No Regrets (A Stepbrother New Adult Novella)(17)

She had just settled into a fluffy chair when she heard a knock on the door. With a frown, she opened it.

“Hello, Olivia.” Parker was all business as he said it. He looked around the room behind her.

“What do you want, Parker? I’m busy.” She crossed her arms over her chest. Stay strong. Think about Amelia, and how you felt that morning.

“I came to make sure you were okay, Olivia.” He moved closer to her and she stepped back into the house, allowing him inside.

She knew she had lost the game.

“I’m fine Parker, just like I said.” She turned around and walked into the den, settling into the overstuffed chair and taking a sip of her champagne.

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Where’s your friend, Olivia?” Suddenly, she was tired of playing anymore. Just tell him and get it over with—you can cry later.

“He went back—he had a test in the morning. Besides, it’s not even like that with Drew, Parker. He’s my friend.” She took another sip and watched him relax as he sat down in the chair across from her.

“You could have told me that. And no matter what you may think, he wants to be more than your friend, Olivia.” He stared at her glass. “You might want to take it easy on the bubbly, sweetheart. We both know you don’t hold your alcohol very well.”

She flushed at this blatant reminder of their night together in the pool house. The heat rushed into her face as she stood with both arms at her sides.

“You are the rudest, most arrogant person I have ever met. I’d hoped we could put that entire disastrous night behind us.” She started to pace the room.

“Whoa, wait a second. How am I being rude? I’m not the one who ran off the next morning because she was afraid of what she felt! I came back and you were gone, Olivia! Gone! I tried to get in touch with you, and nothing! How’s that for rude?” He walked toward her with every word.

“What are you talking about, Parker?” she yelled. “I left because that blonde bimbo of yours showed up, and told me all about your rendezvous after you were done with me! She wanted me to pass on a message. I was humiliated, Parker! You don’t know how that feels when someone tosses you away for a better offer, but I do!” She choked on her words and spun around to face away from him. She was unable to stop the tears that spilled down her face, but she wouldn’t let him see them.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Olivia! What—” He stopped suddenly. She heard him swear under his breath. “Olivia, it’s not what you think.” His tone had changed. It was much softer, and his hands were gentle as he lightly grasped her arms.

“I don’t think anything, Parker. I don’t think anything at all.” She sniffed lightly, refusing to allow him to turn her around. She tried so hard not to give in, afraid he would crush her if he didn’t feel the same.

“Well, like it or not, you’re going to listen to me, Olivia. That night…that night was…well, it was hard to not make love to you, to not touch you more than I did. But I didn’t want you to regret it in the morning. So, I stayed the night there beside you. I never went anywhere,” he said, and she finally turned around and met his eyes. His were unwavering, and her heart started to thump loudly with hope. “Let me explain—Amelia, we…well, we used to get together from time to time, and earlier that night she’d invited me to come see her. When I didn’t show up, I guess she found where I’d been, and telling you those things was her way of getting back at me.” He moved closer to Liv. “I know how she thinks, because I think the same way…or, at least I used to.” He smiled gently at Liv, his feelings clear in his eyes. “I stayed with you the whole night, Olivia. The next morning, I went to get you coffee, and then you were gone.”

He cupped her face and saw her tears. “Oh, Olivia. Please don’t do that, I can’t watch you cry like this.” He wiped her tears with his thumbs.

“What did you mean, you didn’t want me to regret it?” Oh God, I’ve been so blind.


“You were drunk. I didn’t want to do it with you when you were drunk.”

“Why? Wouldn’t it have been easier for you that way?” She bit her lip lightly, and he groaned. Hope filled her chest like a living thing, ready to burst out of her skin and claim him as hers.

“Because, Olivia, when I make love to you I want you to be aware of everything I do to you. I don’t want there to be any doubt that you want me, just as much as I want you. Every little moan and whimper you make will be because of what I’m doing to you.”

She swallowed hard at his words. Seconds felt like minutes as they stared at each other, until finally, he swore and crushed his mouth to hers. It was like fire coursing through her veins as he kissed her, nipping and tasting her mouth. He quickly unpinned her hair, letting it tumble around her shoulders. Her need for his touch was equal to his own. Neither of them thought about promises they were breaking; they just wanted each other. He trailed kisses down the column of her throat, and she sighed with each one.

Soon, she felt his hands traveling over her body. Quickly and deftly, he untied her robe, letting it fall to the ground at her feet. She watched him as he shed his clothes. His mouth found hers once more as they moved to the couch. He was hard everywhere, and her hands traveled his body, reveling at each muscle. He pulled away to look down at her.