13. Declan Foster
13
DECLAN FOSTER
A few hours after dinner, Parker joined me in the lounge, the baby monitor in hand. This had become a pleasant routine over the past several days. Following our evening meal, Parker would take Joy upstairs for a bath and a story. A short time later, she would drift off to sleep and he would join me for a drink and conversation. Parker still did most of the talking, though, filling my ears with adorable stories of Joy. The best ones included pictures or videos.
Parker was convinced she was days away from saying her first word. Unless it started with “Ahhh,” I was sure her first word was a ways off, but I could be wrong. Every day they stayed in the house, I was reminded of how little I knew about babies.
Despite this new complication to my neatly organized life, I couldn’t deny that Parker fit here. He fit in my home and my life. Even Franks and Chef Donovan each seemed to have an extra spring in their step. Neither had breathed a word of complaint or concern about the added work.
“Sorry I didn’t get those mock-ups done for you today,” Parker apologized after finishing his story about Joy’s bath-time antics. Apparently, she wasn’t a fan of bathing without her special yellow-duck washcloth. “I’m nearly finished with one idea, but another came to me this evening, and I want to play with that one to give you some options for what I was thinking for that front parlor.” He paused, a smile growing on his lips. He scrubbed a hand through his unruly hair. It was longer than he normally wore it. With everything that had happened in the past month, it was likely he’d forgotten all about scheduling a haircut.
It was tempting to schedule an appointment with my stylist for him, but I hesitated because I wanted to run my fingers through it. To twist my fist in his hair as I held him down for a long, thorough kiss. It had been so long since I’d last tasted him.
“Declan?”
I jerked, blinking rapidly to clear my head and remember where the hell I was. When Parker came into focus, he was grinning at me.
“Sorry. My mind drifted,” I mumbled, my gaze darting away from him.
“It’s all right. I was saying I didn’t expect to lose so much of my day to chatting with Byron. He wasn’t what I was expecting after hearing he got caught sleeping with the big boss man.”
“No, Byron is a very good, thoughtful person. Sebastian is lucky to have him.”
Parker’s eyebrows lifted, disappearing under his hair. “Oh, really?”
“What?”
“You almost sounded wistful. Is he a fish that got away?”
“No! Absolutely not. At least, not how you mean. If I have any regrets, it’s that I was never able to steal him away to be my assistant. Byron is the only person who has managed to keep Sebastian organized and on time. His new assistant, Kaylan, is still learning, but I think he’ll get Sebastian under control soon. ”
Parker slumped deeper in his chair as he cackled. “Like you need help to stay organized.”
“True, but I appreciated his efficiency and punctuality. Thankfully, I found Mrs. Turner. She has worked out nicely over the past couple of months.”
Another huffed laugh slipped from Parker as he continued to stare at me with his goofy, lopsided grin.
“I am sorry your work was disturbed today,” I apologized. Sebastian had been trying to get information out of me all week about Parker, but I’d kept my mouth shut in order to protect Parker’s privacy. I should have known he would convince Byron to sneak past me.
“I’m not. Byron is cool. Once you get past his super proper facade. We traded war stories.”
“War stories?” Parker had never mentioned being in the military, and I felt certain Byron hadn’t either.
“Tales of battles we survived.” Parker absently waved one hand in the air. “I lost Molly, became a dad, and my place burned down. He has crazy family drama. It would be nice to hang out with him. He’s the kind of person I wouldn’t mind having a drink with.”
“He’s taken.” The words shot out of my mouth before I could catch them. I wasn’t sure why I’d said it, other than the fact that he’d never suggested that we hang out and have drinks.
“No shit.” Parker snickered. “You think a homeless, unemployed single dad has a shot at luring him away from his billionaire boyfriend?”
I didn’t get the chance to argue that he was selling himself short. Parker waved a hand at me and continued. “Besides, he’s not my type.” His grin turned wicked as he waggled his eyebrows at me.
“Am I your type?” I asked.
“The type to scramble my brains and make me forget my own name.” He paused and rubbed his index finger against his lower lip. “Speaking of…I might have mentioned that we’re fuck-buddies when I was trying to explain that we aren’t dating. He said he wouldn’t tell Sebastian, but then…people talk. Do you mind?”
“That you told Byron about us? No.”
In fact, I was glad Byron knew. Part of me wanted more people to know that I was fucking Parker. Ever since we’d encountered Rome at the grocery store, a restless feeling had been creeping through me. Parker was mine, and people needed to know this so they wouldn’t think they could take him.
But the first problem regarding the world discovering that Parker belonged to me was that things had stalled between us. It had been nearly three weeks from when we’d last had sex. Of course, things had been crazy in Parker’s life, and he needed space to figure things out.
Now we’d fallen into a comfortable routine. What was to stop us? Not a damn thing.
I set the tumbler of scotch I’d been holding on the coffee table and pushed to my feet. Parker’s eyebrows rose in silent question as I crossed the room and stood in front of him. I said nothing as I took his hand and pulled him to his feet. He might be taller than me by a couple of inches, but I had him on sheer muscle mass and girth. There were few things I enjoyed more in the world than being able to manhandle him.
As soon as he was standing, I grabbed him by the nape of the neck and pulled him in for a rough, demanding kiss. Parker remained frozen for a heartbeat and then melted into me with a moan. God, I’d missed that sound. He returned the kiss with the same restless hunger he’d had every time we’d met at his apartment.
Fire poured through my veins, and I lost myself in the taste of him. The feel of his body in my arms was both exhilarating and calming, as if some missing piece had slotted into place and I was whole again .
My free hand skimmed along his back and I fumbled with the hem of his T-shirt. I needed skin. To touch all those delicious parts that made him cry out and beg for more.
Yet, at the first brush of my fingertips on his bare skin, Parker broke off the kiss. “No. Wait.” He pushed off me as if trying to step away, but he seemed to forget that a chair was directly behind him. He flopped down and bounced once, his eyes wide. I didn’t think he’d meant to do that.
“What’s wrong?”
Parker opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His cheeks reddened, and he closed his mouth.
“Do you not want to?” I asked. He’d given every sign that he was interested, but maybe I’d read him wrong.
“No, I do! I…” Parker broke off, turning his head away so I couldn’t see his expression.
“What?”
Parker let out an angry huff. “Because I’m not…I’m not like I used to be…”
“I don’t understand.”
My lover’s eyes snapped to me, and frustration crackled around him. “I haven’t seen the inside of a gym since Molly died. My hard abs are gone. My sweet, round ass is gone. I’m even a month overdue for a haircut. I’m a fucking mess. We had an unspoken agreement that we fucked because we were hot as hell. But I’m not anymore…and you’re going to be disappointed.”
Oh. Is that all?
I pulled Parker to his feet a second time and resumed devouring his mouth. He didn’t put up any resistance, just kissed me back with the same hunger and blistering heat he always did. I gripped his wrist and pressed his palm to my hard dick as it strained against the front of my pants. Parker groaned as I tore my mouth from his. He fondled me through my pants.
“Does that feel like I’m disappointed?” I growled .
“No,” Parker whimpered.
“Good. You have fifteen minutes to shower. Then you will come to my bedroom, where I will fuck you until you can’t walk.”
A low hum escaped Parker. “ Mmm …my favorite thing.”
With more effort than I wanted to admit, I released him and stepped away so he could move. “Don’t be late.” Before leaving, I scooped up the baby monitor he always carried when Joy was sleeping. “I’ll watch over her while you shower.”
“And what happens if I’m late?” Parker called out. I didn’t stop walking, just continued to the hall and main staircase. Parker’s low laugh nudged my own lips into a half smile. “Fucking tease,” he muttered.
Maybe I was. He loved the struggle, to be overpowered, to be pinned. I would never force him to do anything he didn’t want to. He wanted the illusion of having all his control taken away. And fighting me, acting out, gave me the opportunity to seize that control from him.
I fully expected him to be late. Or more likely, I would need to hunt him down. Anything to get my blood boiling. The chase was almost as fun as the act.
But he wasn’t late.
As the timer ran out, he appeared in my bedroom doorway with his wet hair slicked back, wearing a pair of soft sleep pants and a T-shirt. I’d been sure he’d appear in nothing but a towel if he came to me.
My frown deepened. “You don’t believe me.”
“I tried.”
But he’d had too much time, allowing his doubts to creep in.
“Then I’ll have to do a better job of convincing you.”
“Declan…”
I ignored his halfhearted attempt at an argument. Parker wasn’t the type to throw a pity party or need reassurances. Until now, he’d been the embodiment of confidence. Fuck . He was the king of cocky, and I needed to help him reclaim his crown.
I walked past him and closed the double doors, shutting out the rest of the world. Joy was sleeping soundly in her own room, and the monitor was resting on my nightstand. Nothing else mattered right now.
His shoulders were tense, and his hands were balled into loose fists at his sides. I wanted to tell him that we might have started with raw attraction, but we’d grown beyond that over the past several months. Now I craved his smile, the sound of my name on his tongue, his laughter filling the room, the way my soap smelled on his skin. Despite any grumbling, I had looked forward to his daily interruptions and seeing him sprawled in the chair in front of my desk, that devilish grin on his face. I missed him in the office, but now he was in my home every night. Yet, I knew there were no words that would get through to him. He needed action.
I wrapped my arms around him from behind, slipping my hands under his shirt to slide slowly up his stomach and chest, molding him against me so he could feel my cock pressed to his ass. “You’re overdressed,” I murmured, rubbing my lips along his shoulder.
“I couldn’t make it too easy for you.”
“The only time you’ve been easy was that first night in the bathroom stall.” As I spoke, I pinched and plucked at his nipples, drawing them to hard nubs.
Parker hissed. “With those thick thighs and cock, I thought you might give me a decent fuck.”
“Decent?” I snarled. One hand ran across his chest and into his sleep pants. He was only semi-hard but swelling faster now that I was stroking his dick. “Must have been better than decent since you were the one to pull me into the bathroom when we ran into each other the second time.”
“Had to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.” Parker sounded like he was clenching his teeth. He raised his hands and reached behind him, trying to grab some part of me while he remained trapped. “Fuck this position. Just bend me over and fuck me. It’s been too damn long. I feel like I’m going to come.”
Good.
I released Parker only enough to rip off his shirt and shove down his pants. At least he’d had enough sense to not put on underwear. With a little smack on his ass, I herded him to the bed, where he flopped on the center. He stared at me with his bent legs spread wide, his hard cock curled up toward his navel.
No, his stomach wasn’t rock hard and defined as it used to be. And maybe his ass wasn’t as round and firm. But he felt more real, more perfect, and infinitely more precious to me now because I knew all that he’d been through.
“Sex is much easier without all the clothes,” Mr. Smartass announced.
“We’ll get to that.” I stripped off my shirt and toed out of my shoes before crawling onto the bed to steal another long, deep kiss. We’d never done much of this, which was a damn shame. Parker had an amazing mouth, and no one kissed like he did. I didn’t ever want to stop, but I had so many other plans for him tonight.
Reluctantly, I broke off the kiss and moved along his jaw to his neck, shoulder, and chest. I kissed and licked every inch of him, worshiping the man beneath me, while soaking in every happy sigh and murmur of pleasure. The scent of the shampoo and soap he used filled my nose, and something inside me stirred. He was still using the soap I’d purchased and given to him. He smelled like mine.
It was only as I spent extra time at his stomach that Parker growled.
“Okay, Sexy Beast, you’ve made your point.” He threaded his fingers through my short hair and tried to push me lower, but I wouldn’t budge .
“I don’t think I have,” I breathed across the damp skin just above the head of his straining cock.
“Declan! I get it! You still think I’m sexy. Now fuck me before I die!” His shouts filled the room, followed by my low chuckles. He groaned. “You’re evil. You never laugh, but this is what I finally get you to laugh at. My torture.”
“You’re adorable when you’re needy.”
His body was a series of tight muscles beneath me. My heart raced to hear him so desperate. I did that to him, and only I could give him relief. It was why he’d always returned to me, why we’d set up our little agreement. Because no one could make him feel like this.
I took his cock in my mouth, sliding him all the way to the back of my throat. The sounds coming out of him as I sucked his dick were amazing. His fingers in my hair tightened to the point of pain as he held me in place while his hips rose and fell, fucking my mouth like a man possessed. The whole time he argued that we had to stop, that he didn’t want to come this way.
His breath caught. His hips stuttered. He was teetering on the edge of orgasm. Afraid he would pull away, I grabbed his hips and bobbed on his cock, sucking hard and fast until he shattered.
I drank every drop of him down and licked his perfect cock clean.
When I sat up, a smile teased my swollen lips as I gazed at his completely relaxed body. His wet hair was a messy halo around his head, and his lazy grin was crooked.
“You look like the cat who ate the cream,” he murmured, almost slurring his words.
“That was the appetizer.”
“And what did you have in mind for the main course?”
“Roll over.”
Parker stared at me for a couple of seconds, his eyes narrowing as the wheels in his head turned. I could still see the skepticism on his face as he slowly moved onto his stomach.
Regardless of what he said, it was still a perfect ass, and it was all mine.
I smoothed my hands across both cheeks, kneading tissue and muscle, wringing a soft, happy moan out of my partner before spreading those cheeks to reveal his tight hole.
At the first touch of my tongue, Parker howled. His entire body jerked as if trying to shy away from me, but I firmly gripped his hips as I made a feast out of his ass. He filled my ears with his needy cries while I licked and sucked on that stubborn hole. I slowly pushed my fingers inside, working loose tight muscles until I was sure he could take me with ease. By then, Parker’s entire body was trembling and covered with a light sheen of sweat. He sobbed my name into one of my pillows, begging for relief despite having come not that long ago.
My cock was making the same demands, and I couldn’t stand it any longer. With a snarl, I shoved off the bed and stalked to the nightstand, shucking the last of my clothes as I moved.
As I returned to the bed completely naked, I put on a condom with trembling fingers and slathered on some lube. I pushed into Parker at last, and his answering groan sounded as though it had rumbled up from the depths of his soul.
I wish I could say that the actual act was slow, each stroke executed to give the maximum amount of pleasure. But it wasn’t.
The tight grip of his ass combined with the intense heat and Parker’s filthy begging destroyed my control. I fucked him hard and fast without showing an ounce of mercy. Still, he demanded more, spurring me on until he was shouting and jerking beneath me. His muscles squeezed my dick so fucking tight and I continued to pound his sweet hole through his orgasm, only to have my orgasm shatter a breath later. I came so damn hard, I grew light-headed and my toes tingled. I was surprised the condom didn’t break.
My brain slowly clicked on and I found myself half lying on top of him, one arm around his waist and my dick still buried deep in his ass.
“Oh, God. Did I die? I think I died,” Parker said between pants.
“Not dead,” I mumbled into his shoulder blade.
“I think it would be better if I had. When my body remembers it’s alive, things are gonna hurt.”
“Sorry.” My arm tightened on his waist, pulling his sweaty body closer.
“No. Don’t.” Parker patted my arm with a sticky hand. “After my ass recovers, we’re doing this all over again.”
I smiled and closed my eyes, soaking in the feel of him as my breathing returned to normal.
“Parker,” I began as my brain kicked up an important idea.
“ Hmmm? ” he hummed, sounding almost asleep.
“I have a home gym you may use anytime if that will make you happy, but I have no complaints about your appearance.”
Parker huffed a laugh. “Yes, you made that point very clearly.” He paused and added in a softer tone, “Thank you.”
After pressing a kiss to the back of his neck, I carefully withdrew from his body and moved to the bathroom to deal with the condom and clean up. I returned with a warm, damp towel to find Parker standing at the side of the bed. He stole the towel from my fingertips before I could clean him off myself.
“I should head to my room and try to catch some sleep.” He got two steps, and I caught his arm, halting him.
“No.”
Parker’s eyes widened, almost hidden under his messy hair. “What? ”
“You’re sleeping here.”
“Seriously?”
“I don’t feel that I’ve adequately proved my point. Plus, I believe I said I would fuck you until you couldn’t walk.” I looked pointedly down at his legs.
“You’re fucking crazy!” He cackled.
“I’m not done with you.”
We compromised. Parker used my bathroom and then crawled into my bed, where he stayed for the rest of the night in my arms. We’d never slept together. I’d never slept with anyone like this, but listening to Parker’s steady breathing as he drifted off next to me was surprisingly relaxing.
I also proved my point by waking him at three a.m. for a very slow, deep fuck.
And woke him at eight a.m. with another blowjob.