Etched in Stone (Six Degrees Series Book 2)

by Statham, Mayra

  The purest dark chocolate staring back at me.

  “Hey,” her voice is raspy with sleep. She lifts a hand and touches my jaw, her hand is small and delicate, and feels so damn good next to my skin. Her eyes look a little worried, “You okay?”

  “Yeah, sorry I woke you up.” I say, her hand is now moving to the side of my face, her body somehow even closer. Wrapping her leg over my hip, she slowly rolls her hip into me and I bite away a groan from escaping my mouth. My dick’s so damn hard it hurts.

  “It’s okay… I kept dreaming a log was poking me,” she says, a shy sleepy smile on her face and I laugh. I like that she can be sexy and funny and make me laugh even when my body is turned the hell on.

  “Sorry…”

  “Shhh,” she places a finger on my lips and I watch her eyes on my mouth. Chocolate eyes, soft and sleepy, as her delicate fingertips trace my mouth, “I wasn’t complaining...just wondering if maybe I can help you out somehow?” She says, biting her lower lip. I lean into her, my mind is made up about what I want. Not that I have a choice. Not when it comes to her. I enjoy her mouth as I kiss her. I love the heat that’s radiating from her body. Her scent makes my mind fog over in lust.

  Our kiss starts off soft and lazy, slowly growing more intense. So intense, that our clothes start to fly off in a blur. Impatient hands tugging off the little each of us is wearing, until our bodies are skin to skin. She feels so damn good! Our bodies waking up next to one another sparks to life the fire that is burning bright between us. In a sleepy daze I lose myself completely to her, in her. In a way that serves to remind me that whatever was going on between us was so much more than sex. Nowhere near as simple as just sex. Whatever had sparked between us when we met is so much more than physical.

  It’s beautiful and delicate. So much so I know I have to handle it with care.

  Unable to process anymore deep thoughts as our bodies become one in a way that reminds me again and again what I have found. What I’m feeling is the real thing, and I didn’t give a shit that I’d just met her.

  Our bodies are slick with sweat, we both come, almost simultaneously. Her cries and whimpers fading into silence. Our heart beats slow. I kiss her forehead right before I tuck her body up next to mine and sleep claims us once again.

  ****

  I should have stayed home.

  I should have stayed cuddled up to Ellie’s warm body. Preferably naked! That’s all I can think about as my morning goes from bad to worse to complete shit. I hated having to leave her cuddled up on my couch, a red blanket thrown over her as she drinks her coffee and goes over e-mails on her phone. One thing I quickly observe is that my angel is an extremely smart and driven businesswoman. Even though she had the entire day off, she still had her hand on the pulse of the shop, and I admire her work ethic.

  I slid out of bed so that I wouldn’t wake her up, and went to shower. That is where the little minx surprised me by sneaking in and we had round three. I’ve always had a high sex drive, but Ellie brought something out in me that made me insatiable. She slipped out after cleaning up, and I stayed in the bathroom to shave and change. When I came out she wasn’t in my bed and I had been looking forward to her being there. I went looking for her and found her in the kitchen, and the beat of my heart picked up at what I saw.

  Smiling shyly, she handed me a cup of coffee and scooted a plate with scrambled eggs, bacon and French toast. She muttered that she hoped I didn’t mind her cooking, and I picked her up, ignoring the food on the counter, her legs wrapped around me and took her to the kitchen table. The table I had made with my own hands and I showed her how much I didn’t mind her cooking for me. I showed her with my face between her sweet thighs until she came, moaning my name. Afterwards we ate at the couch, her snuggled up close to me only wearing one of my white dress shirts.

  Arriving at my office I could tell by the look on my assistant, Joan’s face that it was going to be hectic. Joan had worked for me for the past two years, and she was like a second mom to me. One look at me and she shook her head.

  “I don’t even want to know.” she mumbles and I smile trying to look innocent.

  “What?”

  “You didn’t call in yesterday. I don’t want to know what skank you hooked up with this weekend. One of these days, Parker….”

  “I met her,” I tell her and she looks up from her computer, her eyebrow raised.

  “Who?”

  “The one,” I tell her, her eyes go from wide to narrow. So narrow that it was hard to see the color of her irises.

  “Don’t joke around like that,” she snaps.

  “I’m not. She’s beautiful and wonderful and I need you to do me a favor.” Her expression still completely cynical, as I hand her the list that I forced Liz to write for me, “Take a paid long lunch afterwards but can you head to Target and pick these things up?”

  “Who are they for? Because I swear to you if it is one of your…”

  “She’s not a skank, far from it. She’s a baker and owns her own business. I’m just trying to make her day off a little easier. Please?” I ask her, her face still clearly wondering if I’m blowing smoke up her ass or if I’m being honest. Mumbling something I’m probably glad I didn’t make out, she slips the list into her purse.

  Then she looks up at me skeptically and shakes her head. Taking an obvious deep breath, she hands me a stack of messages. Then she proceeds to tell me that I have an emergency lunch meeting with Robert Montgomery and Tony Garibaldi because they’re having a shit about a new actor and they want to know what I think.

  Tony and Robert are movie producers that I silently invest in. Silent is the key word that they don’t seem to understand. I’m not interested in the day to day, but if rumors are right, Tony and Robert are looking for a third partner and they have their eye on me.

  Walking straight to my desk, I pick up my phone and call Liz’s cell. She picks it up after two rings.

  “Hello, miss me already?” She chimes, a clear smile in her voice, and my body aches to be with her.

  “Yes, I do actually. I have bad news..., I won’t be able to make lunch. My assistant scheduled a lunch meeting and I have to be there.”

  “Oh. Okay. Umm …” she starts to say, sounding uncertain, but I keep talking because I’m afraid she is going to disappear.

  “She’s going to go shopping for you still…”

  “She doesn’t have to do…,”she tries to interrupt.

  “I know she doesn’t. I want her to. I want you to relax at my place, hang out and be there when I get home tonight.”

  “I really should go do my laundry, Parker,” she says softly. I know she has shit to do, but for some reason, I don’t want her to leave my place.

  “I promise it’ll get done.” Looking at my schedule on my computer, I add, “I should be out of here by five, six at the latest. I’ll go home pick you up, we can go get dinner and come back to my place…”

  “Parker,” I close my eyes, my hands stretch out and go into a fist. All she has to do is say my name and my dick gets hard, “I have my own place. I can’t stay…”

  “Yes, you can,” I say adamantly and I can hear her take a deep breath.

  “You know I have to go to work tomorrow right?” she asks, sounding amused. I can almost picture her in my place, rolling her eyes.

  “Yeah.”

  “I wake up early. I have to be in the shop by five.”

  “Okay. Your shops only twenty minutes from my place.” I tell her, feeling pretty smug that I have an answer for it all, even though I haven't thought past today. I just know I want more. I need it.

  “I know, but…”

  “Please. I like sleeping next to you.” I say honestly and I hear her giggle.

  “You like having sex with me.”

  “That too, angel,” I respond and she stays quiet.

  “Okay. But I seriously have to go back to my place tomorrow.” Her voice is soft and I swallow hard.

  “We’ll see.”
I watch Joan walk into my office, her expression clearly still slightly skeptical.

  “Look angel, I have to go, but feel free to use anything in the fridge, make yourself at home, okay?”

  “You’re sure Park? Because…”

  “I’m sure.” I assure her.

  “Okay,” she whispers in a way that shows me that I’ve somehow surprised her and I like that. I like it in a way that boosts my ego, and makes me want to pound on my chest like a Neanderthal.

  “Gotta go,” I tell her.

  “Bye.”

  “Bye.”

  Hanging up the phone, I am mulling something over that I’ve been contemplating since I saw the way Thompson got riled up around her, I look at Joan.

  “Call Tim and tell him I need a full work up on an Elizabeth Del Rio. Tell him to email me with what he needs and I will give him the information I have.” The moment the words come out of my mouth, I double think it, which surprises me. I never double think things. I always go with my gut.

  “Mr. Stone, do you think…,” Joan starts to say and I shake my head looking up at my assistant.

  “Joan.”

  “Right. Your mom is on line three, and you have a client coming in at ten. Your lunch meeting is at Perch. Oh and a Mr. Thompson from Maxwell Financial keeps calling. He said it was urgent.”

  Jake called, interesting.

  “Thanks Joan,” I say and I watch her walk out. I pick up the call that turns my crappy morning, slightly worse.

  LIZ

  Lucy called me and she was as surprised as I felt knowing that I was still at Parker’s house. Deciding it’s time to get my stuff and head home, I asked if she would stop by and pick me up. While I wait for her, I decide to suck it up and call Parker to see how he wants me to close up his place.

  “Hey,” he says and I want to sigh. His voice is rumbly and deep and so extremely hot it makes me shiver.

  “Hey,” I whisper and I know I sound distracted.

  “Everything okay, babe?”

  “Oh yes. Umm… Lucy is coming to pick me up, and I’m going to head home.”

  He doesn’t say anything. It is so quiet, that for a second I think the call has been disconnected.

  “Park?”

  “You’re going home?” He asks sounding slightly agitated.

  “Yeah, I seriously have a ton load of laundry to do.” I start to say, and even as I am saying it, I know it sounds like a lame excuse. I really do have laundry, but I’m leaving because I’m feeling a little too comfortable with him. I need to be smart.

  “Fine, go get your car, bring your laundry to my house.” He says, as if it was the solution that made the most sense.

  “Park…”

  “I want to see you when I get home.” His voice is still in that rumbly tone that reminds me of waking up next to him late last night.

  “Parker, we hardly know one another for us to be…” I start to say but he cuts me off.

  “Angel, please. Take my extra key. It’s in the little silver bowl on the counter by the coffee machine, the one with the Laker’s keychain, lock up and come back,” he says. I bite my lip, extremely tempted to do exactly what he is asking.

  “Par…”

  “Please… Look I like thinking of you at my house right now, and baby, my day’s been crap.” The way he says this makes my chest tighten and I believe he’s being honest and something about that makes me give in.

  “Okay. Fine,” I say, surprising myself. Had I just given in so easily? Who was I?

  “See you tonight, got to go, client just walked in.” He says with a clear smile in his voice before ending the call and I let out a breath I didn’t even know I had been holding.

  Chapter Ten

  Parker

  Parking in my driveway I look at my house.

  Soft lights are shining bright inside, and knowing that Liz is inside makes me smile. What the hell happened to me? Sure I’d seen her several months ago and she’d intrigued me. But I had only really met her Saturday. The last three days, I’ve essentially been playing house with her.

  I know she’s unlike any other woman I’d ever met. But was I ready for this? Did I want this? Shaking my head, thinking that those were thoughts for later, I walk into my house. Soft Latin music is playing from the sound system, and I stand far enough from the kitchen, where I know she doesn’t know I’m here yet.

  I watch her in the kitchen. She’s swaying her hips seductively as she chops veggies at the counter. My body turns on at the sight of her. Just like that, my dick stirs and my hands ache to touch her. Literally ache. The house smells amazing. A hint of sweetness mixed in the air with spiciness.

  I watch as she turns and faces me. Instead of being slightly embarrassed about being caught dancing, she just smiles. Her face goes bright and moves into a whole new level of beautiful. As if she’s smiling with her entire being. Having been around her a few days now, I’m quickly becoming familiar with her smiles and this one was the best, so far. Walking towards me she grabs my hands, and I go with her. I have a feeling she could drag me to the gates of hell and I’d follow her like a lost puppy.

  Once in the kitchen, she hands me a beer and kisses me. It is a slow kiss that builds up fast and hot. Watching her face pull away from mine, her eyes slightly glazed with desire makes me completely hard. Who the hell am I trying to kid, everything that she does, makes me hard.

  “Hi.” She says smiling and fuck it does something to me. Something tells me she isn’t like this with just anyone. That she doesn’t smile the way she’s smiling for me and I fucking love that it’s just for me.

  “Hey. What are you making?” I ask, looking over at the stove.

  “Just a chicken stir-fry.”

  “Smells good.”

  “Good. How was your day?” She asks, as she goes back to the chopping board.

  “Don’t ask. It went from crap knowing we couldn't have lunch then straight to shit… but I’m happy to be home,” I tell her. Home? Shit! Something is tightening in my chest. She makes my place feel like a home? Is it possible after only a couple of days?

  “Good.”

  “Any chance you made dessert?” I ask moving closer to her, hooking my arm around her waist and pulling her to my front.

  “I actually did, just don't get too excited. I used what you had, so I whipped up an easy salted caramel apple pie and some homemade vanilla ice cream. Nothing fancy,” she says, squishing her face making her look adorable.

  “Nothing fancy, huh? Fuck, angel that sounds amazing. I’m going to hop in the shower, I’ll be back.” I tell her, afraid that I if I stay in her space, I’ll end up on my knee proposing to a complete stranger. Caramel apple pie and some homemade vanilla ice cream. Nothing fancy… Fuck!

  “Okay.” She says giving me a small kiss. She swats my ass as I walk away and I look back at her, smiling. Fuck.

  Walking into my bedroom, I see two laundry baskets with clothes neatly folded in them. They mostly consisted of jeans in a variety of shades of blue and black work t-shirts with the familiar logo from her bakery. Right on top of the baskets though is what really catches my attention.

  Hot as hell panties, in different colors and types of materials ranging from lace to silk to cotton. From what I can tell, my angel didn’t prefer one cut from another. Boy shorts, thongs, panties, hipsters, all just there right on top of her laundry basket, almost as if a Victoria's Secret store exploded on top of it.

  I hurry into my shower, grabbing a pair of track pants and a white t-shirt on my way to the bathroom, before she somehow catches me and thinks I’m a pervert staring at her panties.

  Liz

  Once I hear the shower, I go back into the room. Lugging my two baskets of clean clothes outside I load them into my car. Going back inside I check on the food, just in time to watch Parker walk out of his room. His hair is wet and slightly curly, while his strong muscular body is covered in a T-shirt that fits him in a way that makes my mouth water. His long thick legs are covered
in awesome black track pants that have three deep red stripes running down the leg.

  “You ready to eat?” I ask him and he nods.

  Grabbing the plates I served, he walks them over to the table, and I grab us two glasses of iced tea.

  Sitting across from one another we eat and talk. There’s something about being around him that makes it so easy to drop my guard and be me. After dinner, he washes the dishes and I serve our dessert. He loves the pie and we enjoy it as we watch Chris Evans play Captain America. I’m not sure what happens by the end of the movie, because one thing leads to another, and we end up getting very naked on the couch, which in turn makes us very sleepy.

  ****

  I open my eyes. The room is still dark so I glance at the alarm clock, knowing that I have to get up. Parker’s arm tightens around my waist and I turn my head to look at him. With his eyes closed, he kisses my shoulder and just like that I’m turned on.

  “It’s early...sleep.” He mumbles, his voice raspy and groggy, and I smile. We’re spooning in his bed completely naked. His hard warm body pressed tightly behind me. My body aches, in a good way. I don’t want to leave. No really. But even as wonderful as it all feels, I know somehow, some way this is going to blow up in my face.

  Guys like Parker Stone didn’t end up with ex-strippers in the long run.

  “I have to get up, honey.” I whisper and he pulls me even tighter and closer. Skin to skin, I feel myself start to get wet.

  “Okay, angel.” He says holding me even tighter and now his mouth is on my shoulder, quickly making its way to my neck.

  “Parker….” I whisper into the darkness. My voice is breathy, my body is needy, but I have to concentrate, “I really have to get up. I can’t be late today.”

  His forehead moves to my neck, pressing it close, I swallow hard when I hear him breathe in deep as if he’s trying to control himself, but I also wonder if he’s smelling me.

  “Okay.” he says, letting me go. Something in my chest hurts at the thought of him letting me go completely. But looking at the clock I know I have to hurry. I quickly shower and get dressed in my typical faded blue jeans and black t-shirt. After throwing my hair up into a messy ponytail and throwing on my socks and running shoes, I come out of the bathroom.