Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
Bowen
Parker opened the door to her apartment, her smile lighting up her face like sunshine breaking through rain clouds. The soft fabric of her V-neck T-shirt clung to her curves and revealed a tantalizing glimpse of cleavage. My breath hitched, and I nearly swallowed my tongue as heat shot through me, pooling low in my belly. My cock responded instantly, perking up at the sight.
Where were my manners? I mentally chastised myself and snapped my gaze back to her face, but not before catching the playful glint in her tropical-blue eyes. She’d caught me red-handed, and the smirk that played on her lips told me she knew exactly what was going through my mind.
Busted.
I cleared my throat, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. “You look…” Fuckable. “F—fantastic today.” Shit! Get a grip.
“Just today?” she teased. Her grin widened and her eyes sparkled.
“Every day.” My desire for her made me sound like gravel pouring out of a dump truck. I leaned in and brushed a light kiss against her silky cheek, the brief contact sending a jolt of electricity through me.
She gasped, and a faint pink blush spread across her cheeks as she stepped back, breaking the spell. “Come in,” she invited, a touch breathless as she turned and led the way inside.
I stepped into the small entryway that opened into the corner of her kitchen, and I took in the space as I followed her. An open-concept kitchen and living room lay before me, bathed in the warm, golden light streaming through the large window in the living room. The sunlight lit up the apartment, making everything seem more vivid—just like Parker herself.
The clean and tidy kitchen counters and living room appealed to my sense of order, and the warm-tone woods and deep upholstery, which lent the rooms a comfortable atmosphere, made me feel at home.
Comfortable and at home with Parker.
Our personalities were like night and day—me, the brooding, disciplined athlete, and her, the vibrant, spontaneous spirit—but somehow, we balanced each other out. Like twilight, that moment when day meets night, and everything is cast in fading blue.
I mentally shook my head. Where had that fanciful shit come from? Parker was rubbing off on me.
Oblivious to the internal battle I was waging, Parker turned to me with a casual smile. “I didn’t order the pizza yet, because I didn’t know what you liked,” she said, shutting the door behind us. Then, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she added, “Would you rather…”
I grunted, the corner of my mouth tugging up. “Are we playing this game again?”
“Yes. Would you rather eat veggie lovers or meat lovers?”
“Yep. Both large,” I said, not missing a beat.
She shook her head but smiled. “You always go off-script with this game.” Pulling her phone out of the back pocket of her jeans, she asked, “Extra cheese?”
I raised an eyebrow, giving her a look that clearly said, “Is there any other way to eat pizza?”
She laughed and tapped the screen for a few moments, then slid her phone back into her pocket. “Done. Come on, let’s get comfortable.” Padding ahead of me on bare feet, she gestured for me to follow her into the living room. Even her toes, painted a soft pink, were pretty.
She picked up the remote off the coffee table and pointed it at the TV. “Would you rather?—”
I grunted.
“Watch MCU or DCU?”
“Lady’s choice.” I settled onto the sofa, sinking into the thick cushion.
Parker gave me a side-eye, pretending to be annoyed. “You really aren’t very good at this game.”
I turned a snort into a cough.
Her lips mashed together as if she were suppressing a grin. “ Guardians of the Galaxy it is, then.” She turned on the TV, navigated to the movie, and sat next to me.
Right next to me, so close that our shoulders, arms, and thighs touched. The warmth of her body seeped into mine, and her delicate floral scent filled my senses, lightening the weight in my chest and muddling my thoughts with foolish notions like falling for Parker.
It would be so easy to tumble headfirst into whatever this was between us.
But I knew better. The safest course was to keep things casual. There was something she wasn’t telling me, something she was hiding, and I couldn’t let myself get too attached until I figured out what it was.
Because if I let myself fall, it would be from a height I wasn’t sure I could recover from. I had to protect myself, to find out the truth before it was too late.
Before I got in too deep.
But casual, I could do. That was the mantra I kept repeating to myself as I stretched my arm out, letting it settle comfortably along Parker’s shoulders. I tugged her closer, and she fit perfectly under my arm, like she was always meant to be there. Her nearness was calming and intoxicating all at once. The familiar strains of “I’m Not in Love” from the Peter Quill’s Awesome Mix Tape filled the room, the soft melody wrapping around us.
The song mocked me, its lyrics a reminder of the very thing I was trying to avoid acknowledging. I pushed the thoughts away, determined to ignore the niggling sensation in the back of my mind that whispered this was more than just casual.
On screen, Peter started dancing to “Come and Get Your Love,” the upbeat tune adding to the soundtrack’s relentless determination to taunt me. I tried to focus on the movie, on the lightheartedness of the scene, but Parker’s presence made it hard to concentrate on anything other than the way she felt pressed against me, her head resting lightly on my shoulder.
Just when I thought I might drown in the moment, the doorbell rang, snapping me back to reality. Parker paused the movie and slipped out from under my arm, leaving a cold emptiness where her warmth had been. She crossed the room, my eyes following the sway of her hips as she opened the door and returned with two pizza boxes, the rich aromas of garlic and tomato sauce wafting through the air. My stomach growled, and my mouth watered in response.
“Drinks are in the fridge; pick whatever you want.” She placed the boxes on the coffee table and headed to the kitchen to grab plates and napkins. “There’s water, beer, and soda. I’ll take a lemon sparkling water.” She threw in a wide smile, lightening the command. “Please and thank you.”
“Coming right up.” I made my way to the fridge. I grabbed her sparkling water and a bottle of water for myself, trying to shake off the lingering effects of that damn song. This was supposed to be casual, simple, fun. No need to complicate things with emotions I wasn’t ready to face.
I returned to the living room and handed Parker her drink just as she finished dishing out cheesy pizza slices loaded with toppings. Two slices for each of us to start, though I already knew I’d be going back for more. I settled into the couch again, feeling the stress in my shoulders ease as I bit into a slice. Parker hit play, and the movie resumed.
I took a moment to appreciate the simplicity of it all. Good company, good food, a good movie. Nothing complicated. Nothing messy.
Yet.
The movie played on as I demolished my first two slices and reached for two more. The savory flavors exploded on my tongue, the combination of melted cheese and spicy meats satisfying.
“Okay, your turn,” Parker said, a playful gleam in her eye. “What’s your question?”
I chewed thoughtfully, considering my options. “Would you rather have Groot’s regenerative abilities or Rocket’s engineering talent?”
She raised an eyebrow at the question, her lips curling into a smile as she swallowed her bite. “You’re asking a computer geek if she prefers engineering talent?”
My mouth twitched. “Touché.”
She tilted her head, still smiling. “How about you?”
“Easy answer. Regenerative abilities. Get hurt in the first period, heal myself in the second, back in the game by the third.”
Her grin widened, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “It’s always about hockey with you, isn’t it?”
I shrugged, sheepish. “Is there anything else?”
As I spoke, a stray strand of golden hair fell into her face, catching the light as it framed her cheek. Without thinking, I wiped my fingers on my napkin and reached out to tuck the lock behind her ear, my fingers lingering against her soft skin longer than necessary. Her hair was silky against my fingertips, and I found myself reluctant to pull away.
She caught my gaze, her breath hitching as our eyes locked. The room seemed to shrink, the air thickening with a tension that wasn’t there before.
As if on cue, the smooth, soulful notes of “Fooled Around and Fell in Love” began playing in the background, filling the space between us. The lyrics, so fitting yet so dangerous, sent a pang straight through my chest. Parker swayed slowly to the music, a small smile playing on her lips as she remained unaware of the storm brewing inside me.
I forced myself to drop my hand, breaking the connection between us as I turned my attention back to the screen. I tried to focus on the movie, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Parker. The way she lit up around the cats at the shelter, the way she laughed so easily, the way she looked at me with those big, blue eyes. I was playing a dangerous game, trying to keep my heart out of it while enjoying every moment with her.
I had to be careful. Fooling around and falling in love wasn’t part of the plan. Especially not with someone who wasn’t open about her life.
The credits rolled, the final strains of the soundtrack fading away, and I found myself staring at the screen without really seeing it. My mind was too preoccupied with the realization that, despite my best efforts, I was already in deeper than I’d intended.
I should stop fooling around, should pull back before it was too late. But the thought settled in my gut like a cannonball, heavy and immovable.
Keep it casual.
Parker clicked the remote, plunging the room into a companionable quiet. She sighed deeply, the kind of sigh that comes from the bottom of the chest, as if she was reluctantly letting go of the cozy moment we’d just shared. The sound tugged at something inside me, a reminder that our time together was fleeting. She tossed the remote onto the coffee table. “I have to get ready for work,” she said with more than a hint of reluctance.
I placed my hand on her knee and squeezed, the heat of her skin seeping through her jeans. “Picnic at the park tomorrow?” The invitation slipped out before I had a chance to second-guess myself. Was I too eager?
Her face lit up, a smile spreading across her lips, making her blue eyes shine with a brightness that never failed to captivate me. “I’d like that,” she replied, the warmth in her voice matching the smile on her face. “What time?”
“Meet you at the swings at one? I’ll bring lunch.”
I stood, and Parker followed me to the door, the movement slow, as if we were both loath to let the afternoon end. When I reached the door, I turned to face her, my heart stuttering at the sight of her standing there, so close, so beautiful.
“That was fun. Thanks for coming over,” Parker said, her gaze locking onto mine.
Those eyes—God, I could get lost in them. They were like the ocean—deep and full of secrets—pulling me in with every look.
My brain stumbled over itself, suddenly tongue-tied under the weight of her attention. “I—I had a great time. Really,” I stammered, mentally kicking myself for not being smoother.
A moment stretched between us, unvoiced desire crackling with electricity. My hand seemed to move on its own, rising to brush a finger along the smooth curve of her jaw. Her skin was soft, like silk under my touch, and the simple act of touching her sent a thrill through me, making my pulse quicken.
Kiss her.
I could kiss her and keep it casual, couldn’t I?
She stood on her tiptoes, her face tilting up toward mine, and I leaned down, meeting her halfway. Our lips met, a soft brush at first, tentative, testing the waters. But then, as if some unseen barrier crumbled between us, the kiss deepened, growing more confident, more urgent. Her lips were warm and sweet, fitting perfectly against mine, and I lost myself in the sensation.
Her hands rested on my chest, her fingers curling slightly as she pressed against me, and I wondered if she could feel the wild rhythm of my heart beneath them. My arms circled her waist, pulling her closer, and I reveled in the feel of her curves against me, the way she molded to my body as if she belonged there.
I traced the seam of her lips with the tip of my tongue, a silent request that she answered with a tiny gasp as her mouth opened to me. The sound sent a shiver down my spine, igniting something primal and raw inside me. Our tongues danced together, twirling and teasing, and the taste of her was intoxicating, like something I couldn’t get enough of.
My body responded with a surge of heat, hardening against her soft belly, and she pressed closer, grinding against me with a needy whimper that almost unraveled me right there. The sound of her need, the way she moved against me—it was almost too much, too overwhelming, and I moaned into her mouth.
But I knew I had to stop. As much as I wanted to lose myself in her, to let this moment stretch on forever, I knew we couldn’t. Not yet. I pulled back and leaned my forehead against hers, both of us panting.
“You should get ready for your shift,” I whispered. It took effort to hold myself back.
“I know,” she reluctantly agreed as she slowly pulled away from me. “See you tomorrow.”
I didn’t want to let her go. Everything in me screamed to pull her back into my arms, to kiss her again, to lose myself in her. But I knew I had to. I had to be careful, to play this right. With one last peck on her nose, I dropped my arms to my sides, feeling the weight of the moment settle between us. “See you then.”
And maybe I could get some answers.