Craving You (TBX #2) (18 page)

“You went out with Ava?” I can’t even get through my front door without the third degree.

“We grabbed a burger.” I give my best, ‘don’t fuck with me’ look toward my brother when Brealynn questions from her seat beside him.

“Who’s Ava?”

“Longtime friend who interviewed us for
Ride or Run
today.” Her eyes narrow into thin slits.

“The fuck, Parker?” She’s pissed.

“I can do whatever the hell I want to do. I’m a free man, in case you missed the memo.” Kelsey picks that moment to descend down our staircase in a strappy red dress. When her high-heeled foot reaches the last step, I gaze up those long, tan legs to find her face set in indifference.

She stops in front of the decorative mirror by the front door, hands fluffing her hair when she remarks, “He’s a big boy. I’m sure Ava’s already figured that out.”

“Where’re you going?” I ground out, trying to rein in my insta hard-on she’s givin’ me.

“Out.”

“Where?” This question finally catches her full attention, turning her cold stare to me.

“A date.” My nostrils flare while I grind my teeth together to keep myself from sayin’ something I can’t take back. My body is so tense and sweat begins to trickle over my forehead.

“Who, Shane?” Her eyes narrow at my comment.

“None. Of. Your. Business.” She enunciates each word. The whole time Brealynn and Colt are staring at our exchange.

“Can I talk to you a second?” Then there’s a knock at the door.

“No, sorry.” Her tone leads me to believe she’s not sorry at all. The door opens to a tall blond dude, flowers in hand. “Don’t wait up.” She smiles at me and walks out of my house with another man.

How the fuck did I end up here again? I’m done. Not dealing with this shit. Shaking my head, I start for the stairs.

“Her mom set her up. She’s just doing it to appease her, Parker. Calm down.”

“I can’t calm down! What if she lets him ...I can’t even fuckin’ say it.” She’s mine. Even though she’s not. Damn it!

“Kelsey’s not that kind of girl. You were an exception and look where that got her.” Brealynn tries to reassure me, but I see the sadness in her face. The emotion she has for Kelsey. Her sad voice reminding me of the darkest secret from Kelsey’s past. It begins filtering through my ears, and I falter in my steps.

“You went out with Ava tonight. You can’t expect her not to do anything. You guys are over. Move on or try and win her back, but whatever you do, just do it.” Colt’s right. We’re not together because when we are, it’s too intense, but when were not, it’s still intense. Hold and cold, up and down, opposite meanings of the word.
Intense.

“You’re right. I’m hittin’ the sack.”

“It’s seven, man.” That’s when I hear it. The uneven wave of his voice on the last word he spoke. He’s worried about me.

“I’m beat.” The interview and shoot took longer than expected and then my long dinner with Ava along with my warring emotions have drained me today.

“Night.” We all call out as I climb the stairs to my room.

First and foremost, I need a shower. When I walk into the bathroom, Kelsey’s door is wide open, the light illuminating her bed where lace lingerie is laid out.
Fuck.
Did she plan to wear this tonight? This sweet tart is killing me slowly.

I see a retail bag with the receipt sticking out. Glancing at the paper, it’s dated a few days ago.

She bought this for me.

Fuck me
. My dick’s hard imagining her dressed in this—
for me
.

Without thinking, I pull out my phone, snap a quick picture, and text Kelsey.

I would’ve loved to see that sexy body of yours wrapped around my dick in nothing but this.

Pressing my hand over my stiff dick, I readjust myself and decide that tonight, I’m taking a cold shower.

It doesn’t help. I think about her, I think about us. We need to cool it down and back away, but I can’t seem to grasp that concept. I had Ava today, ready and able, but she didn’t even make my dick twitch. Besides, with Kelsey, it’s not just the sex I look forward to. Her smartass comments and witty remarks that leave that mouth of hers blow my mind. She’s fun and genuinely cares about me.

I’m checking my phone as soon as I wrap the towel around my hips.

This body would have loved to have been wrapped around your dick tonight. – Kelsey

Fuck. Me. I want her.

p.s. stay out of my room. – Kelsey

Then why are you out with another guy?

Because the guy I wanted was busy with Ava. – Kelsey

It was just dinner.

So is this. – Kelsey

I’ll leave you to your date. Just know I’m gonna be jacking off to the vision of you in that red lace tonight.

You gonna wait up for me? – Kelsey

Should I?

She replies back fast as lightning.

Yeah. –Kelsey

My heart flutters around inside my rib cage. I’m fuckin’ beat, but I’d love to hold her. The bonus being, if she’s in my arms, then she’s not in his.

Kelsey

Opening my bedroom door, I half expect Parker to be waiting. He’s not. My feet are sore from wearing heels all night, so I slide them off, pulling my dress up and over my head at the same time.
Freedom.
Sliding back my covers, I crawl into bed and snuggle down into my comforter. My date was lackluster. I’m afraid no one will ever light my fuse the way Parker can or make me feel what only Parker can make me feel. My body tenses with that realization. It shouldn’t matter. My fuse only needs to be lit for one thing, and that needs to be emotionless, dirty, in the moment passion.

Throwing the covers back, I make a choice. Tiptoeing through the bathroom, I creak open Parker’s door. It’s so dark. Shit, I should have turned on the bathroom light. My eyes shift around the room trying to focus in the darkness. I thought he’d be up waiting for me, like he did last time.

“Parker?” I whisper into the blackness. Nothing. After a few creepy seconds, I attempt to call out again a little louder. “Parker?”

Silence.

Is he even here?

Umph. A shoulder rams into my abdomen while my upper body is thrust through the air and over a shoulder. “You scared me!” He tosses me onto the bed, and I bounce a few times before settling. I can see his shadow now in the darkness. I can feel his presence, strong and commanding. “Parker?” My question is met with more silence. “You’re freakin’ me out. Talk!” The bed dips down and a strong hand starts a path up my calf, over my knee, and past my thigh. My breath hitches. “Please say something,” I beg in a hoarse whisper before lips crash onto mine.

He consumes my taste buds. Soft lips working against mine, tongues dueling out the perfect rhythm, my heart sinks into my stomach.
I’ve missed him
. A slow, sensual nibble to my lip allows me to suck in a shaky breath. “Kelsey.” The deep needy, rough timbre of his sleepy voice echoes through the room and my insides quiver in response.

“Didn’t mean to wake you.”

His breath fans my face. “Didn’t mean to fall asleep,” is all he says before shifting beside me on the bed and tucking me securely into his front. His arm wraps tightly around my hip and his hand possessively grips my skin.

“This is so wrong.” I rush the words out. “I was just out with someone else, Parker.” He doesn’t even flinch away from my words.

“He wasn’t me.” His normal timbre is gone, replaced with a flat, void sound that causes my gut to twist.

“No.” My murmur soft, almost unheard.

“Now, you’re with me, where you’re supposed to be.” A rough hand digs into the flesh around my hip.

“Parker –”

“Stop.” His arm tightens around me pressing me against his body. I don’t know if he means to or not, but his dick presses excitedly against my ass. “Just. Stop. Let me hold you tonight, okay?”

We sit cuddled in silence for what seems like minutes, maybe thirty. “You scare me,” I whisper to the night, unsure if he’s even still awake. When his breathing hitches, I know he is.

“You terrify the fuckin’ shit out of me, babe.” The darkness seems to swallow us up again before he adds, “It’s the most pleasurable terror I’ve ever felt.” Chill bumps prickle my skin at his compliment.

I don’t reply. My eyes are heavy and my body drained; my heart, however, is still beating happily, now that I’m in his arms. Before my final second of consciousness ends, I swear I hear him murmur, “I fear what my heart may feel for you.”

I awake beside an inferno. An arm is still slung around me, but now, I’m lying against his lickable chest. The covers have been lost sometime during the night, rolled up into a mess at the end of the bed. Sliding my eyes over Parker’s sleeping body, I gasp, and in an instant my body responds. The traitor that my heart is leaps, and tingles run the length of my panty and strapless bra-covered body.

I feel the vibration before his words tumble from his mouth. “Cravin’ me this mornin’, sweetness?” He rolls over me, lust shining in his eyes. “I need a fix too.” Soft lips press down on my forehead before he focuses his stunning but promising smile on me.

He looks beautiful.
Is that weird to say about a
man?

Propped up over my almost naked body, tan muscles on display and I just rolled out of bed hair, my soul sends a painful cry out to his. I know the minute he feels my body tense because his eyes slam shut while an exhausted breath leaves his lips. My focus on him wavers and I too close my eyes because this is the moment I will forever remember, for the rest of my life; at this moment, my soul screams
I love Parker Taylor
. In this stitch of time, I refuse to allow it, to accept it and know that without a doubt, I have to let him go.

“I can’t keep doin’ this with you. Fuckin’ want you all the time, Kelsey. Whatever choice you’ve just made in that pretty head of yours, know that it will be final.” Survival mode kicks in for my soul, screaming and kicking with a furious force against my lungs, knocking the air from me. She’s chosen to fight when my mind has decided to run.

The walls I’ve allowed to slide partially down slam back into place with a vengeance. I think I can even hear the sound of the lock clicking shut. Parker’s face is stone when he jolts out of the bed the minute I’m securely locked back in my cage. It doesn’t help that he’s naked and still hard. Cold ice shivers over my skin causing it to bump up from his stare.

The carpet is soft below my feet, unlike the stare penetrating through my back when I step off the bed. Turning around, I face off with him. After all, this is what I do best.

“This would last the summer
at best
. We just need to stay friends, Parker. It’s easier this way.”

“I can’t be your friend, Kelsey.” His tone is final.

“Exactly. I didn’t sign up for this!”

“You think I did?! Trust me when I tell you, I wouldn’t have even if there was a sign-on bonus, but here we are.”

“If we can’t be friends, then we will be just roommates.” My voice sounds strong to my ears, but deep down, this is one of the biggest lies I’ve ever told.

“Be sure that’s what you want because this will be the last time I give you
exactly
that.” I don’t miss his meaning.

“Kelsey!” Loud banging sounds from my room. “Get your ass up! Why is your door locked?” Brealynn screams from the hall, and I watch Parker’s cold stare warm with rage.

Stomping, naked to his door he cracks it enough that his voice will travel to my screaming best friend, “Give us a fuckin’ minute!” The door slams shut again, and then he’s right in front of me, eyes pleading. The rage, the ice, it's all gone and now replaced with an emotion I can’t quite put my finger on. “You’ve already locked yourself away, haven’t you?” His usual strong voice is now full of defeat.

“Don’t forget to put the toilet seat down.” I toss a fake smile his way before turning on my heel.

Treading across the floor to the bathroom, his growl reaches my ears. “Fuck.”

Once I’m in my room, I throw on some clothes and go find my best friend. It’s time to get back to being Kelsey.