Chapter 28 #2
“I’m the best thing that’s happened to you,” I tease. “But you’re the best thing that’s happened to me too.”
I pull her against me, cup her beautiful cheeks in my hands and brush my lips over hers. It’s soft and tender with so much feeling, I’m about to explode.
When we come out of the kiss, I grin. “I mean have you done something like this? Something you’ve always thought about but never done.”
“What’s this?”
“This.” Before she can question it, I pull my shirt over my head, and scurry closer to the wading pool. I toe off my boots, slip out of my socks and take my pants and briefs off.
“Parker,” she says, her eyes like saucers.
“Come on. Live a little.”
“You’re serious? This is a terrible idea,” she mutters as she undresses.
“You said that about us, yet, we’re happy and together.”
She laughs, soft and genuine and I realize that I love her. Truly love her. I’m deep in thought when I dive into the shockingly cold water. “Whew. That’s… refreshing."
She sheds her clothes, gasping as she steps into the water. “Oh my God.”
“You’ll get used to it,” I chuckle as her nipples harden into peaks.
“You’re insane.”
“Probably.”
We move deeper and she wraps herself around me to stay afloat. The space between us disappears. I pull her against me with one hand and sneak my other hand between us, rubbing my thumbs over her taut nipples.
Water moves around us as I kick my feet enough to stay afloat. Her hands are on my shoulders. I move mine to her waist.
Her breath catches as I pull her in tighter, feeling her breasts against my chest.
“This is reckless.”
“You make me want to be reckless.”
“You make me want to do things I shouldn’t,” she adds.
“Yeah?” I say, choking on the word.
She lets out a sigh. “Yeah.”
“If you want to be a bad girl, I’m up for it.” I press my erection against her body.
Her lips find mine, slow and warm. Not rushed or desperate.
Just enjoying being together in a new way and for once I’m not thinking about anything else.
When we part there’s no sounds except the wind, the water tumbling down, and a few bugs chirping.
“I’ve always felt like I was chasing something,” I admit.
“What?” she asks, looking deep into my eyes.
“My brothers.” The words come easier than I expect.
“J.D.’s the steady one and all disciplined. Greyson’s the charismatic one. Witt’s …” I huff out a breath. “Witt. He’s hard to describe because he’s just now letting me into his life over the past. I guess I would say he’s the quiet one. The observer.”
She smiles faintly.
“And you?” she asks.
“Don’t know.” I admit. “Maybe the one who tried to be different but ended up right where I started.”
There’s more to it. There always is. I’m not telling her this because I want the full story from her. I’m telling her because I want her to know everything about me. Things I should have said in therapy sessions.
“I quit football, choosing hockey, a different state, and parties. Anything that wasn’t … football.”
“Because of them?”
“Because I didn’t want to be compared to them. Hockey was mine. Football was theirs.”
She studies me and then traces my lips with her finger. “And now?”
“Now, I’m here to prove I belong in the league.”
She places a succulent kiss on my lips. “You do belong. I knew in college that you would go pro.”
I look at her and my heart squeezes. Because I believe her.
“You know, I can’t repay you for how much you have helped me. Being able to talk to someone I trust, whether in session or not, has been freeing in ways I never expected.”
“It’s my job to help people. But I’ve never wanted anyone like I want you.”
The moonlight reflects the shimmer on her lips and I pepper her neck with soft, wet kisses, pausing only to admire the way her head tilts back. “Doc, do you know what last rites are?” I mumble into her ear.
A small puff escapes those pouty lips. “What?”
“I’m going to fuck you right now. So hard I might drown, so go ahead and administer my last rites if I die.”
“You’d die just for the chance to…”
“Fuck you? Always… but I meant…” I wrap her legs around my waist and slide my fingers through her folds. Her arousal creamy against the slick, cool water. “I meant making love to you is worth dying over.”
She shifts slightly, like she’s about to say something important, but my mouth consumes hers and the tip of my cock presses against her center.
Somehow I wade next to a rock and press her back into the smooth, cool surface.
Her hands clench on to my ass as I enter her, thrusting with long, languid strokes until my name is shattering from her lips.
Her center clamps down, squeezing my dick until my legs start to quake.
“I… can’t…. wait... for you,” she breathes out like wind is caught in her voice.
“Fuck,” I scream and the sound of birds flying from the trees echoes around the waterfall. We come hard… together.
When our bodies relax, she giggles. “Are you alive?”
Barely.
Gentle kisses mingle with the lapping of the water against the rocks and pebbles yet nothing hits me harder than the truth. I trust this woman with everything I am. Everything I have.
I love her.
“Parker.”
My name sounds heavy on her lips this time.
“I need to tell you something, something I should have —”
“I’m coming in!” a voice shouts from the brush.
We both freeze.
“No!” We yell in unison.
Paulina’s laugh echoes through the clearing.
“Why?” she calls back, completely amused with herself.
We swim back as fast as we can and look over the ground to find our clothes. Gone.
I groan, “Teenagers.”
Paulina steps into view holding up our clothing like trophies. “Looking for these?” she teases.
Annika buries her face in my shoulder. “I’m never coming back here again.”
“Oh, you’re definitely coming back.”
Paulina wiggles the clothes and now that a dark blanket settles over the trees, we can’t see.
“Hurry up or I’m telling everyone.”
I call out, “Don’t you dare.”
“I will, Uncle P.”
Thinking on my feet, I say, “I’ll take you and Trevor to a concert or wherever you want to go. Just drop the clothes and head back so we can get dressed.”
“Clothes are now dropped and Drake is coming to Austin in two months. And you’re paying for everything.”
“Okay, just go,” I say, losing my patience.
“You’re my favorite uncle,” she giggles.
I mumble, “No, I’m just the biggest sucker.”
Annika looks up at me, eyes wide and lips trembling as we get out. We hike back to our clothes and despite getting caught by a teenager, my body hums knowing that Annika and I can stretch our boundaries together.
We dress, then I hook my arms around her waist. “That was fun. Exhilarating even.”
“Skinny dipping. Marked off my bucket list.”
I sigh, then push her hair behind her ear. “I’ve marked something off my bucket list too.”
She purrs, “What’s that?”
“I’ve fallen in love with you, Doc.”
No matter what she didn’t finish telling me, I know I love her.