Surround me - the first novel

Chapter 85- it just makes everything rosey

Taylor's POV

Before Matthew opens the double doors to the parlour; he glances down at me softly stroking my face. A hint of deliberation on his face, worry.

"We can go now if you like? I can take us home, we can curl up in bed together" he says his eyes glowing.

I kiss him slowly as his hand brushes my hips, I take his hand smiling and pull him through the double doors myself. I'm absolutely intent on being all over him, in front of the Viking and the witch. Matthew is mine; that will be my last message to her before I leave this scene for good.

Eyes flick up to us as we enter the grande room, my heels clinking on the parquet floor as I guide Matthew over to the sofa opposite Jay. I smile widely at Rachel who is perched on his knee. Rachel I have decided is a lot of fun and I'm intent on being her friend.

Playfully I sit Matthew down on the sofa pushing him back with my hand as I stand over him.
Jen rolls her eyes and sips her drink annoyed by our intrusion. I climb onto Matthew's lap, straddling him and ruffling his hair.

"Oh excuse me" I giggle as she scowls moving herself off of the sofa away from me straddling the guy of her dreams. Ross eyes me, sitting next to Matthew and I smile at him whispering that I am fine.

"I'm guessing you're all good after huffing off earlier" Jen snarks at me, heading over to Jay. He's her second choice to Matthew, I can tell.

"Oh and causing a punch up in the yard, classy" she adds, smiling to herself.

"Jen" Jay warns, a serious expression on his face.

"Well Matthew is very good at saying sorry" I smirk, Turning around in Matthew's lap to face her. Jay watches me, closely. I replay Matthew punching him in the courtyard and it just makes everything rosey, even though he is staring at my legs.

"Okay it's your go Ryan" Jen laughs getting bored of me. She takes a hit on a cigarette before she passes it to Rachel.

"Let me guess we're playing spin the bottle" I laugh and Matthew holds onto my hips.

"Can I just say" I point out, not sure where my confidence is coming from.

"I'm not here to kiss anybody else" I smirk, Matthew strokes down my waist sipping his brandy.

"Well it's not your go anyhow" Jen snorts and I laugh at her

"Hey maybe on your go you could do another type of dare. Like remove clothes or whatever" Rachel explains, trying to be sweet and accommodating.

Jen scowls at her and takes the cigarette off of her, Ryan turns the music up and I smirk up at him as he removes his shirt.

"Taylor it's my birthday party and if you don't wanna kiss anybody else, then don't please you do you babe" he laughs and I grin along with him. His dare was to take his shirt off and he gave us all a show in the process of doing it. Ryan spins the bottle and I notice he winks at me as he looks up.

The champagne bottle rotates on the oak coffee table and I watch it just hoping that it doesn't land on me.

"Taylor" Jen says triumphantly and Matthew moves pulling me into him.

"Taylor, Taylor, Taylor" she says with a huge grin on her face. She has got it in for me. Staring straight at me, a look of pure pleasure in her eyes as she makes me squirm.

"Truth or dare" she asks watching me. Rachel rolls her eyes and nudges Jay, as if to say, do something rein the bitch in.

"Truth please" I say leaning forward to meet her gaze. Jay shakes his head clearly amused by the whole thing. The fire crackles in the background and I smile over at it wondering what she could possibly need to know about boring little Taylor.

"Hmmm" she says deliberating, a grin on her face as she stands up and eyes Matthew briefly.

"Is it true Taylor, you were actually a virgin, before Matthew popped your little cherry" she sneers. And she's really enjoying herself, what a surprise. Let's all have a laugh at Taylor the good girl virgin. Ross begins to interject rising next to me but I place my hand on his knee.

Nobody laughs. I pointedly glance at the others and then slowly look back at her. Smug expression draining away from her face upon the realisation that nobody finds her funny.

"Don't be a bitch, Jen" Pippa protests sipping her wine.

"Just leave it" Rachel pipes up and Jen looks down at her wounded. Matthew whispers in my ear telling me to leave it. Angry as I am, I will not back down, my mother taught me to stand up for what is right and that's exactly what I will do.

"Actually you know what" I say breaking the silence as Ryan eyes me from across the room. My blood is boiling and I can just feel it.

"You know what I was a virgin. I was yeah, I didn't let any guy close to me because I didn't feel the need to have a dick inside of me to stop me from feeling like a lonely, stupid bitch" I retort and she turns vicious instantly.

Ross snorts next to me, he was halfway through drinking some brandy and he sets the glass down on the table. Wiping his face and trying not to laugh.

"Who's next?" I say looking at Jen dead in the eyes.

Pippa laughs out loud, she doesn't even try to hide it.
"Low blow" Jay says looking at Jen directly, I hide my face from him.

"I'll be next, and hey don't need to ask me I only just lost my virginity too" Rhea laughs winking at Malachi, she will forever be my saviour from sticky situations. Jen glares at me and then Matthew in turn. That old saying pops into my head, if looks could kill or some shit I'd be dead.

"Oh fuck you it was just a question" she says venomous.

"Yeah and that was my genuine answer, all done moving on. Got what you wanted" I tell her, I am not backing down.

"Okay I'm spinning" Rhea says smirking intending on ending the argument. She twirls the champagne bottle.

"I'll be right back" I tell Matthew and I excuse myself, he gazes up at me and I assure him that I am just fine. I'm going to need another glass of red for the rest of this game.

"Save my go for when I get back" I tell them all.