It Was Always You by S.L. Sterling (19)

Parker pulled into the driveway and shut his truck off. It had been a great weekend away with him, but today he had to work. He hopped out of the truck and pulled my duffel bag from the back and walked me to the door. Bringing my bag in, he did a quick check of the house to make sure no one was there. I wasn't sure if he was doing it to calm my fears or his.

"Okay, baby, all is good. If you need me tonight, just send me a message okay?" He leaned against the doorframe and bent down to meet my lips.

Pressing into my mouth ever so gently, he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into him. He trailed kisses to my ear and down my neck, and I could feel his arousal against me. "Parker, you’ve got to go, sweetie. You’re going to be late."

"But you’re worth being late for," he said between kissing and sucking on my bottom lip. He glanced down at his watch, noticing the time. "Okay, you're right. I’ve got to go. I love you."

"I love you too."

He smiled and placed another kiss on my lips. "I'll see you later tonight, baby. I'll call you when I'm done with my shift."

I watched as he walked to his truck, climbed in, and waved as he drove down the street. I was completely in love with everything about him, and that was scaring me. I smiled to myself as I closed the front door and turned to put the kettle on. I needed some time to relax and sort out my feelings.

I popped a tea bag in my mug and grabbed a piece of fruit from the fridge then carried my duffel bag into the bedroom and made my way back to the kitchen to make my tea. I decided to unpack later and curled up on the couch in front of the TV.

The ringing phone startled me out of a dead sleep. It was starting to get dark outside, and I wondered how long I had been asleep. Looking at the clock, it was already four-thirty. I had been asleep for the better part of the day. I took a drink of my cold tea and grabbed the receiver. "Hello?"

"Tatum, it’s Brad Keller calling. How have you been?"

I was surprised to hear from him.

I perked up. "Mr. Keller, I'm doing well. How about yourself?"

"I'm well. Listen, Tatum, the reason for my call is I have an opportunity for you, and I'm hoping that you have a few minutes to discuss."

I smiled into the phone. Nothing would make me happier than to get back to work. After all, it would get my mind off all that had happened with Dean.

"Of course, I'd be happy to hear about it."

"I was hoping you would say that. The restructure is complete, and we are currently working on assembling a new team. I thought of you right away for the position. I'm in need of a department editor."

I was shocked. I had been working toward that position for the last seven years. "Well, I'm definitely interested. Would I be able to do the position from home here?"

"Unfortunately, no. I'm afraid you would need to be at the office daily. I know that you have moved, but I would like to see you give this position a great deal of consideration. The position wouldn't start for another month. We are running some major meetings for the next couple of weeks.

“If you decided you would like to take the position, we would need you to be present for those. We will arrange for you to have a room at one of the hotels, that way, you'd have time to find a place and be able to arrange to move back. If it took you extra time to find a new place, then I'd be willing to extend you a couple extra weeks to get settled."

The line went quiet. I wasn't sure what to say. Things with Parker were just starting again. It seemed as if, once again, something was stepping in and putting an end to us. "When would you need me there for these meetings?" I asked, swallowing hard.

"Monday morning at eight o’clock. I'm sorry about the short notice, but it took me a while to get a hold of your new number."

Monday morning. That was in three days. I would have to leave, at the latest, Sunday evening. How would I explain this to Parker? My stomach started rolling. I wasn't sure I wanted us to end.

"What do you say, Tatum? Will you join the team?"

I could feel my eyes starting to sting. I had been working toward this position. I couldn't possibly turn it down, could I? "I'll see you Monday morning, Mr. Keller." The words fell out of my mouth before I had a chance to stop them. A single tear traveled down my cheek.

"I will call you with your flight and hotel details. I'll see you Monday, Tatum. Congratulations."

“Mr. Keller, you can just leave the details of the flight on my home number. I will send you an email with the number.”

“Thanks, Tatum. Have a great evening.”

I hung up the phone and put my head in my hands. I had no idea what I had just done. If worse came to worst, I could always reject the opportunity if I found it wasn't for me. My phone chimed with a message. I grabbed it and saw an incoming text from Parker. My hands started to shake as I opened his message.

I typed out a quick reply and went to jump in the shower and get ready for dinner. There was no point telling him tonight. I didn't want to ruin our evening. It would be bad enough when I finally had to tell him.

I unlocked the front door and headed into the kitchen, Parker following close behind. I could feel his eyes on me as I went to the coffee maker, pouring some grounds into a filter. I felt his hands rub up my arms.

"Did you want a coffee?"

I felt his hands run back down my arms and his hot breath on my neck. His kiss on the back of my neck was like a bolt of electricity that shot through right to my center. Closing my eyes, I leaned back into him and reached my hands behind my head and into his hair. He ran his hands up my stomach and over my breasts, my nipples hardening under his touch. He spun me around and lifted me up onto the kitchen counter, and I wrapped my legs around his waist.

"Guess not," I mumbled as his lips found mine, his tongue exploring my mouth.

Finally, he lifted me off the counter and carried me into the bedroom and laid me on the bed. He stood over me and pulled his shirt off. I could never get enough of his chest—so well defined, his shoulders so broad, and those abs.

Reaching down, he undid the button on my jeans and lifted my top to kiss my stomach. He lifted me off the bed and pulled my pants off my body. I pulled my top over my head and met his lips as they came crashing down on me.

I reached my hand down and undid the first button on his jeans. I could feel how hard he was through the stiff material, and my hand ran over it and squeezed his hard cock.

"Take these off," I moaned, wanting to feel him.

He slid himself out of his jeans and boxers. Reaching down, I could feel the wetness at the tip of his cock as I ran my hand over the soft skin. A deep, raspy moan came from him as I ran my hand over him again.

"Jesus, I love it when you do that, but you've got to stop. I want to last longer than five minutes. I wanted you all through dinner," he said, chuckling.

Kneeling on the floor between my legs, he ran his hands over my hips. He grabbed the waistband of my panties and pulled them off my body, trailing kissing down my thighs. He stopped and took a deep breath, his eyes wandering from my face down my body. He placed his hands on my knees and pushed my legs open. His hands ran up my legs from my knees to my thighs. He looked me directly in my eyes as he leaned forward and placed a kiss right on my inner thigh. My breath hitched as he kissed the other inner thigh, and then he blew on my soaked, throbbing center.

"Get on your knees, baby. I want to feel what it's like to take you from behind."

I rolled onto my hands and knees, and his hands grasped my hips as he pulled me back into him. He placed himself at my entrance and slid deep inside of me, filling me deeper than before. He pumped into me, slow and soft at first, and then a little harder.

"My God, you feel amazing on my cock." He brought his hand around and started stroking my clit as he fucked me.

I could feel his cock throbbing inside of me as I tightened around him, my release coming hard. He pulled himself out of me and lay down on his side, and I curled myself into him. Smoothing my hair, he wrapped his arm around my waist and placed a kiss on my ear.

"I love you," he whispered into my ear.

As the words fell from his lips, I felt as if someone punched me in the gut. I should have told him about that phone call.

"I love you too."

After Parker had fallen off to sleep, I lay staring at the ceiling. This wasn't how this was supposed to go. I wasn't supposed to fall in love with him, and I certainly didn't know how to tell him that I had accepted this position.

The nagging feeling in my gut wasn't settling and was starting to make me feel sick. I didn't want to lose him again, but I feared that once I told him, he'd be gone. I rolled onto my side and watched him sleep. I was afraid this would be the last time I would see him like this, and I wanted to etch this memory of him in my mind.

The phone woke me out of a dead sleep. Parker was still asleep and had me securely wrapped in his arms. I went to reach for the phone, but he grabbed my arm.

"Let the machine get it. I want you," he moaned, pulling me back down and kissing me deep.

He quickly distracted me from the ringing phone. The machine kicked on, and as soon as he heard the voice, he stilled, listening.

"Tatum, it’s Brad Keller calling. Your flight has been arranged for tomorrow at four pm. You’re staying in room four-twelve at the Marriott. See you Monday morning at eight sharp. I'm glad you took me up on the offer. I look forward to working with you once again."

The dial tone blared through the machine.

I wasn't sure what it was that I saw in Parker’s eyes, but I knew if I hadn't already been lying down, his look would have knocked me to the floor.

"What was that about, Tatum?"

I was on the verge of crying and throwing up.

"Tatum?" He sat up and put his head into his hands. "Are you leaving?"

Another moment of panic shot through me. Tears burning my eyes, I nodded. I couldn't get anything else out; tears ran down my cheeks as I blinked.

"So, what has this been between you and me? A game? Are you trying to get back at me?"

I shook my head, trying to find the words to explain myself.

"Did you think that I wouldn't be upset or that I didn't deserve to know? When did they call, Tatum?" he demanded. Getting up out of the bed, he bent over and grabbed his jeans from the floor.

"They called yesterday. I was going to tell you. I was. I just wasn't sure how." I sniffled.

"So instead you pretended like nothing was going on and let me find out this way? It’s nice to know what I mean to you. Let me ask you, was that just a reflex I love you? Felt like you needed to say it, so I didn't get hurt?"

I put my head in my hands and started to cry.

"When were you planning to tell me? When you boarded the plane or while I was at work?"

I could barely see him through my teary eyes. He wasn't angry; he was hurt. I had done it again.

“Parker please, let me explain. It’s not what you’re thinking, really. Please just wait.”

He put his pants on and grabbed his shirt from my dresser. "I've got to go, Tatum. Have a safe trip."

He walked out of the bedroom, and within seconds, I heard the front door slam shut. I rolled onto my side and buried my face in my pillow and sobbed.

I spent most of the day and evening in bed, finally getting up to pack. Elliott had been calling, no doubt to find out what the hell went on, but I ignored the phone. I pulled the suitcase from the closet and threw in some clothes. I only needed work clothes. After all, I was only going to be gone for two weeks.

Once I had most of the clothes packed, I grabbed my toiletry bag and threw that into my suitcase. Sitting down on the edge of my bed, I glanced around the room, doubt creeping into my mind. I wasn't sure this was the right move to be making. Less than twelve hours ago, I had everything I'd wanted right here in this room, and now he was gone.

Reaching for my cell phone, I typed out a message to Parker and sat waiting for a reply. And waiting. I could feel the tears start building again. This move was a mistake, I could feel it to my core.

I called Elliott back. "Well, it’s about time you called me back." The tone of his voice told me he knew what had happened.

"Have you heard from Parker?" I asked quietly.

"Yes, he told me you were flying out tomorrow. Where are you going?"

"Work called me back. They had an amazing offer for me…or what I thought was an amazing offer."

"So, you thought you would take it?"

"Well, I thought I would try it out. I haven't made a final decision yet." I choked.

"Well, it sounded final when Parker talked to me. He said you didn't have much to say on the subject except that you had accepted the offer."

I dropped my head and pinched the bridge of my nose. I could feel a headache coming on.

"He told me that you didn't even tell him. He found out from a message left on your machine. What's going on with you?"

I hated hearing the disappointment in his voice. "I don't know. I have worked so hard for this. I was one of the only ones they called back. I didn't know how to tell him. I didn't want to hurt him, or you, for that matter."

"Well, congrats to you. You don't need to worry about hurting me, but you should have at least considered Parker's feelings. You realize that he has never gotten over you. You can't do this to him. Also, Tatum, after all that’s gone on, how are we going to protect you there once Dean gets released? Did you think about that?"

"Elliott, don't make me feel worse than I already do. I don't need protecting. Dean is behind bars."

"Well, someone needs to knock some kind of sense into you. I'm pissed with you! Your stubborn attitude is what got you into the mess you’re in with this asshole. If you had come to me when it all started between you and Dean, you wouldn't be in the position to need protecting."

"You’re not being fair to me. I'll be fine."

"Yeah, sure, as of right now, you are fine. You’re right, but once he’s released, you won't be. I see this shit happen all the time. You do realize that once he is released, he will be sent back to the city until his court date. I don't want something to happen to you."

"Nothing is going to happen to me. I'm going to go to there for two weeks, work, and see what happens. That’s it. Besides, the officer told me that if he is released, he'll have to stay away from me."

Elliott let out a deep breath. "Fuck, Tatum, I see these things happen all the time. Girl thinks she is safe, guy gets released, and the first thing he does is track her down and shows her who is boss, regardless of what conditions he has on him when he is released. These fucks don't give a shit, because if they did, these things wouldn’t happen. The last one I saw didn't end so well, and I don't want to see you end up like her."

I could hear the added frustration in his voice.

"Elliott, it’s enough. Now, could you tell me how to get a hold of Parker please?" I was getting angrier by the second. Even though he had every right to talk to me that way, I didn’t want to hear it.

"He told me he was going away for a bit. He doesn't want to be bothered by anyone."

I huffed into the phone. "All right, well, my flight leaves tomorrow at four." The line went quiet. I wasn't sure Elliott was even on the other end of the phone. "Elliott?"

"Have a good trip. I guess I'll see you in a couple of weeks." I heard the dreaded click on the other end of the phone, the familiar feeling of regret sinking in.

They were calling out the seats to board the plane. Elliott hadn't answered his cell when I tried to call him earlier. I wanted to know everything was okay between us. I had called Parker as well, but he still hadn't returned my messages. I hoped to hear his voice before I left. I wanted to have a chance to explain the situation.

I dialed his number again, but the phone rang and rang, his deep voice finally coming over the line. I left one more message before boarding the plane. "Parker, it’s me. I'm sorry you had to find out the way you did. I'm sure you don't even want to hear from me, but I wanted to say I love you. I'm in love with you. Please call me."

As I pressed the end call, I heard the last boarding call for my flight. I handed the boarding agent my pass and headed down the ramp to the plane.