by T. L. Quinn
He just gives me a small smile. “Of course I came.” Like he wouldn't think twice about coming to rescue me from Mr. Spencer. He leans his head down, and our foreheads connect. We just sway in place for a moment breathing each other in. Then he pulls away and spins me around. When he pulls me back to him, our bodies are even closer than before. I wrap my hands around his neck, and his hand is placed firmly on my lower back.
We don’t say anything to each other for the rest of the dance, but it feels like there are unspoken words flowing between us. The song ends, and it takes a moment for us to pull apart. Finally, I step back and we both clap for the band. Parker is just staring into my eyes. I feel like I can’t breathe, so I just smile at him and then turn and walk quickly away.
I go out into the hall, trying to find a bathroom to escape into for a minute. I walk down a little ways when I hear Jeff’s voice. “Hey, there you are.”
I turn and smile at him. “Here I am.”
“Can we talk a second?”
I look at him confused a little. Usually me and Jeff don’t really have serious talks. “Sure, what’s up?”
He looks down at his feet like he is ashamed about what he is about to say. When he looks back up, I smile to encourage him to continue.
“We’re just friends right?”
I don’t really know how to respond to that. “Of course we’re friends, why what’s up?”
He shuffles his feet a little. “I just....I feel funny asking this, but you’ve told me every time we do this type of thing that we are just going as friends, but I just want to make sure you really feel that way before…” He trails off and looks to the side.
“Before what?” When his eyes make their way back to mine, it clicks what he is trying to say. I gasp, “Jeff, are you trying to take a girl home?” I give him a smirk so he knows I am not offended.
He just shrugs. “Well, I don’t know about that yet, but just in case things get, you know, to that point, I wanted to make sure we were good before.”
I smile and give Jeff a small hug. “You’re sweet Jeff. I am pretty sure for how long we’ve known each other, if we were going to get together, we would’ve by now.”
He just grins back. “Yeah. You’re probably right.” He looks down again and then back up at me. “You’re sure you’re okay with this? I don’t want to ditch you or anything.”
I just laugh. “Perfectly fine Jeff. I have Becca and Doug to bring me home tonight.”
His shoulders relax like he’s relieved, so I ask, “So who’s the lucky lady?”
Jeff actually blushes. He mumbles out. “Rachel.”
I just stare at him for a moment. “Rachel? Like Parker’s date Rachel?”
He just laughs. “It’s not like I’m stealing her from him. She told me he is basically her cousin. Their parents were best friends before they were even born. She is just here as a friend because he didn’t have anyone to go with since he only been here a little while.”
I can’t help the smile that forms on my face. A cousin? Why didn’t he tell me that? Was he trying to make me jealous like I was him?
I just wink at Jeff. “Go get your girl.”
He smiles and gives me a kiss on the cheek, and then he leaves to go back to Rachel. I feel better after talking to Jeff, so I walk back into the main hall. I need to find Parker. I need to rub in his face that I know about his date. Although, then I’ll be admitting I don’t care that Jeff is planning on taking her home.
I look around searching for him. I’ll decide what to say once I find him. Just then, Doug comes up to me. “Hey, are you guys almost done for the night? Becca wasn’t feeling so great. You don’t have to come with us, but we’re taking the car now.”
“Sure, I’ve had about enough for the night. Want me to find everyone?”
Doug just nods. “Just check with Parker. I already talked to Jeff. Seems he is planning on taking Rachel home later.” He looks at me kind of funny. “What happened there?”
I just laugh. “I don’t know. I guess me and Parker are good matchmakers.”
He just chuckles. “I am calling the driver now. He’ll be around front in about fifteen minutes. Meet you there?”
I smile back. “Sounds good.”
Doug walks away, and I see Parker sipping on a drink over at one of the bars, so I head over that way. He catches my eye as I walk over, but his face remains blank. I don’t know if he is mad I walked away from him earlier.
“Hey, Doug and Becca are leaving now. I am going with them. You can call your own car if you want to stay.” He doesn’t say anything for a moment, so I awkwardly add, “I mean looks like someone stole your date, so not sure why you would want to stay.”
He finally smiles at me. Then laughs out. “Yeah, yours too.”
I just shrug like I don’t really care. “So are you staying or coming? Car will be here in about ten minutes.”
He looks right at me and says with a serious voice. “I don’t have any reason to stay once you leave.”
My breath catches in my throat, and we just stare at each other for a moment. Becca is suddenly right next to us. “Hey, are you guys staying?”
I shake my head and then look right back at Parker. “No. We’re coming.”
She just smiles. “Good. Me and Doug were looking for a moment to get you two alone.”
I give her a curious look. “How come?”
She grabs my arm and starts walking toward the car.
“C’mon, it’s a surprise.”
I look back at Parker, but he just lifts his shoulders like he doesn't know what she is talking about. We all head toward the car.
Chapter 8
Ava
Apparently there was a lot of traffic, so we are standing outside on the steps for a few minutes. I rub my hands up and down my arms to warm up. Parker takes his suit coat off and places it around my shoulders. “Here.”
I look at him and just whisper. “Thanks.”
I know I shouldn’t be sniffing his jacket right in front of him, but I can’t help it. It smells like him, and I can’t get enough of it. It smells woodsy like his body wash with just a hint of cologne that he wears for special occasions like tonight.
I am still discreetly smelling his jacket when the car pulls up. Then I feel his hand on the small of my back leading me to the car. It wouldn’t be noticeable to anyone around us. It just looks like a friend is casually leading me to the car, but to me it feels like more. I feel like I can feel his touch everywhere.
Once we are all in the car, I lean forward a little and casually place my hand on his knee. “So what’s this big surprise you need to tell us.” I see Parker glance down to where my hand is touching him. Yeah, back at you buddy. I can make casual touches feel like more too. I begin slowly circling my finger on his knee.
Becca grabs Doug’s hands and smiles back at us. “Well, the reason I was feeling so tired tonight and wanted to leave earlier than we usually do is because we’re pregnant!”
“Oh my gosh!” I go over to hug Becca. They have been trying to get pregnant for almost a year now, so I am happy for them. Parker gives Doug a manly handshake. “Congrats man.”
I lean back and look down at her belly. “How far along are you?”
“Three months. We wanted to wait to tell anyone so we wouldn’t get anyones hopes up in case something happened.”
I go in and hug her tighter. “You know I would’ve wanted to know even if something did happen.”
She puts her hands up in defense. “I know. I know.”
Then we both squeal. “Oh my gosh, you’re going to be a mommy.”
We spend the rest of the car ride talking all things babies. They don’t know the gender yet, so we discussed different name options and how we are going to paint the nursery. The distraction was good, but now the car is pulled up in front of my apartment building. Our apartment building.
We say goodbye to Doug and Becca, and then we walk into the building and into the elevator together.
Neither one of us says anything as the elevator goes up to our floor. We are standing about a foot apart, but it feels like he is surrounding every ounce of air around me. I am not exactly sure how we got to this point tonight, but things are definitely different between us than they were before. The air feels electric like if we accidentally touched, it would create an explosion.
The elevator dings at our floor, and we slowly walk toward our apartments. I just want to break some of the tension, so I awkwardly say, “That’s great for them.”
Parker gives me a small smile. “Yeah. They’ve been trying for a while.”
We stop in front of our apartment doors. I shift on my feet for a moment, then I don’t know what to do, so I just give an awkward wave. “Okay, goodnight.” Then I quickly run into my apartment and shut the door behind me without giving him time to respond.
What was that? I blow out a breath and head into the kitchen for a glass of water. I am reaching up for a glass when I hear my front door open. I set the glass on the counter, but I don’t turn around. I don’t even breathe.
I can feel him behind me. Then his hands are placed on the counter on both sides of me, and I can feel his breath on the back of my neck. He leans forward a little, and I feel his nose rubbing where my neck and shoulder meet. “Ava…” He breathes out.
I am not sure what to do. I feel like I am frozen in place. I have wanted Parker for so long, and now he is here with me in my apartment. I lean my neck to the side a little and he runs his nose up it. The contact makes me let out a small moan, and that seems to be enough confirmation for Parker that I want this too.
His hands leave the counter and come down to my hips, and his lips trace the trail that his nose just left until his mouth is right by my ear. He lets out a small breath and whispers in my ear. “You look so beautiful tonight.”
Beautiful. Of course he would say beautiful. Usually whenever I bring guys back to my place, they tell me I’m hot or sexy.
I turn around and look up into his eyes. “Parker...are you sure you wan-...”
I am cut off by Parker’s finger over my lips. He doesn’t say anything, but he lowers his finger from my lips. He is just staring back at me. Then his eyes fall down to my mouth again.
I feel my heart rate pick up. He lowers his face slowly, and his lips press ever so gently against mine.
It reminds me of the first time I kissed him except this time he doesn’t push me away. I let my eyes fall shut, and then I just as gently kiss him back.
The second my lips move over his, Parker lets out a growl deep in his throat and pulls me against his body. His right hand is pressing against my lower back, holding me close to him, and his left hand is threaded through my hair, tugging my head in whatever direction he wants. The kiss is no longer gentle.
I push us away from the counter, and push Parker against the kitchen island. I wrap my ankle around his leg and move my hands over his chest. I can feel his erection pressing into me through my dress.
I start unbuttoning his dress shirt when I feel his hand stop me. “Wait.”
My eyes shoot up to his. I step back. “Are you kidding me right now?” I ask angrily.
He looks down to the floor and shakes his head. “It’s just...It’s you, you know? I don’t want to move things too fast.”
I shake my head right back at him. “No. I don’t know. I’ve been waiting for this for six years. I think things are moving much too slow, and if I remember correctly, you are the one who came into my apartment.”
I grab his tie and pull him to me again. Then I kiss my way up his neck and across his jaw.
Parker moans and then tries to stop me again. “Ava...I just want to make sure-.”
I cut him off with my lips. Then I pull back slightly and look up at him. “I want this Parker.”
He looks back down at me for a second then mumbles. “Fuck.” Then his hands are everywhere. In my hair, up and down my waist, squeezing my ass. God. I love his hands.
I go to undo his buttons again and he stops me. Again. “Parker!” I whine.
He just lets out a small laugh. “We will. Just not here in the kitchen. If I’m going to do this, I am going to do it right.”
I can’t help the smile that comes onto my face. I just smirk back at Parker. “Maybe I like it in the kitchen.”
“Ava.” His voice is stern and commanding. It makes chills run down my arms.
I run my finger along the kitchen island and smile back at him. “Or, you know, maybe the couch, or the window sill, or against the living room wall.”
Parker grabs my wrist and pulls me back against him. He leans down close to my face and grits through his teeth. “Stop being a little brat.” His lips trail down my neck. Then in one swoop his arm came down under my ass and lifted me up to him, my legs wrapped around his waist, and his lips came crashing to mine. Without ever separating, he carries us over to my room.
◆◆◆
Parker
Ava’s back is pressed against her bedroom door while I continue to kiss her. I still can’t believe this is happening. Her fingers are threaded through my hair, scraping against my scalp. It feels so good. Why did I ever try to resist her?
You know how sometimes you are worried how something will turn out, but then when everything actually works exactly how you wanted it to? That’s this. Right here. It feels so right being with her. Like anyone I was ever with before was a huge mistake. Every time she makes those little moaning sounds in the back of her throat, I feel invincible. How am I the lucky bastard who gets to hear those magical noises?
I swear I feel like a teenager again. I could just make out with Ava against this wall forever. With all of my past girlfriends, we didn’t really kiss much. It usually just led to sex right away, but with Ava I could stay right here forever. Well, I could until she started pressing her hips forward and rubbing up against me. Jesus that feels good.
Ava pushes against my chest with her hand and drops her legs to the floor. She smiles up at me so seductively. She starts running her fingers up and down my chest. “So, can I take off your clothes now?”
I swallow hard. My mouth turns dry. I don’t know why I am so nervous all of a sudden. I’ve never been nervous about sex before, but I guess before never involved a naked Ava.
She looks up at me confused that I didn’t respond. “You’re overthinking this.” She reaches down and undoes my pants button and zipper. “Here let me help.” Then her fingers are down my pants and wrapped around my cock. I groan out. Any hesitation is now out the door. I need her. I need her now.
I reach around her and pull the zipper down on her dress. I push the straps off her shoulders and she pulls her hand out of my pants so the straps fall completely off. The dress pools at her feet. I look down at her and my already hard dick gets even harder. The way that black lace cups her breasts. Wait. What?
“How did you…?”
Ava just smiles back at me and bites her lip. “I have a key to your place, remember?”
She must’ve snuck into my apartment while we were all waiting for the car to arrive. I look back down at her and my mouth actually waters. “You wore this for me? A little presumptuous don’t you think?” I smirk at her.
She just gives me a smirk right back. “I don’t know. Maybe it was for Jeff.”
I just breathe out a laugh like that’s ridiculous. “You little brat. It wasn’t for Jeff.” I smile at her and then bite my lip as I scan down her body again.