“We haven’t established any yet,” she said.
“You said no kissing. Or have you forgotten?”
She plopped back on her pillows with a huff. Maybe she was as opposed to boundaries between us as I was. But if she thought it was best, I’d play along. I’d test her every second of our time together, but I could feign obedience.
For now.
“Goodnight, Park.”
“Goodnight, Beck.”
But I didn’t sleep after I left her room. Not until I came all over again in my shower, only the thought of her beneath me spurring me forward. I dreamed of her, too.
Dreamed of breaking every little rule she thought she could put between us.
19
PARKER
My finger tapped an unsteady beat on the kitchen counter the next morning. I had no idea what to say to Beckham. These rules I was so adamant about were few and far between, not a single one making sense in my mind.
Why couldn’t we kiss? Because I thought that was going too far? His fingers inside of me, his tongue on my clit, wastoo far. And I really thought keeping our mouths apart was what would keep our minds on track?
Sure. Great plan.
Familiar footsteps sounded from down the hall, and I turned on the stool to find Beckham strolling toward me. He looked like an entirely different man this morning—no heavy eyes or strained inhales. He was…lighter. Brighter. Happier.
This was not going to be easy.
“Good morning,” I said.
“Morning,” he replied, leaning an elbow on thecorner of the counter merely a foot from me. He was wearing a new pair of sweats, the shade a bit lighter, and a tight-fitting white tee. “So, these rules.”
My eyes flicked to his intoxicating biceps before I cleared my throat and straightened my back. “Right.” My fingers dug into my knees, my nerves on fucking fire. “Should we be doing this?”
“Define ‘this.’”
I narrowed my eyes on him. Of course, he was going to make me spell it out. “The messing around.” My hands made nonsensical gestures. “The touching.”
He arched a brow. “Touching, huh?”
“Beckham,” I chastised.
His shoulder lifted an inch. “It could be more than that.”
“No,” I blurted.
His eyes widened for a split second before he masked his surprise. And was that…disappointment?
“This is already a lot to try to navigate.” My palm rested on my stomach, a tiny kick bumping against me.
His gaze moved to my hand and he visibly softened. “I know. But this is between us, Parker. We can get through anything.”
“Can we?”
So many unspoken words and emotions flitted between us, it was nearly suffocating.
“So, the rules,” he repeated.
