Before Now (Sometimes Never 2)

The warm wetness of his tongue is the most incredible feeling in the world. He takes his time, kissing and sucking at my skin as he travels my body. When he gets to my thighs I tense with anticipation. He circles his hands around my hips and brings me down to meet his mouth. I release his name in a strangled cry.

Park’s tongue delves deep inside of me before sliding up and flicking across my center. He nibbles and sucks, gentle and rough. The sensations he’s pulling from my body are almost too much to handle. Delicious heat coils low in my stomach, searing a path straight to my core. I rise up, gliding into the rhythmic caress of his mouth. He makes a noise, his lips vibrating against me and that’s it for me. I knot my fingers into his hair as I shake with ecstasy.

He places one last kiss there and sits back. “This is mine.” His eyes meet mine to verify I understand before his teeth nip at my breast. “This is mine.” He moves to my other breast and flicks his tongue over the nipple. “This is mine.” Next he skims his lips over my mouth. “Mine.” A kiss to my forehead. “Mine.”

Park lies beside me and pulls me onto him. He grips my ass. “And this is mine.” I rub against him and he sucks in a breath. His hands get lost in my hair as he guides me toward him. “All of you. Mine.”

He rolls us and leans over the bed. Taking a condom out of his wallet, he tosses it on the bed beside me, and I smooth my hand over the silky smoothness of his erection. He closes his eyes, enjoying my touch. I love touching him, but I can’t take it anymore. I need to know how it feels to have him inside me.

“Park.” My voice comes out thick, pleading. His eyes meet mine and he holds my gaze in understanding.

“I got you.”

Most people say I love you in this situation, whether they mean it or not. Park’s three words mean so much more to me. They’re a promise for right now. No bullshit about the past or the future. Just this moment in time, he’s taking care of me.

He kisses me softly before positioning the condom. When he moves into me I wrap my legs around him and nearly scream. He starts a slow, smooth motion that has my body begging for more. His hands alternate gripping my hips, caressing my sides, brushing through my hair. His mouth moves from my lips, to my neck, to my breasts. He has this great rhythm that is completely chaotic. An ever changing pattern. It’s such a contradiction and I realize somewhere in the back of my mind—this is Park. A chaotic contradiction.

He draws his lips over my ear as he says my full name. I feel something building inside, growing, rising higher.

“Harder,” I plead breathlessly. He complies immediately. I drag my nails across his back and he growls as he nips my neck. I gasp and drop my legs so I can thrust my hips up to meet his.

Park moans and pushes my hands up beside my head. He interlocks our fingers as he watches me. “Not yet,” he rasps. He frees my hands and pulls my leg over his hip. “I want you to come with me.”

Oh, shit. If he keeps talking like that I’m not going to make it. I whimper as he slips his arm behind my back, causing me to arch into his waiting lips. He brushes them over my chest and then my neck.

“Oh, my God. Park. Please.” I don’t know what I’m begging for. All I know is I can’t take a second more. It’s not possible to feel this good. This euphoric.

“I got you,” he says again as he works his hand between us and his thumb presses down, moving quickly over my sensitive spot. My entire body clenches as I spiral out of control. I cry out his name loudly and he covers my mouth with his. He thrusts into me twice more and shudders with his release.

We’re both panting as he rolls to the side. He pulls me against him and rubs gentle circles into my back. “I just want you to know, if I end up homeless tomorrow—totally worth it.”

***

I don’t know what I was expecting the morning to bring. I guess not much because when I open my eyes and find Park’s large sleeping form beside me, I’m a mix of shocked, excited, nervous, and extremely scared of the happiness overshadowing it all.

He stayed.

I take a shaky breath as I look at his face, peaceful and relaxed in sleep. His lips are parted, his sooty lashes lie on top of sculpted cheek bones, and his dark hair lies untamed from the usual messily styled faux hawk. I want to run my fingers over the tattoo on his arm like I’ve imagined doing since the night I saw it up close in his drunken state. What does it mean to him? I want to trace every black inked line of the words scripted around the dark roses and figure out the significance behind it.

But I don’t.

I’m afraid if I wake him he’ll leave.

There was a lot of big talk in the heat of the moment about belonging to him, but I don’t know how much of that was true.

Every word of it was real for me.

But I can’t be sure about him—no matter how much I want it to be.

I slip out of my bed slowly, careful not to jostle him, and pad softly to the bathroom. I start the shower while I brush my teeth. My whole body blushes pink as I recall the details of the night before. The way Park’s hands felt when he touched me. His lips. His tongue.

I sigh, throwing my toothbrush in the holder before I step into the shower. I pull the curtain and let the spray beat down on my head. Standing here alone under the hot water, I come to terms with the fact that it may crush me if Park takes back what he said.

I want more. A lot more.

I hear the door open and close softly. The shift in the air chills my skin and goose bumps burst across my arms.

My stomach tightens as I peek around the shower curtain. Park’s standing in front of the sink in all his naked gloriousness. He cocks his head to the side and grins at me as my eyes soak up every inch of his body.

“My toothbrush still here?”

I nod, feeling ridiculously shy, which is ludicrous. It’s a little late for that. “In the medicine cabinet.”

He finds it quickly and I can’t help staring at him as he does something as normal as brushing away his morning breath—while he’s naked. His eyes drift over to me and he smirks around the plastic in his mouth. With a shake of his head, he spits into the sink and straightens up.

“Lucy, I’m two seconds away from jumping in there to give you a closer look.”

Before I can respond, there’s a knock at the door and my eyes go wide. Park’s head swings from me to the door and back. Without a word, he pries the shower curtain out of my hand and steps right in front of me.

“Um…” I clear my throat and try again. “Yeah?” I call.

“I need my brush,” Bree yells. “I’m coming in.”

I shake my head at Park, not knowing how to stop her, and then it’s too late.

“Jessie went to pick up donuts,” she says. Park’s looking at me with a devious smile and it takes me a second to respond.

“Oh. Okay,” I say, my voice quivering slightly.

Park takes a small step, pushing his body into mine and I have to cover my gasp with a cough. One dark eyebrow rises and he trails his hands down my sides.

“I told him to get coffee too, so don’t make any.”

“Uh-huh,” I breathe as Park’s hand dips between my legs and his lips brush across my collar bone.

“You all right?” Bree asks, sounding amused.

Park presses me against the cold wall. One of his talented hands grips my breast while the other rubs me before he slips a finger inside. His hot mouth works at my neck and I almost moan my reply.

“Yep,” I squeak. “I’m good.”

Releasing me just long enough to pull my leg up, Park rests my foot on the side of the bathtub. He moves to my lips, sealing his mouth over mine, allowing his tongue to explore.

“Okay,” Bree chuckles. “Just come on down when you’re done in there.”

“Mm-hm,” I mumble into Park’s mouth.

“By the way,” Bree continues, “you left your dress in the living room—along with Park’s shirt.”

Park freezes and I turn my head, my lips skimming his cheek. “Bree,” I begin, but then I stop, not knowing what to say.

She laughs softly. “Don’t worry. My lips are sealed.” The door opens, but before she leaves, she clears her throat. “Treat her right,” she says firmly and we all know she’s talking to Park.

He looks me in the eyes as he answers her. “I’m going to do my best.”

Bree laughs again as her suspicions are confirmed and the door clicks shut. I still don’t move as Park’s words sink in.

20

Park

The expression on Lucy’s face does me in. It’s the combination of her gray eyes, bright with excitement, her delicate brows pulled together in confusion, and her perfect lips parted in appreciation of my vow.

I can see she wants to believe what I say—part of her does—but there’s another piece of her that’s reluctant to trust me.

“I wouldn’t be here right now if I had no intention of trying,” I murmur. “I will strive to do right by you. Don’t doubt me.”

I mean it. Right now, at this moment, I mean every single word.

Her eyes flick over my face before she smiles. My heart kicks up, beating quickly in my chest. She doesn’t say a word. Instead, she pushes her mouth against mine and kisses me hungrily.

I growl, my hands grasping her thighs, and spreading her legs wide. I move into the space I’ve created, letting her feel how much I want her. “Park.” She moans loudly and I can’t wait any longer. I push inside her and she pinches her eyes shut as she clings to me.

“Park,” she sighs and I move quicker, on a mission to keep my name on her lips. Lucy pushes up on her toes, trying to get closer to me. I grip her ass and lift her. As her legs wrap around my hips, I bury myself as deep as I can. She gasps and a small smile forms on her lips. I kiss it because it’s the most perfect thing I’ve ever seen. I want to feel it. Taste it.

Lucy’s fingers are digging into my shoulders and this little pinch of pain turns me on even more. I hammer into her as she pants against my mouth.

“Open your eyes, Lucy. I need you to look at me.” It takes her a moment to comply, but when she does, I’m rewarded with that stormy passion I am all too fond of. “Fucking beautiful.”

She bites down on her lip and I shake my head. “Don’t hold it back.” Her eyes close again as she fights to keep quiet.

“Lucy,” I groan. “Look at me.” As her eyes pop open I feel her clench around me. “Does it feel good?”

She nods quickly, her nails cutting into me.

“Tell me,” I demand.

Shaking her head, her muscles squeeze, tightening around me until I’m ready to explode.

“Tell me, Lucy.” Ah. Fuck. I slam into her hard and her gaze locks onto mine.

“Harder,” she grunts. Jesus. I do what she wants and in return, she gives me exactly what I want. Her head lolls back against the tiled wall and she moans my name loudly as her body quivers around me. I follow her right over the edge, kissing her roughly.

Lucy touches her fingers to her lips and grins at me. “That was…”

“Fucking perfect,” I finish for her.

She nods in agreement. “Fucking perfect.”

I don’t think I’ve ever heard her drop the F-bomb and for some reason, I find it incredibly hot. I press a kiss to her mouth as she slides her legs down to stand.

“I’ll see you downstairs,” I say, my lips still on hers.

She nods, smiling. “Save me a donut.” And then she slaps my ass.

As I wrap a towel around my waist and go to find my clothes, I can’t help the grin that forms. I pause and huff out a surprised laugh.

I’m fucking happy.

***

I walk into the apartment and straight into my room to change. When I’m done, I make my way out to the kitchen, and drop myself into a chair for a donut. I notice Jessie watching me. My gaze flicks to Bree as she dunks a cream stick in her Styrofoam cup of coffee.