I traced the ink over his side, and his skin broke out in goosebumps under my touch.

“What’s this one?” I pointed to the red rose that stood out against so much black ink.

“That one is for my grandmother. Roses were her favorite.”

I pressed a kiss against the rose then ran my hand over the portrait he had drawn of me that rested on his side.

“When did you get this?” I traced the lines that came out of the side of my face. It was a beautiful madness.

“About two years ago.” He looked down at the tattoo and watched my fingers.

Two years ago.

Two years after I left.

I pressed my body against his and kissed the edge of his jaw.

“What was that for?” He was looking down at me and he looked so open and so vulnerable, and I never wanted that moment to end.

“For loving me.”

He gripped my chin in his hand and pressed a kiss to my lips. “I couldn’t stop loving you if I tried. And trust me. I did.” He laughed before dipping his tongue into my mouth.

His phone rang, echoing through the room, but he didn’t move his mouth from mine. His arms were wrapped around me, and I was completely wrapped up in him.

He kissed down my neck and my chest heaved under his touch. His phone rang again, but he continued to make his way down my body.

“Do you think you should get that?” I arched my body while he bit down against my ribs.

“If it’s important, they’ll call back.”

His phone stopped ringing and immediately started ringing again.

“Fuck.” He pulled his lips from my body then made his way across the room to grab his phone. I watched his ass as he walked away from me. His body was out of this world, and I wanted to trace every ridge and curve with my tongue.

“Hello?” He ran his hand through his hair and winked at me when he caught me checking him out.

I smiled and pulled his comforter up against my chest.

“What?” His voice sounded panicked, and I sat up in bed. “When?”

He pulled at the ends of his hair, and I stopped breathing.

“Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I’ll be there.” He pressed the end button on his phone, and I watched his back muscles bunch as he took a deep breath before turning to me.

“Livy, it’s… It’s Emily.” He hesitated when he said her name, but I could see the desperation in his eyes. “She’s been in a wreck. I… Fuck. I…”

“Go, Parker.”

His eyes jumped to mine. “She still has me listed as her emergency contact everywhere. That was the hospital. I need to call her family. I…”

“Parker…” I sat up on my knees and gripped his hands in mine. “She needs you. Go.”

He searched my eyes before he gripped my neck and pulled me against him. He kissed my mouth desperately, and I tried to not let panic take over.

“I love you. You know that, right?”

“I know,” I whispered against his mouth.

He pressed his forehead against mine then he let me go and started throwing on clothes. I climbed out of his bed and looked around his room for my clothes before I remembered that they were still outside.

“What are you doing?” He buttoned his jeans and lifted a t-shirt over his head.

“Getting dressed.” I shrugged my shoulders as I stood in the center of his room completely naked.

“Please don’t leave.” He gripped my hands in his. “Stay here. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I need to know that you’re still here.”

“I’ll be here.”

He pressed another kiss against my lips then he walked out the door to her.