Page 57 of It Never Was

"God, I mis-sed you, Rye." He is lifting me on the only open table in the lobby. "Did you mis-ss be baby?" His mouth ghosts the skin at the crook of my neck, bile rises, the acid burning my throat as I try to settle it down.

"Devon, off." I try to stay calm.

I don't want to egg him on, "This isn't talking, stop." I push his arms. In his drunken state I am able to work him off me enough to allow myself to breathe. All my strength is in use to not let him fall over.

"Rye, baby-y." He grabs a strand of hair that was tousled out of place, rubbing it between his fingers. "I just want a tas-ste." He brings his face close to mine. "Let me taste y-you." his hand is at the back of my neck gripping tightly. The wince I let out causes a lazy grin to form.

Stop. Don't react.

I try to mask the sting of his fingertips.

I close my eyes so he can't feed off the fear I know is in them.

"Look at—"

Before his words can finish, I hear a grunt leave his lips. My eyes snap open to see a strong hand wrapped around Devon's throat. My eyes widen, and he is thrown off of me, his body hits the floor as he slides further.

Parker's eyes quickly survey me, assessing if I am hurt or not. I am still wide eyed as I watch him.

"Who the fuck are you? And why do you think you have the right to touch her?" Parker's head snaps to Devon, his voice sharp.

"W-who the f-fuck are y-you?" Devon's words are slurred as he rubs his throat, scrambling to get to his feet but too drunk to find balance.

Parker's face is stone, the look he is giving Devon makes goosebumps erupt down my spine, he looks lethal. Not like the man that was just making cinnamon rolls in the kitchen, or the man who waits for me in the parking lot. This man in front of me was completely different.

He doesn't answer Devon's question, but silently waits for his own question to be answered.

"I'm her boyfriend-d, you motherfucker-er" he spits the words at Parker, finally finding his footing, my breath catches in my throat.

I glance a look at Parker, his jaw flexes as he absorbs that information.

Devon takes a staggered step towards us, Parker steps in front of me in response, shielding me from Devon. I peer around Parker's strong arms to see Devon's face. I instantly regret it, his eyes lock with mine and they transform into anger, into the evil tunnel he loses himself in. The tell-tale sign that I will be punished for this, that I will have to learn my lesson.

"Boyfriend doesn't give you the right to put your hands on her like that." Parker's voice is steady, but that sharpness is still there.

The words ring in my ears. Boyfriend.

Devon drags his eyes to Parker, his grin never faltering. Devon throws daggers Parker's way. Each one laced with poison, the kind that always brings me to my knees. I start to fidget my fingers aimlessly, every nerve ending on high alert.

My breath picks up, not only for my own safety but for Parkers. I know what Devon is capable of, his anger gets the best of him.

Memories flash in front of my eyes.

My mind starts to lean into the dark fog, the memory of his hands on me seeps in.

Their eyes are on each other for what seems like forever, before Parker breaks away first, only to look at me. His eyes soften as I gaze up at him, like he knew the torment I was going through, and he was trying to ease my mind. The small gesture slowly drains away the fog, I feel my shoulders relax a bit.

How did he do that?

"Are you? My boyfriend?" I blurt out, the shield Parker is offering me brings me the strength I need to say the words.

My focus shifts back to Devon, while Parker is still watching me.

"What?" he states, his lips forming a tight straight line, "Why wouldn't I be?" he asks like he doesn't truly know the answer.

He knows.

I can sense the shift in the room, the air is growing thick. "You-u saying this because of him?" He gives a harsh point to Parker. "You been fuck-king around behind my back Ryen?" Devon doesn't hesitate before he is making his way around Parker to grab my wrist. Squeezing my eyes shut, I brace myself for his touch, for pain.

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