Page 9 of Steamy Dunk
But as the car got closer to their building, there was something building in Violet, something telling her she didn't want this to just be a pleasant night. She wondered if Parker feltit too. He had to, right? After all, he was holding her hand right now. That surely meant something.
"So did you have a good time tonight?"
She turned and saw the question on his face so she gave him a warm, reassuring smile. "I actually had a great time."
"Even with the ex-girlfriend asking you questions?"
Violet shrugged. "No big deal. I knew what she was doing. And really, who calls their boyfriend by his title?"
Parker laughed at her joke so Violet kept pressing on. "Like, 'This is my boyfriend, Basketball Parker Blakeman.'"
His smile faded a bit and Violet realized what she had done. That was a little too much, too serious, too soon, even for her.
But then that teasing smile came back to his face. "Well, I've never been called an actual basketball before," he said with a smirk.
Crisis averted, at least for now.
The car pulled up to the front of their building and Parker got out first, turning to give Violet a hand to help her out just like the gentleman he was.
But then he didn't let go.
They walked through the lobby of the building hand in hand and Violet didn't care if one of their neighbors saw them or the front desk guy noticed.
Parker pushed the button for the elevator and turned to look down at her. "Hey, no pressure or anything, but would like to come up to my place for a drink?"
Violet could only stare up at him. She really wanted to go up with him, but she also knew what that might mean. There could be more than a drink, and she honestly didn't mind if there was.
"I mean, you do need to return my jacket." He gave her a nervous smile. "Or, you know, you could just give it to me now, I guess."
She couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. "No, I can take it up to your place first."
The elevator dinged and she turned her attention to the doors that Parker was leading her into with his hand still firmly in hers. Then he pressed the button for his floor -- the penthouse -- and the doors slid shut.
Violet realized that this was the first time they had been alone, just the two of them, since he picked her up in the lobby earlier tonight. There was a tension that came with that realization and she wondered if he could feel it too.
And then he leaned down, practically bending himself in half, and planted a soft kiss on her neck. Holy hell, it was suddenly hot in this elevator, but that was fine with Violet. She didn't mind. She actually liked it. A lot.
So Violet tilted her head, giving Parker some more room to work as his mouth continued to tease her sensitive skin as he peppered kisses along her neck and then towards her ear. She reached up to thread her fingers through his curly brown hair, earning a moan against her skin that made her entire body vibrate.
And then the elevator dinged again.
Parker quickly stood up straight, his lips gone from her body in a way that made her instantly feel cold.
The doors pulled open to reveal a small lobby that was much different from the hallway she was used to on her floor. Instead, there was a small space with two doors, one on each side. Parker led her to the door on the right, and Violet knew from her years of living here that it was the side of the building with the best views.
She had gone over to a neighbor's condo on occasion for parties and things. She knew how different the view was on that side of the building. But nothing could prepare her for Parker's view.
He had windows that went across an entire side of the building, at least that's what she assumed. It was as if his penthouse went on forever from the living room to the kitchen and dining room and whatever was beyond that.
He didn't seem to have much furniture yet and there was a stack of boxes along the wall that had been broken down. In the middle of his living room was one of those huge sectionals that looked like you could sink into it.
Beyond that was the view. It was gorgeous. Even though it was dark now, she could see the moon's reflection on Lake Michigan as it spread out beyond the horizon. She wondered what it looked like in the morning as the sun rose over the water.
She wondered what it would be like to be here in the morning with Parker to watch it rise.
"Do you like what you see?"
Parker was standing behind her and she could see his reflection in the window. But he wasn't looking out the window. He was looking down at her.
