by M Dauphin
“What is this Tatum?” I whisper as he stares out the bedroom window.
“It’s my son’s baby blanket. The one he died in.” His words are so cold, but full of so much emotion.
I gasp and pull the blanket out of the box. It’s light blue with tiny darker blue stars and incredibly soft.
“Why?” What’s all this mean?
“I don’t know, exactly. This showed up on the porch last week. The night you stayed late at the studio. I don’t know who it is from but I have my guesses. Molly, this blanket along with everything else from the time in my life was ordered to be destroyed. I didn’t want anything to remember it. It sounds cold but I was hurting. It shook me to the core when I opened the box. Then when I found the note I was actually spooked. I don’t do mind games well, and someone is obviously playing one with me.”
He then fills me in on the Delany connection to him, why he thinks Rob hates him so much, and why he believes Rob is in the lead for prime suspect. He doesn’t trust him, that’s for sure. I can hear his voice pleading with me to back out of the wedding and take myself out of the connection to the Delany family, but I can’t do that. Not with four days left, they would never find someone able to do it on that short of notice.
“That’s a lot of speculation, Tatum, without any hard proof that it was actually him. I can’t back out of the wedding now.” I say, shaking my head at the mess that we’re in.
“I realize that, and I don’t think you need to. I honestly don’t think he’d ever hurt you, you’ve formed a friendship with him. People know that you two have been hanging around each other,” he grinds. I hate that those three days Tatum was gone, Rob spent most of them at the studio with me. I did enjoy his company, but there’s nothing there between us. “Just know that from here on out I will not be leaving you alone when there are Delany’s around.”
I’m okay with that. After all, I was starting to get the feeling from Rob that he wants a more personal relationship with me. He’s sexy, but I just don’t look at him that way.
“Fine. That’s all I can ask of you. Now get dressed. We have a very demanding Delany to deal with this morning.” Oh I know he’s going to be pissed that Tatum is still on board. Hell, by the way he was looking at me last week he’s going to be pissed that Tatum is back in the picture at all.
***
We grab a coffee on the way into the studio. When we make it in, Tatum gets to work on finalizing some of the props for the wedding and I head into the front office to make sure messages are clear and everything is set for the weekend. A few hours into the day, Rob walks in and smiles brightly at me, obviously unaware that Tatum’s here.
“Hey you. How’re you feeling? You gave everyone a scare last week. That’s decaf coffee, I hope,” he says as he glances at the cup in my hand. How do I respond to him? Does it matter if he knows or not? The truth shall set you free, I guess.
“I’m not pregnant anymore, Rob. Thanks… though,” I say awkwardly.
“Oh. God, Molly, I’m so sorry to hear that,” he says as he walks over and brings me in for a hug. Of course, that has to be the time that Tatum walks back up front from the storage room. Of. Fucking. Course.
“Need another one of those eyes blacked out, Delany?” he growls as he casually sets down the boxes I had him bring up.
Rob chuckles and backs up.
“Well. Back in the picture are we Tatum? Shame, Molly. I thought I had you pegged for someone a little smarter than that.” He’s such an ass.
“Actually Rob, I am glad you stopped by. I have been wanting to tell you that I will not be in need of your assistant’s services this weekend. A photographer is only as good as their right hand man. Mine is Tatum. Take it or leave it. I don’t shoot the wedding unless he is there.”
There. It’s said. I’m holding my ground on this one. He glares at Tatum for a moment, then moved those piercing black eyes straight at me.
“That’s a very bad decision, Molly,” he says through gritted teeth.
“Then find another photographer.” I’m done playing him games. I don’t need them money that badly, and the public knows how difficult it is to deal with a Delany, so my reputation won’t get hurt too badly. Hopefully. I stand there, hands on my hips, ready for a verbal lashing from the second hottest man I’ve ever laid eyes on. Instead, his lips turn up into a half smile, and he nods his head, then turns and leaves. Whatever he came here for must not have been that important.
I smile to myself, pleased that I was able to stand up to the infamous Robert Delany, especially with those beautiful eyes staring me down. I glance over at Tatum. He’s watching me with so much love in his eyes I feel like I could burst.
“My God, Molly. You are one amazing woman,” he says and finally starts walking towards me.
The butterflies that I’ve been missing the last few days finally comes back when he looks at me with those eyes. Rob’s eyes hold nothing to Tatum’s. The connection between us right now is unbreakable. He’s radiating love for me. That I can tell just by his body language. He cups my face and tilts my head up to look at him.
“I love you so fucking much it hurts when you aren’t near me. You make me want to be a better man for the rest of my life. One day I’ll show you how much you mean to me. Words alone aren’t enough. One day, Molly. God, I love you,” he says, and his lips slam into mine, causing me to grab his arms as I kiss him back.
Good Lord it feels like it’s been a lifetime since he’s kissed me like this. I was really starting to believe he didn’t want me anymore, but this kiss just blew all other kisses in the history of lip locking out of the water! A mixture of urgency and tenderness, his lips dance across my skin, leaving a trail of goose bumps along the way. When he breaks the kiss I almost fall into him. His hands begin running up and down my arms, as he looks down at our connection.
This man.
He’s all I need.
Tatum
“I can’t say enough how sorry I am that I wasn’t here for you, Molly,” I say, resting my forehead on hers. I feel like I always need some type of physical connection with her. It isn’t good enough to be next to her, I need to be touching her.
“I know, Tatum. I know how sorry you are, but even if you were there the outcome wouldn’t have changed. I’ve forgiven you, you need to forgive yourself,” she says with determination to make it true.
I chose my next words carefully. I don’t want to spook her, but she needs to know that we aren’t out of the dark yet. Nothing’s been done yet about the note I received, not with the events of this past weekend weighing down on us.
“You know. When you were in the hospital after what Brian did to you, I walked in the room to see you for the first time and freaked out. It took my dad finally opening up and treating me like his son in order for me to walk back in for you. I was so afraid that by being mine, you would end up getting hurt far worse than you would without me.”
She watches me quietly, letting me speak.
“The pain I felt after I left you was the second worst pain I’ve ever felt in my entire life. I don’t want to feel that again. I’m so fucking worried about this whole Delany situation, and I can’t shake the feeling that something awful is about to happen. All because of me.”
“Don’t you dare say that, Tatum. This is not your fault.” She shakes her head.
“It’s not. I agree. It wasn’t me that put him the car the wrong way. It wasn’t me who ran the red light. It was me, though, who let her leave when she was obviously upset. It was me who let him go with her in that car. I could have fought, but I didn’t.”
“You need to stop blaming yourself, Tatum. What happened was not any part your fault.”
“The Delany’s seem to think differently. Why else would they send me that note, and his blanket?” I can’t stop the feeling that this is just the beginning of a bigger battle. I hate being in the dark. I think it’s time to call the old man again.
“Call your dad, Tatum,” she says, as if s
he can read my mind. This woman amazes me every single day. I nod and excuse myself to make yet another phone call for help. It’s funny, I thought when I left a few months ago we wouldn’t have to cross paths ever again. Come to find out, I need him more now than I ever have before. Strange how things work out.
I call his cell first, hoping to catch him before he gets home to my mom. I know I’m going to get grief for not coming home this past weekend, but it wasn’t even an option I wanted to run by Molly. Thankfully he answers on the third ring, right before his voicemail picks up.
“Hello, boy. I got your e-mail. I hope everything is alright.” He likes Molly, I can tell from the worry in his voice.
“Yea dad. Things are ok, considering the circumstances. It stinks, but it’s nothing we can’t work through.”
“You know, your mother miscarried three times before your brother came along, God rest his soul.” That’s new news to me, but I know my mom is a quiet woman when it comes to personal matters. Without any daughter’s to talk with I’m sure she’s holding in all kinds of stuff.
“I didn’t know that Dad. That’s terrible.”
“It’s a way of life. Sometimes, it just isn’t meant to be.”
I grunt in response. It might not have been in the master plan, but damned if I’m not still upset about it.
“Anyway son, what do you need? You don’t typically call to chat.”
“No. I don’t do I?” I should fix that. Maybe my dad and I can fix our strained relationship once and for all. “Listen Dad, some funny things have been happening lately. I need your take on it.”
I then proceed to fill him in on the note, the blanket, Molly’s connection with the Delany family, and the fact that Robert Delany is Candace’s brother and we didn’t know anything about it. He knows bits and pieces of the story behind the note, but when I put it all out there in one conversation it sounds outrageous. Jesus, this all seems so messed up. I finish up and the line goes silent, all expect for a low whistle coming from my dad’s end of the phone.
“Wow. Tatum, those Delany’s… they are dangerous. Very. Dangerous.”
“I know dad. I don’t know what to think. You think the note and blanket were from him?”
“I do. I think you and Molly both need to lay low for a few days while I have some people look in to this.”
“I would say you are right, but Molly has a wedding shoot this weekend for a Delany boy. Rob will be there, as he is the cousin of the groom.”
“Don’t do it, Tatum. Don’t let her go.”
“Believe me, Dad. I’ve tried. We settled on me being by her side the whole time.”
“Then don’t let her out of your sight, and I mean it. I’ll contact you soon.” And with that he hangs up. Well shit, when my dad’s that worried I know this is big. It feel like he’s holding out information, though. Like he knows more than he’s letting on. Whatever’s the case, I now have my dad and all of his powers on my side, helping me get to the bottom of yet another fucking revenge escapade.
13
Molly
Tomorrow’s the big day. Well, the first of three big days. Rob kept us on as photographers, but he isn’t happy about it. He only stops in the studio when he knows for a fact Tatum isn’t there which is really unnerving, and he’s been getting way too close for comfort these last few times. Luckily there are only four more days of dealing with him and his crazy family until I’m free from all of their drama. The money will be nice, but I’ll be happy when this is all over and we can continue unpacking the boxes that are taking over my house. Everything had to go on hold when the wedding was moved up, so we still have two rooms that are full of boxes from his place in Texas and my leftovers from my parents in Washington.
Tatum said he had a few errands to run before the places he needs to go close for the day, so he’s been gone about an hour now. I don’t know where he went, I don’t know when to expect him back, but I do know that the quiet it nice. I sit down at my desk, everything prepared for the wedding this weekend, and sigh. Man these past few months have been hard, and this last weekend really put a damper on my spirits. Before I know what I’m doing, I’m pulling up the pictures on my computer that I’ve cried over many times. Going through, I delete every picture of Brian that I have. He’s a part of my past I’d rather not remember. What I don’t delete, though, are Alice’s memories. I scroll through dozens of times, looking at myself before tragedy struck. I looked so happy, so naive. Would I trade any of what happened, though? If I could have kept everything as it was, would I have really wanted that? Brian’s a drug lord, for Christ’s sake. He was never the man I thought he was. Was raising a child in those circumstances a good idea? And if things hadn’t played out like they did I would never have met Tatum. I’m not sure if I like the sound of that. There are no tears as I close out of the file I’ve double clicked on hundreds of times in the last five years. Just perfect clarity. I wouldn’t change a thing. I’m broken, but I am still able to love. Tatum loves me for me, no exceptions. He does ugly business for his father, but he doesn’t hide it. I’m sure if I asked him he would tell me just exactly what he does… but I don’t want to ask. I trust him. I trust him more than I ever trusted Brian. I love him more than I ever thought I loved Brian.
I feel like a new person, sitting at the same desk I’ve sat at for years. I have a wonderful boyfriend, a strong job, and a livelihood to take care of myself if I ended up alone. Let’s face it though, I’d rather not have to.
Tatum walks back in shortly after my revelation. He’s all smiles, and in the most playful mood I’ve seen him in in a while.
“Why are you so giddy, mister?” I ask, laughing as he nuzzles into my neck.
“Oh nothing. No biggie. I’m just so awesome and it makes me happy.” He said, his arms reaching around me, grabbing my ass, and lifting to sit me on my desk.
“MM, yes. You’re pretty smug aren’t you?” I smile at him. He runs his hands up and down my arms for a moment then pauses. As quickly as I’ve ever seen him move, he runs to the front door, locks it, and he’s back in front of me, wrapping my legs around him. I can’t stop laughing at the ridiculousness of all of this. I like playful Tatum.
“Now. Where was I?” He groans as I reached down and started massaging him. God this man. I’ll never get used to how quickly his body responds to being around me. Already ready to go, he groans into my neck as he places tiny bites all the way down my shoulder. I’m starting to like the hot weather we’ve been having recently, it means less clothing between us. I keep friction between us best as I can as he strips me of my tiny bits of clothing. Suddenly I have an amazing idea.
“Well, mister. Looks like you have a few articles of clothing left to loose. I’ll just…leave you to that. You can come find me when you are ready.” And just like that, I take off through my studio, sans clothing, towards the darkroom.
I hear him laughing behind me as I run, trying to get there before he catches me. I go through the revolving door and into the room. The lights are off, there’s no way he’s going to find the light switch either. I know this room so well I can maneuver my way around without any help from light. Tatum will have to rely on his sense of touch, something I’m looking very forward to.
I hear the door turn, knowing he is just a few feet away from finding me. I’ve never run from him before and my nerves are on high alert right now. While I know my way around the room, I can’t see worth a damn where he is. He could be right in front of me and I wouldn’t know it.
“I know you came in here, Molly. There is no escaping me, you know.” His voice is deep, almost growling. He’s a little to my right, so I can tell he’s following the walls to find me. I’m not going anywhere, though, perched on the counter waiting for him.
“Guess you’ll just have to catch me, then, Mr. Savage.”
“Mmm... I like the sound of that,” he says, his voice growing nearer.
Almost as soon as he finishes talking I feel him. His hand reaches my knee
and starts caressing. Up and down. Then there’s nothing. I want to reach out and grab him, but I don’t. I’m giving him full control and he knows it.
I’m not sitting very ladylike, but in a perfect position for him to taste me without having to move my legs at all, and that’s exactly what he does. The man knows what he was doing, I’ll give him that. I finally move my hands to his hair just to have something to hold on to as I ride out the first explosion. He begins kissing a trail up my body, nipping and sucking on my nipples when he make it to them. I’m breathless, and each nip brings more and more need to have him inside me.
“God I love these,” he says, squeezing them with both hands and kissing them loudly before moving on to other parts of me. It’s wonderful only having a sense of touch to rely on. Never would he have been this thorough in the light of the bedroom, but in the dark he’s making sure there isn’t an inch of me he misses. His kisses keep creeping up until he makes it to my mouth. Finally I’m able to kiss him back, show him how much I’ve been wanting him.
“Jesus Molly, it’s been less than a week since I’ve tasted you, but fuck if it didn’t feel like a lifetime. I can’t go without you, that’s too fucking good.”
I smile, my words turning into a moan as he glides into me with ease.
“Oh fuck, baby. It’s like we’re fucking built for each other you fit so perfectly around me.” He’s deliberately slow in his retreat. The pressure and pace of it is killing me, I don’t know how he’s holding off so well. Once he’s fully inside me again his forehead rests on mine and his hands come to rest around my head.
“Jesus Molly, I love you so fucking much.”
“I love you too, baby.” The sudden change of pace makes me gasp as he quickens his movements. This is the Tatum I was looking forward to. This is exactly what I wanted. He is exactly what I want.
Tatum
When she ran from me I was more shocked than anything. Then when she didn’t come back I knew she meant it and the hunt was on. God it was so fucking hot finding her perched on the counter like that, in a pitch dark room where all I could do to find her was explore every part of her. Jesus just thinking about it is making me need to adjust my pants.
