Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
TAYA
Slamming my car into park, I turn off the engine and pull out my keys, in a hurry to meet my friends.
As always, I am late; both Soren and Missy have texted and called but I was driving, and I am not about to crash my car replying to them. I saw that happen one time and it was not pretty.
Exiting my car, I sling my purse strap over my head and run, locking my car as I go. Reaching the coffee shop, I gasp for air.
Damn, I thought I was in better shape than this. I need to do some cardio.
Pushing through the door, I see my friends sitting and laughing in a side booth, already drinking coffees.
This is what you get when you are nearly thirty minutes late.
“Oh my gawd, look who decided to grace us with her presence,” Soren calls out.
I sigh, flopping down into the booth next to Missy.
“Sorry. We lost a piglet this morning, and you know how I get,” I explain to them.
They both sigh, giving me looks of pity, because they know that all of my piggies are my babies.
“Who did it belong to?” Missy asks, then looks over to the young girl behind the counter and orders my coffee.
We are regulars here, so they know what we like.
“Wednesday.” I sulk.
I hate losing piglets, they are so precious.
“Here you go.” I thank the waitress before she ambles away.
“So, what is new in the world of Coyle Farm and Taya Coyle?” Soren asks, then sips from his coffee mug.
I shrug. “Not much.” I follow suit and take a sip, enjoying the hot coffee slipping across my tongue and down my throat.
“I see that look in your eyes, Tay-Tay. What has happened?” he asks from across the table.
I hold up a finger, indicating for him to wait while I inhale more coffee. I need it today; I just wish that I could add something stronger to it. Once I swallow the nectar of the gods, I sink into my seat, angling my body so I can speak to them both.
“Yes, a few shitty things have happened,” I start. “Besides my piglet failing, I had a run in with Vincent Evander again. The rich prick got onto the property and threatened me.”
“What the fuck do you mean he got close enough to threaten you?” Missy spits out.
Fire blazes in her eyes, and when I look at Soren, I see that he has a similar look in his eyes.
“He somehow knew that my dad and brothers were not at the farm, and he broke through the gate. He came to my house, and after he tried getting into the main house, my father checked the cameras. He said some shit to me, so I introduced him to my rifle, but I was able to send an SOS text, and Winston and Jesper came to my rescue.”
Soren looks like he wants to find the man and slit his throat. His hands shake as he holds his mug tightly.
“I am okay, Soren honey. He never touched me, and I threatened him right back. You know that my father will deal with anyone who threatens me, right?”
Soren comes from a shitty childhood, where they mistreated him because he liked boys. Even though he is feisty and filled with attitude, he never likes to see violence. We never watch action movies where fights break out, they trigger him. But I will say he is getting better.
“He cannot hurt you, Tay-Tay.” His voice is low and trembles.
“Hey, hey, sweetie, he will never touch me.” I move so I am sitting next to him, and I slip my arms around his shoulders, pulling him in for a hug.
Soothing him, I rub his back, kissing the top of his dark hair.
I look to Missy, who is watching us from across the table, her eyes glassy. It has been the three of us for most of our lives, with the extension of Missy’s husband Drake, who we love equally as much.
When one of us hurts, we all hurt.
Family does not mean you are bonded by blood.
“I do have something else to share with you both, and you are going to slap me silly when I tell you.” I wink at Missy, knowing that our boy Soren loves juicy gossip.
His body jerks up, his head snapping in my direction and his eyes narrowed.
“You kept juicy goodness from us?” he inquires with narrowed eyes.
I nod.
“Spill, bitch,” he sasses.
I giggle, leaning in, and both he and Missy do the same.
“The other day, some of the Three Kings came to the farm with a delivery.”
“Smoke?” Missy cocks a perfectly sculpted brow at me, and I nod.
“Along with Locke, Intel, and Sniper.”
Soren shivers next to me at the mention of Intel’s name.
“I got into it with Smoke; he blurted out with that big mouth of his that we hooked up at the bar.”
“What did Daddy Coyle say? Your brothers, I assume were there?” Missy asks.
“Nothing. They thought it was funny and said they couldn’t believe that it took so long for it to happen.” I wave it off.
“They have a point, sister.” Soren grins wide.
I shoulder nudge him, making him laugh. The smile on his face has my heart feeling happy again, after seeing the amount of pain he has gone through. Soren reminds me of that Spiderman actor, with his friendly eyes and sweet smile.
“Anyway.” I huff, making them giggle more. “I stormed off and?—"
“OMG, did Smoke follow you?” Soren gasps, his hand going to the base of his throat.
“He did.” I drink more coffee, really fucking wishing I could add some bourbon.
“And? Do not leave us hanging, girly. Fucking hell, I am hanging by a thread here,” Soren pipes up dramatically.
I look at my friend. “A little dramatic, don’t ya think?”
He shakes his head. “Have you ever known me to not be dramatic?”
I shake my head. “True.” We all giggle.
I love my friends; we all bring something different to our dynamic.
“He pushed his way into my house and mademecomeonhisfingers ,” I quickly mutter into the rim of my cup.
Soren leans forward, elbows on the table, with his chin resting on his locked fingers, his perfect eyebrow cocking in question.
“I’m sorry, we do not speak gibberish at the table, young lady. Want to try that again?” he scolds me with a grin on his face.
“What he said, and I swear I heard come and mouth in that sentence somewhere, so you had better clear up your speaking, young lady,” Missy adds onto the pretend scolding.
I huff. “Fine.” I sip some of my drink. “He pinned me against the wall, slid his hand into my panties, and made me come.”
My cheeks burn hot as the two of them look at me with wide eyes.
Soren fans his face, gushing at what Smoke did to me. Hell, he had me gushing on his fingers, so I know how Soren must feel just thinking about the act.
Smoke makes me want to jump right in and ride him from sunup to sundown, but as much as I want to feel him again, I have to protect my heart. A man like Smoke can turn me into ashes.
Seeing him being with other women has hardened my heart to him but it seems that other parts of my body are okay with his touches, and his orgasms. I am not his usual type, believe me when I say this. He likes them blonde, fake, and bubbly, which is everything I am not.
Yet, he always has this way of seeking me out and getting under my skin. It is like this is a game to him, to see if I finally cave and give him what he wants, and I am not just talking about sex. Yes, we have fucked once, and then he fingered me in my house, but it is like he is trying to win my heart just to say that he did it, when no one else could.
I may want his touch, not only want but crave, but he will never have my heart. Dustin-Smoke-Templar will never win my heart.
“Damn, girl, that sounds hot AF,” Missy gushes.
“Hella hot.” Soren high-fives her across the table, and I shake my head at them.
“It will not happen again. It can’t,” I state firmly, trying to convince my friends and myself that I will not let Smoke touch me again.
I may want it, but I know it is bad for me.
“We will see. When you both are in a room together, it is like we are waiting to see you both combust and burst into flames, leaving a trail of smoke behind you,” Soren speaks up, then he giggles. “See what I did there?”
“I agree with Soren, sweetie. I have seen the way that you look at him and him at you when you are not looking,” Missy adds.
“He likes my boobs,” I scoff. Then the three of us laugh.
“Of course he likes your tits, they are epic. I wish I had breasts like yours,” Missy says, poking my breasts.
I slap her hand away, the giggles getting louder, drawing attention from people close by. Crossing my arms over my chest, I scowl at them.
“I think he wants more from you, Tay-Tay,” Soren admits.
I look to my bestie with wide eyes, my stomach tightening at the thought of something more with Smoke. My arms drop down, my palms skirt over my jeans, drying off as I sweat at the idea of me and Smoke being together.
It has been a dream of mine since I met him, but over the years, that dream got squashed, and at times I am okay with that, but with him touching me now, it makes my hopes spring to life again, and I not sure what to do about those feelings.
“I think you are both wrong.” I wave their suggestions off.
They have to be wrong. Smoke will only get a quick fuck out of me; he will not get anything more.
Nope. Not happening.
I hope.