I squeeze my eyes shut, wanting some reprieve from the swirling emotions trying to engulf me. Getting closure with Liam. Finding out Parker's feelings for me. It’s all too much. How am I supposed to take everything in?
With an audible sigh, I open my eyes. "Parker—"
"You said I make you feel things. What kind of things?" he interrupts, repeating his earlier question.
Why is he standing so close? I can't think clearly when he's this close. All I can think about is the heat radiating off his body and how his lips are just mere inches from mine. I just have to tilt my head up and we'll kiss.
His eyes darken. "Don't look at me like that.
I lick my lips. "Like what?"
"Like you want me to kiss you."
I do want him to kiss me. I want his lips on mine with a ferocity I never knew I could feel for someone, least of all for him. But here I am—barely able to keep myself from closing the remaining distance between us.
What is stopping you?
"Absolutely nothing," I whisper.
His brows draw together in confusion. "What—"
But I don't let him finish. I grab fistfuls of his robe and pull him to me, colliding his lips with mine, silencing his next words.
I feel him stiffen against me, stunned. But then, his fingers are threading through my hair and angling my face up to his. Suddenly, he's kissing me back, firing up my nerves with an intensity threatening to overwhelm me.
And I'm right there with him—matching his fervor with my own, letting it consume us both, making my knees go weak in the process.
And he's there to catch me. His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me closer, anchoring me to him as the kiss goes on and on. And I know that if I fall, he's not going anywhere. He'll be there to catch me.
"Are you two seriously making out right here in the front porch for everyone to see?"
Aria's disgusted voice penetrates my kiss-addled brain, making me jump and push Parker off me.
But he's not letting me go. With an annoyed look on his face, he lifts his head to glare at his sister, while my cheeks heats up in embarrassment.
I hadn't even thought of the possibility of anyone seeing us. I was too focused on Parker to pay attention to anything else.
Damn his super talented lips!
Aria rolls her eyes. "Personally, I don't care. But do you really want Ethan to walk out on the two of you and get grossed out? No offense, Sawyer."
A faint smile is all the response I can give.
Parker curses under his breath as his sister turns on her heels and goes back inside. But when he shifts his gaze to me, there isn't a trace of annoyance there. "Want to come up to my room?"
Does he expect us to pick up where we left off? Am I ready for that?
He must have seen the panic on my face. His lips pull up on one side. "I just need to take a shower."
Is that an offer for me to join him?
"No, it's not. But I won't mind if you do," he says huskily, eyes dark, clearly hearing the question I wasn't supposed to voice out.
A strangled sound escapes from me, my cheeks burning once again. "I think I can just sit on your bed while you shower."
Parker lets out an amused chuckle and plants a soft kiss on my lips. Then with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he murmurs seductively, "Then let's go, Peaches. My bed awaits."
Oh, Lord.
CHAPTER 22
Sawyer
I can't stop smiling. To be honest, I've been permanently smiling ever since I left Parker's house yesterday. My cheeks already hurt from the exertion, but I don't care.
I'm happy.
Parker and I spent hours in his room, talking and kissing—and only kissing. I wasn't ready to do more than that. And he knew it without me having to tell him. He'd been a gentleman the whole time, not even so much as tried to cop a feel.
My intention of not getting into a new relationship sure flew out the window. But are we even in a relationship? I don't know what to call this new development between us. We haven't made things between us official yet. We haven't really talked about where we stand.
Not that I'm in a hurry to put a label on us or anything. It's only been a day, after all. And we haven't been on a date yet. So, yeah, I'd worry about it later. For now, I'm happy to live in the moment.
Trying but failing to hide my smile, I sneak a glance at Parker while absently listening to the lecture up front. If Mr. Brown calls my name, I'll surely draw a blank.
And I blame the guy sitting next to me, who—surprise, surprise—looks completely unaffected. I'm both annoyed and envious at how he can effortlessly be cool and composed most of the time.
My quiet ogling is interrupted when I feel my phone vibrate in my skirt pocket, almost making me jump. Shooting a cautious glance in the teacher's direction, I take it out to check the message.
Parker: Do I have dirt on my face?
I didn't even notice he was texting. And I've been staring at him the whole time.
Reading his text again, I have to stifle a chuckle. I remember him sarcastically asking me this exact question at his party. We weren't on good terms back then, but we are more than that now. Funny how things have changed in just a short amount of time.
Me: Yeah, actually. There's something on your cheek.
I watch in amusement as he self-consciously touches his cheek before realizing that I lied.
Narrowing his eyes at me, Parker types in a response. I'll get you for that later.
How? Is he going to spank me?
Where...Where did that freaking thought come from? When did I start having a dirty mind?
When you started getting involved with Parker, apparently.
Parker: Why are you blushing?
Like I can reply to that.
Pulling
