walked out of her house a few days after the calamitous dinner, stomach grumbling as she made her way to her truck and reached for the driver’s door, only to stop when Parker snorted and drew her back by him. She hadn’t even heard him approach. She’d had another setback in the garage this morning, and this was seriously fucking pissing her off. She had enough to worry about with her hand slowing her down, but her pieces had been disfigured and broken. This was too much. Until she had proof it was Gemma, however, she couldn’t broach the subject with her current houseguest and bed partner.
Last she knew, Parker been inside talking about food, Cullen spending the day with either his mom or grandparents. She wasn’t sure and didn’t ask. They were still putting on a front for baby momma but since the arrival of his parents, Gemma was doing what she could to come off as better than Skylar. Seemed to be working, to his parents at least. More specifically his mom. Parker hovered protectively when his family was there, and while she thought it was nice, she didn’t need it. She didn’t need him to play knight in shining armor. She needed the nightmares to stop, the dreams and the guilt to go away.
She needed space. She hated the fact that her mind had pulled Cullen in and begun putting him in place of Brennen. Not like a permanent replacement, instead showing her what she could have. She wasn’t ready for that.
Was she?
“You’re not driving,” he growled. “And when we’re on the way to get some food, you’re going to tell me what the fuck is going on that you had to get back to the doctor.”
He opened the driver’s door and lifted her to the seat.
“This is my truck,” she protested. “Why do you think I went to the doctor? Checkup on my hand.”
He cocked a dark blond brow in her direction, a taunting smirk on his face. “Keys are down the front of my pants. Want to go after them?”
Hell yes. “Aren’t you afraid something down there is going to be jealous with the keys outsizing them?”
His eyes, more green than blue right now, blazed with heat. “We both know my cock doesn’t have a damn thing to be jealous of. Although if you’re a little hazy on that, we could do a refresher course. I’m up for that, and I know he would be.”
Her pulse jumped and skittered out of control. The quirk of his lips told her he’d caught it.
Part of her wanted to lean closer, put her lips to his and brush the hair falling forward over his forehead away from his eyes. This Parker, right here, the one who looked at her like she truly meant something to him and they weren’t playing for the crowd, had already stolen her heart.
But this wasn’t real, and she had to keep remembering that. This was going to be a motherfucking painful lesson when it was over. When he went back to being the asshole neighbor who threw loud parties and allowed his guests to park in her driveway and use her yard like their own personal trash receptacle. Then again, perhaps he would be nicer after the fact.
“Why not? The doctor said I wasn’t supposed to hold anything heavy,” she quipped. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”
He narrowed his gaze. She waited for his comeback but didn’t get one. He kissed her instead. Put his mouth on hers and claimed more of her soul.
Parker nipped her lower lip, then pushed his tongue deep in her mouth. Flicking it along hers twice before he swept it through, and she purred in response. Her wrapped hand settled along his chest while she gripped his side with her right.
As he edged in closer to her, she willingly widened her legs, wanting him there, needing him at her core. Lightning moved from his touch to her clit and back.
His fingertips scored along the top of her waistband beneath her shirt and she whimpered, craving his touch everywhere.
“You’re wet for me, aren’t you, Skylar? If I pushed my fingers down the front of these fucking jeans you’re wearing, you’d soak my fingers.”
“Yes.” She shifted against the cloth of her seat.
He kissed her again, and she was grateful; she didn’t know if she had it in her to disagree with him, even though logically, she should.
Parker slid her to the passenger seat. The drive to grab some food was silent.