TamingTai Read online

  Now, with Christa’s body twisting against his, he wondered what had ever made him think he could resist the chance to touch her again. She was pure magic. Whatever the price, he couldn’t walk away now. He needed her. Needed it. One more time. One more memory to last him the rest of his life.

  He pulled back to watch her face as he slipped one hand between her thighs, cupping the molten heat of her pussy through her nightclothes. She bucked toward him. Parting her robe with the flick of his wrist, he pushed up the short hem of her nightgown. His cock throbbed as he realized she wasn’t wearing panties and he paused in hopes of regaining even an ounce of sanity.

  “Please, Tai,” she groaned. “Please.”

  He wanted to roar with satisfaction when she said his name, begging for his touch.

  Fuck sanity. “Tell me what you want. Is it this?” He closed his hand over her, flexing his finger until it was buried deep in her tight sheath. She gasped, he growled. “Fuck, that’s tight. Just like I remember. Like wet silk. I can’t wait to feel your pussy clench over me when you come. I still dream about it.”

  Sanity returned for a brief moment as his words rang in his ears. He wanted to bite his tongue off. Don’t let her in. Don’t you fucking do it.

  He bent his head, slanting his mouth over hers. Her lips were swollen from her biting them and he nipped her hard. Her pussy tightened over his finger and his cock jerked in response. He slid out then thrust in again, grinding against her clit with the heel of his hand.

  Her hips arched against him, fighting for leverage, trying to find the rhythm her body so desperately needed. He pulled back, gazing down at her flushed face. She stared up at him, eyes wild with need. “Spread your legs,” he whispered, pressing his knee against one of hers, urging her to open for him. She did, a shiver running through her.

  “That’s right. Now untie that robe.”

  She lifted a trembling hand to the sash, clumsily untying it. The sides fell open and the sight that greeted him almost brought him to his knees. The modest, perky breasts he’d remembered had grown a little fuller, heavier. The dusky-pink nipples called to his mouth and he couldn’t resist, bending low to capture one. He pulled deeply and she whimpered.

  “Your mouth is so hot.” She threaded her hands in his hair and pulled him tighter to her satin skin. The smell of honeysuckle filled his nostrils, rushing to his head.

  He had been so right. She was already bewitching him. He briefly imagined stopping, walking away, before coming to the humbling realization that he didn’t possess the power to do it. The hold she’d had over him since the day they met had more than weathered their ten years apart. He’d been fooling himself pretending otherwise. It wasn’t discipline that had kept him away from her. It was only physical distance and lack of opportunity. The sooner he could re-create those conditions, the better.

  She closed a hand over his jeans-clad cock, her sure grip banishing all coherent thought from his head.

  “I want you inside me. Please.”

  Her fingers fumbled with the buttons of his fly and he pulled his hands away from her body to yank them open. His cock sprang free, unencumbered. She didn’t waste a second, closing her fist over him, stroking him just how he liked it. Long and hard. His hips pumped forward and back of their own accord as every nerve in his body lit up with need.

  “Mmm,” she groaned, dropping to her knees to lave the bead of pre-cum that had escaped him.

  He squeezed his eyes shut, knowing the sight of her golden head bobbing over him would be the end. Battling the clawing need to feel the back of her throat with the head of his cock, to pound into that hungry mouth until she sucked him dry, he wrapped his hand in her hair and urged her to stand.

  He stepped forward, pushing her back until she was flush against the wall.

  “Open those thighs for me, doll.”

  Her legs bounced against his but she did as he asked. He splayed a hand over her flat stomach, then lower, past the light smattering of feathery hair to her soaking-wet slit. He slicked a finger over her plumped clit and her whole body tensed.

  “You ready for me?”

  She tossed her head in a semblance of a nod. He pulled away, jamming his hand into his jeans pocket, fumbling for a condom, but she stayed his hand. “I’m on the Pill, and I…well, I’m safe. You? I know with the groupies and—”

  “No. I’m safe.” Him and Christa, with nothing between them…but everything.

  She lifted her leg high and draped it over his hip. He shoved his jeans down to his knees as she closed her hand over his length again, robbing him of the ability to speak. She worked his shaft until he took both hips in his hands and hoisted her up, bracing her against the wall. A breathless moment passed as he hovered over her entrance, the heat and moisture from her pussy bathing the tip of his cock. She reached between them and pressed forward, slowly feeding his cock into her clutching heat inch by torturous inch. He ground his teeth together as the tight channel gripped him, stealing his sanity.

  Unable to stand it another second, he gripped the backs of her thighs and flexed forward, thrusting hard. Her breathy gasps became keening moans as his cock pulsed and bucked deep inside her.

  “Don’t move for a second,” he said, his voice ragged with the strain of holding back.

  She nodded mindlessly, but her hips fluttered against him. “I just need…”

  His fingers dug into her pliant flesh as he searched for the last of his shredded discipline. “I know what you need, doll, and I can’t wait to give it to you.”

  Her face twisted with need. He took a steadying breath and began the advance and retreat she was pleading for. Deep, then deeper, the drag of her inner muscles stroking his cock, milking him. She tossed her head, her back arching as he pounded into her, his thrusts coming faster, harder.

  “Oh God. Tai, I—”

  Her hoarse scream nearly stripped him of the little control he had left but he weathered the onslaught. This was the last time he’d ever touch Christa Reilly. He wasn’t leaving until he’d marked her as surely as she’d marked him. She would never forget this night.

  He pinched his eyes shut as she quieted against him. Her soft moans became sighs and he pulled away, the molten drag of her pussy against his cock a lure so strong it almost brought him to his knees.

  She let out a grunt of protest as her feet touched the ground. “What are you doing?” she mumbled. “You didn’t…”

  “Oh believe me, I will. But I need to taste you first.”

  He pinned her hips to the wall with firm hands, making his way down her body, nipping and licking along the way. A light mist of sweat clung to her stomach where they’d been locked together and he flicked out his tongue to collect the salty droplets. Her muscles tensed as he moved lower. She was so damn responsive, he found himself wishing he had hours to explore her. But each minute he spent would turn into countless hours of torture later as he relived every move, every touch, over and over.

  She speared her fingers into his hair, urging him lower, and his troubled thoughts melted away. Just a few more minutes of this. A few more minutes of Christa. He pressed a kiss to one lean hip, then the other. He sank to his knees and pulled back to stare. The wisp of golden hair between her thighs was a sorry camouflage for the succulent, slick flesh beneath. His cock pulsed as he struggled for some superhuman discipline that might allow him to take her with his mouth gently, savor her. He lost the battle, leaning forward with a muffled curse and plunging his tongue into her folds.

  “Tai, oh God, it’s too much.”

  She was tearing at his hair, holding him down one second, trying to pull him up the next, but he hung on. Her clit was plump and firm, and he pressed forward, wrapping his lips around it. He sucked. She screamed. Her legs clenched as she ground her pussy against him now. His name was a chant as she came, her clit pulsing in his mouth.

  The moment the tremors stopped, he tore his mouth away and stood. Her glassy gaze captured his, but he closed his eyes. He lifted
her leg and planted himself into the vee of her thighs. Clutching her hips in a punishing grip, he thrust forward and up. His cock was full to bursting as her body closed over him in a tight, wet embrace. The breath left his lungs in a whoosh. Memories of the past coalesced with reality as he rocked into her, slow at first, then harder…faster. He could almost hear the soft lapping of the water at the edge of the lake. See the look of shocked wonder the first time she came.

  The sound of bodies slapping together grew louder, dragging him back to reality, as he slammed into her. The clasp and release of her pussy was a siren song for him to follow. She cried out, gasping his name. His balls pulled tight as liquid snaked up the length of his cock. The orgasm hit him hard, his vision blurring as hot streams of cum spurted into her. He rode her hard to the end as his body jerked and bucked against hers.

  She shuddered, the aftershocks of her climax an internal caress. After a moment, she collapsed into him, spent, and he braced his thighs, holding her upright. His heart thundered in his chest as he struggled to catch his breath. Amazing. And exactly the reason why sex for him had been scarce over the past ten years. Nothing else compared and after a while, he’d just stopped chasing it. He wanted nothing more than to carry her to bed and stay there all night. Hell, forever. But she was poison. Why did he conveniently forget that every time he was within five feet of her? Time to get back that oh-so-necessary distance before he lost himself forever. He buried his face in her hair and took one last, long sniff, then pulled away, shutters firmly in place.

  He cleared his tight throat and rasped, “That was real nice, doll.” With a pat on the ass, he stepped away, leaving her to cling to the wall.

  She pushed the hair from her eyes with an unsteady hand and gave a tremulous smile, her breath still coming in pants.

  He forced himself to ignore the sexy sounds, bending to retrieve his t-shirt. Guilt made his voice even gruffer. “It was fun…catching up with you.” He yanked his shirt over his head and made his way to the door. “Have a nice life.”

  The strangled cry nearly made his knees buckle but he couldn’t stop now. Save yourself, every instinct screamed. He turned the knob and opened the door.

  “Tai,” she called on a broken sob.

  He hadn’t even finished buttoning his fly over his still-damp cock when he walked out the door. Don’t think, just move. One foot in front of the other.

  It wasn’t until he’d walked halfway back to the bus that he realized his whole body was quaking. In spite of his best effort to think of something—anything—else, he couldn’t get the expression on her face off his mind. She’d looked…destroyed. Why did that make him want to comfort her? To hold her and kiss her and tell her everything would be okay.

  He ran a shaky hand through his hair and let out a vicious string of curses. After what she’d put him through, now she was the injured party? What right did she have to feel hurt? And still, she was hurt. That much he knew for sure. The best actress in the world couldn’t have faked the devastation she’d felt at his cold words and abrupt departure.

  Maybe it was just shock and anger that she hadn’t gotten what she wanted. Little-rich-girl syndrome. His lip curled as he contemplated that possibility. It would certainly make his callous treatment of her easier to swallow. But something about that explanation didn’t sit right. There wasn’t even a hint of anger in her face. Just utter despair.

  Acid churned in his gut as he approached the Man Bus. The lights were on. Not what he’d been hoping for. That meant Gigi was probably awake, ready to pounce. He climbed the steps, prepared to barrel in and shoot down her questions sniper-style. But when he stepped through the door to find her sitting on the couch, gazing at him expectantly through concern-filled eyes, something in him cracked. He opened his mouth to speak and but no words would come. She stood and silently held her arms out to him.

  He stepped in and bent low, laying his head on her shoulder, then sucked in a shuddering breath. “Jesus, I’m so fucked in the head, Gi.”

  Chapter Six

  Christa rubbed a hand over her gritty eyes and looked at the clock. Nine a.m. She’d finally managed to fall asleep at six after a four-hour crying jag followed by a call to room service for two bowls of ice cream.

  She closed her eyes when the phone buzzed. Her heart took a dive as she snatched it up.

  “H-hello?”

  “Sorry to disturb you, Ms. Reilly. You have a visitor who insists you’re expecting her. A Miss Somerville?”

  She shook her head, nonplussed. “I don’t know a Mi—”

  A loud voice called into the phone “It’s Gigi!”

  The clerk cleared his throat. “Yes, well. Gigi, then.”

  “Send her up.”

  She tried to work up the energy to splash some water on her face and brush her teeth, but instead lay there staring at the ceiling.

  The knock at the door startled her a few minutes later, and she rose to answer it.

  “Come on in,” she said with a wary nod.

  “What the hell are you trying to pull?” Gigi snarled without preamble, stepping in and closing the door behind her with a snap.

  Christa stared down at the shorter woman and struggled to find some composure. “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about right now.”

  “Really? Tai came home in the middle of the night looking like he’d just left a funeral. You’re telling me you didn’t have a hand in that?” Her ivory cheeks were sporting two spots of angry color, but her eyes just looked sad.

  Christa ran a hair through her hair, suddenly more tired than she’d ever been in her life. “It’s complicated.”

  “No, it’s actually really simple. You need to stop. He told you to stay away and you pushed and you pushed. You got what you wanted. He came here last night. Congratulations. You fucked him up real good. Again. Now do us all a favor and go back to where you came from.”

  Gigi turned and had her hand on the door before Christa could speak past the lump in her throat.

  “I love him. I’ve always loved him.”

  Gigi let out a snort. “Yeah, well, from what I hear, you’re shitty at it.”

  That did it. The dam broke and the tears she’d thought she cried out came back with a vengeance.

  “Come on, stop that.” Gigi’s voice was still hard, but she’d stopped yelling and the hand on the doorknob hesitated.

  “I’m sorry. I know he’s your f-friend. I never meant to hurt him. Not now and not then. It’s not what you think.”

  Gigi stepped back in the room and folded her arms over her chest. “Okay, explain it to me then, because I just don’t get it. I mean, sure, you’re pretty. But what was so great about you that an amazing guy like Tai would get into a fight with a guy you were two-timing him with? If you couldn’t make up your mind between them, he should’ve just dumped your ass. You don’t seem like that much of a prize to me.”

  Laughter broke through the tears, bubbling unbidden from her lips. “Is that what he told you? They had a fight over me?”

  Gigi raised a dubious brow. “You’re telling me they didn’t?”

  “Oh no, they did. After Pierce tried to rape me, they definitely got into a fight. I just wouldn’t have worded it exactly the way Tai did.”

  Gigi’s face grew pale and she leaned hard against the door. “Rape?” she whispered.

  God, she hated that word. That she’d almost been a statistic. “Apparently Tai didn’t tell you the whole story.”

  “No. No he didn’t. I’d really like to hear it now, but if it’s too hard to talk about, I understand.” Sympathy had softened her expression—she’d lost most of her bluster.

  “I haven’t told this story out loud since…well, ever.” She marveled at that even as she said it. Her parents couldn’t wait to sweep it all under the rug, as if it had never happened. After a while, it hadn’t seemed like all that bad of a plan. Now she wondered.

  She poked around and realized it was long past time. “I want to tell you. An
d there was no rape. Tai didn’t let that happen.”

  “Oh this sounds like a doozy. Maybe we should sit.” Gigi motioned toward the kitchenette and Christa led the way. She set a kettle on the stove and they sat, facing one another. Gigi’s eyes had lost most of their fire. Confusion clouded her pretty features as she waited patiently.

  Christa took a steadying breath and blew it out in a rush. “Where to start? Well, Tai and I met in our sophomore year of high school. He transferred in from Longley, a public school a couple towns over. His mom worked three jobs for almost five years to save the money to send him to Westerbrook High. God, he hated it,” she said with a short laugh. “Thought the guys were douchebags and girls were snobby.

  “Thing was, the more aloof and angsty he got, the more those snobby girls wanted him. I was no different. He was so beautiful, and so sweet and strong. The first time we met I was in the lunch line and realized I’d forgotten my lunch money. I was so embarrassed, standing at the register with my food and no cash to pay for it. Before I could set it down, Tai walked up from the back of the line and paid for mine. I was tongue-tied just looking at him close up and didn’t even say thank you. Wasn’t until later I realized that he’d given me his lunch money for the day and didn’t get to eat.”

  “That’s Tai for you.” Gigi nodded with a sad half-smile.

  “Anyway, I knew I had to thank him somehow so I made this mix tape for him. Silly songs from a girl with a crush, you know? Songs from Grease and the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, a bunch of corny eighties and nineties songs that I loved. I gave it to him one day after school. At first he was standoffish, but we ended up sitting on the stone wall in front of the gymnasium for hours. By the time it started getting dark, I was more than halfway in love with him.”

  She cleared her clogged throat. “But I had a boyfriend, sort of. Pierce Ridell. He was more like a family friend. The Ridells were very influential, and our parents had made it no secret they wanted us to marry some day. I wasn’t a big risk taker back then, and there was no chance my parents would ever let me date Tai, so we kept things platonic for a long time. He was the best friend I ever had and neither of us wanted to give the other up entirely, but it was torture being together and not being together. For us both.”