“Hey, are you okay?”
I don’t know why I’m asking though, it’s nothing to do with me. He lifts his head back, looking at the ceiling, and takes another deep breath. I’m about to move back when he turns his gaze to me.
His eyes are captivating, I wouldn’t be able to look away even if he was gutting me with a knife. He holds my stare for a moment longer then slowly, he raises his hand to the monitor. I follow what he’s trying to show me, but the confusion is clear on my face. He’s still on the first page, entering his personal details, I don’t understand.
I look back to him, but his head is down and he looks defeated, so I look back at the monitor because I’m clearly missing something.
Scanning over his details again, I pay closer attention. There’s a red asterisk next to an answer box which is preventing the assessment from continuing, because he hasn’t filled it in. I look to see what details are required and it’s for his surname.
Why has he left it blank?
He’s clearly not missed it by accident otherwise he wouldn’t be so worked up over it, he’d have just filled it in and carried on. It doesn’t make any sense.
Pulling away from the screen I look back to Parker, this has really hit him, something so small to me and he looks beaten. He’s still looking down, and if he can feel my eyes on him he doesn’t react.
I gently place my fingers under his chin and raise his eyes to meet mine. What the fuck am I doing? Get off him Luna and get back to what you were doing.
I don’t like how sad he is, and I really can’t figure out why I give a shit.
Looking into his eyes he looks lost. I know that look, that feeling in the depth of your soul, like you don’t know where you belong, and you’re just sinking further and further into the abyss. Maybe that’s what’s pulling me towards him, making me want to take it away, because I know what it can do to you.
Keeping my hand under his chin, I lean in a little so I can keep my voice low.
“Talk to me, let me help you.”
He’s got to make the decision within himself to pull himself back up. He continues to stare at me. I can see he’s in there, and he’s searching my eyes like he’s looking for an answer.
I try to keep my facial expression open, moving my hand round to stroke his cheek and his jawline. Don’t fucking ask why, because I don’t know, I just know I don’t want to stop either.
It seems to have an effect, because his eyes crinkle for a moment, before he tenderly leans into my hand. I don’t speak, I just continue to look into his eyes and wait.
I feel locked in place, this moment right here is so raw, so real, so intimate.
It’s intoxicating.
I’m freaking out a little, but I can’t back away, we wouldn’t be any closer right now if we we’re having sex.
We’re peering at each other’s souls.
I shouldn’t let him see, I don’t let anyone ever see but there is nothing I can do about it.
It’s getting to much, why the hell does it feel like my heart is about to break out of my chest? He must see it on my face that I’m trying to force myself to move away, and that makes him finally talk.
“I don’t have a surname,” he barely whispers.
Huh?
“How can you not have a surname? Especially in a place like this when it’s apparently all we stand for?”
He tentatively lifts his hand and places it over mine on his cheek, like he’s afraid what he’s about to say will make me move it.
“I have a strong bloodline, but I’m a bastard son, and bastards don’t usually attend here. My biological father didn’t produce any more children and requires an heir. That’s where I come in, but I don’t get the name until I prove myself,” he says softly.
What the hell? How am I even hearing this right now?
Parker must confuse the frown on my face and drops his eyes.
“I’m not frowning at you Parker, it’s your circumstances that are making me mad,” I say, encouraging him to look back up, and it works.
For some crazy reason I want to make this all better for him. He’s worse than Red, all under my skin without even trying.
“You want my surname? I’m here on three bloodlines and I’d be more than happy to sacrifice one,” I whisper.
I don’t think he was expecting me to say that with the shock on his face, and it makes me smile how innocent his face looks compared to the rest of his masculine appearance.
“I can’t do that,” he shakes his head.
“Okay, well when you usually give your name what do you do?” I ask.
“I just give Parker. If they don’t know about my situation already, Roman usually stares them down until they back off.”
By process of elimination I assume Roman is the asshole from the gym, after Red gave me the lowdown the other day. Seems he has a soft spot for this guy too, huh?
Considering our options here, I nod at him and remove my hand, feeling the loss instantly, but I push on to try and solve the situation. I lean over his keyboard and type, happy with myself I click continue and his name comes up in the top right corner. I look at him but he’s looking at the screen.
“Parker Parker?” He raises a questioning eyebrow at me. I smile and nod in response.
“Yeah, why not? You have to just be you Parker, fuck surnames and bloodlines. Besides, it has a nice ring to it.”
He smiles at me and I nod before returning to my screen, attempting to catch up on my assessment too, but I don’t miss Kai staring at me out of
