Page 17 of Parker
“Fuck me,” I tell him. “Hard.”
Taking his cue, he moves slowly at first, but his pace builds as he loses control. He’s big; his cock fills me, and I can feel him everywhere.
Sitting up, he withdraws, then flips me over onto my knees, my ass in the air. He slams in again, riding me hard. His muscular hands have an iron grip on my hips as he fucks my body, bruising my sides like he’s afraid I’ll disappear. And maybe I would, if he wasn’t holding me together with every thrust. I shatter. Loud, needy, undone. And he follows, falling into me like I’m the only place he’s ever meant to land.
Sweat covers us as we sink to the mattress, our slick bodies wrapped together. We lie tangled in silence, and I’m notthinking about consequences. For once, I’m not asking what comes next. I just want to stay here, in this moment, with him.
I should feel used, maybe even ashamed. That’s how it usually goes—fast, hollow, forgettable. But tonight, I feel... full. Seen. Like maybe I’m not broken after all.
I don’t know what this is; I just know I don’t want to leave. And for the first time in a decade, someone doesn’t want me to.
Chapter seven
Joel Parker's Home, Glasgow
Joel
I wake to the sound of steady breathing beside me. Nicky lies twisted in my sheets, dark curls spread over the black silk. She looks perfect in here, in my bedroom, but I know nothing about her.
The pressure and stress from my father these past weeks have made me insane, to the point of picking up a random woman at support meetings, then bringing her home and falling for her within twelve hours. The notion is as ridiculous as it is romantic. But here I am, slap bang in the middle of it, and loving every damn moment.
She stirs a little as I lie, propped up on my elbow, watching her sleep. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful woman. When I walked into the meeting after leaving my father’s office yesterday, she was the only thing I could look at. It took me a moment to catch my breath.
Most of the women in my life dress for power or pleasure. But Nicky looked radiant sitting in the circle in her white t-shirt and jeans, natural and completely mesmerizing. Nobody had ever taken my breath away with one look until I saw her.
The whole meeting, I struggled not to stare at her, stealing glances whenever I could. Rhona made the task slightly easier with her endless chatter. As I nodded along, I could keep Nicky in my eyeline. I knew I had to speak to her before we left the hall. If I didn’t, she could walk out of my life and never return. I wasn’t going to let that happen.
I throw myself onto my back and the sheets pool around my waist as I stare up at the ceiling. Nicky stirs again, half words passing her lips, but she doesn’t wake. Her leaving yet isn’t an option. I’m not ready to let her go.
This fantasy romance doesn’t have mileage, it can’t. She is from a very different world to mine, and it wouldn’t be fair to inflict mine on her. Judging by her story last night, she’s had a difficult time. She needs safety and security, not a man like me. Unable to sleep, I climb out of bed just in time to see my cell light up with a call.Boyd. It’s always Boyd who needs me in the middle of the night. With a last look at the girl in my bed, I take the call and step out into the hallway.
“Sorry for the late-night call,” he begins.
“I assume it’s important.”
“Guilty Secrets has had a visit from the boys in blue tonight,” he continues, ignoring my sarcasm. “They’re wanting to speak to one of the family.”
“Call my father,” I mutter. “It’s his club.”
Boyd clears his throat. The suspicion that grinds in my soul every time I go against my father’s wishes, as I did today, rears its head. He always gets the last laugh, somehow.
“Mr. Parker has advised that the clubs are now under your care,” Boyd says. “All correspondence is to be directly with you.”
“Of course he has.” I close my eyes as I stand at the top of my stairs, staring down. Those clubs are of no interest to me. He knows that. I never go and have no interest in taking anything from them. The bastard has put me front and center of the fiasco now, and he knows there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” I tell Boyd. It’s not his fault. He’s only doing his job. “What happened?”
“A raid.” His voice drops to a whisper. “I’m assuming someone reported drug use. They have found nothing, but they still want a chat.”
“Fine. I’ll be there.”
After returning to my bedroom, I find Nicky still fast asleep. Pulling on a fresh shirt and my suit, I scribble a note telling her I’ll be back soon and to please still be here when I return. Then I leave, praying she’ll still be here in the morning.
***
The sun has already risen when I return home. The house sits silent, with no sign of life. There is no way to know whether Nicky is still here. Part of me doesn’t want to go inside to find out. If she’s left, perhaps last night was all there ever will be. I’m not sure I can accept that.
The police officer in charge when I arrived at Guilty Secrets was perfectly polite. He explained that someone had tipped them off that drugs, sex, and other things could be bought inside for a fee. They had to investigate.
