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  “Thank you,” Parker said and smiled gratefully at Alice. He reached out, and Alice watched him as he brought the cup to his lips and took a long sip, then smiled once more. “It’s good.”

  “It is,” Alice agreed and took another sip herself. “So, do you want to talk about why you’re so quiet?”

  “Am I quiet?” Parker asked as he gave Alice a surprised look.

  “Well, you have barely said two words since we left the hospital,” Alice shrugged, feeling unsure if she was crossing a line or not.

  “I was just thinking,” Parker sighed as he took another sip of his hot chocolate.

  “Anything you want to talk about?” She asked knowing she was probably pushing it now.

  “My dad wants me to take over running the company,” Parker blurted out suddenly, without looking at Alice. “Effective immediately.”

  “I see,” Alice replied, feeling completely and utterly stunned by his revelation, as a sickening feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach. She knew she was being selfish, she knew that tonight wasn’t about her, but the only thought she could seem to form right at that moment was, what did that mean for her and Parker?

  He had gotten what he wanted; he was now head of his father’s company. Would that mean he wouldn’t need her anymore? Would he want to end their arrangement sooner rather than later?

  Alice was surprised by how utterly devastated she was feeling. But she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders and told herself that she needed to think about Parker and his family right now, and not about her own issues. Still, there was a sadness that had settled deep inside her, and she knew her heart was breaking.

  “Are you okay?” Parker asked as he finally looked up at her. “You look like you have seen a ghost.”

  “I’m just tired,” Alice lied and forced a smile. “It’s been a long, emotional day.”

  “That is has,” Parker said as he held her eyes with his.

  To her horror, Alice could feel the tears burn her eyes, so she quickly stood up.

  “I think I will call it a night,” she said as she turned and made a beeline straight for the door. “If you need me for anything during the night, just come and wake me up.”

  “Alice,” Parker said as he set down is hot chocolate on the table, before he too stood up.

  “Yep,” she said as she turned back to him and forced a smile on her face.

  “I just wanted to say thank you,” Parker said as he took a step closer to her. “For today, I mean. For how you were with Nicole, and then for tonight at the hospital. I honestly don’t know how I would have got through it if it wasn’t for you.”

  “It was my pleasure,” Alice replied, and this time her smile was genuine. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

  “So, we’re friends?” Parker asked as he took another step closer to her. Each step he took, Alice’s heart seemed to race faster.

  “I would like to think so,” Alice replied holding his gaze with hers. “I mean, okay maybe we didn’t start out like that. But I would like to think that we are now.”

  “I see,” Parker replied, but Alice couldn’t read what he was thinking from his face.

  Suddenly he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek, letting his lips linger there longer than they should have. He then pulled back, but not all the way; but enough to look into her eyes. Alice held her breath.

  “Sweet dreams,” he whispered, then gave her a sad smile. “I will see you in the morning.”

  “Goodnight, Parker,” Alice whispered before she took a step back. She had thought for a moment he was going to kiss her; a real kiss; she was sure of it. But he didn’t, and she felt so disappointed and confused by what had just happened.

  She offered a weak smile before she turned and made her way down to her room, not slowing down till she was behind the door. She took a couple of deep breaths, and fought back her tears, telling herself that she was being ridiculous.

  But then she remembered what he had told her. He was now head of O’Neill’s International. He got his company just like he had wanted from the start. Of course, he was never going to kiss her. He no longer needed her.

  YOU IDIOT!! She cried in her mind as she hurried into the bathroom. Why did you ever let yourself believe he would want you too? Just how stupid are you?

  She looked at herself in the mirror and laughed.

  Of course, he would never want you, she thought miserably as she stared at her own reflection. Just look at you!

  She removed her make-up and brushed her teeth before she pulled on her nightdress. With one last glance at her reflection, she sighed as she returned to her bedroom, determined to push Parker from her thoughts.

  Alice pulled back the bedclothes and was just about to climb into bed when there was a soft tap on the door. She froze for a moment, before she slowly made her way across the room, and opened the door.

  “Hey,” Alice said when she opened the door and saw Parker standing there. The minute her eyes met his, she was surprised to see tears dancing in them. “Parker, what is it? What’s wrong?”

  “Tonight, I was scared,” Parker whispered, surprising Alice with his response. “When I saw my dad being wheeled into the ambulance, I thought for a moment…that my dad…was going to die.”

  “But he didn’t,” Alice said as she reached out and took his hand. “He is going to be okay. I promise.”

  “I’m just not ready to lose him yet,” Parker continued. “I want to show him that I am a man he can be proud of, instead of the screw up he thinks I am.”

  “I think your father is already very proud of you,” Alice replied with a warm smile. “And I think you are already a good man.”

  “Thank you,” he said with a smile before he dropped his gaze to their hands for a moment, as a quietness settled between them. Finally, Parker spoke again, but his eyes remained fixed on their hands. “Alice. Can I stay with you tonight?”

  Slowly he lifted his eyes and let them meet hers.

  “I really don’t want to be alone,” he continued. “Not tonight.”

  “Sure,” she replied with a smile, as she took a step back into the room. She went to release his hand, but as she did Parker just held hers tighter.

  He stared at her for a moment, and something between them changed.

  Parker slowly moved closer, his eyes still locked with Alice’s. Alice could feel her heart hammer out of her chest. She could barely breathe.

  Parker eased himself closer to Alice, as he searched her face for a sign. Alice knew right at that moment; he was as terrified as she was. She needed to tell him it was okay; that she wanted him too.

  She leaned up and softly pressed her lips to his, telling him with her actions what he wanted to hear.

  The moment their lips touched, Parker slipped his arms around Alice and quickly drew her into his embrace, and their kiss deepened. It was everything Alice imagined it would be, and now she had finally got what she wanted, she never wanted to let it go.

  “Alice,” Parker whispered breathlessly against her lips.

  “Shhhh,” she whispered, afraid that their moment would end. “Please.”

  Parker slammed his mouth against hers once more, his kiss almost consuming her completely. Alice felt like the room was spinning and she was about to spin out of control.

  She reached for the buttons on his shirt, making it clear she wanted this too. Parker broke their kiss as he stared down into her eyes as she undid button after button. When the shirt was open, she slid her hands back up over his perfectly formed body, and pushed the shirt from his shoulders, letting it fall to the ground.

  Parker smiled as he reached for the bottom of her nightdress. He hesitated for a moment, before he lifted it up her body, then pulled if over her head. As he did, his eyes dropped from Alice’s eyes, raking down over her body, taking in every inch of her. As she stood there before him, naked except for a pair of panties, she felt vulnerable, yet desirable.

  “You are beautiful,�
�� Parker breathed out, as he bent down and scooped her up in his arms, before he carried her to the bed. As he set her down on the bed, he climbed over her and brought his lips down to hers once more. As they kissed, Parker’s hands slipped down her body, pulling her closer to him, as he ground his arousal against her.

  Alice could feel how much he wanted her, and it just made her want him more.

  Releasing her mouth from his, Parker began to move down her body, kissing and sucking as he moved. Parker claimed her nipple in his mouth, sucking it and flicking it with his tongue before he gently bit down on it, making Alice cry out with a mixture of pleasure and pain. Releasing it from his mouth, he repeated his action on the other nipple, as Alice cried out once more. She could feel him smile against her soft skin before he continued down her body, kissing and biting as he moved.

  Alice knew where this was going, and it filled her with longing.

  “You really are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen,” Parker breathed against the lace of her panties. He hooked either side with his fingers, then slowly eased them down Alice’s legs. As he did, Alice gripped the bedclothes beneath her, as her entire body seemed to vibrate with excitement.

  She could feel his warm breath wash over her sensitive folds and every muscle in her stomach knotted with longing. Finally, he pressed his mouth to her, gliding his tongue over her sensitive fold. Every movement he made, was slow and deliberate, making her entire body tremble with desire.

  Alice pinched her eyes closed and gave herself to him completely as he pushed her closer and closer to the edge of the abyss.

  Suddenly, he was gone, and Alice cried out, but this time it was with frustration as she longed to feel the closeness once more. She could feel him move above her, and she opened her eyes.

  “Do you know how much I fucking want you?” Parker growled as he stared down into her eyes. “I don’t know what you have done to me, Alice, but I’ve never felt this way before. If I’m honest, my feelings for you, scare me. You have the power to destroy everything that I am.”

  “I don’t want to destroy you, Parker,” Alice whispered. “I just want to love you.”

  Parker stared down at her for a moment, and she knew her words had reached somewhere deep inside him. He claimed her lips once more as he moved between her legs. She watched him as he undid his pants and released his swollen cock. She ran her eyes back up his body until she reached his eyes.

  The moment their eyes met, neither one could hold back no longer. He covered her with his body, as he pressed himself against her.

  With one sharp push, he filled her completely, and Alice cried out at the sudden fullness.

  “Are you okay?” Parker asked as he looked down into her eyes.

  “Ummmhmmm,” Alice replied, unable to form any more words. That made Parker grin, and he never looked sexier than he did right then. Alice knew at that moment; no other man could ever match up to Parker as long she lived.

  Once more Parker claimed her lips as he began to move slowly. Each thrust he made was deliberate and deeper than the one before. Alice closed her eyes and allowed Parker to take her where ever it was he wanted to go. Every single thrust sent her higher and higher. Each movement, making her entire body shake to its core.

  Alice wrapped her arms around him and held on to him like he was the only thing that was stopping her from spinning off the face of the earth.

  “PARKER!” She finally cried out as her orgasm tore through her body, right down to her soul.

  Parker slammed into her a few more times before he too erupted deep inside her. His exhausted body crashed down on top of Alice as they both gasped for air.

  Finally, Parker rolled off her and onto his back, next to her on the bed.

  “Fuck!” he panted breathlessly. “That was…fuck!!”

  Alice glanced over at him as her mind race.

  Does he regret it? She asked herself in her mind. Have I just made the biggest mistake of my life?

  Parker still didn’t speak, as he continued to gasp for air.

  Did I just tell him that I loved him? She thought as a feeling of panic washed over her. YOU FUCKING IDIOT!!

  “Don’t,” Parker said suddenly, surprising Alice.

  “Don’t what?” She asked giving him a questioning look.

  “Don’t let that beautiful brain of yours run wild,” Parker pleaded.

  “I…I’m not,” she replied, surprised that he could read her so easily.

  “Yes you are,” he sighed as he rolled onto his side. He lifted his hand and traced along the skin just above her nose. “When you’re worried, you get this little v, right here.”

  “I do?” Alice asked, surprised he would have known such tiny details about her.

  “Yes,” he smiled. “You do. And you have one right now. I don’t want you to regret this. I don’t want you to think that I’m just fucking you because I’m upset or that I think it was a mistake. This was no mistake: and this was not just fucking; it was so much more. It was perfect. You are perfect.”

  “I am? Alice asked as her face flushed with embarrassment.

  “You know you are,” Parker smiled. “You have to know how I feel about you, Alice.”

  “What if you change your mind in the morning?” Alice asked, unable to resist the question. “What if you wake up and realise that you made the biggest mistake of your life?”

  “Will you?” Parker asked and smiled.

  “No…but…” Alice began, but Parker stopped her with a kiss.

  “Then neither will I,” he breathed against her lips. “Just give us a chance, Alice.”

  She stared at him for a moment, as so many thoughts ran through her mind. She knew she was playing with fire, but she didn’t care if she got burnt.

  “Okay,” she whispered.

  “Okay!” He repeated as a huge smile filled his face before he claimed her mouth once more.

  Chapter 23

  Parker

  Parker woke up slowly; his head felt foggy and so heavy. As the fog of sleep began to clear, the memories of the night before came crashing into his head. Memories of what had happened with his father, and more importantly, his night with Alice.

  As flashes of them together filled his mind, her body shaking with pleasure beneath his, how she cried out his name each time he brought her to orgasm, he could feel his arousal spring to life once more.

  What the hell has this girl done to you? He thought to himself as he lay there and stared at the ceiling above. Part of him had believed that once he had been with Alice, the longing he felt in the pit of his stomach would have somehow waned, but instead, it was stronger and almost consuming. He wanted her more than he ever had before.

  He turned over slowly in the bed and smiled when he saw the look of complete and utter contentment on her face. It still stunned him as to how he had seen her almost every day for a year, but never actually saw her. She was stunning but more than just in how she looked. Her beauty ran deeper than her perfect face, or her incredible body. She was unlike any girl he had ever met before.

  Unable to resist, he leaned forward and gently pressed his lips to hers. The moment he did, her eyes snapped open, and the look of confusion was quickly replaced with a wide, sleepy smile.

  “Good Morning,” Alice said when Parker slowly parted his lips from hers.

  “Yes, it is,” Parker replied, unable to wipe the smile from his face. “How are you feeling this morning?”

  “Tired,” Alice replied with a shy smile. “But good.”

  “Good,” he replied and leaned up on his elbow. “This bed is surprisingly comfortable.”

  “It is very comfortable,” Alice giggled. “Much better than the one I used to have. Sometimes it was like sleeping on the floor; it was so uncomfortable.”

  “Well, hopefully, you will feel as comfortable in my bed,” Parker said without even thinking.

  “Your bed?” Alice asked, and Parker was a little thrown by the surprise in her voice.

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p; “Well, yes. Of course,” he replied as he gave her a curious look. “Is that a problem?”

  “I…no, I guess not,” she replied as she reached up and began to wind a strand of her hair around her finger. Parker knew this meant she was nervous.

  “Alice,” he said as he sat up in bed fully, and stared down at her. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing!” She insisted with a nervous smile.

  “Yes,” Parker replied as he reached out and took her hand, preventing her from winding her hair around her finger. “There is, and I want you to tell me what you’re worried about.”

  She stared at him for a moment, and Parker knew she was unsure of what she should say. Then she licked her lips; another tell he had come to know. It meant she was unsure of how to say what she was about to say. She coughed to clear her throat, then sat up in bed next to him. As she did, she pulled the blankets closer to her, as if to protect herself.

  “I don’t know what will happen next,” she finally said, dropping her gaze down to the bed.

  “What do you mean, ‘what will happen next’?” Parker asked, totally confused by her comment.

  “With us I mean,” Alice clarified before she continued. “This thing between us… it’s so complicated.”

  “It doesn’t have to be,” Parker replied quickly, worried she was about to end things with them.

  “I married you to help you with your father, and the company,” Alice said, as she finally looked up at Parker. “It was supposed to be simple.”

  “It is simple,” Parker said as he reached out and took her face in his hands. “Well, it is now, anyway.”

  “Do you want me to leave?” Alice asked, stunning Parker with her question.

  “What? No!” Parker exclaimed. “Why the hell would I want that?”

  “Because you didn’t want a wife,” Alice replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You made it clear from the start that this wasn’t going to be a happy ever after…”

  “Things change, Alice,” Parker interrupted her. “I’ve changed. How I feel about you… that’s changed.”