Page 78 of Best Friends for Never

“I remember. You fell about halfway down the trail and skinned your knee so bad that blood was running down into your shoe, but you refused to give up until you saw the Falls.”

“I was awfully determined, huh?”

“You were. But that’s what I’ve always liked about you. Even though you were quiet, you weren’t going to stay that way. You were going to leave your mark no matter what.”

“It’s part of why I like design so much. Sure, I’m designing for other people, but I’m designing for me, too, and I always leave a little piece of me behind.”

“I can see that. Like the waterfall in Rossi Café. That’s notthem. That’syouand what this place means to you.”

“It’s you too. You helped me make it.”

He drags his fingers over my back again, his touch so featherlight that goose bumps spring up over my skin. “I just helped you see it from a different perspective, is all.”

“You’ve always been able to do that, you know. Bring out a different side of me. Make me courageous.”

“Nah. That side has always been there. She just needs a little reassurance sometimes.”

I like the way he talks about me. It’s the same way he always has. Noel has never made me feel less than. He’s never made me feel inadequate or slow or like I wasn’t worth his attention. He’s always lifted meup whenever I was down and done everything he could so I would see my worth as he does.

“You know what else she needs?” he asks.

“What’s that?”

“Kisses.”

Without warning, he swings me over on top of him, his hand going to the back of my head as he pulls me down for a kiss.

It’s hard and searing, and it doesn’t take long until I’m writhing on top of the obvious erection he’s sporting.

“Fuck,” he mutters against my lips. “What have you done to me, Parker?”

I don’t think he’s really looking for an answer, so I don’t give him one. Instead, I roll my hips against him, and he hisses at the contact.

“I swear, you make me feel like a teen again. I’m entirely too fucking close to coming in my swim shorts.”

I giggle. “Sorry,” I say, but I don’t mean it at all.

“You’re not.” He squeezes my hips. “And it’s mean.”

I arch a brow. “Is that so?”

“Hmm. It’s so.” He kisses me. “And I’ve been thinking, and I believe I know how I want you to make it up to me. How you could apologize.”

“Oh, you’ve been thinking, huh? In the last, what? Three seconds?”

“What can I say? I’m quick on my feet.”

I laugh, rolling my hips against him once more. He groans, his grip on me tightening. “What’s my penance?”

“Up.”

I stop moving against him, pulling away to look at him. “What?”

“Crawl up.”

I tip my head, still not understanding.

“Straddle my face, Parker. I want your knees on either side of my head so I can taste your pussy that felt so good around my cock.”

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