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He laughed and stood, offering his hand again. “Ready to go home?”
This time, I took it immediately. We’d spent hours together, and neither of us had jumped the other. Clearly, we had the capacity to be friends without benefits. Parker led the way to his car for the short drive back to our complex.
No one was around as he walked with me to our shared hallway, not surprising considering the hour.
Instead of heading to his door, he lingered next to mine, like he was just as reluctant as I was for our evening to end. “With all respect to Mac, I like Riley better than RJ.”
“Riley’s not my real name.” I slapped a hand over my mouth, appalled at my absent-minded admission, but it was too late.
Parker’s face lit up like I’d given him the Heisman. “What is it?”
I hesitated, doing some quick calculations. My name was one of my more harmless secrets, and if I asked him to keep it to himself, he would. If he dug for my name on his own, he might discover who my dad was, which could cause all kinds of problems.
“It stays between us.”
Parker laid his hand over his chest. “I promise.”
“Lorelai. My real name is Lorelai.”
“Lorelai,” Parker repeated slowly, drawing the sounds out in a way that should not have sounded sexy. “I like it.”
“So glad you approve.”
He grinned at my sarcasm. “I like Riley too. They both fit you.”
I shifted, uncomfortable being associated with my birth name. “My mom picked it out. Two years later, she decided parenting wasn’t for her and left without looking back. Dad called me Riley ever since.”
He surprised me by wrapping an arm around my waist and dragging me into a hug. “Your mom is an idiot, and you should own your name.”
My heart fluttered, pressed against Parker’s chest, but for once it wasn’t proximity causing my reaction. He had a way of slicing right through to the center of me.
I let my head fall against his shoulder, and we both exhaled, relaxing into the embrace when we should have been pulling apart. Gradually, Parker’s light comfort shifted into something darker, hungrier. Tension built, a slow and steady climb, until his chin tipped toward me.
A tiny movement, but I couldn’t take a breath without sharing the air with him.
“We can’t do this, for so many reasons,” I whispered.
“I want to touch you.” His quiet admission made my breath hitch.
My hands curled into the cotton of his shirt as the words tickled the hair at my temple. His fingers already pressed against my back, but I knew what he meant. Parker wanted to cross the line we’d been toeing all night. Neither of us dared to move, unwilling to disrupt the delicate balance between friends and something more.
I knew what would happen, but I lifted my face anyway, giving him access. Parker trailed his fingers down my cheek, over my jaw, and along the side of my neck. His thumb stroked my lower lip, and my mouth opened instinctively.
He dropped his head to whisper into my ear. “Would you let me kiss you?”
I shivered, unsure if he was taunting me or asking permission.
“What else would you let me do?” His lips grazed my throat, and I may have moaned.
My lungs burned for air, but I couldn’t seem to draw in any oxygen past the throbbing need that had taken over my body.
“Parker…” I tilted, just a little, just enough for him to swipe his tongue against my erratic pulse.
“Tell me what you want, Lorelai.”
I wanted the blinding pleasure he promised with his teasing touches. I wanted to shove him against the door and ride him until we both collapsed. I wanted it bad enough that I hesitated another long second with his body close to mine, imagining spending the rest of the night with Parker.
But then I leaned back because I also wanted to play football, and I couldn’t have both.
