CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"OH, NO! I FORGOT ABOUT those," Parker said, looking at our incoming dessert orders as if they were monsters.

"I've never been so stuffed in my life!"

Parker turned to me, hopeful and relieved. "Does this mean we get them to go?"

I mock-frowned and huffed. "Amateur! There's always room for dessert."

We'd been at the restaurant for hours. Parker had picked one within walking distance from his office, a family-owned little place that served a mish-mash of foods. We'd started with beer and some snacks, thinking they’d be enough. The long and lively conversation must have made us both hungry and slightly insane, as we'd ordered too much food for our meal and dessert on top of it.

Parker sighed, looking dejectedly at the apple pie and vanilla ice cream monstrosity on his plate. It was big enough to call it a main course. "I guess we can wash it down with some sweet wine."

We'd switched to water after a couple bottles of beer each, so I was pretty sure we were safe from getting too drunk.

Parker chose the wine. It tasted incredible and worked with both desserts. I knew because we stole some from the other's plate. Stolen bites of food were always better than when you asked for permission.

"I give up!" I dropped my spoon next to the half-eaten chocolate cake jumbo slice and patted my belly. "My stomach can't take any more of this abuse."

Parker's features relaxed under a fresh wave of relief. "Oh, thank fuck! I feel bad wasting food, but I'll throw up if I don't stop."

"I know what you mean. But we gave it our best.”

I motioned to our waiter for the check, taking advantage of Parker's current state to pay for our dinner.

"I invited you." He pointed an admonishing finger at me. "That's not fair."

I grinned as I placed my credit card back into my wallet. "You'll get it next time." Whatever it took to make sure there'd be another dinner date after this one.

"Fine. Let's call a cab."

I groaned and shook my head slowly. No sudden moves when I was this full. "No way. I won't hold this down if you get me in a car."

Parker pleaded silently but I didn't budge. "Come on, I'll walk you home." I planned on going home on foot afterward, the extra movement would help me digest.

"You're killing me," he whined, but he followed me out of the restaurant.

We walked side by side in silence. It didn't feel uncomfortable, yet it still set me on edge. Although we'd been talking all evening, I felt we had a lot to catch up on, make up for the time we hadn't spoken to each other.

I'd missed him, but it only hit me how much I'd longed to be around him now that I was spending time with him. I moved closer to him, hoping he wouldn't notice. We weren't touching, but it would only take a little stumble and we'd bump into each other. I caught a slight grin on Parker's lips and knew I'd been busted. My cheeks heated up, but I didn't move away. I wouldn't, not unless Parker showed some form of discomfort.

I walked him all the way up to his door and stopped, hands in my pocket. Looking at him like this and saying nothing was stupid, but I couldn't make my mouth work. And what would I say anyway?

"This was fun, Evan. I hope we get to do it again soon."

I smiled and tilted my head. "Just say when and I'll be there."

He licked his lips and leaned against his door. My eyes were glued to the way his mouth glistened in the soft light of his hallway. So enticing.

I moved slowly, giving him enough time to figure out my intention. He didn't make one move to dodge me, but he didn't come closer either. It was fine for now, I didn't mind taking the initiative at all. In fact, I preferred it. I pressed my body into him, my lips hovering over his. Parker turned his head slightly, not enough to kiss me, but enough to make it easier for me to do so.

I reached for him, running my hand through his soft hair, then resting it on the back of his neck. He closed his eyes and sighed, his lips parting. That was when I snapped. I pressed my mouth to his and moaned at the intense feeling I was experiencing. I was kissing Parker! I was freaking kissing him, and he hadn't pushed me away. I moved my lips to part his, slowly licking my way inside. He opened up to me and I got my first taste of him.

Everything around me disappeared. The hallway, the door, the building and world outside faded to black. Parker, his soft, full lips and his tongue sliding along mine, that was the extent of my world right now. I dove deeper, hungry for more of him, and slid my leg between his, pressing against his crotch. He groaned and grabbed my shoulders, pushing his groin against my thigh. Gods in heaven, he was hard. All because of me.

I tried to open my eyes, burn every trace of desire to memory, but everything was blurry. I couldn't see, all I could do was feel. The heat of his mouth, his hands clinging to me, his hard length, my painful need to explode into a million pieces.

Not tonight. I frowned and kissed him with desperate need. I hated that voice inside my head. Who needed reason at a time like this?

I did. I needed to clear my head more than anything in the world. I didn't want a quick romp with Parker. I wanted him to love me back. I wanted him to be mine and never consider replacing me with anyone else. Which meant I should take a step back, give him time to process. Let him decide for himself, instead of allowing him to be swept by my own desire, my own pace.

Pulling away from that first kiss was by far the hardest thing I'd ever had to do. But I did it, vision still unclear and my lips burning with the sensation of his touch. I blinked the fuzziness away and smiled down at him. "Good night, Parker."

He smirked, his hands sliding down my chest as he let go of me. "See you around, kid."

"Don't call me kid." I threw the friendly reproach over my shoulder as I walked down the corridor.

Parker chuckled and unlocked his door. "We'll see about that."

THE END

The story continues in , which will be released on December 12th. If you can’t wait to find out what happens next, .