44. Crescendo

FORTY-FOUR

The electric fields surrounding our bodies buzzed on the ride home, charged and waiting for someone to cross the threshold. The sting of my new tattoo was replaced by the tension coiling low in my stomach. Tonight had been an emotional rollercoaster and I knew Parker and I were on the precipice of the fall as we were sitting with our legs pressed together, not talking. We were unavoidable. We hadn't known it then, but we'd been on this trajectory since that night in Buffalo. It was hard to imagine this had been the plan all along and we were just now being clued into the itinerary.

The car stopped outside our building and Parker practically dragged me through the lobby behind him. I felt like a giddy teenager as we waited for the elevator to reach our level. Parker held my hand in his and kept peeking at me with a wide smile. We were kids inside, finally in a place we'd dreamed about with someone we never thought would be ours.

The door pinged and Parker tugged me into the elevator. I laughed when the force of his pull sent me landing against his chest. His palm came down hard on the button to close the door, but he didn't wait until we disappeared from view to turn my back against the wall, looming over me.

He kissed me tenderly. My lips, my neck, my cheek. "Have I told you how fucking stunning you look tonight?"

For maybe the first time, I took the compliment without overanalyzing. "Once or twice, I guess." I smiled sweetly and grabbed the collar of his shirt to pull him down to meet my lips again. He tasted faintly like the wine we'd been drinking, and his scent overwhelmed me as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

"You're too fucking short," he snapped and lifted me by the backs of my thighs, pressing me into the wall with his bodyweight.

"Right, sorry. I'll work on that," I sassed back. "I've heard stretching in the mornings can actually make you a little taller. Should I try that?" I raked my hands through the black, curly ends of his hair that continuously fell over his eyes.

He chuckled into my neck. "The only thing I want you to worry about stretching tonight is that pretty pussy around my dick."

And just like that, I was reminded that Parker was more suited to me than my younger self could've ever imagined.

His lips trailed a burning path along my collarbone. His tender touch mixed with his filthy words caused me to squirm between him and the cool metal.

"What? No comeback?" He breathed close to my ear. My head fell back when he rolled my hips over his, eliciting a moan from both of us.

My voice was airy, barely getting the words out. "So much talking, P. Don't you think we've talked enough tonight?" I could think of a few other things he'd rather I do with my mouth.

"That works for me," was his only reply when the elevator doors opened. He spun with me in his arms, then set me down and paused.

"What?" I asked, turning to see what had halted his path directly to the bedroom.

There were pink rose petals littering every inch of the floor and tea light candles that cast a dreamy glow over the apartment.

I was amazed. "This is beautiful."

"This looks like a fire hazard," he disagreed. I guess he wasn't the one who did the decorating.

"A pretty one, at least." I bent down for a closer look. "They're fake." The battery-powered flame flicked and changed colors, but didn't give off any heat. I led him to the kitchen counter where there was a somewhat sweet note left from our ridiculous friends.

Hope this fits the VIBE.

Underneath the note was a plain white package the size of a huge doughnut box. I opened the lid and Parker cursed under his breath. Elegantly packaged sex toys were displayed, some so obscure looking that I didn't know how they were supposed to be used. That said something.

There was only one person who could be to blame for this thoughtful, yet slightly over-the-top gesture. "Jo," we said in unison.

"This is great and everything and we can play with them later, but I want you now."

I turned in his arms, feeling his strong forearms under my palms. "So eager," I tsked, chiding him like he always did to me.

"For you, Peach? Always." He pecked my lips quickly.

I squealed when he picked me up without effort and carried me to the master bedroom. I bounced when he tossed me on the bed, causing a giggle to bubble up from my chest.

Watching Parker unbutton his dress shirt and reveal the new tattoo he had for Lily next to mine held a deeper meaning than anything we'd done before. When his eyes connected with mine, I knew he felt it too.

"Come here," he summoned, and I moved to him like a moth to flame. I'd always felt an unspoken pull when it came to Parker, an instinct that told me I was safe with him. An indication that I was where I was supposed to be. For years, I didn't know if the romantic feelings I had for him were part of a one-sided delusion I was projecting onto him.

Putting my feet down on the plush carpet, I pushed up to my full height.

"This dress is gorgeous on you, but all I've been able to think about is taking it off." He brushed one of my curls behind my ear and reached down to kiss the skin below it. His breath was warm and sent a shiver through my body that I felt all the way to my toes.

"Then take it off." I spun around to give him my back. I was already in a dreamlike state, and ready to finally be with Parker how I was supposed to be.

"Lift your hair," he murmured, mouth close to my ear. I did and he pressed his lips just above the bow holding my dress up. He undid the tie and the satin fabric dropped to my waist. I felt his hands run over the exposed skin of my back and arms, warming the chilled surface. His fingers tucked into the skirt and lifted it away from my body to push it down past my hips until it pooled on the floor.

I heard the rustle of Parker tossing his shirt aside and then felt the overwhelming heat of him behind me. He rested his head in the bend of my neck and inhaled deeply. His hands snaked down my sides and traced over my skin without haste. There was no rush in the way he touched me. I'd never felt cherished like this in my whole life. Nothing had ever felt this right. We weren't kids who were acting on a silly crush we had on our best friend. We were adults choosing a life together over the easy way out.

I relaxed back against him when he moved his focus lower. I tilted my chin up to watch him watch his hands on my body. It was hard to describe the emotion filling the gold ring of his hazel eyes. It was intense and gentle and wanting.

His gaze flashed to mine when his fingers traced over my clit. He was always gauging my reactions. I smiled lazily and closed my eyes. I felt the hard muscles of his chest flex and his shoulders rotate as he continued exploring. The feeling in my core tightened and curled, burned warm. I rose up on my tiptoes as it became too much.

"Parker," I whispered.

"What, baby?"

"Fuck me."

His smile was knowing. He knew how ready I was for this. "I like when you ask nicely."

He released me, reluctantly. I climbed onto the bed and he followed after shedding the rest of his clothes. Crawling up my body, his hands warmed a path from my toes, over my goosebumped legs, to rest on my sides. He nestled himself in the gap between my legs and took my mouth against his in a soft kiss that made my insides melt. His lips were the softest part of him and I couldn't count the times I'd daydreamed about them throughout my life. And now they were on me, telling me I was his.

When we parted, I watched him rub the precum from the tip of his cock against my clit. My hips rocked involuntarily. He smirked down at me and did it again to get the same response.

"I'll never get used to this." He moved his dick down to my opening and covered himself in the wetness before sliding his thickness back to my clit. I groaned at the silky slide of him over my skin. "I've missed feeling you like this." Parker's eyes glazed over as he looked between my face and my pussy. He cupped my cheek and brushed his thumb over my lips. "So soft for me."

"Just you."

"I know, baby. You're so good for me." He rocked his hips over me slowly, more gentle than I knew he was capable of. He was a beautiful contradiction, the way he looked at me like I was a fragile piece of glass, yet I could tell by the glint in his eye that he wanted to see if I'd break, like he might not mind picking up the pieces. It was nice to know that he could be tender and sweet if he wanted, but what I really wanted was to feel him inside me, over me, everywhere.

The next time he moved, I angled my hips. His eyes widened when the tip of his cock entered me the tiniest bit. It wasn't enough, even though I felt that first stretch. He was so big and it'd been so, so long. My body felt like melted butter with the way we'd been playing cat and mouse for the last few months, waiting for this exact moment when every wall would come crashing down. I'd always thought of it as a conclusion, but I was slowly learning that this was just the beginning for us.

"You're so fucking pretty when you take my cock," Parker praised, pulling my thoughts from the past and back to him. "I love watching your pussy swallow me."

I rose up on my elbows so I could see too. He inched forward, length disappearing from view. I tipped my head back, savoring the feel of him stretching my cunt so slowly. It was like I was burning up from the inside out but I also couldn't ask him to change anything he was doing. The words were lost on my lips. I felt his heat grow near and met his tension-filled stare.

He threaded his fingers in the back of my hair, his palm holding my face close to his as he pushed in the last little bit until we were as close as two people could be.

"Tell me that doesn't feel right."

"I can't." I squirmed in his hold, needing him to move and give me any kind of friction he'd offer.

"Tell me you haven't thought about this every night we were apart."

"I can't, Parker. You know I can't." I let out a breath when he retreated just a little before returning to me. I didn't know what direction was up and what was down. All I could do was watch the contours of his back as he pulled me as close to him as possible, then how they tightened when he withdrew. His breath was hot on the pulse point in my neck, scalding my skin as he nipped and sucked. My hands skated down his sides and I urged him to come back, needed him to give in and fuck me.

"What do you want, Dellie Girl?" His eyes searched mine with a smirk. He fucking knew what I wanted, but wouldn't give it to me until I said the words. He reached down and circled my clit with his thumb, coaxing me with his touch. We both knew he'd win this game, but I couldn't help but drag it out just a little. I liked to see him work for it.

I was enjoying myself, impaled on his cock and drowning in his touch, when he pulled out completely. I moaned in protest, but his fingers took his place and pumped inside me. My pussy clenched when he used the slickness to coat his dick and stroke it over me while watching my reaction.

"Come on, baby. I know you can say it." He slowly filled me once more. "You want me to fuck you hard enough you don't forget how pretty you are? How fucking lucky I am to be the one to make you feel like this, fill you like like you want? Use your words and ask like a good girl." His hips circled and I was done for.

"God, yes," I groaned. "Please."

I was immediately rewarded as he fucked into me, holding me like I was precious while he took me, not making me wait any longer.

"You beg so pretty," he whispered in my ear. "God, I love you Delilah. So. Fucking. Much." He punctuated each word with a thrust and sent me into a frenzy. Nothing was enough. I needed more, needed him to take me harder, faster. My fingers tangled in his hair. My nails raked over his back, leaving marks that would stay for days, like this night would linger on my soul for years to come.

He chuckled when I moaned his name, head thrown back and completely lost. Lost to him. Lost to the game. Lost to myself. He made me feel like I never wanted to be found again.

"Look at me, baby." He coaxed me with his lips and kissed me the same way he fucked me. Slow and hard, confident. I knew we had time, but my body was only worried about right now. I needed him to make me come. I could feel myself soaring higher with every drag of his cock along my inner walls. My body was tightening, prepped to explode, and Parker knew it.

"Are you going to come like this?" His words caused my pussy to flutter around him.

"Yes." My hand dropped from his hair and held on tight to the bedsheet, needing something to root me to the ground as I soared away from my body.

"Oh," Parker groaned into my neck. "Such a good girl. Like that, baby. Come on." His words were gravelly as he demanded my orgasm like he needed it more than I did. He didn't have to wait long because I was coming a second later. Just like us, it was unavoidable. I never had to wonder if we'd reach this place when we were together.

"Fuck," he gritted out with clenched teeth.

I couldn't hear it, but I felt the scream leave my lips when he kissed me to muffle the sound.

As I floated back down to earth, his sweet praises met my ear. "So good baby, so sweet. You did so well."