Page 45 of Twisted Needs

He takes a step forward until he’s standing directly in front of me.

My grip tightens around my glass. The island suddenly feels very small.

“I’m not saying this as your friend,” Parker says evenly. “I’m just looking out for you.”

“Yeah, you keep saying that.”

“Because it’s true.”

“You’re acting like you’re so full of discernment⁠—”

“And don’t bring another man to my fucking arena.” The words come out sharp and immediate, like he didn’t mean to say them.

Silence crashes down between us. Parker freezes as I watch realization flash across his face. The regret comes first, followed by something more stubborn, like he knows he should take it back but doesn’t actually want to.

My heart pounds so hard I can hear it. “What?”

Parker exhales through his nose. “I don’t care how fucking short he is or how funny he might be.”

“Pet’ka—”

“I don’t care.” His voice stays calm, but there’s something underneath it now. Something that wasn’t there a minute ago. “A guy like that is not your fucking friend.”

I stare at him. “And how exactly would you know that?”

Parker takes another step closer, enough that my knee brushes his thigh. Heat immediately floods through me.

“A guy who looks at you like that only wants one thing, Anders.” His eyes drop to my mouth again. And this time, neither of us look away. “He wants to make you weak. So he can use you like you’re something worthless.”

I shake my head automatically. “That’s not⁠—”

Parker’s hand comes up, firm and controlled. His fingers close around my jaw—hard enough that I stop talking and my breath catches. “I don’t think you’re worthless.” His thumb shifts slightly against my skin, the movement feeling far too intimate for a conversation like this. “Do you?”

“No,” I breathe.

For some reason, I can’t seem to look away. Parker’s eyes search my face, studying me like he’s trying to convince himself of something.

“You’re too trusting,” he says quietly. “And I can’t stand the thought of someone like that taking advantage of you.”

“Okay? Yeah?” The word comes out weaker than I intended. “Fine.”

His grip tightens slightly. “Fine what?”

I swallow. “I won’t see him.”

Parker doesn’t move. For a second, I wonder if he even heard me. But then his eyes flick down to my mouth again. “Say it again.”

“I won’t…” My pulse pounds in my ears. “I won’t see him.”

Neither of us says anything. My entire body feels frozen in place. Parker stares at me for so long that I start wondering if I’ve imagined the whole conversation. But, then I hear him exhale softly. “You’re such a good boy, Anders.”

An audible gasp slips through me, lips parting involuntarily. The look he gives me tells me he knows exactly what he’s doing to me. His expression softens in such a deceiving way, because nothing about the way he’s staring at me feels soft. It feels like one blink away from ruining me.

I angle my chin up without realizing, inching for his mouth to meet mine, but his grip on me is firm and controlled, not leaving me with much give. He should know exactly what I want. If the glossy haze of desire that coats my eyes isn’t enough, then I don’t know what is.

“Please,” I whisper desperately, aching for him to do something as his thumb traces the outline of my bottom lip.

“Tell me,” he breathes, leaning closer. “You don’t want him.”