My parents being murdered.
All of those vile texts.
Johan. The drugs and women.
Nate being blown up.
The attempted murder of Parker’s parents.
My best friend planning to take me away to a remote island.
“Stop, baby. Let it go for now. Just breathe. That’s all you gotta do right now.” He presses his forehead to mine and inhales. It sounds overly loud, so much so, it’s all I hear for what feels like a few minutes as I pair my breathing to his. The panic slowly subsides.
Vaguely I begin to become aware of the barrage of sirens and the sound of boots stomping along the wooden floors. Parker adjusts our position to hold me full against his chest, my cheek pressed over his heart, and my focus is solely on him. The smell of citrus mixed with wood, the extreme warmth and safety that can only be found within the circle of my man’s arms.
He is alive.
He is holding me.
He is telling me it will be okay.
I close my eyes, breathe in his scent, take in his warmth, and let the sound of his heart beating against my ear settle the hurricane inside my soul. His words seep into my conscious mind.
“It will all be okay. I swear it, Skyler. It’s over, baby.”
I lick my lips and squeeze my man with all of my might. “It’s over.”
12
PARKER
“Baby, you have to get out of bed.” I cup Sky’s chin and caress the apple of her cheek with my thumb. It feels like velvet against my skin.
She pouts and squeezes her eyes tightly shut. “I don’t want to. Everything bad happens when I’m awake.”
I lean forward and kiss her temple, dragging my lips to her ear. “All the good things happen when you’re awake too.” I nibble the edge of her ear.
She snickers briefly, but all too quickly the smile is replaced with the deep frown she’s had for the last week.
Seven whole days have passed since her former best friend was shot, rushed to the hospital, and treated, only to end up losing her hand. They had to amputate it.
The good news is my father is awake and cantankerous as all hell, demanding to see Skyler and be discharged to go home. Nate, who has done remarkably well for all the injuries he sustained in the blast, is pushing to be released as well. Now that his vitals and levels are back to normal, he’s set to get his wish today. Which is part of the surprise I have planned for my girl, if she’ll ever get out of freakin’ bed.
“Peaches, I know you’re hurting, but staying in bed and avoiding life is not the answer.” I curl my hands around her and lift her up.
“Hey! What are you doing?”
With a slight twinge in my ribs, which have mostly healed, I haul her body up and over my shoulder, stand, and smack her ass.
“Ouch! Parker, let me down!” she hollers, but I ignore her.
“No. We’re all done with this pity party for one.” I smack her ass again. “It’s time to shower and enter the world of the living again.”
“Let me go!” She pounds on my ass, but I ignore it. “I mean it, Park! Let. Me. Down!”
I enter the en-suite bathroom and mess with the shower dials, and the water shoots out. With her in her tank and panties and me in my pajama bottoms, I walk right into the warm water. I slide her down my body, then press her up against the back of the shower wall, caging her in.
“Listen to me,” I demand.
“I can’t believe you would do that!” She growls, her face filled with anger. Hell, I’ll take the anger. It’s the first emotion besides sadness I’ve seen in a week.
“Shut it!” I growl back, my nose almost touching hers. “You do not get to hide under the covers for more than a week. I will not see my beautiful girl sink into a depressed oblivion one more fuckin’ day.” I use so much inflection in my words that the water running down my face splatters against hers as I speak. “You. Are. Better. Than. This.” I smack the wall of the shower behind her, and she flinches. “Come back to me, baby. I’ve been waiting patiently, but no more.” I run my nose along hers. “I need you back.”
Tears well up in her eyes and fall down her cheeks. Her lips tremble. “Honey, she killed my parents.”
I tunnel my hand into the back of her hair, cupping her nape and pressing my forehead to hers. “I know, baby, and I’m sorry. I’m so fuckin’ sorry.”
“She killed my mom and dad.” Her voice is tortured, filled to the brim with sorrow.
“Yeah.” The word comes out a guttural, mutilated sound because her pain is shooting out of her and right into me. I’ll take it all to bring her back from the depths of her grief.
“And she hurt Nate.”
“Not your fault; she’s whacked in the head.”
“And your dad. Baby, she almost killed your dad.” Her voice comes out a sob.
“They’re on the mend, Peaches. And no one blames you. They blame her. She did this. In her own fucked-up brain, she created a reality where she didn’t lose her sister. The pain she felt with that loss had to be enormous, and it messed her up bad, Sky.”
Her fingers grip my biceps so hard I can feel her nails digging in.
“For some jacked-up reason, you became the sister she lost. And she became some kind of twisted protector. I’m not saying that’s an excuse, but what I am sayin’, baby, is you had no part in that. You are loving. Kind. Generous. Sweet. And your heart is so fuckin’ huge, it shines light on everyone who comes into contact with you. She took advantage of that. She hurt you and hurt the people you loved, but you can’t let her win by not living. What would your mom and dad say about that? If you let her break you? Take away the life they gave you? Huh, Sky? What would they say?”
Her body convulses, and I wrap my arms around her to hold her up as she sobs in big heaving jolts against my form. I take it all. I’d take anything for her. All her pain and grief. Anything to make her happy again.
“Th-they . . . they’d hate it.”
I nod against her shoulder. “Exactly. So, how’s about we clean up. Wendy is worrying herself ragged about how you’re doing, which makes Mick an absolute dick to deal with. She needs to see you’re all right.”
She squeezes me tighter. “I’m not all right.”
I rub my hand up and down her back slowly, wanting her to feel our connection. “I know, baby, but you will be. I’ll make it so.”
“I love you,” she whispers against my ear.
I wrap my arms around her tighter. “Christ, I needed to hear that. I love you too, Skyler. So fuckin’ much it hurts sometimes.”
For a long time, we stand there just holding one another, letting the water beat down on our combined forms, sealing our physical connection as much as our mental one.
I lean back and look into her swirling brown eyes. “We’re going to choose to live. Put all of this behind us and live free, right, Peaches?”
She nods, lifts up onto her toes, and kisses me. I delve into her kiss with relish, letting her lead, and thank God I’ve got a piece of my dream girl back. It’s going to be a long road, but I know we can do it together.
Once we’ve removed our sodden clothing, I take my time washing my girl. Then I make slow love to her in the shower while she cries. It’s cathartic and one of the most beautiful moments of my life.
When we get out and I’ve dried her off, I pull open the drawer and rummage through her makeup, finally finding a red lipstick. “Ah, perfect!”
She comes up behind me, strokes my dripping back, and kisses me there. “You’re perfect.”
“I’ll remind you that you said that the next time I fuck up.”
She chuckles and kisses my shoulder blade again. “What are you doing?”
“Putting up a reminder for you . . . and for me.”
I take the cap off the lipstick, twist up the stick of red, and point it toward the mirror. There in big capital letters I write the one thing we both need to remember after everything we’ve gone through.
LIVE FREE
Love,
Us
Skyler smiles against my skin, and I watch her peeking out from behind me to stare at the words I scrawled in red across the corner of the mirror.
“Like I said, perfect, honey.” She wraps her arms around me.
I cover hers with my own before bringing one of her hands up to my lips and kissing each fingertip and then the center of her palm. “Yeah, it is.”
Hand in hand we walk down the road, our dogs on leashes in front of us. Everything excites our pups these days. A bird, a squirrel—all of the nature around us makes them pounce and jump.
“Obviously we’re walking toward our house, but why?” Skyler asks.
I grin down at her and waggle my eyebrows. “It’s a surprise. I told you that.”
She crinkles up her nose. “Lately, surprises have not been very good.”
I roll my eyes and squeeze her hand. “Just let me have this, baby.”
Skyler shrugs. “Okay.”
We make our way to our beautiful home. Skyler sighs. “It’s magical, isn’t it?”
I grin, taking in the landscape, the trees beyond the acreage, and the wraparound porch. I lead her up the walk, and she stops, tugging on my hand.
“Honey, we can’t. They haven’t given us the key yet.”
I dig into my pocket and pull out the shiny brass key. “You mean this key?”
Her eyes widen, and her mouth opens in a cute little O shape. “Honey . . .” Without as much as a smile passing between us, my girl wraps her arms around my neck and hops up in the air. I catch her ass as her legs wrap around my waist and her lips slam down on mine.
She kisses me hard and for a very long time. I hold on and kiss her back with everything I have until she pulls away and laughs out loud, her head tipping back, the golden waves of hair moving in the slight breeze.
God, her laughter is the most beautiful sound in the world.
“This is so awesome!” she squeals, and slides down my body.
“Good surprise?” I smile.
“Best-ever surprise!” she says, and grabs my hand, this time pulling me toward the door.
When we get there, I open it, swoop her up into my arms, and sloppily whisk her over the threshold and into the entryway, our dogs in tow. She giggles as I kiss her neck several times then set her back down. We both let the dogs off their leashes. I hit the lights at the entry, and the simple chandelier with its crystals hanging down sets off sparkles on the walls around us.
She spins around, her arms out. “Honey, we’re home.”
“Yes, we are!” I grin wide. “Come, I have one more surprise for you.”
“Really? There isn’t anything better than entering our home for the first time. It’s going to be hard to beat.”
I chuckle and interlace our fingers while leading her to the farthest end of the house, where the master suite is. When we get to the double doors, I drop her hand, take both handles, and open them wide. Inside is a huge handmade wood sleigh bed. The headboard is high and thick, etched with delicate swirls I thought she’d like, but the heavy oak color and shape still give it a touch of manliness. On top is a heavenly bright-white down comforter that Wendy found for me as well as the softest sheets in the highest thread count she could find. I spent a mint on it, but with the look of complete awe on Sky’s face, I know I’ve done well. My dream girl is happy.
“You like it?”
She looks at the bed, the only thing in the room because I told her I wanted to buy the bed, but I wasn’t kidding when I said she could decorate the rest of the house.
“Like it? Honey, I love it!” Wonder coats every word. “It’s the most beautiful bed I’ve ever seen.”
I grin and wrap my arms around her from behind while she stares at the bed as though it might get up on its legs and walk away at any moment. “I’m glad you love it, because I love you!”
She spins around in my arms, kisses me once, and backs up with a sexy smile on her face. She lifts a hand up to the halter tie at the back of her neck that holds up the flirty little dress she’s wearing. In a moment, the tie comes undone and the dress falls to the floor.
My girl is standing in front of our new bed wearing nothing but a pale-pink strapless bra and matching panties. She kicks the dress and her flip-flops aside.
“I say we christen it right now.” She smirks, one eyebrow cocking up sexily.
I lick my lips and take in all the beauty before me; then I spring into action, removing my shirt. Her eyes light up with desire while she runs her fingers down her sides. I kick off my sneakers and toe off my socks as I undo the button on my jeans, shove them and my underwear down in one go, and kick them to the side. Her eyes go to my crotch, and she grins wickedly.
“You see something you like, Peaches?” I smirk.
“Oh yeah, something I like very much.” She reaches behind her, flicks the hook on her bra, and it falls to the floor, her succulent tits bouncing free.
“I think it’s time to get a little wild.” I stalk toward her.
She pushes down her panties, and they drop to the floor. “And I think it’s time we live free.”
When I reach her, I wrap one hand around her waist, tugging her to me, and cup her gorgeous face with the other.
“All day, every day, baby.”
That’s when I prove to her what living free with me will be, in our brand-new bed in our forever home.
The end . . . for now.
LOS ANGELES: INTERNATIONAL GUY BOOK 12
To Jeananna Goodall.
A year. We made it a full year on this project.
You are my biggest cheerleader, my strongest support,
the person I can lean on when I fear it’s not enough.
You remind me every day why we work so hard.
It’s all about the story.
It’s all about friendship.
It’s all about love, light,
and living our best lives.
Together, we continue to live our truth.
1
SKYLER
Wendy flutters around her master bathroom, adjusting her boobs in her strapless, corset-style wedding gown, touching up her hair, and prodding at her unmovable hairdo. I made sure that hairstyle will not so much as shift in a harsh breeze by hiring the best celebrity hairdresser in the business. Those fiery short locks are not moving from the superbadass bouffant look she’s sporting. The longer hair on top is raised in what can only be described as a stylized pouf, sleek on the sides, looking like nothing but hair magic, the kind my girl wanted on her wedding day. It’s a little punk rock, a little fashion model chic, and a whole lot Wendy Bannerman, now Wendy Pritchard.
“So, when are you and Bossman getting hitched?” Wendy asks while touching up her bright cherry-red lipstick.
I mull over her question while checking out my sexy-as-sin strappy Valentino Garavani Rockstud heels. They’re gold with studs all over the T-strap style and a full four-and-a-quarter-inch spike. Parker told me this morning that these shoes were staying on while he fucked me tonight. I cannot wait.
Wendy’s question is deep, though, and since my ex-best friend has been confined to a mental facility to await her final sentencing, I’ve had two months of nothing but loving, recovering, and spending time making a happy home and building a life with my man.
I know without a doubt Parker is my forever. I go to sleep cuddling against his warm chest and wake up to smiles and “I love yous” every day. More than that, he shows me in all the little things and special ways of his. He makes my coffee every morning and serves it to me. He kisses me the moment he sees me and before he leaves my side each day. Even if it’s to go throw the ball for our dogs, he always gives me a moment of affection, which lets me know that he’s committed to me. For the long haul. Forever.
“Hello! Earth to Sky. I said . . . When are you and Parker gonna make playing house more like prepping for a family than sharing space?”
I frown and tip my head, taking in all that
is Wendy in her beautiful wedding gown, hand on her hip, sassy expression plastered on her features.
“You’re one to talk. You’ve been with Mick what, four years, and are finally tying the knot.”
She waves her hand. “Technicality. He collared my ass in six months. In our world . . .” She tugs on the new, one-inch platinum choker at her neck. The new one has a black diamond heart dangling from a ringed loop at the center. Mick privately presented her with this piece last night. Once it’s put on, the lock disappears into the design, and it can’t be removed. The only way to remove it will be to cut it off. Wendy was beside herself with glee when she showed it to me this morning prior to the ceremony outside on their estate. Apparently Mick got a tattoo that matched the design of her collar but on one of his wrists. I couldn’t see it under his dress shirt, nor did I ask to see it, because it’s not mine to see. If he wants to share that piece of his commitment to his wife, he will. Though the concept of her man branding himself to only her is not lost on me. It definitely makes the ultimate statement.
“In our lifestyle, the collar is the highest form of commitment. We didn’t initially need the rings or the public statement. We committed to one another in the way that means the most to us. However, once we decided to have children, it made sense to seal the deal legally.” She winks.
I nod and pluck at my lip, thinking about Parker and me walking down the path of marriage and children. He knows I want to cut back on the number of acting jobs I take on after the A-Lister Trilogy is filmed. We’ve talked at length about me opening up an acting studio for kids, especially children who are less fortunate and wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford professional classes. First, though, we’d need to commit to one another completely.
“Honestly, Wen, we haven’t talked about it. Our future is always just there. When we have a family, when we get married . . . it’s not like he’s made any overtures that he plans on us tying the knot any time soon.”
International Guy: Volume 4 Page 28