CHAPTER ELEVEN
PARKER
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T his must be the smallest and messiest apartment I’ve ever been in. Her sofa is squished against the wall and there is a small TV on a stack of books. Between them is a coffee table that I’m not sure could withstand the weight of my daily coffee, let alone my legs.
Not that I plan to relax and put them up there.
“Eat.” I point to the burger and fries Aurora requested.
After leaving the wake, promising Chloe I would take her home, I put her in the back of my car and told Durran to swing by the fast-food restaurant.
Eric ordered the burgers and shakes, also getting some for the two of them.
I don’t usually eat processed food. A six-pack doesn’t magically appear or stay around if you put low quality fuel in your body. But I was starving. Chloe wasn’t wrong about the food at Mary-Anne’s funeral.
I watch Aurora shovel fries inside her mouth. For such a beautiful woman, she really is a hot mess.
I drop my shake on the table and lean back on the uncomfortable sofa cushions.
Christ, if I am going to be seeing this girl for a few weeks while awaiting the DNA results and earning her trust so I can get inside her mother’s home, I might buy her a new sofa.
The last thing I want is a spring to stab me or rip one of my custom-made suits.
I glance around the room, as the noisy munching beside me continues, and spot a painting. The more I look, the more I realize how much depth there is to it.
Where did she get this?
Large waves dominate the coastline with a dusting of sand near the bottom. Brown grasses sway in the breeze while a single shell sits all on its own.
There is meaning to this painting that goes beyond what I suspect is its price tag. I’m tempted to ask who the artist is, but I know it’s likely to be Target or similar and she’ll be embarrassed.
Could even be AI these days.
Slurp.
“I know, I know. It’s not exactly Monet, but it’s my favorite, so I got it framed and hung.”
Slurp.
Wait...what?
“Because you...” My question hangs in the moldy apartment air.
I’ll also get her a dehumidifier.
“Like it, Parker. I like it. That’s what favorite meannsss.”
Jesus Christ. I’m going to have to pull it out of her drunk brain. Who gets drunk at their mother’s funeral for crying out loud?
Actually, I can’t talk.
I didn’t even go to my father’s. And I probably would have gotten smashed if I had, so I take back the judgment.
Still, she’s pretty trashed.
“Your favorite from all your...??” I nudge more.
“Paintings. For a Brown educated man, you aren’t very smart.” She slurps her shake again and this time I just laugh.
She’s so fucking ridiculous I can’t help it.
“Aurora. Jesus. Did you paint that?” I finally ask.
“Yes. Who else do you think painted it? There is no one else here.”
That makes no sense, but she’s drunk as hell so I ignore it and simply stare. Then glance back at the painting in wonder.
It’s good.
Really damn good.
“Where are your others?” I ask.
“What?”
“Good god woman, how many drinks did you have?”
“While painting?”
I drop my head into my hands.
This is pointless.
“You need to go to bed,” I say, lifting my face after taking three long breaths. A technique my therapist said would make me a more patient man.
It doesn’t.
Aurora pushes her shake away on the table and tucks her feet underneath her, then flops back on the arm of the sofa lying sideways to me. I stare down at her sexy body and clench my teeth.
She’s so trusting.
And drunk.
Green eyes twinkle invitingly at me.
“Why didn’t you kiss me the other night?” Her arm lifts above her head, the black fabric of her dress tightening around her breast.
Fuck.
I need to get out of here.
I should be driving home and arranging for someone to source the list of attendees at her mother's funeral so I can review them.
“I’m a gentleman.” I move to the edge of the sofa, as if making to leave, and my cock thickens in my pants.
“Did you want to?”
Shit.
“What do you think?” I say and kick myself.
Don’t ask that. Get up and leave. Now.
“I think you want to fuck me.” Her leg stretches out, moving her dress so it exposes more of her thigh. Her bare foot lands on my leg and all I need to do is run my hand up the inside of it. I could so easily slip inside her panties.
Leave!
“Touch me, Parker.”
Fuck.
“I don’t take advantage of drunk women.” I stay where I am, my mouth watering, cock as hard as granite, reminding myself of all the reasons I can’t do this.
“I’m giving you permission.” Aurora purrs. “Touch me.”
Jesus, no. Begging is my fucking kryptonite.
Before I know what is happening, I’m telling my body to stand up and move, but instead I’m twisting to face her, running my hand up her thigh and tugging her so she’s wrapped around me and my mouth is inches from hers.
All in less than two seconds
“Don’t play with fire Aurora.” I growl.
“I want to.”
I growl again, deeper, longer.
“I want to burn for you Parker.”
Fuck.
Fuck!
Snap!
My mouth smashes down on hers, and I hate myself for enjoying every single millisecond of the kiss. Cupping her breast—because I’m already going to hell—I pinch her nipple as she arches like she’s starving for air. Her legs wrap tighter around me as my cock stabs her pussy through my pants.
I know I need to stop.
I know when I do that I’ll never taste this woman again and for that reason alone my mouth slides down her neck and I savor her very essence.
“God, yes. More. Parker.” Aurora begs, and the tiny part of me that’s still a good man fights the monster within. I grip the fabric of her dress in a fist, as if that act itself will stop me from delving further. When she grinds herself against my erection, moaning, I lose the fight.
I let go and slide my hand under her thigh, moving her panties to the side. Then slip inside.
Fucking heaven.
My eyes close as our mouths find one another again and my fingers glide through her pussy juices.
She’s soaked.
For me.
For my cock.
“Parker, oh god, oh god.” Aurora moans when I release her lips.
Normally I talk dirty to the woman I fuck, but I can’t bring myself to speak. As if my silence is a barrier and I can pretend this isn’t happening with her . I have never wanted to fuck a woman as much as I do right now and...I can’t.
This is potentially so damn taboo that I’ll not only end up in hell, but I might also end up running the fucking joint.
“More, more.” She begs and that kryptonite eggs me on.
Jesus.
I press my fingers inside Aurora’s hot cunt and sign my soul over to the devil. Fuck it. If I’m going to end up there anyway, I may as well go down in style.
I sit up, move between her legs as I shove her dress up and yank her panties until they snap. Then smash my mouth down on her pussy and suck her clit like it’s the last thing I’ll ever do.
“Parker!” she screams.
With a palm on either thigh, I hold her apart like she’s a juicy piece of watermelon and eat every delicious part of her.
Lap after lap.
Lick after lick.
I swallow her sweet juices and relish the two consecutive orgasms that roll through her.
“Good girl,” I rasp as I wipe my mouth on her thigh, leaning over her body.
“Holy hell.” Aurora blinks like she’s come back down to earth.
“I hope it is,” I reply.
Then kiss her one last time.