She doesn’t resist as I tug her closer, bringing our interlocked hands to my chest. Her arm wraps around my neck while my other hand settles at the small of her back. My gaze stays locked on hers while we move with the swell of the music, the thumping in my chest slow and heavy. Having her in my arms feels so right. It’s like I’ve been adrift in a sea of nothingness for years, and I’m finally being pulled ashore.
Her breath hitches as I lean in, brushing my lips against her forehead. She looks up at me through hooded eyes, a pleading in them. I’m so tempted to give her what she wants, to capture her mouth with mine. But kissing her now could be dangerous. I’m not sure I could stop once we started. I can’t remember the last time I wanted somethingor someoneso badly. I want to devour every inch of her—to consume her in a way that wipes the touch of every other man from her memory. But I can’t do that, I won’t do that. Not until I’m sure she’s mine.
Her sweet, fruity scent fills my senses as I rest my cheek against hers, imagining what a life with Parker would be like. Every single moment would be a battle of wills. She’s so fucking headstrong and independent. The life of solitude she’s designed is meant to protect her. It’s obvious she doesn’t give love easily. But when she loves you, it’s a fierce type of love. I saw that in the way she cares for Josie.
“I would really like to get to know you, Peach,” I tell her. “What do you say to a little truth for a truth? I’ll go first.”
“Okay...” There’s reluctance in her answer, a hint of apprehension in her tone.
“All right, let’s see.” I take a deep breath, trying to think of something that’s personal but not too deep for my first one. “I have twenty tattoos, all of them meaningful to me in some way. A paw print from my first dog. My daughter’s name. A white rabbit because of the bar. I get a new one every time something significant happens in my life. There’s just something so therapeutic about getting a tattoo.”
“Well... I look forward to seeing every single one of them up close and personal later.”
I chuckle. “Your turn, Peach.”
“Fine.” She sighs, the pause that follows causing my pulse to race with anticipation. “My fourth-grade teacher is the reason I decided to become a teacher. My home life wasn’t... great, but Miss Adams made me feel seen and cared for. Her kindness had a huge impact on me. I decided then that teaching was what I wanted to do when I grew up. I wanted to be that light for someone else.”
I’m glad Parker can’t see my face, my eyebrows raised, a smile tugging at my lips. She’s letting her guard down with me, whether it’s intentional or not. I learned more about her in that one statement than I did our entire first date.
“Hello,” she says, her voice uneasy. “Isn’t it your turn? I’m not a fan of this silence.”
“Always so impatient,” I tease. “How’s this? After I lost my wife, I felt like a shell of my former self. For two years, I couldn’t fucking breathe. Then you showed up like a breath of fresh air. I’m so glad it was you who showed at the restaurant that night. Meeting you brought me back to life.”
Parker shifts to meet my gaze, her eyes searching for the answer to a question she wouldn’t dare ask, but she doesn’t even give me the chance to deny her this time. Her lips crash into mine, her kiss soft yet probing. My mouth parts for her, allowing her demanding tongue to tangle with mine.
Fucking hell.
I’ve spent the last year thinking about how good her mouth felt on mine, the memory of it haunting me each time I kissed someone new. Now that I’ve had another taste, there’s no going back.
By the time I rip my mouth from hers, our breathing is labored, the static tension that had been brewing in the air between us now a full-blown storm. This, this is what I was afraid of, why I was putting off kissing her. My resolve is crumbling at her feet right now. And she knows it too.
Her eyes darken with lust as she licks her swollen lips. “Take me back home, handsome.”
Parker
Giggles eruptfrom me as Elias drags me up the block, moving us away from the crowd as quickly as possible. Instead of circling back the way we came, Elias pulls me into a secluded alleyway and pushes me up against a brick wall. A moan escapes me as his body presses into mine, his hard cock rubbing against my already aching center. His mouth crashes into mine, his kiss possessive and needy.
I let my hands wander, sliding them down his back and under his shirt, my fingernails digging into his skin. His lips move to my neck, trailing over my racing pulse. He sucks the delicate flesh into his mouth, biting down as I rock into him.
“Touch me, Elias.” My plea is breathy and desperate, relinquishing all control.
He lifts his head, his lips curving into a cocky smirk as he meets my gaze. “You needy for me, Peach?” His hand slips under my shirt and glides across my stomach before dipping into the front of my pants. He sucks in a breath as his fingers brush over my bare center, a primal noise erupting from him. “No panties. Such a naughty girl.”
My back arches when he runs the pad of his finger over my clit, circling the sensitive nub with soft, gentle twirls. “Fuck,” I moan.
He kicks my feet apart, widening my stance as he slides down my slick slit. His finger dives into the warm pool at my entrance, a hum of satisfaction vibrating through him. “So wet for me.”
My nipples harden, my walls clenching around him as he pumps in and out of me. “Oh, God!”
This man already has me on the edge. Every nerve in my body is buzzing, ready to explode. He has me completely off balance. Once again. But I don’t care. I just need this. I need him.
“Does that feel good?” I nod with vigor, my breaths coming out in pants now. He leans in, his lips forging a path up my neck, his teeth nibbling at my earlobe. “Imagine how good it’s going to feel when it’s my cock buried inside you.” His words brush against my skin, pushing me closer. “Is that what you want, Peach?” he asks, adding a second finger. “You want me to pound this sweet pussy until you’re coming on my cock?” His movements slow just as my orgasm is about to crash to the shore, pulling it back again.
“Please,” I whimper.
He chuckles. “You want me to let you come, Peach?”
My moan echoes around us as he hooks his fingers and slowly starts picking up speed again, the heel of his palm rubbing my clit. “God, yes...”