CHAPTER 6
Cassie’s eyes went wide and then darkened with desire at his statement. So she liked frank talk. Parker tucked that information away for future use.
“When are you off?”
“As soon as I drop the coffee back at the station.”
“Where do you suggest we go for these… ah… shenanigans?”
He cocked an eyebrow at Cassie’s choice of words. Shenanigans certainly described their previous encounters, both their first time on a rise overlooking Liberty Creek ten years ago, and just the other day in Hutch. Not that he was complaining, but Cassie deserved better than shenanigans. “For starters, a bed would be nice.” He drew the back of a finger down her cheek. A pink spot erupted where his finger had traced.
She cleared her throat. “Bed. Check. Go on.” Her voice had gone husky, and it stirred something deep inside him.
“I moved over to the ranch right about the time you got back to town. Gunnar needs help now that Axel’s gone.”
“And?”
“And I have Axel’s old bunkhouse.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “So is this like Netflix and chill?”
“I don’t want to watch Netflix, and I definitely don’t want to chill.”
“I see.” Cassie worried her lip between her teeth, obviously wrestling with something. “Okay… you have protection?”
“Ribbed, lubed, and lambskin.”
“Really?” she squeaked.
“Whatever it takes, sweetheart.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re fucking with me.”
A laugh bubbled out of his chest. “Okay, maybe just a little. But whatever you like. If I don’t have it, we can make a quick stop.”
“When was the last time you were tested?”
“Every six months and I haven’t had a partner in eighteen.” His face burned at the admission. He’d never been grilled this way before, not that he minded. He’d always been able to tell Cassie anything.
“Eighteen months, huh?” Her eyes lit with humor.
He shrugged.
“I have you beat,” she confessed quietly.
Parker’s eyebrows shot skyward. That was a surprise. Another story to pull out of her. Cassie was drop dead gorgeous, wicked smart, and fun to be around. He was certain she’d had men falling all over her from the time she left Prairie.
She continued, laying another surprise on him. “I get tested routinely, so… yeah.” She took a deep breath and raised her eyes to his in both challenge and invitation. “I have an IUD, and since, well… if it were anyone else, it wouldn’t fly, but you can eighty-six the condoms.”
His heart began to pound. Awareness buzzed through him, making it hard to focus. The idea of being completely naked with Cassie sparked something deep inside him. “I’m fine with whatever you want, Cass.”
Her mouth quirked. “Anything?”
Parker’s cock woke up as his mind went to a very dirty place. With time on their hands and no chance of interruption, he and Cassie could make earthquakes. He nodded slowly. “Anything. Toys. Lube. Whatever you want.”
Her mouth parted in surprise, and her tongue darted out to wet her lower lip. He stifled a groan as she considered his answer, imagining all the things her tongue could do to him.
“Are you saying you like kink?” Cassie’s eyes lit with curiosity. Or was it anticipation?
Parker shifted his stance, making room for his cock that now stood at attention. Words had never been a turn-on for him. But talking like this with Cassie brought a whole new level of arousal. Heat snaked through him, building in his chest.
He tilted her chin with a finger, running the pad of his thumb over the lip she’d just slicked. “Remember what I said about screaming my name? I like whatever gets you off.” He’d be happy with straight up fucking, but in truth, he’d do whatever she liked. Anything to put the look of ecstasy on her face again.
“Hmmm. I like that.” She nipped at his thumb and gave him a naughty smile. “But what about you? What gets you off?”
That was simple. He caught her gaze and answered firmly. “You.”
Surprise flickered briefly in Cassie’s eyes, followed by straight-up hunger. Parker swallowed from the intensity of her stare, a jolt of pure lust settling heavy and low.
He captured her hand, and turning it, brought her delicate wrist to his mouth. A faint aura of perfume lingered. Something floral.
Add finding all the places she put perfume to his growing list of fantasies involving Cassie. He kissed the sensitive spot, registering her pulse fluttering wildly against his lips. He opened his mouth for a taste, tongue swiping where his lips had been. She stilled in his loose embrace and gasped sharply. He tongued the silky skin again before raising his head.
“Park?” Her voice shook the tiniest bit.
“Mmm?”
“Let’s get out of here.”
She didn’t need to ask twice. “My truck’s back at the station. Meet me there?”
“I have my bike.”
“No need. I’ll give you a ride.”
Cassie’s eyebrows slashed together. “No way. I’m not leaving my baby here.”
That shouldn’t have annoyed him, but it did. Cassie’s fancy Ducati motorcycle was a rolling piece of art. As sleek and gorgeous as a Corvette. But he was certain she drove it way too fast and took too many chances. A knot of worry pressed on his sternum. Didn’t she realize what she meant to people here? To her family? To him? The thought of her sprawled flat on the pavement made his stomach lurch sickeningly. “You planning on popping wheelies while you wait for me to catch up?” He purposefully kept his voice light.
She gave him an evil grin. “Maybe? That bother you?”
He shook his head as he placed another kiss on her palm. “Nope. Just so long as you wear your helmet.”
She yanked her hand away. “When have I ever not worn a helmet?” she snapped.
“Overreact much?” Her reaction surprised him. “Maybe I’d hate to have something happen to your beautiful head before we get to the main show,” he snapped back. “That’s all.”
Relief crossed her face. “Roger that, Captain Safety Nazi.”
He crossed his arms. “You think I’m a safety Nazi because I worry about peeling your face off the pavement? You haven’t seen what I’ve seen. Too much can happen in a split second.” An awkward silence stretched between them.
Shit.
Guilt ate at him. He hadn’t meant to be overprotective. She’d probably seen worse than he had, but the paramedic in him would always be on the lookout for danger. And he’d failed at keeping so many people safe… the memory of pulling the rubble off his uncle punched him in the gut.
Sighing, Cassie caressed his cheek. “I’m sorry Park. I shouldn’t have reacted that way. I don’t think of danger the same way most people do. But I do take safety seriously, and I’d never do anything stupid. Promise.”
He nodded, scrubbing a hand over his jaw. He’d have to take her at her word, but it wouldn’t stop him from worrying about her. “Yeah. It would be a sin to beat up Biscotti the Ducati, right?”
Her laughter filled the space behind the truck, breaking the tension. He loved the way her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled. “Clever. But her name’s Sally.”
“Sally?” He crossed his arms, shaking his head. “Not sexy enough for that bike.”
“Well you’re not going to call her Hop Along Dos,” she said, a smile curving her mouth.
She’d hated that he’d named her first motorcycle Hop Along. “You’re right, that doesn’t fit the bike either. I know. Death Trap.”
She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “Sally.”
“She Beast?”
“You can do better.”
Parker stroked his chin. “Got it. Flying Ace?”
“No way. That’s an Air Force term.”
“Speed Racer?”
“Oh Lord help me.” Cassie’s shoulders shook.
“Dragon.”
She shook her head.
“Sassy Cassie?”
“Just. Stop.”
He moved in and cupped the back of her neck, pressing a hard kiss to her mouth. “We can argue about this when we’re naked and alone. I’m gonna bring coffee to the crew and grab our plates. Meet me at the truck?”
She gave him a wicked grin. “Why don’t you meet me back here and I’ll grab the food. You wouldn’t want to cause any more gossip.”
“As long as it’s about us, I’m good with it.” Laughing, he scooted around the front of the food truck before she had a chance to respond.