AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I couldn’t stop myself from laughing a little breathlessly. “Me too.”
Chapter Eight
Travis
Thenextmorning,Iwas still thinking about that kiss. It had been nothing short of incredible. As I lay in bed, letting the memory of the kiss replay in my mind, I touched my fingertips to my lips. I hadn’t ever had a kiss like that. I didn’t even know theycouldbe like that. The memory of the kiss carried me through the day and when I saw Parker that night, when he came to my house for a getting-to-know-you date, I was ready for another one of those kisses. It was clear he was, too.
Though his knock was tentative, when I swung open the front door, Parker smiled widely at me, a bouquet of flowers in his fist. I took the flowers from him and stepped aside. “These are nice. I’ll just—” I started toward the kitchen to put the flowers in water, but Parker grabbed my free hand and tugged me back toward him, dipping his head low. Butterflies flooded my stomach, my heart leaping into my throat as he kissed me gently for the briefest of moments.
“Sorry,” he murmured. “I just wanted to… I don’t know…” He scrubbed a hand over his shaved head as his cheeks turned pink.
I shrugged and shook my head with a little smile. “Don’t worry about it.” He released me and I hurried into the kitchen, smiling to myself. Once the flowers were in their vase, I placed them on the table in my breakfast nook and took a seat on the couch next to Parker. “So… now what?”
Parker grinned, charming and sexy, and leaned close. “We could…” He teased his fingertips along my inner thigh, just above my kneecap.
Heat flooded my face. “I—um—how about we listen to music instead?” I jumped up from my place on the couch and snatched up the remote for the TV to pull up my music streaming app.
“Sure, music’s cool.”
“Can I get you a drink or anything?”
Parker stood. “I’ll get it. You’re busy. Do you want anything?”
“Sure, yeah. Beer, I guess. Whatever looks good in there.” I didn’t drink alot,but I kept my fridge stocked with a variety of beverages, anyway.
A couple of moments later, Parker returned, a can of craft beer in each hand. He passed one can to me and popped open the other, settling on the couch again. We sat on opposite ends of the couch, sipping our drinks and not making eye contact with each other for a few long, awkward minutes. By the time the first song ended, I knew I had to do something, or we’d sit there drinking in silence all night.
“What’s your favorite song?” I blurted.
Parker laughed and shook his head. “I don’t think I can pick one. There are too many.”
“Well, we’ll need a first dance song, right? What about your favorite romantic song?”
He rubbed the back of his neck as he thought for a few seconds. “‘Anyone Else but You.’”
I shook my head. “By the Moldy Peaches? It’s not quite a first dance song, is it?”
Parker shrugged. “You asked what my favorite romantic song was. What’s yours?”
“REO Speedwagon? ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling’?”
He nearly choked on his beer. “I don’t think a first dance song from the eighties is quite the right fit.” He thought for a second. “What about Weezer’s ‘My Best Friend’?”
I bit my lip and didn’t miss the way Parker’s gaze flickered down to my mouth for a second before meeting my eyes again. “Great song. Maybe not for a first dance, though. I think I have it.” I picked up the remote and pulled up the song I was thinking of. A few moments later, ‘Best Friend’ by Jason Chen was playing.
Parker put his beer can down and nodded along with the first few seconds of the song before standing and pulling me to my feet. I laughed, startled, as he slow danced me around my living room. I melted into his touch, let my body be wrapped up in his strong arms as I relaxed into Parker’s heat. He was an excellent lead, and I let him guide me as we swayed to the song. When it ended, I looked up at Parker for a verdict. He nodded and dipped his head down to kiss me, just like he had before, slowly and carefully. My heart fluttered, and I relaxed into it.
After several minutes of kissing and slow dancing to whatever song had come on next—I honestly wasn’t paying enough attention to notice—he guided me to the couch and we sat again, kissing slow and sensuous as if we had all the time in the world. Only once did Parker try for more, reaching for my hip and sliding his hand to tug at the button on my jeans, but I gently guided his hand away.
Parker pulled back, breathing hard, brow furrowed. “Is everything okay?”
“Just… not ready for that.”
He bit the edge of his lip. “There’s no rush. Will you let me know when youareready?”
I nodded. “Yeah, definitely.”
The rest of the night went similarly—we discussed wedding ideas between long minutes of making out—and by the time Parker was pulling out of my driveway, my lips were beard-burned and swollen and I couldn’t wait for it to happen again.
