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When they arrived at the apartment, he unlocked the door and let her step in first. His feet shuffled over the bare floor and when he found the lamp, the room glowed in soft amber. She stood by the entrance to the living room and stared at him. They each seemed to be having a moment of now what.
“I had fun today. Thanks,” she said, breaking the heavy silence.
He smiled and took a slow step toward her. Her breathing was slow, but her heart raced.
Do something. She wanted to escape the moment, but his gaze held her in place.
“I had fun too,” he whispered as he came to stand in front of her. His fingers lifted to her hair, picking up a strand. She followed his gaze as he examined it. He seemed mesmerized by the feel. She shifted uncomfortably.
Everything over the past few weeks was such a blur to her that she wondered exactly when she granted this unspoken permission and how permitted he assumed he was to touch her. Curiosity was a dangerous thing.
She was curious, but her distrust for her heart and commonsense gave her temperance. She’d never again surrender to that driven, potent, lust she experienced when she and Lucian first touched. Of course, that wouldn’t be a problem with Lucian being gone.
When Parker touched her, like he was now, it was slightly different for some reason, and she had yet to determine if it was different in a good way or a bad way.
His gaze met hers and she recognized the intent there. Feet shuffled a step closer. She sucked in a breath. She should move. Green eyes stared deeply into hers, and there was that quiet moment of warning just before his lips touched her cheek, this time lingering a second longer than they had before.
Forcing herself to relax, Parker’s scent filled her nose as his fingers released her hair, and he stepped away before she could determined what the kiss meant.
She lowered her gaze to the floor.
The echo of Parker’s easy laugh filled the silence. Gentle fingers caught under her chin and tipped her face up. “I had fun today too,” he repeated, and turned to get something in the kitchen.
He returned a moment later with a glass of water. After taking a sip, he tilted his head and frowned. “You okay?”
She nodded. “Just tired.”
“You can have the bed again if you want. I don’t mind.”
She frowned. “No. It’s my turn on the couch. Fair is fair.”
“Sleeping on the couch sucks, Scout.”
“If you can do it, so can I.”
“We could share the bed.”
Tightness slowly wove through her chest. Sharing a bed with Parker would not be a great idea. “I’ll manage.”
He looked like he wanted to push his argument, but thankfully he didn’t. Tomorrow was Sunday and she had a lot to do to get ready for her new job. She’d been sleeping more than usual, but was still exhausted. Sleep would do her good before starting work.
They awkwardly moved around the apartment in silence, preparing for bed. There was a new element to her and Parker that apparently involved a lot of blushing and downcast eyes on her part and a lot of confusing stares and stolen touches on his. She feared they might be ruining something wonderful, and the thought was so sad, filling her with such a feeling of desolate helplessness, that she pushed it away. She could not lose Parker too.
Chapter 27
Social Intercourse
She wore a sequined mermaid-cut silver dress with a ruffled slit traveling up her inner thigh, toeing the line of indecency. Champagne bubbles tickled her nose, the smooth blown-glass of the flute a welcome weight in her hand. Music flooded the room, mingling with the gentle chatter of guests.
Heat pressed into her back. “Are you enjoying yourself, Ms. Keats?”
Her eyes closed as she leaned into him, a thousand worries and insecurities scattering into the wind like thistle on a balmy afternoon.
Hands coasted over her bare shoulders and turned her body. She walked as the heavy press of his palm settled on the small of her back and directed her through the crowd.
They were in an aquarium. The normal lights were replaced with dripping crystal chandeliers. Rafters were swathed in thick, satin reams of white linens, bunched with balls of wild lilies perfuming the air.
He led her to an isolated corner. Three walls were made of glass. Clown fish and colorful beds of coral brightened the dark blues, pierced with silver beams of light. It was as though she were in some secret part of Atlantis, a magical underwater kingdom away from the rush and racket of the world.
She could see her reflection in the glass, silver shadows playing over her skin, giving her a celestial blue glow and turning her gown shades of cerulean and deep indigo. His hand traveled over the tight curve of her hip. The dress hung on her like a weighted skin bedazzled in gems. She was the pirate’s treasure hidden beneath the deep blue of the ocean.
