I smiled, remembering Halloween night when I played her Every Breath You Take by The Police. I didn’t intentionally say those words. It was just the way it came out.
“No, I’m not quoting song lyrics. That ship has sailed, Tyler. Lotus will never come back again.”
I saw a hint of what looked like disappointment. It surprised me somewhat. Maybe she actually missed Lotus, the guy who snuck into her room at night.
The disappointment disappeared and what replaced it was an unamused look. “One Direction? Seriously?”
I started laughing. “I’m not a fan of boy bands, but I think you can see why I particularly like that one. The song spoke the words as if they were meant for me. You belong to me, Tyler, plain and simple. There are plenty of other girls out there for the likes of Evan, but this one right here in front of me,” I placed my hand on her cheek, “will always be mine. There isn’t anyone else out there, Tyler. It’s you. It’s always been you.”
Tyler closed her eyes and leaned into my touch. Her breathing became labored as she kissed my hand and rubbed her cheek against it. My dick instantly strained against my trousers. I wanted to be inside her so badly. I needed to make love to her. I needed her to know that being loved by me was the one thing she would never have to want and need because she had it. She had my love and she had me. All of me.
But as quick as the moment was there, it was gone. Tyler seemed to snap out of it as her eyes popped open and she shrugged away from my touch. “You’re dangerous, Dean. You bring danger with you. How can I know for sure that we’ll always be safe?”
I knew this was an issue for her. It was obvious after the way her mood quickly shifted when Jimmy revealed our working relationship with one another.
“I’m giving it up. I’ll give it all up and move out here with you. I’ll be wherever you want me to be. I actually have a legitimate business out here in Miami. I could expand it and get an office out here. You could help run it with me, if you want.”
She smiled and shook her head. “I’m a kindergarten teacher now. I have been for the last three years. I’m just not working now as it’s the summer holiday.”
I smiled and my heart ached with pride. “You always wanted to be a teacher.”
She nodded, then frowned. “What happened to the London Daily?”
“I sold it. I didn’t think there was any reason to keep it going after you left. You were the reason I bought it in the first place. With a couple others, I had the majority share. I offered them my portion and they accepted it. The mansion is gone now. I’ve kind of left things up to Humphrey to run. He always liked being the bad guy.” I laughed a little, thinking about him. I hadn’t called Humphrey in a couple of days. I had to remedy that.
“Humphrey is your uncle, right? The one named after Bogart?” I nodded. “Was he there that night I came to the mansion?”
I nodded again. “Yes. He was the one who answered the door. The one who looks like Terry-Thomas with his pointy mustache.”
I saw recognition in her eyes and she smiled. “I wish I could have met him properly.”
I felt bad again. I would always feel bad when it came to my past and what I did to her. “You can meet him properly. I want you to meet him. He’s a good guy. He just has Scozzari blood running through him. He likes living a life he’s used to. But me? I only did it because I was stupid. I let my head rule everything because I thought for one stupid second, you let me down. How I can even begin to make this right is beyond my comprehension, but I’m going to make damn sure I try. I will keep trying and trying until, one day, you’ll get so fed up with me, you’ll simply have to give in. I can’t lose you, Tyler. I will do whatever it takes. If you want my previous life gone, I’ll do it. I will give all of it up for you because you’re the only thing that matters. Just tell me what you want me to do. You have my future in your hands because my future is yours.”
Moving closer to Tyler, I placed a finger under her chin. She looked into my eyes and, at that moment, I wanted to kiss her so badly. “I love you, Tyler. I have always loved you. Just tell me what you want. Tell me what you need me to do.”
She breathed heavily, placing her hand on my arm. “Kiss me. I want and need you to kiss me.”
I didn’t hesitate. I gave her what she wanted and needed from me because it was what I wanted and needed from her. It was like we were each other’s air. I simply couldn’t breathe without her.
Trailing my tongue along her lip, I nibbled the bottom before slowly sliding my tongue inside. Tyler moaned, which had my dick straining against my trousers again. It was seeking out her warmth, her wetness, the pink, soft flesh that tightened itself around it. I needed her. I ached for her. Everything else seemed to pale into insignificance whenever I was around her.