Craving You (TBX #2)

by Ashley Christin

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.

  Parker

  Dizziness set in and my air supply seemed to be running low at the tone of her voice, the I don’t give a fuck about you attitude she was acting out caused my hands to shake and nausea consumed me. If those feelings were on the verge of love, I never want to experien
ce it again. It was damn near crippling. How’d I ever allow myself to even attempt to think that the feelings I had for her could have been love? What a joke. I knew better and still chased after her- but not this time and not ever again. Lesson learned. Keep that shit skin level from now on.

  My brother, my best friend, just asked me a question I never thought he’d utter, and I’m completely zoned out in shock. Tim’s voice muffles through slightly. “I think you broke him.” Then the bastard pokes me.

  “Parker, snap out of it. You knew this was gonna happen eventually.”

  “What? I don’t think I heard you right.” I stare at the diamond ring on the table.

  “I’m thinkin’ of askin’ Brealynn to marry me, asshole, and I want to know what my fuckin’ brother thinks about it.” Yup, I heard him right the first time, although he wasn’t that rude a minute ago.

  “Okay, I heard you right.” Rubbing my face, I feel the frustration of my life more than anything, not from the ring in front of me.

  “I love her and want to spend my life with her.” There’s that word again, love. It puts a bad taste in my mouth. Lookin’ at my brother who’s changed so much over this past year, I really take him in. Don’t think I’ve ever seen him so fuckin’ wickedly happy before. Never thought I’d ever see it after we lost Mom. Just because I’ll never fall in love or want to spend my life with the girl of my dreams doesn’t mean I can’t be happy for my big brother.

  “Go for it. She loves you.” His posture relaxes with my comment.

  “We’re gonna have a weddin’,” Tim says in his most country of accents. His southern twang drippin’ off every word as he slaps me on the back.

  “When are you goin’ to ask her?”

  “I want to throw Brealynn and Kelsey a surprise birthday party since they’re both in the same month. I’ll propose then.” My ears perk up at the sound of her name. Colt and Tim look at me with sympathy. I told them about the whole blow-up with Kelsey.

  I didn’t even know when her birthday was.

  “Just let me know where you need my help.” Defeated in more ways than one.

  Colt shifts uncomfortably, “Was hoping you two would help me plan it. I know you and Kelsey aren’t talkin’, but she’d never know.” Yeah, it’s been all of two days and there’s been radio silence between us two. The house is constantly awkward when we’re both home.

  “Hell yeah! You know I love a good party,” Tim cheers.

  “No problem.” My smile shakes, but I hope Colt didn’t see it.

  Walking into the house, my steps pause. Kelsey is curled up on the couch watching TV. The stiffness of her body screams that she knows who just walked through the door. She’s always uncomfortable around me now. Our once explosive relationship has become nothing but a smoke cloud, and it seems impossible for me to escape out of the smog.

  “This is the last Dr. Pepper…” Ava’s voice calls from the kitchen. A current shoots through my skin, and I just want to hide. Kelsey is a statue staring at the TV like it’s going to predict the future. “You take it. I grabbed a bottle of water.” Her green eyes widen when she steps into the livin’ room. “Hey.”

  Kelsey unfolds herself from the couch, walking over to Ava and taking the soda from her outstretched hand. “Thanks.” Then for the first time in two days, she looks at me, stopping my heart with her beauty. “I’ll leave you two. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Her joking tone and sweet smile don't match the sadness in her eyes. The ache to wrap my arms around her is strong.

  Ava barks out a laugh around the can at her lips. “I hope that list isn’t long.” Kelsey’s smile falls before she quickly paints it back on and turns to Ava.

  “Girl, it only has one thing written on it, so you’re good.” What I know is a fake laugh leaves her lips and the tone of her voice sends my emotions into overdrive. One minute, I want to hold her, and the next, I want to run far away.

  “What’s that? Just so I know the boundaries,” Ava jokes back with her. Cement couldn’t hold me down better than my feet are right now. Hell, I’ve grown roots into the floorboards.

  “A girl has her secrets. Have fun,” Kelsey singsongs and walks past me toward the staircase. Her gaze never meeting mine. Maybe if she would’ve, I’d have caved and grabbed her, but she kept walking away from me. What she’s good at.

  “See you later, girl,” Ava calls out to her then looks at me. “Hey, good lookin’, you wanna go for a ride?”

  Kelsey was completely in earshot for that comment, and it’s the bastard in me that replies back with, “Are you ready for the time of your life?” I know she’s just talkin’ about takin’ our bikes out to the ramp, but Kelsey doesn’t.

  “If you think you’re up for it, big boy,” Ava coos. When I look up the staircase, Kelsey’s form is frozen a few steps from the top with her shoulders slumped. “Let’s go. You have a hell of a day in front of you.” Ava opens the front door and out we go into the sunshine and down to the box where I can block out everything but ridin’.

  Kelsey

  I didn’t expect the jealousy to rip me apart from my core. The fact that another girl will be touching him and taking care of him, eats at me. Ava is gorgeous, with fire red hair and tattoos all over her body. Plus, she works for one of the biggest sports magazines in the state. She’s fuckin’ Ava Valencia, one of the biggest reporters in the business. No matter that I know this is best, it still hurts. Way more than I thought it would.

  “So…” Brealynn thinks out loud while we sit on the back porch of the house. “Ava.”

  “What about her?” Crickets start to play their annoying music almost drowning out my reply.

  “I’ve seen her and Parker together a lot lately. Are they dating?” She pokes the bear (me), knowing damn well they’re not.

  “Not sure. Don’t care.”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “You know you can’t lie to your best friend. It’s like, against the law of the world. Do you really want to mess with that?”

  “You’re crazy.” I bark out a real laugh. “I can’t allow myself to care because that’s against the law of my world. “

  “Oh, Kelsey.” My best friend shakes her head at me in sadness. “Don’t you know that’s bullshit? I thought maybe, just maybe, when you found the right guy you’d change your way of thinking.”

  “Well, you should know better than that. I’ve seen what happens when you love someone.”

  “Have you really?” Brealynn turns her whole body toward me. “Am I okay?”

  “Yes, you’re okay. What are you getting at?” I squint my eyes into slits at her.

  “I’m in love with Colt and he with me. You don’t see us falling apart. Everyone has their own ups and downs, and yes, sometimes you love the wrong person, but Kelsey …” the plea in her voice grabs at me somewhere deep, stirring emotions, “when you’re in love with the right person, everything else fades away when you’re together. All the other worries you have in the world finally seem possible when they’re beside you.” Brealynn’s hand touches my knee. “You’re not your mom. She’s lost, but I do believe she will find love someday too. Do you want to spend the rest of your life wandering around … lost?”

  I think back to every time I was around him. How everything did seem to fade away and it was possible to just be with him. It’s only been two days, and I’m already missing his friendship and, if I’m honest, his touch and security.

  “Shit,” Brea hisses and my eyes shoot up to look out across the backyard. Parker is giving Ava a piggyback ride back from the box, where they did who knows what. My gut twist again, and I’m sure my skin is turning green with the monster that is jealousy clawing its way out of me. Before I can comprehend the entire image of them, Parker is feet from me. “What’s so funny?” His pretty-boy grin firm and the bright whites of his teeth flashing toward me. Ugh. Why does he have to look so perfect?

  Parker lets Ava slide down the length of his back before she nestles u
p under his arm when her feet hit the ground as he pulls her in close. “Ava tried to beat me and failed, miserably.” The sound of his voice sends my body into high alert. When will he stop having this effect on me? I stare at them before me, jealous of the beauty that can touch him, have his arms around her, and feel him.

  “Maybe so, but I’d lose that bet any day.” She winks. In the short time I’ve known Ava, it seems that her and Parker’s friendship has bloomed into a full garden. When did they get so close? When did I miss it?

  “What was the bet?” Shit. It’s out of my mouth before I can stop it. Parker’s eyes slam to mine full of anger, but behind that, I see his desire for me. My heart freezes mid-beat with the intensity of it.

  “Don’t worry. It’s nothing that you wouldn’t do.”

  His voice is so cold that it causes Brealynn to stand from her seat. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I know what it means; he’s probably going to fuck the shit out of her. My body aches with the amount of pain shooting through it, rendering me immobile.

  Ava shrugs out of Parker’s grasp, or tries to, but he pulls her back in. “Don’t worry about them, Ava.” She looks uncomfortable and out of place now.

  “You shouldn’t, Ava, but Parker, you should.” Crossing her arms, Brealynn squares off with him.

  “What did I just walk in on?” Colt holds the door open for Tim as they file out. Tim is carrying the bag of coals for our cookout tonight. “Hey, Ava, you joining us for supper?”

  “Um … I don’t –”

  “Yes. She is,” Parker interrupts.

  “Parker’s being an asshole, but what’s new?” Brealynn fumes.

  Colt wraps her up and places a kiss on her lips; she instantly melts with his touch. “Just let it go.” I hear his whispered warning. Brealynn sighs and nods then looks at me with sad eyes. I give her a slight smile to let her know it’s okay. I made this choice, and this is life now.

  “Who’s ready for the best meat of your life?” Everyone groans, besides Ava, if she only knew Tim’s humor. “Not that kind, you pervs!” We all laugh, the tension easing around us.