Jen arrived early Saturday morning. I had missed her something terrible. Our only conversations took place on the phone, and that wasn’t the same as hanging out and talking in person. When Elliott and Parker found out she was coming for a visit, they insisted on taking us out for the day. We'd be spending the day on Parker’s boat, followed by a bonfire on the beach. After I picked her up from the airport, we headed to the mall to shop for some outfits. We had planned just to hang out and watch movies, which required nothing fancy, but the boys had different ideas. It had been years since the four of us hung out. It was sure to be a blast.
Jen and I started getting ready as soon as we got back to my place. The boys would be picking us up in about an hour. I changed into the skimpy black bikini that Jen insisted I buy. In her words, it accentuated my breasts, and Parker would like that. I brushed my hair and threw it into a ponytail before clipping it up. I put my white lace cover-up over the bathing suit and added a change of clothes to my beach bag for this evening.
"Are you almost ready?" I yelled to Jen who had taken over my bathroom.
She walked out of the bathroom in her cover-up which I noticed hid way more than mine did. Come to think of it, so did the bathing suit. She handed me the two beach towels we bought and her change of clothes to put in my bag.
"Yep, I'm ready. You look amazing!" she said, checking me out.
"Yeah, well, I may look amazing, but I feel very naked." I pulled on my little white cotton shorts to wear until we hit the boat.
"I can’t wait to check out Parker and see how he's grown." I rolled my eyes at Jen. She wasn't going to let this go. "I'm sure he is as unbelievably hot as he was in college."
"Good, you check him out." I stuck my tongue out at her and she laughed. I was beginning to regret telling her anything that had happened between us. I headed into the kitchen to make us a quick snack.
"Oh please, admit for once that you want him."
I was quiet. I couldn't even begin to forget that kiss. I could still vividly feel his lips on mine, his hand on my cheek. I did want him more than she knew, but I wasn't ready to admit it.
"So, have you heard from that ass back home?" I could see the seriousness in Jen’s eyes.
"Unfortunately, yes, he has called—on my new number. Not too sure how he got it, but I haven't heard from him since then."
"Have you told Elliott anything?"
"I did. He wasn't too happy, but he does know now. You were right, I should have told him from the start." I handed her a sandwich and sat down at the table.
"I'm glad you told him."
I cut her off before she could say anything else. "All right, enough of this conversation. Let’s just have a good time, okay." Sitting down, I checked my phone for any messages from Elliott or Parker. There was nothing from them, but sure enough, Dean had left one.
DEAN: I'M COMING FOR YOU.
I felt the color drain from my face. Getting up from the table, I started busying myself around the kitchen. I could feel myself starting to hyperventilate and knew I needed to calm my breathing.
"Everything okay?" Jen asked, taking a bite of her sandwich.
The room was starting to spin, and I could feel myself getting light-headed.
"Tatum?"
Grabbing hold of the counter, I steadied myself. "Yes, everything is fine." I barely recognized my own voice. I was scared, but I certainly didn't want her to know he had messaged me. I wanted to have a good time today. Looking out the front window, I saw Elliott and Parker walking up the walkway. "Boys are here."
"Ladies!" Elliott’s voice boomed as he pushed his way through the door. "Let's get going!" He gave Jen a great big hug.
I'd always thought they would make a great couple. Jen had had a crush on him forever, but Elliott always told me he wasn't interested in his younger sister’s friend. Parker came in behind Elliott and met my gaze. I followed his eyes as they skimmed down my body then traveled back up. He noticed me watching him and gave me a small smile. I loved that smile.
"Hey, sis! Do you have anything to go today?"
I pointed to the bag on the floor by the door. "Oh, and the cooler out front. It’s filled with some drinks."
Elliott grabbed the bag and Parker the cooler, and they went to put them in the back of his truck.
I turned to grab my phone and decided against it. The last thing I wanted was for that idiot to have access to me today, so I shut the phone off and left it on the table. As we walked out the front door, Jen tapped me on the shoulder.
"You failed to mention how hot he turned out to be."
"We ended a long time ago, Jen," I said, pulling the front door closed and locking it.
"Not Parker. I mean he's hot, and you should totally go for him—I even saw him check you out—but I was talking about Elliott."
It was a cool night and clouds were starting to blow in over the water. The boat had been docked and we had found a spot on the beach for the bonfire. Jen and I were waiting on the beach for the guys to bring over the wood from Parker's truck.
"So, you and Elliott spent a lot of time together today?"
"Yeah we found a great little reef with a ton of fish. It was amazing. We snorkeled around, and then we took a break out on the sand bar, soaking up some rays." She smiled. "You guys looked rather cozy when we got back to the boat." She nudged my shoulder, giving me that knowing look.
"We were sharing a chair."
"Looked like it was a little more than that, if you ask me." She laughed. She had been doing this to me all day, every time she caught us together.
"I was getting burned. He put sunscreen on my back. I mean, what choice did I have? You left me high and dry to hang with my brother."
"Whatever. I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.” Jen looked off in the distance. “Here come the guys now."
Both Elliott and Parker had an armful of wood, and each of them carried a blanket for us to sit on. It didn't take them long to get the fire going, as Jen and I spread the blankets out. Elliott sat down behind Jen and pulled her between his legs, letting her rest against him. He kept whispering in her ear, making her giggle, which I found endearing. I watched them while Parker threw more logs onto the fire. After, he sat down behind me, mimicking Elliott and Jen, and I relaxed against him.
Jen looked across at me and smiled. I watched as she whispered something into Elliott’s ear, and then elbowing him in the ribs, she stood up and brushed herself off. "We're going to go for a walk down the beach." Jen took hold of Elliott's hand and pulled him up off the blanket. Parker and I watched as they walked off into the darkness.
"They look like they’re getting along well," Parker whispered into my ear. "Do you think they’ll get together?" His breath tickled my neck as he spoke, and I could feel goose bumps forming.
"Maybe, but he better not hurt her. She’s been crushing on him since college, even though she won’t admit it."
"It’s okay."
"How can you say that?"
"Because so has he," Parker whispered again, his breath dancing along my skin. "And I know someone who's crushing on you."
I closed my eyes and welcomed the surge of warmth that ran through my body. He wrapped his arms around me and kissed my neck. "You looked super sexy today."
I didn't know how to respond to that. It had been a long time since someone thought I looked sexy. I looked down the beach in the direction Elliott and Jen had gone, but couldn't see them. Turning, I looked at Parker. As he stared into my eyes, I realized, I hadn't stopped loving him all this time. Events had separated us, but he was right, we would find our way back together. Maybe we were.
Leaning forward, he placed his mouth on mine, his tongue coaxing my lips apart for a deep kiss. I felt like I was on fire. Warmth pooled between my legs. His hand found its way into my hair while he sucked on my bottom lip and his tongue explored my mouth.
I turned between his legs and got on my knees. He placed both hands beneath my butt, lifting me so I was straddling his lap. We continued kissing, his hands exploring my body. I could feel his hardness through his shorts, and I ground down on him so he was rubbing me in just the right spot.
"Are you wet for me?" he whispered into my mouth.
I could feel the heat rise to my face. I leaned back and looked him in the eyes. Taking his hand, I placed the drawstring of my shorts between his fingers, giving him permission to find out. A tiny groan escaped his throat. He hesitated at first, then he pulled the string, kissing me as he went. His touch sent little electric shocks through me. He placed his hand on my belly, prepared to slide it inside my shorts, but suddenly, he stilled. We could hear laughter getting closer. I jumped off his lap and sat beside him as he adjusted himself in time for Elliott and Jen to appear out of the darkness.
"Hey, Parker, you mind giving Tatum a ride home? Jen and I are going to take off," he said, his arm around Jen.
I looked to Jen and she smiled back at me.
"Yeah, I don't mind. Do you mind?" he asked, looking to me.
"No, I don't mind."
As soon as Jen and Elliott were gone, Parker grabbed me and laid me back on the blanket. Propping himself up on his elbow, he looked down into my eyes. The air grew thick while he studied my face. Leaning down he placed his mouth over mine, moving down to my neck and back up to my mouth.
"Where were we?" he whispered, kissing me deeper, his hands traveling back to my waist. His fingers tickled as they ran along my tummy and the waistband of my shorts. He looked down into my face. I could see the desire in his eyes as he slid his hand down my shorts. I spread my legs just enough to feel his fingers slide over top of my wet panties.
"Fuck you’re so wet," he whispered into my mouth as he kissed me again.
I let out a moan as his fingers brushed over my clit. He trailed kisses to my earlobe.
"Touch me," he moaned as he sucked my earlobe into his mouth, and then ran his teeth over it. "Feel what you’re doing to me."
I froze, Dean's face suddenly flashing through my mind, and my thoughts went to the night at my apartment. I reached up and placed both my hands onto Parkers chest, stopping him.
"Please stop," I pleaded.
He instantly pulled his hand from my shorts and sat up and raked his fingers through his hair. I could see the hurt in his eyes. "What's wrong? What did I do?"
"I can't do this." I wasn't ready for this. The bite and those words were exactly what Dean loved to use.
Parker sat up and looked toward the water for a few minutes. He said nothing more, even though I could see he had a thousand thoughts running through his mind. He stood up and piled sand onto the fire to smother it, while I picked up and folded the blankets. He grabbed the pile of blankets out of my hand, and we walked in silence to his truck. He didn't bother opening my door for me. Instead, he got into the truck and started it up.
I had blown it with him. Memories quickly flooded back to the night he walked out of my life without so much as a word. A lump formed in my throat. I wished I could tell him what happened that made me want to stop. It wasn't him, but rather the memories I held onto.
The drive back to my place seemed to take forever, and I was afraid to look over at him. I kept my eyes focused on the dark houses as we passed by them, tears filling my eyes. Why couldn't things have gone differently? Why did I have to open my mouth? Why couldn't I have closed my eyes and shoved Dean out of my mind?
When we pulled up outside my house, he put the truck in park but still said nothing.
"Did you want to come in?" I asked.
“Not tonight. I don’t think it would be a good idea.”
I turned my head and looked at him before I got out of the truck. He didn't even turn to look at me, instead keeping his eyes straight ahead, his jaw set. I could see the rejection and hurt all over his face.
Opening the door, I got out of the truck and shut the door. Normally, he would wait until I was inside before he drove away, but not this time. As soon as my feet touched the pavement and the door was shut, he said goodnight and reversed out of the driveway. There was no stopping the ache in my throat or the sting in my eyes—the tears started to pour.
I walked up the front steps, wiping at my eyes so I could see to put the key in the lock. I hadn't left the outside light on and fumbled with the key. After a couple seconds, I walked in, shutting the door and locking it behind me. I turned the light on over the kitchen sink and put the kettle on. I wouldn't get any sleep tonight, but I went to get changed anyway.
"It’s about fucking time you were home!"
I heard that gruff voice as soon as I flicked the light on in my bedroom. My chest rose and fell rapidly. I froze. I didn't even need to turn around to know who it belonged to.
"What are you doing here?" My chest tightened with fear as I turned to face him.
"You should be more careful about locking doors, Tatum. Anyone could get in here." He spoke calmly as he sauntered toward me, his eyes skimming over my barely covered body. He reached out and ran his finger down my cheek. "I told you I was coming to get you, and it looks like I'm just in time. I guess I need to teach you a lesson, since you’re running around, acting like some slut with that asshole." His eyes skimmed down my body. "You look like a fucking tramp in that outfit."
He grabbed hold of my hair and pulled my head back, forcing me to look him in the eyes. I could feel bile rise into my throat.
"You’re mine. What are you thinking?" he sneered.
He let go of my hair. I tried to shove him away, so I could run, but instead he grabbed both of my arms tight in his hands and threw me onto the bed. "No, you're not getting away that easy again, you bitch," he hissed. Crawling on top of me, his knees locked my hands at my side. He grabbed at my cover-up, ripping it and the bathing suit top off me. "Dress like a whore, be treated like one," he said. Leaning in, he whispered into my ear, "I'll fuck you like one too."
He leaned down to bite and suck on my nipples, and my stomach threatened to release its contents. The room started getting smaller and darker. I fought for every breath, feeling as if I would pass out.
A pounding on the front door rang through the house like a gunshot. I tried to scream, but Dean covered my mouth with his hand.
I wiggled under him, trying hard to get away, but with his hand over my mouth and the lack of oxygen, I tired quickly.
The pounding continued. "Tatum, it's me, open up!" I heard Parker shout.
Dean stilled. "Is that the asshole?"
I tried hard to shout through my covered mouth, but it was no good. I heard Parker bang on the door again and call my name one more time before everything went silent. All I could hear was my heart pounding in my ears, and I felt as if I could faint.
Dean looked down at me. "No one is coming to save you. Now, I'm going to remove my hand from your mouth. I don't want to hear a fucking thing out of you. If I do, I promise you will regret it."
He slowly released his hand from my mouth, and I felt him get off the bed. He grabbed me under the knees and pulled me down to the edge of the bed and forced his body between my thighs. Crying, I felt his hand slide my bathing suit bottom to the side. He was about to undo his zipper when the sound of heavy footsteps came charging into the room.
"Get the fuck off her!"
Dean released his hold on me at the sound of Parker’s voice, and I quickly sat up, trying to cover myself. I watched as Parker grabbed him by shoulder and punched him in the stomach. Dean doubled over, and Parker forced him down to the ground. He pulled a pair of cuffs from his back pocket and cuffed his hands, and then grabbed another pair for his feet. He stood towering over him.
Parker looked to me and grabbed the blanket off the bottom of the bed and wrapped it around my shaking body. He picked me up and took me out to the couch and sat me down. Tears poured down my face. Thank God, he had come back.
He went back into the bedroom and came out with some clothes for me then shut the bedroom door, leaving Dean on the floor. Sitting down beside me, he pulled me onto his lap and pulled me into his strong, protective embrace. I began to relax into his body, and off in the distance, I heard sirens blaring.