AUTHORS NOTE: The content of this chapter is nothing too nasty or graphical, but the contents are just a little more adult than usual. Okay, enjoy the chapter.
“ Guys, it’s not that I don’t like the idea of going to a house full of girls late at night, because I do. It’s just that we could get into deep shit if Mom and Dad happened to find out,” Zac said as he hurried to keep up with his brothers.
“ What are you so worried about?,” Taylor asked, “ You’re the one who’s usually hot for adventure.”
“ Yeah, adventure, not getting grounded for a month.”
“ We’re not gonna get caught,” Isaac told him, “ We’ve got it all worked out: It’s 9:30 now and Mom and Dad won’t be back until at least 2:00. We’re gonna stay for a few hours, leave at around midnight and be back long before Mom and Dad. We stayed at the house long enough to help the baby-sitter get the little kids to bed. She promised she wouldn’t tell about us sneaking out and I gave her Maddy’s number in case something goes wrong. Erin’s been in bed for hours, but if she wakes up and asks where we are, the sitter’s just gonna tell her we went out with friends. Anything else I didn’t cover?”
“ Yeah. What if Mom and Dad come home early? Or what if Maddy’s parents come back early?”
“ Well I didn’t say there wasn’t gonna be any risk,” Isaac grumbled as he rang the door bell, “ But at least try to have fun. We’re already here, so we might as well enjoy it.”
A moment later, Maddy flung open the door, smiling.
“ Hey,” Taylor greeted her. He gave her a tight hug and lightly kissed her cheek. He shut the door after his brothers and followed Maddy into the living room.
“ Where is everyone?,” Zac asked with a glance around the empty living room.
Maddy must have known what he was thinking. “ She’s out back,” she pointed, “ Felicia thought it was getting too hot in here.”
“ Bye!,” Zac waved and ran out.
Maddy turned to Isaac next. “ Upstairs. She’s just getting some Tylenol for a headache.”
“ Later,” he stood up, “ By the way guys, don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!” He grinned.
“ Jerk!,” Taylor swatted at his brother as he passed.
Isaac laughed and ran upstairs.
“ Ugh, brothers,” Taylor offered an apologetic smile. He slid off the couch and sat on the floor.
“ That’s okay. I really like your brothers,” Maddy said as she joined him, “ By the way, I’m on a sugar high, so ignore me if I act stupid.”
“ Don’t worry, I’ve been there before. Ever see Zac after drinking five out of six Cokes and eating three bowls of ice-cream with the works all in the same time period it takes to watch Scream?”
“ No, but I bet that’s even scarier than the movie,” she grinned.
“ You have no idea,” Taylor said and rolled his eyes in exaggeration. He caught her eye and they burst out laughing. Not because they were making fun of Zac (which they weren’t, really), but because it felt good.
Taylor put his arm around Maddy and held her close. She smiled and wrapped her arms around her waist, resting her head on his chest. Taylor began to stroke her hair and she sighed contentedly. He brushed her hair from her face and lightly kissed her forehead. She looked up at him and kissed him cheek, reaching up to run her hand through his hair. Taylor tilted her chin up and, ever so gently, pressed his lips to hers. Gradually, the kisses became longer and deeper. Soon they were wrapped up in each others arms, oblivious to anything else.
Maddy pulled her face away and lightly began to kiss Taylor’s neck and sucked gently as their breathing quickened. She found her way back to his lips and they simultaneously let their tongues meet. By this time, they were both lying on the floor, Taylor on top of Maddy. She gently massaged the back of his neck and Taylor ran his hands along her back, lightly fingering her bra strap. Maddy’s fingers slowly began to un-do the top button of Taylor’s shirt. Suddenly, he stopped kissing her and sat up.
“ What’s wrong?,” she asked as she sat up as well, concern etched on her face.
Taylor stood up and looked at her with regret. “ I’m sorry, Maddy. It’s just that we both know where this could have headed.” He took her hand and gently pulled her up. “I like kissing you and everything, and I would love to do more with you. But I really don’t think either of us are ready for that and I don’t want to make a mistake like doing something when we really don’t want to.”
“ So nothing’s wrong?,” she asked, relieved, “ You’re just not ready for sex?”
“ Are you?”
She pondered his question. “ I guess not. But I wasn’t really thinking about it. Just going with the flow.” She put her arms around his neck and hugged him. “ You’re right. If we ever go that far, I want everything to be right too.”
He hugged her back, relieved to hear that she understood. “ But you know, that doesn’t mean we can’t fool around. We could do that as long as we both agree to a no sex rule.”
“ I think that’s a great idea, because I wouldn’t want to have to take a vow of chastity or something,” she laughed. She kissed him briefly on the lips.
“ So we’re agreed? No sex?,” he kissed her back.
“ Unless we decide we want to when the time comes,” she kissed him again. They kissed again, deeply.
Taylor slowly kissed her lips and her cheek and along her jaw line. He kissed down the side of her neck and sucked gently. Maddy’s trembling fingers found the buttons on Taylor’s shirt again. This time he let her. She silently un-did all the buttons and slipped his shirt off. She kissed his bare shoulder, his collarbone, his neck, and soon found his lips again.
Every kiss sent shivers through Taylor’s body. He stopped and looked down at her. His heart was pounding so hard he thought it would burst. This was new and experimental stuff for him and she looked as nervous as he felt. And just as excited and eager to continue. He smiled then, and gently tugged on the bottom of her baby-tee shirt. Her eyes opened wide for a moment, then she smiled back. Briefly sitting up, she pulled her shirt up and over her head. Taylor stared at her for a moment with amazement. He had never actually seen a girl without her shirt on before. Then he leaned down and kissed her again. He put his hand on her warm stomach and gently caressed her.
Maddy found it odd how he could set her on fire, yet she was shivering. It was an incredible feeling and was almost scary. It made her a little nervous. But she loved it. It was an odd sensation. She sighed contentedly and ran her hands up and down his back, but stopped with a sudden realization.
“ Um, Tay?”
“ I know. I don’t think we should go any further either.” Taylor picked up both shirts and handed one to Maddy. He began to button his shirt back up, and grinned in amusement when he saw Maddy fumbling with her shirt, which had been turned inside-out. Then he just stared when he remembered that she was only wearing jeans and a bra. Maddy noticed him looking at her and began to blush.
“ What? Haven’t you ever seen a girl in a bra before?”
“ Does Victoria’s Secret magazines count?”
“ Victoria’s Secret? Since when do you look at that?”
“ I don’t. My mom has a subscription, so I’ve seen it lying around.”
“ Oh, likely story,” she teased.
“ It’s true.”
“ Uh-huh. Sure it is.”
“ Well if you’re gonna be mean to me, I’m going home,” Taylor turned towards the door.
“ You’re not going anywhere!,” Maddy grabbed the back of his shirt.
Taylor laughed and grabbed her around the waist. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
***************************************************
Zac opened the back door and peered out. He wished it wasn’t so dark out. He couldn’t see a thing.
“ Felicia?,” he called in a whisper.
“ Zac?”
“ Yeah. Where are you?”
“ Over here.”
Zac took a step in the direction of her voice. “ Where?”
“ Here!”
“ But where is here?”
“ Right over- Ouch! Here,” Felicia muttered as Zac collided with her.
“ Ooops! Sorry about that.”
“ That was a good one,” Felicia groaned.
“ Are you okay?”
“ You mean aside from the broken ribs?,” she asked as Zac picked himself up. He brushed himself off and took a seat next to her on the lawn.
“ I’m sorry. I really am,” he insisted.
Felicia smacked his arm playfully. “ I’m just giving you a hard time you dumb-butt.”
“ Then you’re not mad?,” he grinned.
She kissed his cheek and said,” Of course not.”
“ Good. So anyway, what are you doing?,” he asked.
“ Just looking at the stars. Aren’t they beautiful?”
“ It is nice out tonight,” he agreed, then smiled sweetly, “ But it isn’t the stars that I came to be with.” He put his arms around her waist and pulled her close as she leaned against him. She put her hands over his, which were resting lightly on her stomach. He was right. There was something better than the stars and at the moment, she was in that something’s arms. She smiled contentedly, enjoying the peace and comfort in Zac’s arms.
“ Boy, you sure are a charmer,” she looked up and smiled.
“ Am I doing a good job?,” he smiled back.
“ Good enough for me.”
They sat like that the rest of the night, just holding each other in their arms. To them, at that moment, it was better than anything else in the world.
