Chapter Ten #2
“No, I know that Torren has everything under control. Besides, if I were there, I couldn’t be here with you. I wouldn’t trade time with you for anything, Piper.” He dipped his head to softly kiss her lips. She pulled back from the kiss, wrapping her arms tighter around Tag’s middle.
“I wouldn’t trade our time here for anything either,” she whispered.
“I just miss my customers and Sunny. I guess I’m feeling a little shut off from the world right now.
I wish we could have the best of both worlds, but that might be too much to ask.
” Tag saw his opening and knew that it was now or never.
“Piper, let's move in together. I have room at my condo, or I can move into your place. I just don’t want to spend my days thinking about you or my nights lonely without you. I want to have it all—us together at home and our separate business lives.”
Piper pulled free from Tag and looked down at the faraway town. He knew that he was holding his breath, but he couldn’t help it. If he pushed her too hard, she would hide, and he wouldn’t let her run from this. He just needed to be patient and wait her out.
“I don’t know that I’m ready for this, Tag.
” She turned back to face him. “I mean, what you’re asking is a big step.
It’s a huge step, actually. How do I say yes to something that could possibly end in disaster?
” Tag ran his hands through his hair, making it stand on end.
She was already thinking about the end of their relationship, and he was still stuck at the beginning.
“Pipe, how can you be thinking about this ending between us? We have barely just begun, and you have us crashing and burning already?” Tag paced before Piper, knowing that he looked a little crazy, but that’s just how he felt.
This woman had the power to drive him completely out of his mind at times, now being one of them.
“Tag, everything ends, it’s just a question of when.
I don’t put myself into situations that I know will end up breaking my heart.
I learned a long time ago just how shitty that feels.
” Piper grabbed Tag's hand, linking their fingers together. “Please understand, Tag. I just can’t let myself get hurt.” Tag felt a fury that he hadn’t felt in a long time settle in the pit of his stomach.
All his past disappointments and losses weighed heavily on him, but he just chose to move on and find a new path.
Piper was stuck trying to push her way through a path that was so clogged up that she needed an army equipped with explosives to get through.
“Don’t you think it’s time to let someone in, Piper?
I mean, you were a twenty-six-year-old virgin because you chose to shut yourself off from everyone.
” Piper gasped and ripped her hand from Tag’s, obviously hurt by his words.
While that was not his intent, he needed to say things that she didn’t want to hear.
It might be the only way to break through to her.
His patience and giving her space sure wasn’t working out for him.
“Honey, I’ve been banging at your walls trying to tear down your defenses for over a year now.
I can’t keep doing this all on my own. I need you to help me, or we will never know what can be between us.
I think we could have something great here; you just need to give us a chance.
Help me, Piper.” Tag pulled her into his arms, trying to find a way to reach her.
She always responded to him touching her, so he decided to go that route.
He was hoping that he could convince her that they could be so much more than just one long weekend together.
Tag tugged his t-shirt up over his head, loving the way Piper’s eyes flared whenever she looked his torso up and down.
She let her hands roam freely over his body, and a groan ripped from his chest. He lost control every damn time she touched him.
“Your turn, Honey.” Piper froze in his arms, shyly looking around the area for other hikers.
He couldn’t help his laugh when she looked over the cliff down into the tiny town below.
“Don’t worry, Piper. No one can see us.” He pulled her tank top up her body, loving the way she melted into his embrace.
He wasn’t sure if she was trying to get closer to him or hide from anyone who might pass by.
He needed to help her forget that they were outside where anyone could chance by.
He knew just how to distract her. She would forget everything but his name.
He planned on hearing her scream that out so loud that they just might hear it down in the valley.
He dropped to his knees and unsnapped her shorts, slowly lowering them and her panties down her long, sexy legs.
She squirmed against his hands as he dug them deeper into her ass, holding her still.
“Put your leg up over my shoulder, Honey. I need access to that gorgeous pussy of yours.” Piper shivered in anticipation as she lifted her leg over his shoulder, holding onto his head for balance.
He loved how tall she was; she seemed to fit him perfectly.
As her leg circled his back, he could see that she was already wet for him.
He licked her clit, sucked it into his mouth, and held her in place as her knees buckled.
Piper ran her fingers through his hair, pulling his mouth closer against her body.
She moaned and started to move her hot, wet pussy against his mouth like she couldn’t get enough of him.
Tag pushed two fingers into her tight opening, sending her quickly over the edge.
Her screams echoed through the canyon, completely turning him on.
He loved the way her body melted on top of his as if she had lost all ability to stand.
He gently moved her leg from around his shoulder and lifted her into his arms, cradling her against his chest. His cock was screaming for attention, but right now his focus was on Piper.
She completely surrendered herself to him, and now he wanted an answer to his question.
“See, we need more than just a few days together. We need to make this more of an everyday thing.” Piper hummed her agreement, still coming down from the orgasm he gave her.
He pulled her shorts back up her body and helped her back into her t-shirt.
If he had his way, he would carry her back down the mountain naked and keep her that way for the rest of the day.
But he was sure that Piper would protest that idea once she regained her ability to speak.
She looked up at Tag and lovingly cupped his face in her hands.
He loved the way she stared at him as if she was trying to see into his heart and soul.
If she only knew how much he wanted her—needed her—it would probably frighten her off.
“I see your point about us living together, but I just don’t know if I’m ready to take such a big step. I need some time,” Piper said. Tag couldn’t help his frustrated groan.
“Pipe, aren’t you the one who keeps telling me not to make promises and to live in the here and now?
Well, here and right now, I want us to live together.
I’ve waited so long for you; I feel like now it’s time for the next step.
” Piper wrapped her arms around Tag’s body, and he braced himself for the harsh letdown that he knew she was about to dole out.
“How long does it take you to get into town from your cabin?” Tag froze. Piper’s unexpected question caught him off guard.
“Um, about twenty minutes, why?” Piper snuggled closer into his body, and his cock sprang back to life.
“Well, how about we forget about living in your condo? There are just too many people there.” Her exaggerated wink and giggle made him laugh.
She wasn’t wrong. The parade of women that Torren had running through at all hours was overwhelming.
He didn’t want to put Piper through all of Torren’s sexcapades either.
Things tended to get loud and wild when his twin brother was entertaining the opposite sex.
“Okay, then what do you propose?” He was hoping that she was going to offer any idea that involved them sharing the same place. Hell, he didn’t care where or what that place was. He would live in a two-man tent with her; he just needed her to agree to live with him.
“I’m thinking we live up here at your cabin.
I need a fresh start. My house holds so many memories.
The only reason I stayed was that it’s mine, and I had nowhere else to go.
You moving into my parents’ home doesn’t feel right.
” She wrinkled her nose and snuck a look at him.
He kissed the bridge of her nose, smoothing away her wrinkles.
“I can see how that might feel awkward since I am your first boyfriend and all.” Tag tightened his arms around Piper, happy that she was at least considering his offer.
“How about we move up here together and see how it goes?” Piper’s voice was a little shaky.
He knew that this was a huge step for her.
Everything in her life must have felt like it was moving at warp speed.
He almost felt bad about pushing her. He wanted to move in with her and start a life together, and if it took a little pushing, he would do it.
He was done waiting for Piper to face her fears.
He would go to any lengths to make her a permanent part of his life.
“Sounds good, Honey. I think we can get all of our stuff up here by the weekend.” He didn’t want to give her time to reconsider. The faster he moved them up to his cabin, the sooner they could move forward. Piper nodded her agreement, and Tag’s heart nearly thumped out of his chest.
“See now, that wasn’t so hard, was it, Honey?” Tag grabbed Piper’s hand and started back down the mountain.
“Yeah, well, you were pretty convincing.” Piper squeezed his hand and smiled up at him. He pulled her along faster.
“The quicker you move that sweet little ass of yours, the faster we can get you back to the cabin and pick up where we left off.” Piper’s giggles were all the encouragement that Tag needed as he hustled them down the path to their cabin.
He liked the sound of that. It would become someplace they could shut out the world and be just the two of them—their fresh start, together.