| "Tay?" I prompted. He sighed. "I don't know, Jessie....what kind of car does Eric drive?" "It's not much different than this one, same model, but older and green. Why?" I asked. "Because I thought I saw him in the parking lot. Then when you came out, we heard the tires screech...the car was like the one you just described..." he said. "Damn, Tay...I didn't realize he bothered you that much. But we ARE at a grocery store.." I chuckled. "Even assholes like him have to eat.." He grinned at me, and I could see him relax a little. "Honey, he WON'T do anything to me, not if he wants to get his stupid money..I will be fine. I can handle him 'till after the next contest..then he's gone. I promise." I rubbed his arm to try to reassure him. He reached over and gave my thigh a squeeze. "Alright, Jessie...there's just something about the way he acts...the other night when he called you...I wanted to jump through the phone line and knock his teeth down his throat." he said angrily. "Tay! Baby...the way he's been treating you, I don't blame you.. and believe me, he got an earful while you were gone. But I honestly just think he sees you as a distraction from my training..a threat to his paycheck, which will be quite large if I win I might add, that's all." He chuckled, "I'd have liked to hear you give him that earful, Jess." I laughed, "Ask Jakey when you get back next time..the whole gym heard it.." "Damn! I missed it?" he laughed then and we moved on to better subjects. |
| We got to my apartment and, as usual, Taylor turned the stereo on. He came into the kitchen and helped me put the groceries away. I fixed us something to eat and we cleaned up together. I was thinking to myself about how right and comfortable it felt to have him there with me just doing little, mundane ordinary things. "Hey, what are you smiling about?" he asked teasingly. "You, you big dork! Stop teasing me..." I tried to act offended. He raised an eyebrow at me. "Oh really? And just what about me were you thinking?" "Oh good lord!" I grumbled. "you're gonna make me tell you?" "Uh huh..." he smiled , crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back against the counter. "I'll never tell.." I teased and jokingly pushed him out of the way, as if to get something from the cabinet above his head. He grabbed me by the shoulders and spun me around. He cupped my face in his hands and stared into my eyes. "Tell me, Jessie.." he had turned so serious I couldn't speak for a moment. He ran a hand through my hair and touched my lips with his fingertips. I kissed them and took his hands in mine. |
| "I was thinking how nice it was to have you here, even doing dumb stuff like washing dishes. I hate it that you have to leave again." I said. "I won't be gone long, baby..." he said quietly. "I'll miss you so much." I felt the tears stinging behind my eyelids as I closed them. I shook my head. "No, no, no...I'm not gonna do this now...." I said, my voice barely a whisper. "I can't.." Taylor let out an anguished groan. "Jessie...c'mon baby..." he had pulled me into his arms and was busy stroking my hair and back. I buried my face in his chest and held on to him. I took a deep breath and let it out. I looked up at Taylor, who was looking as distraught as I felt, and was immediately sorry I said anything at all. "Oh god, Tay...I'm sorry, I know you have to go, I do. I'm just glad you'll be back so soon.." I brushed his hair out of his eyes. "I am too, Jess. But I hate the thought of leaving you here to deal with Eric all by yourself." I giggled. "Jeez! Tay..I can deal with THAT much better than I can with you leaving...holy shit! Yelling at guy who's acting like a moron is alot easier than watching the man I love get on a plane and go a thousand miles away..." I admonished. I wiped my eyes and looked up at him. He was staring at me intensely, eyes dark with desire. "Do you love me, Jessie?" he asked softly. "With all my heart, Taylor. More than you could possibly know.." I answered him and kissed him, letting my fingers play with the ends of his hair. |
| He lifted me up by the waist and set me on the counter. I wound my arms around his neck and kissed him again. He rested his forehead on mine and stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. "I love you, Jess. I know it's all gone so fast...but I KNOW I love you..I can't get through a day now, without thinking about you a hundred times or more...I think of you when I fall asleep at night, wondering if you are doing the same thing...you drive me crazy, Jess. We have to make it work. We will..." he spoke softly and quickly, like he was afraid that if he didn't say what he wanted to say right then, I wouldn't be there later to listen. "Tay.." I began slowly, trying to choose my words carefully, to make sure he understood exactly what I was feeling. "I love you, you know I do...I'm not some spaced out teenaged fan...I realized what kind of life you lived right away," I told him, "I know it involves lots of travel and long hours in the studio... " I giggled. "Even crazy women and girls throwing themselves at you, or at least their underwear..." even he had to chuckle at that one. "I KNOW all this Tay, and I understand it. Honestly. I don't have to LIKE you being away alot, but I understand it and I will get used to it. Please don't look so upset..." He stared at me, like he was shocked. |
| "Tay," I continued, "I don't think you realize that if I go where I want to with these competitions, the same things will be happening for me..magazine ads, interviews. TV appearances, and yes, I will have to travel almost as much as you do, for at least a year. Are you willing to deal with that as much as I am willing to deal with your life..the way it is?" I asked him.I looked down at my lap and sighed. He lifted my chin so that I would have to look him in the eyes. I felt as if I would fall into a dark cavern if I let go of him, his expression was so loving and intense. "Jessie," he said, "I will do whatever it takes. I LOVE YOU..." he kissed me again and I was lost immediately in the sweet taste of his lips, the silkiness of his golden hair between my fingers, the warmth and closeness of his body to mine with his arms around me. His kiss became more demanding and I could feel my own heart race with desire. I buried my hands even farther in his hair and kissed him back with all the longing I felt for him. He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me into the bedroom. Our lips never parted as he lowered me to the bed and shifted his weight so that he was lying on top of me but not enough to crush me. I leaned toward him, unwilling to part from him even for a moment, and continued to kiss him, my hands wandering over his body, feeling every muscle in his strong back only to have my hands find their way into his soft, silky hair. He kissed his way down my neck, unbuttoning my blouse as he coninued the trail he was making with his mouth down my chest and between my breasts. His tongue traced the outline of my bra, before he unfastened the front hook and removed the obstacle. He pushed both bra and blouse back off my shoulders and helped me to remove them. His long fingers traced my collarbone, before trailing their way to my already erect nipples, his mouth soon followed the same course. I sucked in my breath as he took one nipple in his mouth and sucked on it greedily, my hands consistently winding themselves in his hair, or caressing his back. He kissed his way down my belly and ficked his tongue round my navel ring as he unbuttoned my pants and slid them down my hips, I lifted them, helping him to remove all obstacles in his way to our joining. I could feel his hot tongue traveling my body, causing me to wither underneath him already, in anticiption. |