His face softened. “You rescued yourself. I just happened to be there to see it.”
Lynn bit her lip, her hands trembling at the nape of his neck. She still remembered the joy and relief she’d felt when she’d looked down from where she was hanging and saw Parker standing below her. His strength had fueled her, surrounded her, and when she’d let go of the eaves trough and found herself freefalling, there’d been no doubt in her mind that Parker would be there to break her fall.
“I trusted you to catch me,” she said through the emotion clogging her throat. “I knew I could count on you.”
“Always.” His hands rested on her waist, fingers sliding beneath her shirt to graze the bare skin of her hips.
Lynn shivered, leaning in closer, until her breasts were crushed against his solid chest. She pressed her cheek to that rock-hard expanse and whispered into his shirt. “I don’t need time, Parker. I don’t need space. I need you.”
The noise of contentment he made vibrated in her ear. “You forgive me for lying to you?” he said roughly.
She lifted her head, smiled at the uncertainty she saw in his eyes. “I forgive you. So long as you promise to always be honest with me going forward.”
“Always,” he murmured again. His mouth brushed hers in the sweetest of kisses before he pulled away, his expression becoming strained again. “I…aw fuck…I’m a fraud, Lynn.”
She blinked. “What are you talking about?”
His shaky breath fanned over her forehead. “There are so many things I want to say right now. Romantic things. All those flowery words and sentiments I encourage other men to use, but I can’t come up with a single one. I…wanted it to be special when I said it the first time…” Embarrassment flickered in his eyes as he trailed off.
Lynn couldn’t fight a grin. “How about this? No sugarcoating, no flowers and rainbows—just tell me what you feel, Parker Wilson-style.”
His tongue dragged over his bottom lip, the nervous vibes he was emitting transforming into the sensual confidence she was more used to seeing.
“I love you, Lynn. I. Fucking. Love. You.”
Laughter tickled her throat. “That’s my man. To the point. Blunt.”
He stood motionless, as if waiting for something more. Waiting for her to confess she couldn’t live without him. That he was the reason she woke up with a smile in the morning, anticipating what they’d talk about that day. What new things she would learn about herself while learning about him.
Admitting he made her heart beat faster for all the right reasons. The words were right there, ready to explode out.
Only…
A seed of mischief grew rapidly. She kept her face deliberately blank as she patted his chest lightly then turned away, stretching her arms into the air before gawking at her watch. “Oh my, is that really the time? I need to hit the sack.”
She paced down the hallway toward her bedroom. Undoing her buttons as she waited for his reaction.
“Lynn.” It wasn’t a fearful question. It was a demand—a warning, and a delicious shiver raced over her skin.
“Yes, Parker?”
He cleared his throat, which only made her goose bumps double. “Did you forget something?”
“Oops. You’re right.” She spun on the spot, stripping off her top as she turned. She swung the fabric on her finger, as if considering hard. “Another trail to follow?”
She flung the material down the hall, and it landed on the chair beside him. By the time he’d looked back at her, she had her pants off, slipping them over the doorknob to the bathroom. His grin of anticipation grew wider as she backed away, stripping off her clothes under his eager gaze. “You’re trouble, aren’t you?”
“Uh-huh. But I’m your trouble.” Lynn breathed the words out on a sigh as she let her panties fall to the floor of her bedroom. Naked before him.
He swept her up, and suddenly she was naked under him, his fully clothed body pinning her to the bed. The stiff fabric of his jeans rubbed against her thighs and sex, the soft cotton of his shirt abrading her tight nipples as he slipped a hand up her torso. Teasing her skin, making her come alive with desire.
His big palm cupped her cheek, and he rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip. “Let’s try that again. I fucking love you, Lynn Davidson. And now, according to all the rule books I’ve read on romance, you need to say it back to me.”
“Really?” Lynn had his belt undone and his button unsnapped, working frantically between them to free him. “Well, if you’re sure that’s how it works.”
A desperate groan escaped him as she wrapped her fingers around his cock, pulling him from his jeans and guiding him between her legs.
“Lynn, you’re not ready.”