Chapter 64
sixty-four
ASTRID
I never imagined I would go from licking my wounds to perched astride Parker in a matter of hours, but I found myself there—writhing in absolute pleasure as he pumped me up and down. I was about to climax, wanting never to stop this ride. He made me feel so safe and secure—so wanted and loved. Why did I fight him? Why wasn’t I just more patient? Those thoughts faded as I came, exhausted.
“Oh, God! Yes, please! Yes!”
I bent to kiss him, grinding on his cock. Euphoric, I didn’t hold back or care who heard us down the hall. Parker grinned sheepishly as I pulled back.
“What? You don’t like me to cum? Cum loudly?”
“I relish it. I cannot believe you’re back here with me, my darling,” Parker said. “That… that is what I wanted most.”
“Well, you are the birthday boy,” I giggled.
“Yes, it’s only fair, right?”
I nodded, going for broke, trying to make myself cum again. I dug my hands into his chest, moaning and panting as I got closer. The feeling of him inside me—so hard—was only part of it. The other was the way he looked at me with absolute adoration. This man worshipped me. This man wanted me to be happy. He would wait as long as I needed. He was the only person to promise me that.
Parker flipped me.
“I love you,” I said, tenderly.
“I love you, too, Astrid.” He thrust inside me. “But this isn’t about love.”
I bit my lip. “Not right now.”
It wasn’t. I went from beloved to the object of his lust. He stared at me, occasionally bending to kiss me until he put my feet on his shoulders. His cock slid, our bodies meeting hard every time. I felt like he might destroy me on one hand, but he knew it brought me to the highest high on the other. I gripped the pillows behind my head, screaming a litany of French swears.
“Yes, that’s a good girl,” Parker said, breathless.
He was close.
“I want you to cum, baby,” I said. “Please.”
He came deep inside me. I felt his cock pulse as I watched his face flush. Parker bent, kissing me, cock still hard within me.
“Nothing will ever feel as good as how you made me feel, Astrid Deschamps. I refuse to believe it.”
I watched him roll off the bed, disposing of the condom.
“I refuse to believe we’ve peaked,” I giggled.
Parker hopped back onto the bed, kissing his way from my navel up. He sucked on both my nipples for appreciation, saying nothing. He could be so horny and tender all at once. As he kissed my neck, I melted.
“It’s not fair for you to be this wonderful,” I said.
Parker stared. He rolled on his side, shaking his head.
“I could be better. I hope I will be, Astrid.”
“We will… we’ll make it work, right?”
“We must,” Parker said. “And I am trying.”
He leaned over, grabbing his mobile from the bedside table. He’d plug it in, so I was reminded to do the same. I got up, searching through the bag Amara packed .
“Well, fuck, I don’t have a charger and my phone’s almost dead,” I sighed.
Parker stared at his phone, dumbfounded.
“What? Can I use your charger?”
“Yes, baby,” Parker answered. “Uh… Astrid… I did something.”
I walked to his side of the bed, plugging my phone into the charger.
“Oh… okay?”
“There was this job. I poo-pooed it, as I was certain I could never take a job. I said to myself I was stuck here.”
“I told you?—”
“I know. You and Briggs… you cared enough to encourage me. I love you for that. It’s… the job… I sent an email on a whim. And… they said their original candidate turned it down. They want me to come up and do a job talk and guest lecture. Fancy going north?”
“North?” I asked. “Are you saying you’re taking a job?”
“If they offer it, I will. It’s at St Andrews.”
“Well, I’m in Edinburgh.”
“That’s a ninety-minute drive, love,” Parker insisted. “Much better than from London. Moreover, we could find a house in between and make a proper home—just us.”
I brimmed. “You’d want to?”
“If you don’t, that’s fine, too. But… I want to build a life with you. Only you. And I’m not willing to wait to be happy—not any longer.”
I kissed him, feeling everything at once. I was happy, loved, and excited. I was also frightened about this new journey and my unexpected choice. I thought momentarily about telling him no, but the feeling in the pit of my stomach told me to throw caution to the wind. This was my happiness at stake! I was happy with Parker and wanted to build a life with him.
“It’s crazy and too fast,” I said.
“It’s wild just like we are, Astrid, but I know it is worth it.”
“Your Mum is going to lose her shit.”
“I will suggest Fred and Carolyn take over this place for a bit. I will tell Mum I will reassess in a few years but that I want to chase you north. She’ll hate it, but Carolyn will turn the screws. She wants a grand house, and this will make them feel important. I can go to and from London as need be for anything official. And I will bring you with me, Astrid.”
I smiled. “It will be difficult. She’ll fight you like hell.”
“Yeah, but anything good is worth the fight.”
Parker kissed my forehead. I longed to be here with him forever. It would be challenging, but I hoped we’d make it work.
“And you don’t mind?” I asked.
“Astrid, I would move to Mars for you,” Parker chuckled. “I am so proud of you. I want you to have all the happiness on Earth, okay? That is all I want.”
I smiled. “Even Mars? Happiness on Mars?”
“You know what, why the fuck not?” Parker chuckled. “Wherever you go, I will go. Together, we are a team—a slightly-volatile, pedantic team, but a formidable one, no doubt. I will get this job, we will move to Edinburgh, and we will get our fairytale life. The one neither of us ever saw coming.”