"Me too," I admitted. My voice was more gravelly than before. "Sorry it took me a while to get my head straight."
He chuckled and the sound vibrated against my chest. "You're worth the wait."
Gods, I hoped I could live up to his expectations.
I guided him toward the bed, sitting down first and tugging him onto my lap. He straddled me with his knees bracketing my hips. I ran my hands up his thighs and explored the lean muscle. Parker was all graceful lines and subtle strength and he'd shown his resilience and how adaptable he was in the time I'd known him. But he was so damned alluring.
I slid my palms under his shirt, pushing it up inch by inch and exposed the smooth skin of his stomach. He lifted his arms and I tossed it aside.
"Your turn." His fingers were already working at the buttons of my shirt.
I studied his concentrated expression and how his brows furrowed. When he got it open, he pushed the fabric off my shoulders and traced the contours of my chest.
"You're so warm," he whispered, almost as though it was a secret.
"Comes with the alpha territory." I smirked, but inside, my heart was pounding. This wasn't just physical. It was us connecting on every level. I pulled him down for another kiss. This one was hungrier and my hands roamed over his back before my fingers dipped into the dimples at the base of his spine.
Parker rocked against me and the heat between us increased. His telltale omega slick started to scent the air and I wanted to taste him. It hit my senses hard, making the alpha in me roar tolife, but I kept it in check. This was about him, not some primal rush.
I flipped us and lay him back on the bed while I hovered over him. His dark hair strands caught the lamplight as his eyes locked onto mine.
"Tell me what you want," I said, kissing along his collarbone.
"You." He arched up under my touch.
That was all I needed. I trailed kisses down his chest, taking my time and savoring every gasp and shiver. His nipples hardened under my tongue, and I teased one with gentle sucks, then the other, while my fingers trailed over his hipbone. Parker threaded his fingers through my hair as his breaths came in soft pants.
"Dawson... please."
The plea in his voice stirred something deep in me. I moved lower and hooked my fingers into the waistband of his pants. I glanced up for permission and he nodded while lifting his hips. I slid them off along with his boxers. He was so hard and ready for me. His scent was stronger now, and I had to remind myself to go slow.
"You're gorgeous." I kissed the inside of his thigh and he trembled.
He laughed. "Flatterer."
"Truth-teller." I parted his legs wider, settling between them, and took him in hand. His head fell back and he moaned. I memorized how his lips parted and his eyelashes fluttered as I worked him with firm, deliberate pumps.
Leaning down, I replaced my hand with my mouth, swirling my tongue around the tip of his cock before taking him deeper. Parker's body bucked and he gripped the sheets.
"Oh Gods, Dawson."
I hummed and the vibration drew another gasp from him. His response filled me with a warmth that had nothing to dowith lust. It was love, the kind I'd been too scared to admit before. I brought him to the edge, then eased off, kissing my way back up his body until we were face-to-face again.
"Your pants are still on," he pointed out as he reached for my zipper.
"Better fix that." I grinned, helping him unzip me.
He shoved them down, and I kicked them off, along with my briefs. Parker wrapped his legs around my waist and I settled against him, our lengths pressing together in a delicious friction.
We rocked like that while his nails grazed my back, and I buried my face in his neck, inhaling his scent. I kissed him deeply, pouring everything into it—the apologies, the promises, and the future I wanted with him.
One hand slid over his bare butt and I fingered his slick hole. He panted but urged me to continue and I eased in one finger.
"Feels good," he murmured, rocking down onto my hand.
I added a second finger and curled both until I hit that spot that made him arch and cry out. My fingers stretched him in anticipation of my cock being in him because I was big and I didn't want to hurt him. And when he was writhing beneath me and begging me for my dick, I withdrew my fingers and positioned myself between his legs.
"I'llgo slowly." I pressed the tip inside him.
