Chapter Twenty-One
Audrey
Parker: How was dinner?
Me: Who says it’s over?
Parker: It is.
Me: How would you know? Are you stalking me?
Parker: No. It’s either over, or he’s an even bigger bore than I thought since you’re texting me.
Me: He could be in the restroom. And YOU texted ME.
Parker: Or you could be in the restroom, plotting your escape. Need the wolf to come rescue you from the perfectly charming douchebag, baby?
Grrr, he’s too good at this game. I stir honey into my cup and take it to the recliner. I crawl under the blanket before I reply.
Me: I don’t need to be rescued.
Parker: Are we still talking about your lame-ass date?
Me: No.
Parker: I know you don’t need me, Audi. I’m not trying to be your knight in shining armor.
Me: Then, what are you trying to be?
Other than an insufferable pain in the ass , I think but do not type as I blow over the rim of my mug and watch the three little dots bounce on the screen.
Parker: Anything you’ll let me be.
I consider Heather’s words from the other night. “I’d love a chance to have hot, sweaty sex with my first one more time. If for no other reason than to show him how damn good I’ve gotten at it.”
Me: What if it’s only one meal? Would that be enough for the wolf?
My finger lingers over the back button a few beats before I finally say, “Fuck it,” and hit Send.
Parker: I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Open the door.
A shiver of anticipation runs through me. Before I can type a response, my phone pings again.
Parker: Ten minutes.
Me: No. Not here. I’ll come to you.
Parker: Hurry.
Me: Be there in twenty.
Parker: Please tell me you’re going to have Warner drop you off at my condo.
I laugh as I read his response out loud.
Cocky bastard.
I talked myself in and out of this a dozen times as I freshened up and packed a light bag. Now, I’m in my car, headed to Parker’s house for … what? One tawdry night of sex?
The traffic light in front of me is yellow, and I slow to a stop when it turns red.
What the fuck are you doing, Audrey?
This is a bad idea. I should make a right turn and head back home, but I’m not going to because I’m an idiot.
Throughout dinner, all I could think about was Parker and that kiss. Poor Warner had to repeat himself every five minutes because I couldn’t focus on anything he said. If Parker hadn’t messaged me when he did, I’m not sure I wouldn’t have been the one to pick up the phone and call him.
I pull my car under the condo, grab my bag from the passenger seat, and walk around to the stairs that lead up to the deck.
Anson is descending them with a bag over his shoulder.
“Hey, Audrey,” he says when he sees me.
“Hey. Where are you headed this late?” I ask.
“I’m going to bunk over at Sebastian’s cabana for the night. Give you two some privacy.”
“That’s ridiculous. You don’t have to do that,” I say as he squeezes past me.
“Ohhh, yes, I do.”
I turn and watch as he tosses the bag in the bag of his truck.
“Anson, no,” I call.
“I don’t mind a bit. You two have a good night,” he says, waggling his eyebrows.
“Audrey.”
I look up at the sound of Parker’s voice. He’s standing at the top of the steps.
I feel heat travel up my spine and spread across my cheeks. Damn, this man can knock me off-balance with just a look. No words. Just his gaze burning with desire as it skims my body.
“Hi,” I murmur, my throat suddenly dry.
He grins as he stretches his hand out to me. I consider it for a moment. His long fingers and large palm, connected to a strong forearm with thick veins and corded muscles. The sleeves of his green henley are pushed up to reveal the ink that I know wraps around his biceps.
Deciding to let myself have one night where I don’t overthink and analyze every little thing, I take a deep breath and climb the remaining steps to him. His extended arm folds around me, and his hand splays across my lower back, tugging me in close, straight into his chest.
“Hi,” he says as he lifts his other hand and brings it to my face. The warmth of his touch penetrates my cheek as I close my eyes and inhale his clean, spicy scent.
He slides the bag off my shoulder.
“You didn’t have to send Anson away,” I say.
“I didn’t. I just told him to put on some pants because you were coming over. He went to his room and came out with a bag. He said he called Sebastian and no one was staying at the beach house, so he was going to stay there tonight.”
“He wasn’t wearing any pants?”
He grins at me. “The asshole sits around, watching television, in his tighty-whiteys at night.”
I wrinkle my nose, and he chuckles.
“You want to come in?” he asks.
Suddenly nervous, I scoot past him and over to the railing.
“This view is incredible,” I say as I look across the sand to the water.
The waves glisten in the moonlight, their silvery edges rippling and shifting before dissolving into the darkness. The horizon is almost invisible, just a faint blur where the starry sky meets the inky water.
I take a deep breath, the salty tang of the sea filling my lungs, and close my eyes, taking in the sound of the crashing waves and the sigh of the wind.
I feel him come up behind me. His hands rest on the railing on either side of me, caging me in. The heat of his body envelops me as the breeze kicks up.
“Turn around, Audi.” His voice is low and seductive.
“I don’t want to,” I reply, trying and failing to control my breathing.
He dips his head, bringing his mouth to my ear, and I feel his lips graze my skin.
“Yes, you do. You just don’t want to admit it,” his deep voice growls in response.
“Parker Alston, when did you become so conceited?” I ask, feeling my breaths quicken and my pulse race.
“Confident. Not conceited, sweetheart,” he says, taking my earlobe between his teeth.
“Good, because I was promised your fingers, tongue, and cock could make me scream your name,” I say as I loll my head to the side to give him better access.
“I thought that was hypothetical,” he says as he kisses a path from my ear to the top of my shoulder.
“Well, if you think you can’t deliver,” I murmur, and he sinks his teeth into my collarbone.
A shiver runs from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
“All you have to do is come inside,” he whispers.
I open my eyes, take one last look at the ocean, and decide to jump.