Forever Almost

Chapter 6

That night, Travis lay in bed, unable to shake the image of Taylor in that wet, transparent dress. The red lace of her bra clung to his thoughts, teasing him relentlessly. He even brought a girl from the bar back to his place, hoping to satisfy the gnawing need within him, but all he could think about was Taylor. No matter how hard he tried to focus on the woman in his arms, his mind kept wandering back to Taylor—imagining her beneath him, her body arching, her lips forming his name in a breathless plea. Frustrated, he pushed the girl away, knowing that no one else would satisfy him until he had Taylor.

Meanwhile, Taylor was mortified by the memory of her accidental reveal. She couldn't believe she had let Travis see her like that. Her cheeks burned just thinking about it, and she made a vow to herself that she would never give him such a view again.

The next morning, Taylor dressed carefully, choosing a dark green dress that wouldn't betray her if another accident occurred. As she walked to the hospital, she found herself hoping, almost expecting, to see Travis at the entrance. But when she arrived, he wasn't there. She wasn't sure why she felt a pang of disappointment, but it lingered in her chest as she walked inside, her thoughts completely occupied by him.

So distracted, she didn't notice the stretcher in her path until it was too late. She tripped over it, her heart racing as she braced herself for a painful fall. But before she could hit the ground, strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against a solid chest. She knew immediately who it was, even with her eyes closed.

"Taylor," Travis's voice was soft, with a teasing edge, "you really like me holding you, don't you?"

Taylor slowly opened her eyes, her face inches from his. Her heart pounded as she looked up at him, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Travis," she whispered, trying to step back, but his grip tightened.

"Don't be sorry," he murmured, his eyes locked on hers. "In fact, I should be thanking you. You keep giving me opportunities to hold you again and again."

She swallowed hard, her breath catching as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "You know, if you wanted to be in my arms, all you have to do is ask, Taylor."

Taylor's heart fluttered, and for a moment, she was lost in the intensity of his gaze. But then, as if snapping out of a trance, she pulled away, offering him a weak smile before mumbling, "I should get to work."

Travis let her go but not without a lingering touch that made her skin tingle. "I'll see you at lunch," he called after her, a knowing smile on his lips.

Their days began to fall into a familiar rhythm. Every afternoon, Travis would show up at her cabin for lunch, each time getting a little closer, a little bolder. They talked and laughed, and though there was always an undercurrent of something more, Taylor tried to ignore it, convincing herself that his flirtation was harmless. But deep down, she knew she was falling for him.

Two weeks later, the hospital announced a three-day camp, an event that required selected doctors to stay overnight at the location. Kayla was thrilled at the idea of spending nights with Travis, imagining all the ways she could finally get him to herself. But when the list of selected participants was announced, her name wasn't on it. Her heart sank, her plans dashed, leaving her bitter and disheartened.

Travis, however, had other ideas. He went straight to the management and insisted that they include the music therapist in the team, arguing that her presence could be beneficial for the patients. But his reasons were far from professional. He knew that three days at the camp would give him the perfect opportunity to finally get Taylor where he wanted her—in his bed.

As the camp approached, Travis's thoughts were consumed with the image of Taylor beneath him, her body writhing in pleasure. He didn't care about anything else—he didn't want her heart, her love, or her trust. All he wanted was her body, and he was determined to have it.

Travis spotted Taylor in the hospital corridor, her soft, thoughtful expression making him smirk. He sauntered over, his eyes glinting with mischief as he stopped in front of her.

"Hey, Taylor," he greeted, his voice dripping with charm.

"Hi, Travis," Taylor responded with a shy smile, her heart doing a little flip.

"I wanted to talk to you about something important," he continued, leaning in just a bit too close. "There's a medical camp coming up, and I think your skills as a music therapist would be invaluable. The patients could really benefit from your... soothing voice."

Taylor's eyes widened in surprise. "Really? You think I could help?"

"Absolutely," Travis said, his voice low and persuasive. "It wouldn't be the same without you. I'd feel much better knowing you were there with us."

Her heart fluttered at his words, and she nodded eagerly. "Of course, I'll go! I'm happy to help however I can."

Travis's lips curled into a satisfied smile. "Perfect. I knew I could count on you, Taylor." He reached out and lightly touched her arm, his fingers lingering for just a moment. "I'm really looking forward to spending some time together."

Taylor's cheeks flushed at the touch, and she nodded, not trusting herself to speak without stammering.

Later that evening, as Taylor was packing for the camp, Kayla entered the room and noticed the suitcase on the bed.

"What's this? Going somewhere?" Kayla asked, her tone laced with curiosity and a hint of suspicion.

Taylor looked up from her packing, smiling. "Yes, I'm going to a medical camp with some of the other doctors. They think my music therapy could help the patients there."

Kayla raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Really? And how exactly do you plan on saving patients? By singing them lullabies?"

Taylor's smile faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered, trying to stay positive. "I'm just doing what I can to help."

Kayla rolled her eyes, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Sure, because that's what patients really need—someone singing to them."

Taylor bit her lip, not wanting to get into an argument. "I'll go make dinner," she said quietly, leaving the room to escape the uncomfortable conversation.

As soon as Taylor left, Kayla's smirk turned into a wicked grin. An idea popped into her head—one that would ensure Taylor would regret ever going to that camp. She moved to Taylor's suitcase and began rummaging through it, her eyes narrowing at the boring, conservative clothes Taylor had packed.

"This won't do," Kayla muttered to herself, her smile growing as she started to replace Taylor's outfits with the most revealing and provocative clothes she could find in her own wardrobe. Tiny shorts, low-cut tops, and skimpy dresses—all intended to humiliate Taylor in front of her peers. She imagined the looks of disapproval from the other doctors and the possibility of Taylor being sent home for being unprofessional. The thought filled her with glee.

As she finished, Kayla chuckled to herself, picturing the mortified look on Taylor's face when she realized what she'd packed. "Enjoy the camp, Taylor," she whispered to the empty room. "You won't know what hit you."

But what Kayla didn't realize was that her little act of sabotage was playing right into Travis's hands. He had no intention of letting Taylor slip through his fingers during the camp. The clothes she'd been tricked into packing would only make her more irresistible in his eyes, and he was determined to make those three days count—no matter what it took.