Ryan felt like a horny sixteen year-old getting ready for his first date. But was it a date? He had no idea. Regardless, something about Taysia Fields simply felt right. He had fantasized about her before he’d even seen this other side of her, and what he saw was even better than his fantasies, which he thought would always be just that. Fantasies.

He dropped Tyler off at Jack’s and said he’d pick him up in the morning because it might be late. Elliott and Taylor grinned at him. They knew he had a date, but he wouldn’t – couldn’t – tell them with whom.

He went to hug his son goodbye, but Tyler had already made a beeline for Jack’s room, Jack hot on his heels, presumably to get started on video games.

Ryan pulled up in front of a modest older home in Willow Creek. It appeared to be well maintained with flowers blooming in window boxes. It looked like a perfect mix of Dr. Fields and Taysia. A little bit of the fun loving Taysia along with the orderliness of the conservative, put together educator. Perfect, just like her.

Before he could ring the bell, she opened the door. He had a momentary flashback to bringing wine and flowers to his ex-wife more than six months ago and shuddered. Taysia must have noticed his apprehension. “Ryan, are you okay?” she asked.

“Uh yes, of course. I just got a chill is all.” He awkwardly stuck the wine and flowers towards her. “Here…..” he said. He needed to pull himself together, like now.

“Oh my. Thank you,” she said graciously as she took both from him, “Come on in.”

When he walked in, his stomach rumbled as he tried to quickly take in his surroundings. He chuckled, embarrassed. “Guess I’m hungry. What is that wonderful aroma?”

“Well, I hope you like Chicken Saltimbocca, I should’ve asked,” she called out from the kitchen where she was putting water into a vase for the flowers.

He joined her in the kitchen. “No, it’s perfect,” he said. Like you, he added in his head. He couldn’t stop looking at her as she put the flowers on the table. She looked amazing.

Taysia turned around and grinned. “Do I have something on my teeth, lipstick, food?” she asked.

“Huh? No,” said Ryan. Damn.

“Just wanted to check. You’ve totally been staring at me since you got here.”

“Sorry. I’m not used to seeing you … casual,” he said. Why was he so damn nervous around her. She was out of his league. That’s why.

She laughed, making him feel a little more at ease. “You look as shocked as some of my students when they see me in the grocery store,” she said.

“Well, I doubt they were thinking how beautiful you are,” he said.

“Thank you Ryan,” she said sweetly and motioned towards the table that was already set, complete with candlelight. “Let’s eat so your stomach can quiet down. Why don’t you pour the wine and I’ll serve the food.”

Ryan did as he was told, thankful to have a reason to stop staring at her. However, she seemed a bit nervous too and wondered if his compliment bothered her.

They sat down and began to eat in relative silence. Ryan noticed the Jackson Day posters on the wall and remembered she’s mentioned going dancing. “So, you have a crush on Jackson Day when you were a kid or something?” he asked.

“Ahhh. The posters!” she said smiling at him. “Well, he was just a little before my time, but you have to admit, he and his band are legendary. We usually go to clubs on oldies night to dance to his timeless and edgy ballads. I actually nabbed the posters at a charity auction. They’re signed, so worth a little bit, probably not as much as I paid for them. And, as you see, my home is quite small, so they earned a place in my dining room.”

“I don’t know the last time that I went dancing. Prom maybe.” Now he felt awkward because he wanted to ask if she’d go dancing with him, but he couldn’t. Neither said anything and he wondered again if this was a date, or just dinner and they’d never go dancing.

Taysia picked up her glass and took a drink. Ryan used the opportunity to take her in again. She looked amazing and sexy. Surely she would’ve dressed a bit more conservatively if this were dinner with friends and wouldn’t have gone to the trouble to light candles. And they way she dressed. She wore a silver satin blouse, low-cut just enough to show off her ample cleavage. It shimmered in the candlelight as she moved, distracting him.

When she sat her drink down, he refilled both of their glasses. “Taysia,” he said when he finished pouring, “what are we doing here? Is this a date or is this just friends?”

Taysia looked at him with apparent uncertainty for a minute before speaking. “What do you want it to be Ryan?” she asked, turning his question back on him.

Well fuck, he thought. Surely she knew. She confused him so much. “I’m going to be brutally honest. And if you don’t agree, then I’ll leave and we can go on as before.” She nodded so he continued. “Taysia, I really like you and I would very much like this to be a date. In fact, the first of many.” He sighed softly before continuing. “So – I answered my question. Your turn.” Ryan’s heart was pounding. He’d put himself out there and he knew he may be moving too fast. Tyler’s principal kept echoing in the back of his mind.

She looked at Ryan for a minute with those chocolate eyes and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly. “I wouldn’t mind it being a date, not at all. In fact, Ryan, that’s exactly what I thought this was supposed to be,” she said softly and his heart raced even more.

He was so relieved that they were on the same page. But then, his insecurities kicked in. “I can’t believe I’m actually here with you. You’re smart, kind, confident and sexy. The whole package. That’s why I’m here. So, Taysia, why are you here? I’m certainly not a catch. I’m recently divorced, have a kid with issues, I’m broke and I talk like a sailor.”

She laughed that amazing laugh he was growing to love. He supposed that was a good sign, but then she got quiet and began to fiddle with her glass before taking a drink . He supposed she was working out her answer in her head.

She finally looked at him and the emotion in her expression twisted him in knots. “Ryan, I could care less about your money or lack thereof,” she started out, “Family is important to you. I could tell the very first time I spoke to Tyler that he was loved. And he is blossoming with the re-direction we’re giving him. And it’s as much, or even more because of you, as it is what we’re doing at school. As I’ve come to know you over these past several months, I couldn’t help but become attracted to you.” Then she grinned. “Plus, you’re sexy as fuck. And single. I guess gym ownership has its advantages.”

Ryan smirked at her. She tried to shock him with her profanity and he knew she did it on purpose, probably to lighten the mood. “I’m about two seconds away from pulling you out of that chair and kissing you senseless. You are making me insanely crazy for you. But somehow, I think you already know that.”

Suddenly her expression changed and Ryan knew, once again, he was moving too fast. Always too fast. “Ryan, you must know, the cards are stacked against us. Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked. The playfulness from before was gone, and the serious Dr. Fields was firmly in it’s place, just wearing different clothes.

“What are you talking about? Of course I do.” Ryan was confused.

“Ryan,” she said, obviously uncomfortable, but held her head up anyway, “I’m scared that I’m just a rebound for you. You come on so strong. I’m much younger, and much less … experienced than you. I’ve allowed myself get invested in your son. Plus, we have to keep our relationship a secret. Aren’t those enough reasons to be worried?”

Ryan was immediately pissed at her. Rebound? “Goddammit Taysia, my marriage was over ten years ago, probably even before it ever began, not when the divorce papers were signed!” How dare she think he was just here for a secret fling and would reject her if it began to get real. It was already getting real for him.

“I’m sorry Ryan, but you were married with a child when I was still in middle school. I just had to be sure. This isn’t easy for me. I’m drawn to you like a moth to an open flame and I’m afraid of getting burned. I just want us to go in with our eyes wide open.”

Damn, how old is she? he wondered. She seemed so much more mature than him. But it didn’t really matter, he was still furious with her. “You know what Taysia, up until this minute you’ve not done one single thing to piss me off. I thought you understood me at least a little better than that. I stayed in a bad marriage because I tried to make it work, but if you think I’m only here for a quickie, then I’m leaving, right now.”

“No. Please don’t leave. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have said anything. I’m just afraid Ryan.” She actually looked like she might cry, confusing Ryan and now he felt bad for getting angry.

This was another side of her he hadn’t seen. She had insecurities that she kept hidden deep inside. It seemed she wasn’t used to letting someone in. All he wanted to do now was make it okay and reassure her. He took a deep breath to calm himself before speaking. “Taysia,” he said softly, holding her eyes with his so she could see the truth in his words, “you’re the most beautiful person I know, both inside and out. I would never do anything to hurt you.”

She swallowed hard, still looking him in the eye. Obviously what she said had been difficult for her. “I need you to understand some things about me Ryan. I’ve worked incredibly hard to get where I am. Not many are given the opportunity to become a principal at my age. Ryan I’m 28, almost ten years your junior. I‘m married to my job and I won’t do anything to jeopardize that. It’s all I’ve focused on since I was in high school. I didn’t date in college, and haven’t since, because I spent all of my free time studying. I’ve been at the school now for 6 years. They promoted me once I got my doctorate. So Ryan, I apologize for doubting your intentions. I came on strong too, just to try and dial it back, sending you mixed messages. I got scared because this feels too real. There are so many obstacles stacked against us and I haven’t dated or been with anyone in several years. I got carried away in the moment and didn’t fully think things through.”

Ryan stood up and held his hand out and she took it. “Please, stop over analyzing and just come here,” he said and pulled her from the chair.

He simply held her close to him for a minute, relishing in the way she felt next to him. He could feel her begin to relax into his embrace.

Then he turned her chin up to face him and kissed her softly. “Taysia, I’ve been wanting to do that almost since the day we met. You’re right, this feels real. Before I even knew you were at the gym this morning, I was playing the ‘what if game’ wondering what it would be like if I’d met and married you instead of Maribel. My life would be so much better right now.”

“Ryan,” she said looking worried.

“I’m sorry, that wasn’t a back door proposal, but you wanted to know my intentions. I plan to seduce you and make you want to be with me always. I’m falling hard for you and I don’t even know exactly when it started to happen. Probably the first day we met.” He stopped and chuckled softly. “You know – I totally checked out your ass that day.”

Taysia chuffed out a small laugh and he was relieved. “I thought you did. And I was secretly flattered.” Then she got quiet, and frowned, studying his face for what seemed like forever but was probably only 10 seconds. Eventually a slow smile crept back onto her beautiful face. “When does the seduction part begin?” she whispered.

Ryan thought he was going to die right then and there, he was so relieved. He ran his hands through her hair and it felt like silk between his fingers. “How about right now?” he said, his voice husky with his need for her as he pulled her to him and kissed her again.

Only this time when he kissed her, he didn’t hold back. When she opened to him, and their tongues intertwined, he groaned. It was the sexiest, hottest kiss he’d ever had. Maybe it was because he loved her. But how did that happen? However it was, he knew he had fallen hard for her.

She began to move her body against his, and he knew she could feel his desire. Reluctantly he pulled back from their kiss. “Bedroom?” he asked. Then he worried he was going too fast again, but she asked for it, didn’t she.

She looked at him, bit her full bottom lip and began to walk towards another part of her small house, pulling him by the hand. He stopped and turned her to face him. “Wait, Taysia, if this is too fast, we can slow down. Maybe we should wait.”

“Ryan, you silly man, if I didn’t want this, I wouldn’t be leading you to my bedroom, now would I? Be quiet and come on,” she said. Her tone left no doubt as to the absolute truth of her words.

He didn’t move yet. “Taysia,” he said softly, “you know, if we do this, it’s because it means something to me. Do you understand that?” He needed her to know this wasn’t just sex.

“It means something to me too, Ryan,” she said softly, “but I understand if you need more time.” He shook his head and they took the final few steps into her bedroom.

She immediately went to work on the buttons on his shirt. Ryan suddenly realized that he wasn’t the one doing the seducing at all. It was all Taysia. She’d been seducing him since the very day they met. There was so much to this complex woman and he wanted to know it all. He loved her, he had no doubt. He’d never felt this way about anyone before. Now, he just needed to make her fall in love with him.

Once his shirt was off, he grabbed her hands as they started for his belt. “No, not yet,” he whispered, and began to kiss her neck while he removed her shirt and she stepped out of her pants.

“God you’re beautiful,” he said when she stood only in her underclothes. While still taking her in, he stepped out of his trousers. He sat on the edge of her bed, and pulled her down with him. “I just need to feel you next to me,” he whispered as he pulled her body against his. He let out a deep satisfied breath. “Taysia, you feel so good in my arms.”

Ryan began to slowly kiss her lips, her neck and down her body, removing the rest of her clothes. When she tried to go faster, he slowed her down. He wanted to take his time with her, making sure she was ready before he finally pulled out a condom and rolled it on. He needed her to want him as much as he wanted her.

Afterwards, as he held Taysia in arms, Ryan knew he never wanted to let her go. However, when his heart rate began to return to normal, doubts began to worm their way into the back of his head. Maybe they should’ve waited, but they both seemed to need this moment. So, until she was ready to be open with their relationship, he had to hold back. If he pushed her, she might run, Taysia was right, they had a lot of obstacles to overcome. But until he could figure out a way to overcome them, he had to try and protect what was left of his damaged heart. Although he wanted to freely give it her, he was also afraid. He’d been hurt too much in the past when he gave his heart to someone only to have it handed back to him in pieces. So for now, he’d take only what she was willing to give and not ask for more. At least he’d try.

Go to Chapter 4.08>>>>>>>

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