Beautiful Sacrifice (The Maddox Brothers, #3)(40)

“I’ve seen a lot of good-looking women in this town,” he said.

“Congratulations,” I deadpanned.

“But you’re f*cking gorgeous. Has anyone ever told you that?”

“Just you,” I said, staring at him like he was nuts. “I forgot to mention I’m the pariah around here.” The irony amused me. When we’d first met, I’d sought to stay away from him and his kind when, in reality, he would be more likely to get a bad reputation from hanging out with me.

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Contrary to popular belief, men don’t flock to the town whore.”

His face twisted to anger. “Who’s called you a whore?”

“To my face? Just my parents.”

He seemed taken aback by my answer. “That’s crazy.”

“I agree.”

My reaction amused him.

“Any guy in this town not chasing you is an idiot.”

“Why?” I asked. I wasn’t sure what his angle was, but he was annoying me with his bizarre antics. “There is nothing about me that would justify that statement.”

“Well, for one … look at you.”

“You just said there are a lot of attractive women here, so I’m throwing a bullshit flag, a big bright yellow one.”

“That, right there. Most women don’t call bullshit. Most women are willing to forgive ninety-eight percent of it just to see if a guy who might be paying attention to them will turn out to be anything more.”

“I’d love to see where you got that statistic. GQ?”

“Personal experience. You, however, don’t let shit slide. I knew that the second you opened your mouth. You’re more than just attractive. You aren’t looking for someone, and you need no one. That’s hot.”

“You’re ridiculous

He leaned in, staring at my lips. “What is ridiculous is the sudden urge I have to kiss that smart-ass mouth of yours.”

“What?” I said, swallowing.

He took a few steps around the small table, stopping just inches from me. He was so tall that I had to lift my chin to look him in the eyes. Something had changed since the last time we were together. There was a hunger in his eyes, but it was absent of familiarity, lacking any emotion other than lust.

“I’ve gotta kiss you. Right now.”

“Oh. Okay.” The words were more absurd than the scenario, but I was so taken off guard by Taylor’s behavior that they were the only things I could say.

I knew my mouth was hanging open a bit, but I couldn’t snap it shut. I couldn’t move. He inched closer to me, his eyes dropping from mine to my lips and then back again.

His hands slipped around my waist, pulling me to him without a second thought, strong and confident. I closed my eyes, waiting for him, unsure if he was hesitating as a request for permission or if silence was good enough. It wasn’t until that instant when I realized I wanted Taylor to kiss me, but the moment didn’t feel right, he didn’t feel right, and that alone was enough disappointment to ruin everything we’d accomplished so far.

Taylor’s lips were warm and soft, exactly like I’d imagined. His tongue was in total control, caressing the inside of my mouth. His hand touched my cheek, his thumb gently running along my jawline and down the side of my neck, but it didn’t feel like before.

His mouth worked against mine—amazing, perfect—in a way that would make any woman beg for more. He was f*cking me with his mouth before we were anywhere near a bedroom. He was telling me with each soft flick of his tongue that he didn’t just want me but needed me. All the while, he was tugging at my clothes as if the kiss wasn’t enough.

Nothing. I felt absolutely nothing.

The disenchantment was so overpowering, so disgusting, that I recoiled.

Taylor was still committed to the kiss, slow to recognize me pushing against his shoulders. I lowered my chin, pulling away from him. Then I saw Shea, the bartender, standing still behind the bar, watching us in utter confusion and disgust. Realizing I’d just proven my town-whore status after years of trying to buck the label, I did the only thing left to do. I shoved Taylor away and then slapped the shit out of him.

“What the f*cking f*ck?” I heard Taylor’s voice yell, but he hadn’t spoken.

“Holy ginger-licker!” Zeke said.

I turned toward Zeke’s voice. Taylor was standing next to him. The other Taylor was less than a foot from my face, and in reaction, my upper body jerked back, nearly sending me off the stool to the floor.

Taylor Number Two rushed behind me, interrupting my fall backward. I yanked away from him. I looked from left to right, as if I were watching a tennis match, in total disbelief.

“Falyn,” Taylor said through his teeth, “I see you’ve met my brother Tyler.”

“Tyler?” I asked, wiping his lips from my mouth.

“My twin brother,” Taylor clarified.

Tyler wasn’t exactly happy either. “You know her?” he asked, rubbing the bright red handprint on his cheek.

“Yeah,” Taylor said, taking a step toward his doppelg?nger. “Tyler, meet Falyn.”

The moment my name came out of Taylor’s mouth, things began to happen very fast. Tyler looked at me, and Taylor swung, his fist catching his twin square on the same cheek I’d already assaulted. Both men fell to the ground, a blur of punching and grabbing.