Fifteen
Astoria
I maybe slept three hours last night. Blair was out like a light and didn't stir until eight this morning. I spent the night tossing and turning and thinking about Parker. I don't want to fight with him, but we have a lot to talk about. While I love him, I'm not going to put my career on hold or take a job I don't want so I can stay in Arrow Falls. I didn't bust my ass the last four years to do nothing with my degree.
Blair thanked me for staying the night and apologized profusely for breaking down the way she did. I told her not to worry about it and that's what friends were for. That I'd happily be there for her whenever she needed me. She's used to leaning on Parker, but I can understand it being harder to lean on me when she barely knows me. To have her fear and anxiety exposed can't be easy either. I told her I'm not here to judge her. My goal is to provide comfort and help in any way I can.
After I got home, I showered and texted Parker to see if he wanted to do something. He replied and asked if I had eaten breakfast. I hadn't. He said to come by and we could eat together.
I throw on a pair of denim shorts and a blush colored tank top. Minimal makeup is applied. Running a brush through my hair, I decide not to bother drying it. With the hot summer days and high humidity, there is no point in trying to tame it. Plus, I'm honestly not in the mood today. There's a sense of foreboding blanketing me. Like by the end of this day, I'll have barely any makeup left from crying. Will Parker and I fight? What he said last night is only the tip of the iceberg. Or will we revert to old times where we barely argue, and everything is solved with very hot sex? I'm not sure how long I can resist Parker. Every move he makes is a calling to me. I want to feel him inside me again. I want his hands and mouth on my skin. Great, now I'm hot and bothered for the drive to his place. It's not good that I'll be showing up there already turned on. It will take a lot of willpower for me not to jump him when I enter his cabin. Fight or not, I desire him strongly.
Pulling up to his cabin, I notice Cy's truck outside. There goes any lust I had. Maybe I can make it a banner day and fight with both Parker and Cy. Wouldn't that be fun?
I reach the door and am unsure if I should ring the doorbell or just go in. Doorbell, definitely. I don't want to assume it's okay to walk right into his home, especially when he shares it with two other people.
Pressing the button, I wait outside, turning slowly to take in the tall trees which surround the two-story A-frame cabin. It's so serene here. I can see why Parker likes it. Nothing but nature surrounding you.
The door opens, and a very handsome Parker is on the other side of it. His blond hair is hanging onto his forehead. The deep green t-shirt he’s wearing draws my attention to his chest and arms. It also makes his eyes stand out more. They look darker than normal. The green more emerald.
He smiles. "You could have come up. You didn't have to wait to be let in."
"I wasn't sure."
He takes a step forward but doesn't touch me. "You’re always welcome in my home, Tora."
I nod, not wanting to say anything else right now. He takes my hand in his and pulls me inside, up a flight of stairs, and through the door to his open living area. The second we are through that door, the smell of French toast hits me and sends a hundred memories tumbling through my mind. Waking up with Parker’s arms around me. Spending the entire morning with him. Mornings where we'd eat then have sex in the kitchen. So many good memories surround having breakfast with him.
My eyes become a little misty; reminiscing about the past and all the time we missed since then. Parker notices and brings his hand up to cup my cheek. His thumb brushes away a tear that breaks free.
"I didn't mean to make you cry."
I take a deep, shaky breath and let it out. "I know, it's just..."
"The smell of vanilla and cinnamon." He finishes my sentence.
"Yeah."
He dips his head down to kiss me softly then engulfs me in a tight hug. "I'm sorry, Tora."
I shake my head, trying to keep more tears from falling. "It's okay."
"No, it's not. We have a lot to talk about, but it was wrong of me to say what I did last night. I can't seem to hold anything back, now that I have you again. The thought of not being with you makes my chest ache."
I pull back to look into his eyes. "I didn't say I didn't want to be with you. I want to find a good job. Not once did I say that I didn't want you there with me."
"I live here, though." Maybe he wouldn't be willing to move if I found something far away.
"Can we take this one day at a time?"
He smiles tightly. It's forced and he's doing it for my benefit. "Sure."
He turns and gestures toward the dining table where breakfast is spread out. Eve and Cy are already sitting down, but not eating yet. I had no clue they were there. Instead of looking at us, their eyes are on each other as they whisper back and forth. I step to the table and take a seat next to Parker.
Eve smiles at me. "Good morning."
"Good morning."
I glance at Cy. He's watching me sans smile and not saying a word. Well, then. At least he's not pretending to like me. That has to count for something, right? I'd rather know where he stands than have to try and figure out if he's being fake or not.
Breakfast is quiet. The only sounds are the silverware hitting the plates as we eat. I help Parker clear the dishes and dry them as he washes. Eve and Cy make themselves scarce.
After the dishes are put away, Parker takes my hand in his. "Do you want to go for a walk?"
"Sure."
Outside, we stroll through the woods on a small path. It's only wide enough for one person but appears to have been tread upon multiple times. The canopy of trees above us provides shelter from the sun. We reach a small clearing where there is a fallen tree. Parker sits on it, pulling me in front of him. He parts his legs to allow me to get closer. His hands rest on my hips, his mesmerizing eyes hold mine.
"I can work anywhere," he starts. "My business isn't contingent upon location. That being said, I don't want to leave Arrow Falls. Cy and Eve are here. Blair. My parents. If we’re going to make this work, I need to be honest with you. I want to spend every day with you, Tora. I want to make up for lost time. But I want to do it here."
"I respect that and understand. You have to see my side, though. I just finished college. I'm only getting started in my career. I can't push that aside for anyone."
"I'm not asking you to."
"Not directly.”
His eyes look beyond me into the woods. "Will you at least search the nearby areas first, before expanding? You can commute to the city. It's not a bad drive."
"I'll search there first, but I'm not making any promises. Besides, I could look and find nothing local. Not every place needs nor wants an editor with minimal experience."
"You could ask B for help. She knows a lot of people in the book world and might be able to help you find something. You could even work from home."
"Blair has enough going on without me hounding her about helping me find work. I won't add to her stress." I pause until his eyes find mine again. "I will look in the city first. Promise."
He smiles. "Really?"
"Yes. I want this to work between us, too. But we are both going to have to compromise. I won't be the only one bending while you get everything you want."
Pulling me close so his hands rest on my ass, he says, "There's only one thing I want and she's standing right in front of me."
Words like those cause my knees to go weak and my heart to race. This man, he knows what to say to make me melt. I lean down, pressing my lips to his. The kiss starts out sweet, our tongues playfully sweeping into each other's mouths. But as Parker pulls me harder into him, I feel how turned on he is, and it only amps up my need.
Our hands are greedy as they rove each other's bodies. Parker unbuttons my shorts, pushing them down until they pool at my feet. His lips leave mine to kiss down my stomach until he reaches the top of my panties. His finger gently caresses me over the silk. I shudder at the touch and tip my head back.
Pushing the thin material aside so he can get better access to me, his finger grazes my clit. If not for his other hand on my ass, I would collapse to the forest floor.
Maneuvering me back a little, he drops to the ground and stares up at me. I run my fingers through his hair, still having a hard time believing we’re back together. God, I’ve missed him.
"Parker," I mutter. Tears prick my eyes. Every time I look at him, I get lost in a barrage of memories.
"Shhh, let me take care of you," he whispers.
His head dips down so he can sweep his tongue over me. I cry out at the sensation. My tears subside as quickly as they came. There is nothing for me to do but feel. Feel his tongue moving against my clit, as his hands grip my thighs to pull my legs apart. Feel as he alternates between licking and sucking me.
He continues this until I'm grinding onto his mouth, on the verge of coming but not quite there yet. Chasing my orgasm, which is just out of reach.
Then he takes two fingers and pushes them up into me. That's all it takes before I'm calling out his name as I tremble against him. The orgasm rocks me and goes on and on as he pumps into me while his tongue laps up everything I give him.
Every other man I've been with since we've been apart hadn't come close to making me feel like Parker does. He doesn't just make me come. He reaches every part of me through his touch. He reaches my soul, and in turn, my entire being comes alive at the rightness of having him near.
Gripping his hair in my fist, I pull him from me, unable to take any more. My head drops forward as I try to catch my breath. With gentle hands, he slides my panties back over, pulls my shorts up, and fastens them.
Standing before me, I reach forward to skate my hand over his length through his shorts.
He moans. "Tora, I'm so close. Touch me again and I'll probably come. Getting you off turned me on to the point of it being painful."
It’s my turn to drop to my knees and show him how much I've missed him with nothing but my hands and mouth.