Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyers owns Twilight. I do not. I do however, own my 'gang'.
A/N: Also thanks to my awesome Beta, Blueboarderchick.
Thank you to my reviewers.
Chapter 46
Moments later, I stood at the top of the stairs with a million thoughts and questions whirling around in my mind. What the hell? I expelled a breath, my mind recalling the argument that I'd just been eavesdropping on. Mariana, Taylor's great grandmother was over a thousand years old. How was that possible? Was she a vampire or immortal or… something? Was everyone in his family immortal? With a shake of my head, I dismissed that theory when I recollected Taylor telling me about how his mother died of cancer. Taylor had better not be immortal. Why, the very thought was enough to make me grit my teeth in annoyance. If I had to put up with another boyfriend –I mean- unlabeled whatever, staying young and sexy while I aged like a banana, I really would run off screaming into the night.
Taylor thought I was skittish. Okay, so maybe I had a few commitments issues and wanted to keep our relationship a secret until I was ready to go public, but I wasn't skittish. A little messed up and damaged maybe, but not skittish. Taylor was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle his secret. He thought that I was an ordinary girl and would freak out and run away if he told me the truth about himself.
I felt a grim smile cross my face. If he only knew the truth about what my life in Forks was like… No, I wasn't ordinary and never would be again.
Then there was the cryptic mention of his family's enemies, creatures. What kind of creatures were they talking about? I knew about the existence of vampires and werewolves, but did that mean there were other things out there that went bump in the night? The thought sent shivers up my spine. Jeez, I really knew how to pick them, didn't I? I was beginning to wonder if I was a supernatural magnet. Was that the problem with Dillon and me? Was I so messed up that normal, human guys didn't do it for me anymore?
Beneath the spine tingling shivers, I was intrigued at the mystery Taylor presented. My curiosity hadn't been this piqued since the early days of Edward and Jacob, when I was consumed with trying to figure out their secrets. I didn't even know how to begin the daunting task of solving the enigma that was Taylor Reed. And that was the root of my problem. How was I supposed to go about the process of finding out answers to secrets I wasn't even supposed to know in the first place?
As much as I wanted to find out the truth about Taylor's ability, I knew that it wouldn't be fair of me to push him. Especially since, I had a few world alternating secrets of my own. I couldn't help but ponder how much longer I would have to wait until Taylor felt comfortable enough to let me in on his secret. Waiting patiently would mean no more listening in on other people's conversations. I was ashamed of the way I'd already invaded his privacy. What was I thinking spying on him like that?
I jerked in surprise, almost jumping out of my skin when Taylor suddenly spoke up from behind me. "Do you need some help getting down the stairs?"
With one hand over my heart racing, I whirled around to face him. I was not amused. He always had the irritating habit of sneaking up on me. "Jeez, Taylor. Could you not sneak up on me like that?"
"I'm sorry. The next time I walk by, I'll make sure to stomp around like I'm Godzilla attacking Tokyo," Taylor teased sarcastically with an easygoing smile tugging at his mouth, and I rolled my eyes.
"Would you like some help?" He offered me his hand and I noted that he'd changed into a dark blue polo shirt and a black pair of slacks. I sighed inwardly at how good he always managed to look, even in the simplest of clothes.
"If you wouldn't mind, thanks." I took the offered hand, allowing him to guide me down the stairs and into the dining room. His countenance gave no hint to the quarrel he'd just had with his father. If he was still fuming inside, he gave no outward indication.
Walter and Susan were just sitting down, at opposite ends of the table, when Taylor and I entered the room. The dining table seated eight, but there were only six places laid out. I sat down in the chair Taylor pulled out before claiming the chair next to me. Liz emerged wearing a black, casual dress that came down to her knees. She looked beautiful but her visage was a mixture of worry and anger. It was troubling. Ryan trailed behind her, looking like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. The meeting with his parents must not have gone so well.
After they took their seats across from Taylor and me, a stone-faced Robert served our appetizers that we ate wordlessly. Our dinner went on in uncomfortable silence, except for the clinking of silverware on expensive china. This silence was broken momentarily when Walter notified Liz about a package that had arrived for her the day before. She then turned to smile at me with a mixture of smugness and sneakiness. Her gaze left me feeling unsettled. That smile always meant trouble, for me anyway. What's in the package?
When dessert was served, Susan took the initiative and decided to break the quiet by talking about her latest showing and her work at the studio. It didn't take long for Liz to become completely enthralled and start questions of her own. Walter's face was pure happiness as he observed how well his daughter and girlfriend were getting along. It was easy to see how much he loved Susan. Walter Reed was definitely drawn to women of color. I wasn't only referring to the physical. He was attracted to women that had the power to light up his dark, dreary world. Susan was charismatic and wielded the ability to draw people in, but she was also kind.
Ryan watched Liz and Susan's interaction with a small smile plastered to his face. He seemed to be glad that Liz's mood had improved from earlier.
"So, Susan. How did you and my father meet?" Liz asked with a hint of sneakiness in her big, wide smile. Susan better watch out. Liz, the interrogator was in the house tonight.
We listened as Susan talked about how she met Walter at one of her previous art shows six months ago. In the beginning, she was unimpressed by him, thinking that he was just another boring stiff in an expensive suit. We had a good laugh when she talked about how she spent the remainder of the evening hiding from Walter in the ladies room. But Walter refused to give up, sending flowers to her studio every day until she finally agreed to go out with him. Their relationship seemed to flourish from there.
I was having trouble paying attention. It wasn't that Susan's story was uninteresting, no far from it. When I'd sat down at the table, my skirt rode up a bit, exposing my thighs. And Taylor, being the damn tease that he was, decided that now was the best time to capitalize on this.
As Susan was telling her story, Taylor slipped his left hand under the table and began caressing my bare thigh. I shot a covert peek at Taylor but his face revealed nothing. He gave the impression that he'd focused all his attention on Susan, like everyone else. That sneaky bastard!
Every now and again he would give my thigh a slight squeeze, stroking it slightly with his thumb. Oh hell, what is he doing? I clamped my mouth together, trying to stave off the moan that threatened to spill from my lips. This was the sweetest form of torture. The creamy taste of Crème Brûlée dessert disappeared from my tongue, Susan's voice and everyone else in the room faded away. All of my senses were concentrated on the tingling feel of his hand on my thigh.
Desire rushed through my veins like a wild fire, searing every inch of my body. Imperceptibly, my toes curled, enjoying the feel of his rough hands on sensitive skin that had remained untouched for far too long. He began rubbing his hand in a small circular motion, inching it up my thigh at a snail-like pace. My entire body was tense and on the verge combusting right there in the dining room. The hand on my thigh continued to edge its way up my bare leg, lingering for a moment before continuing. Just as his fingers began an erotic dance across my leg, Susan directed a question toward Taylor, jolting me out of my heated trance.
"So, Taylor. You father tells me you're majoring in music. Is that right?" Susan asked, genuinely interesting in what Taylor had to say.
A quick, flustered scan confirmed that no one was paying attention to my scarlet cheeks and shaking hands. With just one hand, Taylor had managed to breakthrough all my restraints, driving me to the brink of wanton behavior. I wanted to smack him across the knuckles with my spoon.
Liz zeroed in on my flustered appearance and frowned from across the table, silently asking, What? I shook my head in reply and looked away nervously.
"Yes, it is." Taylor's hand paused in its movement, and I took the opportunity to wet my parched throat, bringing my glass of wine to my lips and taking a large gulp. I knew I wasn't supposed to mix alcohol with my medication but it couldn't be helped. I had two thirsts demanding to be quenched and only one of them could have been dealt with right now. Taylor gave my thigh another firm squeeze, and I grumbled inward, Damn that man and his roaming hand.
Walter leaned against the table with a weary sigh. "I was hoping you would've grown out of this silly music thing by now. It's sad to see you're still so determined to ruin your life."
That was the exact moment when our wonderful dinner went to hell. The atmosphere immediately turned cold after Walter's comments. Across the table, Ryan shook his head and Liz gasped softly. Taylor's body stiffened instantaneously and he removed his hand, letting it fall away from my thigh. I was torn between feeling relieved and wanting to throw my cane at Walter.
A twitching muscle in Taylor's jaw was the only visible sign of his resentment. In a lowered voice filled with anger, he replied coldly, "Well, you are right about one thing, Father. It is my life, not yours."
"Why couldn't you choose another major?" Walter's voice was as disapproving as his countenance.
"Why? So I can end up like you? I think I'll pass." Taylor spat, anger drawing harsh lines on his face.
"And what's wrong with having a steady job that puts food on the table? You might not see it now, but you will when you have a family of your own someday soon." As he said the last part, Walter shot a meaningful glance at me and I almost swallowed my tongue.
Someone coughed, I heard Ryan sputter and I was pretty sure I died of embarrassment.
What the hell! Taylor and I weren't even… and Walter was already talking about the grandchildren that I would provide him with. The man just met me and already he was making plans for my ovaries. I shifted uneasily in my chair, completely mortified. I didn't dare look at Taylor's face to see the look planted there.
"Daddy!" Liz admonished as she regarded Walter, scolding him with her eyes.
"No, Elizabeth, your brother needs to hear this." He turned in Taylor's direction and spoke. "I don't know what's wrong with you kids today. You see fame and stardom on TV and that's what you want. But if you think I'm going to let you become some drugged up, dope fiend, you've got another thing coming, boy." He jabbed a stern finger at Taylor.
If Walter thought that Taylor was the kind of man to let himself get mixed up in drugs, then he really didn't know his son at all.
"And what you would you know about providing for a family, huh?" Taylor challenged in an eerily calm voice that unnerved me. His stare was icy as he twisted in his chair, leveling Walter with his gaze. "Your money raised us, not you. So don't act as if you know what a good provider looks like."
The momentary hurt that flashed across Walter's face proved that he had been deeply wounded by Taylor's words. Walter placed an elbow on the table and pinched his nose bridge. "My son, the musician. Where did I go wrong?" He laughed; it was a humorless, hallow sound.
At this point, Susan tried to intervene on Taylor's behalf. "Walter, there's nothing wrong with being a musician."
"Stay out of this, Susan. This doesn't concern you." Walter's tone left no room for argument or rebuttal. "This is about my son wanting to throw his life away in the entertainment industry." He wrinkled his nose, saying the last part as if it was something disgusting.
Susan was full of indignant anger as she glared daggers at Walter. Liz and I exchanged worried looks accompanied by raised eyebrows. Uh-oh. We recognized a pissed off woman when we saw one. Too bad Walter was too busy being a snob to notice. She angrily tossed her napkin on the table. "Nothing to do with me? You're talking about music as if it's somehow beneath you."
Finally I was able to understand why Susan was so angry. By coming down on Taylor about his love of music, Walter had indirectly insulted Susan's profession. After all, musicians, artists, sculptors were all involved in similar fields of creativity. You couldn't disapprove of one then turn around and approve of the others.
Poor Walter, realizing that he'd poked a hornet's nest tried to placate Susan. "Now, now, Susan. I wasn't referring to all artists. I…" His voice trailed off and he turned to Liz for assistance with a lost at sea look in his eyes.
It wasn't Liz that spoke up though; it was Taylor. "Congratulations, Father. You've once again managed to ruin a perfectly good dinner." Taylor sneered before pushing himself away from the table and storming out of the dining room. And that was the conclusion of our father-son bonding experience.
With the evening officially wrecked, everyone just sat there picking at their desserts in sullen silence. I was the first to leave the table, bidding everyone a good night. The tension was really getting to me, plus I wanted to check on Taylor. Dinner had been going so well; it was a shame that things had to end on such a sour note. It was all thanks to Walter and his controlling ways.
It wasn't until I reached the bottom of the long ass staircase that I realized that I should've waited for someone to help me up the stairs. Slowly, I began to trudge my way up the stairs one step at a time. I was on my fifth stair when I heard raised voices headed in my direction.
"I didn't mean what I said, Susan," Walter said, trailing behind Susan as she shrugged on her coat.
"I saw a different side of you tonight, Walter. A side I don't think I like very much." She left through the front door, slamming it hard behind her.
Walter's shoulders slumped marginally under an invisible burden as he stared at the door. I felt like he caught spying when he turned around and saw me standing there.
"Oh, I didn't see you there, Izzy. I thought… you'd be in your room by now. Do you need some help getting up the stairs?" Walter inquired, surprising the hell out of me.
"Um, yes, thank you." I replied unsurely, wondering where the jerk from earlier had gone.
Walter took my hold of my elbow, providing careful support as we began our ascent to the top. Once there, he released my hand and I thanked him. With an awkward nod, he started back down the stairs and something told me that Walter was heading to his study to seek solace in his work. Hobbling my way to Taylor's door, I couldn't help but think on the situation with his father.
Taylor was a contradiction. I knew he secretly longed for his father's approval, yet he would rebel against his father's attempts to control him. Walter was… a snob. I could see that there was kindness in him and that he regretted not being closer to Taylor, but his highbrow attitude was constantly getting in the way. After years of status quo, neither man knew how to break their vicious cycle of heated arguments.
My hand hung in midair as I debated whether or not I should knock first. On one hand, I didn't want to give him the chance to tell me go away. But on the other hand, I didn't just want to barge in. He could be naked… Okay, entering without knocking it is.
I turned the doorknob and let myself inside. His room was shrouded in darkness except for the moonlight streaming through his window. I scan the room for Taylor's presence and found him sitting on the edge of his bed. He was bent over with his elbows resting on his thighs. I stepped over the threshold and quietly closed the door behind me.
I hesitated a moment before crossing the room to sit beside him on the bed. Taylor kept his eyes on the floor as he reached out to take my hand in his. "I'm sorry you had to see that."
Yeah, me too, I thought silently.
"I knew this would happen. That's why I didn't want to come here."
I asked the question that was burning a hole in my mind. "Why didn't you tell him that you want to be a teacher?"
Taylor turned to peer at me in the darkness of his room. "Do you really think it would have made any difference at all?"
"I don't know. Maybe," I murmured unsurely. I hadn't been around his father long enough to speak with absolute conviction.
"My father doesn't see me, Isabella. He never has. When he looks at me, all he sees is the son he doesn't have instead of the one he does."
I didn't know what to say to that, so I chose to remain silent. Silence descended for a few minutes, and I began to feel a little drowsy from side effects of combining alcohol with pain medication. My eyelids felt heavy as I blinked, trying to stay awake. I wanted to be there for him, really I did. But a few more minutes and I would start nodding off on him.
Taylor's hand fell away from mine as I rose with the intention of leaving. "I'm sorry, Taylor, but I'm really tired. I think I'll head to my room now."
I heard the naked vulnerability in Taylor's voice as he said, "Stay." And I knew that he didn't want to be alone tonight.
"Okay. I'll just go change in my room, then I'll come back." It wouldn't be the first time we spent the night together. No big deal.
"Wait." Taylor stopped me when I made as if to leave. He padded across the room to open his bureau drawer. A t-shirt was in his hand as he advanced on me. "Here, you can sleep in this."
Blushing in self-consciousness, I took the offered t-shirt from his outstretched but had made no move to put it on. It wasn't that I was too shy to undress in front of him. My hand was still throbbing as a result of my fall earlier and I needed Liz's help to get dressed and… undressed. But seeing as Taylor was reluctant to let me leave, even for a moment, I would have to ask him to do it– I mean undress me.
Taylor stood silently, looking at me expectantly. When he noticed I wasn't moving, he asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing… It's just that my hand still hurts, so…" I closed my eyes and rushed the words out of my mouth. "You'll have to undress me."
After a moment of humiliated silence, I cracked one eye open to peek at him. The heat of his gaze left me at a momentary lost of breath.
Taylor's voice sounded deep and gravely as he murmured, "Okay."
He stepped closer with his eyes locked on my face, then brought his hands up only to leave them lingering in the air. Only when he sensed I was ready did he begin to unbutton my blouse, agonizingly slow. The room was dead silent except for the soft pops my blouse made with every freed button. When he was finished with that he raised his hands to my shoulders, pushing the blouse down my arms and away from my body. Taylor stood still taking in every inch of skin that remained uncovered by my plain white bra. I struggled not to fidget under his stare.
Time seemed to stand still as he caressed my skin lightly, pausing to trace my rapidly beating pulse with his fingertips. As his hands moved away from my collarbone and across my shoulders, my flesh prickled with goose pimples under his hands. Taylor walked around to my side then lowered himself to his knees. I gasped softly in surprise when I felt his warm breath on the side of my waist where my zip was located. He placed one hand on my stomach and the other on my lower back, holding me in place as he did one of the most erotic things I'd ever seen.
Taylor leaned forward and grabbed a hold of my zipper with his teeth. My zip made no sound as he worked the slider down the plastic teeth, freeing me from my skirt. It pooled around my ankle and I stepped out of it. Taylor stood before walking around me, feeling me up with his eyes. Silently, I thanked my lucky stars that I hadn't worn my comfortable underwear with the hole in the butt cheek.
Having completed his inspection, Taylor removed the t-shirt from my grasp, wordlessly motioning for me to lift my hands. I did so and he slid it over my hands, allowing the garment to drape my body. As he did this, his hands brushed against my nipple, causing me to shiver. He took my hand, leading me over to sit on his bed where he then proceeded to remove my ankle brace. Of course, he couldn't resist tickling the back of my knee, and I smacked his arm in retaliation.
With a touch of beguilement, I grumbled, "You are such a tease." Taylor smiled rakishly in response but then his smile slipped, revealing just how tired he was.
Looks like teasing will be the most we do tonight, I mused silently. Trying to communicate my understanding, I reached out with a feather touch and lightly touched his cheek.
Without looking, I reached behind me and caught the edge of the blanket. I drew it back before slipping beneath them, indulging in the warmth that surrounded me. As I tried to make myself more comfortable, Taylor began to remove his clothes.
While trying not to hyperventilate, I watched him remove his shirt, revealing an alluring expanse of well-muscled flesh.
As he unbuckled his belt and began to unzip his pants, the risk of asphyxiation became a high probability.
When he motioned to take off his boxers too, I declared time of death. The coroner showed up to take my body away, pitifully shaking his head at the pathetic way in which I'd met my demise.
Taylor smirked at my bug-eyed expression and removed his hand from the waistband of his boxers. Once again, the big jerk was trying to rattle me. The mattress shifted beneath my body as he slipped onto the bed to lie down beside me. In an attempt to save face, I rolled away from him, giving him my back. But Taylor only chuckled in response. Oh, I will have my revenge, Spanish man. You just wait and see.
My breath hitched in my throat when Taylor's hand encircled my waist, resting on the bare skin of my stomach that had been exposed when my t-shirt rode up. My resolve to stay mad at him almost crumbled when he began to trace small circles with his fingertips. I clamped my thighs together tightly, trying to stave off the growing ache that had reawakened between them.
Warm breath tickled my ear before Taylor teased, "Goodnight."
"Oh, shut up," I grumbled and was rewarded with yet another rumbling laugh. His hand moved across my stomach, skimming over my hips and down the length of my thigh. When he began to knead my thigh, I held back a moan that was building in the back of my throat. Suddenly, to my absolute relief and annoyance, Taylor's hand stopped moving.
"Goodnight," Taylor repeated in a strained voice before giving my leg one final squeeze and returning to its former place against my stomach.
"Goodnight," I squeaked, my calm resolve completely shattered, and I wondered if I would be able to get any sleep with Taylor pressed up against me. Eventually, my body began to relax and my eyes drifted shut. All in all, I slept pretty well… except for the strange floating sensations I experienced throughout the night.
A/N: Hey guys, I'm back after health issues and hospital visits... Anywho, still alive and kicking.
Back to the story: How did you like Taylor and his dinner table teasing?
What was the strange package delivered to the house? Liz has something up her sleeve.
Walter's a bit of a jerk putting Bella on the spot like that.
Taylor and the teeth thing... Damn!
Coming up next: Revenge of the roaming hand part II.
Someone spies Bella sneaking back to her room.
Ryan outs himself and Liz in the process.
Walter and Bella go head to head.
Bella walks in on Taylor while he's...
And Bella dangles her meat in front of the tiger's cage.
A/N: I have an announcement to make at the end of the Boston chapters. And no, it's not one saying that I'm quitting this story, so you can relax.
Working on the next chapter. Review!
