| Part 1 Her suitcase sat by the door and the eviction notice lay on the table. Taylor sighed, gathering up her school books. She left the small one bedroom apartment and began the several blocks walk to meet Mia. They had a test to study for. One she was sure she was going to fail. On top of everything else she couldn't afford to crash and burn on another test. Looking up, she rounded the corner, pushed her long midnight hair over her shoulder, picking up the pace as the Toretto's store came into view. Don't think about it! Don't! Just study and get through the test! Deal with it later! "Mia," she called, trying to keep her voice low as she popped her head around the doorway and scanned the interior of the store. She stepped into view seeing the place was deserted except for Mia with her books open behind the counter. Eyes the color a spring grass peered at the other woman. Relieved, she strode forward. "This day has got to get better. Tell me it'll get better." She sighed, dropping her books on the counter beside Mia's. "Relax and repeat after me. TODAY WILL GET BETTER." Smiling, Mia cocked her head to the side, seeing the tension in Taylor's eyes. "So, what's wrong? You gonna tell me or am I gonna have to drag it outta ya?" Taylor shook her head. "Nothing. Just your normal everday shit." She plastered a smile on her face and opened her books. "Tell me," Mia demanded. "NO!" Taylor, shook her head negatively. "You know I'll make you tell me sooner or later." "Later! Much later!" Taylor glanced down at the text in front of her. Mia promptly began to quiz her, throwing equation after equation into the air. She was off ... that was for sure. Taylor missed more than she nailed. "Wrong. Wrong. Wrong," Mia huffed, planting her hands in front of Taylor. "You're not concentrating." "Tell me about it. I just can't stay focused." Taylor's eyes went back to the book, not paying attention to the footsteps behind her. "Who we have here?" The deep rumble of the male voice sent her muscles to tensing, her eyes widened as she stared at Mia before turning to meet the man behind the voice. "This is Taylor, Dom. Remember I told you about her? Same major," Mia prompted, wishing she could pin Taylor in place before she bolted. She looked like a rabbit in front of a mac truck. "Yeah, I remember." Dom was smiling as Taylor turned toward him, her heart hammering in her chest. "Hello, Mr.Toretto." She extended her hand towards him, meeting his eyes for a brief second and then dropping her gaze to the floor. "Dom. I'm Dom. My dad was Mr. Toretto." He looked over her head to Mia with a questioning expression. His sister only shrugged. He didn't like the fact Taylor wouldn't look him in the eye. "Must be something damn interesting down there," he teased, only managing to make the woman more tense. But it worked ... she looked back at him, smiling, a bright red seeping into her cheeks. "No. Nothing in particular." She stammered, inwardly cringing at how she must look to him. "It's nice to meet you, Dom," she said before quickly turning back to Mia and squeezing her eyes closed, hoping Dom would just simply disappear or she would, didn't matter which. "Nice to meet you too, Taylor," he replied and motioned to Mia that he would be in the back of the store. "What was that about?" Mia asked, making sure Dom was out of ear shot. "I don't know. Just made me nervous is all." Taylor shrugged it off, smoothing the damp tendrils of hair away from her heart shaped face. "Okay, so you're a freak around my brother. Now, tell me what's wrong will ya!" Mia teased, straightening from where she leaned on the counter. Taylor sighed closing the books and leaning towards Mia. "I lost my job at the restaurant and I'm getting kick outta my apartment." With a white knuckled grasp on the edge of the counter she rushed on. "I gotta find a job and a place to stay or I quit school." "HEY DOM! Taylor's staying with us for awhile," Mia yelled toward the back of the store. She laughed as Dom lifted his hand and waved his agreement. "MIA! I can't do that!" Taylor gasped, glancing toward where Dom sat with his back to them. "Why not? Got a better prospect?" "No. But it's...It's..." Shaking her head Taylor smiled. "It's settled," Mia said, returning the smile, turning her attention to the street and the roar of engines. Four shiny sleek machines pulled in front of the store, spilling their occupants onto the street in loud conversation. "Oh, goodie. The team." Mia rolled her eyes dramatically and turned back to Taylor. "Just be cool, okay. They can be a pain in the ass but they're handy to have around," she whispered as the group entered the store. Taylor was content in believing her until she saw HIM ... tall, bearded, well-muscled. She quickly shoved her book open and stuck her nose in it, the subject never seeming more interesting. Mia nearly burst into laughter watching the wide-eyed stare leveled at Vince and then doing everything in her power to avoiding looking at him again. Just like Taylor, she thought. "Hey, Mia," Vince said in the way of greeting, taking the seat directly beside Taylor, turning and staring, wondering how long it would take before she called him on it. The whole way to the store Vince had gone over and over what he'd say to Mia. How he'd try and get her to forget about that pussy, Brian. He knew he didn't have much of a shot but he'd be damned if he'd just give up. Not him. Not Vince. That was before he'd actually entered the store, caught the interested stare directed his way. Now it was his turn, eyes glued to the soft features of the girl. He shoved his face even closer knowing she was trying to ignore him. "Stop it, V," Mia admonished, shifting her eyes to Taylor in surprise as she spoke up. "No. It's okay, Mia." She managed a smile for the man, one that didn't mirror the nervousness gripping her inside. "I'm Vince. Who are you?" He reached out flipping the front of her book up and glancing at the title, realizing it was a college level book. One of Mia's fancy college friends. "Taylor." Her eyes fell back to the book. She hadn't been able to hold the look long, her mind screaming that she needn't bother. That was a hard thing to combat, her mind telling her one thing and her body telling her another. Mia came around the counter tugging on Taylor's hair as she passed. "Come on, twenty minutes before class." "Yeah. Okay." She scrambled, gathering up her books and knocking one to the floor in the process. Vince was quick to retrieve it cutting his eyes up at her as he handed it over. "Might need this." She took it from him, a slow shy smile crossing her face. "It's probably the only one I really need." She turned and hurried after Mia, stopping just before she was through the door and calling over her shoulder. "Later, Vince." Vince, arms crossed against his chest, had been quite content to watch her walk away ... her hips rolling with each step she took, denim molding perfectly to her slim body, black hair brushing the small of her black. "Bet on it!" he shouted after her retreating form. Standing, he moved to the back of the store. "What's with the new chick, Dom?" ********** Mia eased behind the wheel of her car, not much different from the others in front of the store. Turning the engine over, the car purred to life. "SO........" Mia began, pointing the car towards the college. "Don't start! Don't!" Taylor threw up her hand, clutching her books to her chest with the other. "I don't have time for a guy. You know that. Gotta find another job now," she sighed. "That reminds me. Just for now don't mention that your last job was working for Tran's family. Dom and Johnny don't get along too well." Mia, glanced at her. "Join the crowd. But it's not like I could afford to turn down the job, Mia. Besides, I was just a waitress at his father's place. Dom wouldn't hold that against me, would he?" Talking about her former employer without getting physically ill was a feat in itself. Thinking about Johnny was bad enough, the smug asshole that he was but, it was nothing compared to his cousin Lance. He scared the hell out of her, usually on a daily basis. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Part 2 "Well?" Mia asked for the dozenth time as they strode through the back door. "Well what?" Taylor finally countered, playing into the wide eyed innocent routine. "The test!" Mia shoved hard against her shoulder, setting her books on the counter and turning to the fridge. "I swear if you don't tell me I'll call Dom in here." Rolling her eyes Taylor shook her head. "You wouldn't." "I would." Mia's eyes narrowed. "I will." "What about Dom?" came a voice from the doorway. Both women turned, surprised they had been overheard. "Hey, Letty. Just threatening Taylor. She thinks Dom is the boogeyman." Mia burst into riotous laughter at the thought. Taylor noticed the other woman had an amused smile on her face too. "I do not, Mia. God, I'm not scared of everything," she grumbled, tossing her books on the counter along with the others. "Yeah. Not everything. Just guys." Mia first tossed her a Coke and then a second to Letty. A trio of popping tabs and carbonated fizzing filled the kitchen as they fell silent for a moment. Letty cut her eyes to Mia wondering if she were serious about the girl, then deciding to ask herself. "Guys spook you, huh?" "No." She shrugged, seeing Mia staring knowingly at her. "Ok..ok...Maybe, a little." "Why?" Letty continued to question. "NOW, that's the million dollar question." Mia pointed over to her books, saving Taylor from the subject she knew she was uncomfortable with, men. "The test. Hand it over." "I dunno, it's not what I was expecting. I mean...." She flipped open her binder and pulled out the thick set of papers, handing them to Mia. "NO!" She glanced over the the test flipping through the pages. "How?" She glanced up at Taylor. "You realize this is an A, right? This morning you didn't know any of this." Mia tried not to gape but she knew the best she could hope for was a high B. "Inspiration?" Taylor smiled. "Yeah, and I know his name." Mia giggled, shoving the papers back at her. "Who?" Letty smiled, curious. "Vince," Mia supplied. "Isn' t that right, Taylor?" "He's okay." She mirrored the other two's smile, a sigh escaping her without realizing it. "Ouch! That's a bad sign." Letty shook her head, her smile widening. "What?" Taylor asked, confused. "Just don't let Vince hear you making those noises. Make him work for it, girl!" With the words barely out of her mouth Vince came ambling through the back door. "I hear my name?" He smiled, his eyes going directly to Taylor. Taylor froze, eyes locked with his as the can in her hand slipped to the floor. "Shit!" she hissed, the moment vaporizing as the sticky liquid splashed from the can, pooling on the tile. Vince was moving across to her in a flash but she was distracted with Mia handing her a roll of paper towels. "I got it," he said, dropping to his heels at the same instant as she. There was a dull thud as their heads made hard contact, knocking together in a painful flash. Taylor slapped her palm against her forehead with a loud groan, teetering in her squatting position as she clamped her eyes closed trying to will away the pain. His hands were on her shoulders steadying her, warm, caressing through the thin T-shirt she wore. "You okay?" he questioned, moving to tilt her face to his as she nodded. She didn't trust herself to say a word. The pain was gone but it felt like all the oxygen had been pulled from the room. Her blood rushing through her veins left her feeling shaken. Slowly the laughter of the other two women intruded and Mia was pushing Letty towards the other room. "Come on, help me with the extra room." She said, shifting her eyes to Taylor and Vince. "V....." She called, trying to get his attention. Vince was distracted with pushing Taylor's hair away from her forehead, running his fingers along the soft strands. His eyes had migrated from her forehead to her full lips as she licked them nervously and it his stomach quivered in response. "V!" Mia shouted, hands on her hips. "Yeah?" He glanced over his shoulder, hands still in Taylor's hair. "Taylor needs a ride to her place to pick up her stuff. You mind taking her?" Mia knew the answer but doing the asking was the fun part. "No," he answered, just like she knew he would, his eyes bright with anticipation. He turned back to Taylor as Mia disappeared through the doorway. He began helping her mop up the spreading spill. You mind?" he asked, shifting his eyes to her. "Wh....What?" She stumbled over the word, looking to him and just as quickly dropping her gaze. "Mind if I give you a ride?" He leaned in closer, inhaling. He smiled liking her smell, all tropical, like she belonged on an Island somewhere. For a moment he let himself imagine her with a scrap of cloth wrapped low on her hips, topless, wandering along the white sand of a beach. A shiver raced down his spine at the perfection of the mental image he conjured up. "..........Thanks" He managed to catch the last word of what she was saying and from that gathered she was cool with the ride. The screen door behind them suddenly slammed shut. "Hey," came a soft male greeting. Taylor looked past Vince to the blonde standing just inside the kitchen, eyes slightly narrowed at Vince's back. "Mia's upstairs," he said, voice emotionless, even with no trace of hostility. Taylor noticed the other man looked surprised as he turned to go. "Yo, Brian. Dom's looking for you." "Nah, Dom's found 'em." The deep voice echoed behind them as the screen door slammed again. "Need that shit from Harry's," Dom said following Brian from the room. Leon was the next to storm through the door. "Where's Dom?" Vince pointed through the doorway to the other room as they finished cleaning up the last few droplets of Coke from the floor. "It's busy around here," Taylor commented, smiling at Vince, slowly relaxing. "Most of the time." He took the paper towels from her hand and tossed them into the trash. "Ready?" Out of the back door, they walked toward a sapphire blue Nissan. Taylor eyed it appreciatively, running a finger along the it's side. "Nice," she sighed, jumping when Vince lightly touched her side just below her ribs. "Hey, sorry." He jerked his hand back and reached for the door for her. Turning into him, her lips nearly ended up against his neck as his arm extended towards the door. That was another surprise to her ... but she didn't flinch, didn't try to back away. "It's not your fault. I have this...this thing.... with my sides and back being touched. Weird, I know, but...." She trailed off, inhaling the male scent of him. A trace of cologne, sweat, and grease. Oddly enough to her it wasn't unpleasant, just the opposite. It branded her brain with the impression of him. Vince gripped the car's door in a white knuckled hold feeling the warm moist fan of her breath against his neck, his own breathing hitching and then filling his lungs in a rush. His body reacted instinctively, all male, all wanting. "That's good to know," he said, lamely, not able to formulate a better response as his brain turned to liquid goo inside his head. She nodded, turning and sliding into the passenger seat, watching him round the car. Taylor tried to shake off the feel of rolling heat along her skin in stark contrast to the iceberg inside her stomach. What the hell is wrong with me? At the back of the car Vince rolled his eyes, fist clenched tight. What the hell had happened right there? he questioned, feeling the tight pinch of denim against already overly sensitive areas. Easing behind the wheel Vince cut his eyes to her. She was smiling at him, open and without the shyness he'd seen earlier. With a smoothness he wasn't necessarily feeling at the moment he reached out and grasp her hand, entwining their fingers, pulling her closer to him. "Okay to touch you like this?" The question filled her ears, that slow sizzle starting up along her skin again. She nodded, pulse pounding through her veins so distracting she couldn't think past the warm wrap of fingers around her hand. Then she realized she was close to becoming a mute drooling idiot in the next few seconds and fought to pull herself together. "Yeah. That's good, Vince." She let his name hang between them for a moment and then decided she wanted to know about him, the ins and outs. She started off simple enough, saving the more weighty questions for later. "Mia, told me Dom races. Do you?" "Yeah, sometimes. When the car's runnin nines, I can put some hard cash in my pocket." He wanted to see just how his lifestyle effected her but suddenly lost the nerve. I wasn't in him to care what other people thought, not until now. "Sounds exciting. Mind if I tag along sometime?" "Hell, no. Anytime you want, baby." He gently squeezed her hand, not even realizing the endearment that had slipped out. She giggled, hearing the vehemence in his voice. "You sure? I mean, I wouldn't want to force you or anything." She found herself teasing him, relaxing enough to loosen the tight reins she held over herself. He turned his head, smiling. "You force me? Don't see that happenin. Beside, you need a good education in street racin." "Yeah, that would round out my education nicely. Hummmm....Professor V. It's kinda catchy in a weird way." She shook her head in amusement. Vince laughed at her teasing, wanting to pull over and pull her into his lap, needing more and more to have her body melded against his. More than two blocks from her apartment she looked over and saw the big store front of a local video place, zeroing in on the sign in the window. "V. Could we stop here for a minute. There's something I need to do." She smiled sweetly. "Yeah. No problem," he answered turning into the parking lot and releasing her hand as she shot from the car and into the store. His head fell back against the head rest, trying to slow himself down. He didn't know how much time had passed when she jerked the door open again, excited and obviously pleased with herself. "I did it! I got another job!" _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Part 3 Vince followed Taylor up the stairs to the second floor apartment watching the swing of her nicely rounded ass inside tight denim, knowing there was no way he was going get enough of watching that anytime soon. How the hell had Mia managed to have a friend like Taylor and he never had seen her before? He thought he knew almost everything about Dom's sister and that included her friends. But Taylor had appeared from out of nowhere to drive him crazy. All he wanted to do was touch her, run his hands across her back and sides, the idea of the skin there had becoming a quick obsession in the last half hour. At the door to her apartment she glanced over her shoulder to make sure Vince was still there. He was too quiet. She grinned seeing where his eyes had latched onto. "Enjoying the view?" The urge to tease him was too strong and she couldn't resist. "Yeah." He lifted his eyes, answering honestly, seriously relieved there was no shy smile or turning away in embarrasment. She pulled in a studdering breath and made herself hold his gaze, wondering how many girls fell over themselves for that look. She slowly turned her attention back to the lock on the door, slipping the key home before she noticed the scrap of paper stuck between the door and the frame. Grabbing it, she clenched it in her hand not bothering to look at it, already having a good idea who it was from and what it said. Vince noticed it and reached around her gently taking her wrist between his fingers and with the other hand pulled the now crumpled paper free. "Vince.....It's....." She began to protest, pushing the door open. "Nothing." He opened the the note and read, eyes cutting back to her. "Who wants to talk to you, Taylor? Sounds pretty fuckin presistant." "Nobody, V. He's someone that just doesn't take NO for an answer." She shrugged, walking into the small cramped space that passed for her home. "He?" Vince growled, jealousy surging to the surface. "He'll take NO for an answer now, goddamn it." "And you're going take care of that, huh?" Smiling, she tried to make light of the situation, drawing his attention as she crossed her arms under her breasts, leaning against the wall beside the hallway. "Goddamn right." He was determined to show her he wouldn't step out of the way for some college dick. He knew she could do better then him but he wouldn't let go of what had sprung up between them, that rush of feeling that happened when he looked at her. This was more than the physical pull of his body. He knew what that was like with the girls that hung around the races and this wasn't it. There was no time to think, to react, other than fall into the moment as Vince advanced on her. His lips were a breath away from hers, teasing her, making her want to beg for contact. She nearly collapsed in relief as his tongue glided across her lips seeking premission to slip inside and explore the warm wetness of her mouth. Hands splayed against the wall at her sides, pressed tight against her, Vince groaned as she opened her mouth pulling his tongue into her mouth and feeling her suck lightly. He fought the natural urge to move against her with the raw pumping of blood just below the tight jeans he wore, wanting to let his hands slip between her and the wall to grasp a handful of ass, to grind his hard on against her flat stomach. There was a quick moment when his lips slanted just enough for her to force him to retreat bringing herself into his mouth, tongues warring over posession of the shared space. She won, eagerly exploring his mouth to the fullest. With a regret filled moan she slowly disengaged herself from him. "Shit, Taylor," he panted, echoing her breathing. He was reward with her fingers grazing the hair across his jaw. "I like you too, V." She giggled, ducking under his arm and fairly floating down the hall to the back of the apartment. Vince leaned forward, his forehead planted against the wall, trying to find the control he knew he had. Come on, V. Fuck. It's not like you haven't had to wait for it before. You did it then and you sure as hell can do it now. Pushing away from the wall he followed her down the hall, stopping in the bedroom door. A hard kick in the gut followed as he look towards the bed and saw her sprawled across it, black satin sheets below her, reaching for something in the other side. A rush of air pushed from his lungs and filled the quite room before he could stop it as she jerked a blue lacy bra from the nightstand. Rolling to her side, she watched him strung tight like new barb wire. Vince took it as an invitation and came to the bed, sitting slowly on the edge. "We gonna.....I mean, I wanna......" Suddenly he couldn't find just the right words to express what he wanted, what he thought she wanted. This wasn't like talking to the girls he usually found himself with. Taylor had class. Sitting up on the bed, legs crossed, she leaned into him. "I can't. Not here. I just wanna get outta this place." His hand was on the back of her neck pulling her even closer for another round of kissing, pulling at one anothers lips until they couldn't breath. Parting, he searched her eyes and found the same eruption of heat echoed in him. His hand went to her lap and took the bra from her. The lace lay lightly between his fingers as he imagined the material warm from her body, smelling like her. He was embarassing her but couldn't bring himself to care at the moment as he continued to inspect the pattern of the lace with his fingers. "Bet this looks damn good on you," he finally broke the silence by saying, inwardly vowing to win as many races as it took to keep her in things like that, lace, satin, things that just seemed like her. She shrugged, her attention pinned on more interesting things, namely the art on his bicep and shoulder. With her index fingers she slowly began to trace the designs fasinated by the beauty crossing his skin. "Jesus," she exhauled, low and long. He tried not to be offended, tried not to let her disgust at his tattoos get to him, but it did and anger followed. "Look, I know they're not what your used to but they're there and I wouldn't get rid of them even if I could." She laughed, laying her head on his shoulder. "V! You don't get it. I think they're incredible." She paused. " I like. I like VERY much." ******************* Dinner was an important affair in the Toretto house, Taylor learned, with Dom presiding over the assembled team. Mia had laughed and quietly explained how Jesse never learned, always the first to help himself, the first being the one that Dom required to say grace. Letty shook her head as Jesse finished grace and Vince was the one to relate that Jesse always gave thanks according to which part of the car had given him the least trouble that day. Taylor was amazed at how easily she fit in, felt like she really belonged. Not even Dom's deep voice made her want to jump out of her own skin anymore. The only thing that still made her uneasy under the Toretto roof was Vince. She was growing attached, very attached. The dinner dishes had been done and Taylor stepped out into the back steps, sitting down, staring at the darkening sky. The screen door behind her clapped shut and there was a warmth sliding in behind her, fingers running through her hair. Instinctively she knew it was Vince, even before twisted her neck to see him . She leaned into the hard wall of his chest, feeling his eyes linger on her. "We're gonna watch a movie. You comin?" he asked finally, standing and offering a hand. Taking it, she stood just as Mia and Brian came through the door, laughing, hand in hand. Mia's attention went from Brian to Taylor. "Be good." Mia winked at her, jabbing Brian in the ribs as he snickered. Taylor shook her head, laying a mock glare on Mia. "You know I'm good at everything I do." Her reply struck with the double meaning she intended and Mia's mouth dropped open. "Taylor!" "What?" She laughed along with Vince at the look of shock on Mia's face. "You're rubbing off on her, Vince. I'm gonna tell Dom your corrupting her." Mia pointed a teasing finger at him, trying hard not to laugh herself. "Yeah? I think he's already figured that out." Vince pulled her back into the house with him, leaving Brian and Mia to themselves. They took up one of the chairs across from the TV, Taylor sitting across Vince's lap, legs thrown over the arm of the chair. As the movie scenes drew across the screen she began to feel a quickly growing hardness below her, an evil little grin on her face she wiggle in his lap and was reward with a disgruntled hiss. His hand clamped on her thigh trying to keep her still as she tried to wiggle again. "Damn it, Taylor. Stop," he practically growled, finally deciding to lauch his own attack. His hand slipped under the hem of her cotton shirt, moving upwards. She tried to inconspicuously shove it away but it was impossible. "V!" she hissed as he ran his thumb against the underside of her breast, sliding under the lace he liked so much to touch bare skin. Without his hand on her thigh she began to squirm in his lap again. He, in turn, rolled her tight puckered nipple between his fingers. Their little war soon drew unwanted attention. Dom and Letty were both staring at them like they had lost their minds. "Cut that shit out," Dom barked, a ghost of a smile on his lips. That seemed to prove more interesting at the moment instead of the movie and Leon and Jesse turned from where they sat on the floor. "Dawg!" Leon lent his voice, slightly more encouraging then Dom had been. Taylor could feel her face burning in the shadowed room and Letty's laughter wasn't helping. She dropped her head to Vince shoulder and tried to block out everything but the movie. Below her she could still feel him hard and that seemed to be the only thing she could think about, what she began to fantasize about. Sometime before the end of the movie she fell asleep against him, the steady rhythm of Vince's heartbeat lulling her there. She woke later to him caressing the column of her neck. "I'm going back to my place. Walk outside with me," he said, noticing her eyes open. A sleepy yawn and she sat up, finding the hardness below her hadn't abated at all. "Yeah, of course." It was then she became aware the the wet sound of skin against skin in the room. She looked around Vince and saw Dom and Letty stuck together on the couch, their kissing so intense it looked like they were about to devour one another. Her eyebrows rose as she cut her eyes back to Vince. "Was he the one that told us to stop?" She whispered. Outside Vince dropped his arms around her waist, leaning against his car. " I wanna take you out. Go to a resturant, maybe a movie. Just the two of us," he mumbled against her lips just before his tongue was seeking entrance to her mouth. The kiss lingered on and on until she thought it might be morning before it ended, the thought of it ending at all bringing a surge of regret. "When?" she asked, leaning back in his arms, finding a depth of feeling in his eyes that took her breath away. "Tomorrow." ------------------ TBC |
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