He moved forward and stood between Skeeter and me.
I put my hands on Prior’s back, catching my breath, his warmth seeping through my palms as I closed my eyes. I took in a deep breath, telling myself that I wasn’t in the same place I had been before. I wasn’t that little girl any longer. I wasn’t going to get hurt today. I had stood up to Benji, and I would have stood up to my boss if I’d needed to.
I could stand up to the man who killed my baby sister.
“You need to back the fuck off. Get off this property. We’re calling the cops right now.”
“You have every right to call the cops and take me away. I just wanted to say I was sorry. Sorry for everything. Me telling you I’m a changed man isn’t going to do anything for you. I didn’t know how to write it down, I was never good with words. And I didn’t want to call because I’m selfish. Or maybe because I was scared. You don’t have to look at me again, Paris. You can stand behind your man, and I get that. Maybe I’d do the same if I had someone. I don’t. And that’s my fault, too. I’m sorry, Paris. I’m sorry for what I did to you. What I always did. I’m sorry for what I did to Tracey. I’m sorry that I lost her. I loved you guys.”
“Shut up,” I said and moved around Prior. Prior’s jaw tightened. He didn’t push me back. I stood next to him instead of in front of him. He was going to let me fight my own battles. I wasn’t going to force him to watch me get hurt.
“Don’t say her name. Don’t talk about her. You need to go.”
“Fair enough. I own all of it. You can do whatever you want to me. I’m going to burn in hell for what I did, and I understand that. I wanted to let you know that I’m sorry, though. And I’m not going to be here any longer.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked, confused.
“Just want to let you know I’m not going to bother you anymore. No matter what. If I see you accidentally at a grocery store, I’ll leave. I’ll come nowhere near you, and I’ll never hurt you again. I wanted to tell you I’m sorry.”
“Fine. You’re sorry. Now, go.”
He looked at me again. This time, Prior had had enough. And I let him do what he needed to do.
“You’re done. Go, before I do call the cops. You said your piece, she didn’t have to listen to you. If I ever see you again, I will let out all the rage that I’ve been holding in today. And you do not want to deal with that.”
“I understand, son. Take good care of her.”
“I’ll do a better job than you ever did,” Prior said, and I saw the words hit my father like a slap. I didn’t feel any joy in that, only pity.
My father gave me one last look and then walked away. I had a feeling this would be the last time I ever saw him.
He got into his old beat-up sedan and drove away, leaving me and Prior standing on my porch, my hands shaking.
And then Prior was in front of me, his hands on my face as he studied me.
“Baby?”
“Thank you,” I whispered, and then I leaned into him, holding him close. I took in his scent, letting it soothe my nerves and breathed.
I had faced the man who had killed my sister, the man of my nightmares, and I had made it. I had said what I needed to, and I would never see him again.
As Prior held me, I thought of another thing that worried me.
Because the man who stood in front of me had not been big enough, had not been wide enough, had not been strong enough.
The man who was my father was not the person who had attacked me in the parking lot.
So who the hell had it been?
Chapter 15
Prior
I stood naked in my shower, my hand around my cock. I pumped it hard, the water turning lukewarm.
“Harder.”
The voice in the shower with me felt like a purr against my skin.
“Any harder, and I’m going to squeeze myself blue,” I said into the phone. I had my phone on the shelf where water couldn’t get to it and was currently getting myself off while Paris did the same in her bed.
I had been listening to music in the shower when she called, and one thing had led to another. Now, my cock was in my hand, and I was ready to blow.
“What are you doing now?” I panted, barely able to breathe at this point.
“I have one hand on my breast, the other’s playing with my clit. Will you help me? What would you do if you were here?”
“I’d be between your legs, licking you, one sexy lap at a time. Teasing your clit, using my hands to slowly tease you open, blowing cool air on that wet pussy of yours. Because you’re always wet for me.”
“Oh, I’m wet right now.”
“Play with your clit and think of it as my tongue. I want to hear you come.”
I had no idea how I was actually speaking or thinking right then because it was all I could do not to come immediately and fall in my shower.
“Prior!”
I could hear her coming, and that sent me over the edge. I shook, finishing myself off, and then I smiled.
“That’s one way to wake up in the morning.”
“It would have been better if it was your hand on me rather than mine. But we make do.”
I smiled, thinking about what I was going to give her later that day. It had nothing to do with my dick.
Okay, maybe a little bit had to do with my dick.
“You headed over here soon?” I asked, wondering why I sounded so needy. Oh, right, because I was.
“I have a few things to do around the house, and then I’ll be over. However, I will need something to eat. And not just your cock.”
I barked out a laugh, even as I finished washing my hair in cold water.
“Oh?”
“Yes, I will eat your cock. First, however, I’m going to need food. And it’s tough to hear you over the shower, so I’ll see you soon.”
“See you soon.”
She ended the call, and I couldn’t help but wonder why I had felt the urge to say something more after “see you soon.”
I love you?
Right, that’s what I wanted to say.
Hell.
I loved Paris.
Jesus Christ.
The water was only getting colder, so I rinsed out the product from my hair and turned off the water. I got out of the shower and grabbed my phone on the way.
I made sure that my phone was still dry, and then dried myself off, thinking about how quickly things had changed. And yet, maybe they hadn’t.
I had been waiting for a serious relationship, even if I hadn’t actively been looking for one. I had thought I had that with Allison. Only we were simply two people who occasionally saw each other and fucked once in a while. It was crude, not the nicest thing to say, but it was the truth.
We had never exchanged keys. We had never hung out just to…hang out. It always had to do with sex or her needing something from me.
I hadn’t realized that until it was over. Now, it was a stark reminder that everything that I had with Paris was completely different.
I was no longer working at her branch of the company, so I didn’t have to worry about any issues there. Things were going to get better for her at work now that Benji was gone. I didn’t want to think about that and swallowed the anger that rose.