I nod, not trusting myself not to release more word vomit.
He runs a hand through his hair, and I’m pretty sure if I’d had the foresight to record this moment—Seth standing here in front of me with nothing but gray sweatpants on, hand ruffling his gorgeous dark hair, biceps flexing—I’d never need to watch porn ever again.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he finally asks, somehow managing to keep all emotion out of his voice.
And, not gonna lie, this is not the enthusiastic response I was hoping for. He doesn’t have to sound so indifferent about it.
I take my own small step away from him. “Not if you don’t want to, of course. And no pressure, obviously, if you’re not into it. If you’re not interested. If you don’t want me like that. Anymore. It’s totally fine. I can just... go. I should probably just go.” I spin on my heel to turn toward the front door, but his hand catches my elbow before I can take a step.
“I didn’t say I wasn’t interested.” He gives me a gentle tug and any space left between us disappears. “I just want to make sure this is something you really want. Something you’ve thought about.”
I bite back a laugh. Um, yeah, I’ve thought about it.
“I have. And I want it to be you. I need it to be you.” I dig my teeth into my lip since I seem to have managed a coherent and succinct statement for the first time since I arrived and I don’t want to ruin it.
“One night only?” His blue eyes are absolutely blazing, searing into mine.
I nod, trying not to be offended by his insinuation that one night won’t be enough for me, that I won’t be able to control my feelings after a night of passionate sex with Seth Carson. Because I totally will.
“I have one condition.” He wraps one arm around my waist, pressing his hand flat against the small of my back, and any hint of offense slips away with the heat of his palm. “I get you for the whole night.” He leans in closer. “Agreed?”
I nod again, every one of my senses completely filled with him. His touch burns my skin and I can’t catch my breath.
Seth dips his head, sucking my lower lip free from my teeth. He traces the tip of his tongue over the worried skin and I gasp into his mouth. He takes advantage of the opening, and all of a sudden we’re kissing. Really kissing. And oh god. I almost forgot the head-spinning sensation of kissing Seth Carson. His hand tightens on my back, pulling me into him, while the other hand cups the side of my neck, his fingers threading into my hair, his thumb grazing the line of my jaw. My hands travel from the bare skin of his chest up and around his shoulders, tightening around his neck, using the support to pull myself even closer into him because suddenly being pressed this close together isn’t nearly close enough.
The thin fabric of May’s dress, which I cursed earlier, allows me to feel every inch of him. His body is all hard planes and heat and I want to kiss every inch of it.
He starts to walk me backward, heading I don’t knowwhere. I don’t care where we go as long as he continues to kiss me as if it’s the only way we can breathe. His lips switch effortlessly from teasing and light and sweet to plundering and urgent and desperate.
My back hits a wall and I use the leverage to tug on his hips. He finally breaks the kiss with a groan as his hard length thrusts against my belly. But I’m not done kissing him yet, pulling him back to me while my fingers dance along the cut ridges of his abs, tracing along the waistband of his pants.
“Parker,” he growls, his lips moving from my mouth to the edge of my jaw. His hand travels up from my lower back to skim my exposed cleavage.
I whimper a little and his eyes meet mine, his pupils so wide they almost obscure the clear blue.
“You still want this?” He pauses his movements, his hand cupping my breast.
“Hell yes.” I take his hand, shoving aside the silver sparkly fabric of my dress and placing it directly on my skin.
His fingers scarcely brush my nipple before he pulls them away. “Turn around.”
I hesitate for less than half a second before I obey, spinning to face away from him. My hands rest gently on the wall in front of me, my head turned slightly to the side because I don’t know if I’m physically capable of taking my eyes off him.
He sweeps my long, loose waves over my shoulder, his fingers finding the zipper of my dress. I hold my breath as he lowers it at a maddeningly slow rate. When I feel his lips onmy skin, following the path of the zipper down my spine, I let out a little gasp. He finally reaches the small of my back and his hands return to the straps of the dress, guiding them down my arms. I shimmy out of the dress, revealing just a lacy pair of black panties underneath.
He sucks in a breath and I ache for his hands to return to my heated skin. When they do a second later, he pulls me back into his embrace; his hardness nestles in the curve of my ass while he cups my breasts in his hands.
“Seth...” I’m practically panting already, the feel and the smell and the taste of him so overwhelming I can barely see straight, let alone think.
He spins me back around, putting a sliver of space between us so his eyes can trace my bared chest. “Jesus, Parker.” His fingers return to my breasts, circling my nipples before tracing down my ribs. They stop on my tattoo.
Shit. I forgot he didn’t know about it, hasn’t ever seen the sunflower tattoo, an image he will no doubt recognize.
He bends over a little so he can see it better, his fingers outlining each petal. “When did you get this?” His voice is hoarse, choked with both emotion and arousal.
“Two days after I moved to LA.” I don’t say the obvious, that it was just before we broke up. During that brief period of bliss when I thought I could live my dream and keep Seth too.
He stands up straight and swallows thickly. Then a half grin tugs on his lips as he lowers his waistband on the left side, just an inch or two.
