6. Parker
Chapter six
Parker
W e walk out of Lauren’s place, the afternoon sun casting long shadows as we move toward my car. We exchange glances every now and then, our faces flushed with a strange mix of anticipation and apprehension. There’s a heavy tension between us that wasn’t there before, and despite the light banter we keep up, both of us are aware of what will happen as we soon as cross the threshold of my house.
Reaching my car, I hold the door open for her. She slides in, offering me a small smile as she tugs on a loose strand of hair, a nervous habit of hers I recognize. As I shut the door behind her, I take a moment to compose myself before slipping into the driver’s seat.
The ride to my place is silent at first, but the tension makes it hard for me to breathe, so I have to break it before too long.
“So,” I say, sounding breathless, “how are things with Holt? Still suck?”
She turns to me and looks surprised. “You really want to talk about Holt right now?”
Chuckling, I shake my head. “No, not at all, but I don’t know what else to say, if I’m being honest.”
She turns to gaze out the windshield. “Well, have you ever done anything like this before?”
“Casual sex?” I shrug. “Yeah, I have.”
She wrinkles her nose and shakes her head. “No, not casual sex. I meant having a friends-with-benefits type of deal. It’s not a one-night stand. It’s an arrangement.”
I shake my head at her clarification. I’m no stranger to flings or one-night stands, but I’ve never crafted an “arrangement” before now. I’ve never felt the need to.
“Can’t say that I have,” I admit, glancing at her for a moment before returning my attention to the road.
She’s quiet, her hands nervously playing with the hem of her dress. “It’s just…I don’t want us to ruin our friendship, Parker.”
“I don’t want that, either, Chloe,” I assure her while reaching over to take one of her jittery hands in mine. “Maybe we should establish those ground rules you were talking about earlier.”
Chloe looks thoughtful as she nods. “That sounds like a good idea.” She takes a deep breath and turns to face me fully. “What kind of rules would you want us to follow?”
Smirking at how formal she sounds, I shrug as I pull into my driveway. “Well, let’s see. First off, no overnight stays. We’re not a couple, so we shouldn’t behave like one.”
She nods in agreement, absentmindedly twisting the hem of her dress around her finger. “And no public displays of affection. We’ll act like friends around others.”
“Especially Lauren,” I add.
“Also,” Chloe continues after a pause, “we keep the communication open and honest at all times.”
Smart. That way, neither one of us will get our hopes up or our feelings hurt. “We don’t want any misunderstandings.”
“Yes...” She swallows nervously as our eyes meet.
We sit in silence for a few moments as we process everything we’ve agreed upon. Sure, it sounds complicated and risky, but there is something exciting about it, too.
“Any more rules you can think of?” Chloe asks, finally breaking the silence.
“Just one,” I say before turning off the engine and looking at her intensely. “If either of us develops feelings, we tell each other immediately and end it before it goes too far."
There’s a pause as she looks at me, her eyes searching mine. Maybe to see how serious I am? I’m not sure.
“Deal,” she says, and we shake hands.
The fading sunlight paints her face in hues of gold and orange, making her look ethereal. Her lips part slightly, as if she wants to say something else but decides against it at the last moment.
“We’re here,” I say unnecessarily, jerking my chin toward my house.
For a moment, she just nods, half-absorbed in her thoughts. Then, suddenly, she snaps back into reality and unbuckles her seatbelt with a swift motion.
“Right,” she mutters under her breath. “Let’s go.”
With our newfound agreement hanging over our heads, we climb out of the car and head inside.
As soon as we step into my house, Chloe takes a deep breath, her fingers playing with the ends of her hair. Her whole body radiates determination and a strange kind of vulnerability.
I reach for her, taking her by the shoulders to pull her in for a kiss, but she pushes against my chest to stop me.
Chloe’s eyes widen in shock. “What are you doing? That’s not how this works, Parker.”
I frown, confused, and pull her closer. “What are you talking about? We both know why we’re here. Why beat around the bush?” The fact that my tone comes off as slightly sulky makes me internally cringe a bit, but having her be so close now that I know she’s attracted to me, too, is a struggle. All I want is to show her how much I’ve wanted her over the years.
She rolls her eyes but can’t help the smile tugging at her lips. “We need wine first. And music. Maybe a little conversation. You know, build up to it.”
I release a long breath but nod after a few moments to think about it. She’s right. By jumping her the first chance I get, it sends the message that all I want from her is sex, but that’s not the case. Maintaining our friendship is just as important, if not more so, than exploring our sexual chemistry.
“Sure,” I tell her, “Make yourself comfortable while I get it.”
As she makes her way towards my living room, I can’t help but quietly admire the way her dress hugs her figure, managing to look both elegant and sexy. Suppressing a sigh, I make a mental note to focus on the “benefits” part in our agreement rather than getting distracted by her beauty.
In the kitchen, I rummage through my wine rack looking for a bottle that has likely been gathering dust. I’m not usually a wine drinker, but I know I have a few bottles I save for company. Finally, I find a bottle of Malbec that should do the trick.
As I pop open the bottle and start to pour it into two glasses, I hear the faint melody of Chopin’s Nocturnes coming from the living room. Chloe must’ve found my vinyl collection.
“Choplin, huh? What are you, like, seventy?”
I laugh and set the wine glasses on the coffee table. “Okay, fine. I’m a bit of a nerd for having such an extensive classical music collection.”
She shrugs, a playful glint in her eye. “I prefer something a bit more modern. Got any rock or pop?”
“I might have a few records that fit the bill.” I put on a Queen album, and the opening chords of “Bohemian Rhapsody” fill the room. Chloe sways to the music, and the tension from earlier melts away before my eyes.
“Now this is more like it,” she says while taking a sip of wine.
Feeling a sense of amusement, I watch her dance. “So, rule number one: wine and music before I see you naked.”
She laughs, a genuine, melodic sound that makes my heart skip a beat. “Exactly. Build up to it, Parker. Build up to it.”
When the song is over and she’s done dancing, I lift my glass in the air. “Cheers.”
She clinks her glass against mine with a soft “cheers” in return before taking a small sip of the wine.
“This feels…nice,” she says, gesturing vaguely around her as if encapsulating everything: our friendship, our impending “benefits,” and this quiet evening filled with Queen and Malbec.
“It does,” I agree, and I’m not lying. It does feel nice. Warm. Comfortable. It’s a little surprising, given the reason we’re here.
I watch her as she sips her wine and sways to the next song. She’s so gorgeous, she makes my mouth water. I like the way she wears her hair now. Straight and shoulder-length, with straight bangs that come to a stop just above her brows. Her body is curvy in all the right places, and I can’t help but let my eyes wander to her ass, which looks immaculate in her body-hugging dress.
I’m getting turned on just looking at her. Heat bubbles up inside me, and my dick starts twitching in my pants.
As I look at Chloe, she seems to sense my change in mood.
“Parker?” she asks, looking at me with those warm brown eyes of hers.
I manage a smile and shake off my thoughts. “Yes?”
“We can still back out of this,” she says in an almost whisper. “If-if it’s too complicated, I mean.”
Wouldn’t that be the easier decision? We could laugh about it tomorrow, chalk it up to a momentary lapse in judgment, and go back to being just friends. We wouldn’t have to worry about damaging our relationship with Lauren or with one another.
But I look at her again. At the nervous but eager expression on her face as she waits for my answer. At the way her chest rises and falls with her deepening breaths.
There’s no way in hell I’m walking away from her now.
“No,” I say firmly. Setting my glass of wine down, I close the distance between us and take her glass from her as well. Then, I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her flush against my body. “I do not want to back out of this.”
Before she can respond, I lower my head and capture her lips with mine in a searing kiss.
My mind is roaring with a rush of blood as our lips meet. It’s electric and hot, full of pent-up tension and desire. She gasps against my mouth, and I take the opportunity to deepen the kiss, my tongue tangling with hers. I can taste the Malbec on her lips, sweet and woody, but it fades into the background as I focus on her and on this moment.
Her hands move up to grip my shoulders, then slide slowly into my hair, holding me in place as if afraid I’ll change my mind. I groan into her mouth, encouraged by her response. My hands roam down to the small of her back, pressing her closer, if that’s even possible.
We part briefly for breath before diving right back in again. It’s intoxicating, the heat between us and the way she’s melting against me.
I’ve wanted this moment to be real for so long that I’m afraid it’ll all prove to be a dream when the kiss ends.
Chloe pulls away first, her cheeks flushed, chocolate eyes sparkling under the dim light. Her chest heaves as she tries to catch her breath.
“Parker,” she whispers, her voice shaky and filled with anticipation.
“I want you,” I say in a low growl. “I want you so bad, Chloe.”
Her eyes widen at my confession, then close as she lets out a shaky sigh. “Then take me.”
The words tumble from her mouth, and with that single sentence, all my reservations crumble away. Tonight isn’t just about lust; there’s affection and trust woven into our entanglement, too.
In response, I lift her effortlessly into my arms and make my way to my bedroom. The air thickens with anticipation as every step brings us closer to crossing a line we can never uncross, but at this point, there’s no backing out. Not when the soft weight of her body against my chest feels this right. Not when every cell in my body is crying out to connect with hers.
As I lay her down on my bed, her eyes meet mine, wide and expectant. There’s a flicker of uncertainty there, but it’s quickly replaced by determination. She knows what she wants, and so do I.
She opens her arms to me, and I settle between her thighs, my cock throbbing with need against her panty-covered core. We share one last lingering look before I lower my lips to hers again.
Our breathing is ragged and heavy, our bodies melting into each other as we explore each other. There’s an undeniable connection ignited between us, and it’s more than just skin-on-skin contact. It’s a communion of souls, a silent confession of feelings held back for too long.
Chloe’s hands slide down my back, her nails digging into my skin through the fabric of my shirt, sending electrifying jolts all over my body. She’s pulling me closer, as if there isn’t already an inch of space separating us. She wants me as much as I want her, that much is clear from her responses. A small whimper escapes her lips when I pull away to get rid of my shirt.
My breath catches in my throat as I take in her flushed face, her eyes half-closed with desire, her lips swollen from our fervent kisses. There’s a glow about her that makes her look ethereal under the soft bedroom light.
Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I reach for the hem of her dress, waiting for a moment for any sign of hesitation from her. When none comes, and she lifts herself up a bit to assist me instead, I slowly pull it off over her head to reveal the tantalizing lingerie underneath.
She lays before me in nothing but black lace. My heart skips a beat at the sight.
“God, you're beautiful,” I say hoarsely.
A soft blush creeps onto her cheeks, but she doesn’t break eye contact. I lean down once again, taking one nipple into my mouth through the fabric of her bra. She gasps and grips my hair with renewed strength. The taste of her skin against my tongue, the sound she makes when I nibble just slightly, it's intoxicating. I don’t think I can ever get enough of her.
Her back arches as she offers herself to me. I take it as my cue to continue, my hands slipping behind her to unclasp her bra. Her breath hitches as the fabric falls away, revealing her full breasts. She’s perfect, damn near close to a goddess in this moment.
“Jesus, Chloe,” I murmur as my lips trail down her body, exploring every inch of her soft flesh.
Her hands tangle in my hair again, pulling me closer, a silent plea for more.
“How are you so perfect?” I whisper against her skin. She shivers, and goosebumps erupt all over her body.
“Parker…” She whimpers, but before she can say anything more, I capture her lips again.
Meanwhile, my fingers find their way to the waistband of her panties, hooking into the black lace. I pull them down slowly, kissing my way down her belly along with the garment. Once they’re discarded onto the floor beside us, I let my eyes rake over her naked form.
Her cheeks flush under my gaze, and I can’t help but smirk at the sight. Even now, after everything that has happened between us tonight, there’s still a touch of shyness in her; it’s endearing and damn sexy.
Pushing her legs apart, I lower myself until my mouth is in line with her sweet, pink core.
I give her a gentle kiss, my tongue sliding over her clit, and she squirms underneath me, her hands clutching the sheets. Her soft gasps fill the room as I explore, trying to find the places she likes most. I take my time, mapping out every inch of her with my mouth and tongue, savoring her taste that’s uniquely hers. She’s sweet and intoxicating, like the chardonnay she likes so much.
Chloe’s breaths come in short gasps now, and I can feel her legs trembling around me. There’s something so arousing about having her at my mercy like this. My fingers dig into the flesh of her thighs as I hold them apart, giving me the perfect view of how wet she’s getting.
Tilting her hips upward, she silently asks me for more. I’m only too happy to oblige. My tongue moves faster, and soon, she’s bucking against me. From the sound of her whimpers echoing in the quiet room to the way her body convulses underneath me, everything about this moment is enthralling.
I pull away from her for a moment, letting the cool air hit her before latching back onto her again. The change in temperature has an electrifying effect on Chloe; she cries out, clutching my head closer as an orgasm begins to build within her.
“Oh, God. Don’t stop...” she breathes out, each word accentuated with a moan.
My cock throbs painfully in response, but I ignore it for now. I need to make Chloe come first. I need to make sure she doesn’t regret this decision to be with me for even a moment.
Her body stiffens and then releases with a shuddering cry as she reaches climax. Her inner walls clench around nothing, and I can’t help but groan at the thought of plunging myself inside her.
Before she has time to recover, I move back up along her body, pressing myself against her still-trembling form. I capture her lips in a heated kiss, letting her taste herself.
“You’re amazing,” I whisper against her lips. She smiles at me, her eyes sparkling.
While kicking off my pants and boxers and grabbing a condom, I hover above Chloe, looking down at her with nothing but pure desire as I roll the contraceptive down my length. Her eyes mirror mine, filled with want and anticipation. I lean down, capturing her lips in another searing kiss, as I align myself with her entrance.
“Parker, I need you,” she mumbles.
“I know, baby,” I reply. “I’m going to give you everything you need.”
With that promise, I tease her entrance lightly with my tip, causing her to gasp and arch her back again. Her hands grip onto my shoulders as if holding on for dear life. The intense look on her face is enough to send me over the edge, but I tamp down on the urge.
“I need you, too, Chloe,” I confess hoarsely.
Our gazes stay locked as I push into her slowly, letting her adjust to my size. Her breath hitches, and she bites down on her lower lip, desperately trying to suppress a moan. The sight is so utterly erotic; it makes me feel like the luckiest man alive.
Once I’m fully sheathed within her, I hold still for a moment, enjoying the sensation. She wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me even closer.
“You don’t need to be gentle,” she whispers softly into my ear, and it feels like I’ve been struck by lightning.
“Trust me, I won’t be,” I murmur into her ear but capture her lips before she can respond.
I start to move. The first few strokes are slow and measured, a torturous contrast to the thrilling urgency that courses through us both. Chloe’s whimpers morph into soft moans as I increase my pace, hitting that sweet spot within her over and over again.
Her hands claw at my back, the slight sting only intensifying the pleasure I’m experiencing. Seeing Chloe come undone under me is something I never thought I’d be lucky enough to experience. Her eyes shutter closed as she loses herself in the sensation, but I want her to look at me. To see my desire for her. To know that it’s me who’s making her feel this way. Sliding one hand down to trace circles around her clit, I coax those beautiful eyes to open again.
“Look at me, Chloe,” I order softly.
Her eyes flutter open, and they’re glazed with intense pleasure. The sight sends a shudder of desire through me more powerful than any physical touch.
“Beautiful,” I breathe out before kissing her again. Her tongue meets mine eagerly, even as she pants for breath.
Chloe’s legs tighten around my waist as she pushes up against me to meet me stroke for stroke. Each thrust brings us closer to climax; our bodies are slick with sweat.
I can feel Chloe’s body tense underneath me and know she’s close. Wanting us to come together, I pick up my pace once more, pushing us both closer to the edge.
“Almost there…Parker…” she whispers against my neck.
With one last deep thrust, we both tumble over the edge together; a wave of intense pleasure washes over us both. Her inner muscles clench tightly around me, milking my own climax as I spill into her with a ragged groan.
Pleasure radiates through every nerve ending in my body as I collapse on top of her. Chloe’s arms wrap around me, holding me close as we let our racing hearts calm down. Our bodies are a tangle of limbs as we lay there, basking in the afterglow.
“Holy shit,” she says. “That was incredible.”
I grin. “You were amazing.”
She chuckles, and her laughter is like music to my ears. All too soon, though, she starts to move and slip out of my arms.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
She sits up on the edge of the bed and glances back at me with a small smile and a shrug.
“No overnights, remember?” she replies.
“Right.” I nod. “You’re right. We need to stick to the rules. That’s the only way this will work.”
I lounge against my pillows as I watch her get up and get dressed, enjoying the view as she bends this way and that in front of me. When she’s dressed, she turns back to me with a grin.
“I’ll see you later,” she says.
“See you later,” I reply with a wink.
Waving her fingers at me, she leaves the bedroom, and I listen until I hear the front door open and shut. Once I know she’s gone, I plop onto my back and stare up at the ceiling, wondering if this was actually a good idea or if I’ve just set myself up for a strange kind of torment.