This Time Around (Maybe #2)(42)

“You might as well be naked!” I say, looking down at her beige fitted dress. It clings to every curve on her body, showing every little detail. “No, it’s not happening.”

“Except it is,” she replies, pouting her lips as she smothers them with gloss or something.

“I’m going to be a walking erection all night,” I mutter.

“Well, I’ll take care of that when we get home,” she says flippantly. Is she even listening to me?

“Tay, every f*cking guy is going to be staring at you, going home and probably…”

She raises her hand cutting me off. “It’s just a dress.”

“Yeah, maybe for a f*cking stripper,” I say without thinking. Her face instantly changes, and I know I’ve pissed her right off. “I didn’t mean that,” I try to backtrack. “Don’t be mad.”

“What do I know? I’m just a stripper,” she sneers, stepping out of the bathroom and into her closet, where she pulls out the highest pair of f*ck me heels I’ve ever seen. “Yes, I think these go with tonight’s theme, apparently.”

Me and my big f*cking mouth.

I head into the kitchen and pour myself a drink, waiting for Taiya to finish getting ready. We’re heading out to dinner and then to a club with Reid and Summer for Summer’s birthday. I’m chewing on an ice cube as Taiya enters the room, dressed to kill and ready to go. She has Summer’s gift in her hand, in a shiny pink gift bag. I stare at her dress once more, which now looks even sexier paired with the heels. I don’t know where to look… cleavage, thigh, legs or just the hourglass shape of her mid-section. My hard on isn’t exactly welcomed right now, considering we need to leave and she’s pissed at me. Although much can be said for angry sex…

“Are we going or are you going to stand there staring all night?” she asks, tapping her heel.

I sigh and put my glass in the sink, then walk to the front door and open it for her. “Are you bringing a jacket?” I ask, unable to contain the hope in my voice.

“No,” she says sweetly, walking outside. I lock up and head to Reid’s, then we all get in a cab and tell the driver directions to the restaurant.

“I love this dress,” Summer says, eyeing Taiya.

“You can have it,” I add in, ignoring the scowls from both women. Reid turns from the front seat with an amused smirk.

“Stop being an ass, Ry,” Summer says softly, her voice laced with steel. “Taiya looks freaking amazing.”

“Apparently, that’s the problem,” Taiya adds dryly, crossing her arms over her chest. It’s Summer’s birthday, which I don’t want to ruin so I decide to keep my mouth shut on that topic.

“Did you like the gift, Sum?” I ask her, effectively changing the subject.

She claps her hands together. “I love it!” Taiya and I got her tickets to a concert where several different R & B and rap artists are performing. It’s funny because now Reid has to go and sit through it as well, and he isn’t a fan. Two birds with one stone. Make Summer happy, and annoy my brother. Taiya also got her a perfume and some other girly items. Reid turns his head once more, his blue eyes narrowed on me. He calls me a ‘bastard’ with that one look, and I tell him ‘ha ha’ with mine.

“Anything to make you happy, Sum,” I say, and I see his eyes and expression soften. Oh yeah, Reid will be going to that concert; he will hold a damn sign if he has to. Anything for his woman. I take Taiya’s hand in mine. She silently complies, and I rub little circles on her palm with my thumb. We share a look, and then she breaks out in a smile.

Time to enjoy the night out with my favourite people in the world.





Chapter Twenty-Four

Taiya

“What are you reading?” Ryan asks, sitting down next to me on the couch.

I lower my book to peek at him. “A romance book.”

His eyebrows almost hit his hairline. “Is it porn… I mean erotica?”

I roll my eyes at him. “It does have sex in it, yes.”

He grins. “Want to re-enact one of the scenes?”

I bite my bottom lip, getting a little aroused at the thought.

“You liked that idea, didn’t you? Hmmm,” he says, leaning forward and kissing me on my mouth.

“Am I like the heroes in your books?”

I laugh. “You wish.”

“You’re right. I’m way better,” he says, smiling lazily.

I shake my head at his huge ego. “You need to get over yourself. Besides, the hero in this book couldn’t even get it up for another woman when the love of his life left him. You definitely didn’t have that problem.”

Silence, then, “So his woman left then he couldn’t even get it up for another woman?”

“Yep.”

“I’m a man, beautiful,” is his reply. “Perhaps he should see a doctor if he can’t get it up.”

“It’s romantic,” I scowl at him.

“It’s romantic that he can’t get a boner?”

“For anyone besides her, yes.”

He sighs, and pulls me onto his lap. “Is this really in the book or is this just a dig at me?”

My body starts shaking in silent laughter. “Did you really just say that?”