Frayed (24 page)

My left headphone was suddenly moved aside as Taylor leaned close. “Do I kiss like I’m consuming you whole?”

I cocked my head a little so I could do a little consuming of my own with my eyes taking in that gorgeous face. “Why ask if you know the answer, pretty boy?”

His eyes danced as he gave me a few quick kisses. “Just making sure, a guy needs a little assurance once in a while.” Taylor winked at me before he placed my headphones back. I happily sighed when he pulled me against his chest and wrapped his arms around me. Lindsey caught us and simply stuck out her tongue, smiling.

Jill gave a little blushing laugh after Bass said something I missed. “Bass your fans sent a lot of questions, but we could only choose a few. The first question is from Sheila M. from Seattle. ‘Are you still dating Lydia Cornwell?’”

Bass cleared his throat before answering the question. His blue eyes looked very pronounced on the screen. “No, Lydia and I parted ways a couple of months back.”

“I heard both men are actually single, but not the leading lady. Miss Emma, we did a little digging of our own and we found out that you’re dating a soccer player, Carter Mason from LA Galaxy. Carter’s Facebook was packed with pictures of you both from when you guys started dating. Here, the team made a little video.” All of them were watching the television that was on the left of Jill. Emma was uncomfortable. Bass looked rigid and Dimitris was frowning.

The screen before us was now filled with Carter’s Facebook page. It was like a timeline of them together from the first night they kissed, them dancing, more kissing, Emma being carried in his arms, Emma writing
I love you
on his chest with her lipstick, pictures of Emma’s sleeping face, another one of her smiling at Carter and the last one, was of her wearing his jersey from LA Galaxy while blowing him a kiss.

Shit
, Carter didn’t play for the LA team until a few months back.
What was going on here?
Lindsey and I shared a look of horror as we both turned our attention back to Emma and Bass. They looked the same as earlier, but if you looked closely, there was tension between Bass and Emma.

“Wow, you’re boyfriend’s definitely gorgeous. I can tell you two are so in love. I like a guy who’s not afraid to tell the world that you’re his girl.” Jill meant the words as she grinned at Emma.

“Yeah, that’s Carter. He’s very
persistent
,” Emma murmured.

After Jill asked Emma more questions in regards to the movie, she shifted the questioning to Bass and Dimitris. It went on for another hour before it finally ended. Jill was going to visit them again tomorrow during filming, so she could get a glimpse of what it was like behind the scenes. Since there wasn’t much space on the island, Jill and her crew had to fly back to Athens instead of staying closer to the cast and crew.

Taylor and I were making out on the outdoor couch when he heard someone slide the door open. It was Bass heading towards us. They all were supposed to eat at the villa tonight, so I was surprised to find him here. “Would it be okay if I could speak to Trista alone?” He directed his gaze to Taylor. Who simply nodded, stood up and patted Bass’s shoulder.

“What’s up B?” I asked when Taylor disappeared inside the cottage.

“I have questions, and I think you’re the only person that can truly answer them for me.” Bass sat on the other end of the couch and stared at the sea, deep in thought. “What are the chances Emma will go back to him, Trista? Please be honest. I know you love her, but I don’t think I could stand it if she left again. I’d rather be prepared if there’s a chance she would, so I can separate myself away from her sooner.”

Oh, fuck
. I was really getting punished. What the heck do I tell him? “Bass…maybe you should ask her that, not me. She’s the one you should be talking to.”

“I did. She brushed me off like it was not a big deal, but it is. To me it is. Those pictures brought everything back. Emma looked happy and it was plain to see how much love was shared between the two. So, please, just answer me truthfully. Where does Carter stand with her?”

The man really was hurting. “Back in February, something major happened, like a deal breaker, I guess. Around that time she caught him with five girls. Since then, he’s been begging for forgiveness. She’s crazy about you now, Bass. Don’t let old pictures from her past ruin what you two have.” Bass just shook his head and didn’t utter a damn word. “You
do
love her don’t you?”

Bass made a sad laugh, running both of his hands through his hair. “I don’t know if even should.” He then stood up and looked at me. “Thank you, I know there’s more to the story, but I know you won’t tell me, anyway. I also know that you’re protecting her, but you have to understand that I cannot go through this the second time with Emma. I’m going away for the night. I need to think away from her. Tell her I’ll be back tomorrow
morning before the shoot, so she doesn’t worry.” He left by way of the beach, looking torn and sad all together.

“He doesn’t look good,” Taylor said behind me.

My heart ached for Bass. He really was crazy about Emma and my friend was crazy about him, too, but she still felt something for Carter. I think that’s what Bass realized today and deep down, I think he knew that. “Yeah, I hope they sort that out. They’re great together.”

“They are, but for him to come out here and talk to you means that he’s had his doubts for a while. One thing is for sure, he would have a hard time dealing with it if he did walk away.” Taylor took my feet and placed them on his thighs while he gently massaged them. His hands applied enough pressure to subdue my mind and body.

Man, this dude was awesome.

“Gosh, I wonder what other skills you have up your sleeve. You keep surprising me, Taylor.” I sagged against the couch, my body floating away from me as I lavished in the heavenly feeling.

           “So foot massages get me praises? I should’ve known you’re a sucker to being serviced.” He pulled at my toe, teasing me.

I simply giggled at his touch. It tickled the hell out of my foot. My soles were quite sensitive and he seemed to be enjoying it. “Tell me one person in this world who doesn’t love being serviced, pretty boy? I bet the pope even has his own personal fetch-me person.”

“You and your nicknames, does it ever end?”

I lounged back, comfortable and satisfied with my ongoing present relationship with Taylor. “Nah. It’s fun and quirky when you make your own catch-phrases. That’s just the way I am. Don’t count on it ever changing.”

“I never said I wanted you to change, Tris. You’re unique, quirks and all, and I like that about you,” Taylor said before planting a kiss on both of my big toes.

“That’s the sweetest compliment anyone has ever given me.” I was way more than touched. My heart soared for a bit.

“Anymore services you wish, Lady Princess?”

This guy was utterly killing me. I sat up and moved to straddle him. Intertwining my arms around his neck, my lips touched the tip of his nose. “I want to do the dirty underneath the stars.” 

“I think I can easily make that happen,” Taylor murmured as his lips hovered around the side of mine.

Chapter 21

Trista

Two weeks later,
For two weeks, we explored the entire island. All the fruit orchards,
the few
small caves, creeks and
we
tried to learn the Greek language
(I failed this miserably)
.
The most enjoyable part was trying all the exotic food and kissing Taylor in between bites. Yeah, we tend to kiss quite a bit. And
I
shamelessly adore it.

I was out on the patio playing Bejeweled Blitz when
Taylor sought me out with an overly-excited grin on his face. “Come here, I have a surprise for you.” He held out his hand to me.

Beaming, I placed mine in his before he dragged us out of the cottage. “What is it? It’s nothing weird, right?” I hoped it wasn’t.

He led us down to the beach and started walking towards the right, the opposite direction of civilization. “Taylor?” I asked nervously when it started to get darker around us. The lights from the cottages where almost gone, but he kept walking ahead.

“Calm down, I’m not going to murder you.”

I smacked his stomach as he laughed at me. “That’s not funny, idiot. It’s just dark and I can’t see where we’re going. I’m scared that’s all.”

“Aw, baby. You have nothing to be scared of when I’m with you. I promise I’ll protect you with my life, scouts honor.”

I snorted at him. “Yeah right, there were no boy scouts at your boarding school in Switzerland!”

He kept on laughing. “That’s right, there weren’t, but still, I mean it. We’re almost there now
.
,
K
k
eep walking, lazy cat.”

I was stunned when I saw what he had done for me. Ahead was a big bonfire, a sleeping bag, a large blanket laid out with food, wine and pastries, all surrounded with red rose petals. The heady scent lingered in the air. “I didn’t know you were so romantic,” I whispered in awe of the man who did all this for me. I took my sandals off and felt the soft petals on my feet as they sunk in the sand.

“I hide that trait very well. It only comes out during the full moon.” He leaned over and kissed me passionately. “Do you like it? You said you wanted to do it under the stars and I wanted to be the one you got plenty of experience of that with.”

No man has ever done anything this romantic for me. Not a one. I was unequivocally touched. “I love it, pretty boy. Thank you. Thank you!”

“You’re very welcome. Let’s eat before I devour you instead of the food.” Taylor kissed my forehead before he led me towards the blanket that was covered in petals, too.

While we sat, enjoying our wine, Taylor took a piece of charred beef in his fingers and fed me. “Taylor, did you forget forks?”

“I didn’t, but I want to feed you with my hands. I want to feel your mouth suck and lick them while you enjoy the food.”

Dear, Lordy. I was a sucker for th
e
i
s
e
shit
romantic gestures
. “You’re on a roll tonight, aren’t you Mr. Boss?”

“Boss will most definitely be rolling non-stop tonight. All night long, baby.”

Tonight, it was just us. Not even my mind or conscience could intrude on our night together.

He took his time undressing me, placing small kisses here and there until I was completely naked. My heart was beating erratically and I was mesmerized as he slowly undressed before me. His eyes never left mine.

We stood gazing at each other, naked. The fire crackled close by, but all I saw was this man, who was bulldozing his way into me, pounding cracks into the solid barriers I had erected. It was like a magnetic force, it was too powerful to resist as we closed the gap. When our lips touched, I opened up to him. I kissed with everything that I was, everything he meant to me, and everything he’d made me feel.
Beautiful
, that’s what Taylor made me feel—truly, positively, exactly and irresistibly beautiful.

We kissed as he slowly lowered me down on the blanket. He was atop me as his hands and lips were busy with my face and neck, kissing me like I was the most precious thing he’d ever held. “I want you,” I whispered against his mouth as I opened my legs wider to accommodate him. His hard length nestled in between my wet parted lips, but he didn’t seem too eager to move.

“You will have me, I just want to savor you slowly, Trista. We have all night. I promise to make it worth your while if you let me take the lead, hmm?” I gave a frustrated groan as my hips started to move against his shaft, wetting it with my essence as he kissed me. “You’re not very good with instructions are you?”

“Nah-uh.”
He should know that by now.

“Then let me show you how a man makes love to a woman, Trista. I’m challenged to change your mind.”

And by God did he just.
We made love with such slowness and sweetness, I was sure I was coming pure sugar.

After coming apart four times in a row, I was sure my vocal cords were ready to join the opera house. My hazy mind diminished even more when Taylor’s eyes bored into mine. “I hope that someday you will find the happiness you desperately seek, Trista.”

I hoped so, too. He had no idea how much.

Chapter 22

Trista

After having a quick lunch at one of the island’s taverna, Taylor was adamant we learned how to fish with nets when one of the old folks invited us to join them.

“Hey! If the world ended tomorrow and we had to live like they did back in the Stone Age, I think it’s in our best interest to learn how to survive and catch fish. Since we both live close to the Pacific Ocean, it’s the most plausible solution. You’ll thank me for it. Get up off of your lazy bum now, Lady
p
Princess.” Taylor grabbed both of my hips and lifted me to stand. “I love it when you’re almost obedient.” He bent over and kissed me.