“Yeah, I….” I lick my lips. “I couldn’t believe you came to talk to me. I couldn’t stop looking at you. Then you asked me about a birthday cake and I wondered if it was for your girlfriend or wife. Then I thought about how lucky she was.
“Why?” His eyes shifted to the mirror, meeting mine.
“You cared enough to go get information on it, trying to plan ahead. If you were doing that it was because you cared for her. Loved her... and because you were so damn hot.” I tell him honestly and he laughs shaking his head. His grey eyes look back at mine in the mirror.
“Then bumping into you at Wind... the beach that night… I swear I think I fell in love with you right then and there.”
“Park,” I whisper.
“I love you, Elizabeth Grace Del Rio. I love you so damn much.” His lips kiss my temple, his eyes never wavering from mine. The way he looks at me, makes my body hot. “Looking at you right now, having had everything happen between us that happened… I think you are more fucking beautiful than I did at that beach wedding the first time I laid eyes on you. Every day that passes, I think you are more beautiful, inside and out,” he tells me. His voice tender and so damn honest, I sniffle, blinking quickly to try to keep the tears away, and smile at him in the mirror.
“I love you too.” I whisper trying not to cry.
“I love how you shiver when I kiss this spot right here,” he finally says, breaking the silence between us, his fingertips where my neck and shoulders meet.
“Kiss it.” I tell him.
I watch his head lean down, his mouth on my neck, his beautiful grey eyes looking right at me in the mirror. Hungry and hot, I feel the moment his mouth touches the sensitive spot. Immediately, a shiver courses through me, making my toes curl and eyes close slightly. His forehead leans down touching my shoulder.
“Every. Single. Time,” he whispers deeply, his voice in that tone and I shiver with need.
Parker
“Baby….” She whispers and I lift my head to look at her reflection in the mirror. My angel looks slightly pale, not as tan as she’d been when we had started. Mostly because of her being indoors during the day and heading to the bakery at night.
She needed some sun and I’d make sure to give that to her. Beach trips, time outside, maybe a long trip to Miami, I would do anything to get her to feel good about the woman she is. Watching her in my backyard today, enjoying herself under the sun as she pretended not to check me out had driven me crazy. It’d taken every ounce of willpower not to go right to her, pick her up and take her on the grass below our feet.
Now in my bathroom, her body flush up against my front, my hand at her waist. Knowing she’s missed me as much as I’ve missed her even though we spend every moment we can together. Fuck. She’s so strong and brave, never ceasing to amaze and humble me.
“Every time I look at you, you are more beautiful to me, angel.” I tell her, her eyes get glassy and I immediately wrap both arms around her.
I’m done giving her space. My angel thinks I see a fucking monster, that I see nothing but ugliness when I look at her, and she couldn’t be more wrong. When I look at her all I see is beauty, a fucking warrior princess who'd been through so much, still standing tall in the ashes. It is time to set her straight.
“I didn’t want to crowd you.” I kiss her temple, breathing in her sweet scent. “I was giving you time, hoping that when you were ready to move things up you would come and tell me. I know we have tons of shit to work out. I know the stupid shit I said to you hurt you and it hurt you deep and it’s still in there.” I tell her, the truth having eaten at me for the last month and I hate myself for doing that to her. For putting that shit in her mind.
“I know why….” She starts to try to say, but I shake my head.
“Shhh. I was wrong. You are not, nothing. I was pissed and when I get like that I sometimes don’t think and spit shit out I don’t mean. I do it to lash out knowing it’ll be a direct hit, and I hurt you, angel. I know this. I know we haven't talked about it…,” my voice sounds hoarse; I’m filled with guilt and regret at the shit I said to her.
“We don’t have too.” She tells me, trying to let me off the hook and I smile sadly at her.
“Yes, we do.” I tell her. “I don’t want us to have what we have, and sweeping this under the rug, letting it mix with the foundation of what we are building together. I didn’t mean any of that shit. I made it worse insinuating shit that was beyond wrong, angel. The next day at your apartment, what you did made it’s point and set me straight, but I’m not stupid enough not to know that while you did that, it hurt you more. I can only hope one day you can forgive me.” Her dark brown eyes look slightly surprised at me and I feel like I’m open wide to her emotionally.
“Baby….”
“And maybe one day you can give me a lap dance that I can enjoy because even as pissed as I was, you got me fucking rock hard.” I admit like a total guy, her eyes wide, cheeks flushed pink, she liked the idea, and I bite away a smile. I hold her tight, my voice serious I say, “I’m sorry I did that, angel. I’m sorry I put that shit in your head.”
“Baby….”
“Shhh… now all I want you to do is close your eyes and feel. Trust me. If it gets to be too much, all you have to do is tell me to stop and I will. I will pick you up walk us to the room and hold you close. We’ll keep trying and work on getting us back to a place where you feel safe going there with me. This thing between us has one fucking expiration date.”
“Park….” A tear rolls down her flawless cheek.
“Let me say this, please.” I kiss her forehead, my eyes never wavering from hers in the mirror, “Our expiration date is the moment I stop breathing.” Her lip trembles and she bites it, “Because for the rest of my life I will love you and only you. I will only want you and fuck me but I will do everything I possibly can, day in and day out, to keep you safe and make sure you are happy. I will wear myself out to make sure you lay your head every night not only next to me, but with a smile on your face. You are it for me, Ellie. You need to know that.” Another tear slid down her beautiful skin and I see her swallow hard, trying to contain the emotions inside of her. “You also need to know that it’s okay if it takes a while for you to open up for me, to trust me to get back in there, because I will wait as long as you need me too.” And I will.
This isn’t a bullshit line I’m trying to swing to get back in her pants, it’s the fucking truth. My dad was right; when you know, you know. What he didn’t tell me was that when it’s the one, you’d be willing to endure a mountain of pain, you’d be willing to fight a pack of wolves, stand at the gates of hell and fight your way out, anything to make the woman you love feel safe, loved and cherished. But then again maybe that’s because I hadn’t been paying close attention. If I had, I would have realized my dad did that with my mom.
She turns to face me. Her eyes are searching for something in my face. Her hands go to my face. Her fingertips trace my jaw, my hairline, moving down to my shoulders. Her eyes are bright, even if still slightly glassy. That’s when she surprises me.
Her hands move down to my chest, splayed open, she slowly touches her way down, bringing every fiber in my body alive, my skin hot and needy. I’ve missed her hands on me. Her hands travel slowly until she reaches the hem of my shirt, pulls it up, and I help her. My shirt falls to the floor, her eyes on my chest, she licks her lips unconsciously and I take a deep breath. My body fully awake, my jeans tighten in the front.
“May I…?” She starts to ask, her eyes moving up my body till they reach my eyes. My body heats up fast as I wonder what she wants to do.
“Whatever you want is yours.” My voice deepens and is slightly strained. Her fingers explore down my chest, my stomach twitches as she touches my abs, feather light fingertips trailing back up.
“I love you.” She says. Her voice and face so damn sweet and vulnerable, I want to hold her tight, but I stay still, “I love you so much, I still can’t be
lieve you’re real. The way you look at me… how you just tell me what I need to hear… when I thought I lost you….”
“You didn’t. You never will…,” I reassure her and I watch as she bites her lip, my cock twitches. Her small warm hands travel to the waistband of my pants and I place my hands over hers.
“We don’t…,” I start to say but her eyes meet mine, and when I see lust shining through I can’t remember what I was saying.
“I want you,” her voice strong and I see something else in her eyes. Determination mixed with stubbornness. My angel is so damn strong.
“You’re in charge,” My voice strained, I watch her eyes go hotter, fucking molten, clearly liking the idea of being in charge and I make a note to remember that for future play.
She grabs my hand and I follow her. I’d follow her anywhere. Standing by the bed in my room, she bites her lip and I want to lick and nibble on that pouty lower lip of hers so bad. I fist my hands to keep them off of her. As she traces my chest with her feather light touch, I watch as the apprehension clears away from her eyes. I watch as her confidence grows after every touch, every kiss, each breath we take.
Each touch makes my body tighten. Every nerve ending in my body is burning bright. Breathing in deep, every pore of mine absorbing her beautiful scent. Not just of the products she uses, but just her, her unique scent as I smell her skin and the sweet scent of her arousal.
I swallow hard when I feel her small strong hands undo my belt buckle, carefully and slowly unbuttoning and unzipping. Her hands on my abs, I clench my hands at my sides trying to restrain the need to touch her. Relinquishing control and power to her is hard, but for my angel I will do it.
Liz
Parker Stone’s body is a whole other level of masculine beauty. One that would have had Michelangelo salivating and saying ‘David’ who? His body is that beautiful.
My fingertips lazily trace the sexy ridges of his V. Hooking my fingertips onto the soft worn denim of his jeans, I pull them down as I slide to the ground. I leave him in only his dark grey boxer briefs. Oddly enough being on my knees in front of him, I don’t feel scared. I’m not nervous, if anything I feel powerful. I help him step out of his jeans. I look up at the tenting in the front of me, my mouth waters at the sight of him.
His hands are fisted so tight that his knuckles are white, hanging at the sides of his body. I love looking at him with his head leaning back slightly as he breathes in deep. The sight of Parker, the man I love, handing control over to me when it’s not in his nature to do so, makes my breath hitch. It’s humbling, beautiful and erotic all at once.
Watching him as I’m on my knees in front of me, it’s like a light bulb turning on. Parker would give me anything I needed. He’d hand me the moon if I asked. Without a doubt I know this. He’d just told me he’d love me forever, he’d do anything and watching him giving me control proves it. That was what was terrifying and beautiful about Parker. He wasn’t just words or actions. He was both. Time and time again, he’d shown me that. He followed through with everything he did. From day one he’d shown me that. With me, he did this in a forever kind of way. His words repeating in my head, ‘For the rest of my life I will love you and only you’. The enormity of his words, his promises and how much he means them are filling the last hole of my patched together heart.
I love him so much that love isn’t a strong enough word to describe the emotions I feel for him but it is all I can think of. I splay my hands on his muscular, thick, beautiful thighs, loving the soft material of his boxer briefs and bring them down to his knees. His thick, long beautiful cock pops out and I swallow hard.
I open my mouth to ask but once again, it’s like he can read my thoughts.
“Whatever you want,” his deep voice is strained, hands still clenched at his sides and I bite my lip.
My fingers lightly trace his hardness, from the tip to the root of him. Wrapping my hand around him, or trying to at least, I start to stroke him. Slow and gentle. I watch the tip moisten as it releases a drop and without thinking, I lean in and lick it, his warm slightly salty taste in my mouth and I hear him groan deep.
I don’t think about anything but the man in front of me, my man. The man I’m going to spend endless days with. One that believes we can get through this and anything that life throws at us, and I know in my soul he’ll hold my hand as we get through anything life can throw at us and I’d hold his in return.
Without a second thought, I love him with my mouth. Licking and kissing from tip to base and back up again. I take care of him with my mouth and my hands. Remembering that I’m in control, I take my mouth away from his beautiful cock. I tell him to lay back and he does. Looking at him, as I'm kneeling in front of him is a sight. His chest is bare, with a light sheen of sweat on his carved muscles making the dark hair on his chest glisten. He’s reclining on his elbows on the mattress, his grey eyes hungry and his face feral but calm. He doesn’t pounce on me or push for anything the way I know he’s dying to do. Instead his hungry eyes are on me while his hands stay clenched tightly at his side. His hands only go tighter, when I pull my shirt up and toss it on the floor. I unhook my bra, letting it fall next to my discarded top.
I watch his hands slowly unclench and clench again. He wants to touch me. It’s difficult for him to do this, handing control over like this. All I want to do at that moment is to please him.
I mercilessly tease him with long licks, short licks. Sucking and lightly I scrap my teeth on his velvety hardness. I hollow my cheeks around him as I work him in and out of my mouth. His groans and gasps make me wet. I work him until all I want him to do, need him to do is to hear him let go. I need to hear him go over the edge and release in pleasure. Taking him in my mouth as far as I can I start bobbing up and down on his hard long shaft, the taste of him filling my wet mouth, I can hear his grunts and warnings of how close he is and it makes me hot. I can feel his thick, strong thighs tighten under my hands but I want to finish it. I want to take him there. I keep up my pace, when I hear his warning and I keep going. Bobbing my head, taking him into my mouth, my name is on his lips when he groans. He releases his load down my throat. His taste is salty but sweet. I feel his body give out as he falls back onto the mattress, his breathing heavy. I smile against the sensitive flesh that is still hard in front of me. I rest my head on his thigh, running my hands up and down his thick calves as we both catch our breath.
When I finally turn to look at him, his eyes are already on me, he pulls me up. I smile big at him and he nuzzles his nose against mine. His mouth moves to my ear.
“It’s my turn, angel.” He growls and I smile big.
I want it to be my turn. I’m so ready for my turn. I want him. I only let myself feel him and his talented mouth. I bask in the wonderful heights he takes me to. Heights of pleasure I didn’t even know were possible. That night our bodies connected. Over and over again his mouth is on me and mine on his. Our bodies come together, reacquainting with one another in every position possible.
My man, my Parker...well let’s say I didn’t realize exactly how creative he could actually be until that night.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Liz
Waking up slowly and a little groggy, I know I’m alone in bed without having to turn to see if Parker’s there. My stomach grumbles, slightly hungry but even then I feel content. Sitting up in bed, I look at the room. Looking around, I let it hit me how much I like this space, his space, our space.
A couple of the dark wooden drawers are open. One of his suit jackets is thrown over the chaise in the corner. I stand up, walking naked, my hands grazing the material of his jacket as I walk into the bathroom. Looking into the mirror, I’m once again me. Or at least I look like it on the outside. The bruises had faded completely, only leaving my skin slightly pale from having been hiding out at Parker’s house and the bakery kitchen these last few weeks.
Looking down, I see my bright orange toothbrush next to Parker's blue one. I like how they l
ook side by side. Glancing at the shower, my bright pink shampoo bottle is next to the deep red of his all in one wash, I smile, thinking I like that too. I wash my face, brush my teeth and grab a pair of green shorts and a black tank top from my drawer in his room and head to the kitchen to make coffee.
Watching him from the window, I almost feel like I can't breathe. Not only was it already a sunny Southern California morning, but he’s shirtless. Shirtless in dark grey basketball shorts, his powerful body scrubbing his truck.
Washing his truck, my clothes in his closet, toiletries in his bathroom, everything we had done the night before, I almost can't breathe at how beautiful it all is. It’s good, really, really, really good.
But as good as it is, it scares me too. The reality of what I had almost lost mixing with the reality of what’s going on with Parker and I blend together. Then that mixes with what I want, what he’d told me he wants. Only to let it wash over me and I can only think about how we’d almost lost it.
Our brightly colored toothbrushes are next to one another, toiletries in the shower, sharing drawers. My throat tightens and I’m not sure I even know what I am feeling.
Without thinking, I walk to the kitchen, the sight of Parker bare chested washing his truck in the driveway embossed in my mind. We’d almost lost it because of Duke. Stuck in my own thoughts I grab a mug and fill it with coffee, fixing it the way I like, I sip it, all the while with only one thing on my mind.
Parker!
He’s everything I’ve ever wanted and more.
Someone I can trust, someone I can count on, someone that can trust and count on me in return. Someone to belong to and that belongs to me. Even his family had welcomed me into their fold with loving arms. Even after the mess Duke had left behind, Park’s mom and sisters had all called, even face timed with me privately to see how I was doing, their obvious concern and feelings for me in their eyes. Staring out the window at the kitchen sink, towards the amazing backyard, I see it with my eyes but in my heart, I see what our future can look like. Possibilities are endless but all the same, bright and happy.
Etched in Stone (Six Degrees Series Book 2) Page 37