Taylor x Travis: In Every Life

wrong idea

Travis' POV

"Ugh, I cannot believe you!" Taylor complained as she stared at herself in the mirror. "Travis, this is the biggest hickey I have ever seen and I can't make it go away."

"Sorry baby." I murmured, wrapping my arms around her from behind and kissing her cheek.

"You're not sorry." She rolled her eyes at me in the mirror. "Look at this!" Taylor tugged the sleeve of her dress down.

The front of her shoulder, neck, and collarbone was plastered in hickies, some of them forming into bigger splotches. They were all from last night so were still a splotchy red/purple colour. Taylor sighed at herself in the mirror as I rubbed my fingers over her skin, actually pretty proud of myself at what I'd managed. I winked at my girlfriend in the mirror and she shook her head, tugging her sleeve back into place.

"I hope you're happy with yourself Kelce." She muttered.

"Oh I am." I grinned at her. "It's not that bad."

"It's bad enough that your family and mine will not have to think hard to guess what we were doing last night." Taylor turned around in my arms.

"Still thinking about that huh?" I cocked an eyebrow and she giggled.

"Idiot." She rolled her eyes, stretching up and kissing me lightly. "Okay, let's go, or we'll be late." I nodded, kissing her cheek before grabbing the car keys.

Since it was Easter, Taylor's family had come into Kansas City and we were all having lunch at Jason and Kylie's place. It would be the first holiday all of us were in the same place at the same time, and Taylor was so excited. It was so cute. She couldn't stop talking as I drove us over, playing with my fingers as she told me all about the Easter egg hunts she'd used to have with her brother and how they'd fought over the eggs.

When we got there, there were enough cars parked in the driveway that I guessed we were the last ones to arrive. That was mostly my fault; I hadn't been able to let Taylor get out of bed this morning on account of her naked body. She'd giggled herself breathless as I'd peppered kisses all over her, refusing to let her out of my arms.

"Hey guys!" Kylie smiled when we went inside and found her in the kitchen. "Everyone's outside."

"Here, let me help." Taylor let go of my hand and rushed to help Kylie with the plates she was carrying. I took a few as well, and we went out onto the deck where Andrea, Scott, Austin, my parents, Jason, and the three girls were. Conversations overlapped as we said hello to everyone, putting food down as the girls ran around our feet.

"Hey!" I caught Wyatt as she dashed by and scooped her up. "Hey monkey."

"Uncle Travis!" She giggled. "I got an egg this morning!"

"That's great monkey." I ruffled her hair before setting her down so she could run off with Ellie again.

Taylor and I found a place to sit, and like always, my girlfriend chose to ignore the vacant seat next to me and opt for my lap instead. She rested an arm around my shoulders as she talked to Jason and her Mom, stroking my hair absent-mindedly. I rested mine around her waist, caught up in discussion with Kylie and Dad about some football thing they always debated and never came to a conclusion about.

As everyone started eating, Taylor moved from my lap to the vacant chair. After a few minutes, I noticed everyone sneaking funny glances at her, murmuring very quietly to each other. Then at me, and I frowned, confused. Eventually, Jason nodded in response to something Kylie whispered in his ear and got up, motioning to me that he wanted a word. Touching Taylor's cheek as I always did before I left, I stood and followed him into the house.

"What's up?" I asked when he'd led me to the kitchen. Jason turned on me with a sigh.

"Look, you know we love you Travis." He started. "But what's going on with you and Taylor?"

"Huh?" I blinked at him.

"Her arm." Jason motioned to his shoulder. "Travis, have you been putting your hands on her? That's one hell of a bruise she's trying to cover up there."

I turned around to look out the glass doors. Taylor was leaning forwards, frowning, obviously listening intently to whatever my Mom was saying. Then I realized what Jason was going on about and laughed, shaking my head as I looked at him again.

"This isn't funny Travis." Jason folded his arms. "You know we all love that woman, and if you've been hurting her..."

"Jase." I held up a hand. "It's not a bruise. It's a hickey."

My brother blinked at me, stunned into silence for a few long moments. I just looked at him, and then he shook his head, managing a small smile.

"Are you serious?" He asked, and I nodded. "God Travis, what'd you do to the poor woman? That thing is huge!"

"Yeah, she wasn't pleased with me when she woke up this morning." I laughed. "Look, I'm sorry you guys got the wrong idea. But I would never in my life lay a hand on her. You know how much I love her. How much I want to spend my whole life with her."

Jason knew better than anyone how much I loved Taylor. He was the only one so far who knew about my plans to propose. I was planning to ask her parents for permission soon, but at the moment, he was the only one I'd confided in. The fact that anyone thought I would ever hurt Taylor made me feel awful, but it also gave me a lot of confidence that they'd always look out for her. She'd always be safe with my family.

"I know." Jason nodded. "I'm sorry, we were just worried." I nodded, understanding.

We went back outside, and Taylor leaned back in her chair as I sat down next to her. Everyone looked at me expectantly, like they really did believe I'd ever lay a finger on the love of my life. I only ever did that when she asked me to, when we were really exploring our sexual fantasies and she begged me to spank her. But they didn't need to know that.

"It's not a bruise." I explained, wanting to get this out of the way. This was going to be awkward as hell. Yes, hi Mr and Mrs Swift, sorry about this but your daughter and I were just really into the hot as hell sex we were having last night and I sucked so many hickies into her skin it looks like I hit her.

"What?" Taylor blinked at me.

"They think I've been hurting you." I touched the sleeves of her dress that mostly covered the mass of hickies. Taylor immediately went bright red, pressing her lips together.

"He hasn't." She whispered, mortified.

"Honey..." Andrea sighed.

"No, Mom, I swear to god Travis has never put a hand on me like that." Taylor shook her head. "You know he'd never do that. You know that." She reached over and took my hand, weaving her fingers through mine and squeezing it gently.

"So what'd you do, fall?" Austin frowned like he was trying to imagine a fall that would cause a bruise like that.

"No." Taylor mumbled, looking at me. Her eyes pleaded for help.

"No she didn't fall." I saved her. "It's a hickey, okay?"

Everyone went silent. Taylor flushed even redder, sinking down into her chair slightly like she could hide. But hey, if they asked, I'd answer. Not my fault if they were now realizing just how those marks got on her skin.

"What's a hickey?" Wyatt asked loudly.

"I'll tell you later." Kylie quickly said. Austin stifled a laugh as all of our parents went a little red, staring at me and Taylor like we were aliens. I mean, her and I were a very touchy couple in public, and maybe they were only just realizing what that translated to when we were alone. I couldn't even count the number of times Taylor's security had been forced to put up with us getting a lot more handsy than we needed to be in places we shouldn't.

"Huh." Scott coughed, reaching for his glass "Okay."

"We were just worried about you honey." Andrea tacked on.

"I know." Taylor mumbled. "But I'm good." I hid a smile and she glanced over before smacking my arm lightly. "Hey, this is all your fault." She told me.

"I'll take full responsibility." I winked at her, and Taylor sighed but couldn't hide her smile.