Our eyes lock and I see all the pain and desperation in them, and it makes my heart ache. We’ve both been so lost without each other, and I’ve been spiraling too much in my own damn head to see how it’s affecting him. Tears form in my eyes as we make love to one another. It’s slow and intimate, both of us baring ourselves to the other, sharing so much more than we have in the past month.
When the pleasure starts to build my cries grow desperate. “I’ve got you.” With his next thrust, he grinds his pelvis against my clit and I come. I’ve been so stressed without him that my orgasm seems to last forever.
“Open your eyes, beautiful.” Prying my eyes back open, they lock with his. “I love you,” he grinds through clenched teeth and then with one last thrust, he buries himself in me, moaning his release.
We lay in silence for several moments listening to the sound of each other’s breathing. The mattress dips as Tanner rolls off of me and onto his side. While what just happened between us doesn’t fix anything, I feel like things are changing.
He reaches over and gently wipes stray tears away from my face. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, sounding broken. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.” When I shake my head at him, he looks confused.
Rolling to my side so we’re face to face, I cup his jaw with my hand. “It’s not all your fault,” I sniff, rubbing my thumb through his scruff. “I could do more. I just don’t know how to fix it.”
"No," he replies. "This is all on me." He scans my face, his jaw working as he thinks. He swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat. “Mr. Hammer offered me a promotion.” He whispers the words slowly, almost like it pains him. Is this what he’s been holding back from me? Fighting the urge to respond, I continue to stroke his jaw offering my support. “It all depends on this project and things are going to shit.”
I sit up, leaning over him, my long hair dangling over my shoulder. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I breathe. His eyes shutter closed as he sucks in a ragged breath.
“There’s so much going on that I didn’t want you worrying about one more thing. I thought I could keep my head down and get this promotion that could change our lives,” his hand strokes through my hair. “But things are getting out of hand.”
It kills me that he wouldn’t share any of this with me. “You shouldn’t have to deal with it alone. We’re partners, remember? We share the load, no matter what it is.” Closing his eyes, he nods. “I love you, you know that?” I place my lips on his and breathe him in. His lips are soft and gentle against mine. It’s not a kiss meant to devour, it’s a kiss to seal an understanding. It’s the bridge we need to get back to one another. When we separate, I settle against his chest, both of us quietly enjoying each other’s company.
Are we fixed yet? No, but we’ve started down the road to healing the wounds we’ve ripped open the past month. I understand why Tanner kept these things from me, but at the same time, I want to be there to help him. I meant what I said, we share the load together. A cart doesn’t work with a broken wheel, and we’ve had a broken wheel for some time now.
My stomach lets out a loud grumble of complaint cutting through my quiet thoughts and Tanner chuckles. “We never did eat dinner, did we?” He hooks his arms around my waist and rolls on top of me, pinning me with his weight. “Why don’t you take a shower and I’ll get dinner ready?” He leans down and kisses me.
“Hmm,” I moan against his lips. “What were you making?” My hands link together around his back, holding him in place against me.
“Me? I wasn’t cooking anything.” His eyes sparkle as a mischievous grin sliding across his face. “There’s takeout in the fridge,” he chuckles. “I was trying to find a pan so I could put it in the oven.” Quick as lightning, he kisses the tip of my nose and jumps out of bed pulling on boxer briefs before walking down the hallway, presumably to get dinner started. Or warmed up, I guess.
Finally, I’m beginning to feel like we’re getting back to the way we’re supposed to be.
Chapter 8
Tanner
Back here again and I stick out like a sore thumb.
It wasn’t all that hard of a decision when I compared a promotion to my relationship. No matter what, Kate comes first, and if I have learned anything from this shitstorm it’s that I need to focus on what really matters.
Without question, it’s her.
Kate was right, I need to share with her all the things I’m dealing with. Whether I want them to or not, it affects her. Our relationship. Our life together.
Which is why I’m back at Hammer and Stein headquarters with an appointment to meet with the big boss. Everything here is all polished and pristine, a far cry from dusty, dangerous job sites.
Offices are not my place. Mel might thrive working in that fancy high-rise answering phones and shit, but it feels like a coffin to me. People walk past me, their polished shoes clacking on the marble floors doing their best to ignore me. There’s no laughter or shared comradery anywhere. I’d take the job site over this any day.
“Mr. Williams?” A small middle-aged woman in a pantsuit stops in front of me. Her face is kind and she smiles softly.
Clearing my throat, I nod. “Yeah.” Pushing myself out of the leather chair with a creak, I tower over the small woman.
“Mr. Hammer is ready to see you now. Follow me.” She waves me forward with a flick of her hand and escorts me to the corner office, stopping to quickly tap on the door before opening it. “Mr. Williams is here for you.”
“Let him in.” Mr. Hammer’s booming voice calls out from inside his office. The small woman holds the door open for me with a tight smile as I step past her and into my boss’s office.
Mr. Hammer sits behind a massive desk, shirtsleeves rolled up while he examines what looks like blueprints. “Tanner, please come in.” He glances at the open chairs in front of his desk, and I tentatively take a seat.
“So,” he starts, shuffling the papers to the side, “How’s everything going with the job?” The last time he stopped by it was an absolute mess, but things have made a more positive turn in the past several weeks.
“We’re getting back on schedule. The floors are being laid in the units as we speak.” It was the last of the delayed shipment and I have guys pulling overtime to get everything done.
