Page 48 of Don't Bait Me (Nora Jacobs 3)

His soft voice is so close to my ear it sends a violent shiver through me.

“I can’t,” I mutter. “I feel like I should be doing something.”

He begins kneading my shoulders. The pressure is heavenly on my tense muscles, and despite the urgency I feel to find the killer, my eyes flutter shut and my body starts to relax. “You can’t do anything more right now,” Parker says, his tone still velvety soft. “You’ll meet up with Oliver’s sister tomorrow afternoon. For now, there’s nothing more to do.”

He stops massaging my shoulders and sweeps my hair to the side. “Let’s watch a movie together,” he says, placing a soft kiss on my neck.

I suck in a gasp and shudder again. My body comes alive all at once, as if Parker’s kiss awakens every individual cell. His touch has always set me on fire like that. My physical reaction to him spurs him on, and he begins trailing his lips up and down the side of my neck, gently kissing and sucking. I lean my head to the side to give him better access, and a soft moan escapes me. Heat pools in my gut below my belly button, and my body starts to ache with physical need.

Desperate to have his mouth on mine, I whirl around and twine my arms around his neck. I only get a glimpse of the heat in his eyes before we crash together with unbridled passion.

Without me noticing, he guides me across the room. I don’t realize we’ve fallen to the couch until I feel his weight press into me. Panic creeps up on me, and I gasp out his name almost as if I’m calling out for help. “Parker!”

Parker lifts himself off me immediately. It helps. I’m able to clear my head and stop the panic from consuming me. But I feel terrible. I’ve ruined the mood. Will I never be able to have a lover? “I’m sorry,” I whisper.

Parker considers me a moment and then stands. He wordlessly holds out his hands to me. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but I let him pull me to my feet. He leads me around the coffee table, then shocks me by pulling me to the floor. He sits down, stretching his legs out in front of him, then pulls me on top of him so that I’m on my knees, straddling his lap.

My fear starts to return, but it’s not the same as it was before. He’s not pinning me down. I don’t feel like I’m being attacked. I’m simply nervous. “Parker, what are—”

“Kiss me, Nora.”

I shake my head frantically, my heart hammering. How did I end up like this? He isn’t expecting me to make love to him right now, is he?

As if he can hear my thoughts—or, more likely, just senses my panic—he says, “You don’t have to do anything else. Just kiss me.”

My mouth goes dry, and my breaths become shallow. I’m not ready for sex, but I’m not ready to stop what we’re doing, either. I’ve never been in this position with a man before. The feel of him beneath me like this is invigorating.

Parker runs his hands over my thighs, lighting me on fire through my jeans. I suck in a sharp breath when his hands slip beneath the hem of my shirt and his fingertips graze my ribs. I shiver at the feel of his fingers on my skin. His hands slide around to my back, and he gently leans me toward him. “Kiss me, Nora.”

I can’t think straight anymore. I’m drowning in sensations. An undercurrent of fear pulses through me, but desire and need trump it. I lower my mouth to his.

Even though he’s beneath me, he takes control of the kiss. It’s slow and sensual. His tongue gently glides against mine in long, slow strokes. My body responds instinctively. I wrap my arms around his neck and press my chest against his. Fire explodes in Parker, and his thoughts change direction from simply needing to kiss me. He becomes conscious of me and of the effect I have on him. He’s wanted this for so long, he’s afraid his lust is going to consume him.

I immediately pull back.

“No,” he rasps. He holds his hands up as if to surrender. “Don’t stop yet.” Slowly, he places his hands palms flat on the floor on either side of him. “I’ll leave them here, and I won’t touch you. You’re in complete control.”

I consider his offer. Rook touched me earlier, and it was okay. More than okay. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to push my limits with the physical intimacy a little. I look at his hands, pasted to the carpet, and find something appealing about the idea of him sitting there while I kiss him, something that makes me curious and gives me hope. I’ve never considered myself a control freak, but maybe it’s like when I initiate hugs—maybe it’ll be easier if I’m in charge of the situation. “Just try it,” Parker urges. “I promise my hands will stay on the floor. You’ll be safe with me.”

Curiosity and desire win out. Heart pounding wildly in my chest, I lean forward and press my lips to his again. I mean for it to be a simple kiss. I just want to test the waters. I want to make sure I’m not going to drug him with my siren’s song and make him crazy. But the second we touch, my body ignites. I smash our mouths together. Parker keeps his hands on the floor, but he leans into the kiss, matching my intensity with his own force. The kiss is desperate, frantic, needy. Both of us starving for this moment.

All thought flies out the window, and we both simply feel. We let our desire take over. Drown in each other’s passion. My hands find their way to his face and then rake through his hair. He moans with pleasure, and I can hear in his thoughts how much he likes me touching him. He wants to touch me, too, but he dutifully keeps his hands at his sides, allowing me to maintain control.It’s torture, he thinks.Heavenly, erotic torture.

Itistorture. I need more. The urge to feel his skin hot against mine overwhelms me, and I quickly undo the buttons on his shirt. I don’t find what I’m looking for and frantically yank at his undershirt.

He helps me out and pulls his shirt over his head, but once his hands are no longer plastered to the floor, he can’t restrain himself. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me tightly against his bare chest. My hands greedily roam over his shoulders and back while his do the same over my sweater. It’s not enough.

I shock us both when I rip my sweater over my head. Parker sits back a few inches. His eyes rake over me, drinking in every detail as if my plain white cotton bra is the sexiest thing he’s ever seen. “You’re beautiful, Nora.”

Shyness suddenly cripples me, and I look away from him, my cheeks flaming. He gently turns my face back to his and kisses me. The kiss is tender. The passion that was consuming us moments before has changed to something softer, something emotional.

Parker pulls me in until our chests are flush against one another. I gasp at the feel of his skin against mine. My instinct is to explode again, but Parker keeps things calm, slowly running his hands over my back and down my arms. He drops his mouth down my neck, scorching my throat with his soft lips. I throw my head back, and he dips his head lower, brushing kisses over the swell of my breasts. His touch is featherlight and has my eyes rolling back in my head. A moan escapes me, stirring his desire again.Perfect, he thinks. She’s absolutely perfect. Damn, I love this woman.

I break away from him with a gasp. Helovesme? As I gape at him, he stares at me in awe. He swallows hard and licks his lips. “Nora…” His voice is rough with emotion and trails off as if he simply has no words for what just happened.

I don’t know what to say, either. I’m not sure if he realizes I heard his thoughts. Heat spreads over my face. I climb off his lap and press the backs of my hands to my flaming cheeks as I attempt to catch my breath. Insecurity washes over me. And guilt. So much guilt. I scramble to put my sweater back on. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that when I can’t promise you anything. I—” My voice gives out, and I take a deep breath. “I care about you, too, Parker. So much. But Oliver…and Rook…I don’t know what to do.”

His face softens into an understanding smile. He takes my hand and looks me straight in the eyes as he softly kisses it. “I’m not going to make you choose.”

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