Playing With Fire.

Matt took the corn as Taylor handed it to him, wrapping it in squares of foil so that they could get a nice char on them. When Taylor asked if he wanted to take a shower, Matt thought about it for a few seconds before he nodded. He probably needed to if they were going to swim in the pool after dinner. "Yeah, I guess I'll go take a shower," Matt said. He went over to Taylor and rested his hand on her waist, leaning down to press a kiss to her temple. "I'll be back in a few minutes." Matt headed upstairs, grabbing his swimtrunks and a towel before he stepped into the master bathroom.

He made quick work of his shower, pulling on his swimtrunks before he headed back downstairs. He didn't spot Taylor in the kitchen, so he slipped out back, smiling when he saw her standing near the grill. "Look at my pretty little lady, manning the grill," Matt teased, wrapping his arm around her waist. He looked over the grill. "It looks like the ribs are done, so we should move them away from the direct heat so they don't get overdone. And the corn should be just about done, too." Matt pressed a kiss to Taylor's cheek, turning when he heard the sound of someone knocking on the front door. "Sounds like someone's here."

Looking up when she heard the sliding door, Taylor grinned as her gaze met Matt's. Tugging on her bottom lip, Taylor couldn't help but roll her eyes at Matt's comment. She let out a small laugh, setting her hands on Matt's arm. She leaned back against his chest, her fingers dancing along his skin. Giving a nod of her head, Taylor stepped to the side so that Matt could tend to the food on the grill. Her head snapped up, her body pulling together as she turned, eyeing the open sliding door. Her stomach did a little somersault as her nerves danced to the edge. Swallowing around the sudden dry feeling, Taylor squeezed out of Matt's grip, making her way toward the sliding door. "I'll grab it," she called over her shoulder before disappearing inside.

Taylor emerged moments later, with Gena's arm slipped through her own. The blonde was already rambling about her day, causing Taylor to let out a slight laugh. Zacky trailed behind the pair, making a beeline for Matt the moment that they had crossed through the sliding door.

The girls dropping down onto lawn chairs, quickly falling into a rhythm in their discussion while they waited for everyone else to arrive.

Matt nodded as Taylor headed off to answer the door, grabbing the set of tongs and moving the numerous racks of ribs from the direct heat. He left them on the grill so that they wouldn't get cold and after a few more minutes, did the same to the corn. He was trying to think of what else he could make to go along with what they already had, since he wanted to be sure there would be enough food. But maybe the guys were smart enough to bring something along. Matt turned when he heard the door slide open and close again, chuckling softly when he saw Taylor walking arm in arm with Gena. Not surprisingly, the girls dropped themselves into two of the lawn chairs surrounding the pool while Zacky headed straight in his direction.

"I got potato salad," Zacky said, holding out a container. Once Matt had taken it, the other man pulled out a cigarette, lighting it and letting it dangle from between his lips. "I hope Brian and Michelle bring some of those rolls, those things are fucking delicious."

Matt laughed. "If they do, you get last dibs otherwise you'll take them all," he joked, laughing harder when Zacky flipped him off.

Taylor laughed at a comment Gena made, sighing as she reluctantly pushed herself to her feet. The idea of just relaxing had seemed amazing but she decided that she needed a drink to accomplish that. Glancing back to Gena, she motioned for the girl to follow her inside. She had no real idea what she wanted but she knew she wanted something mixed, something other than just grabbing a beer from the fridge.

Leaning out of the sliding door, Taylor grinned when Matt caught her eye. "Hey! Do you guys want anything to drink?" She called out to them, raising an eyebrow. Once they agreed on drinks, Taylor returned to the kitchen and the two girls set about fixing up the four drinks. Matt had been easy enough with just a jack and coke while Zacky wanted a beer.

Minutes later, Brian trailed out from the house with the girls following shortly, two drinks in their hands. Taylor sided up to Matt, a smile on her lips as she leaned up to kiss him before offering his drink to him. "Hopefully Jimmy and Leanna show up on time," she teased with a small laugh. It was a running joke between the group, Jimmy tended to take forever to get ready so he usually ran later than everyone else.

Matt noticed the girls get up and go inside, figuring they were going inside to get something to drink. He grinned when he saw Taylor pop her head back outside, calling out that he wanted a jack and coke. If they were going to relax at the house and have a pool party, they might as well get a little drunk while they were doing it. "Thanks, baby," Matt murmured, kissing Taylor on the lips as she handed him his drink. He laughed at her comment about Leana and Jimmy. "You know they won't," he said, taking a sip of his drink.

When there was a second knock on the door, Matt sat his drink down on the tray next to the grill. "I'll get it," he said. "Taylor, if you want, you can get plates and stuff ready. The food is done, we're just waiting on everyone else to get here." Going inside, Matt went to answer the door, grinning when he saw both Brian and Johnny standing there, Michelle and Lacey next to them. "Zack and Gena are already here, so we're just waiting on Jimmy and Leana."

"Well fuck, that means we won't get to eat for like another hour," Brian said. He held out a tray to Matt. "We brought those rolls Zacky likes. But that fucker can't eat them all."

Taylor tried to hid her laugh at Brian's comment glancing over to him as she held her drink up toward him. "Hey! That's what I said," she called out to him,a small grin developing on her features. Relaxing into the lawn chairs, Taylor turned toward Michelle as she made herself at home on the opposite side of her. They quickly settled into laughing and joking, swapping stories that they hadn't had the opportunity to share with each other before.

- - -

Not even bothering to get up when she heard a faint knock on the front door, Taylor wasn't the least bit surprised when Jimmy and Leanna appeared no more than few moments later. Jimmy with a bottle of Absinthe in one hand, Leanna carrying a bag stuffed full of various s'mores making items. Leanna held up the bag, grinning triumphantly. "There's no backyard party without s'mores!" Jimmy all but shouted his agreement, causing Taylor to laugh.

"How about we get to those ribs? Poor Matt had been slaving over them all day long," she teased, rolling her eyes as she pushed to her feet. Taylor moved over to Matt, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "Isn't that right?" Taylor asked, raising an eyebrow. She knew that it wasn't cooking food that made Matt so poor, it was the lack of time before finishing up with the food and their friends arriving. But no one else needed to know that.

"Well just hide half of them and tell Zacky that's all there is, so that way if he eats all of them, there's still some for us," Matt suggested, and Brian laughed as he agreed. Zacky would probably eat most or all of what they told him there was, so if they wanted some for themselves they'd have to hide them.

- - -

It was almost a full thirty minutes later before Jimmy and Leana finally arrived alcohol and smores supplies in hand. "Okay yeah, Taylor is right, we're starting with the ribs," Matt said with a playful pout. "I slaved away all day over this grill to cook these for you fuckers and you're going to eat them." Matt let everyone else make their plates first, since he'd always been taught that it was rude to eat before your guests, taking his plate to the patio table and taking a seat next to Taylor. "So after dinner we should swim a little while it's still light outside and then once it starts getting dark we can start up the fire pit and have some smores?" Matt suggested.

"Sounds like a fucking plan to me, dude," Zacky agreed.

Taylor gave an eager nod of her head at the mention of the swimming pool. Even born and raised in Southern California, she had a healthy love for all things water. Whether it was the ocean or a pool, or hell, even a stream would do. She smiled at Matt, a devious little grin settling itself onto her features.

"We'll have to play chicken. Whoever loses... well, they have to face the consequences," she said, loud enough for the group to hear. "See who really is boss," Taylor teased, her grin morphing into a full on smirk by this point. "Unless you guys are..." she paused for affect, unable to contain a quiet giggle. "Scared?"

Brian immediately was alert, shaking his head as he pointed a finger in Taylor's direction. "Nope. Nuhuh. You're going down, Sanders!" He declared, his gaze intensifying as he turned toward Matt.

"Why the hell are you yelling at me?" Matt asked, looking at Brian. "Taylor's the one tossing out threats. So shut up and eat or I'll kick your ass for real and then kick your ass at chicken." Matt laughed under his breath at the frown on Brian's face, chunking a roll at his face when he muttered underneath his breath.

"Hey, don't throw those!" Zacky shouted. "They're a precious commodity."

"Okay, fatass," Matt said, smirking. He reached over and snatched his roll back from where it had landed on Brian's plate and took a bite of it, reaching for his drink and taking a sip. Things were relatively quiet as everyone continued to eat, but Matt could feel Brian staring at him and he knew there was no way he was getting out of playing chicken after dinner. "Okay," Matt started, pushing his empty plate away. He glanced over at Brian. "You ready to get your ass kicked, Haner?"

"Oh, it's fucking on."

Brian stuck his finger out at Matt, shaking his head slowly. "Taylor is your girl, Sanders. Means that you go hand in hand with her. If she's making the threats, you have to back it up. Or do you think she's making claims that you can't handle?" He smirked, his eyes flickering over to Taylor for a moment before they switched back to Matt.

Taylor sat beside Matt, unable to contain her laughter. At first, she covered her mouth, staring down at her plate with wide eyes as she slowly darkened in colour. She snorted, only to dissolve completely into her laughter for a moment. When she settled back down, she had a hand resting on her stomach as she looked up slowly. She smiled sheepishly, shrugging her shoulders. "I have all the faith in the world in you," she purred, leaning over to press a kiss to Matt's cheek.

- - - - -

Slipping into the water, Taylor bit back a screech as the cool water splashed up her chest. She took a deep breathe and dove beneath the water, feeling better as she resurfaced. Grinning as she swam in Matt's direction, she wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned in to kiss him. "Maybe I'll reward you for aaall that hard work earlier if you pull out a win," she teased quietly. She shifted around so that she could climb onto his shoulders, her hands resting on his head to keep her balance while everyone eelse got into place.

Matt tossed his plate into the trash can he'd brought outside to the patio before taking a running start and doing a cannonball into the pool. He wiped the water from his eyes as Taylor swam over, slipping an arm around her waist. He smirked at the words she whispered into his ear. "Well it's the least you could do, since I slaved over that grill," he responded. He helped Taylor onto his shoulders, his hands gripping her thighs as he moved closer to Brian and Michelle. "Do your worst, baby," Matt said to Taylor.

While Taylor grappled with Michelle, Matt used one of his hands to hold her up on his shoulders and the other to shove at Brian's chest. At the same time, he used one of his feet to try and trip Brian. "Quit it, you fucking cheater!" Brian shouted. "No tripping allowed!"

"Well I haven't tripped you yet," Matt said, smirking.

Taylor took a moment to balance herself on Matt's shoulders, tightening her core as she turned her attention to Michelle. She grinned slightly as Matt moved closer to the pair, reaching out to grapple with Michelle. She gave a small shriek as she nearly fell, setting her hands on Matt's shoulders to balance again. Dodging one of Michelle's arms, Taylor grabbed her arm and twisted, shoving a hand at Michelle's shoulder.

Grinning as she watched Michelle fall, she ruffle Matt's hair. "There, baby. Can't have your ego getting any smaller," she teased as she moved to climb off of Matt's shoulders. She swam around until she was in front of him, smirking as she looked up to him. "I think I should get a kiss for that, don't you?"

Matt could feel Taylor squirming around on his shoulders and then Michelle was tumbling into the water. "Ha!" he shouted, finally tripping Brian and watching as the other man disappeared beneath the surface of the water. "Definitely not," Matt agreed, smirking as he helped Taylor down from his shoulders. Matt watched as Taylor swam up to him, resting his hands on her hips. "I think you should," he said. He leaned down to kiss her, pulling her a little closer.

"Get a room!" Brian shouted, and then Matt felt water splash against his face.

Matt gently moved Taylor out of his way before he leapt at Brian, laying his hands on Brian's shoulders and shoving him underneath the water. "Still think we should get a room?" Matt taunted, letting Brian resurface. The other man glared at Matt as he wiped the water from his eyes.

Matt could feel Taylor squirming around on his shoulders and then Michelle was tumbling into the water. "Ha!" he shouted, finally tripping Brian and watching as the other man disappeared beneath the surface of the water. "Definitely not," Matt agreed, smirking as he helped Taylor down from his shoulders. Matt watched as Taylor swam up to him, resting his hands on her hips. "I think you should," he said. He leaned down to kiss her, pulling her a little closer.

"Get a room!" Brian shouted, and then Matt felt water splash against his face.

Matt gently moved Taylor out of his way before he leapt at Brian, laying his hands on Brian's shoulders and shoving him underneath the water. "Still think we should get a room?" Matt taunted, letting Brian resurface. The other man glared at Matt as he wiped the water from his eyes.

Matt could feel Taylor squirming around on his shoulders and then Michelle was tumbling into the water. "Ha!" he shouted, finally tripping Brian and watching as the other man disappeared beneath the surface of the water. "Definitely not," Matt agreed, smirking as he helped Taylor down from his shoulders. Matt watched as Taylor swam up to him, resting his hands on her hips. "I think you should," he said. He leaned down to kiss her, pulling her a little closer.

"Get a room!" Brian shouted, and then Matt felt water splash against his face.

Matt gently moved Taylor out of his way before he leapt at Brian, laying his hands on Brian's shoulders and shoving him underneath the water. "Still think we should get a room?" Matt taunted, letting Brian resurface. The other man glared at Matt as he wiped the water from his eyes.

Taylor squeaked as she was splashed with water, raising a hand to protect herself from any oncoming water. She grinned as she was pushed to the side, all but throwing herself out of Matt's way. Laughing as Brian was shoved beneath the water, only to resurface a moment later. She grinned sheepishly in Michelle's direction, shrugging. "Boys will be boys, huh?" Michelle nodded, rolling her eyes as Brian shoved at Matt's chest. Swimming further away from the dueling pair, Taylor lifted herself out of the pool with ease. She kicked her feet in the water, thanking Johnny as he sauntered over with Taylor's drink in hand.

When Brian and Matt settled down, Taylor gave a whistle. She grinned cockily, tilting her head to the side as Matt swam closer to her. She cupped Matt's cheek, leaning down to press a kiss to his lips. "Better watch yourself, mister. Can't play later if you tire yourself out," she said with a small laugh. Running her hand through his hair, Taylor couldn't help the way her smile only grew as she looked down at him. "I think I kinda like your stupid face, y'know."

"Fuck you, asshole," Brian huffed, shoving at Matt's chest.

Matt gave him another shove before swimming off in Taylor's direction, bracing his hands on either side of her to keep himself in place. He welcomed her kiss, moving one of his hands over to squeeze her thigh. "Tire myself out?" he repeated. "Baby, I've got the stamina of a horse. I don't get tired." Matt smiled as Taylor ran her fingers through his hair, his smile growing a bit more as she spoke again. After what had happened, Matt never expected things to go back to the way they had been before. But here they were, having a pool party with their friends, flirting and acting like nothing had ever happened.

"You think you like my face?" Matt asked. "Well I know I like your face, sweetheart. It's so beautiful, how could I not?" His smile transforming into a slight smirk, Matt slipped his hand a bit further up Taylor's thigh, curling his fingers around the string of her bikini. "I like other parts of you, too," Matt continued.

Taylor was unable to stop the giggle that formed when Matt started to play with the string of her bikini. She gave a roll of her eyes, grinning as she slapped at his chest playfully. "Stop it!" She said, no real venom in her tone. Leaning forward, she captured Matt's lips in a kiss. "I don't want to have to get a room just yet," she teased, her hands massaging up Matt's chest until she could wrap her arms around his neck. "It's been a little too long since we got together with everyone, don't you think?" Taylor knew that Matt must have been busy with his business, lending itself to why he was so tired when he came home from 'work' and why he hadn't wanted to do much as of late.

Shrieking as they were splashed with water, Taylor started laughing as she looked over, watching as Jimmy resurfaced. He had just done a cannonball into the pool a little too close to them, intentionally. She gave Matt a push, easing back into the pool. "I'm gonna fuckin' get you," she growled as she swam in Jimmy's direction. He was probably Matt's friend that she considered herself closest to. Jimmy had become almost like a big brother to her and she honestly couldn't have asked for any more out of Matt's group of friends. She smirked as she dove beneath the water, reaching for Jimmy's ankles and flipping him face first into the water.

Matt smirked as Taylor slapped his chest, teasing him with a kiss. He enjoyed flirting with her again, but he had to agree that it had been awhile since they'd gotten together and had a fun evening with their friends. Matt cursed when they were splashed with water, seeing Jimmy cackling after having cannonballed into the pool. He moved to go after Jimmy, but stopped when Taylor pushed him. She would take care of Jimmy and he wouldn't fight back as much like he would with Matt. But Jimmy still protested when he was flipped into the water, sputtering as he resurfaced and splashing Taylor again.

"That's what you fucking get, you asshole," Matt said, laughing. He reached out and slugged Jimmy on the upper arm. "You can't splash someone and expect them not to get you back." Waiting until Taylor swam back over to him, he wrapped his arm around her waist and pressed a kiss to her temple. "Good job, baby," Matt told her.

"Better watch your back, woman," Jimmy warned her. He glared at her playfully. "I'm going to get you back for that eventually."

Taylor leaned into Matt's chest, letting out a content sigh as she rested her head against him. She turned toward Jimmy, her eyes narrowing immediately when Jimmy threatened her. She lifted her right hand, pointing first at her eyes before pointing at Jimmy. "I'm watching you, Sullivan!" She challenged, a small grin growing on her features. "Might want to be careful, I'm pretty deadly," she joked with Jimmy before twisting back around in Matt's arms.

"I'm going to go grab a drink. Did you want anything?" Taylor asked, raising an eyebrow. She used Matt's shoulders as support, pushing herself up to kiss Matt quickly before swimming away from him. Lifting herself out of the pool, Taylor gave a wiggle of her hips in hopes that Matt was still watching her. She smirked to herself as she disappeared into the house, just opting to grab a handful of beers. While she had only asked Matt, she was sure that at last a few others would need a new beer.

Just as she had suspected as she stepped out of the house, Johnny leaned over to pluck a beer from her arms. Taylor laughed, shaking her head before moving back over to the pool. She sat, dipping her feet into the water as she held a beer out to Matt. Just as he reached for it, Taylor jerked it backward. She giggled, raising an eyebrow. "Shouldn't I get some form of payment out of you?"