deserved more than to be the one you came to for sex and when shit fell through with baby momma. I’d fallen too hard for the both of you, and it was killing me, slowly. So I ran. I hid, removing myself from everything, and decided that once again, what I needed was a new, fresh start. Away from you and Cullen, because it would have torn me apart to watch you across the fence as the failed fiancée. The woman he used to call ‘Mama.’ To see a new woman there, beside you, with him. It was best I leave.”
He slid his hand around to her back, pressing her closer to him, pleased when she came willingly. Tears pricked his eyes as she snuggled her head beneath his chin, her hand still tangling his hair in her strong yet feminine fingers.
“I crashed with my friend Ryliee. The one whose car I’m driving. She yelled, smacked me down for my excuses, and then asked me one very important question.”
“And that was?”
“She asked me if it was only sex or if you were worth facing my demons and fighting for.”
He broke the lingering silence when he couldn’t take it any longer. “And?”
“That’s what I would have told you tomorrow morning. That I love you and you’re worth fighting for. You and Cullen, regardless of anything. I don’t want to sit back—I won’t do it—and let that bitch get her claws into you or our son.”
Parker gripped her face and kissed her, poured everything into it he wished he could verbalize. His love, his pride, his hope, his everything.
“I love you, Skylar Radford. So fucking much. So motherfucking much. You are my always and forever.”
The warm splash of her tears hit his hands, but he didn’t move to brush them away. She, in turn, slipped her hands along his jaw until her thumbs skimmed the underside of his earlobes.
Time passed as he sat there, breathing her breath, slowing his world to accept it was the two of them. Now and forever. Him and her.
Breaking the kiss, he tipped his head down. “Come with me.”
“Where?”
“Let’s go for a drive.”
“You do know it’s the ass crack of dawn?”
“I know, but I want to share something with you.”
“And this ride, is it on your motorcycle? Your SUV?”
“Hell no, we’re taking your friend’s car and going to break all kinds of speed limit laws.”
Her faint laugh was music to his ears. “I suppose you’re going to expect to drive? Even though it’s not your car.”
“You know I’ll always keep you safe, baby. Always.”
“I know. I think I knew that even before you yelled at me across the yard when I first cut my hand. That’s why I didn’t argue when you made me slide over.”
It was his turn to laugh. “Bullshit. You were just woozy over your blood loss. You’d have given me an earful otherwise.”
That was probably true.
Taking her hand, he swiped the house keys on the way out, then escorted her to the car. He held the door for her and got behind the wheel.
Parker caressed the black-and-red shifter. “She’s got good taste.” He turned to Skylar, captured her chin in his hand, pressed his lips to hers until she sighed, and nipped her lower lip. “You fucking taste amazing.”
As soon as they hit the interstate, he opened up the engine until they raced down the road.
It took them about forty-five minutes to reach his destination. He pulled off the road onto the scenic overlook and stopped the engine. He went to her side and held the door, then tucked her close to him as he moved to the barrier.
“Not planning on tossing me over and keeping the car, are you?”
“Not today,” he whispered, nibbling on her ear. “But that is one sweet ride, so the potential is there.”
She laughed. “Why are we here, Parker? It’s nighttime.” She yawned and settled against him.
“Just wait.” He wrapped his arms around her, ensuring she wouldn’t be chilled.
Silence owned the earth until the first golden stream of light peeked over the horizon and the ocean. Slowly, as if time had been cut in half just for them, the sun pushed up over the water, setting it aglow with gold and diamond dust.
The spectacular hues were like watercolors, blending into each other and changing, but never losing the magnificent imagery. Parker kept his lips pressed to the top of her head the entire time.
“This,” he whispered as life went back to normal speed. “This is what you being