The Anchor (12 page)

“No . . . not in the mood tonight.”

“Or any other night for the last couple of weeks. What’s the matter, Nik? Putting on a few pounds and trying to cut back?” Jen asks snidely as she slides me my glass of water.

Cutting her a lethal glare, I say, “Not at all. You know, Duke was just telling me yesterday how awesome my ass looks.” Jenn glares back. I’m not lying either. Her overweight, jackass boyfriend yelled it to me from across the street when I was coming out of the grocery store.

Jenn snorts and shakes her head in disdain. “For your information, we’re not together anymore.”

“Aw . . .” I pout my lips. “What poor bastard will you move on to next?”

She rolls her eyes, then moves her gaze to Parker. “Can I get you something, sugar?” I almost gag at her term of endearment.

“I’ll take a glass of water, too.”

“You’re the best man, right?” Jenn asks.

“Yeah, that’s me.” Parker laughs as Jenn slides a glass of water across the tiny bar. Then she leans over it, smushing her boobs together and practically sticking them in Parker’s face.

“You need a date to the wedding?”

“Uh . . .” Parker’s brows rise in surprise and the eye roll I make is painful.

“You know . . . I’ll be done here by ten. We could . . . hang out if you’re free,” Jenn purrs.

Parker’s mouth slightly curves on one side. He glances at me, then turns his body toward the bar. “What’d you have in mind?”

It takes a moment for me to realize my mouth is hanging open and my eyes are wide. What the fuck is happening here? I cannot be seeing or hearing this.

“Well, we could go to my place.” Then she whips her head to me. “Excuse me, Nikki. We’re having a private conversation here.” Oh . . . what a dig. I said something very similar to her when she was eavesdropping on Edie and me at the bar one night a few months ago. I bet she’s been dying to take that stab at me. How unoriginal of her. My gaze moves to Parker, whose brows are still raised. Fuck him. If he wants to screw Jenn, some white-trash whore, he can have her. And I’m prepared to walk away.

“Jenn . . . fuck off,” I lash out before I even have a moment to think about it. Just the thought of her near Parker makes me want to jump over the bar and tackle her. Self-control just went out the window.

“Nikki,” Parker snorts.

“Are you two together?” Jenn asks, as if it’s the most ridiculous thing she’s ever imagined.

“No, we’re not,” I clarify as I stand and glare at her and Parker. “I don’t date men who fuck trash.”
Oh my God,
I’m losing it, but I can’t stop myself. I have no filter tonight. It’s like I’m floating above my body, watching in horror as I lose my shit.

“Nikki,” Parker takes my arm, but I jerk it away. I feel like my head is going to explode. My hormones, the stress of the day, and the sexy-as-hell Parker Hayes being within close proximity have finally gotten to me. “You’re being rude,” he says, quietly.

My head rears back as if he’s slapped me. Rude? Is he serious? “Oh, well, forgive me,” I say, in an obnoxious Southern accent. “By all means . . .” I make a gesture toward Jenn. “Enjoy the evening with your new friend.” With that, I rush off and head toward the house. I know Edie will understand me leaving, but I need to get my purse and get the fuck out of here.

“Nikki!” Parker yells from behind me, but I pull my heels off and sprint. Running has always been my choice in cardio and the doctor said since I already did it regularly I could continue even though I’m pregnant. I’ve made it to the back porch and up the steps when a steel arm wraps around me and pulls me back.

“Goddamn, you’re fast,” Parker breathes heavily in my ear. “What are you, a fucking Olympic runner?”

“Let go of me,” I hiss as I struggle to escape his hold.

He doesn’t listen, instead he scoops my legs up and carries me into the house, all while I’m fighting him tooth and nail. The catering servers stare at us as he heads through the kitchen on his way to the bedrooms.

“I’m going to kill you!” I shout as I punch the sides of my fists into his ass.

“She likes rough sex, guys, no worries,” Parker shouts as we make our way down the hall.

“I’m going to kick your ass,” I seethe as I claw at his back. This is humiliating.

“Oh yeah, baby. I love it when you threaten me,” Parker shouts so the servers can hear.

Seconds later, we’re in the guest room and he tosses me on the bed, before climbing on top of me and pinning my arms to the bed. “Now, what the fuck is going on with you? And don’t fucking lie, Nicole.”

I pinch my lips together and turn my face away from him. First, I hate that he used that name because even as pissed as I am, it affects me. I’m getting turned on being pinned beneath him and he calling me Nicole just makes it worse. Secondly, what kind of cologne is he wearing?
Make her panties wet
by Calvin Klein? And lastly, why is he hard? His erection is pressing against me where he’s straddling me. He barely has any weight on me, but his position keeps me from being able to turn my body.

“Why are you acting like a lunatic?”

“I’m not,” I spat, meeting his gaze, my own stare seething. “Excuse me if I don’t want to watch you hit on Jenn, the town bitch.”

“I wasn’t hitting on her,” he clarifies. “She was hitting on
me.
”

“Oh . . . and you were eating that shit up.”

“That’s not what I was eating up,” he chuckles.

“What?”

His mouth curves into a devastatingly beautiful grin that makes me want to punch him in the throat. “I was enjoying your reaction.”

I snort. “My reaction?”

“You didn’t like it when she hit on me. And I fucking love that you didn’t like it.”

I groan. “Oh, please. I couldn’t care less.”

“Oh really?” Parker asks. Still holding my arms to the bed, he bends down and kisses my neck softly. The feel of his warm lips against my skin causes my back to arch and I whimper.
Fuck.

“You don’t want me, Nicole?”

“No,” I gasp as he nibbles at the flesh of my shoulder.

Releasing one of my hands, his own hand drifts down and begins pulling at the layers of my dress. Then, that hand slides up my thigh leaving goose bumps in its wake. His skillful fingers slide the crotch of my silk panties aside and stroke my wet flesh.

“Mmm,” he groans, the vibrations making me clench with want. “I think you’re lying, Nicole.”

As his dark gaze meets mine, I lick my suddenly dry lips. His fingers slide smoothly over my clit, and my eyes flutter. “Look at me,” he orders. He’s not smiling anymore . . . in fact, I see no humor at all. What I see is desire. He wants me as badly as I want him. I know I need to tell him about the baby, but a part of me knows this may really and truly be the last time I see him. And if I do see him again after he finds out the truth, it may only be because of the baby. Right now, right here, he wants
me.
Jerking his mouth to mine, his body falls to mine and we get lost in a fit of want and need. A minute later, Parker gets lost under the frill of my dress, my panties are torn and tossed to the floor, and his mouth devours me.

My hands fist the quilt of the bed as my back arches and I cry out in ecstasy. Parker doesn’t lick gently or lap me sweetly . . . he sucks and bites and at one point he raises his mouth for a moment and smacks my aching flesh with a strong hand. I shriek in shock, but clench when his mouth returns and sends me rolling into an orgasm. “Holy fucking shit,” I cry out.

Suddenly, he stands and yanks my ankles so that my ass is at the edge of the bed. Pulling me up on wobbly legs, he spins me around and begins unzipping my dress. When it falls to the floor, a pool of fabric and lace at my feet, he quickly unsnaps my strapless bra and flings it away. Once again, I’m naked in front of Parker Hayes.

“Turn around,” he orders, his voice almost a growl.

I do as he asks, sucking in my belly as I turn. I’ve put on some weight, obviously, but luckily I’m not showing yet. But I don’t want to take any chances that he’ll notice. When I’m facing him, he shakes his head and smirks almost wickedly. “Goddamn, you’re beautiful,” he growls.

I suck in one long breath as the heat of his gaze hits me. I don’t know what to do with all of the desire I feel right now; it’s a burning, twisting ache that feels like it may consume me at any moment, ruining me. “Undress me,” Parker orders, his tone indicating nothing. I remember how he did this the first time we were together. How he seemed to turn off his features, appearing indifferent. It made me crazy. It made me willing to do anything to draw his want out of him.

My hands move to his tie and begin loosening it, my gaze moving between his stare and the job at hand. When I finally remove it, I toss it aside and slowly walk around him, letting one hand brush across his chest. From behind, I pull at his jacket, taking it to the desk chair and hanging it. Then, as I move back, I take my time, letting him get his visual fill. As I undo the top button of his shirt, his lips gently brush my cheek and he leans slightly toward me. My legs tremble, but I straighten my knees and hold steady. His damn cologne smells delicious, making the ache that’s thrumming through my body intensify. I have got to get the name of that cologne. Maybe I can spray it all over my bed when he’s long gone.

Finally, after what feels like forever, I’m slipping his shirt off. Unable to resist, I lean in and place a kiss against his hard chest, letting my lower lip drag against his warm flesh. I toss the shirt aside and move behind him. Pressing my breasts against his firm back, I bite back the whimper the contact makes me want to release. My breasts are full and heavy, my nipples hard; I’m sure if I just slipped my hand down and touched myself, I’d come. Reaching around him, I begin undoing his belt as I kiss and bite the flesh of his back. He lets out a deep and throaty groan and I smile, knowing he can’t hold back, that I can bring it out of him. As I slip his pants down and over his luscious ass—and for a guy, he certainly has a luscious ass—I can’t help biting his right cheek.

He hisses as he whips around and pulls me up. Spinning me, he slams my back to his front and walks me toward the desk, kicking his pants and boxers away as we move. His hands squeeze my breasts as he bites my neck. Bending me over the desk, he slaps my ass, the sting making me moan in pleasure. “You have no fucking idea how many nights I’ve spent thinking about you, just like this, Nicole. Naked, wet, and ready for me to fuck you.”

Getting my wits back, I jut my ass out, inviting him to . . .”Aww!” I cry out when he slaps my other cheek.

“Do you want me?” he asks.

“Yes, please,” I beg.

“Wait right here. I need to get a condom. Do. Not. Move.”

“You don’t need one,” I say, breathless. “Unless you think you might have something,” I add.

“I’m clean. Are you sure? Are you on something?” he asks as he runs the head of his cock over my entrance.

“Yes,” I moan as I push back. So it’s kind of a lie, but I’m pregnant with his child, so in theory I am on something, and if he had anything the first time we hooked up, I’d already have it.

He uses one hand to guide the head of his dick to my clit where he rubs back and forth. With the other hand he squeezes my ass, hard. “Fuck, you are so wet,” he breathes. “You ready for me, princess?”

Again with the princess bullshit. Turning my head, I give him a glare that should make his hard-on shrivel, but as soon as my eyes meet his, he bites his lip and thrusts inside of me. The desk bangs against the wall as Parker slams into me, over and over, his hands holding my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh. I’m so close to coming, my fingernails dig into the wood of the desk as I hold on for dear life.

Then, he slaps my ass again and I let go, moaning out as he grunts and stills behind me. I remain plastered to the desk, trying to catch my breath. Parker gently rubs my back as he breathes heavily, but doesn’t pull out. After a few moments, he leaves me and picks up a shirt from his suitcase on the floor and begins cleaning me.

“It’s clean,” he tells me as he holds up the shirt. When he’s done, he takes me by the hand and leads me to the bed. Pulling the blankets back, he climbs in and backs up so I can join him. I bite my lip, unsure of what I should do. It would be easy to lie down with him, but there is the huge, life-changing information I need to tell him. I suddenly feel guilty.

“I should probably get dressed,” I say, as I search for my clothes.

“Get your fucking ass in this bed, Nicole. Now,” he demands, still holding the blanket and sheet up so I can slip in beside him.

“Parker, I—”

“Now,” he interrupts me.

Groaning, I flop in the bed and back my ass up to him. He quickly covers me and pulls me closer so that we’re spooning. “What are you doing to me, Nikki?” he mumbles into my neck. My stomach flutters as he continues to whisper how beautiful I am. He tells me how he’s thought about me every day since our time together in New York.

His words scare me; I don’t want to care for him. Caring for him means opening me up to him in a way I’ve never done before. It means letting him in. His lips brush over my skin, his hand running up and down my thigh.

“Parker, I—”

“Shh,” he hushes me. “Just know . . . I don’t do this.”

“Do what?” I ask.

“Cuddle.”

My body tenses. Shit . . . we’re cuddling. “We did this the first time we were together.”      

“I know,” he answers simply. What does he mean? That I’m the only girl he cuddles with?

“We don’t have to,” I say.

“Yes . . . we do,” he whispers as he pulls me hard against him.

The evening has been a whirlwind. I didn’t mean to sleep with him. But with my hormones out of whack and my very recently sated libido, I find myself relaxing and my eyes fluttering closed as I lie in the warm, strong arms of Parker Hayes.