Well, it was on the schedule. She didn’t have a choice. Ava started unbuttoning.

Parker gave a choked laugh. “Right here, right now? I never would have taken you for the type to jump when a guy says jump.”

His eyes were hot as she parted the shirt and let it fall to the seat around her hips. “I think it’s cute that you think you’re telling me to jump,” she said. “It’s me who’s telling you to tell me to jump. Because it’s hot.” She reached for the zipper on her skirt. “And I really want to jump, Parker.”

He ran a hand over his face. “I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but—not like this, Boss.”

“See?” she said. “There you go thinking you’re in charge again.”

She leaned over until their mouths were centimeters apart. She put a hand on his thigh, then ran it up under the edge of his shirt to the hot, firm abs underneath. The muscles tensed and Parker let out a long breath. “Ava—”

She did like it when he called her Boss, but something about the way he said her name made her pelvic muscles clench. “You did say you wanted to show me something.”

He looked over her shoulder but his gaze returned quickly to her mouth. “I did. My house.”

She froze. All that had really registered was that they were out in the country far from town. Alone. But they were at his house? She had no idea where she’d thought they were or where he was taking her. She’d had no idea where he lived either.

She pivoted quickly, her hand slipping from his shirt. She stared out her window.

The house looked like everything she would have ever expected a farmhouse to look like. It was two stories, painted a light blue with white trim, and had a huge porch that sat up five steps from the ground and ran the entire length of the front of the house. There were flowers in beds on either side of the walk that led to the porch steps, and there were white wicker chairs with a table between them arranged to one side.

There were two huge trees—she had no idea what kind beyond big and tall—lending shade to the front yard. One even had a tire swing hanging in it. She’d seen tire swings in movies and read about them in books as a kid, she supposed, but she didn’t realize that people really had them.

Her eyes wandered past the house to a big building on the east, then to the barn behind it, and to the fields beyond that.

“Oh my God, you actually have haystacks,” she said, stupidly. She didn’t know what she’d expected. She realized that she’d never pictured Parker’s house. Because the diner felt like his home. It was where he was for fourteen hours a day, every day, for one thing. And because it just fit him.

Thinking of him reclining on a sofa in front of the TV didn’t seem right somehow.

She had, maybe, pictured him in one other room than the kitchen at the diner. And the kitchen at the pie shop. But she hadn’t gotten beyond the tangled sheets and clothes strewn across the floor to think about the details of Parker’s bedroom.

He chuckled. “A friend rents the fields from me. So those are technically his haystacks. And the horses are his too. I don’t have time for crops and livestock like that.”

“So why did you buy a farm?” she asked.

“This is where I grew up,” he told her. “My mom moved to town to be closer to her friends and so she’d have less upkeep after my dad passed away, and I took the house.”

“I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me that you might be bringing me to your house,” she said.

“Because things have been business before this,” he said. “About the pie shop.”

Yeah, that made sense. They’d essentially had a business arrangement going. That didn’t require them to be in one another’s homes. Though he’d been in hers. Still, not like this. Not just the two of them. Not without some other excuse like game night.

“It hasn’t felt like it’s been about the pie shop,” she admitted. She didn’t know if telling him that was a good idea. It felt like she was giving him something without knowing what he was offering in return. She never did that. She always knew what the other side was willing to give up before she put her cards on the table.

But again, this didn’t feel like business.

“Ava.”

She looked up at him.

“This is definitely not about the pie shop.”

Her heart thudded against her chest. She wet her lips. “Good.”

Then he got out of the truck.

While she sat on the passenger seat in a bra and skirt. Okay, so…

But a second later he was at her door, pulling it open, and scooping her up into his arms. He swung her out of the truck, kicked the door shut, and headed for the porch.

This was looking promising. She looped an arm around his neck and snuggled close. She’d never been literally carried to bed, but she wasn’t complaining a bit.

“You realize that you’re only fueling my fantasies about being waited on hand and foot.”

He snorted. “You work too fucking hard, and love it, to ever let someone wait on you hand and foot.”

“Well, I’m not minding this.”

“This is only because the shoes you’re wearing are ridiculous. Especially for walking around on a farm.”

“Yeah, kind of. But they’re also strategic.”

“Oh?”

“I get more done when the person I’m talking to is distracted.”

“The men, you mean.”

“Women too.”

“You think they all want to do to you what I want to do to you when you wear them?”

She grinned. “Maybe not. But they are either wondering where I got them or jealous because they can’t afford them.”

He shook his head. “You’re a brat.”

“Yep. But you like my shoes.”

“I do.”

“In fact, when we were in the mudroom, you said the next time you make me come, you want these on my feet.”

She felt his fingers curl into her thigh where he held her. “I did say that.”

“So I’m hoping that you don’t want me to take them off when we get inside.”

He cleared his throat. “No. I think you can leave them on.”

“Thank goodness.”

He gave a little groan. “I had plans,” he told her. “I wasn’t going to get you naked right away. I wasn’t going to do the boring bedroom thing with you. I was going to make this different. Because I want to do more, something new, something better. And I feel like I can do that with you. I feel like you’ll make me do more and better. And I actually want that. Even though it scares the hell out of me.”

He reached for the front door, shifting her weight so he could let them in the house—the house that was apparently unlocked in the middle of the day—but Ava stopped him with a hand on his face. “Parker.”

He focused on her. “Yeah?”

“What’s going on? I don’t understand the more and better stuff. I’m not worried about this being anything short of amazing.”

Heat and affection flickered in his eyes, but he sighed. And swung her feet to the floor of the porch. Her back was against the front door and he braced a hand on the wood beside her.

“I’ve been very happy with the status quo,” he said. “I’ve been perfectly fine keeping things as is. In fact, I’ve worked at it. And that applies to relationships too. When I go out, it’s for a late beer or maybe a movie and then we go to her place or here and have sex. It’s the same, no matter who the woman is.”

“And you wanted this to be different?” She felt a ripple of what felt a lot like desire mixed with that thing she’d labeled as giddiness before. “Why?”

He studied her, his eyes roaming over her face. “I’ve never had a really good reason to change things, to do more. Until now.”

Her stomach flipped. She was that reason? Wow. She stepped close. “I don’t know what exactly you think I’m expecting in the bedroom,” she said, trying to keep her tone light. “But I was ready to do anything you wanted the other night in the mudroom, and all you did was kiss me and talk dirty. I’d say if you have a big soft bed and some more of that dirty talk, you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

He groaned and chuckled at once. “You think I’m worried about making you come? Because that’s so not going to be a problem, Boss. I’m going to make your toes curl and your heart pound and your pussy weep for joy.”

She sucked in a quick breath. The dirty talk just seemed to come out of nowhere. Almost casually. Except for the heat in his eyes. But that all meant that this was just Parker. These views on sex were just natural for him. And the confidence? Yeah, that was hot. And completely a part of who he was. “Then what are you worried about?”

“The after,” he said honestly. He lifted a hand to her face. “Doing things right after.”

Her eyes widened. She’d never had many expectations about after. She didn’t need roses and wine and diamonds and promises. Hell, she didn’t really want that stuff. She could get her own wine and diamonds, promises didn’t matter if they weren’t written down and notarized. And sex was sex. Typically, she was rolling over to check her email as soon as possible. The guys who didn’t want to stay over were her favorite. The ones who did were out after coffee and that was okay too.

Which meant, she didn’t have expectations for after because she didn’t really want an after with those men.

But she realized, looking up into Parker’s face, that had now changed.

“I’ve never really had an after,” she finally said. “So, I’m not going to know if you’re doing it right or not.”

He studied her eyes, considering that. He took a deep breath. Finally, he said, “I think it’s safe to say that part of the after will involve food.”

The smile that stretched her lips felt incredibly good. “Man, I hope so. I’ve been having lots of dirty thoughts about the things you can do with avocados.”

His eyes locked on hers, he reached past her and pushed the door open. “So we’re going to stumble through this after stuff together? Maybe make a mess?”

It was a big deal for either of them to get into something messy on purpose. They were both used to being in charge in their world and were the ones to clean things up. But when Parker was doing dishes and Ava was making deals, the cleanup was always for someone else. They both kept their worlds very carefully put together and organized so that they could effectively clean up for others.

This was different. This was personal. And was going to affect the two of them most of all.

She nodded. “Let’s make a mess, Parker. On purpose. Everything thrown in.”

There was a long pause, full of tension and anticipation.

Then, he said firmly, “Get in the house, Ava.”

“So bossy.”

“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

---

Ava only made it to the bottom step before Parker couldn’t take it anymore. He grabbed her wrist, twirled her, bent over and hoisted her over his shoulder. Then he headed up the stairs with her giggling.

Ava Carmichael giggling was like an aphrodisiac. He had to get her naked now. Right now. Except for the shoes. He hadn’t been kidding about those.

A minute later, he dumped her on his bed and reached for her skirt as she undid her bra. There wasn’t a hesitation, she didn’t even look around. She was fully focused on him and that was an aphrodisiac too. Being the center of Ava’s attention meant a lot. He knew for a fact her phone was still out in the truck. He’d left in on the seat on purpose when he’d hauled her into his arms. But she hadn’t hesitated. Hadn’t looked for it. And that had been hotter than anything else she could have done.

He slipped her skirt down her legs and dropped it to the floor on top of the bra she’d already tossed. They both reached for her panties at the same time.

With a sexy smile, she held her hands up, letting him do the honors. He nearly ripped the lace from her body. Again. These could join the ripped thong that he had in his bedside table. But he managed to get them off in one piece and threw them to the floor as well.

He sucked in a deep breath, just taking in the sight of her on his bed, completely naked. And he suddenly had a deep fondness for afternoon sex where the sun was streaming through his bedroom window, letting him see every damned inch. He would be closing the diner at one o’clock sharp for the next few months, for sure.

She was gorgeous. But he knew, as he drank in the curve of her neck, the swell of her breasts, the dip of her waist, the smooth length of her thighs, and the sweet V between her legs, that she had been more exposed than this with him before. She’d let him see her failure, her sadness about her father, her insecurity, and her frustrations. He knew she didn’t let people see those things about her. Only her sisters, probably. And being one of her inner circle mattered to him. It fucking mattered a lot.

“Damn, Ava.” He felt humble. He’d never felt that before with a naked woman.

Her legs shifted on his sheets. “That’s not bossy,” she said.

His eyes went to hers. He cocked an eyebrow. “You like it when I’m bossy.” It wasn’t a question.

“People don’t get bossy with me very often,” she said.

“It’s the shoes,” he told her, picking up one by the heel and spreading her leg to the side, his cock aching at the sight.

“They keep people in line?” she asked, her lips lifting in a small smile that Parker felt clear to his gut.

“I’m sure of it.”

“They don’t work with you.”

“No, they don’t. They make me want to boss you around and watch you do every fucking thing I tell you to do and make you beg while you’re wearing them. They make me harder than I’ve ever been.” That was all true. So, so true.

“They make you want to take my power?” Her tone was light. He didn’t think she really thought that.

But he had to answer her seriously, and honestly. “They make me want to show you that you can be soft and vulnerable and trusting and still feel strong and respected, and that you don’t need these shoes to get me firmly wrapped around your finger and ready to beg you right back.”

She just blinked at him. And Parker felt his mouth curving in a cocky smile. He really did love surprising this woman.

“So…does that mean you’re not going to be bossy in the bedroom?” she finally asked.

He ran his hand up her leg from her heel to mid-thigh. “Ava?”

“Yes, Parker?”

“Slide up the bed and grab onto my headboard.”

Her eyes widened for just an instant. But low and firm seemed to do it for her. She quickly wiggled up the bed, her gorgeous breasts bouncing as she did.

He stripped his shirt off and unbuttoned his pants, easing the zipper down to relieve some of the pressure against his granite hard cock, but he didn’t push them off yet.

Ava gripped his headboard, her hard nipples begging him for attention. Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing fast.

“Don’t move your hands,” he told her.

“Okay.”

“I mean it.” He put a knee on the mattress and grabbed both of her shoes. He slid her legs apart, crawling up between them as she opened for him.

She let out a shuddery breath, and he saw her grip the wooden slats in his headboard tighter. Parker moved his body over hers, dragging his chest against her stomach, then her pink-tipped breasts. She shivered as he abraded the stiff points. His tongue tingled with the anticipation of taking one in his mouth, but first, he had to kiss her.

His cock pressed against the sweet heat between her legs as he lowered his head. Just before their lips touched, he said, “Things might get kind of dirty for the next little while, Boss. And you are absolutely going to feel out of control. But you keep your hands up there and let me do all the work, and I promise that you’re going to be just fine with letting me be in charge.”

She shivered again and he realized she really liked the nickname. And the fact that right here, right now, like this, it wasn’t true.

“But I won’t be able to do anything that way.” She arched up against him.

He lifted his head and looked down at her. “Oh, if I want my cock in your mouth, I’ll put it there.”

She sucked in a quick breath and her eyes darkened. A thought occurred to him.

“Please tell me you’ve had and done a lot of oral.”

She wet her lips. “It…takes a long time.”

Which was a no, not really. And Parker wanted to simultaneously beat the crap out of and buy a drink for every man she’d ever been with. Because those jackasses had failed her. But it was going to make Parker a freaking hero.

“Well, if you’ve got emails to return, they’re going to have to wait. A while.”

She nodded. “I’m okay with that.”

“And that makes me want to reward you.”

“Yes. Okay. Definitely.”

He gave her a slow grin. “Your safe word is spreadsheets.”

Her mouth curled. “But spreadsheets are a turn-on for me.”

He chuckled softly. “Okay, apple pie.”

“That will wo—”

He took her mouth in a hot kiss before she even finished her answer. He took his time tasting her, stroking his tongue over her tongue, nipping her lip. His hand skimmed down her side, over the swell of her breast, her ribcage, her waist, to her hip. He squeezed, pressing into her with the erection that was begging to be freed. But he had to cover all the bases here, and if he got undressed, it would be over in a minute.

He kissed his way down her neck, moving a hand to palm her breast. He thumbed her nipple, then rolled it between his thumb and finger. She arched closer and moaned his name, but her hands stayed on the headboard.

His mouth fastened on to her nipple, licking then sucking hard. Her hips bucked against his and he could feel the heat through his clothes. He moved a hand between them, cupping her where she was aching, and she half sighed, half moaned as he pressed the heel of his hand against her clit.

“Please,” she said softly.

“My name, Boss,” he chided, before biting gently on her nipple and making her gasp. “When you beg, use my name.”

“Please, Parker.”

“That’s better.” But he held his hand still, sucking and teasing her other nipple.

“Parker.”

He moved his hand away from her clit. “Don’t get impatient now. This is all going according to plan.”

She squeezed her thighs around his waist. “Let’s renegotiate.”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “No way. I’ve got you right where I want you.”

Then he pressed against her clit again, slipping a finger into her heat at the same time.

She moaned and her inner muscles gripped him.

“Say ‘okay, Parker, whatever you want,’” he told her huskily. He had no idea how he was going to hold on here, but he was going to drag this out, make her wait and beg and fucking submit for as long as he could stand it.

She hesitated. Even in the throes of passion, it was hard for her to verbalize acquiescence.

He circled her clit with this thumb and sucked on her nipple again. “Say it,” he commanded gruffly against the stiff tip. He slipped another finger into her. “Say it, Ava.”

“Okay, Parker.” She was breathless and panting. “Whatever you want.”

“Damn right,” he muttered. Then he slid down her body, widened her legs, and put his mouth against her pussy.

She was hot and wet, and the sound she made when he tongued her clit went straight to his cock. He had to reach down and grip hard to keep from coming right then.

Fuck. This woman was everything.

“You thought you weren’t sweet?” he asked her. “You have no idea how fucking good you taste.”

He was never going to get over any of this. She still held the headboard and that sent a shaft of satisfaction through him. He pumped his fingers deeper and faster, flicking his tongue over her clit.

“Oh, yes, like that.” She lifted her hips, trying to get closer.

Parker lifted his head, needing to see her face. He replaced his tongue with his other hand, rubbing the sweet nub as he continued to move his fingers in and out in a steady rhythm. “My name, Boss,” he reminded her with a growl. “And if you say it nicely, I’ll make you come.”

“Parker,” she gasped obediently, right on the edge. “Oh my God. So good. You’re so good.”

Yep, that was pretty nice. He curled his finger and put his mouth to her clit again, and she came with another gasped, “Parker,” her muscles grabbing his fingers. He pulled away and pushed himself off the end of the bed, quickly shedding his jeans and boxers.

Her gaze wandered over him, her breathing ragged. Her eyes on his now bare cock made him ache, and he took his length in his hand, squeezing and stroking as Ava lifted her head to watch. He crawled up the bed, taking her chin and devouring her mouth, making sure she tasted herself on his tongue and lips.

“Sweetest thing I’ve ever eaten,” he said against her lips.

She moaned and Parker pushed up to kneel next to her. He was suddenly overcome by the reality of tasting her. It seemed tasting was a consistent theme with them, and he needed it to be complete. He took his cock in hand, giving it another much needed hard stroke.

“Open up, Boss,” he said gruffly.

Her eyes widened as he turned her face toward him with his other hand. Her lips parted and he leaned in, rubbing the tip of his cock over her bottom lip. Her tongue flicked over the top, and he had to brace himself with a hand on the wall above the headboard.

He pressed forward and Ava took him in. He kept a hand around his shaft, controlling how far he slid in. He gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to thrust.

Ava moaned, the vibration zinging along his length. His breath hissed out. This was the perfect example of how it seemed he was in charge, but she had him knotted up and on his knees. Literally. Figuratively.

He pressed in and pulled out a few times, the hot suction of her mouth exquisite torture. “Suck on me, Ava,” he demanded roughly.

She complied and then knocked the air of his lungs by looking up at him.

Her fingers were still wrapped around the slats on his headboard, her breasts bouncing as he slid in and out of her mouth, and she pressed her legs together as if she was aching. And still she had all the power here. He wanted to give her anything she wanted. He wanted to be what she needed. What would most make her feel like she’d finally found how to be happy and fulfilled.

He couldn’t wait any longer. He pulled from her mouth and he reached into his bedside table drawer. He tossed her thong out of the way and grabbed a condom, quickly sheathing himself. He took her hands from the headboard. He rolled to his back, taking her with him. “Ride me, Boss.”

She didn’t argue, didn’t hesitate. She straddled him, reaching behind her to position him, then eased back. She was slick and hot and he slid home slow and easy, in spite of how tight she was.

Ava braced her hands on his ribs and her head dropped back as she took him. They paused when he was as deep as he could go. He gripped her hips and let her adjust to his length and girth.

“Damn,” she finally breathed. “This is even better than your chicken salad.”

Caught off guard, Parker laughed. Then he squeezed her hips and thrust upward. “You’re not moving. Need you to move.”

She swiveled her hips.

“More,” he said through gritted teeth.

She lifted slightly, then sank back down.

“More, Boss.” He worked not to grip her hips too hard. “That all you got?” She was teasing him. And while he appreciated the idea of Ava being playful, he was about to lose his mind.

“I guess so,” she finally answered.

“Bullshit.” He thrust up, grinding her hips down on his. “Fuck me, Boss. Now.”

She swallowed. Then she started moving. Really moving. She lifted and lowered her sweet, tight body on his, making Parker have to work to not flip her over and pound.

“Parker.” Her voice was soft.

He lifted his hands, brushing her hair back from her face. “Gotta feel you come again, Ava.”

“I’m close. Help me.”

Gladly. “Lean back. Play with your nipples.”

She obeyed and he moved his thumb to her clit, watching her fingers tug on the dusky, pink tips, her expression filled with passion and pleasure.

“I’ve never come twice in a row,” she told him, raggedly.

“Of course not. It takes longer to get there twice, right?” He sounded like he was in the middle of a five-mile run.

“It does. And at the moment I can barely think at all, not to mention remember the password to my email.”

“Highest compliment,” he said, sincerely.

“I love that you know that.”

“I love that you admitted it.”

“This is going to go to your head, isn’t it?”

“Already has,” he told her honestly. “As is the fact that you’re about to beg me to fuck you hard. In exactly those words.” He pressed against her clit and reached to tug on a nipple at the same time.

She gasped, but then managed, “I’ve never said fuck me to anyone.” She was trying to use her haughty tone but considering she was straddling him with his cock buried deep, her hair wild around her shoulders, her lips swollen from his kisses, it wasn’t entirely convincing.

He knew he was about to get everything he wanted. Still, he lifted his hand to her hair, gathered it back and wrapped it around his fist. He tipped her head back. “Beg me, Ava.”

She gave a little moan and then gave in. “Fuck me, Parker. Hard. Please.”

With a grown, he flipped her and thrust deep. “Dig those heels into my ass and hang on, Boss.”

Ava’s long legs wrapped around his waist and he felt her shoes against his butt. He thrust again and again, picking up speed, until he was pounding into her, relishing her oh Gods, oh yeses and oh Parkers.

He felt his orgasm building and he reached between them for her clit, swirling his thumb through the slickness, and she shouted his name just as her muscles squeezed and she shot over the summit. He was right behind her, his orgasm thundering through him.

He held himself still over her, letting the waves of satisfaction roll over him long after she’d melted into the mattress, her arms flopping out to the side and her eyes sliding shut. After his breathing slowed, he flopped to his back beside her.

“Holy shit, Boss. It’s official—cooking really is the only thing you’re not good at.”

She laughed, also clearly trying to catch her breath. “Until you got involved, I never really appreciated food or sex.”

“That’s so, so sad,” he said, but he absolutely felt like beating his chest.

She rolled to her side, and he ran his hand up and down her back while she splayed her hand on his stomach. “Parker, I have to tell you something I’ve never said to another guy.”

He tensed but what went through his mind was fuck yes. He covered her hand with his. “Okay.”

“I don’t know where my phone is. And I don’t care.”

His fingers tightened on hers. Not what he’d been expecting—and that was a good thing because what he’d been expecting was ridiculous—but it was monumental. “Love that,” he said honestly. “Not worried about your sisters?”

She toed her shoes off, the thunks against his bedroom floor making him smile. Then she turned her hand over and laced her fingers with his. “They’ve got Evan and Noah.”

Parker looped an arm under her and pulled her close. That was big too. She was letting it all go. Which reminded him of why he’d brought her out here in the first place. But she was relaxed right now. Warm and soft—and naked—against him. No way was he disturbing any of this.