“Parker. I’ll never finish my ice cream if you keep interrupting.”
He sank his teeth into her earlobe. “You’re taking forever to eat.”
“Good quality vanilla ice cream is nothing to rush.”
Parker hummed happily as he continued to torment her. “I’ve created a monster.”
Lynn made her version of a zombie noise, and he laughed.
She took her time licking the ice cream cone he’d handed her after they entered his apartment. He’d been one hundred percent right about this as well. The simple sweet treat was far more her style than anything listed on the fancy restaurant offering.
Although she had absolutely loved going to the upscale retreat for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The wine, the appetizers, the main course—all fabulous. But it had been his attention that made her feel as if she were a princess in waiting. “Thank you for the amazing dinner.”
His strong features brightened with pleasure. “Did I get it right?”
“Everything. Everything was perfect.” Even the size of the ice cream cone. She popped the final bite in her mouth and licked her fingers clean as he turned her in his arms.
“I’m glad.” He circled his hands lightly over her butt before swooping them up her back and settling her tighter against his body. “You deserve nothing but the best.”
Wow. “You really are being a romantic tonight, aren’t you?”
He played with her zipper, his fingers warm on her nape as he stroked her skin. “Does it bother you?”
“I love all your moods. When you’re possessive, when you’re sweet.” She loved everything about him, if she was willing to confess the complete truth.
They were rapidly approaching a very finite line in the sand, and Lynn wasn’t nearly as afraid to step over as she thought she’d be. “Are you going to undress me?”
Parker released the first couple of inches of her zipper. “How did you get this dress on in the first place?”
“Why do you think I go to yoga?”
He didn’t answer. He was too busy kissing the skin slowly revealed as the sheath slipped from her shoulders to puddle on the floor.
“Jesus, Lynn. No bra? No panties?”
Which meant no waiting as he skimmed his palms up her waist to cup her breasts.
She let him caress her, soaking in the sensations for a minute before slipping from his grasp and going to her knees.
Parker swore softly. “What are you doing, beautiful lady?”
Lynn lifted her chin as she put her hands to his belt buckle. “Something romantic from your wish list. To prove I’ve been listening, too.”
“I have a list?”
She nodded, the leather separating from the buckle and pulling from the loops with a gentle whoosh. She tossed it aside, then paused before undoing his button. “Wait. You need to grab your present first.”
Parker had his fingers tangled in her hair. “I’ve already got my present right here.”
A delicious shiver rolled over her skin. “In my purse. You need to open it. Please?”
It was a reluctant man who stroked her cheek, staring at her as he paced unseeing through the living room to scoop up the teeny silver pouch she’d brought with her for only one reason.
He strode back like his pants were on fire, thrusting the purse at her.
“Open it,” she insisted.
“Hell no. If I’ve had one thing beat into me over the years it’s that a man never, ever, under any circumstances, goes in a woman’s purse. Ask Pepper sometime what she—never mind.”
Lynn shook her head, accepting the purse and pulling out the palm-sized package she’d placed inside. “You’re a nut.”
“You’re naked, kneeling on my floor and you want to give me a present?” Parker held out his hand. “I’m not the crazy one in this room, m’lady.”
He tore open the paper, his amused expression switching to shock, then earnest excitement. He shook the small boxes she’d given him—the small, empty boxes that had held her last two months of birth control pills.
“Does this mean? Can we…?”
“Speechless? Parker, this is so unlike you.”
He tossed the boxes on the couch and joined her on the floor, his arms tugging her to his firm body. “No more condoms? I’m just making sure I understand what you’re saying.”
“No more.” She wiggled, loving the sensation of rubbing her bare skin against his fully clothed body. “We knew before that we were both healthy. But now that we’re protected without—”
He didn’t let her finish. His lips were on hers, and there was no room for words. No need for them either as she pushed his jacket from his shoulders, her fingers on his shirt buttons before the jacket hit the floor.
She’d never experienced that “clothing flew everywhere” thing mentioned in books before, but it was possible.
Who knew?