“What? No!” Kelsey shrills.
“Don’t fuckin’ lie to me.” My voice strong, but low, intimidating.
“Parker …”
“Shut the fuck up.” A firm finger pointed toward Blaine’s face. “Kelsey, how do you know him?”
“I – I don’t!” She jolts up from the couch and nervously approaches me. “Parker, he just came by asking for you.” She looks between the two of us. “He said he was family, and well, you guys all look similar so I figured he was.”
“It’s nice to know you allow strangers into my house.” It’s irrational, but I’m pissed.
“I live here too, you jackass!” She shoves past me, but I capture her arm in a firm grip. “Let me go,” she growls, and I release her before she stomps up the stairs.
Once she’s out of sight, my eyes return to Blaine. “Get out.”
“Parker, I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to finally meet you guys and we got disconnected earlier.”
“I threw my phone against the house and it shattered into a million fuckin’ pieces. About how my mom’s life was after she found out about you, I suppose.”
“Listen, I had no idea. I thought my dad had left when I was a baby. I didn’t find out until last year that Brian was my dad. You think you’re angry? He fuckin’ abandoned me.”
“My mom’s dead because of you.”
“No. She’s gone because of Brian and his lies. I’m an innocent bystander, like you.” My stance relaxes some, the hair on my arms and neck finally lying down. He’s right. We were kids and had no control over any aspect of the past.
“You’re right.” A heavy sigh releases from me. I have no cause for my anger, so I try to be polite. “Have a seat and let’s talk.” The anger leaves my body and is replaced with curiosity.
“So … sorry to have stopped by unannounced.” He wipes his hands down his jeans.
“Why’d you call me? Why not Colt or Jamie?”
“I originally went to Ramp Jam to meet you guys but lost you in the crowd. I asked some reporter if she knew how I could contact the Taylor boys, said I was family, and well, we do look a lot alike. She gave me your number.”
“I saw you the day before the accident. At our house.” I throw it out there, hoping he’ll pick it up and fill in the blanks for me.
Head in his hands, he answer, “Yeah,” then he sighs. “Once I found out that Brian was my dad, I became obsessed with meeting him. Wanting to question why he’d never wanted anything to do with me. I mean, I was a good kid, got good grades, and stayed out of trouble. My mind just couldn’t wrap around it. I was just a fuckin’ kid.” Rubbing at his temples he continues, “Mom … Elaine would spend so much time with me when I was younger. It was when I started askin’ about if I had a dad and such that she finally started sending me to boarding schools. Year round. She’d come visit, but I’d never get to come home. I got into a good college after school, but I couldn’t get over thinking that part of me I didn’t know was out there. Did I have siblings? It drove me mad.” More events click into place. Aunt Elaine and all of her traveling for work; the holidays she missed with us.
“When’d you get back to Texas?”
“The day I went to confront Brian and Elaine. The address I had was your home.”
“What happened that day?”
“When I knocked on the door, your mom answered. As soon as she saw my face, I swear a light bulb went off and she yelled for Brian. I heard his steps rush down the stairs at the urgency in her voice. When he stopped in the doorway, he froze. That was all the confirmation your mom needed. She invited me in, despite her hesitation. She was very kind to me that day. We all three sat down, and Brian spilled his guts to both of us. From my standpoint, she handled it very well. Had I known that’d be her breaking point, I would’ve stayed hidden.”
“According to Brian, Mom and he have always been in love. Elaine and he were in a fight and he got drunk and slept with your mom and then the next thing he knew, she was pregnant with Colt. Brian felt obligated to marry her and a year after their marriage, her depression started to worsen. He tried to make it work with her for the sake of Colt and you, and the last chance was right after Jamie was born, but her depression took hold and never let go. Elaine stepped back and tried to allow their marriage to work, but nothing ever made her happy. She knew Brian loved Elaine but refused to let him go. Said he ruined her and she’d make sure he was ruined before it was over. Brian didn’t touch my mom again after he found out about Colt. He touched every other woman, but not the one he wanted the most. Your mom never knew that when she found out she was pregnant with Colt, Elaine was already four months pregnant with me but never told our dad. My mom ‘went away on business’ to have me and kept me hidden from your mom and Brian.”
“She knew it’d break her.” It now made sense why Aunt Elaine was always around for us; she missed Blaine and the son she couldn’t be with, the family she couldn’t have, all to protect her sister. This is some fucked-up, twisted version of Romeo and Juliet.
“My mom said that yours battled with depression all of her life, that it could be really bad at times, but when she got with Brian, it became better. When she had her kids, it helped her. So she didn’t want to interfere with that.”
“I saw you leave that day, and I had no idea who you were. Mom had cried and locked herself away for most of the day. When I finally got her to open the door for me, she smiled and it faltered a bit. Now, I wonder if she was remembering you. That day she opened up to me and told me Dad had a baby with another woman. A baby. Made me promise to keep this to myself because she wasn’t sure if it was true. So I did. I had no idea how twisted up everything was …” Fuck, I may cry.
“I’m sorry. I know this is a lot, but I hope we can build a friendship out of the chaos.”
“Just have to break this to Colt and Jamie. Maybe we can all meet here one day?” I was still trying to wrap my mind around everything.
“Sounds good. Who’s the girl?”
“Don’t even think about it.”
“Point taken.”
“We’ll be in touch. I have to get a new phone, but you have my number. Call me in a week.” Opening the door, Blaine walks out into the night and a rush of air leaves my lungs, too much information in one night.
Kelsey
I didn’t plan to eavesdrop, but after that cock match I just saw downstairs, I’m nosy. It’s one of my superpowers because, obviously, I’m flawless …
Annnnddd just like that, curiosity killed the cat.
Or in this case, broke my heart in two. I don’t know what to do with the information I’ve just absorbed, and that’s exactly what’s happened. It’s soaked into my blood, filtering through my bones, and seeped into my soul. My whole body is yearning to comfort Parker.
His steps register before I look up to see him. I thought my heart was broken. I was utterly wrong. The wetness falling down my face betrays me just before our eyes meet. His face is set in hard stone, eyes red and emotions betraying him as well. Tightening my thighs, my feet push me to stand before him, my body aching to heal his pain.
Parker’s steps falter with my rise, and when he stops, I still. “Kelsey, I don’t have time to deal with your shit so save it.” The clench in my gut almost causes me to vomit. When he breezes by me, I hear a mumbled, “I just can’t. I’m sorry.” His apology doesn’t help the slicing agony ripping me apart.
Once my brain catches up with my heart, I rush toward his retreating back. “Parker!” I call out right before reaching for him. The door slams in my face. I knock once. No response. “Talk to me,” I whisper through the wood separating me from him. The wood scraping down my spine is the only sensation I feel before my butt hits the floor with a slight thud. I refuse to leave him when his world is crumbling at the sturdy seam he thought he’d conserved. Knees to my chest and head in my hands, I allow myself to feel sorry for myself, for Parker, and for life in general.
Minutes, hours, hell eve
n days can pass, but I’m not moving until I speak with him. The click of the door sounds before the wood behind me gives causing my body to fall backward. “Shit, Kelsey, what’re you doin’?” He kneels down to my body lying halfway into his room.
“I want to be here for you.” Emotion clogs my voice box while his eyes bore into me, his face soft, almost as if he’s trying to figure me out.
“I’m stugglin’…” Running his hands through his hair, I wait on pins and needles for him to finish while still lying flat on my back.
“What’s goin’ on here!” Tim’s voice reaches us from the game room. “I have a clear view up your shorts. I’m just sayin’.”
“Fuckin’ turn around then!” Parker growls while helping me up. The whole time I’m staring at his face trying to read him. Trying to find the crack I can slip myself into, to help heal him any way he’ll allow.
When I’m stable and standing on my own two feet, my face inches from Parker. I take this time to categorize his features. The strong jawline that I envy, his kiss-me lips, and damn, when they part to accept oxygen, my ovaries clench. His white teeth glimmer for a second before his sigh is complete and the brown pools of his soul beg me for more time.
I’ll remember this moment for the rest of my life.
My heart is hammering at a furious pace inside my chest and the need to be skin against skin with him is nearly killing me. I think my legs may give out at any minute. Everything fades away. Tunnel vision has taken over and the bright shining light of the train headed straight for me is Parker. All of the emotions crash into me at once with a force so strong I stumble face first into him.
“Are you okay?” Strong arms engulf me while my nose takes in his comforting smell. He smells like home. Nodding my head, I hang on to him a little longer than I should, but before I can push away, he lifts my chin to gaze into my eyes.
“I love you.” The words tumble out on an exhale before I could bite my tongue, before my brain even has time to chew over this new information, but the heart wants what she wants. I feel his reaction, the quick intake of breath with a sharp rise of his chest. “I mean I love you if you’d let me go … yup.” I push away from his strong body with shaky hands and my stomach nearly in my throat.
What the heck was my heart thinking? Never show weakness!
Parker’s stare is unwavering. I know because I feel it, as I look everywhere else but at him. Taking in also the fact that Tim seems to be no longer in the near vicinity. Did he hear my confession and run? Just like I’m sure Parker is going to do. I’m positive it’s ingrained in boys before birth. The dreaded “L” word. Did I really just tell Parker I love him? Placing my hand over the pulse in my arm, yup, it’s racing. This is real life. Kelsey Whitten is in love and holy hotdog buns am I. Even now as my gaze collides with his, my heart skips a beat. I’ve never felt anything like this in my life.
“Kelsey …” My whispered name leaves his lips. A tight grasp pulls me hard to the wall of his chest, and just like that, I’m home again. His hands find my hair, pushing his fingertips through my waves and holding me close to him as if I may run. I’m so tired of running.
My arms wrap around his back before my chin is brought up again so our souls meet. Time no longer exists in my mindset. Longing, however, is crippling me. The urge to connect with this man before me sends chills up and down my spine. The golden specks shine brightly in his chocolate brown irises, like my love for him is igniting the same flame inside of him.
Warm lips soft as a feather begin to touch mine in no hurry to devour me, but to savor the taste. Flutters run through my body while I fear the pounding in my chest couldn’t get any faster. Parker’s breathing has picked up causing me to feel that I’m affecting him just as much. His arms roam up and down my cheeks, neck, and arms, and then back again. His wet tongue slides over the seam of my lips before my mouth opens to him. Rough hands travel their way back up my body and into my brown locks.
Too soon, he’s pulling away from me, and for a minute, I’m shocked until I feel his forehead rest against mine. His breath brushes across my face, hot and fast. Fluttering my eyes open, my heart rate picks up speed again, setting a deadly pace.
“You’ve had it wrong for a while now, ya’ know? You’re always three things. Right, awesome ...” The gravel of his emotion-filled voice causes my knees to weaken and watching those sexy fingers count out about me has me in knots. “… and loved by a man who craves you. A man, who until recently, was too stupid to know that the craving I feel for you, Kels, has always been love. Craving you is the best addiction. One I won’t ever want to quit.” Is this what Brea meant when she was describing what it felt like to love someone? I know he has a lot to deal with, especially now with the newfound information, but I swear I feel the tilt and shake of the earth realigning. Two souls molding together—our souls.
My legs bounce up and wrap around his waist as I connect our lips once more. I can never be close enough to this man. This kiss is different than the previous. This kiss is rough and needy. Once again his hands are in my hair except this time at the base of my neck. A sharp pain stabs at me before I’m roughly tugged away from his lips by my hair. Focusing on his red, swollen lips, a growl rumbles through them. “Tell me.” The gold specks are still glowing in his eyes, his nose flaring with the urge to inhale more oxygen.
“I’m craving you.” Rubbing up against the bulge in his pants, I let out a soft moan. “I love you, Park-” His lips slam down onto mine, attacking me with his tongue.
It’s messy, it’s raw, and it’s us.
Parker
“I love you, Park-” Relief washes over me when the sweet melody of her nervous voice reaches my ears. The weight on my chest rises, and the hollowness inside is filled with a warm wholeness. Sealing my lips to hers, I swallow her confession. Acceptance is the sweetest taste I’ve ever had.
Kicking the door shut and pushing her back against the wood, I take what I want and what I want more than my next breath is her. Eager hands roam up and down her thighs, sides, breast, neck, and face. I’m touching her, yet at the same time, not touching her enough.
Kelsey’s hands tug and pull my hair with a needy force. “I need you inside me.” Our breathing is ragged, desperate. Dropping her to the floor, we both make quick work of removing our clothes, throwing them all around the room with eyes locked on each other the entire time. When she’s naked before me, I halt my urgency. Absorbing her beauty, I stare. “Don’t look at me like that,” she breathes softly.
“Like what?” My voice sounds foreign, a graveled rasp, even to me. Silence. Her eyes are half-mast as her body calls out to me. “Like you’re it for me? Like you’re the only girl I’ll ever need again? Like you’re the girl who fuckin’ owns me? Nah, sweetness, I’ll forever look at you this way.” The blush that creeps up her face just makes my dick harder.
“I’m sorry,” she responds. Those perky tits risin’ with every strain of breath she takes.
I stalk toward her. “For what?” I won’t let her chase me away again. My hands cup her face. When I’m inches from her lips, she trembles. “For being a pain in the ass. For running away from you, for a million things I wish I could take back. I wasn’t sure I deserved this.”
“And now?”
“Now? I just want you. I don’t care about anyone else. You make my world a better place.”
Her eyes prickle with water and I immediately want to soothe her. Placing a soft kiss on her lips, she sighs with contentment. “You changed me, Kelsey. I know I’ve never done anything to deserve you, but hell if I’ll ever let you go. You’re done running.”
“Yes.” The sweet smell of mint washes over my face at her admission.
When our lips crash again, I jerk her body to mine and pull her legs up and around my waist, slipping into her with ease. Moving inside her is unlike anything I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience, and it’s this way every. Single. Damn time. “You fit me so perfect.” With my lips against hers, I whispe
r, “I love you,” over and over while I drown in my addiction.
“I’m so close.” A moan escapes her.
“I know, sweetness.”
“I love you, Parker!” I thought the first time I’d heard her say it was the best. No. When she tells me she loves me as I make us both fall over the edge—that’s the fuckin’ best.
“How much did you hear, you little kitten?”
“Kitten?” Her giggle hits my ears.
“Curiosity killed the cat. You’re still alive and well, too sexy to be a cat. So I’d say you’re a kitten.” Kelsey turns her head into the nook of my arm hiding her face from me.
“Everything. I heard everything, Parker. I thought he was an old rival or something from the way you guys were talking to each other. I shouldn’t have listened. I feel horrible,” she rambles with a muffled voice.
Rolling her over onto her back, I say, “It’s okay that you heard.” Puffing out an exhausted sigh, I ask, “How do I handle this?” as I bury my head in her neck.
Slender fingers massage the nape of my neck. “You need to tell Colt before too much time passes. I’d hate for him to be angry with you. No matter what, though, we’ll deal with it.”
After lifting my head to kiss her soft lips, I nod. “We will. I like the sound of that.” Yeah, I just handed over my man card, and I’m perfectly okay with that.
She kisses my lips again and hums, “I’m so happy.”
“Me too, sweetness.”
Parker
“This is the one. What do you think?” I’m in a jewelry shop, and surprisingly, I don’t entirely hate being here. A sparkle or two has caught my eye as well. Maybe I’m just love drunk.
“Looks like she gonna be one happy girl, bro. I like it.” Colt’s smile beams at me brighter than the two-karat diamond he’s holding, and for once, I can relate to that feeling.
“Brealynn is going to love it. She’ll love anything you get her,” Tim chimes in.
Craving You (TBX #2) Page 14