Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
LUNA
As Parker’s eyes held mine, I felt held in a beam of love. Maybe I shouldn’t have been so quick to let down my guard, but as soon as he explained what he’d been going through, I understood.
This was Parker. This was the guy I’d never forgotten after those few hours of walking on the beach years ago. The guy that saved me while dipnetting. It was just plain easy with him. We had a connection. It felt like kismet.
His brow furrowed with worry. “I don’t want you to think I came back just for that. We could go the rest of our lives without that. All I want is to be with you.”
I rocked my hips into his before sliding my hand down his chest to stroke over his lengthening arousal.
“Luna,” he bit out, his breath hissing through his teeth.
“Parker,” I teased, feeling sultry and sly. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, but—” Pausing, he gulped in air.
I forced myself to be serious and slid my palm back up over his heart, where I could feel the rapid kick of it against my touch. “I missed you, and I really do understand. I was hurt. You’re here, and that’s amazing, and we can do tarot cards after.”
“After?” he prompted, tipping his head to the side.
Biting my lip, I made a quick decision. Stepping back, I caught his hand in mine and led him up the stairs into the house. Fuzzy was hot on our heels and went straight for his water bowl. I tossed one of his favorite chews into the living room. That would keep him occupied.
In a matter of minutes, we were in my bedroom, and I shut the door, turning to face Parker with my hands on my hips. “You owe me,” I announced.
The heat in his gaze sent a blaze of heat through me. “Do I?” he teased, finally getting with the program.
My curls bounced with my nod. “Yes! I’ve never had makeup sex.”
Parker chuckled as I began to unbutton my blouse. Seconds later, we were stripping in between kisses and a few stumbles. When we were standing at the foot of my bed, Parker stilled and rasped, “Wait, Luna.”
He lifted a hand to palm my cheek. I felt caught in a burning moment with need and desire rushing through me. For a few seconds, Parker’s touch anchored me, centered me in this connection with him. “I love you, Luna, and I always will.”
My heart felt connected to his through shimmering strands of love and need and fierce desire. “I love you,” I whispered just before he claimed my mouth.
As it always was with him, he kindled the fire inside of me.
It felt as if sparks were leaping over my skin when his palm slid down over my belly.
I savored his weight as he came over me, stretching my arms over my head.
I was lost in his gaze when he shifted closer, notching his crown at my entrance.
My breath was coming in heaves. My skin was burning up for him, and all I wanted was to be as close as we possibly could be. “Hurry, Parker,” I gasped.
Locked in the fire of his gaze, I cried out when he filled me with a deep thrust. He held still, brushing my tangled hair away from my face with one hand and his fingers lacing with mine with the other, his grip strong and sure.
“I missed you,” he whispered, his voice gruff. “So much.”
“You’re here now, and that’s all that matters. You’re right here.”
His lips curled slightly at the corners.
On the heels of a breath, he filled me. We rocked into each other, and everything spiraled.
It felt as if we were spinning together in a net of sparks.
My release was barreling toward me as the waves crashed, each rising higher to a crescendo until it broke.
I was trembling from the force of it as he reached between us, teasing his fingers exactly where I needed them.
Then, it all started breaking apart. I distantly heard him crying my name as he shuddered with me.
I felt the heat of his release filling me before he rolled us over together, and I collapsed against his side.
I loved the way he held me close, the feel of his fingers sifting through my tangled curls, and his strong, warm presence beside me.
After a few minutes, we heard the click of Fuzzy’s claws on the floor outside the door. Parker’s laugh rumbled against my chest. “Someone has expectations,” he teased.
When I rose up on one elbow to look at him, I leaned down to give him a quick kiss. “Let’s go.”
“You’re always so energetic after sex,” he replied with a chuckle when I bounced up.
I tossed a grin over my shoulder. “I am.”
A few minutes later, Parker had followed me downstairs after we both tugged on some clothes.
He went to take Fuzzy for another bathroom break while I checked in the fridge to see what we had for food options.
It was still early, but I was starving. My parents had arrived when I normally would’ve been eating lunch.
My refrigerator didn’t have much to offer.
When Parker came back in, I glanced over and pointed at the kitchen table. He walked over and looked down at the single tarot card I pulled—the hierophant card.
He glanced at it, his gaze sober as he brought his eyes to mind again. “You know I want to marry you, right?”
“What?” I sputtered.
“Just thought I’d get that out of the way.” His lips quirked at the corners. “You do not need to tell me if that’s what you want, but that’s how I feel.”
“Oh, my God,” I whispered, letting the refrigerator door close. I breathed, pressing my palm to my chest, trying to calm my racing heartbeat. “Are you serious?”
“Very. That day when we met at the beach? I’ve never felt like that with anyone. I’m not an idiot. I know being together long-term isn’t easy. Hell, I just chickened out on facing you over –”
When he stopped abruptly, I cut in, “Something intense and powerful that you had to face. You’re going to keep facing what happened, and it’s going to be okay.”
My own baggage was messy, but when it came to others, I could see things more clearly.
He swallowed and nodded. “I don’t always know how to feel about things, but I know how I feel about you.”
I took in a breath and crossed over to him. “Well, I want to marry you too. You’re not really asking, so I’m not sure what we’re doing here.”
Parker’s laugh rumbled in his throat. He reached for my hand before leaning forward to give me a fierce kiss. “We’re doing things the way we do them. We’re gonna get married. We’ll figure out the details later.”
“What made you say that right now?” I asked.
He gestured to the card. “That means commitment, right?”
“That’s one of the meanings.” I was still reeling from that. I just drew one from the card deck.
“It reminded me I might as well say what matters right now,” he continued. “We can get through the hard stuff together. I love you, Luna.”
I blinked away the tears stinging my eyes. “I love you.”
Fuzzy came barging in because that’s what Fuzzy did. We gave him a little love and laughed.