This Time Around (Maybe #2)(27)

When Taiya gets home, her face lights up as she spots me in her room watching TV. She throws her bag on the floor and jumps on top of me, before kissing me senseless.

“You look good in my bed,” she says, laying her head on my chest.

“I brought dinner.”

“I can see that, thank you,” she murmurs. Her hands wander over my chest, leaving no spot untouched.

“What are you doing there, hmmmm?” I ask as her tongue peeps out to lick my abs.

“Showing my man how much I missed him today,” she says softly. She sits up and lowers her head to kiss me, undoing my button at the same time. Taiya used to be very shy, and it’s nice seeing her like this. Taking what she wants. Although it hurts to think of who she’s been with to make her so comfortable. I push those thoughts away, instead concentrating on the pleasure my wife brings me. She pulls my cock out of my boxer shorts and takes me into her mouth with one long, deep suck.

This must be what heaven feels like.





Chapter Sixteen

I walk into Taiya’s room without knocking, about to open my mouth to tell her about the plans I’d made for tonight. “What the f*ck is that?” is what comes out, as soon as my eyes land on the bird sitting on her shoulder.

She smiles, and turns her face to the bird. “This is Leonardo, our new pet.”

I stay silent.

“I told you I was getting a pet today, remember?”

“Yeah, I thought you were getting a puppy, or a fish, or something,” I ramble, eyeing the bird.

“He’s a cockatiel. Isn’t he gorgeous?” she asks, cooing at the bird. Gorgeous. Not a word I’d use to describe a bird, but anyway. Taiya puts him back on his perch and stands.

“Give me a sec. I’ll go and get his cage,” she says, walking out of the room. Curious, I walk closer to the bird and put my hand out, the same way I saw Taiya doing. Instead of climbing on top of my hand, the little monster hisses and snaps at my fingers, trying to bite them.

“Vicious little thing, aren’t you?” I mutter under my breath, eyeing Leonardo with distaste. When he hisses again, I step away. Taiya steps back into the room with a cage, putting it on the floor in the corner of her room.

“He isn’t going to sleep in here, is he?” I ask her, dreading the answer.

“No,” she answers, laughing. “I’m going to put him in the front room.” Well, thank f*ck for that.

“I have something planned for us tonight,” I tell her, wrapping my hands around her tiny waist. She puts the bird into the cage and spins around, giving me her full attention.

“What are you up to?” she asks suspiciously, leaning her head on my chest.

“Can’t a man spoil his wife?” I say, kissing her on top of her head. I love having her in my arms. It feels like everything is right in the world. Like I’m right where I’m meant to be. The last two weeks, since I gave her the ring, have been like a honeymoon. Taiya and I, together every day. Making love, going out for romantic dates, getting to know each other again. It’s been the best time of my life. She is perfect. Perfect for me.

“I’m pretty sure you’ve been spoiling me for a while now,” she says, looking up at me. I push an errant curl away from her face.

“You better get used to it,” I tell her, running my fingers down her soft cheek.

“I have to admit something,” she says, looking a little sheepish.

“What’s that?”

“I moved into this building because I knew you were here, and even if I was mad at you, I wanted to be near you,” she says, rushing out the words.

I smile widely. “I knew it!”

“You did not,” she says, rolling her eyes.

“Okay, I didn’t. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was. Summer said she mentioned the place to you.”

She nods. “She did, and she also mentioned that you lived here too.”

Summer failed to tell me that part. “That was a gamble,” I mutter.

“A gamble that paid off, clearly.”

“You’re right. And I’m so f*cking happy with the way everything turned out. Now, I get to touch you whenever I want,” I say as my hands grip her ass.

“You have it bad, Ryan,” Taiya jokes, leaning up to kiss me on the jawline. Fuck, she’s sweet. I’m about to show her just how sweet she is when my phone rings, blasting that stupid fox song. Taiya starts laughing, and I know then that it’s her who put it there. I tickle her under her breast, before answering.

Then I head straight to Reid’s to find out what the hell is going on.

*****

Reid stands by the window in his bedroom, staring outside. He has a blank look on his face, and I know straight away something is wrong. He said nothing on the phone, just for me to come over because he needed to talk to me about something. Summer and Taiya are in the kitchen, giving Reid and me some space to talk alone. I love that the two of them understand that sometimes Reid and I just need to be there for each other. It may sound girly, or whatever, but being a twin means I’m connected to him in a way no one might ever understand. And I wouldn’t expect them to.

“What’s going on?” I ask, sitting on the edge of his bed. He picks up a piece of paper and hands it to me without saying a word. It’s a letter. From our father. I glance up at Reid and he nods his head encouragingly. I read over the letter, once, twice. “Are you f*cking kidding me?” I growl, putting the paper on the bed and standing up. Reid scrubs his hand over his face, and then looks me dead in the eye.