CHAPTER 22
Cassie slipped into the garage and pulled the cover off her dad’s bike, tossing it over her mangled Ducati. She’d purposefully stored it back here where she knew no one would come looking for it. If she paid close attention this afternoon, maybe she could figure out how to fix it. The engines all worked the same, right?
She wheeled the old Yamaha across the yard to where Parker sat waiting on the steps to the playhouse. Parker cocked his chin back at the door. “Nice digs.”
“Dad built it for us years ago. It was the best place for sleepovers. And if you play your cards right, you might get the tour.” She waggled her eyebrows at him.
Parker dangled two beer bottles from each hand. “This butter you up?”
“Where’d you get those?”
“Swiped them from Mom’s fridge. I figured she owes me that much for burning holes in my retinas.”
“Aww, she deserves some happiness, don’t you think?”
“Of course she does. But I don’t want to talk about that.” Parker placed a beer on the little railing and leaned back on a hand taking a long pull from the other. Cassie’s focus riveted on the way his throat moved when he swallowed. When his tongue swiped his lower lip catching the last drop, her blood went molten.
“What do you want to talk about?” Her voice had gone all soft and breathy.
And what was left of her panties burned up in the look he gave her when he spoke. “I’d rather talk about all the dirty thoughts I had while you were pressed up against me riding the bike.”
Cassie’s mouth went dry. She couldn’t tell if the heat on her face was from his penetrating gaze or the sun. It was like someone had lit a torch inside of her. “How dirty?”
His eyes crinkled. “Very dirty.”
“Tell me,” she breathed, her pussy pulsing at full attention.
He put down the beer and stood, crossing the distance between them in two steps. Resting a hand on her hip, he dipped his head to her neck where he tongued the sensitive spot just below her ear. “I’d rather show you.”
His breath skated over her, sending an electric charge straight to her clit. She breathed in sharply as her nipples tightened to hard peaks. She slid her palm up his chest and fisted the soft cotton, giving him a little push back. “Inside. Now.”
He covered her hand with his, and turning, bounded up the steps, pulling her behind. He hauled her inside, and made a beeline for her bed, still covered in flight suits.
He swept them into a pile on the floor and tumbled her onto the mattress. “We can play with these later.”
“So you like it when I’m dressed for battle?”
He rolled her onto her back and braced himself above her, caressing her cheek with a thumb. “I like you every way.” He lowered his head, mouth hovering just above hers.
She reached up and stroked his jaw, slightly roughened from the day’s growth. Her heart beat erratically as she surrendered to his intense gaze. She closed the distance between their mouths, opening herself to him, sighing in relief when his tongue stroked in.
She longed for his weight on her, pressing her into the mattress and bringing relief to the ache that was rapidly escalating between her legs.
He broke the kiss too soon. “But especially naked.”
She squirmed under him, reaching for her waistband, but his hand caught hers stilling it. “Lie back.”
She hesitated. When they’d just been fooling around, it had just been banter. But now that she’d admitted she was falling in love with him, his words carried more weight. She got the feeling he was talking about much much more than clothing removal. She hadn’t even taken off her boots, and yet she felt exposed and completely vulnerable under his intense scrutiny.
She didn’t do vulnerable. Not very well, at least.
“Let me give this to you, Cass,” he murmured. “Show you how beautiful you are.”
Something in his voice slipped through her defenses like a key slipping into a lock. A flood of emotion swept through her. “Parker, I’m scared,” she whispered, looking away, heat crawling up her neck.
He gently pulled her back. “Look at me, Cass.”
Heart in her throat, she raised her eyes to meet his. There was so much love there, such kindness and steadiness, tears pricked her eyelids.
“You have nothing to be afraid of. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere.” Parker’s eyes shone as he smiled down at her. “I meant what I said back there on the road. I love you, and I mean to show you just how much.”
Her heart teetered on the precipice, scrabbling for purchase, wanting to let go, yet afraid of the fall. There would be no going back from this moment. “What about–”
He placed a finger across her lips. “Shhh. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out together.” Replacing his finger with his mouth, he gave her a kiss so tender it hurt. Then he pushed off the bed, and in one fluid motion reached over his head and pulled off his shirt with one hand.
Her mouth watered as she perused his chest, the smattering of hair leading to a vee below his waist. She longed to explore the ridges and valleys his muscles created, to memorize every inch of him. But he moved away as she reached for him, squatting at her feet and working the laces of her boots.
Glancing up at her while he worked the knots, he spoke lightly. “It’s time we got you a proper pair of cowboy boots. Especially if you’re going to be working in the arena regularly.”
“What’s good enough for the army is good enough for me.”
He gave her a mischievous smile. “Then remember how much faster it is to slip out of cowboy boots. See?” He stood and toed off his boots, flicking them across the floor.
“Noted.”
Parker knelt back down, peeled off her socks, and pulled on her jeans, pausing to inspect the bruise at her knee. For a heart stopping moment, she forgot to breathe. His eyes narrowed as he traced it, then he looked up at her eyes full of concern. “That was some inanimate object.”
“I’ve had worse,” she answered lightly with a toss of her head.
“You need to have it looked at?” Worry colored his voice.
She shook her head. “Nah. Another day of aspirin and ice and I’ll be as good as new.” She bent her knee, making her point. The bruise was still very tender, but wild horses wouldn’t drag the admission from her.
He leaned in and kissed the spot gently. “So fierce,” he murmured. She winced at the tenderness in his voice. No one had ever shown her such care and concern before. The sensations rippled over her legs, warming her and weighting her limbs. She let her head fall back with a sigh when he placed a kiss at her ankle. “God, Park. That’s… heavenly.” She stretched languorously, leaning into his touch, wanting his hands in other more sensitive places.
“Mmmhmm. Yes, it is.” He began working the same magic on her other foot. By the time he grabbed her ankle and began to lightly stroke up her calf, her pussy was throbbing. She was wet for him already, and he’d only just started.
He lightly ran his fingers up the inside of her thighs, setting off goose bumps across her body. He kissed the top of her thigh where it met her body, but not the place she wanted most. Hooking a thumb inside her panties, she pushed, hoping he’d take the hint as her legs fell open to him. His fingers were everywhere, flicking, caressing, stroking. Setting off tiny fires of desire everywhere he touched. She rocked her hips up, trying to find relief, but the magnificent ache only built, working its way up her body.
Her breasts felt heavy and full, her nipples puckered into hard peaks waiting for his mouth. But his mouth landed on the place she least expected – the topmost shrapnel scar. The one that if it had been a half inch farther up her leg would have nicked her femoral artery, killing her.
She gasped at his touch. At the reverence with which he worked his mouth over the half dozen scars on her leg. “Parker…” His gentle strength pierced her, tightening her throat.
“You’re beautiful. And strong.”
He continued his upward caresses, fingers grazing her swollen pussy.
“Yesssss,” she hissed. “More.”
He grazed her again, and she jerked, hips chasing his fingers for something deeper, harder.
“Parker…” her breath came hard and fast as she writhed for more. “Want. Mouth.” She didn’t care she was shamelessly begging for his touch.
But he kept her there, stroking lightly and murmuring in her ear. “Not yet, Angel. You’re so beautiful. Your pussy is so soft. I love how you get wetter with each stroke. You feel so good, Cassie. I could touch you all day.”
She exploded with relief when he finally slipped a digit inside her and pressed his palm against her throbbing clit, wave after wave of tingling heat washing over her.
“Take off your shirt.”
About damn time. She pulled at the opening, not caring when the buttons pinged against the floor.
More rustling as her sports bra joined his jeans. And then he settled between her legs, his cock nudging at her opening. Right now, she wanted this more than breathing. Needed him inside her with a ferocity that scared her.
He filled her slowly. Stretching her as she opened completely to him. Heart and soul. She welcomed him with each stroke, accepting his gift. Reality would come crashing back soon. Torture her with dreams she couldn’t escape, but at least she had this one beautiful moment.
“Tell me when you’re close,” he said tightly. “I want to come with you.”
His words undid her. “Now,” she arched her neck back. “Yes, now, Park. I’m coming.” Her pussy clenched as he drove into her, wave after wave of ecstasy crashing over her. Engulfing them. His cries joined hers as he thrust so deeply the head of his cock touched her womb, setting off another round of convulsions.
“You are everything, Cass. Everything,” he rasped, as he pushed into her a final time and collapsed on top of her.
*
Cassie dropped the towel that barely covered her ass and flopped on the bed. She had the most perfect ass. Round and tight, perfectly fitting in the palm of his hand. And he couldn’t resist touching her when she presented herself like that. He dropped the towel wrapped around his waist, and bent over her, skimming his hand from her shoulder, over the smooth arc of her spine. He brought his hand to rest at the luscious curve of her ass, fingers practically touching her sex.
“Such a thrill seeker,” he murmured, rubbing back the other way.
She gave a little wiggle of her hips and tossed a grin over her shoulder. “Especially when those thrills involve your hand on my ass, doing naughty things.”
“So the thrill of sneaking into your house for a shower together while no one was home wasn’t enough?” He skimmed down over her silky skin again, this time grazing her sex on purpose.
“Not nearly enough,” her answer came out with a throaty sigh.
He was half hard just from her voice. But when her desire coated his fingers, his cock stood upright, taking notice. He brought his fingers to his mouth, tasting. Her musky sweetness melted on his tongue.
She looked back at him through hooded eyes. “That’s hot, Park.”
“This?” He did the whole movement again, fingers grazing her pussy and diving in just far enough to capture her essence. She groaned when he licked his fingers, a sound that went straight to his cock. “Tell me what else is hot, Cassie.”
She propped herself up on her elbows and spread her legs, canting her hips. Her pussy, pink and swollen peeked out at him. With a growl, he caressed the inside of her thigh. If she wanted a marathon of hot and naughty, he’d make sure he incinerated her.
Dipping his head, he took a swipe over her swollen sex, fucking into her with his tongue. His cock jerked eagerly as her taste surrounded him.
She wiggled her ass. “Yessss, again. Do that again,” she gasped, hips rocking. He complied, going slower this time.
She groaned and pushed into him. “You have no idea how good that is.”
Oh yes, he did.
Pressing his legs against the edge of the bed, he pulled her back and settled her on his cock. “You have no idea how good that is, hon.” Oh fuck, it was good. Her pussy surrounded him in wet, tight heat. Slowly he pulled out, then thrust in.
She tossed her head back, rolling her hips. She was beautiful like this. Strong and lusty, and the way she moved against him sent spirals of need through his gut. He palmed her ass as she ground against him slowly, as if she was savoring every thrust.
He slipped his fingers through her hair, letting the silky strands cascade over his fingers, then drew his hand down her spine and around her hip. He leaned forward kissing her spine as his fingers found hers already at her clit. “Want me to take over?”
“Yes, oh yes,” she breathed.
Gently, he circled the hard nub, already slick with her arousal.
“Harder,”
“Not this time, sunshine. Let it build,”
He kept circling lightly as her moans and thrusts increased in intensity. She fisted the sheets with one hand while she pinched a nipple with the other. “Parker, oh sweet Jesus, yes.” With a cry, her head came back, and her orgasm shook her like a leaf. Her pussy squeezed his cock over and over, taking him higher and higher with each undulation, until at last, he followed her over the edge with a shout.
He snaked an arm around her waist, supporting her, his breathing as ragged and short as hers. He kissed her glistening skin, tasting sweet and salt. “How’s that for naughty?”
She giggled and burrowed back into him. “Waiter, I’ll take a side of hot sex with my naughty please.”
“Mmmm. I thought that was dessert.”
She stretched out on her side, and he followed, arms encircling her, limbs heavy and relaxed. “We should get back to the bike soon,”
“Mmmhmm. Just another minute like this.” He breathed deeply, not wanting to move. Just another minute of sweet perfection. Then they’d get up and fix her bike.