Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Riven

My chest still heaved in and out as Parrish collapsed onto his stomach.

“That was really good,” he said, his voice slurred like he was fuck-drunk. And he was right. It had been really good. I didn’t know if it was just because it had been so long since I’d had sex with someone or if Parrish’s ass was just that nice.

Whatever the reason, there was a buzz beneath my skin I couldn’t quiet. It kept increasing until I had to move, had to push off the bed and take a few steps away from him.

“Give me a minute and I’ll get dressed and go. It’s been a while since I’ve been fucked that well.”

I nodded as if he could see me, but Parrish had his eyes closed, one arm beneath his head and his right leg bent.

He was gorgeous—skin golden from the sun, muscular, furry legs and thighs that made my dick already stir again.

Damn him for how much I wanted him.

I went straight for the bathroom, turned the water on, tossed the condom, and climbed in. The shower was small, everything in my garage apartment was, but even before I’d been locked up, I hadn’t needed a lot of space, and I sure as hell didn’t now.

I washed up, telling myself when I got out, Parrish would be gone, but when I stood next to the bed a few minutes later, towel wrapped around my hips, he was snoring softly.

What the fuck.

“Parrish,” I said, ignoring the fact that I kept my voice low and soft when I said his name. Who would wake up with how gently I spoke to him? When he didn’t so much as move, I grumbled, “Parrish,” again, barely any louder than before.

Had there ever been a time I slept that soundly? I wasn’t sure there had been. My life had been spent feeling on edge, and it was even worse now. I’d been lucky in prison as a whole. It had been rough at first—people testing me to see what I was made of. Plus, with my attitude, I didn’t make it easy for people to like me. I’d gotten into a lot of fights, but once men realized they couldn’t fuck with me and that I would stick to myself if they left me alone, it had gone pretty smoothly. Still, sleep was never easy. I was always prepared for some kind of shit to go down, so the softest noise woke me.

“Shit.” I went to the dresser, got a pair of nylon shorts, and tugged them on. Then I grabbed a lighter and a cigarette from the pack on the table, and went outside to smoke. When I finished this, I’d wake his blissed-out ass up and send him on his way, but it tasted worse than normal, so I put it out when it was halfway done. I sat on the cement, leaning against the house.

It was after midnight now but still warm out. The stars were bright, trees looking like they brushed against them when I looked up.

I needed to get Parrish Hunt out of my bed, yet I didn’t move.

It was interesting seeing him with Bec’s kids today. He’d been good with them, the older one clearly being close to him. I hadn’t had any expectations because I hadn’t thought about Parrish with Becca and Rex’s kids, so I didn’t know why the thought of how he was with them surprised me. But really, I knew the answer to that too. He was so different from Rex…from Frank…from Bill. He was different with those kids, unlike any of the men I’d ever had in my life, and I’d only had to see them for five minutes to know that.

Which had nothing to do with me. None of it did, so why couldn’t I stop thinking about it? And why the hell was I letting Parrish sleep in my bed? Screwing him was one thing, because I’d needed to get off, but I should have kicked him out by now and I wasn’t.

And when the annoying motherfucker snored again, the sound drifting through the open door, I smiled.

“Argh!” Frustrated, I rubbed a hand over my face, stood, and went back inside. My bed was still occupied by a naked man, of course, so I grabbed the jeans I’d had on earlier and got my cell from the pocket.

I killed the lights. The couch was old and lumpy when I sat down, but I couldn’t pretend my bed was much better. Despite the fact that I’d had my dick in Parrish’s ass not long ago, I couldn’t lie down with him, didn’t even know how to do something like that anymore. Everyone in my life other than Grandma had betrayed me in some way or another, and if I gave Parrish the chance, he would too.

Apparently, I also wasn’t waking his lazy ass up and kicking him out, so that didn’t leave me many options.

It wasn’t as if I ever slept well anyway, so I opened the browser on my phone and lay awake searching the internet like I did every night.

*

“Riv, wake up.”A gentle hand came down on my shoulder, making me jump into a sitting position. Parrish held his hands up, standing beside the couch, still naked, but looking like he’d at least cleaned up some. How had I slept through that? “Shit, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. Why the hell did you let me fall asleep?”

“Let you? I didn’t let you. You did that on your own.” I stood, trying not to pay attention to his soft cock hanging between his legs.

“You let me stay asleep, though.” He had me there, and I didn’t have an excuse for that. “I think you might like me more than you’re willing to let on,” Parrish teased. He was so different from his family that I had trouble connecting it sometimes. Sure, I’d thought that before, but his naked playfulness was another reminder, a part of Parrish I hadn’t known or seen when we were younger.

“No. I don’t.” I walked over to the table and sat down.

Parrish sighed as if he didn’t know what to do with me, and walked over. “You could have at least slept in your own bed. You fucked me, and you can’t sleep with me?”

“I don’t sleep well,” I grumbled without looking at him. I couldn’t believe I’d actually passed out. “I didn’t want to wake you up.”

Well, shit. That was part of it, wasn’t it? Maybe not as big a part as not knowing how to do what he’d said, but I hadn’t wanted to disturb him.

When nothing but silence met me, making me feel like I was the one naked and Parrish had me under a microscope, I looked up at him. “What?”

“Nothing. It’s just interesting getting to know you now.”

Red flags popped up in my head. “Why? We’re not shit to each other.” My gaze snagged on his cock, which was suddenly at half-mast. “Jesus, can you put that thing away? You’re getting hard.”

“You’re hot and shirtless. I can’t help it.” But Parrish did walk over to where his underwear was, and my annoying ass watched his butt while he did. This was…not how things were supposed to go. I needed to put an end to this, and I needed to do it now.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Fuck my life,” I mumbled at the sound of the door.

Parrish’s eyes went wide, which would have been comical if I wasn’t hating the fact that I hadn’t thought about living on my grandma’s property and her seeing his truck this morning. “Put your pants on.” I’d never told her I was bisexual before getting locked up because I hadn’t told anyone other than the guys I’d slept with. It wasn’t something I was ashamed of telling her or anyone else now either; it was just that I didn’t like to talk about myself at all. I didn’t want people all up in my business, but it was a little too late to stop it all now. Her thoughts might not go there, but she was pretty perceptive, so I had a feeling they would.

This was what I got for getting laid and being a nice guy afterward.

“Is Parrish here?” Grandma asked when I opened the door.

“You know he is. His truck is right there. Playing innocent doesn’t work with you.”

Grandma gave me a mischievous grin. “I just didn’t know you boys were having a sleepover.”

“A sleepover? We’re not ten.”

“Well, what would you call it?”

I wasn’t going to say in front of her what I would call it. “He was just leaving.”

“Parrish!” Grandma looked around me. “Don’t go yet. I made breakfast. You boys should head over and eat with a lonely old lady.”

“Lonely old lady? Laying it on a little thick, aren’t you?” But damn it, I was smiling in a way only she could make me do. “I need to go to the hardware store today. I want to pick up some cameras for the property.”

Grandma frowned. “Why would we need those?”

I hoped we didn’t, but I would rather be safe than sorry. I also wasn’t telling her that we might. “It’s just something I need after being locked up.”

I hoped that made sense, and the way she cocked her head, gaze softening, told me she was feeling sorry for me. That wasn’t much better.

Parrish broke the silence. “We can have a quick breakfast, and then I’ll go shopping with you and help you put them up. It’ll be a lot faster that way.”

“I don’t need—”

“That’s so nice of you!” Grandma cut me off. “I don’t think we need them, but once Riven gets something in his head, there’s no getting it out. Come on. Let’s go eat before it gets cold.”

“Great. Thanks!” Parrish put his shoes on, and then, as I watched him and my grandma walk toward the house, chatting, I knew I was screwed.

With a sigh, I put on a pair of shoes and followed them.

Grandma had gone all out, making pancakes, eggs, and bacon. It was all laid out on the old, yellow countertops that had seen better days.

I wished I had the money to fix things up for her. If I could get her out of Clayton, I’d make sure I got her the best of things.

“It’s nice that the two of you are becoming friends.” Grandma sent a big smile my direction, like something so simple made her proud. “Is your brother staying out of trouble?”

My throat nearly closed up hearing her ask about Rex, knowing that while she thought he was a bad influence on me, and didn’t want me around him, she had no idea how bad it really was. And if it came down to it and Rex needed her help, she would offer it because that’s the kind of person she was.

“No. I wish I could say he was.” Parrish threw me a glance, one that almost looked like he was trying to make sure I was okay. It made my skin feel too tight, like he was closer than he was, so I looked away and he continued. “I hate to say it, but I don’t think there’s any hope for him. I used to want to believe there was, but that’s changed recently.”

Because of me. Parrish didn’t say that, but I knew that’s what he meant.

“You should make your plate, Grandma.” I hoped the change of subject worked.

“Yeah,” Parrish said, “let me do that for you. What do you want?” Parrish plucked a plate from the stack on the counter that Grandma had set out.

I watched as she told him she wanted one pancake and directed him on how much eggs and bacon. My pulse sped up in a way I couldn’t explain, my stomach feeling twisty while they laughed at something Parrish had said before he handed my grandma her food. It made my chest feel funny to watch him take care of her, to see how naturally and compassionately he did it. He wasn’t trying to score points or make himself look better. This was just who Parrish was.

“What do you want, Riv?” He had a large spoon for the eggs in one hand and got a plate with the other.

“I can get my own food.” What was he doing? People didn’t do shit like this for me. Well, not anyone who wasn’t my grandma.

“A little bit of everything. Gotcha.”

Grandma laughed and patted his shoulder, while I rolled my eyes, but I didn’t argue with him. It wouldn’t get me anywhere, and the faster we got this breakfast over with the better.

The three of us sat down at the table. “Do you have a boyfriend, Parrish?” Grandma asked.

Oh Jesus. I wasn’t an idiot. I knew where this was going. “For all you know, I’m not attracted to men,” I told her.

“Who was talking about you?” Grandma asked.

“Sounds like someone is hoping I’ll ask him out,” Parrish added, the two of them laughing, thick as thieves.

I shoved a chunk of pancakes in my mouth, then licked away the syrup on my lip. “No.”

“I didn’t ask you anything.”

“No, I don’t want that.”

They laughed again.

I sighed. The faster I could get out of this town the better.