Denying Mr. Parks (The Parks #1) Read online

  “I thought you came home because of your headache?” Alex pointed out. Shit. What was I to say? And why was he in my flat? Steph frowned whilst Mathew turned his attention back to his monster-sized packet of crisps and the television.

  Mathew was cool and utterly laid-back, and I had no idea how he put up with Steph. He was tall, and Steph called him a bean pole because he towered over her, but his curly hair matched hers. It made him look like a surfer dude.

  I hesitated when I answered. “I…went for a walk. Thought the fresh air would do me good.” I shrugged flippantly so they wouldn’t become suspicious.

  “Why was Parks following you?” he asked.

  Shit. “He wanted to see how I was. That’s all,” I answered coyly.

  Steph didn’t relax her frown, so I looked away from her interrogating eyes and asked Alex about the film.

  “I left halfway through. I was worried about you.” He tapped the side of the sofa next to him, urging me to come sit with him. All eyes, except Mathew’s, were on me, so if I declined I would have looked shifty. I inwardly sighed, dropped my bag off my shoulder, and sat next to Alex. He immediately shimmied up to me and draped an arm around the back of my neck. I tried not to stiffen, but it was so hard. It was indubitable that my body, no matter how hard I tried, would fall cold and stiff when given affectionate contact. I didn’t know how to react to it. I had never received affection from my parents as a child, so I never knew how to deal with it when I had some. And having none made me want it less. Or so I thought.

  That was why I was extremely confused about why my body would allow Parks to touch me like he did without an inch of hesitation. Sure I had sex with men, but that was it: just sex. We never exchanged affection or tender moments.

  I got a feeling that Alex shot over a gesture to Steph that I didn’t quite catch. I did, though, spot her nudging Mathew, and purposely, they both got up to leave me and Alex alone. When Alex was certain they were gone, he shifted to face me.

  “Evey, I wanted to talk to you about…us.” His elated eyes made me feel bad because he looked as happy as Larry, and I didn’t understand why. I hadn’t made him feel happiness. I was a cruel, cold bitch, and I hated myself for it. I knew Alex wanted something I prominently couldn’t give.

  “Us?” I squeaked.

  “Yes. Is there going to be an us? I really want to get to know you more, Evey. I understand you’re a tough girl, but it’s just…I’ve always had feelings for you. I think you know how much I’ve liked you since we were kids.” He was fidgeting, and it annoyed the hell out of me, but I didn’t want to make it worse by telling him to spit the words the hell out. “It’s just…I want to be more than friends. I think we could make a good go of this. What do you say?”

  What could I say? Let him down and hurt him? Or actually try and make a go of it with a man that would do anything for me? I liked him. He didn’t make my stomach flutter, and he didn’t give me that tingly feeling, but then, did it matter? I wouldn’t be happy with Parks. I mean, how could I? He was everything I hated in a man, and he was already making me second-guess myself. He was making me drink because of how much my emotions ran wild around him, and that wasn’t good for me. Alex was good for me.

  I sucked in a deep breath and said something I knew I’d regret, but I wanted to try and lead a normal life. Was it so bad that I was being selfish to spare myself from harm?

  “I guess so,” I finally said.

  Alex was about to react to bad news, but then realised what I’d actually said. “Really?” His eyebrows shot up in surprise.

  “Really.” I was trying to act happy, but my voice was laced with trepidation. He leaned in, and I knew he was about to kiss me, so I braced myself whilst his lips met mine. At first it was awkward; he went the same way as I did.

  “Sorry.” He chuckled. Jesus, was he a man or a boy? When he’d calmed himself down, he leaned in again and kissed my mouth. While he kissed me, I urged myself to feel something. I tried endlessly to prompt some emotion, some arousal, but nothing came. I had never felt hot for someone—until I locked lips with Parks. He was right. Every time I kissed him a flame ignited inside of me that I wanted to keep blown out. As soon as that thought came into my head, the thought of Parks’s lips grazing along my body, I got the chills. I was aroused and thinking of another man whilst kissing Alex, and it was so wrong. I pulled away immediately and held my hand over my lips, jerking a salient reaction from Alex.

  “Was it something I did?”

  The way he always took blame, even though he was utterly blameless, made my heart ache for him. “No,” I said quickly. “Let’s take it slow.”

  He nodded in agreement. “Slow.”

  Chapter Eleven

  It was Monday morning, and I ran up the steps to get inside the cream-coloured, solid-looking building that was London Crown Court. Clarke told me to be there at nine o’clock sharp, and it was ten past nine. I wasn’t too late, and his case wasn’t until ten thirty, so I wouldn’t be in too much trouble.

  I was lugging a briefcase of important files that I almost left on the train on my way there. As I walked through the metal detectors, I forgot to take my bag off my shoulder, causing the sensors to run wild. I apologized and walked back through to place my belongings in the tray beside me. I thought it was strange because I had nothing metal in my handbag. I made small talk with Melvin and Roger, the court security guards, as they rifled quickly through my bag and saw Roger smirk slightly, which was odd.

  “All done, Evey.” He handed me back my belongings, and I thanked him, hitched my bag back onto my shoulder, and dragged my briefcase along. I got a text on my way to meet Clarke, so I quickly read it before heading into the courtroom.

  Alex: Look at the surprise I left in your bag.

  I frowned in bewilderment, and intrigued, I unzipped my bag and took a quick look inside. While rummaging around, I found what undoubtedly set off the metal sensors. I quickly shut my bag back up in case anyone had spotted the object, then snatched my smartphone to text Alex back.

  Handcuffs?

  I was mortified because the security men had seen them. I now realised what Roger had smirked at. I could have killed Alex.

  Alex: Mathew mentioned that Steph said you liked role-play. Want to play? I have the uniform.

  What the fuck? They were all insane. Never in my life had I acted out sexual role-play, and the thought of Alex even suggesting it made me cringe. What the hell was he going to tell his boss when he had to explain the loss of a set of handcuffs? I even had the keys.

  Oh Christ.

  I got myself together and decided Alex would have to wait for my reply, or maybe I wouldn’t give him one. What the hell was he trying to prove? We hadn’t even slept together at that point, and he was already suggesting role-play?

  I had to discard the deplorable thought from my mind and get into work mode.

  Clarke’s case was adjourned for another three weeks, and as we got off early we went for an early lunch at Bumpkin in Chelsea. After that I decided to go for a swim. I knew it would help clear my mind. Clear it of things like Parks, my mum’s return, and Alex’s role-play suggestion. Christ.

  I zoned out whilst I swam. It was a hobby my AA councillor had suggested to me. She said it would give my brain a chance to reach the problems my mind was holding and try to create solutions. It also allowed me to be alone. Away from people. Away from work, emails, and text messages. Sometimes I preferred to be alone. But then, I was my own worst enemy, so sometimes being by myself would cause neglectful damage.

  After fifteen straight lengths, I stopped and held on to the side of the pool to catch my breath. That was until my eyes came into contact with expensive, black, wing-tipped shoes. My heart sank at the sight of them. I knew only one person who wore shoes like that. With that in mind, I closed my eyes briefly to get ready for what I was about to get burnt with before letting my gaze easily drift up the sight of black-belted, fitted suit trousers, an equally fitted dark grey sh
irt, and black tie. He had his hands casually tucked into his pockets, and I could see his expensive gold watch. When our gazes met, he was watching me studiously, which made me wonder how long he’d actually been standing there. I groaned at the thought of him watching me and made quick work of climbing out of the pool, fully aware of his eyes on my body. I couldn’t continue my swim whilst being stalked. I had no idea why he was here in the first place, and I didn’t want to stick around to find out, either.

  “Evelyn, your choice of swimwear never does fail to make me hard. I am, though, extremely appreciative that you don’t choose more revealing swimming costumes. The eyes of another man never stray far from a beautiful woman.”

  I pulled a towel from the side of the pool and swiftly wrapped it around myself. “Like yours, you mean?”

  He shrugged nonchalantly. “I missed you at work today, what can I say?”

  I made a disgusted face. “I think I may have to start thinking of somewhere else to swim.”

  His lips twitched with humour. “Oh? I don’t think that will be necessary. You’re more than welcome to use the facilities WParks has to offer.”

  I laughed contemptuously. “Now I know you’re not talking about the pool.” I was about to walk around him and make for the direction of the changing rooms, but he stood firmly in my way.

  “I’m talking about all my facilities, Evelyn. When you give in, that is.”

  “When isn’t the appropriate word, Parks.”

  “Then let me rephrase. Now?”

  I gritted my teeth and moved my head forwards in defiance. “Never,” I barked, then skirted him. My eagerness to get into the ladies’ changing rooms heightened from knowing he couldn’t follow me inside. Oh, but I was proved wrong.

  I gasped. “You can’t come in here.”

  “I can do what I like. I think you’ll find this hotel belongs to me.” He was being cocky as he strode in after me and grinned in that way that could melt a woman.

  I remained solid. “Well I don’t.” I tried to lock myself in a cubicle, but he forced his way inside after me.

  “Then you know very little.” He pushed me into the door and locked it before crashing his lips into mine. I let go of my towel, letting it drop around my feet as I tried to push him off, but there was no point it resisting. One, because he was too strong for me, too powerful; and two, because I wanted to devour the taste of his lips. I wanted him circling my mouth aggressively with his tongue like he did. I wanted to sate the ache and the emptiness I felt when he wasn’t kissing me, touching me. Every time I thought about what he could do for my body I suspired for more.

  Our kissing became harsh. It was almost like a bet to see who could use the most force, who could be the most brutal. Brutal, but oh so hot.

  “I need to be inside you, Evelyn.” His voice was gruff, surging tenacity. Yes, I denied him, but those raspy words awakened nerve endings I thought were non-existent. Keeping his tongue madly entwined with mine, he deftly moved one hand underneath my wet arse and picked me up, then held me firmly against the door with a harsh push of his hips. Instinctively, I wrapped my legs around his lean waist, slid my arms around his neck, and forced back moans of delight from how masterfully his mouth controlled every part of mine; from how extraordinary his erection felt as he pushed against the convulsion between my thighs. We were both panting, both gasping for air, but neither wanted to relent. I had never been kissed the way he kissed me, and neither had I given a kiss like the one I was presenting to Parks. He was hungry for me, and his craving went beyond the pang of appetite. The outcome would be formidable if I allowed him to take the reins of my mind, of my body. I knew that.

  I moved my mouth away from his, but he latched his lips straight on to my neck. He nibbled and teased my skin with hot, quick, persuading licks and bites until I was panting for him. I was turning into an arousing mess. I had no choice but to groan and moan loudly as the sensations Parks delivered overpowered me. The problem with that was I wanted to overpower my own feelings. I wanted to be in control. There was no way I could lose that power.

  I clutched at his hair and pulled his lips from me. “Stop,” I breathed weakly, wriggling from his grip. When my feet hit the ground, he pinned my wrists above my head with one of his palms. His dark, glossy hair was handsomely dishevelled, and his green eyes oozed carnality. It was like he didn’t just want me but needed me. Really needed me.

  “I never stop when I begin something, Evelyn. I will never stop until the end.”

  “The end of what?” I gasped as he pulled aside the flimsy material covering my modesty with his fingertips.

  “The end of me and you.” He slipped two dexterous fingers inside, and my back arched involuntary off the back of the door. I grasped two clumps of his hair with my fingers as I cried out in rapturous pleasure.

  “The end?” My voice was high-pitched and breathless. “There isn’t even a beginning.”

  “Oh, there is.” He licked into my mouth as he bent his fingers inside me. “It’s already started. Tell me how my fingers feel inside you, Evelyn.”

  “They feel—”

  “So good?” Parks finished off my torpid sentence as my core clenched around his proficient fingers. Even though I was building to a place of intense euphoria, I knew I couldn’t carry on. But telling Parks that wasn’t going to be easy. Neither would telling my body to refuse him. If we had sex, I would be done for, and I wasn’t ready to give up. I had a strategy.

  “Wade,” I breathed, still basking in pleasure.

  He growled against my breast in delight because I’d used his name. “Hmm?”

  I pulled on his hair so he met my eyes as he slid his fingers lazily in and out of my sex. “Let’s go upstairs to your suite. Finish it properly.”

  I had his full attention that time. His words were breathy rasps, and that alone threatened to make me come. “No. I need to have you now. I won’t give you room to change your mind.”

  “I won’t,” I reassured him confidently, but my voice was also weakened from the feeling of his fingers working my core into overdrive. He leaned back to look at me, his mouth leaving my nipple. “You won’t leave me?”

  I swallowed before my answer. “I won’t leave you.”

  “Okay, but first, I need to make you come.” With those husky words, he twirled his fingers inside my sex, crushed his palm against my clit, and I fell into his intoxication. My body drifted in monumental, sexual sensations as I climaxed on a latent cry. “Wade.” My voice was strained, and he was positively contented. It was like watching me come undone from his actions was his reason for living, and my calling his name meant even more.

  He held me tight until my orgasm finished, and when he let me go I quickly shook myself out of the pleasurable trance. Swiping my towel off the floor, I then wrapped it back around myself, impatiently waiting for his exit so I could get dressed. He arched a brow in confusion as he began to straighten out his appearance.

  “You want me to leave?”

  “Duh,” I told him humorously.

  “No chance.”

  He was so infuriating. “Parks, get out. I want some privacy.”

  The shake of his head was quick and uncompromising. “You don’t need privacy around me, Evelyn. I intend to uncover every inch of you.” He shifted forwards to take the towel from my body, but I jumped back.

  “The longer you stand here, the longer you wait.”

  His demeanour showed consuming displeasure, and the familiar clenching of his jaw to show he loathed my rebellion was evident. Eventually, he unlocked the door and left me alone in the cubical. “Hurry up,” he ordered.

  I quickly changed back into my yoga pants and my loose tank top, gathered my belongings and hooded zip-up jacket, and met him in the lobby. I saw him before he saw me. His smartphone was glued to his ear, and he was wearing a concentrated scowl, which was kind of sexy. His immaculate clothes had been creased, and he had wet patches on his shirt, which made me smirk. When I came into his foc
us, his scowl suddenly decreased. His greedy gaze roamed over the sight of me, and he stopped talking, his mouth forming an O.

  “Mr. Pierce, let me get back to you on that.” He ended the call and walked towards me, placing his phone in his shirt pocket. “Evelyn, are you seriously trying to force my suit pants to split?”

  I stared at him, completely clueless about what he meant. He groaned at my uncouthness. “Jesus. How you fail to see how beautiful you are is beyond me. I’m talking about you wearing those yoga pants like a yoga goddess. Your ass is…wow. Come on, I’m going to fuck it.”

  “Fuck it?” I gasped, pretending to be appalled.

  He flashed a smirk and took firm hold of my hand. “Oh yes.”

  We took the lift up to his suite. At the last stop, the doors opened, and he held out his hand to let me pass first. I knew he did that both because of his chivalry rules and to watch my arse pass. A slight animalistic growl behind me confirmed my thoughts. He then threw his chivalry out the window as he grabbed my bum, hard. I jerked forwards at his unexpected, hot action.

  “Fuck. Feel this,” he demanded. He took my hand and pressed my palm onto the rock-hard erection straining against his suit trousers.

  I suppressed my shock with a typical sarcastic comment that would avert something I didn’t want to admit. “Maybe you should think about getting a bigger size.”

  His eyes widened with enjoyment, a ghost of a smirk tugging at his delicious mouth. “I very much doubt they do a bigger size, Evelyn.”

  I sighed dramatically because of his ego and turned away from the door we were about to enter to stare at him in bewilderment. “I have never met anyone with an ego as big as yours.”

  He leaned in, his palm pressed against the door, beside my face. “That’s because you don’t know anyone worthy of a big ego, like I am.”