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His filthy words are my undoing. He takes over, thrusting and using the hand he has cupping me to fuck me stupid. I lose all rational thought besides every pleasure point that’s being manipulated.

  I come hard around his pounding cock and tugging fingers.

  He doesn’t stop.

  I come again, right on the heels of the last one, only bigger, brighter, and louder as I scream.

  This time, my entire body locks down around his, and his body responds, his hips offering one more powerful thrust, grinding home as his essence warms me from the inside out. He holds me still, his body wrapped around me, his forehead pressed to my nape, where I can feel the puffs of air leaving his mouth against my fevered skin.

  My body is a lifeless doll in his arms. Completely wrung out.

  For long moments, the two of us stay mostly still, him panting against the back of my neck, my chest powering up and down as I gasp for breath.

  “I’ll love you until the day I die, Skyler. You have my word on that.” His words are guttural, blanketed in emotion.

  “Honey . . . ,” I mumble, hardly able to focus as he dips me forward enough that he can slip his fingers out of me. It burns for a moment when those large digits slip from my body, but it’s worth it for the wild ride.

  I blink heavily as I feel small presses of Parker’s lips against every patch of skin he can reach on my neck and back.

  “I mean it, Sky. I’ve never lost myself in another person so flawlessly I didn’t know where I began and she ended.”

  “We’re meant to be, honey.” I wrap my arms around his holding me.

  He sucks in a deep breath and lets it out. “No matter what has happened to us, or what we’ve had to face, it’s made us stronger. Each time we’ve come out swinging, and Skyler, I’d do it all over again, every single thing we’ve been through, if it leads me right here to you.”

  I tip my head back and to the side so that I can look into his eyes. “You’re it for me, you know that, right?”

  He smiles and kisses me softly. “Yeah, baby, because you’re it for me.”

  One more kiss, and then I feel him slip out of my body.

  A groan I can’t suppress leaves as my body wobbles until I fall forward, catching myself on my hands and knees. I slide to the side on my naked hip as Parker puts a knee on the bed and crawls up. He latches me under my waist and back and pushes me up the bed until my head is cradled on the pillows.

  He dips down and kisses my lips, his mouth warm and moist in a way that, if I hadn’t just had the holy heck fucked out of me, I would want more of, and more of his amazing cock. Alas, the man obliterated every muscle in my body with his iron man–style sexcapades.

  “Be right back,” he says, before walking his naked ass to the bathroom. I hear him turn on the water, open a cupboard, and then come back with a wet washcloth.

  “Spread ’em,” he says.

  I crinkle my nose as heat rushes to my cheeks. “I can just get up and go to the bathroom myself.” I yawn.

  He shakes his head. “You think this is TMI. Peaches, baby, I just had my cock and fingers in your pussy at the same time. You just had the ends of your stilettos piercing my ass, and you think me wiping the mess between your legs is embarrassing?”

  “Hmmm, you kind of have a point.”

  He grins and waggles his brows. “Always do; now do as I say.”

  Closing my eyes, I put on my brave face and open my thighs. Parker gently wipes the warm cloth between my thighs, cleaning me of our lovemaking.

  When he’s done, I watch his naked ass walk away again, though this time I scrutinize it. And right there on the edge of each cheek is a small, dime-sized purple mark. Holy smokes, I really did prod his ass with my stilettos.

  Parker comes back, sits on the edge of the bed, and unbuckles one shoe and then the other before tossing them toward our walk-in closet.

  “I can’t believe you just threw a thousand-dollar pair of shoes like they were a pair of dirty socks!” I sit up on my forearms and stare at the pretties lying on their sides at the foot of the closet.

  Parker crawls under the covers, nabs me until I’m curled against his chest. He proceeds to hook one of my knees and hike it up and over his hips so that my leg rests over his thighs. “You’ll survive.”

  I frown and lift my head. “I most certainly will not,” I grumble, and yawn against his chest. He runs one hand up and down my bare thigh, and the other he tunnels into my hair.

  “I’ll be nicer to your shoes from now on.” He kisses my forehead.

  “Thank you.” I grin, feeling like I won a battle I didn’t even have to start. If this is what married life is going to be like . . . sign me up.

  “For the record, do you really need to spend a thousand dollars on a pair of shoes?”

  On second thought . . .

  “Ugh . . . you’re so annoying.”

  Parker chuckles heartily and hugs me. “But you love me.”

  I groan under my breath. “Yeah, I love you.”

  “And you said I was it for you.”

  “Are you trying to piss me off?” I mumble, my eyelids becoming heavier and heavier.

  He laughs, and I take pleasure in the fact that I can feel his laughter through my entire body since I’m draped over him.

  “Love you more,” he whispers, and kisses the top of my head.

  “Mmm, dream of me.” I sigh as thoughts of his naked body, warm and under me, fill me with images of the fun we just had.

  “Skyler, I always dream of you, baby. This time, you dream of me.” He nuzzles my forehead and squeezes my thigh.

  “Mm-hmm. ’K, honey. Already ahead of you . . .” is the last thing I remember saying before I do as promised. I dream of my guy wearing a similar tux to the one he was wearing tonight, only standing at the end of the aisle with his eyes on me, and I’m wearing my own white dress.

  4

  PARKER

  “Mon cher, please tell me your life is utterly dull and boring. No more exploding houses. No more hurt family, and you and Skyler are living happily in your beautiful home? Oui?”

  I chuckle and spin my chair around to look out the window at the Boston skyline. “Oui. Though I wouldn’t say life is dull and boring. Wendy was married this past week, we’re all back at work, my dogs are settled in the new house, and Skyler is constantly changing her mind on what color she wants a certain room. Right now, she’s set on the kitchen being purple. Purple, SoSo.”

  Sophie hums through the line. “I do not think that color is appetizing for the senses. I shall hope she has a change of heart.”

  “Thanks. What’s up?”

  “Well, my darling, I have bitten a gun.” She sighs.

  I blink a few times, watching Zeus, my stealthy ginger office cat, attack and catch a fly that somehow made it into my office, while trying to figure out Sophie’s latest colloquial blunder.

  “SoSo, I think you mean you’ve bitten the bullet. Did you make a decision about something, or did you literally purchase a gun and put it into your mouth?” I chuckle heartily. I love hearing my friend’s voice.

  “Mon Dieu. I can never get it right. Alas, I have made a decision.”

  “Well, that sounds rather vague. Care to explain that one for me?”

  “I have agreed to marry Gabriel.” Her voice is direct and matter-of-fact.

  My heart starts to pound, and I stand up to pace, a smile slipping over my lips. “Really?”

  “Oui. You were right. In the past few months that he has been back home, I have thought of nothing else. It has positively plagued me, the fact that I so easily tossed him away out of fear. The other night, I sat him down to a romantic candlelit dinner for two and asked him if he could have one thing in all the world, what would it be. And you know what he said?”

  I grin wide. “I’ll bet I can guess,” I say with a teasing tone.

  She continues without allowing me the benefit of guessing or playing with her any further.

  “He said he would like nothi
ng more in the world than to make me his wife and the woman who becomes the mother to his children one day.”

  “Go, Gabe!” I woot, and chuckle, mentally fist-bumping the guy.

  “Hmm, yes. Well, I looked right into his eyes, and . . .”

  “And . . .” I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry, dying to know what she said. Sophie can be a wild card sometimes. “Don’t leave me hanging.”

  “I am not hanging you. Why would I do that?”

  “SoSo . . . ,” I growl. “What did you say to Gabe?”

  “I asked him if he had an engagement ring,” she says, as serious as a heart attack.

  Not being able to help it, I tip back my head and laugh until my gut hurts. “And what did he say?”

  “It is not what he said, mon cher. It is what he did. He promptly got up from the middle of our dinner, disappeared into the room that he uses as his study, came back with a velvet box, and got down on one knee.”

  “Smooth moves, Gabe. I’m proud of the guy. Taking charge and advantage of the situation to get what he wants.”

  “Mmm,” she hums noncommittally.

  “Did he score?”

  “This is not a game, darling. This is my future.”

  “Sophie!” I roll my eyes, exasperated with her. “Did you or did you not accept his proposal?”

  “Mon cher, that is the very reason for my call.”

  “I swear to God . . .” I groan loudly, wanting her to hear my exasperation all the way to France.

  She laughs in my ear. “I accepted. We have received a date for September. I will expect you and Skyler in attendance.”

  “Fuck yeah. We’ll be there with bells on, baby!”

  “Bells? Why would you wear bells? That makes no sense. I want you to wear a bespoke suit that I will have my stylist design for you, as you will be standing as my sole official witness.”

  Punch.

  Straight. To. The. Gut.

  I clear my throat. “Sophie, are you asking me to be your maid of honor or man of honor?”

  “The Americans have weird sayings for this. We do not have that same thing here, and Gabriel and I will not be doing a religious ceremony. We will have the marriage at the town hall, where you and Gabriel’s brother will be the official witnesses to our commitment. Though Skyler may sit in if she chooses. Later that evening we will have a small but lavish affair in the Buddha-Bar.”

  The Buddha-Bar. Where Sophie got her head out of her ass and took a chance on the love of a good man. Excellent.

  “That sounds perfect. You shoot me the details, and I will be there. Sky will be filming, but if she can get a break at all, she’ll be there too. I’ll make sure the guys have the time set aside in their calendars for the reception.”

  “Magnifique! Now, tell me about you. I have been troubled by the hardships you and your mate have undergone. Has everything settled down now that there are no further threats and the people are exposed?”

  I nod even though she can’t see it. “Yeah, we’re all trying to find our new normal. Bo’s still working the pub for Pops full-time. Royce does their books and finances. I trade off weekends with Bo so he can have some time off, but he does the bulk of the work there. Though Baylee is a huge help.”

  “Baylee?”

  “Our waitress slash bartender slash jack-of-all-trades. She’s been a godsend to all of us. Works hard. Is never late. Stays out of trouble. I know for a fact when Pops eventually makes it back after he’s through with physical therapy, he’ll keep her on.”

  “That’s lovely. And Bogart? How is the scoundrel?”

  I grin knowing what she’s really asking. “Same ol’, same ol’. Chasing skirt and always on the go.”

  “One day his frivolity is going to catch up to him,” she warns.

  “Don’t I know it! I’ve warned him myself, but he’s dead set on getting the most out of life and everyone in it.”

  The memory of Bo telling Sky and me that he slept with Baylee flashes through my mind. I cringe. For the love of all things holy, I hope he didn’t fuck that situation up. She could be a really great addition to my Pops’s staff if he doesn’t screw it up. Still, it’s my job to trust him even when his judgment is jaded.

  “Especially those of the female variety.” Sophie clucks her tongue.

  I chuckle. “Exactly.”

  “And Royce?”

  “Doing well. Still, there’s that push-pull between him and Kendra and the past they share, but mostly I’m just waiting to see what happens. I truly believe those two are meant to be together. It’s just a matter of time.”

  “And you and your Skyler?”

  “What about me and Sky?”

  “Are you going to settle down?”

  “SoSo, I’m living with the woman. Bought a house with her. Share a bed every night with her. Not sure I could be more settled.”

  “Does your dear one feel the same as you?”

  I narrow my gaze and focus on the view again. “What are you talking about?”

  “Mon cher, a woman like her does not buy a house with a man, rescue dogs, move to his state, and take a job in her field that’s in the area unless she has an ulterior motive.”

  The idea that Sky has some type of nefarious plan or motive of any kind when it comes to us burns me up inside. “Sky’s not like that, Sophie. She’d never fuck me over.”

  Sophie tuts. “You are missing my point. Have you not talked about marriage and children? The future and what that looks like for the two of you?”

  Oh. I see. She’s getting married, so now she wants to know when I am.

  What is it with engaged people?

  I swear, the second Wendy got engaged she was all over us guys to settle down too. Hell, my mom started in on me the second I told her Sky and I were buying a home together. She thought that was absolutely insane to do without having a marriage certificate to back up such a large commitment.

  I inhale full and deep and let it out slowly. “We’ve talked a little about the future. We both want to get married and have children. It’s just . . . with everything that happened this year, I need to know she’s mentally ready to take on the rest of our lives together, not just physically or as a default to the bad shit we’ve survived. Marrying her will be one of the best decisions of my life. It needs to be right.”

  “Does that mean you want to marry her?” Sophie pushes.

  “Yeah, of course. I can’t imagine my life without her. I just need to know she’s okay in every way that matters. I can’t be selfish in this decision or take advantage of her. I want my girl to be of sound mind and free of any negativity from the shit brought upon us before we go down that road.”

  “Maybe in order for her to be free, she needs something even more beautiful to hang on to?” Sophie suggests.

  Her words run through my head. Could that be an option? Would asking for her hand be the final thing that heals the wounds my girl has sustained?

  I shake my head and rake my fingers through my hair. “I don’t know, Sophie; I’ll think about it. Thank you for bringing it up, and I am honored to be your witness when you marry Gabe. He’s a good guy, and he worships the ground you walk on.”

  “I know, mon cher. It is going to be wonderful. I shall have my assistant email you the details. It was good speaking with you. Take care of yourself and your mate.”

  “You know I will.”

  “Oui. Send my love to the guys.”

  “I can do that too.”

  “Je t’aime. Au revoir.”

  “Love you too. Bye, Sophie.”

  I press the “End” button on my cell phone, put it in my pocket, and place my hands on my hips.

  Sophie is taking the plunge.

  Why the hell am I waiting on the sidelines?

  My mind is still going over the call I had with Sophie yesterday as I flip through the contract Kendra approved for the next client. I’ve been avoiding travel the last couple of months, wanting to be home for Skyler, my father, and Nate as the lot o
f them healed physically and/or mentally. Nate’s recovery was miraculous. The dude is a goddamned stud and proves it daily. He completed his physical therapy in record time and is already watching Skyler’s back when she visits the studio people and has her sessions with Rick to run through lines. And with Rachel on the lookout, even if Nate isn’t in peak condition, I know they have my girl covered.

  Unfortunately my father hasn’t fared as well. Therapy has been tedious and painful. Being in your fifties and getting both of your legs and hips crushed by a car is not an easy injury to heal from. The docs think he’ll be in therapy for a good year. He’s already in the beginning of month three, and he’s just now in a wheelchair able to put pressure on his hip replacements. The legs haven’t gotten much work, but the casts are off. Now it’s all about learning to stand again. Then one foot in front of the other. It will be a while before he’s behind the bar again.

  I glance across the desk at Bo as he flips through the information Annie gave us once Kendra approved it as a solid contract.

  Kendra lays out the deal. “Nothing to write home about on this one, guys. It’s pretty straightforward. You have been requested for the TV show Mix and Match. You will help the couples get ready for the show and work with the production team to make everything run smoothly. You will also sit in the judging booth on the first episode to help the contestant choose her best match. They are paying through the nose for us, and I hate to say why, but it’s because of the scandal involving Skyler and Tracey, plus Parker’s involvement. Hell, the whole team’s involvement.”

  I shake my head, and Royce’s lips twist into a snarl. “Fuck this. We don’t need the money if it’s going to get us more questionable press.”

  “Technically no, but the projections the team made for the next two years will be severely affected if we don’t take it. We took a lot of hits to the budget the last few months by not working much while things settled down,” Kendra counters.

  Bo shrugs. “We’ll find another way to make it up.”

  “It’s a million dollars out the door,” Kendra adds softly.

  Royce’s gaze flicks to hers, and his snarl turns into a scowl.

  “Holy shit, that’s a lot of cash, but at what price?” Bo adds.