Page 47 of Wish You Would

“So you see what I mean.” I cleared my throat, trying to dispel the cobwebs of desire. “You'll know if—”

Parker’s lips on mine killed the rest of my sentence, soft and barely there. I froze, and in the space of a millisecond, two choices played out before me. I could—should—step back, put distance between us. Gently let her down, tuck her into her car, and watch her drive away.

Or I could pull her in, I could kiss her back, consequences be damned.

Yeah. That one.

Dropping my keys to the pavement, I grabbed her waist and pulled her closer. And Parker, perfect, pretty Parker, leaned right in. Her gasp was as sweet as maple syrup and I savored it, tracing my tongue along her bottom lip. She gasped again, opening her mouth against mine, inviting me in. The moment her tongue brushed over mine, tentative at first, then with fervor, I had to grip her soft waist tight to keep from melting at her feet.

Reaching up, Parker pushed her hands into my hair, her cool fingers along my scalp sending shivers over my entire body. I felt her smile against my mouth and I nipped her bottom lip, earning a whimper so soft, so sexy that I vowed right then and there to wring as many of those sounds out of her as I could.

Starting now.

Pulling my mouth from hers, I dropped kisses along her jaw until I reached the spot below her ear. Her scent, strawberries and sugar, permeated my senses. “Mmm,” I murmured, taking her earlobe between my teeth.

The tremble that coursed through her was addictive. I scraped my teeth along the column of her neck. Her fingers dug into my shoulders as she shivered again. Images of tangled limbs and white sheets flashed through my mind, her body against mine as I made her shiver and shake over and over and—

“I think,” Parker gasped, her fingers fisting in my hair as I kissed my way back to her mouth, “that this is a very good sign.”

Her words cut through the fog surrounding us. This isn’t real, my mind whispered. This time tomorrow, she’ll be on a date with someone else.

I froze, my lips hovering over hers. We were both panting, her fingers were still tangled in my hair, but the spell had been broken. With one last steadying breath, I stepped back. Wide-eyed, I looked at her. Flushed and decadent, waiting for me to pull her close again, to kiss her into oblivion.

Or, maybe to kiss me into oblivion.

I shook my head, words lost to me. Logic lost to me. Everything in me wanted this. Wanted her.

She was not mine to have.

The thought pierced through the lust like a flaming arrow. “Parker,” I started, putting my fingertips to my still-damp lips. “I…I’m sorry. I…” I trailed off, thoughts in a lust-hazy tailspin.

Not mine, not mine, not mine, my heartbeat echoed as I took another step back. Sucking in a bracing breath, I backed up, picked my keys up from the pavement, and forced the next words from my lips:

“I have to go.”

20

20 PARKER

IRONIC

I have to go.

I squeezed my eyes shut and pulled my pillow over my head. Light crept into my bedroom window, signaling a new day, but I was not ready to face it. In fact, I was still firmly planted in yesterday.

Or, rather, early this morning.

I have to go.

Gigi’s words echoed long after she got into her car and sped off. I’d stood there in the parking lot for a few minutes after she’d gone, whiplashed. I could still feel the burn of her hands on my waist, still taste her kiss. But…she was gone.

Why was she gone?

It was a question I still didn’t have an answer to in the new light of day.

In the moment, we seemed to be on the same wavelength. Both lost to the same crash of desire. But something happened, at least in Gigi’s mind, that caused her to pull away. I wished I knew what.

Kicking my blankets away from my feet, I sat up. Across the room, Wilbur basked in a buttery ray of sunshine, oblivious to his mother’s turmoil. I watched him for a moment, envious of his little life. No angst, no drama. No earth-shattering kisses followed by sleepless nights.

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