More Than Lies (More Than #1)(37)

Her fingers tighten through the strands of my hair. I move from her mouth, down to her jaw. Tara lifts her head toward the ceiling, allowing me access to her neck. I kiss downward and my hand not only squeezes her ass, but the other constricts around her breast.

“Oh, hell.”

At the sound of her voice I stop all movement. It’s as if reality smacks me in the face. What am I doing?

Tara isn’t the girl you fuck in a bar, no matter if it is behind a closed door in an office that I doubt anyone’s going to walk into. Tara is the kind of girl you make love to in a bed, and the simple fact is, I don’t do love. I certainly don’t fuck in a bed. I haven’t since high school. I’m after the quickest release from the easiest woman I can find.

That isn’t Tara.

Tara needs and deserves a man that can cherish every inch of her mind, body, and heart.

I’m not worthy of the last two.

“Shawn?”

I release her legs and they fall to the floor. I can’t look her in the eyes, so I grab the T-shirt she got for me, pull her away from the door and walk out without looking back at her.

What the fuck did you just do, you stupid motherfucker? I berate myself as I walk back into the bar, getting the hell out of there as quickly as I can. The bartender has my credit card on file. There is no need to settle up, he’ll charge my tab before he closes out at the end of the night.

Stupid.

Stupid.

Stupid.





CHAPTER NINE





TARALYNN





Holy cow—that kiss!

My lips are still tingling from his mouth ravishing mine. Half an hour has passed, yet I’m still dazed.

His erection against my stomach was solid as a freakin’ rock.

I always knew one simple kiss from Shawn would knock me sideways. Yet, it wasn’t a simple kiss at all. It was a kiss that defies all kisses that have ever come before him. Not that I’ve been kissed a great deal, but still, his kiss was like silky smooth chocolate, spiced with habanero peppers; sweet and luscious, but so burning hot it left me tingling.

Thank God Mac let me leave an hour before my shift was supposed to be over. After Shawn abruptly pulled himself away from me and walked out without saying a word, I had to get out of there. There was no way I was able to think clearly enough to finish my shift. Not that any clear thinking has really happened since I left the bar. It’s like my brain blanked out after that kiss, and I’m left wondering what happened and if I imagined the whole thing.

When I walk in the front door of my house, it dawns on me that I drove home from work but I don’t even remember starting the ignition much less the drive home. God was surely watching out for me tonight. As usual, I’m hit with loud music as I enter, so I force a smile, telling my body to relax and not over think things. After all, Shawn had been drinking, probably had a long stressful day at work, and I was just in the right place at the right time for once in my life.

Luck was on my side, that’s all it was.

I want to go straight up to my room so that I can soak in a hot bath, but before I’m able to make that happen, I’m grabbed by the arm and dragged through the hall and into the kitchen by Amanda. “Hey, look who I found coming through the door.” She turns and smiles at me. It’s a fake smile. I’ve known Amanda Clayton long enough to know she has an agenda. I eye passed her to my best friend, who happens to be her boyfriend. I love Matt. God knows I do, and not in the “I want him for my boyfriend” kind of way. I’m not jealous of her in the least. I love Matt because he’s my best friend and has been since the first day we met, but I’ll never understand what he sees in her. Sure, her body and face are attractive, but that’s all. The only thing underneath that prettiness is bitch topped with more bitch.

“Get over here, Taralynn.” Matt chimes in. “I would like to introduce you to my new buddy.”

Great, him and bitch Barbie are playing matchmaker. Why my BFF thinks he needs me to date I do not understand. He thinks I’m hopelessly in love with Shawn; he’s not wrong, but he wants me to get over it already. I slug my way toward him, but obviously, Amanda doesn’t think I’m walking quickly enough. She loops her arm through mine and practically tosses me onto the guy standing next to Matt.

Awkward.

For a short prissy little thing, she’s got power. I guess cheerleading did make her somewhat of an athlete. “Hi.” I say as I force myself to halt a few feet away before Amanda shoves me completely onto this guy.

“Hello,” he greets me back. And please forgive me for this, because I know it’s wrong to judge a person before you get to know them, but immediately I don’t like him. It’s his voice. It makes me think of a slithering snake. I hate snakes. They are the devil and I want nothing to do with them. So that pretty much makes me want nothing to do with him, either.

It’s not just his voice though. It’s the whole package. His hair is dark and slicked back onto his head. The easy look isn’t doing him any good unless he’s going for the unclean and dirty thing. I like clean. He isn’t. He’s wearing a black T-shirt and black jeans. The T-shirt is too large on him. He’s not a small guy; he’s about Matt’s size in height and build, putting him about two inches taller than me.

I think I need to find the quickest way to my room. That bath is definitely more appealing. I’m starting to feel dirty just standing near this creep.