Craving You (TBX #2)

by Ashley Christin

  Her hands wrap into my hair tugging me closer. The mirror is fogged, the bathroom full of steam, and we aren’t helping matters. She reaches her hands down to pull up my shirt; raising my arms, she removes it before I loosen her towel and cause it to fall away. We pull apart long enough for her to admire me while I do the same to her, both of us breathing heavy with uncontained desire. It’s been too long since we’ve connected with each other; we’re greedy. Tracing her hands down my chest to the button of my jeans, she bites her bottom lip as she glances up at me while unbuttoning my pants. They fall to the floor before she drops her gaze and gasps. Commando.

  Her legs spread with me between them, and I don’t see any reason not to connect us further. Grabbing her ass, I thrust her to the edge of the counter forcefully. She easily complies. “Tell me what you want.”

  It’s the first thing I’ve said to her since I entered the space. Hunger shines brightly in her eyes, but she doesn’t speak. I growl, “Fucking. Tell. Me.” She’s being stubborn.

  “I want you to fuck me,” she groans with attitude and a hint of longing. Lining myself up with her center, I effortlessly slide into her. Once I’m finally seated inside her, the softness is gone. I take what she’s giving me, showing no mercy, and fuck her hard on the counter while she pants my praises. I fuck her so hard that I know when she’s with her date tonight all she’ll feel is me.

  Slamming into her, I play with her clit as she reaches her peak. “Parker!” she screams.

  “Fuck!” We collapse into each other.

  When I come down from the high, Kelsey still has her forehead against my shoulder, trying to calm her breathing. Pulling out, she raises her head and winces. It’s then I notice the fact no condom was used. I was too overwhelmed with jealousy that I forgot.

  “It’s okay. I’m on birth control.” Her small voice rings through the silent room.

  “When you’re sitting at dinner tonight with fuck face, or when he drives you home and tries to make a move on you, know who you belong to. I’m going to be in you all night, sweetness.” Sliding my pants back over my hips, I tuck myself away and walk out of the door, slamming shut behind me. It doesn’t mean a damn thing to me that she’s the first girl I’ve fucked without protection. Or that she’s going out with some other fucking douchebag immediately after.

  And it really doesn’t matter that I’m literally in her.

  Kelsey

  “Kelsey!” I hear Brealynn shouting from the bottom of the staircase as I slip on my sandals.

  For my date.

  “Be down in a second!” I know if I don’t hurry and get down there, Parker or someone else in this house may be drilling him. Rushing down the stairs, I come to a halt before anyone can see me, slowing my gait, and then exit down the stairs. Even though I just had an amazing release, I’m wired so tight. Thanks to Parker. I can’t think about him now; I need to focus on my date with Derek.

  My eyes roam over the living room; only Derek and Brealynn occupy the space. Oh well, it’s better I don’t have to see his face.

  “Okay, let’s go,” I rush, dragging Derek out of the house with me.

  “You look pretty,” he compliments, and I thank him quickly so we can get out of this house. Taking notice that Parker’s truck is gone, I can’t stop my mind from wondering where he went. With another girl? To the box? Out drinking? Snapping myself out of my daze, I don’t care what he is doing.

  Once we make our way to the Mexican restaurant, which is my favorite, my nerves relax some. Making small talk over dinner, I calm down with each passing minute. Derek seems like a good guy, for the most part, but every time my body moves during dinner I wince with a satisfying pain that belongs to Parker. I hate that I love it and that he makes me feel more than I ever have before. We can’t happen so the thoughts need to leave my mind. I need to move on and plan too; with Derek and any other man I decide to date. The fun part of dating keeps me interested, the getting to know new people. I’m not a slut, just a serial dater.

  Derek kisses me on the cheek good night after our very boring date, and I make my way inside the dark house. Before my feet reach the first step, a light engulfs the living room. Parker sits alone in the chair, like a father waiting up for his daughter. For a minute, I wonder where his shotgun is but then I remember in his pants. I suppress a smile at my own joke. His stare is unreadable. I start to make my way up the staircase and once my feet reach the second stair, his sleepy voice breaks the silence surrounding us. “Did you have a good time?” His question causes my body to pause.

  Leveling my stare with his, I answer. “Yes. I did. Thanks for asking.”

  Parker stands and stalks over toward me. “Did you think of me?”

  He’s inches from my face. “No,” I lie defiantly.

  “You lie.” He calls me on it.

  I purse my lips in annoyance. “I’m going to bed.”

  Turning away from him, my foot reaches the next stair, but he grabs my hand and advances in front of me, leading the way upstairs and to my door. Once he opens it, I walk inside. Everything about this is wrong. Can’t he see that? I was just out with someone else, yet he’s here.

  “Good night.” He breathes inches from my face with his hand in mine and I cave. I wish I’d have missed the first time he ever laid his lips on mine because I can’t quit him. Not yet. My lips crash hard onto his, and our tongues tangle in need. He’s been in the back of my mind all night, and I finally give in to him.

  My body aches for him.

  Before I’m ready, he breaks away. “I want to be the only one, Kels.” And then he leaves me, speechless and hot in the threshold of my door.

  Parker

  “What the hell? That’s last minute, bro,” Colt confesses into the phone with a laugh and then adds, “I’ll make it work – yeah – it’s all good. We’ll be ready. Later.” I stare in his direction. We’re at TBX taking stock.

  “What was that about?”

  “Competition run this weekend in Dallas for Texas Ramp Jam. It’s close to home, and I figure us schooling our competition will be worth the cash payout. Justin put us in the lineup without consent, but it works out. He’s a loose cannon, but he means well.” We’ve known Justin since we started riding. He used to come to the skate parks we hung around before we became something. He’s a good guy—a little reckless but aren’t we all.

  “When do we leave?”

  “Tomorrow mornin’ we’ll ride down. Runs start at two.”

  “Sounds good. We stayin’ with Justin?”

  “Yeah. He’s got the room.” Colt picks up our new line of shirts as our father graces us with his presence. When we were younger, I remember him being a good dad. Attentive. That all changed when we were about ten. I don’t know what happened, I just know a lot of fighting ensued in the Taylor household. I just assumed it was about his cheating.

  “I hear you boys entered Texas Ramp Jam this weekend. That’s great. Make sure you only wear TBX. I will see you boys at the after party, so you better be there. One of you two will make it in the top three, and it will look bad if you both don’t attend.” Our father, always the one to put things the way they are.

  “So are you goin’ to carpool with us?” I ask Tim. He’s always supported us without expecting anything in return. That’s how we know he’s a great friend.

  “Hell yeah, I wouldn’t miss it.”

  “Where’re you guys going?” Kelsey stands in the doorway to the kitchen wringing a towel in her hands. Blue jean shorts and a small tank top hugging her in all the right places, I allow my eyes rake over every inch of her. Torturing myself.

  “Texas Ramp Jam in Dallas. Colt and Parker have entered. You should come!” Tim insists, and I shut my eyes for a minute trying to rein in my temper. She doesn’t need to be there. She doesn’t want any part of me, so therefore, she shouldn’t have any part of my life.

  “Umm-” She twists the dishrag tighter in her hands.

  “I’m sure she has other things to do.”
Even I can hear the aggravation in my voice.

  Kelsey narrows her stare at me and continues, “I would love to come, Tim.”

  I bet she would.

  “I bet you would.” I grin without trying to hide my sarcasm. Her lips part slightly, but enough for me to know I’ve affected her.

  “Sweet. You can ride with me.” Tim claps his hands in victory.

  I freeze and then mumble, “She can ride with me.”

  Tim and Kelsey both look at me with skeptical eyes. “Nah, man, she can just ride with me. I doubt you, Colt, and Brealynn would have enough room anyway.” It’s like he’s trying to take my favorite candy from me. Fire filters through my bloodstream. He has no idea what I feel for Kelsey; hell, I don’t even know.

  Luckily, Kelsey speaks up, “If you have the room, Parker, I’ll ride with you.” I swear the people in Iceland can hear my sigh of relief.

  “We leave Thursday morning.” Leaning my elbows on my knees, I mess with my phone.

  “Wow. That’s tomorrow.”

  I raise an eyebrow in her direction. “Statin’ the obvious, Kels. Better start packing now. We’ll be there one night, so don’t pack your whole damn closet.” A small smile plays across her face.

  “So I have to make the hour drive alone? How’s that fair.” Tim pouts.

  “You can ride with Colt. Kelsey and I will ride alone.” At my confession, her eyes meet mine. The need I see in them is almost blinding. I’m positive mine reflect the same.

  I fuckin’ can’t stay away from her.

  Kelsey

  Everything about Parker scares me. I know that. Yet, I just willingly agreed to head out of town with him, alone, for the most part. When I told Brealynn, she looked at me as I expected—crazy.

  “Have you lost your ever-lovin’ mind? I thought you were going to try to avoid him? How does that work in this situation? Please, explain.”

  Ugh. I should have just kept my mouth shut. “I can’t.” My voice sounds whiny.

  Confessing that I’m drawn to him is not going to work. That something deep within me screams for him. That’s insane. There’s no such thing as one person for the other. That’s fairy tale shit. Happy endings don’t exist. The prince never shows up to save the damaged princess. That’s just how it is, and I’m okay with that.

  “I think you’re drawn to him. You fight it, but here you guys go again,” she predicts.

  I huff out a laugh. “Brea, you’re going right?”

  “Yes…”

  “Then why can’t I go? Can’t I be there for Colt and even Parker without havin’ to have any feelings for them?”

  She pauses and looks into my soul. “Sure, but that’s not why you’re going. Fool yourself, fool Parker, but you can’t fool your best friend.” She’s right. “Give it to me straight. I don’t want to be a part of your game with Parker.”

  “Brea, there isn’t anything to tell. We had a few good nights, and now, it’s over. He knows it’s over and so do I. We both accept it. So let’s all just move on. I want to have a good weekend and maybe find some BMX hotties.” I laugh, fanning my face and batting my eyelashes.

  “Okay, fine. I hope you’re telling me the truth because if you care anything for Parker, take it from me and let him know. These boys, they don’t get it. They don’t get that someone could do something so selfless as to love them back. I’d hate for you to lose Parker to his own demons.” Little does Brealynn know, I have my own demons that still haunt me.

  “I hear you loud and clear. Parker knows we can’t be anything,” I assure her, but I don’t feel so sure.

  Parker’s voice flows through my doorway as smooth as whiskey, “It’s getting late, and Colt and Brealynn have already left. Are you ready to go?” I look up from my suitcase to his brown eyes, my gray ones taking in his plain white tee and blue jeans. I bite my lip while nodding my head and closing my bag to zip it up.

  “Yeah. I’m ready if you are.” We both stare at each other, neither of us saying a word, but a million thoughts run through my head. The moment passes when he picks up my bag and we advance to the stairs. Parker is right next to me; once we reach the truck, he loads all of my bags like a gentleman.

  Half of me thinks this is a good idea, half of me thinks this is a horrible idea…

  Here we go…

  Parker

  Kelsey’s unease fills the cab of the truck while we make our way onto HWY 35. “Where’s your auxiliary cord?” She begins to snoop around my truck, lifting up the center console and digging around.

  I smirk. “Like hell you’re getting my auxiliary cord. You’ll probably play shit like Taylor Swift or some other top twenty pop song.”

  “Pshhh, don’t act like you know me. Hand it over.” Her little hand hovers over the console waiting for the cord. I look at her and a pout takes over her face. I’ll be damned. It’s the cutest face I’ve ever fuckin’ seen. I’m so fucked where she’s concerned, so I surrender the cord without a fight.

  Maroon 5 takes over my speakers, and I regret giving her access immediately. As the lyrics filter through my speakers, I can’t help but agree with Adam Levine. When we’re together, she’s all the sweetness I need in my life.

  Kelsey sings along to the lyrics, the wind from the rolled down window blowing her hair all over the place as I watch her in my peripheral vision. Hand tapping on her thigh as she belts out the song. It’s nice to see her so carefree. If she only knew this song pretty much sums up how I feel when I’m with her. She’s an addiction I can’t quit. She started this hiatus between the two of us, and I’m beyond ready for it to end.

  I decide to lighten the mood and sing along with her. “Yes! Please!” I belt out in my best sexy voice, face scrunched up in passion, or I hope that’s what it looks like. It’s not as good as Adam but still. She looks over at me and begins to laugh, her smile lighting up her face as she continues to sing the lyrics. I continue to shout out my one line, each time earning more laughter from her.

  The yellow lines on the road blur one by one as we make our trek to Dallas. Once our sing-a-long is over, she switches between local radio stations. I casually glance over at her, hair still flying all over the place. She insisted on having the window down.

  “What?” she questions to my obvious stare.

  “Nothing.”

  “Parker… I’m proud of you, you know.” I try to take in her expression before I focus back on the road.

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yup. The cover of Ride or Run is amazing. I can’t wait to see you guys ride this weekend, to watch you ride, Parker. You have a lot of talent.” I don’t look at her. I can’t, so I continue to focus on the mile markers we pass.

  “I don’t know about great. I know I’m pretty amazing but great? Nah.” I joke trying to lighten the conversation.

  “Believe in yourself, Parker. I believe in you.” The strength of her voice causes me to chance a sideways glance in her direction again. Gray eyes shining with pride stare at me.

  “Whatever you think you see, sweetness, it's not really there. I ride well enough. That’s about it. Okay?”

  “Park-”

  “That’s it.” I cut her off. She doesn't need to see more than what’s on the surface. I’m not worth the dig. Nothing is below.

  She closes her mouth with a hurt expression on her face and turns toward the window adding in a whisper I’m not sure I was supposed to hear, “You’re way better than well enough, Parker.” I ignore her comment. I also ignore the hurt in her voice and the ache it put in my chest.

  Kelsey

  Loud music vibrates from the surround sound as people wander through the chaos. This crowd is intense. For a small competition, it’s packed. I’m being pushed forward toward the edge of the section we’re in. Girls screaming Colt and Parker’s names along with other riders I’ve never heard of before fill my ears. Colt’s run is first; he sits on the ramp staring down into Brealynn’s smiling face. The world must have aligned perfectly for those two. Every day, th
ey prove me wrong, and I believe in love a little more, at least for them.

  “Colt Taylor takes the run at full speed nailing his double tailwhip! Whoa, that was sick! Colt is the leading man for Ride or Run, ladies and gents. This is the top dog!” the announcer cheers on. Brea’s smile takes over her face as I stare at my blonde friend jumping up and down for the love of her life. Once Colt finishes, she rushes past the barricades, the ones keeping us a few feet from the ramps. Colt finds her soon, and sheruns toward him as well. Picking her up and twirling around, they kiss. Brealynn wraps around him in joy, and I can’t help but envy her.

  My eyes find Parker. He’s atop the ramp prepping for his run now. Once he finishes adjusting his green helmet, those brown eyes land on mine with a look that sinks into my soul grabbing a hold so tight my breath hitches. The sound of the crowd fades into background noise while my pulse becomes deafening, my vision engulfed by Parker. I don’t know how he does it, but he unarms me from deep within.

  “The Taylor boy who’s still available, ladies, Parker Taylor! He’s been steadily rising in the ranks. What will he give us today?” the announcer booms, sending a jolt through my body reminding me that Parker is not mine. Parker gives me what looks like an assuring smirk and tilts down the ramp as the crowd cheers.

  “I’d like to ride him!” I hear shouted over my shoulder along with other comments. Why does it bother me? Parker isn’t anything to me, but the control I’m currently using not to throat check this bitch is award worthy. I watch Parker; my eyes stalk his every move. He makes jump after jump, some causing my heart to leave my chest. The roar of the crowd helps feed my addiction toward him, or that’s the excuse I use.

  Parker exits the ramp once his run is over. Never looking again in my direction, the flame I felt is smothered before it has a fighting chance. He doesn’t owe me any lighter fluid. I’m just his… friend? I honestly don’t even know. A sense of sadness creeps its way into my chest, causing it to tighten. I try to rub it away with no luck.