"Parker, you need to spend time with your family. You don't have to spend it with me."

  She still doesn't get it, but I've already made my mind up, and I'm not letting her get away that easily. "I'm going to take you to class and pick you up. We're going to go back to my house and let my mom stuff us full of food and then we're going to come back here and talk some more. Okay?"

  She wants to argue. I swear, I think it's one of her favorite things to do with me, but surprisingly, she doesn't this time. "I need to get ready."

  I nod and sit back down on the couch. "Go ahead. I'll be here when you get done."

  She walks quickly out of the room. I can tell she's trying to put her guard up, build walls between us, but I'm not going to let that happen. She's mine now—I just have to prove it to her.

  Chapter 13

  Haven

  I had told Parker that I needed to go to the library on campus to study a little after my class. It’s true. I definitely need to study, but I’m not able to. I can’t stop thinking of Parker. I was thinking that if we had some space, it would all start to make sense, but I can’t get past the kiss we shared.

  I’m sitting outside the library on a bench when one of the guys from my class sits down next to me. We say hello, and after a quick scan of the parking lot again and not seeing Parker’s truck, I look down at my phone.

  “You’re Haven, right?”

  I glance at the boy next to me. “Yeah. Richard, right?”

  He nods. “So, I was thinking that maybe you and I could study together sometime.”

  I open my mouth to answer him when my phone dings. I read the incoming text from Parker. “Tell him no.”

  I smile at the possessive tone of the text. When I look up, Parker is walking toward me. He stops in front of me, glaring at Richard. “Hey, you ready to go?”

  I nod at him and then turn to Richard. “Hey, but yeah, to answer your question, if you need help studying, I don’t mind helping. We can get a group of us together or something.”

  Parker sighs next to me. Obviously, I’m not going to give him exactly what he wants. Plus, I’m used to helping out other students. Parker holds his hand out to Richard. “Hi. I’m Parker. Haven’s boyfriend.”

  Richard puts his hand in Parker’s and winces as Parker shakes it. “Hi. Yeah, nice to meet you. I’ll see you next class, Haven.”

  He pulls his hand back and almost runs away.

  I cross my arms over my chest. “Did you really have to do that?”

  He lifts his shoulder in a shrug. “I leave in a few days. It’s probably a good idea to get the word out you’re taken.”

  He grabs my hand and walks with me to the parking lot. All of this is moving so fast, and I can’t help but wonder what the change is in Parker. He points to his dad’s car. “My dad wanted to change my oil so I’m driving his.”

  I get in as he opens the door for me. I guess that explains why I never did see his truck.

  As soon as he sits down, he starts to talk. “My mom has fixed a feast for lunch.”

  I can’t help smiling at that. His mom loves cooking for people, and I know how much it means to her to cook for Parker. “I can’t wait. I haven’t had your mom’s cooking since last week.”

  He’s driving, but he peeks a look at me. “You go see my family a lot since I’ve been gone.”

  I lean my head against the back of the seat. “She invites me every week.”

  He nods and reaches over to put his hand on my thigh and squeezes. “Good. I like that.”

  Lunch with Parker and his family reminds me of old times. It’s like nothing has changed. At least that's what I think until Parker holds my hand during the whole meal. Everyone is noticing. His brother, his mom and dad all stare at our intertwined hands that are lying on the tabletop, but no one is saying a word. Parker doesn’t even seem to notice that he’s dropped a bombshell.

  I look at Tony across from me, and he smirks. "So you two are a thing now?"

  It's on the tip of my tongue to say no and pull my hand back, but Parker's grip on me tightens. "Yes, we are. Do you got a problem with that?" he challenges his brother.

  Tony looks at him, surprised. "No. The only thing I have to say about it is it's about damn time."

  Parker's dad chimes in, "Amen to that."

  Parker's mom gets up from her spot at the table and comes up behind me and hugs me. "I always hoped you would one day be my daughter-in-law."

  I look at Parker, alarmed, and wait for him to correct her, but all he does is stare at me, smiling ear to ear. "Thanks," I tell her, not knowing what else I should say. She releases me and goes back to her seat, smiling.

  The rest of the meal goes easily. I hang out in the kitchen and help his mom and brother clean up as Parker talks to his dad. Later, after three board games, Parker finally asks me if I'm ready to go. I nod and go around to each of his family members and give them a hug before we leave.

  “Here, honey. Take some leftovers so you’ll have something to eat later.”

  I take the Tupperware from his mom, and she hugs me one more time. She whispers to me, “I knew you two would come to your senses one day.” She pulls back and looks at me. “A mom knows these things. You two were meant to be.”

  Emotional, I merely nod and thank her before Parker helps me out to his truck.

  Parker holds my hand the whole way to my house. When we get inside, I tell him to have a seat. "I'll be right back."

  When I walk into my bedroom, I look in the mirror. I'm in one of the frilly skirts and shirts that Emmaline had helped me pick out. My hair is all curled, and I have makeup on. I like my new look, but I also know that my old one is who I am truly.

  I change into comfortable clothes and wash my face, getting rid of every trace of makeup. When I'm fresh-faced, I go back out into the living room. I stare at Parker, waiting to see his reaction, but all he does is hold his hand out for me. I go to him, and he pulls me onto his lap. He kisses me hungrily and leaves me breathless.

  "This is the real me, Parker," I say, pointing at my face and then my baggy clothes.

  He shrugs as if it's not a big deal. "I like the real you." He then gasps and looks at me. "Wait, you thought it was the clothes and makeup, that's why I liked you?"

  I shrug, not wanting to answer him. The truth is, I definitely thought it. "I don't know, Parker. This is all so new."

  He turns me in his lap to where I have to look at him. "This isn’t something so simple that I saw you in a skirt and fell in love with you, Haven. It’s been building for a long time. Truth is, as soon as I left a few years ago, I knew something wasn’t right. There’s an emptiness inside me, and no matter what, it’s there... unless I’m talking to you, looking at you or have you in my arms.”

  Speechless, I just stare at him, soaking in his confession.

  He looks at me almost longingly. “I asked you this morning and you never did answer me. How do you feel about me?"

  I shrug my shoulders and just stare back at him. He puts his hands on each side of my neck, forcing me to look at him. "Last night, you said a lot of things but you also had drank a lot of whiskey. I need to know, Haven, how you feel about me."

  I swallow and nod my head. I try to forget about all the times I’ve loved someone and they’ve turned me away. My mom left me. My father moved away. I can’t lose Parker too. "Are you sure you want to know?"

  He laughs then. "Yes, of course I do."

  I can feel the nerves shooting through my body, but I have to say it. "I love you, Parker. I've loved you for a long time."

  He lifts his hand to the side of my face and looks at me full of surprise. “Really?”

  I want to shake my head. How could he not have known? “Yes, really. I’ve been in love with you since the first day I met you.”

  His reply is instant. “We were ten years old, Haven.”

  I nod slowly. “I know that. And I knew then that I wanted you in my life forever.”

  He cups my chin. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

  I shrug, almost embarrassed. “Look at you and then look at me.”

  Chapter 14

  Parker

  I start to cut her off, but she puts her hand on my chest to stop me. “Look, I’m not cutting on myself. I like me, but I also know that you and I are very different... you could have anyone, Parker.”

  I take a deep breath. “And I want you.”

  I kiss her then because there’s no more holding back. I need the taste of her on my lips. Our lips mesh in a heated, thorough kiss. She shifts on my lap, straddling me. I could stay just like this forever and never want for anything again.

  She breaks the kiss and looks at me. She looks happy, and I know my own face reflects the same. “I want you.”

  Her voice is barely a whisper, but hearing her desire forces a shiver down my spine. I look at her, not wanting to pressure her but knowing I don’t have it in me to refuse her either. “Uh, are you sure?”

  She nods insistently. “Yes. I always dreamed you would be the one...”

  She stops, and I’m pretty sure I know what she’s going to say. I urge her to continue because I want to hear her say it. “The one to what?”

  She blushes prettily. “I want you to take my virginity.”

  My cock twitches in my pants. Just the thought of being buried inside her makes me harder than I ever thought possible. But no matter how much I want to have her, the responsible side of me comes out. “We have forever, Haven. We don’t have to rush things.”

  I hold my breath, hoping that she doesn’t think I’m refusing her. The truth is I’m weak when it comes to her. She must know it too, because her next movement makes me almost crazy. She tries to get up and I hold on to her. I may be willing to wait, but I still want to hold her.

  “Let me up, please.”

  I grit my teeth and release her. She stands up, facing me. Slowly, she pulls down her pants and kicks them to the side.

  I swear I almost forget to breathe.

  She grabs the hem of her sweatshirt and pulls it over her head. My mouth falls open.

  She is standing in front of me bare-breasted with nothing but her panties on. I sit up and put my hands on her hips. If this is a test, I’m going to lose.

  I lean my forehead against her belly. Fuck, give me strength.

  Her hands go across my shoulders and down my back before coming up again. I lift my head and look at her. “You need to make sure this is what you want, Haven. You may want me to take your virginity, but I want it all. I may be your first, but I’m also going to be your last.”

  She blinks. “I want that. You have no idea how much I want that.”

  Before I can talk myself out of it, I stand up and pull her into my arms. She wraps her arms and legs around me and holds on. I stalk with her down the hall and kick her bedroom door open. I walk into the room and try to be calm and together about it, but my heart is racing so fast it feels like it’s about to come out of my chest.

  I sit on the bed, keeping her on my lap. I take a few deep breaths, and she looks at me curiously. “What’s wrong?”

  I pull my shirt off and throw it to the floor. I put my hand on her back, drawing her to me, wanting to feel her bare breast against my chest. We both moan almost greedily at the contact. “Fuck,” I mutter.

  She pulls back just a little. “What is it? Tell me.”

  I sigh. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

  She stiffens in my arms, but before she tries to get up, I hold on to her. “Listen to me first. It’s not bad.”

  She looks at me warily. “What is it?”

  I swallow, shaking my head. “This will be my first time too.”

  She smiles, and I swear I see the start of a laugh on her face but she shuts it down quickly when she sees I’m not joking. “What? But... no... you and Janice at senior prom. Everyone was talking about it...”

  I shake my head. “I didn’t have sex with her. We made out, but that was it.”

  “Parker....” She says my name long and low. “You don’t have to say that just to make me feel...”

  “Have I ever lied to you?” I ask her.

  She shakes her head. “No. Never.”

  “Well, I wouldn’t lie to you about this. I wanted you to know... I figure you’ll know soon enough, but I figured we should get it out there before we, uh, you know.”

  She slides farther down my lap, pressing her heated core right against my hard cock. The zipper is restraining me, which probably right now is a good thing because I’m afraid I won’t last long.

  “Why?” she asks me.

  I stroke my hands up and down her bare back, watching as the goose bumps form on her arms. “Why what?”

  “Parker... women chase you. I know you’ve had plenty of opportunities...”

  I touch a finger to her cheek, loving the feel of her soft skin. “It never felt right.”

  She smiles at that. “And this... with me... feels right?”

  I kiss her lightly on the lips and pull back. “Yes, with you it is always right.”

  I reach down between us to rub the soft satin between her thighs. She’s soaked through her panties, and I move the material to the side and stroke through her folds. She lifts off me slightly to give me more room. I coat my finger through her honeyed depths. She reaches for the button of my jeans, but I stop her. “No, honey. I need you to come first because I don’t think I’ll last long.”

  She doesn’t stop, though. She unfastens my jeans and puts her hand down the front of my pants. “I don’t care about that, Parker. I want you inside me.”

  Her hand wraps around my girth, and my hips come off the bed. I surge into her grip and moan harshly. I stand up and turn to lay her on the bed. Her back barely hits the mattress and I’m pulling down her panties. One look at her bare slit and my knees hit the floor. I bury my head at the apex of her thighs. I kiss her, stroking my tongue through her slit. “Yes,” she moans.

  She thrusts her hips, and I put my arm over her hips to hold her in place. I focus on her clit, suckling her. Her soft mewls get louder, and her legs lock around my head. Her hips jerk, but I don’t slow down. Her body tautens all around me, and in an instant she starts convulse as she bellows my name. But I still don’t stop.

  Chapter 15

  Haven

  He’s relentless. I orgasm, but it’s not enough. I don’t think anything will soothe me completely until he’s inside me.

  He kisses up my belly, across my breasts, and then to my lips. I taste myself on him, but it doesn’t gross me out. If anything, it excites me even more.

  I reach between us and shove his pants and underwear down his hips. They stop at his thighs, and I hold on to him, cupping his balls in one hand and wrapping my palm around his girth. His head falls backward, and he moans loudly.

  I don’t have a clue what I’m doing, but I’m encouraged by the satisfying grunts that erupt from his lips. “I want to taste you.”

  He shakes his head. “I won’t last.”

  I smile and scoot down the bed, pulling him over top of me. He could easily stop me, but he doesn’t. I kiss his tip and then let my tongue flatten against him. I lick him, up and down. His hips thrust in reflex, and I take him into the back of my throat. The moan is instant, and I take him as far as I can before he withdraws.

  “Fuck,” he groans. “It’s so good, Haven. So good.”

  I moan in agreement, and the salty taste of precum hits my tongue. I lap at him, enjoying the taste.

  He pulls his hips back and finishes taking off his pants.

  He pulls a condom from his pocket and holds it up. “I bought this today. I’m glad I did now.”

  I move up on the bed and watch him. “You knew this was going to happen.”

  He pulls the condom on and follows me up the bed. “After last night, I could only hope.”

  He’s watching me closely, and I can feel the love radiating off him. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “You won’t... You couldn’t.”

  He scoots up on his knees, and his hard manhood rests against my glistening core. “If I do... I promise, I’ll make it better.”

  I grab his forearms and hold on to him tightly. “I know you will.”

  He positions himself at my entrance and slowly starts to enter me. His whole body is pulled tight into a solid muscle. I can tell he’s trying to hold back. He slides into me slowly. I moan as the friction starts to build.

  He shakes his head. “Fuck, you feel so good.”

  I lean up on my elbows. “You do too.”

  I watch as he disappears inside. Slowly, his hips move in and out of me. He’s being so careful. “More,” I tell him.

  His eyes flash up at me, and he’s gritting his teeth. “It’s okay, Parker. Make me yours.”

  He nods and surges his hips, pressing his cock deep inside me. There’s a tiny twinge, but after that, it’s pure satisfaction as he pulsates in and out of me.

  “Argh!” he groans.

  My feet hit the bed, and I lift my hips to meet him. Our movements are jerky, and it’s all new, but it’s perfect too.

  “Yes. Don’t stop,” I tell him.

  He shakes his head. “I can’t... there’s no way.”

  He grabs on to my legs and lifts me higher. The angle has his cock hitting a spot inside me that has me clamping down on him. The sensation is overwhelming, and before I know it, I’m coming... again.

  He drives into me, our orgasms taking over. He says to me over and over as he comes, “You’re mine. You’re mine.”

  He falls down on top of me, breathless. I hold on to him, holding him against my chest. “And you’re mine,” I whisper.

  Epilogue

  Haven

  I grab my carry-on from the overhead compartment and stand patiently, waiting to depart the plane. It’s been six months since I’ve seen Parker, and he just found out last week he was going to be stationed in North Carolina permanently. I’m not sure what that all means for the two of us, but when he asked me to come visit and paid for my plane ticket, I knew I had to come. The whole flight, all I could do is hope he’s not bringing me here to break up with me. I don’t think he’d do that. Plus, things have been really good for us. We still talk all the time, either by phone, text or email. There’s a new closeness between us, and he tells me every time that he loves me.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6