Natalie’s smirk faded, and she sat down next to me.

“I’m sorry he hurt you. I want to kill him for doing that.”

I kicked my foot out, staring at the pink polish on my toes.

“I think a part of me wonders what Ben would think about all of this, too. If he would be ashamed because I gave up on Gray so easily.”

Nat was quiet for a long moment.

“Obviously I never met your brother, but I feel like I’ve gotten a pretty good idea of who he was from what you’ve told me. And the kind of guy who loves his sister like that…he’d never be okay with a man treating her badly—his best friend or not.”

I opened my mouth to object. To say that maybe I hadn’t taken enough time to listen to Gray. Maybe he needed help with a drinking problem, and I’d turned my back on him when he needed me the most. Maybe I hadn’t been a good enough girlfriend…

It was like she could read my mind.

“You arenotresponsible for a man’s bad behavior, Casey. Now repeat that for me, right the fuck now.”

“I am not responsible for a man’s bad behavior,” I repeated obediently.

“Good girl,” she said, giving me a high five. “Now, get off this bed and start getting ready. We have a party and more orgasms to get to. Emphasis on themore orgasms, of course.”

I bit down on my lip, trying not to think about Parker’s capacity to give memoreorgasms.

It was a losing endeavor, though.

So, I got ready for the party.

Nat opened the door, barely getting out a “Hey” before Parker brushed past her, his eyes zeroed in on me like he couldn’t see anything else. In two strides, he was there, his hands sliding around my waist as he pulled me in, his mouth on mine before Icould even blink. He kissed me like he’d been holding his breath the entire time we’d been apart, and I melted, my hands gripping his shoulders, the world narrowing to the taste of him, and the feel of his heartbeat pounding against me.

We stayed like that until Nat began clearing her throat…loudly. Parker pulled back just enough to look at me, his lips curving into that irresistible smirk. “You look amazing by the way.” His hand lingered at my waist, fingers brushing the fabric like he couldn’t stand not touching me. Nat and I had decided to stay in our jerseys and mini skirts, and judging by the way Parker was looking at me—like he wanted to eat me—he was very happy about that decision.

“Don’t mind me,” Nat muttered across the room. “I’ll just be over here wishing it wasn’t socially unacceptable for me to pull out my vibrator right now. The two of you are HOT!”

Parker scoffed, and I laughed, but neither of us looked at her. We were both trapped in our own little world, a world I still didn’t understand how I’d ended up in.

“I don’t want to go,” he growled. “I just want to take you away and keep you to myself. Everyone is going to be looking at you.” He kissed me again like it was impossible to stop.

“No, sir,” Nat interjected. “Our girl is going to this party, and you are going to show her a good time.”

“Ourgirl?” he asked, a weird, silkily dangerous undertone to his voice.

Nat gulped dramatically. “Sorry, sir…Daddy. I meant—your girl. Definitelyyourgirl.”

I started laughing, and I couldn’t stop. Tears were streaming down my face as I bent over. When I finally stood up, Parker was staring at me…that awestruck look that I’d never understand there in his gaze.

“What?” I asked, wiping at my face and suddenly feeling self-conscious.

“I love the sound of your laugh, baby,” he murmured, and I flushed, because the way he said that sounded so…intimate. Like we were tangled together in bed.

Or maybe that was just wishful thinking…

Nat cleared her throat loudly. “Unless you want me to combust spontaneously into flames because of the sexual energy the two of you are giving off right now…you should probably go. But don’t worry, I’m happy to report she does not have a curfew. So feel free to keep her out as late as you want.” She grinned almost evilly. “And I do mean as late as you want.”

Parker looked faintly amused, and he sighed dramatically. “If we must,” he groaned, giving me one more kiss before he took my hand and started to lead me out of the room.

“Are you coming with us?” I asked, pulling on Parker’s hand so he would stop.

Nat grinned and did a little shimmy, holding up her phone. “Hunter just texted me that he wants…a littletreatbefore the party,” she said, her eyes gleaming. “So, I’ll meet you there.”