Parker (Striking Back #3) (12 page)

Parker
gets a call that Mason will be home the next day. While he keeps Cody
entertained, I spend the day cooking and cleaning the house. “You didn’t have
to do all that,” Parker says as we cuddle up in bed that night.

“Ev
will have her hands full with Mason’s recovery and taking care of Cody. I
prepared a few meals she can thaw and heat to make things easier the first few
days.”

“Everyone
will be here tomorrow for a little coming home party. Then we can go
home…er…back to my house.”

Laying
my head on his chest, I strive to sound nonchalant. “Al’s out of state. Maybe
it’s time for me to get my own place, rent an apartment.” As much as I love
staying with Parker, this is a very new relationship. We shouldn’t be living
together.

“Nope.
You’re stuck with me until he’s caught.”

“Then
I’ll be rid of you?” I tease.

“Only
while you’re at work. All other times, you’re still mine.”

I
love the idea of being his and hate that I need to ask this question. “And
you’re mine? Only mine? I don’t share well.”

He
tilts my head up to kiss my lips. “You’re all I need, doll. Just you. Just us.”

“Want
to defile Mason’s bed one more time?”

One
more time turned into three and I’m paying for it today with the ache between
my legs. “Daddy!” Cody screeches as Alex helps Mason through the door.

“Whoa,
buddy.” Ev catches him before he can jump on Mason and he freezes, eyes wide as
he takes in the puffy white bandages plastered across his father’s torso. “You
have to take it easy.”

His
expression is uncertain while he follows them to the couch. “Does it hurt,
Daddy?”

“I’m
fine. Come here, boy. I haven’t seen your silly face for days,” Mason replies,
patting the cushion beside him. Instantly lighting up, Cody climbs on the couch
and settles beside his father.

“Why
the hell is everyone in my house?” Mason asks when Ian, Alex and Cooper join
us.

“We
missed your winning personality,” Ian replies, dropping a bag on his lap.
“Might not want to open that in front of the kid.”

Ev
gives him a wary look. “What is it?”

Mason
peeks in the bag and snorts, “Bacon and porn.”

“It’s
your basic stuck at home survival kit,” Ian explains, grinning.

“I’ll
put it away,” Ev volunteers, exasperated, and snatches the bag before heading
to the kitchen. I follow her, leaving the guys to talk.

“How
are you doing?”

Exhausted
eyes meet mine and she plops onto a stool. “Better now. The first few days…”
She shakes her head, and I wrap her in a hug.

“I’m
so sorry I couldn’t be there, Ev. Parker has had me on lockdown.”

A
knowing smile tilts her lips. “Yeah, I’ve never seen Parker act like that. Any
idea why he’d behave that way?”

“He’s
overprotective.” I shrug, pouring us both a glass of wine.

“Uh-huh,
and crazy about you.”

“Did
he say that?” I mumble, fidgeting with my wine glass.

“He
didn’t have to. Do you feel the same way about him?”

“Mason
wouldn’t like it, would he?”

“Don’t
worry about Mason,” she scoffs. “Do you like him?”

“Way
too much,” I confess, looking her in the eye. “I know you warned me off him,
but…”

Her
hand darts across the counter and grasps mine. “I was wrong. Look, it’s true
Parker doesn’t have a great track record with women. I warned you because I
didn’t want you to get hurt, especially after all you’ve been through with Al.
But something is different about him since he met you. He doesn’t even stare at
my ass anymore.”

Laughing,
I refill my wine glass and gesture toward hers. “Too tired for wine?”

“Too
pregnant,” she whispers.

Stunned,
I exclaim, “What? You’re…”

“Shh!”
Her hand claps over my mouth and she laughs. “Mason doesn’t know yet.”

“But
I thought you couldn’t.”

“Me
too, but apparently, Mason has super sperm.”

“Congratulations!
God, Ev, what a damn week you’ve had.”

“Did
I forget to mention I’m also engaged?” Musical laughter fills the room when she
sees my expression.

“Girl,
when things settle down, we need a night to gossip.”

Sliding
off of her stool, she agrees. “Yeah, but right now I have one question.” Her
grin is impish. “How was he?”

I
drain the rest of my wine. “Fucking amazing.” Ev links her arm through mine and
we head back to the living room.

“These
Reed boys,” she mutters. “Heaven help us.”

Parker

Mason
is a grouch so we don’t hang out long. After making Everly promise to call me
if they need anything, Macy and I pack up and head home. My home. I can’t start
thinking of it as our home. I want that asshole who hurt her caught, want to
beat the shit out of him, but I also dread that phone call. The one that lets
her leave. When she doesn’t need me for protection, she’ll have no reason to
stay and will probably want to get far away from all this.

Until
then, I plan to spend every minute with her I can. We’re barely through my
front door when I drop our bags and scoop her up, smiling at the sound of her
giggle. “Parker! What are you doing?”

“What
I’ve been dying to do all day,” I mumble into her neck, dropping onto the couch
with her on my lap. Her body goes lax at my touch. I love the way she melts in
my arms, tilting her head to offer her neck, showing how she trusts me when she
has no reason to trust any man.

“Mmm,
I love your lips on me,” she whispers, when I lay her on her back and kiss up
her belly. Her shirt bunches under my hands as I work my way up to her bra. I’m
about to unfasten her bra when the front door slams shut and Jensen clears his
throat.

Fuck.
Macy jerks her shirt down and peeks over the back of the couch. He couldn’t see
her from where he’s standing, but her face still glows red. “Sorry,” he says,
failing to keep the amusement from his voice. “Just wanted to let you know I’ll
be watching the perimeter. Devon will be taking over in the morning.”

Getting
to my feet, I escort him to the door. “Great, thanks. Let me know if there’s a
problem.”

“Other
than the fact you didn’t set the alarm? Get your mind off your dick, Park,”
Jensen warns. He’s right. I screwed up and I can’t let it happen again. Just
because we think Pearson is out of town doesn’t mean we let our guard down. As
soon as the door closes behind him, I lock it and activate the alarm. Thank
fuck Macy doesn’t realize I screwed up. The last thing I want to do is lose her
trust.

“Where
were we?” I ask, returning to the couch.

“You
were taking me to your bedroom to fuck my brains out.” Yeah, this woman isn’t
going anywhere.

The
next few days fly by. Devon and Jensen keep an eye on Macy during the day while
I work. I hate to leave her, but with Mason out of commission there’s too much
to be done and I don’t want it all to fall on Alex’s shoulders.

We
spend every evening together, eating dinner, talking and laughing, before
falling into bed to screw our brains out. My instinct is to be gentle with her
since she’s been abused, but she isn’t having it.

Sometimes,
I take her slow and sweet, but just as often she’s clawing my back, my name
echoing around the room while I pound into her. I could do this for the rest of
my life.

Macy
is cuddled up on my chest in bed when Mason rings my phone. “About time I heard
from you, old man,” I answer. “Ev still have to hold your dick while you piss?”

“Fuck
off, Park. I’m calling to tell you to pack your shit. We’re flying to Vegas
tomorrow.”

“She’s
actually going to marry you?” I taunt.

“Yes,”
he growls. “And Ev wants Macy there too.”

“I’ll
check our schedule.”

“Have
your ass at the airport at 1:30 tomorrow. I booked a private jet and rooms for
everyone.”

“Put
Macy in my room.”

“Parker.”

“We’re
together, Mason. Deal with it.”

“Fine.
See you tomorrow.”

“Mason?
Congratulations, man.”

There’s
a pause before I hear him sigh. “Thanks. It doesn’t seem real.”

“It
will when you have a house full of screaming kids and can only get blown by one
woman for the rest of your life.”

“She’s
good at it.” He laughs. “See you tomorrow.”

“Love
you, brother.”

“You,
too.”

* * * *

“Christ,
it’s hot,” Alex gripes, dragging his bag.

“It’s
the desert in August, genius,” his boyfriend Cooper replies, laughing. “What’d
you expect?”

“Not
to melt the second we step off of the plane.” We all climb into the waiting
limo.

“Such
a delicate flower,” Ian teases. “I don’t know how you live with him, Coop.”

Cooper
grins and kisses Alex’s cheek. “You told them we’re living together?”

Silence
descends and everyone turns to stare at Alex, who gives an embarrassed shrug.
“No, but they know now.”

Everly
leans to hug Alex, then Cooper. “Congratulations! I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank
you,” Alex replies, smiling from ear to ear. “I’m staying at his apartment for
now, but we’re looking for a place together.”

“Another
one bites the dust,” Ian says, shaking his head. A month ago, I’d have agreed
with him, but now I know how it feels to want someone with you every day.

“Shut
up, Mr. Negative,” Everly says. “Just because you’ll never settle down.”

“I
don’t know. We thought the same about Parker, but look at him now.” Alex
gestures to me and Macy, who blushes. “When you find the right person, it
changes you. I can’t wait to see who yanks Ian off of his feet.”

“What
happened to the woman you were seeing?” Everly asks. “You went out, what? Four
times?”

Ian
sighs. “She’s a bitch, let’s leave it at that.”

Everly
slaps his arm. “Don’t call a woman a bitch. What? She didn’t fall to her feet
and worship you?”

Ian’s
dark eyes flash. “She wanted me to accompany her to a rally supporting that
pizza place that posted a No Gays Allowed sign on the door.”

“Oh…what
a bitch,” Everly says in a near whisper.

“Yeah.”
Ian grins at Alex and slaps Cooper on the shoulder. “Imagine if she knew I hang
out with you two butt humpers.”

“Shit,
sorry,” Cooper replies.

“Nothing
to be sorry about. She was a hateful bitch and she’s history. Now I’m free to
pursue the best pussy Vegas has to offer.”

“You’re
going to be one giant herpe,” Mason tones, producing a bottle of champagne from
the tiny limo bar and passing around the glasses.

“To
Mason and Everly,” Alex toasts, holding up his glass. “I hope you’re always as
happy as you are this second.”

Everyone
agrees and drinks to the happy couple before Everly adds, “And to love. May it
knock us all on our asses in the end. Even Ian.”

Ian
shakes his head at his best friend, but drinks. Chatter resumes, but Macy is
noticeably quiet, gazing out the windows at the passing scenery. The lights
from the strip make her face appear luminous. Fuck, I love her. Wait, I mean I
love to be with her. I love how she makes me feel. I love seeing her smile
first thing in the morning and hearing her giggle when I tease her. She’s
tenacious and brave, passionate and kind. I love those things about her.
Doesn’t mean I love her, does it?

“You
okay, doll?” I murmur, pulling her closer to me.

“I’m
great. Look at it, Park. It’s gorgeous.”

“You’ve
never been to Vegas?”

“No.”
I had every intention of keeping her pinned to the bed while we’re here, but
that’s changed.

“I’ll
be your tour guide then.”

“I
want to see that big fountain they show on T.V.”

“The
Bellagio.” She hums her agreement when I kiss her soft neck.

“It’s
set to music, right?”

“Yeah,
last time it was ‘One Singular Sensation’”. I turn to Alex and Cooper. “You two
should go. It’s the gayest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Parker!”
Macy shoves me. “Be nice.”

“I’ll
be nice to you later, baby.” Her hand clamps over mine as I slide it up her
smooth thigh.

Cooper
laughs. “We’re planning a trip of our own soon, to spend a week in Vermont when
the leaves change.”

“That
sounds lovely,” Macy says.

“Yeah,
are you staying at a bed and breakfast? Going to do some antiquing?” I ask.