8
PARKER
Skyler and I slept in until ten in the morning and used the rest of the late morning and early afternoon to make love, reconnecting physically, emotionally, and by all things holy, spiritually. Today, Skyler and my love for her are my religion. I want to worship at her altar as often as possible.
While we made love and lay in bed, we spoke in whispers about our new home together, what we’re going to do once we move in. How she wants to go with painting the inside in comforting shades of blue, beige, cream, yellow, and white, while I spoke of building her a flower garden in the backyard, plus a horseshoe pit and cornhole setup for the guys to screw around with while drinking the latest brewskis my dad has found.
I expressed how I want to choose the porch furnishings because I fully plan on spending my evenings sitting outside next to her, looking over our land and the view beyond the house while relaxing after a long day on the job. I joked that I want her to buy a full month’s worth of bikinis so that during the summer I can have the grand pleasure of unwrapping a naked Skyler in new packaging every day. She laughed her head off but agreed to have her personal shopper get right on it.
Overall the morning and early afternoon were needed, the time together paramount to getting us back on an even keel. Now, we’re walking our dogs through the famous Casa de Campo park, having left our woes in the background. Today is about us.
“Did you know this park is five times bigger than Central Park?” I tell her, repeating what I’d learned in my research prior to coming to Spain. I’d hoped we would have a day of fun, and I planned ahead. I even have a surprise for her this evening, one I know she’ll love.
She scans the endless number of trees, the lake, the old royal buildings in the background, and inhales long and deep. “It’s incredible, being here in the sunshine, holding your hand, walking our babies. I don’t think I’ve ever been this relaxed.”
“Especially considering what’s been going on,” I mumble, but regret it instantly when her lips move into a grim expression and she squeezes my hand. “Sorry, Peaches. Didn’t mean to bring it up.”
She runs her hand through her long golden tresses. “No, it’s okay. We have to be able to talk about it. This is going to seem like a speck in time many years down the road. Instead, let’s focus on the fact that we’re in Madrid, enjoying the most beautiful park in the world, and not one person has recognized us.” She smiles beautifully.
“Got any wood I can knock on?” I joke.
Skyler looks down at my pants. “Not right now, but I’m sure we could rustle up something in a pinch.” She winks sexily.
I tilt my head back and laugh heartily. The pressure in my chest eases a little bit more with every step and with every minute I’m with her like this. I hook my arm around her shoulders, and she lifts her chin. I take the advantage and place a slow kiss to her lips, just enjoying her taste and scent, and how it feels to have this woman in my arms, knowing she’s all mine.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you,” I whisper against her smiling mouth.
“Well, I should hope not since you’re stuck with me, mister!” she teases, poking at my gut playfully.
We continue our walk until we come to a section of the lake where other tourists are getting into small white-and-red rowboats and pushing off onto the lake. I tug on Sky’s hand and steer us in that direction.
Sky skip walks, a huge smile on her face, likely figuring out my plan. My girl is always down for any adventure.
“No. Not a good idea.” I hear Nate’s rumbling voice from behind us.
Shit. I’d forgotten they were here. A testament to how well they do their job of guarding Skyler without being intrusive.
I stop to turn around and have a chat with the big guy. Rachel is standing a few feet away from Skyler, a smile on her face as she scans the environment. She has a pair of pitch-black aviators in place, hair pulled back in a complicated twist of braids. For the first time, I notice on the side next to her temple she has a portion of hair that’s shaved away in a series of razor-sharp lines, making her look edgy and badass at the same time.
“Nate, look, man, we’re fine.” I glance around the area. “Have you suspected a threat of any kind?”
His lips compress into a flat line. “No, but that doesn’t give us the excuse to be lackadaisical. We need to be aware at all times.”
“Fine, then you rent a boat and paddle near us, but I’m taking my girl and our dogs on a boat ride. Sky worships the sun, and she needs a little break from it all. That’s what today is all about: taking a break from it all. Everything. And sorry, man, but if we hadn’t gotten that note yesterday, I would tell you to take a hike because I’ve got my girl covered. Since I’m a man who loves his woman more than his own life, I’m going to appreciate your presence at all times, but she needs . . . hell, we need to be able to do some things on our own, or at the very least, feel as though we are. You get me?”
Nate’s jaw tightens so much I can see the veins in his neck bulge a little. “Fine. Carry on. We’ll stay close and unobtrusive.”
“Much obliged.” I place my hand on his shoulder and squeeze, hopefully expressing my deep appreciation for the position he’s in. I understand that he has a job to do and it’s got to feel uncomfortable at times.
Once I turn around, Sky is practically bouncing in her Converses. She’s wearing a pair of tiny black shorts, a light-blue tank, and her hair is flowing in those beachy waves I can’t stop running my fingers through. She looks adorable . . . no, edible with her long tan legs on display.
“Do we get to go?” She gestures at the boats.
I nod.
“Yay! I haven’t been in a rowboat in forever.”
We maneuver through the throngs of people, Nate and Rachel following a few paces behind us.
Once I’ve seen a man about a boat, or two since I rented one for Rachel and Nate to follow us out on, I take Skyler’s hand and lead her onto the boat and get her and the pups settled. Sunny is pressed up against Sky’s leg, looking very uncertain, whereas Midnight looks like he’s about to go on an adventure. He has his tan doggy paws up on one of the wooden boards in the center and is looking out the front of the boat as if he’s going to lead the way.
I get into the boat, and the guy pushes us off. I take the paddle and set about bringing my girl and dogs out into the sunshine.
We clear the trees and get out into the open water. Skyler hikes up the bottom half of her shirt to just under her breasts so that her entire midriff is on display, and she opens her tiny shorts and tucks the two corners inside so that her top and shorts become a modified bikini.
I’ve fucked her three times already today, and if we weren’t out in the open, I’d be making a move on her again. When it comes to Skyler, I’m insatiable. She just does it for me. In a big way.
Taking a page out of her book, I settle the paddles in their rings, reach behind my head, and tug off my T-shirt, allowing the sun to kiss my bare chest and back.
Skyler grins behind her Ray-Bans, pulls out her phone from her back pocket, aims it at me when I’ve got both hands on the paddles, the sun shining down on my bare skin, and captures a picture.
“Honey, you are so fucking hot. If we were alone, I’d jump you right here.”
I chuckle, loving the fact that her mind is in the gutter as much as mine is.
“My view is as stellar as it comes.” I grin, taking in all that is my beautiful woman.
She smiles, tips her head back, and lets the sun beat down on her body. Sunny settles into a circle near her feet and closes her eyes. Midnight sits quietly and watches the fish in the lake. I’m wondering if he’s going to jump in and try to get them. Since we haven’t water tested the dogs, I know I’ll be taking a dive into the drink if he gets a wild hair.
I pet his soft fur. “That’s a good boy. Stay in the boat, buddy.”
He looks at me and licks my hand. Sky giggles, eases back, and lets one of her arms dangle over the side of the boat, her hand trailing in the cool water. “This is heaven, honey.”
The sun is shining, my pups are behaving, and the water is lapping musically, adding to the serenity we’re feeling. My woman’s body is on golden display, and I’m working my arms with a beautiful park in the background and a breeze tickling my chest. “Too true.”
“Tell me what it is we’re doing?” Skyler begs for the millionth time tonight.
I shake my head but loop my arm around her waist as we walk the Gran Vía starting at Calle de Alcalá in the downtown area. Rachel and Nate are following at a much closer distance since this street is busy. And when I say busy, I mean it rivals Madison Square and Broadway in New York City. It’s considered an upscale shopping district in the heart of Madrid. “This is known as the street that never sleeps.”
“Like Vegas,” Sky adds, her eyes alight with wonder as she takes in what the nightlife has to offer.
“Exactly. We have about a twenty- to twenty-five-minute walk. Are you going to be okay in those shoes?” I look down at the chunky wedges she’s paired with a flowing little summer dress. Little being the operative word. My woman has a delectable body and is not afraid to show a little skin . . . thank God.
“Absolutely. Babe, wedges are like cheating sexy. Most of them have the illusion of height because the entire bottom of the shoe is raised up. However, the actual arch in my foot is only about an inch or two. I could run in these if pressed. Walking is fine.”
“Good.” I nuzzle her neck where her peaches-and-cream scent is the strongest and give her a few hot kisses there.
She giggles and holds my waist tighter. “What does Gran Vía mean anyway?”
“The great way.”
“I wonder what that building is?” She points to a brilliant white one on the opposite corner with the word “Metropolis” in white against a black square background on the front.
“As the sign says, it’s the Metropolis building. Built over a hundred years ago, in 1911.”
“I love the gold embellishments and the angel statue on top.”
I focus on the angel statue. “Actually, that wasn’t the original statue that was on top of that building.”
She stops where she’s standing and stares at the angel, its wings stretched delicately out into the horizon.
“Really?”
I nod. “Really. The first owners had another statue there depicting a phoenix and Ganymede, a Greek hero. They liked it so much they took it with them when they sold the building to Metropolis Seguros.”
“Wow, that’s interesting. So, the new owner put another statue up. Why?” Her lips tip into a cute little frown as she studies the building and the statue above.
I shrug. “Something about the other statue being so much a part of the history and skyline that they didn’t want to leave it empty, so they put something else in its place.”
“Cool. Though I think I like the idea of the angel better anyway. A phoenix rising from the ashes with a Greek hero can seem almost foreboding. You know? A struggle, something to fight in the first place. Whereas, to me, an angel represents hope and God’s love.”
We continue walking as I think about her words. “You’ve never struck me as being very religious.”
She lifts her shoulder and drops it. “I would consider myself more a spiritual person than a religious one. I definitely believe there is a higher power, a God above watching over us. If I didn’t, then I wouldn’t believe that my parents are watching over me now.”
“You rarely talk about them.”
She bites down on her lip and swings her arms. “It’s still hard. It’s been years, but I’m getting to the point where I can think about them now without grief overwhelming me.”
“What happened? You said there was a storm and some type of accident?”
“Yeah, I know I told you that the boat capsized in a storm, but that’s not technically the truth. It’s what I say on autopilot because the truth is much worse.”
“How so?” I frown and focus on her pinched, pained expression.
She swallows slowly and runs her fingers along the fabric of her dress. “Because the truth is, their boat blew up.”
“Uh . . . I’m sorry, honey. Blew up? Like kaboom type of blew up?” Images of a James Bond–type explosion scenario are running through my mind.
She nods. “That’s what the report says. Because it sank, they were only able to glean so much, but I paid for divers to get all that they could of the boat, to make sure there wasn’t anything left to find. They did find some remains of both my parents, which made it possible to declare them deceased officially. Still the entire thing was fishy. One report said they believed there must have been an explosive device on the boat. Another report said it could have been a mixture of chemicals or fumes leaking in the engine compartment along with a gas overflow. The authorities focused on the second explanation since there was no motive to hurt my parents or the captain and crew. They didn’t even make it to their first destination. They got about fifty miles out, and that was it.”
“Jesus.” I bring her close again and rub her bicep. “Where were you?”
“With Tracey, having drinks at the harbor. Before they left, my mom and I were talking with Tracey and Dad about the fact that I wanted to slow down. It was a common conversation. As my manager at the time, Mom agreed with me. She only ever wanted the best for me. Dad thought I should do whatever I wanted but agreed with Tracey that it would be a waste of my talents to sit back when I was hitting the top. Still, he just wanted me happy too.” She laughs dryly.
“Tracey had taken over as my agent a couple of years before. She’d always been good at it, and I liked knowing I had my best friend in my corner, making the deals on my behalf. Over time, Mom wasn’t so keen. Told me repeatedly to consider a new agent, one who wasn’t so vested in dollars signs but on the roles I wanted to play. But Mom didn’t understand Tracey’s drive.”
“She is definitely a go-getter,” I agree.
“Still, a week before they left, Mom and I had a conversation. She begged me to cut ties on a professional level with Tracey and focus on what I wanted. She knew I’d always envisioned myself settling down, finding a good man, creating a family, and living happy. Acting was my job, my craft, and you know I love it . . .”
“Yes, but I’ve noticed lately your interests are changing.” I give her a squeeze of encouragement.
Sky nods. “Because I have something more to live for than the next role. I have you, our new home, the puppies, all our friends . . .” She shrugs. “There’s more to life than pretending to be something I’m not. Acting used to be fun, and I know doing this A-Lister series with Geneva will be a blast. It will be an ideal finish or, at the very least, a good place to start slowing down. I mean, you’re going to be thirty next month. I’m going to be twenty-six a month after. I want to focus on us. Settling down, having kids . . .” She lets that comment just fall off as we continue to walk.
“You want children soon?” I ask, yanking at the top button on my blue dress shirt to give myself a little more room to breathe.
“Yeah, if, you know, things stay the way they are with us, I can see it happening sooner rather than later. I mean, if that’s what you want.” She nudges my side playfully, easing the gravity of the conversation we’re having.
I mull over the idea of marriage and kids. Lately it’s been on my mind a lot more, especially with us buying our home, taking that big step. It’s only natural to consider the ones after it. “You’re right. I’m not getting any younger, and I’ve always wanted a family. I think us setting up our home is going down the right track. You?”
The corresponding smile she has at my comment is blinding. “Totally agree.”
I press a kiss to her temple and keep her moving forward. We have reservations that I don’t want to be late for. “One step at a time?” I whisper.
She nods happily. “One step at a time. Now . . . are you going to tell me where we’re going or what?”
“No, I’m not.” I stop on the sidewalk in front of two large dark wooden doors. “Because we’re here.”
Skyler gazes at the building and reads the sign. “Cardamomo Tablao Flamenco.” Her eyes widen, and an all-white, bright smile stares back at me. “Flamenco dancing!”
“Yep!” I grin. “The only flamenco place recommended by the New York Times apparently. It’s private, hard to get in, and supposed to be quite the show. We’re having dinner here first, and then we’ve got front-row tickets to the private show.”
“This. Is. Awesome!” She screeches in awe, wraps her arms around my neck, and kisses me hard before pulling back and continuing to burst out, “I’m so excited!”
“Come on, Peaches.” I hold open the door for her to enter before me.
We’re greeted by the hostess, where I give my name and explicit reservation for us to be right up front and the table behind us to be given to Nate and Rachel. She leads us through the throngs of people and into a long rectangular room. Everything in the room is a wild flourish of colors. The circular tables on the ground level are quaint and private. Then a few tables back, the room rises, and there are lines of red booths giving the restaurant goers an unencumbered view, but nothing like the front row. My girl can touch the stage where the performance will be held.
The restaurant fills up as we place our order for the four-course meal. The starter course is an Iberian ham served with toast and tomatoes, reminding me of bruschetta with meat. Sky shimmies in her chair as she enjoys the mixture. Right as we’re completing the starter, the waiter delivers what they consider the first course, which is a variety of palate-impressing cheeses and toasted breads.
“One thing I’ve found in my European travels, they do not mess around when it comes to their breads and cheeses. I don’t know what it is. It’s like the stuff comes straight from the cheese mill and bakery.” Skyler pops a chunk of white cheese into her mouth, then proceeds to lick her fingers. “So good!” She hums, and the sound goes right to my dick, making him take notice.
“I couldn’t agree more. My guess is that they probably pick up the bread daily from a local bakery and weekly on the cheese.”
She nods, slathers another piece of toast, and holds it up to me. I lean forward, make eye contact, and take a fierce bite. Her pupils dilate, and she licks her lips.
I chew for a few moments and swallow as she watches the movement in my neck. I lift my hand and trace the side of her face down to her jaw with one finger. “You’re thinking about fucking me right now.” My voice is hoarse, my thoughts going to exactly the same thing.
“Oh yeah. I don’t know what it is, honey. Maybe it’s just having alone time . . . finally . . . but I’m . . .”—she fans her face—“. . . just . . . hot for you.”
I grin, leaning over the table, and she does the same until our lips meet in a much more chaste kiss than I’d prefer. “Good. Eat up.”
She bites her lip, and I have to grit my teeth to prevent the beast from coming to life. I adjust my cock so that he’s got a little more space and take a few deep breaths and a long chug of my ice water, attempting to cool my jets. The last thing I want to do is sit through an entire show with a hard-on.
We pick our second course, which if you include the start is technically the third course, and it arrives shortly after we finish the cheese and toast. I went with the Iberian pork fillet in a black garlic sauce, and she went with the cod confit with salad and roasted peppers.
Every few seconds, Skyler moans around another bite of her fish, which does absolutely nothing for my repeated attempts to keep the beast in check.
Once we’ve finished eating, I order us some Spanish red wine the waiter recommended to have with our dessert. Skyler scoots her chair closer to mine as men start to line the sides and back of the stage. Four men have acoustic guitars, and another guy is holding what looks like a box of some sort. Another places a few mics where he and two other people sit down, keeping the mics at seat level. The lights dim, and everyone focuses on the stage. It darkens for a moment as a woman dressed from shoulder to ankle in gold-and-green lace appears in the center. The bottom half of her dress has at least ten rows of ruffles. She’s holding a bright-red shawl with heaps of fringe dangling from the edge. Her dark hair is slicked back into a tight bun at the nape, where a huge white flower, larger than the bun, is nestled. Her face is focused with a fierce expression, her lips stained a cherry red.
“She’s so beautiful.” Skyler cuddles at my side, and I put an arm around her chair.
“Yes, she is.” However, on her feet are the most hideous pair of black chunky heels I’ve ever seen.
The acoustic guitar plays out a beat while the woman’s body gyrates in a fluid movement, her hands curving in, out, and up along with the melody. The voice of one of the men comes into the song, and the music starts to get louder. As the volume of the music rises, the woman moves faster until she starts to stomp those ugly shoes in a manner that’s so kinetic I can feel the thunder in my chest every time her heels make contact with the stage.
Skyler’s body heaves along with the music, her shoulders moving from side to side, and her face has a dreamy quality as she watches the woman dance.
The tempo picks up and the volume increases. The entire space fills with the vibrating beat that pounds inside my heart right down into my gut. I feel the music seeping deep, becoming a part of me.
As the music feeds the room with an electric, sensual energy, I lean over to Sky and press my lips against her ear. “It is said that flamenco breathes life, passion, and raw emotion through the skin.” I trace her ear with my lips, run my nose down the column of her neck, and press a kiss to her nape. She shivers and sighs at the contact.
The woman on stage pulls the shawl from around her neck and flutters it widely in the air as she spins in a complex series of circles, stomping, and arm movements. Her body flows with the movement in a languid upper-body display, whereas the bottom half is juxtaposed in harsh, hammering jabs to the floor. There’s a fiery, almost menacing twist of her lips as she moves like she wants to exorcise the demons floating around her to let the vivaciousness of passion, love, and sex take their place.
I place my hand on Skyler’s thigh, teasing underneath the loose fabric of her dress until I secretly slip high enough to trace the lace of her panties. I encounter her arousal coating the flimsy fabric. I trace her slit with an exploring finger.
“Parker . . .” She speaks so softly I can barely hear it over the music; then she opens her legs. It’s a silent invitation to touch the heart of her, right here.
I cup her entire sex, grinding the palm of my hand down on her clit until her body goes rigid in shock at the intense, bold move.
Making sure to block out the audience behind us, including Rach and Nate, I curve over my girl’s body and whisper in her ear, “Let’s go to the restroom.”
“Together . . . ,” she says breathily.
“Fuck yes,” I growl, and nip at her ear.
I remove my hand stealthily and use my white sport coat to cover my very large erection from view. When I stand, both Rachel and Nate stand up.
I hold out my hand in a “stop” gesture. “Just taking her to the restroom. Stay here; we’ll be right back.”
Nate narrows his gaze while Rachel grins wickedly. That woman sees too much.
“We can follow . . . ,” Nate attempts, but I shake my head.
Skyler does the same. “Park’s got me. Be back.”
I usher her through the crowd, the music thumping a heavy beat in my heart right along to the throbbing in my dick.
Once we make it to where the bathrooms are, I see a door that says “Salida,” which I know translates to “exit” in English. At the back of the hall, I tug Skyler away from the ladies’ room and to the door out back. When I open it, there’s a tiny courtyard. In the left-hand corner there’s a section of lattice protruding out, almost as if the owner had an inkling that people would get so swept away in their show that the passion would consume them and they’d need a place to relieve that intense feeling.
I note a small rock, which I wedge into the door to make sure it stays open enough that we can go back in. Then I scout the space behind the lattice about ten feet from the door and find just what I’m looking for. It’s a smoking section. There’s a single wrought iron chair with a canister on the ground filled with cigarette butts. I go over to the chair, and Sky follows, standing a few feet from me, her chest heaving, pupils dilated, and her lips so soft and moist looking, I want to bite them until she screams. Instead, I undo my belt, button, and zipper and pull out my cock. It stands straight up at attention, practically reaching my belly button. Then I sit down, push my pants to my ankles, and point to my cock.
“Sit on it. Now,” I grate through my teeth, no longer capable of anything but having her tight, wet heat surrounding me and pounding out this need inside.
She licks her lips, tucks her hands under her dress, and pulls down a tiny scrap of lace, which is a poor excuse for a pair of panties.
I hold out my hand. “Give them to me.” I lift them to my face and inhale her musk. It makes my head swim with desire, my mouth water, and my dick weep at the tip.
“Don’t make me wait,” I grit through clenched teeth.