She looked down at our intertwined hands and then back to my eyes. I stared back into her eyes, hoping that they were saying everything I needed her to know.
You’re safe with me.
I’ll do the heavy lifting so that you don’t have to.
Take a chance on me.
“Do you think you could let me in? Let me be that person to show you what it's like to be cared for, to share the weight of your burdens. Do you feel this thing between us? Tell me I'm not alone.”
Evelyn shook her head, turning away from me with her hand still in mine.
Was it all in my head? Since we met, I’ve felt drawn to her. At first, it may have been about duty and perhaps a little guilt, but then I started getting to know her. She allowed me to be a different version of myself, the real Parker Woods. This felt like more than friendship.
Tentatively, I moved my other hand to cup her face. She gently leaned into the palm of my hand as if she was just as starved for the physical connection as I was. With my thumb caressing her cheek, her eyes fluttered closed.
“I need your words, baby girl.”
“I do. I feel it, too.” Her voice comes out just above a whisper.
I couldn’t help but trace the outline of her full lips. The desire to press mine against hers was strong. Her eyes met mine again as she bit her lip. My eyes tracked the movement, and I licked my lips, eager to know what she tasted like.
“Ev?”
Her eyes opened, and her soft gaze met mine. “Parker?”
“May I kiss you?” God, I hope she said yes.
My self-control was waning, and the distance between us was closing.
She exhaled, “Yes,” as if she had been tired of waiting for me to ask. That was all the confirmation I needed to press my lips against hers.
I captured her lips in mine, trapping her in a tender kiss. She hesitated, and I almost pulled away, thinking she had changed her mind. Then her hands found their way to my chest andstomach, tentatively caressing me as her lips began to move over mine. She tasted sweet like the vanilla milkshake we shared.
Her breath hitched as I broke our kiss to trail kisses down her neck. The soft moan she released almost broke all my resolve. I wanted Evelyn badly, but I couldn’t have her here the way I wanted to. Not yet, at least, I didn’t want to scare her off.
Her hand grabbed onto the back of my neck, holding me close to her as if to tell me not to stop.
I felt like I was desperate for her, as if nothing and no one could distract me from devouring her, and tasting every ridged scar on her body.
A loud tap on the glass made Evelyn jump and pull away from me. She immediately brought her hands to her face in embarrassment, groaning.
I took a look behind me to see the waitress, Dee, standing there with her hands on her hips. I lowered the window to face the inevitable tongue-lashing I was about to receive.
“Young man, this is no longer the kissing corner of your golden days. This is a family establishment, please take all that carrying on somewhere else,” Dee reprimanded.
I did my best to give a sincere apology, but once our seat belts were on and we’re pulled out of the diner car park, I couldn’t hold it in.
I started to laugh, and a few seconds later, Evelyn joined in.
I grabbed her hand again, interlocking our fingers and placing them on my lap as I drove back home.
We rode back, both of us humming softly to the music every so often, looking at each other to share a smile.
I couldn’t help but think that now that I’ve had a taste of her, I won’t be able to let her go. I just hoped that I was enough to keep her.
Chapter 26
Evelyn
