CHAPTER EIGHT
AURORA
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I feel like such a moron. Parker has been a complete gentleman and seems happy to forget the awkwardness of our earlier discussion. Why didn’t I just tell him I had no idea where my hair color came from because I didn’t know my father or any of my family members?
Just Mom.
Because I’m ashamed.
He probably has an amazing family and can trace his heritage back generations.
People like Parker can.
We stayed off topic the of family after that, and he shared all about his business and his latest acquisition. He enjoys finding failing companies and fixing them, which I found intriguing. That sort of thing takes a lot of risk and knowledge.
I suspect.
Because what do I know?
“It’s like surgery. I see all the broken pieces like a doctor in front of me and naturally know how to repair them. Most of the time, I’m successful.” He chews a piece of his Wagyu and continues, “Except, when you’re dealing with people, it’s not quite that simple. They can be predictable to a point...until they’re not. That’s what makes it fun and challenging.”
It would freak me the hell out.
“It’s so satisfying when you see the company begin to thrive,” he continues.
I pop the last piece of cod in my mouth and smile at the passion he has for what he does. How amazing that must be to know who you are and what you’re good at.
I have an art degree and no idea what to do with it.
“How do you deal with failure?” I ask and take a sip of my wine. It’s glass three and I’m feeling much more relaxed.
Liquid confidence, as they say.
I want to sit here and listen to this sexy man talk all night long. Watch his roped forearms, which are covered in tattoos—he rolled his sleeves up—and how he plays with the black ring on his middle finger.
I want to undo his top button on his black shirt and reveal more of his tattoos. Touch him.
Lick him.
Oh god, I’m basically eye fucking the guy while he’s talking about business.
“Failure is simply information. I look at what happened and learn from it. Then obviously don’t repeat it.”
I clear my throat and try to focus on the conversation.
“You are still pretty young. How did you know you wanted to do this?”
Parker leans back in his chair.
I wonder what lucky woman has sat on this man, straddling him and feeling his c—
Focus, Aurora.
“It was a case study we had to read at Brown. I was initially uninterested in the paper, but by the end was almost champing at the bit to get into the real world and start buying broken companies.”
How?
I figure he didn’t work behind the bar and save. He must have had some help.
“Did you have the money to do that immediately?”
He shrugs. “My father died, leaving me a nice chunk of money.”
I thought so.
Not every family can help their kids, but the fact my mother suddenly had so much wealth and never offered to help me in any way has always felt strange.
She did pay for half my college tuition. I paid the rest.
I am grateful. Very. Then she buys a multimillion-dollar penthouse, and I don’t know how she did that.
“That’s nice.”
Parker meets my eyes, obviously picking up on the tone in my voice. It’s nothing to do with him, but it snuck through. I guess I’m still bitter about all those late nights waiting tables and then having to study until the early hours.
“Ten million. I could’ve become some trust fund asshole. That just seemed boring.”
I smile.
It is cool that he did something with it instead of just taking fifty of his not friends to Majorca for three months and spending it on women, drugs, and booze.
I feel the urge to tell him how proud I am of him, but I’ve said enough dumb things for one night. Clearly, the familiarity I felt when we first met was way off. Those blue eyes of his still nudge at my memory, but I never went to Brown. I don’t know anyone that has, and I’d know if I met Parker Stone before.
He's not a man you’d easily forget.
“You could have. Instead, you’ve built an incredible career. That’s amazing. I, on the other hand, have an art degree and no idea what to do with it.”
“What do you want to do?” Parker asks, pushing a utensil along the white tablecloth.
I lift a shoulder. “I don’t know. How do you figure it out?”
Parker studies me, but his expression is unreadable.
“I know , I know . I should know by now. I’m twenty-six.” I shake my head and sip more of the delicious and expensive wine he ordered.
It would happily have three more glasses, but the bottle is empty.
“Some people don’t work it out until they’re older. What are you good at?” he asks, sounding more invested in the topic than I am.
Or perhaps he’s just more sober.
“Wrecking dates.” I chuckle. “Walking into men on the street.”
“Being adorable.” He smirks.
I give him a cheesy grin back. “So, OnlyFans then?”
His eyes flash with something dark, and it sends a cold shiver through me.
“It was a joke. I wouldn’t—”
Parker drops his inked forearm on the table, his gaze dipping to my tits and then back up. “Evil men would pay good money to watch you pleasure yourself, sweetheart. Then even more to utterly destroy you.”
A shiver runs through me at the roughness of his voice.
“Destroy me how?” I almost whisper.
His intense gaze locks with mine as my nipples harden. Heat pools between my legs and suddenly all I want is for him to touch me and show me how utterly destructive he can be with my body.
“Piece by piece.”
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P ARKER LEADS ME out of the restaurant after paying with his black credit card.
“Feel like a walk?” He nods across to Central Park.
“Sure,” I reply, feeling happy and slightly drunk.
“Think you can do that without walking into any unsuspecting gentleman?”
I nudge him with my elbow, and he tucks my arm into his. My eyes press closed at his warm touch and I catch the scent of his aftershave again.
It’s like an aphrodisiac.
We cross the road and head into the park, the path lined with soft lights. There are a few people on bikes and walking around like us. Couples on dates, a few on their own likely heading home from work or drinks with friends.
I’ve lived in the city long enough to know how tough New York can be. It can be the most amazing place on earth or incredibly lonely.
“Hey, don’t know yet. I just had the man I walked into me buy me dinner at Kai.” I teased back.
Parker lets out a laugh and removes his arm, looping it around my lower back, tucking me in closer to him. I glance up and his eyes meet mine. My god. A moment flashes between us, and I think he’s going to kiss me. My lips part...
He looks away.
“Let’s head over here,” Parker says, breaking the moment.
Oh.
Disappointment floods me. Perhaps he really is going to just take me home like he promised. He did say he was a sexual man, but there doesn’t seem to be any hurry in getting me home. Which means one thing. I’m not his type.
I was sure we had a few moments.
Piece by piece.
My panties are still wet. I’d struggled to concentrate after he said that, imagining myself being spread open as he destroyed the most private parts of me.
Now I feel like such an idiot.
My initial reaction was obviously correct.
Anyway, I don’t blame him. We bumped into one another, shared a bit of fun banter, and it did appear that we might have some chemistry.
He obviously doesn’t think so.
“Evening,” Parker says to a couple who pass us as we cross one of the bridges overlooking a lake.
It’s a very romantic setting. The warm spring evening, along with all the wine and my acceptance that it’s not going any further, makes me a little cheeky. I walk to the railing and peer over the dark water, then back at Parker. “I hope you aren’t going to propose.”
He stands with his hands in his pockets, a small smile on his lips, looking so handsome and a little dangerous. “What if I did?”
I turn and lean my back against the banister, knowing he’s playing like I am. But I like this playful side of us so keep it going.
“I’d have to say no. I’m in love with someone else.” I shrug and fight my giggle.
Parker stiffens. His hands leave his pockets as he closes the distance with more speed than I expect. I tug in a sharp breath. Then he places his arms on either side of me, his body towering over me as we stand an inch apart.
I can’t breathe.
“I need his name.” Parker growls.
This is just a game, I remind myself.
Swallowing, as arousal plows through my veins, I say, “Damon Salvatore. Mob Boss. Very dangerous.”
Parker’s brows dip, then one lifts and I almost die from how handsome he is.
“I was going to say one bullet will eliminate any competition, but if you mean the Salvatore vampire, then I might have to step aside.”
My mouth falls open.
“You watch The Vampire Diaries ?”
“No, I don’t watch The Vampire Diaries ,” he replies as if the idea is ridiculous. “But I do have social media and female friends who share his damn photo all the time.”
I almost smile.
He removes one arm, and I miss his closeness. It seems deliberate, as if he’s trying not to stay close to me but also doesn’t want to completely move away.
I reach for his shirt and tug him back. Not playing anymore. I want him to kiss me.
“You look like him.”
“I’m hotter.”
“Just as overconfident.” I grin.
“I have fifty pounds of muscle on the guy.” He runs his finger over my forehead, sliding my hair behind my ear.
It’s not the first time he’s done it.
Surely this is not the wine talking. I know this man desires me. My hand rests on his chest and I feel all those muscles underneath it.
“You do,” I reply huskily.
We stand for a long moment, sharing oxygen as he studies my eyes. The air between us is electrifying. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a man as much as I do at this moment.
To have his mouth on mine.
To be ravished until I can’t think of anything else except the feel of our naked bodies writhing together as one. For one night or more, I really don’t care.
Drawing in a ragged breath, I wait for the kiss—
“I should take you home.” Parker slowly moves away.
“Okay.”
Quietly, Parker takes my hand, and we walk back the way we came.
I’m so confused.
So fucking confused.
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PARKER
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S HE MIGHT BE your sister . She might be your sister.
She might be your sister!
Fortunately, I have the fork she ate with in my pocket and will be sending it off to the lab next week.
The question is, am I going to fuck her? Because that wasn’t the plan—I don’t even know what my goddamn plan is right now. All I know is my cock is hard and it wants inside her hot pussy.
We look nothing alike.
The chances of us being related are slim.
I could easily not give a damn. I’ve done enough sick fucking things in my life, but incest is not something I want to add to the list.
Then again, my father came close to taking that choice away from me. I suppose I should be grateful that he preferred to watch me with other people.
I’m not.