Chapter Ten

ANOTHER CHAPTER! I'm on a roll! lol thanks to everyone who reviewed, I appreciate and loved them all as always.

NKOTB: lol the baby will be here soon enough, I promise and I have every intention of bringing back all of your much loved characters : )

Oh yeah and a special thanks to Tipper. She always give me the little pushes I need to go on and a few pointers here and there ;) Love ya!

Sarah-

Hours later, well after the sun had gone down, I found myself walking the dark hallways of my home, searching, hoping that I would find the calm that had evaded me ever since Harry's surprise arrival.

It wasn't that I hadn't missed him or wanted him to come home, it was simply the manner in which he had entered and the fight that ensued. He had been so harsh, so ugly towards me, that I had felt I was being challenged by a stranger. Later on, after we had gone to the privacy of our room and talked over the situation like mature adults, I finally managed to put myself in his position. I couldn't say that I wouldn't have been angry, but to act the way he did about it, was something I still could not understand. He had tried to explain that he had been under a lot of stress this past week, but still, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than that. He had fallen asleep shortly after he had finished the large dinner that Mrs. Crewe had brought up to him. He was clearly exhausted, and I covered him with a blanket, making sure he was warm and comfortable before I left the room to think things over.

I walked across the hall to what was going to be the baby's room and switched the light on and immediately thought of Taylor. I had been a terrible hostess. Ignoring him for most of the day and not even apologizing for it. I clicked the light off to the nursery and shut the door and headed two doors down to Taylor's bedroom and knocked. When there was no answer I knocked again, but still, all I heard was silence. I knocked again, this time, opening the door a crack as I did so. He was no where to be seen, but to my surprise I saw that all of his trunks and suitcases had been brought out and were all in various stages of packing. I quietly shut the door, deciding that if he was going, I was going to make sure I apologized before that.

I went down the stairs and turned the corner heading towards the small set of French Doors that led to our back porch. I wasn't surprised to see him sitting out there in one of the benches, but still I approached him quietly.

He must have heard me, or somehow been aware that I was behind because he turned quickly to face me. He only let his eyes rest on me for a moment before turning back around. "Everything better now?" he asked.

"Yes." I said, moving around to sit next to him, "It was just a misunderstanding."

He nodded. "He seemed really upset."

"He was. I'm sure he'll apologize for the way he acted-"

"That isn't necessary. You're the only one he should be apologizing to." He sighed. "After the way he acted he owes you an apology every day for the rest of his life."

"You heard us then?"

He paused before he nodded, confirming my suspicions.

"I thought so." I replied, my gaze falling to my lap as a hint of embarrassment hit me, "I'm sorry you had to hear that."

"Don't be, I eavesdropped." He answered, but his voice held no remorse.

I nodded quietly and we both fell silent. After a moment or two, I found myself itching to speak.

"I saw that your luggage was out." I told him.

"I thought it best."

I looked up and over at him, "Taylor, you don't have to leave."

"Yes, I think I do."

"I know Harry came off rather brash, but I assure that he didn't mean it."

He turned to me, his eyes wide eyes immediately pulling me in to the storm of emotions raging inside of him. My conscience scolded me to turn away, but I couldn't and above all, I didn't want to.

"Who said I was leaving because of him?" he asked softly.

Suddenly I was at a loss for words and I wanted out. This wasn't right. The ring I wore on my finger to symbolize my love, life and marriage with Harry, suddenly weighed a ton and the fast beating of my heart was pounding away at my insides. I quickly sprung up from my seat and headed back towards the house, but he was right behind me, grabbing me and pulling me off into a dark corner where even the nosiest neighbor couldn't see us.

"Listen to me, Sarah," he whispered loudly and with determination. "I tried not to let this happen, but after awhile I couldn't fight it anymore and I didn't want to. You didn't even have to try to make me feel this way and after the number of women I've been with who've done all they can to appear alluring to me, you are the sweetest breath of fresh air I've ever known."

I tried not to listen and began to move away, but his arm instantly sprang up against the wall to block me, forcing me to turn back to him. "Look, I'm not my brother. I'm not going to force my wants on you. I live my life the way I want without letting the opinions of those society snobs influence my decisions. When something feels right, I do it…Sarah, this feels right."

"It's not." I told him. "I'm married and I love my husband…we're expecting a child."

"Are those the only reasons you can give me?"

"I shouldn't even have to say those things, Taylor! My marriage and impending motherhood should be as plain as the nose on your face!" I snapped in a whisper, but he showed no sign of abandoning his pursuit.

"Tell me you don't feel the feel the same way then, honestly, and I leave you alone. Swear on your life."

But I couldn't do that. The truth was I didn't know if I did feel that way or not. I took one long look into dark eyes and shook my head as I turned away, "I don't."

"Swear on your life."

I whirled back to face him, "I will not."

"Because you know it's a lie. You know that you feel something for me. The way you looked at me earlier, right before he came into the room…do you know how close I was to kissing you?"

"I don't want to hear this," I said, pushing his arm away moving away, but he quickly reached for my wrist and pulled me back to him, bringing us closer together than we had been earlier, our faces only inches from one another.

"That wasn't the first time either," he whispered, his eyes boring into mine. "Almost two years ago, that Christmas party. I know you remember that. The only thing that stopped me then was the fact that I wasn't able to spend one moment alone with you. Why do you think I danced with you all night long?"

I had to smile upon hearing that and seeing this he began to move closer to me. I felt the warmth of his body nearly touching mine. He lifted his hand and stroked my cheek softly. "I remember how you looked that night. You were so beautiful, you are beautiful."

"Don't," I whispered agonizingly.

"Sarah," he breathed against my cheek as his lips moved over my skin. I closed my eyes as the sheer torture of the moment gripped me. I couldn't move and yet I knew I should. His lips once again moved and skimmed over my cheek while his hand slid behind my neck to tangle in my hair.

"Taylor," I strangled out his name. "I… I…"

"Shhh," he breathed softly. His mouth came over mine gently, so gentle I wasn't sure if he was actually kissing me. But, then before I could think further, he was kissing me. He smothered a groan as his mouth molded to mine, pulling me closer still.

No, no, no! my mind screamed in protest even as my body turned against me. I was responding to him even thought I hadn't wanted to! I could feel my heart slamming painfully against my ribs and my head was swimming with the realization of what I was doing. I was betraying my husband!

I lifted my hands to grip his arms knowing I should push him away. His tongue filtered between my lips and the feel of it nearly brought me to my knees. I whimpered deep in my throat when Taylor suddenly jerked away from me as if he had been burned, leaving me fairly reeling on my feet.

"Oh God, Sarah," he rasped. "Please forgive me. I shouldn't have done that," he said running his hands through his dark hair.

I know I should have said something but words failed me. I was still in shock at my own response to him. I could still taste him on my tongue even as I stared at him.

"Go… go now, Sarah. Go to your husband and I swear to you, I won't be here when you wake in the morning."

I nodded slowly as he started to walk towards the house, but he suddenly stopped just inches from me, his mouth close to my ear. "I'm sorry for what just happened. It may be wrong but I will carry the taste of you to my death. I love you…" and then he was gone and I was left standing alone with his words swirling through my mind.

Minutes later I was back in my room slipping into my nightgown and sliding quietly into the bed I shared with my husband. He was still fast asleep unaware of what I had done only moments before. I laid my head on the pillow and immediately closed my eyes, but I knew it would take awhile for sleep to come to me, if it ever did.

Harry stirred next to me and turned over, putting his arm snuggly around me. In the darkness, I could barely see his sweet, handsome face, but I knew it was there, and I reached out brushing the tips of my fingers across his cheek and gave a silent apology for what I had allowed Taylor to do. I then turned back to the ceiling, holding in my emotions, not wanting to disturb him and remained that way for the rest of the night.