fight the temptation of Wash luring him in and told her that she needed a younger man. She became angry and told him there was no one else but him.

Wash slowly nodded yes to him and watched him walk to her. She had never wanted anyone as much as Taylor, but now it was more than just his body she craved.

Wash expected him to grab at her when he got to her or that he would kiss her pressing her body against the wall. Instead, he kept a few inches distance and put his hands on her waist. Her hands instinctively went around his neck.

Taylor asked as his hand slid up her sternum and rested over her heart. "I want you. Do you want me?"

When Wash felt his hand move, she first thought it was to undo her shirt. His hand resting still over her heart feeling it beat was almost too intense for her to stand now that she knew it was nothing sexual. Her eyes started to water with sheer joy and something close to fear as she blinked the tears away.

Wash read the emotions that were on display for her scrutiny. He was allowing himself to be vulnerable to her. She guessed this was something that had only happened once before when he was with Ayani. "Yes."

Taylor closed his eyes and felt the rhythm of her heart beating thankful to the gods that she said yes especially after what he just put her through.

He opened his vivid blue eyes that shone with his happiness. He asked a question from earlier, but it had a new meaning now. "What do you feel?"

Unlike before, now she knew exactly what to say, but could not bring herself to speak the word. She lowered her hand down sliding it over his chest to rest over his heart as her answer.

The word that couldn't be spoken was known and felt by both of them was a powerful one that tethered them together…love.

A/N: The End! They go from lust to love with naughty sex games in between. I think that wraps things up. I just went back and read chapter 3 with the gun harness playing its own role. Oh the hotness! Love that gun harness. I had to bring them back to the beginning and show their feelings for each other. I decided to take this chapter in a different direction after going back and reading it again from the beginning. Thanks for the prompts from LJ. Let me know if you have enjoyed the ride. Reviews make my world go around. Thanks for reading.