Chapter 3

Laurie

Parker’s answer stirs something inside me I thought I’d lost.

Within his masculinity, his sincerity, and his intense eyes lurks a promise of the protection I need.

But I want him for more than protection. God help me, I do.

I want to feel his skin against mine. I want to tempt him with my tongue, to tease him until he gives in, and agrees to leave.

I want a slice of normal. Real. Muscle and flesh.

Whatever I intended, whatever web I planned to spin, is unraveling the more I acknowledge the attraction I’m feeling.

After years of cold, and cruel, Parker is warm and concerned.

How can I resist something I’ve been denied?

I edge a little closer, heart speeding, mind racing with all the things we could do together.

Here. Now. No tomorrows. No thoughts of what’s to come. Just revel in each other, get naked, skin pressed against skin, and just enjoy each other.

No tricks, no props, just normal natural sex between consenting adults.

I want him to be the one to make me forget the pain, the loss, the emptiness my life with Carlos has caused.

I could kiss him. I could tell him I’m lonely, horny, that I need a man like him to fill the ache inside me.

I’m starting to flush, nipples puckering as I imagine what would happen if I unzipped his pants and dropped to my knees.

I’m staring at his crotch. Wondering what it would feel like. If it would be as good as I remembered.

How long would he fight it? Would he push me away?

Time is running out. Parker won’t force me to leave. But if he doesn’t bring me home by Monday, Carlos will either come himself or send someone else.

If I have any chance, I need to act, now.

I reach for the closest towel and make sure his attention is fully on me when I gesture to the front door.

“I’m going to use the outhouse and I need a shower. I guess this means you’re coming with me?”

He swallows. “Until we come to an agreement, those are the rules.”

The word agreement makes me cringe.

“If you were a gentleman—”

He cuts me off. “I’m not a gentleman, but if it makes you feel any better, I’m not in the slightest bit interested in seeing you naked.”

I narrow my eyes. “You’re just here to do whatever it takes to bring me home?”

A flash of amusement crosses his face. “That’s right.”

I shrug my shoulders as if I’m not in the least concerned even though my heart is beginning to thump about in my chest.

My entire body is on fire as I toss the towel over my shoulder.

I walk as nonchalantly as I can towards the door and am sure I hear his breathing start to increase.

The rain is still pounding relentlessly outside as my feet hit the porch but I don’t slow my pace.

He’s hot on my heels as I walk around the side of the lookout to where the open-air shower and the outhouse are located.

That the shower was open to the elements never bothered me before now. But with Parker right beside me, I’m starting to lose my nerve.

He does allow me some privacy as I use the outhouse and even starts whistling to relieve a fraction of the embarrassment.

But when I exit, he’s standing in the shelter beside the solar shower, hands in his pockets, his gaze still focused solely on me as I stand beside him to avoid the rain.

My hands start to shake as all my bravado slips away as I consider how vulnerable I’ll be if I go ahead with this crazy idea.

Lusting after him inside the lookout when we were both clothed and I had nothing to lose was one thing.

Stripping everything off and hoping he’ll want to help me rather than return me to Carlos, is starting to feel incredibly stupid.

He seems to have considered I might try to run because he points at my boots. “Leave them here.”

I place the towel down and keep my tone frosty. “You’re actually going to stand there and watch me? Can’t you at least turn around?”

He slowly shakes his head. “If you’ve changed your mind, we can go back inside and you can tell me the truth.”

I’m not about to do that. The truth has never been a friend to me, and I doubt it will serve me now.

He glances at his watch. “You’re stalling.”

I glower at him, feeling equally pissed off he can see right through me, and equally irritated just standing this close to him is doing things to my body I wish it wasn’t.

I turn and look up at him. “I’m prepared to do whatever it takes to convince you to let me run.”

His eyebrows rise in unison. “That’s your plan? Seduce me? You haven’t got it in you.”

My ire rises even further at how smug he looks. Like he’s won.

I narrow my eyes, step out of my boots and start to tug off my clothes.

I step back so I’m in the rain and switch the showerhead on until steam pierces the cool mountain air.

I keep my eyes on him, watching from the shelter as I unsnap my bra and let my breasts hang loose.

Aside from the way his lip is tugging up, he manages to stay stony-faced right up until the point I wriggle out of my panties.

Knowing precisely the effect I’m now having on him, I grab the shampoo, and purposely stick my chest out and suck in my stomach as I drizzle my hair.

I lather, keeping my eyes on him, watching his chest start to rise and fall faster until through the steam I see his eyes running the length of me.

Soap runs down the length of my body, warm water caressing my skin as Parker watches on.

I grab the soap and spend a great deal of time massaging my breasts for his benefit.

While I have his attention, I slide the soap over my body and make sure he gets an eyeful as I wash myself with all the gusto of a porn star.

Except, I’m not faking. With him watching, obviously enjoying himself, I’m enjoying myself.

Somewhere between rubbing the soap over my nipples and seeing the lust growing on his face, my body decided this was for real.

I’m getting turned on playing this little game. How is that possible? After all the times I’ve spent with Carlos, in his office, being denied, I’m actually enjoying this.

I’m shaken enough to know I need to put an end to this. I’m so aroused already I don’t think I could bear it if this is all some sick joke.

I infuse ice into my voice put the soap back in the holder and extend my hand. “Towel?”

He hands me the towel without once taking his eyes off me. I’m almost convinced he’s admiring me, but I can’t afford to let myself believe that.

I don’t look at him as I wrap myself in it and move into the shelter so I can dry myself before I freeze.

But when I open my mouth to ask Parker to move over, there is no mistaking his composure has completely slipped.

His eyes are still traveling over me as I hug the towel to my body. “I thought you weren’t interested in seeing me naked?”

His voice comes out rough. “Come here.”

He doesn’t ask for permission, just grabs me roughly and kisses me hard.

I whimper as I press my body against his feeling how hard his cock is as his tongue meets mine.

My body reacts instantly. Skin burning from the way his whiskers are rough against my face.

I’m so delighted at the feel of his lips against mine, and the way his tongue is twisted with mine, I feel a pang of loss when he pulls back, his hand locked around the back of my neck. “This might be a game to you but be careful. Because if you keep pushing me, I will fuck you before we leave.”

I want him so bad it hurts to breathe. “I want you to,” I whisper.

Without warning, he grabs me around the waist and flings me over his shoulder.

He stalks back to the lookout, and I’m half-convinced he’s going to throw me in his vehicle, but he’s heading back to the lookout.

He kicks open the door and near throws me down on the bed.

I lie back, panting, desperate for him to take me.

But when he kicks off his boots and tugs his t-shirt over his head, a low grumble escapes from my throat and I’m no longer in control.

He’s just as muscled as I thought he’d be. Abs, chest and biceps defined like he’s the embodiment of all things male.

Two months out here alone, and the man to show up just had to be so beautiful I’m having trouble breathing.

I lose all sense of control as he starts to undo his pants and shrugs his fatigues over his engorged and extremely large cock.

I groan. And start to tremble as a need that hasn’t been filled in so long overtakes my body.

Like he’s food, my mouth is watering as I crawl forward, letting the towel fall from me as I slide my lips over his tip.

I groan as his cock fills my mouth. “Goddamit, woman. This job was important,” he mutters.

I ignore him, devouring him, sucking until he’s grabbing my hair and guiding me deeper.

I can taste his jizz and feel him tremble as he groans. I want to keep going, I want to keep contact with him but he’s pushing me back.

I freeze, certain he’ll change his mind, and like with every time I pleaded Carlos to, I’ll be rejected.

I ready myself to be humiliated, but he’s not stopping, he’s spreading my legs and pushing me back on the bed.

All my skin is aflame as anticipation makes me whimper. “Fuck me, oh please, please fuck me,” I whisper.

He shakes his head, and for a horrible moment I think Carlos told him to do this.

But he doesn’t leave me unfulfilled on the bed, he starts to kiss every inch of me, working his way down like his savoring my body.

When he reaches my center, he spreads my legs and positions himself between them.

He looks up at me and slowly starts to lick until I’m quivering and shaking with pleasure.

But I can’t relax. It feels so good. Too good. Like a fantasy that could be ripped away from me at any time.

“You won’t stop will you?” I ask.

He frowns up at me, and he does stop. “Why would I stop?”

Relief spills through me, and my body relaxes a little more as he licks my clit with so much obvious enjoyment it’s almost unbelievable.

I don’t want it to stop, it’s been so long since a man touched me, let alone pleasured me, and Parker is so much more skilled than any of the men I’ve been with.

I’m so aroused, my body is trembling and I’m making animalistic noises that seem to spur him on.

As if he knows what I want, his hands snake up my body and he starts to rub my nipples intensifying the pleasure.

I moan louder, wanting to kiss him, wanting to suck his cock, and wanting him inside me all at the same time.

I spread my legs wider, imagining his cock is in my mouth again, looking down as he licks faster and faster until an orgasm starts to explode through my core.

I’m so sure he’ll stop, that this is some sick plan, that I’m taken unaware when the orgasm overtakes my entire body.

My mouth opens wide as I scream with all the pent-up tension inside me, coming so hard, and so long, I sound like a stuck pig.

When I’m done, I’m so surprised he didn’t stop, I’m overjoyed when he adjusts his weight and climbs on top of me.

He looks into my eyes with such intensity that I have to blink away the tears. When I think I can’t stand it anymore, he smiles, and kisses me again, consuming my mouth with his.

I slide my hands down his back and he shifts so he can enter me. I gasp and squeeze my muscles together as he slides his cock inside.

Caught between wanting to sob in relief, and enjoy how he feels inside me, I cry out, screaming obscenities as he starts to pump.

I wrap my legs around him and dig my nails into his ass cheeks as wave after wave of bliss engulfs my body.

My ears are ringing, head light, but a ridiculous smile is growing.

Another orgasm overtakes my body and I start to whisper his name as though it were a curse, an oath and a promise in one.

He kisses me harder, breathing me in as though I’m oxygen he needs to live.

Just when I think I can’t enjoy this even more, he leans back and tugs my legs over his shoulders so he can use his thumb to rub my clitoris.

With a full view of his upper body as he thrusts and his thumb rubbing as his cock slides in and out, I’m climaxing so hard I’m seeing stars.

When I finish, he drops my legs to the side and starts to pump me until his face is contorted and he’s in the throes of his orgasm.

I cling to him, locking my legs around him, so he can’t move.

He tugs back as if he’s going to withdraw, but I don’t want him to, so I grab his hair and whisper in his ear. “Come in me. I want you to come inside me.”

He starts to shake his head but I reach forward and lick his closest nipple until he’s gasping for breath.

With every thrust, every movement, I relish the way he’s filling me with everything I thought I’d lost.

When he finishes and collapses on top of me, I release him, arms shaking from holding him so tight.

I watch him roll off me and lie breathing on his back beside me.

He turns and looks at me, then releases a heavy sigh. “I’m in deep shit, aren’t I?”

I can’t answer that. I’m too overwhelmed and so completely satisfied, nothing can spoil this moment for me.

So, I don’t answer him. I just turn on my side and offer him a watery-eyed smile. “Thank you,” I whisper.

He half frowns, half smiles. “For what?”

I shift my body closer and drape my arm over his chest. “For giving me what I needed,” I say.

***

Parker

Friday 12.03

Somewhere in the recess of my mind, I know this was a monumentally bad move.

I should know better.

And the developed side of my brain knows this is beyond dumb, but the primal part is telling me to stop overthinking this and to just enjoy it while I can.

I’m being played.

I knew it the second she started rubbing herself in the shower.

I knew it but I did it anyway.

I’m not exactly sex-starved. But it’s been a while since a woman intrigued me.

If I really thought she wasn’t into it, and didn’t want me, I’d have left it at a kiss.

I would have left her whimpering on the bed and kept my distance. But I can taste her, can still feel how slick her pussy was and I know she needed me to.

Maybe more than I realized.

I sit and look down at her. “Not that I’m complaining, but I’m fully aware this was a tactic to change my mind.”

She sighs and pulls herself to sitting and sighs. “Is it working?”

I run a hand over my face then climb out of the narrow bed. I grab my fatigues before I answer her.

“You’re making me crazy, but you’re not changing my mind.”

Her eyes narrow a fraction and she wraps her arms around her shins. “You won’t tell him I wasn’t here then?”

I nod. “It’s too late for that. I reported in. He’ll already know I contacted you.”

Her lip curls in disgust then a sarcastic smile replaces it. “And are you planning on telling Carlos about us?”

Fuck. I can’t. And she knows it.

I’m not doing what she wants by lying, but she’s still got me over a damn barrel.

I take her back to Carlos she could tell him anything she wanted to. I need to stay on his good side. At least for a while.

I shrug on my pants, and scowl in her direction. “So, that little act in the shower didn’t make you horny? You didn’t really come three times? And what was that shit about me coming in you? You hoping you’ll get pregnant?”

She stays where she is, dark hair flowing around her shoulders, still wet and still looking as sexy as she did in the shower.

She starts to chew on her lip, and again I catch a glimpse of the fear she’s trying to hide.

Her voice comes out wobbly and she won’t meet my eye. “I just wanted to feel normal. I haven’t had, you know normal sex for a long time,” she says.

That knocks the wind out of me.

I reach for my shirt and hand it to her then take a seat at the desk. “You don’t have sex with Carlos?”

She shrugs my shirt over her head, and blinks back tears. “I don’t know what to call it. But it’s not normal.”

There’s so much pain in her voice, I’d have to be heartless to dismiss it.

Rather than press her, I stare out the windows and watch the rain trickle down the pane. “I can’t afford to get wrapped up in this.”

She purses her lips. “It doesn’t matter now anyway. You have to help me now because if I go back, I will tell him about this.”

I get to my feet, blood boiling as I see the extent of how she’s manipulated me. “You really are a crazy bitch, aren’t you?”

Her face tightens and she leaps off the bed. She stomps towards me, tits bouncing under my shirt as she moves close enough to slap me.

“Yeah, well, that didn’t stop you from fucking me, though did it?”

I shoot to my feet, and take a step towards her, ready to tell her I’m done with this shit when she flinches.

My anger dissolves as she starts to tremble, but I can’t tell if she’s angry or scared anymore. I just know I’m done fighting with her.

Because she’s not crazy. Infuriating, sexy as hell, but definitely not crazy. And she may hold the key I need.

I lower my voice and make sure I stay calm. “We’ve got time to figure this out. Get dressed.”

She folds her arms over her chest, but there’s a slight tease in her voice. “Sure you want me to get dressed?”

My eyes run the length of her and linger on her nipples and the swell of her breasts.

Cock already starting to tingle, I don’t have to think before I answer. “For now, yeah,” I say.

I stalk to where I dropped my bag and reach inside for another shirt.

I keep my back turned while she gets dressed. I so much as catch sight of her again, I’m not sure I won’t be kissing her again, and causing even more problems.

No matter which way I look at this, I wanted this to happen.

I can’t undo what’s already been, but I can try to contain the damage.

She steps closer, her eyes filling, my chest starts to hurt so bad I know I’d do pretty much anything she asked me to. “Whatever happens. It was worth it,” she says.

I’m not sure I can agree with her but when she reaches for a can of soup and her shirt lifts so I see the creamy skin of her lower back, I know we’ve started a fire I’m not ready to put out.