Page 32 of Happenstance
He was the perfect flower in a clutch of daisies.
“Have you felt it move yet?” Parker’s gaze dropped down to my stomach, and the hand he had laid across it.
All I could do was shake my head in response. The way he was staring at me, with this revered adoration, had me completely stunned. Parker didn’t just want this baby, he already loved it. I was too afraid of who had put this child in me, that I couldn’t even bring myself to touch my stomach, and he was ready to give everything he had for it. What kind of person did that make me?
I swallowed and guiltily whispered, “I almost got rid of it.”
The appointment was made. I was at the clinic, sitting on the exam table, dressed in one of their gowns, and I left. I still don’t know what made me walk out. Maybe it was the hurt and anger I expected to see when Parker’s gaze snapped up to mine. But that’s not what I got. All I saw when I looked into his eyes, was compassion.
“It’s okay, baby, you were probably scared.” He tipped his head and grazed the pad of his thumb over my bottom lip. “But you don’t have to be scared anymore. You’re mine now. I got you.”
“I’m not yours,” I snarled, shoving him back.
Admittedly my reaction might’ve been a little overkill, but I didn’t like what he was saying, or how it made me feel. All tingly and terrified at the same time.
Within a second, the energy in the room shifted. Parker flattened his hard body against mine, and glared down at me with darkness in his eyes.
“Lie to yourself all you want, Angel, but you’re mine.”
This time, when my body twitched, it wasn’t because of some tempting desire. It was because of the coldness of his stare. A dark, violent glint, just like Preston.
“You remember what that feels like, to be mine, don’t you, Angel?” his voice grated his chosen pet name, making it sound anything but divine. And then, just like that, it was gone, and something else filled his eyes. “The way your tight little pussy stretched around my cock, and how hard you screamed my name into that pillow.”
I clenched my thighs together. How could I forget? That night was all I thought about for weeks. It was the comfort I used when my crazy mind thought something horrible had happened.
“Because I do,” he growled, sliding his tongue up my neck. “I jerk myself to your hot little cunt every night.”
Oh my god.
In an effort to regain control, I said, “I’m not sleeping with you, Parker.”
“Sorry, baby,” he chuckled and backed off a bit. “That’s part of the deal. I get to fuck you whenever I want. Like I said, you’re mine.”
My hands tightly balled at my sides. So that’s what he wanted. A whore. Parker made me feel cheap and used once before. Never again. He took a memory I should’ve cherished for the rest of my life, and ruined it by throwing money at me the next morning.
“Are you going to pay me this time, too?”
Bastard had the gall to roll his eyes.
“I should’ve fucking known you’d bring that shit up.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. Should I give you my rates beforehand?” I lifted up on my tip toes and got right in his face, “Or do you just want to pay me based on my performance again?”
“I know you don’t believe me, but I did that for your benefit.”
“Let me guess, you thought I could use some new shoes?” I’d get some shoes alright. Stilettos I could stab him with.
He blew out a puff of frustrated air. “Jesus Christ, Lana. I was trying to protect you.”
I stopped and eyed him. Protect me? Well, I’d give him points for originality. That was not the excuse I was expecting.
“You’re right,” I said, “I don’t believe you.”
“It doesn’t matter. You’re mine now. You always were.”
Sure I was.“Uh huh?”
“I mean it, Lana. You’re mine to protect, mine to take care of.” His fingers speared in my hair and he yanked my head back, forcing me to meet his gaze, “And mine to fuck.”
