29. 29
29
PARKER
I pull up to the bookstore and put my truck in park. Lyla and I are going to have our first official date and I’m a nervous wreck. Anxiety sinks its claws into my chest, making my breaths come out short and fast. I try to calm my racing heart, taking deep inhales that expand my stomach, forcing me to breathe slower. In through my nose, out through my mouth.
The reason I’m freaking out isn’t due to the woman I’m going on a date with. I’m confident in what we have.
The reason I’m freaking out is because Lyla picked my favorite Italian restaurant; the one that Annie had absolutely hated. She had always complained about the food, as she hated carbs. She was rude to the staff, belittling them and berating them for the slow service. And worst of all, she said it was ‘too cheap’ and she wanted to go somewhere ‘nicer’.
Something stirred inside me when she asked if we could go to Luigi’s. I immediately offered to go somewhere else, but Lyla had insisted that she wanted to try the place my whole family raved about.
I take one more steadying breath before I hop out of the truck and into the bookstore. The bell above the door chimes as I step into the shop and warm air greets me. It’s the beginning of December and the wind has a bite to it, so I relax in the toasty air. A customer passes by me to exit the store as Cassie comes out from behind the cash register.
“Hey there, boss man. I hear you’re going on a first official date tonight.” She winks as she leans against one of the bookcases that lines the store.
I chuckle. “Yeah, and it’s about damn time.”
She gives me a smirk. “About damn time, indeed.”
I hear footsteps on the stairs and immediately turn to greet my girl. The words I had planned to say die on my lips, leaving my mouth gaping open.
Lyla is dressed in a beautiful midnight blue, long sleeved, form-fitting dress. The neckline dips in a low and narrow V, showing a glimpse of her perky breasts that are the perfect handful. The fabric clings to her hips and narrows around her legs as if it’s made for her and I can’t stop imagining peeling it off of her later. She has a thick band of silver around her neck, a choker-style necklace that glistens under the lights and her hair is down, cascading in thick waves. She’s done a thick eyeliner today with a light shadow and her lips carry a pop of pink lipstick.
Cassie whistles. “If you don’t fuck her tonight, I sure as hell will.”
I turn to glare at her as Lyla lets out a musical laugh that embeds itself within my heart.
I refocus on the woman of my dreams and say, “You look… Wow, Lyla, you look breathtaking.”
She smiles shyly at me before walking to me and tucking herself into my side. My arm automatically wraps around her shoulders as she reaches up to place a tender kiss on my cheek.
“Thank you,” she whispers.
“Ugh.” Cassie’s nose scrunches. “Get out of here before I vomit all over this store. And Parker, be good to my best friend.”
I don’t miss the emotion that flashes across Lyla’s features before she composes herself and lets loose a breathy laugh.
“Okay, we’re leaving,” Lyla says as she begins putting on her jacket and making her way outside .
I catch up to her in a few strides and open the passenger door for her. She’s wearing silver heels, so I make sure to assist her inside the cab before closing the door. As we drive down the main street to Luigi’s, Lyla clutches her hands together in her lap and gazes out the window.
“My mom seems… different.” She begins. “She seems content. I don’t know if I’ve seen her seem so at peace before.”
I don’t respond, sensing that she isn’t finished. Given everything she had told me about her mother, I had also been a little surprised at the woman I had met. I expected her to be quieter, more withdrawn. She still seemed soft-spoken and kind, but I had anticipated a woman with no life in her eyes, dimmed by the marriage she endured.
“She seems happy,” she sighs wistfully.
I nod my agreement.
“I know she’s been spending a lot of time with Gloria and maybe having someone to talk to is helping. She never wanted to go to therapy but I think she needed someone to open up to. Someone who she could bare her truths to. I know there are things that she hasn’t told me, despite my best efforts. Maybe she finally felt safe enough to do so with Gloria.”
She chews on her lip nervously and I reach out to place a hand over hers, still clenched in her lap. She relaxes at my touch and holds onto my hand, weaving our fingers together.
“I think sometimes we find people that make it easy to be ourselves with,” I say. “It’s like we recognize their soul within our own, it comes so effortlessly.”
I bring our linked hands to my lips, giving a brief kiss before bringing them to my chest, hovering above my heart.
“I think my soul recognized you, Lyla. It’s been as easy as breathing to be myself with you.”
I catch a glimpse of her out of the corner of my eye, her eyes softening and welling with tears. She opens her mouth before snapping it shut again, indecision written all over her face .
We pull up to the restaurant, and before I can inquire about it, Lyla has her door open and seatbelt off, launching herself out of the truck and into the frigid air.
Lyla and I are seated in a booth, drinking wine and snacking on calamari while chatting about our current reads. Our book club of sorts has continued, and I’m now reading through one of Lyla’s contemporary choices, and she’s reading a Terry Pratchett novel of my choosing. We animatedly speak about theories, plot points that we like, and writing style.
The restaurant has fairy lights everywhere and the regular lighting is dimmed, creating a soft and romantic ambiance. Lyla’s eyes look more like a deep forest green in this lighting, and I can’t help but get lost in whatever she’s saying. There’s something gripping about the way she speaks about books, with so much enthusiasm and her eyes sparkling with joy as she tells me about the characters she’s enjoying and their development throughout the story.
Our main dishes are placed in front of us a short time later and Lyla thanks the waitress. In fact, she thanks her every time she comes by, whether she’s taking our order or filling our water, she has made it a point to say ‘thank you, Jessie’ with a warm smile on her face.
She groans as she takes her first bite of her pasta and insists it’s some of the best fresh pasta she’d ever had. Luigi’s has always made their own noodles from scratch and it’s one of my favorite things about this place.
“I’m glad you like it.” I say with a sad smile on my lips.
“What’s wrong?”
Annie fills my thoughts and I curse her for leaving me with feelings of inadequacy.
“I don’t know if I should talk about this on a date,” I say truthfully.
“Parker.” She reaches across the table to place her hand over mine. “I know this is our first date, and I’m loving every moment of it. But if there’s something on your mind, I want to know. Talk to me.”
I hesitate for a moment, popping another bite of pasta in my mouth and chewing thoughtfully.
“Annie hated this place. She complained that the restaurants here were terrible, but she hated this one the most.”
Lyla’s thumb grazes over the back of my hand, over and over, allowing me time to process.
“My mom used to love this place.” I admit. “When Annie told me she hated it, it hurt me. She made it sound like this town wasn’t good enough for her, including the restaurants, my family, and me. I should have seen her for who she was sooner, but I was so blinded, thinking I was in love and picturing the life we would have here.” I let out a dark laugh. “She had other plans, ones that didn’t involve me.”
“Well, clearly she has terrible taste,” Lyla scoffs before taking a hefty bite of pasta and downing some more wine. “Because this is delicious. And you, Parker, are the best man I’ve ever known.”
Sincerity bleeds from her gaze and she hits me with a stunning smile. People have told me the same thing in the past, but hearing it come from Lyla’s mouth somehow has more weight to it.
“Parker?”
“Yes?”
“You never need to worry about not being enough for me. I hope you know that.”
I swirl the wine in my glass, avoiding her stare.
“Hey.” She squeezes my hand, demanding my attention until I meet her gaze. “You have been, and always will be, enough for me. Just as you are. I couldn’t imagine wanting or needing anything more than what you have to give.”
My eyes sting as tears form in my eyes.
“Thank you for saying that.” I clear the lump forming in my throat. “ Maybe one day I’ll believe you.”
We leave the restaurant after stuffing ourselves with a concerning amount of carbs and I’m driving towards my house with a purpose.
“Where are we going?” Lyla asks. “The store is the other way.”
I smirk. “You’re coming home with me tonight, sweetheart. I’ve envisioned ripping that dress off of you since the second I saw you wearing it.”
Her cheeks flush despite the cool temperature of the cab and she giggles.
“That might have been the intention behind this outfit.”
I groan, dick hardening in my dress pants. “You’re going to kill me, woman.”
We make our way up the mountainside and before I know it, we’re turning onto the gravel road. In a flash, I’m parked and rounding the truck, yanking open the passenger door and unbuckling Lyla. She squeals as I throw her over my shoulder and march towards the house, unlocking the door before kicking it open. I race up the stairs and put her on her feet gently, before I start unbuttoning my cuffs. I practically tear off my shirt before moving to my pants, and Lyla watches every movement with hunger in her eyes. My pants drop to the ground and my cock tents my boxers, begging for attention.
“Get on your knees, sweetheart. I want to fuck that pretty little mouth while you touch your pussy.”
She reaches for the hem of her dress.
“Allow me.”
She pauses, pupils dilating as I walk towards her. My fingers brush her thighs, playfully toying with the hem and she lets out a frustrated groan. Grinning, I finally grasp the hem and pull the dress over her head and drop it to the floor. She’s wearing a black lace bra that shows the peaks of her nipples and—
Fuck. No underwear.
I growl as I wrap my hand around her hand, fisting it and pulling her towards me.
“No panties?” I quirk a brow.
Her chest heaves, which is pushing her breasts against me and making it hard to think.
“Didn’t think I would need them.”
I crash my lips to hers and greedily take what I need. Her mouth parts in silent invitation and my tongue sweeps in, ready to taste her. I reach down to play with her nipples and she paws at my back as our mouths collide over and over, letting out the most glorious moan I’d ever heard. I pull her bottom lip between my teeth and slowly pull away, gazing into the eyes of the woman who has consumed my every thought.
I need her, now.
“On your knees, baby.”
She sinks to the floor, looking up at me with so much trust and adoration it nearly steals the breath out of my lungs.
She’s stunning.
She reaches out and fists my cock through my boxers and pure ecstasy fills my system. Without breaking eye contact, she pulls down my boxers, helping me step out of them before she tosses them across my bedroom. She grasps my length again, running her hand over the tip and moving the evidence of my arousal over it, before taking me into her mouth.
The first sweep of her tongue elicits a growl from me, something primal awakening within me. She slowly works me, teasing my tip every now and then, before she takes all of me into her mouth. She begins bobbing her head eagerly, moaning every time I reach the back of her throat. The vibration is too much and I find myself rocking my hips and pumping into her mouth.
“God, Lyla. You feel incredible. Such a good girl, sucking my cock.”
She hums at the praise, looking up at me with a sex haze in her eyes. My girl likes this, a lot. That knowledge has me thrusting harder. She takes one hand and reaches down to tweak one of her nipples and moans around my dick, before reaching down further and playing with her cunt. She sucks in a breath as she circles her clit and starts mewling as she adds a finger.
“That’s right, baby. I bet you’re soaking your fingers right now, so wet and ready for me.”
I pull her head back and off my shaft before lifting her off the floor. I grab her hand that was playing with her pussy and I see it glistening with proof of her arousal. A feral sound comes out of me a I suck her finger into my mouth, tasting her sweetness on my tongue. I let out a pained groan, my dick growing painfully swollen.
“On the bed. Now.”
She scrambles towards the bed and crawls onto it, laying back and baring herself to me. I stalk towards the bed with purposeful strides, stroking myself. Once I reach the bed, I crawled on top of her, settling between her legs and wrapping her legs around my waist.
“Hold tight.”
I flip onto my back, taking her with me, which leaves her straddling my lap. My hands wander around her waist and towards her ass, gripping two handfuls of that perfect peach and running her heat along my length. Both of us let out a breath at the contact and she continues to stroke her pussy against me. Her face comes down and her lips meet mine, kissing me frantically as she moans into my mouth.
Lifting herself back up and breaking our kiss, she locks eyes with me before slowly lowering herself onto my aching dick. We groan in unison, enjoying the way this position allows me to get deeper inside her. She starts lifting her hips up and down, slow at first, before coming undone and losing herself in the feeling of riding me. My cock is already pulsing and I know this won’t last long. I can feel her already beginning to clench around me and the sensation is unreal.
She continues her relentless rhythm, grinding on top of me, tits bouncing and face flushed with pleasure.
“Fuck,” she moans. “Parker, I’m going to come. I need—I need…”
Knowing exactly what she needs, my thumb comes over her clit and I begin working her into a frenzy. Her movements become erratic and starved, and I feel her get hit with her release as she screams out my name. I grip her hips and help her ride it out, pushing in and out of her as I chase my own orgasm. Feeling her pussy gripping me and hearing her whimpers tips me over the edge and I spill myself inside of her while crying out.
The only sound is our heaving breaths as she collapses on top of me and snuggles into my chest. I lift her chin, connecting our gazes and say the words that are clawing their way out of my heart, into my chest and up my throat.
“I love you, Lyla.”
Her eyes widen and a beat later, her eyes soften and fill with moisture.
“I love you, too,” she whispers as a smile takes over her face.
And I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.