She’s made some good points, but it doesn’t change how I feel. My father may love me, but it’s not in the way a child needs. He loves the idea of me. The perfect son he wants to have standing by his side as he runs for President of the United States. I don’t want to be portrayed as something I don’t feel I am. I’d feel like nothing more than a fraud. Pretending to be someone people should respect and look up to when the reality of it is I’d be just another rich kid who got to where he is because of his father’s influence and money.
“I want to support you and this baby on money I earn myself. Not with money that came from my father. So I’ve made the decision to enlist in the military. I got my paperwork for boot camp in San Antonio, Texas. I leave at the end of June.”
Becca stiffens against me as my words hit her. “Oh. Wow. That is really soon. So it’s a done deal then? You’re officially in the Air Force now?”
Hearing the words Air Force leave her lips, my suspicions are confirmed.
She already knows.
Chapter Twelve
Even though I knew it was coming it didn’t make the moment I learned that without a doubt Parker is going into the military any easier. I swear my heart froze in my chest before becoming lodged into my throat. I have no idea how I found my voice to speak, but the second I said the words ‘Air Force’ I felt Parker’s entire body tense up.
It was all by accident and even though I wanted so many times to ask him about it, I did my best to bite my tongue and give him the time he needed to tell me. I’m glad I did because I think waiting until our last day was perfect. It gave us time together to enjoy our vacation, gave me time to tell him about the baby and then finally the right time to tackle where we go from here.
Since I have two days until classes start, I decided to fly back to Charlotte with the guys. I want to be there with Parker when he tells his parents.
I know he's not as close to his parents as I am with mine. He won't admit it to me, but I can tell he's scared to break this kind of life changing news to them.
We're walking around downtown Charlotte right now doing some sightseeing as we try to kill time until our dinner at his father's house. There's a light drizzle so I'm wearing a pair of skinny jeans, an oversized sweater and combat boots with cute knitted leg warmers.
I have a love hate relationship with the bipolar weather we've had lately. On one hand I love being a beach bum lounging on the beach, then on the other hand I love wearing jeans or yoga pants and cute oversized sweaters. I know as I start to show in going to have to rearrange my closet as I try to find room for my maternity clothes.
As we pass a jewelry shop window Parker stops suddenly glancing down at me before looking back into the window.
"I just had a really crazy idea, "he says, beaming ear to ear with a mischievous glimmer sparkling in his eyes.
I squeeze his hand and look at the sign that says 'The widest selection of awe-inspiring engaging rings for the one you love' and find my legs suddenly growing weak beneath me.
"You better not be thinking what I think you're thinking," My voice is shaky as I fight to get my words out. My mouth suddenly feels like the Sahara Desert just emptied all of its sand straight into my mouth.
His smile only grows wider.
"We already have a baby on the way. I love you—you love me…what would be so crazy about us getting married?"
I choke on the spit I was trying to swallow and cough as I bring my hand to my chest. "Excuse me?! Did you day married? Holy hell, Parker! I was thinking engaged, but you want to skip step one and jump straight to the freaking alter?!"
I think I may pass out.
This is a lot to process right now.
Taking my hand into his he pulls me against his chest and I find my legs turning to Jell-O as I lock eyes with him. With just the slightest glance he always takes my breath away and makes butterflies flutter frantically in my belly.
"If we were to get married you'd be able to come with me where the Air Force sends me. Also if anything were to happen to me, I'd know you and our baby would be taken care of."
My mouth grows slack and my eyes get as big as saucers as tears well up in my eyes causing his beautiful face to become blurry. "Please don't talk that. You will always come back to me no matter where the hell they send you. Not coming back isn't an option for us, Parker."
With his free hand he cups my chin and tilts my head up towards his lips that are moving slowly towards mine. "You're right. I'm sorry, baby. I'll never mention it again—as long you say yes. Please, will you be my wife? Make me the happiest man on the planet twice in one week and marry me. I want you and our baby to carry my name."
Before I can answer his lips gently and lovingly collide with mine. We're standing in the middle of a busy street, but the only people he or I see is one another.
I melt into his embrace as his arm wraps around me hugging me to his chest. I moan softly into his mouth as he deepens our kiss and slips his tongue into my mouth. My girly parts tighten with need as he fucks my mouth with his kiss like he would me with his dick. Slowly, passionately and exploding with the sensation of overwhelming love.
Finally we break our kiss as we begin to hear cat calls from people passing by.
Laughing, I blush with embarrassment as I look around and see people glancing at us with knowing smiles on their faces.
Looking up at Parker I reach for his hands and lace my fingers with his as a small smile dances across my lips. "What the hell...let's get married. If we're going to kill our parents with the news of a baby—we might as well go all in and tell them we're getting married too."
"Woohoo!" Parker cheers as he bursts with excitement in front of me. His excitement is contagious and I find myself squealing like a kid on Christmas as I leap into his arms. "Now let's go make this official and go get you a ring. What do you say?"
Pressing a kiss to his cheek ignoring the scratchy stubble poking my lips I answer him with one-hundred-percent honesty. "Let's go find me a ring."
An hour later we're stumbling through the door of Parker's apartment. As he crashes my body against the now closed front door and attacks my neck with his lips, tongue and teeth, I hold my hand out and stare at my two carat tear drop shaped chocolate diamond engagement ring.
I'm shocked, elated, terrified and so in love with him. Everything is happening so fast and neither of us know where our lives are going to go from here. But I have faith in us and in our love that we'll make it through anything.
I let my purse fall from my right hand with a thud on the floor and bring my hands to Parker's leather jacket, pulling it down off of his shoulders. Within seconds it's falling to the floor followed by my sweater as Parker fists it and quickly slips it over my head, tossing it onto the hardwood floor.
We toe off our boots as our hands get to work on the rest of our clothing.
"God I need to be inside if you something fierce, Darlin'." He whispers into my ear as his fingers get to work unbuttoning my jeans as so mine with his.
"Then what are you waiting for?" I ask seductively before letting out a loud shriek as his hands rip my pants down and then in one quick move tosses me over his shoulder and yanks them the rest of the way off.
I glance around his apartment trying to take it all in as he walks past a small contemporary looking kitchen and living room that are attached with an open floor plan that leads into a small bedroom.
Before I can see much of the bedroom I’m being set down into bed and having Parker, who in one impressive move removes his jeans and briefs, climbing over me.
His lips make a scorching hot trail across my thighs as they work their way up to my cotton and lace panties that say ‘love pink’ across my butt.
He fingers the waist of my panties and slowly slides them down my legs before letting them fall to floor.
"I love every inch of you, baby. From these perfect legs..." He murmurs as he continues to suck and bite at my thighs. His mouth works its way to my belly, where he d
ips his tongue into my belly button tugging on my tiny belly ring, "to this perfect belly that holds the world's most beautiful baby on the face of the earth.” His mouth begins its exploration of my body once again as it starts to make its way up to my breasts. "I especially love your tits—I could suck on them all day and never grow tired."
I drag my nails along his back as his mouth moves to my shoulder. His tongue begins sliding along my collarbone driving me absolutely crazy. My body is aching to be fucked but he's enjoying tasting me like a fucking appetizer at a goddam restaurant.
I grind my hips against his erection that's pressed perfectly against my mound teasing my clit. "You're driving me crazy...God I feel like I'm going to die if you don't fuck me right now."
I feel him laugh against my neck causing his body to shake and his large, velvety cock to press deliciously against me, making a moan of pleasure to leave my lips. I tilt my head back and wrap my legs around his waist as I relish in the feeling of him rocking his hips into me, pressing against my clit just the way I need him too.
"I love the sound you make as you chase your release.” He says into my ear with his voice deep and raspy as he grinds into me harder and drags his tongue across my ear.
"Aahhhh...." I scream out as my body tightens then quakes against Parker as I feel him move slightly adjusting the head of his dick at my entrance. With one hard thrust he slips inside of me filling me with everything he has causing more screams of ecstasy to fly from my lips.
Propping himself into his elbows he presses kisses to the inside of my left wrist before slowly tracing the arrow tattooed on my wrist with his tongue. His hips rock at a perfect rhythm pushing me towards to edge of ecstasy once again.
I get lost in his eyes as he gazes down into mine watching my face as I cling to him in desperation for another orgasm. The intensity in his deep brown eyes makes my body feel weightless as I melt into him. It's as if our bodies are blending into one as we inch closer and closer to the earth shattering orgasm we both crave.
I lick my lips in anticipation of his kiss as I watch his mouth move closer to mine.
His left hand comes down to cup my ass tilting me slightly off of the bed as his other hand slides into my hair gently fisting it as his lips connect with mine once again.
I tilt my head as kiss him back just as fiercely and rock my hips at a quickening pace as moans and cries of pleasure vibrate against his lips.
I feel his fingers tighten in my hair and against my ass as his legs flex and his thrusts grow harder and more animalistic. He's close and I'm ready to fly right alongside him.
I break my lips away from his and tip my head back screaming, "Oh God...Oh God...ohhhmygawd...." As an intense orgasm rocks me to my very core.
I feel him shudder against me as he has his own release filling me with his cum as I milk his cock taking every last drop he has to give.
"Fuck..." He groans out as he slows down his thrusts and buries his face in the crook of my neck.
After a few moments he pulls out of my as he presses a chaste kiss to my lips. "How about a quick shower?"
I nod my head yes and climb off if the bed following him into the small en-suite. As I look around his apartment I find myself wondering what our place will look like when we finally get a home if our own.
It's a nice distraction thinking about the future instead of dwelling on the world's most awkward dinner I'm about to attend.
Chapter Thirteen
My entire body is twisted up in knots as I find myself walking into the grand estate owned by Christopher Maclaren. My hands are shaking so badly as I enter the foyer after being led in by a young and beautiful brunette who I’m guessing is wife number three. Her hair is pulled back in a sleek pony tail and she’s wearing a cocktail dress with black peep toe heels and a wrist full of diamond tennis bracelets. The most eye catching thing on her though is the massive princess cut rock resting on her ring finger.
How the hell is she able to hold her hand up all day?
I’d be tilted sideways dragging my knuckles on the ground like a freaking gorilla if I was hauling that kind of ice around. I’d also be scared to go out in public for the sheer fact that some crazy ass person would jump me to steal the damn rock off of my finger to pawn. It has to be worth twenty times what I make working at Starbucks back in Athens!
“You must be Becca! I’m Clarissa, Parker’s step mother. It’s so nice to finally meet you. Parker has gone on and on about you for months now. I’m so glad you were able to come for a visit even if it’s a short one.” Sticking her hand out, she flashes me a genuine smile as I take her hand and shake it slightly.
“It’s nice to meet you, too. It was an unexpected trip, but I’m thrilled to be here nonetheless. I’m excited to finally meet everyone.”
Parker brings his hand to rest at the small of my back as we follow the new Mrs. Maclaren into the family room that’s to the left of the foyer. All of the furniture looks to be antique, dated around the Colonial Era, with the décor just the same as expensive looking rugs adorn the hardwood floors and art work embellish the walls.
Not long after we’re seated and offered something to drink, Christopher enters the room. I know immediately that it’s him because he’s the spitting image of Parker, only he is a little more built and has specks of silver along his temples. He’s clean shaven with his hair combed to the side in a President Kennedy style cut. He looks handsome, but his face looks serious. I doubt the man spends much time smiling in his line of work. That is unless he’s out on the golf course smoking fancy cigars and sipping scotch with his golf buddies.
I know his type very well. My father is an attorney back home and is friends with quite a few Politicians from the Deep South. They like having an attorney in their back pocket for any little life altering situation that arises. The last thing guys like Mr. Maclaren want is a scandal getting out to the public tarnishing their perfect image.
I jump to my feet and smooth out my J. Crew pale pink cotton dress and adjust my black cardigan nervously as he approaches us. A forced smile greets us as does a stern handshake. It’s far from soft and welcoming like his wife’s. “Why, you must be Becca. It’s nice to finally meet you. As I’m sure you’re aware, I’m Parker’s father.”
A nervous smile cracks across my lips as I swallow down a lump in my throat and try to push back the wave of nausea that hits me as the stench of scotch and stale cigars rolls off of him and straight up my nose.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Maclaren.”
“Please, call me Christopher. Dinner is ready if you would all like to follow me into the dining room.” Christopher falls into step beside me as we make our way through the house that is more like a crazy ass maze. “Parker tells me you attend the University of Georgia. That’s a very nice school. What’s your major again?”
I glance up at him before turning my focus back to the back of his wife’s head. “I’m majoring in American History with a minor in Art.”
“Very interesting major,” is all he says before turning to Parker and asking him about his upcoming graduation and discussing plans for a party to celebrate not only him graduating college but also enlisting into the Air Force.
I can’t help but feel as if his father doesn’t see me as being good enough for his son. I’m on the Dean’s list and looking to graduate at the top of my class alongside Ashlynn if the next two years go as well as these last two.
Moments later we’re being seated around the table. I’ve done well to hide my hand from everyone so far as I wait for Parker to give me the okay to reveal one of our surprises. I’m now a hundred times more nervous to tell his father, because I can tell by his body language and his tone that he thinks Parker can do better.
Med school or law school better by the way he looked when I told him I was a History major.
The beginning of dinner runs smoothly as we’re served a small salad and a glass of water. We’re offered wine by his father’s personal chef who’s cooking for us tonight.
I try to tell them I’m only twenty and shouldn’t drink but that didn’t go over well. So now I’m sitting her thirsty as all hell and pretending to sip wine to try and hide the fact that I’m pregnant until we at least get through our main course.
As the smell of red meat engulfs the room I feel my stomach flip flop and a cold sweat to break out across my body.
The chef with a look of pride on his face sets down the plate filled with prime rib, twice baked potato and asparagus.
Since discovering that I’m pregnant red meat and me are no longer friends. Chicken I can handle but steak…nope. Not unless I want to barf my brains out after the first bite.
The sound of Christopher’s voice saying my name snaps me out of my daze. I glance up at him as I fight the urge to get sick. “Sorry. What was that?” I ask as I smile at him down the table.
He lets out a light chuckle, “You looked to be lost in thought just now. I said I hope you’re not a vegetarian and Parker here failed to mention it to us.”
I give him a questionable look before turning my attention to Parker. “No I’m not a vegetarian. Why do you ask?”
“Well, my dear. You are leaking a little peaked around the ears since Ricardo set your plate down in front of you. Are you ill?”
I bring my hand to my mouth as another wave of nausea hits me. By the look on everyone’s faces it dawns on me that I just covered my mouth with my left hand.
“Is that what I think it is, Parker?” his father snaps at him as he pushes away from the table and tosses his napkin beside his plate. At the same time I jump to my feet and look to Clarissa with panic in my eyes as I watch Parker unfold from his chair and begin speaking to his father.
Tan Lines and Salty Kisses Page 6
