She didn’t want to say it, but she did.“Home.”
He said nothing, just put the vehicle in gear.You could barely hear the engine, and all the outside noises were screened out.It was like being in a bubble.In a bubble with someone else, someone absolutely fascinating.She couldn’t remember when she’d been so attracted to a man.Every sense on alert, excitement skittering under her skin.
Because of course the big question was—should she invite him in?She’d like nothing more.The whole evening had been a huge turn-on.Her heart beat so fast, she couldn’t seem to pull in enough air.Her breasts felt heavy.So very weird because she wasn’t usually aware of her own breasts as separate entities.But there they were—on her chest, feeling bigger, nipples definitely aroused.And between her legs…well.Heat radiated from her sex, and she had to stop herself from fidgeting and crossing her legs.
Sex would definitely make her feel better.
This wasn’t like herat all.She was incredibly picky, and she had to remind herself that every sex partner she’d ever had had turned out to be a disappointment.Too fast, too slow, too crass, too timid.Not enough, too much.
What to do?
Nick didn’t need any instructions and was driving them straight to her place.It had taken her a week to memorize the route.They would be there in a minute or two.
Maybe she could invite him in and keep it casual, just to have more time in his company.She had a nice collection of home-made liqueurs, though he’d been pretty careful about alcohol consumption since he was driving.
Maybe ask him if he wanted an herbal tea?Parker often finished a meal with an herbal tea.Ginger, chamomile, fennel, peppermint, turmeric.Would he want one?He actually didn’t look like an herbal tea kind of guy, but maybe out of politeness he’d accept a cup.Maybe not chamomile, maybe ginger?
Did she still have fresh ginger?She seemed to remember she’d run out and hadn’t bought any.Maybe peppermint?She had several peppermint plants out on her little terrace, so…
The car stopped.“We’re here,” Nick said, and all those febrile thoughts bouncing like ping pong balls around Parker’s brain stopped too, and her head was now filled with blank space.Nothing going on upstairs at all.
Utter silence in the car.She drew in a breath to speak, but had no idea what she wanted to say.
“Do you want to?—”
“Yes,” he said.“I do.”
Parker blinked.“You do?You do what?I haven’t even said anything.”
His face turned to her, and he looked utterly serious.“Whatever it is you were about to say, the answer is yes.Would I like to—fill in the blank.Whatever the blank is, the answer is yes.”
“Wow.”She smiled.“That could be dangerous.What if I asked you to…I don’t know.Swim across the Bay?”
“How far across is it?”
“Hmm.About ten miles, I think.”
He thought for a moment.“Ten miles.Yeah, I’ve done that in training.It would be really tiring, and I wouldn’t be laughing at the end, but I could do it in about three hours.”His nose wrinkled.“Though I’m not sure how clean that water is.”
“Not very.I wouldn’t recommend it.Actually, what I was about to ask you was—would you like to come up for an herbal tea to finish the evening?I have chamomile, fennel…”
But he was already getting out of the vehicle and moving to her door.
She watched him as a deep thrumming began in her chest.She felt almost as if she were choking, only it didn’t hurt.As he was rounding the vehicle, his eyes met hers through the windshield and it was like a punch to the stomach.
Then he was at her door, big hands up.She leaned down, placing her hands on those broad shoulders, letting herself fall forward, knowing he’d catch her.
He caught her.
She slid down his body, every nerve sensitized.Everything was in overload, and she couldn’t speak.There was no breath in her body to speak.They walked up the little walkway in silence, Parker feeling excited and wary and everything in between.To her astonishment, when they got to the big wrought iron and glass front door, she couldn’t fit the key to the lock.She couldn’t even feel her hands.
Nick gently took the key out of her hands and opened up the big street door, reaching above her head to open it for her.Parker started deep breathing to get herself under control, then saw the elevator and indignation wiped away her excitement.It was an old building with an ancient wheezing elevator, a glass enclosed cabin in a wrought iron cage.And right now, a huge sign hung from the doorknob.
FUORI SERVIZIO
Out of order
“Oh!”She turned to Nick.“I’m so sorry.The elevator just goes on the blink from time to time.They keep promising to fix it but…” She blew out a breath in frustration.
