Sacked (The Alpha Ballers#2) (3 page)

OK, that’s enough rewind. We now rejoin our program already in progress…

“That’s a good one,” he said, his eyes crinkling with his smile. His voice was deep and rich and warm and I wanted to dive into it and swim forever.

“Why thank you, I pride myself on knowing how to return a greeting.” I closed my eyes and nodded to myself, not an easy feat when your entire being is saying, ‘stare this guy down, memorize what he looks like so we have fantasy material for the rest of your life!’ “It’s not a skill that gets enough credit these days.”

“And well you should, that was better than most I get. A good 8 out of 10, at least.”

I smiled back. “Only 8 of 10?” I looked around and motioned to the masses around us. “Tough crowd tonight.”

“Yeah, you got the hanging judge around here.”

I wrinkled my nose at him. It was tough to even look directly at him he was so blindingly gorgeous. I wondered if it would become easier in time, or would I always have to look at him indirectly, like with a mirror or something. Might still be worth it. “So you’re the hanging judge? Harsh and cold, taking an absurd amount of glee in cutting people down to size?”

He paused, then smiled. “I think you mean the headsman.”

I took a sip of my drink. “Factually correct, I guess.”

“Factually correct is the best kind of correct, I always say.”

I smiled back, saying nothing.

“No, really,” he continued, “my friends are always telling me I say that too often. Also,” those brown eyes nearly ate me up, and I was A-OK with that, “this conversation started out getting a little dark.” He held out his hand. “I’m Parker.”

“Parker? I’m Charlotte.” I took his hand in mine, looking down and marveling at how my hand looked tiny compared to his. “Nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

“Even with only an 8 out of 10 greeting response?”

“We can work on that.” He looked at me hungrily, and while for any other guy that would have me heading for the hills immediately, with Parker it felt almost comfortable. I could tell already that he wasn’t the kind of guy who hid his desires, and I found that so refreshing. Too many guys tried to keep themselves in check, scared that girls would reject them.

Parker, I could tell, didn’t experience rejection very often.

It was then that I realized we were still holding hands. Parker must have realized it at the same time, because both of us stared at our hands together. He smiled and pulled me in a little closer, reaching around my back with his other arm.

“Easier to hear each other this way.”

I took a small sip from my drink. “You’re right. Especially since we have such important diplomatic discussions to get to!”

“The fate of the free world truly is in our hands,” he continued, playing along with my word games expertly, to my delight. This was so rare, to meet a guy who could jump around in a conversation so quickly. I never would have thought I could meet a guy like that at a club. Maybe New England men were better?

“I’m Charlotte,” I whispered, taking in his manly scent as the hulking man took up most of my vision. I got hints of vanilla and sandalwood, two things that made my toes curl in anticipation. Down, girl, you just met him. Don’t get ahead of yourself!

“I know, you said that already. I’m still Parker.” Ugh, I was being so weird. Parker? That was a funny name. His first name was a last name! I giggled.

He furrowed his brow a bit, which somehow managed to be an even sexier look on him than before. “What?”

I couldn’t help but laugh more. “It’s-it’s nothing, I’m sorry.”

Parker stared at me intently, a small smile forming on those perfect lips. “Tell me, Charlotte. Don’t start keeping secrets from me already.”

I pressed my hand against his huge and rippling biceps, barely contained in his tight shirt, as if to push him away, feigning annoyance, but as much as I pushed, his arm barely moved. “I’ll keep secrets if I want to!”

Parker smiled wider and crossed his arms under his mammoth chest, looking down at me with a twinkle in his eyes that made me want to climb all over him, despite us not being alone. How could this man do this to me, make me feel these things, so quickly after meeting him? All he had to do was glance at me, give me even the smallest hint of a smile, and I was already undressing him with my eyes, and lusting over doing it for real.

Is this how men felt when they saw a pretty girl walk by? No wonder!

“I’m waiting,” he said, tapping his foot on the ground like a schoolteacher. “Out with it.”

“It’s nothing, it’s just that you have a last name for a first name, and that always makes me laugh.”

“Would it be funnier if I also had a last name for a last name, or if I had a first name for a last name?”

“I…I hadn’t really thought about that. Gimme a second.” It was then that I noticed that I had never taken my hand off Parker’s arm. I looked at his chest straight on as I thought, my eyes starting to wander downward each time until I pulled myself back up. Ugh, while it was exhilarating going a little wonky over a guy, I didn’t want to come off like a complete dork.

Then Parker’s hand was under my chin, lifting my head up as he came closer, and before I knew it, he was kissing me. I couldn’t help it, I moaned into his kiss, inviting him in, feeling myself collapse into his arms right there on the dance floor. I closed my eyes.

The pounding music disappeared.

The other people disappeared.

Everything else disappeared but Parker and me and our kiss.

It was that amazing. Like everything a girl dreams of a first kiss being, it was all of that rolled into one. And it seemed to just keep going and going.

Our tongues danced together as we learned how our bodies moved together. It was electrifying.

Finally, Parker pulled away, and I opened my eyes again, feeling like it had been hours since I had seen anything. He still smiled at me. “Whoa,” I said, still without complete control of my faculties.

“Whoa? That’s pretty good. I haven’t heard that one before, not in a long time.”

“Shut up, give me a second.” I pushed him again.

He cocked his head to the side and stood up straight, towering over me. Guy must have been a good 6’3” at least. And that short dark hair, those deep brown eyes…wait a second, wasn’t I trying to get control of myself? This was not the way to do so! “You sure do ask for a lot of seconds. So demanding.”

“Jerk.”

“Guilty as charged. Shall I go?” He turned, widening the gap between us, and I could feel the polarity shift, like he really intended to go, and for a second I was worried.

“N-No, don’t go.”

“Had you there for a second, didn’t I?”

“You’re the worst, you know that?”

“The worst how? The worst guy who’s ever kissed you in a club while having a last name for a first name? I just want to know where I’m at, here.” He held up his big arms, moving his hands back and forth like he was trying to gauge the size of something.

I couldn’t help but smile at it, though I wasn’t sure if provoking or encouraging this kind of behavior was a good idea. “Just the worst. You know, in general.”

“Yeah. I’m pretty bad, aren’t I?”

“That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.”

“I’m gonna kiss you again.” He started to move his head forward and down toward mine.

“When?” I asked, tentatively, seeing him stop just in front of my face.

“I dunno yet, I’m thinking about it.” That brow furrowing again, argh, I couldn’t stand it, but it was so gorgeous to see.

“Think faster.” I tapped my foot on the ground but I was sure it was lost in all the sound around us.

“Give me a second, why don’t you? You took all my seconds and I want one of them back.”

“Have I ever told you how much I hate you?”

“Well, that definitely makes me want to kiss you again.”

“When was that, by the way?”

“Right now.”

“You better…” and then our lips met again and the volume on the world turned back down as we came together.

When we finally broke the kiss, Parker looked around. He had noticed the crowd dancing around us for the first time. He looked sheepish for a half second before composing himself. “Shall we dance, then?”

In that moment I did something more bold than I had ever done in my entire life. I don’t know what made me do it, but I had a hunch and I went along with it. To say that I’m glad that I did, in retrospect, is the biggest understatement of all time.

I pulled Parker in close to me so he wouldn’t misunderstand. “How about we get out of here instead?”

If Parker was at all surprised by what I had just said, he didn’t show it, not even for a moment. “Yeah. Let’s do that.”

I, on the other hand, was completely flummoxed. Just who was it that was speaking for me this evening?

Here I was in the middle of a new state on the other end of the country, on my first night, at a club, asking a guy I had just met, a complete stranger who I had just let stick his tongue down my throat, if he wanted to get out of here?

What was I thinking?

I knew what I was thinking just as I asked myself the question. I was thinking that this was all new to me and that I might as well make the most of it. Enjoy myself and throw myself completely into it.
 

Parker took me by the hand, giving me a look that could melt stone, and I followed as he headed toward the exit without delay. It was as if the throngs of people around us parted and let us through, like they knew we had somewhere else important to be.
 

I pulled my phone out of my bag and texted Sandy that I was heading out. She replied almost immediately, telling me she had been watching Parker and I for a few minutes and was jealous as all hell that I had met a guy like that. The way she worded it, it was like she knew who this guy was or something. Just as I was about to ask her what was up Parker and I got outside, and the wind rushed through my hair, and I put my phone away to have a hand free to keep my dress under control.

Parker turned to me outside, shielding me from the wind. “Got any ideas for where we can go?” There was a twinge of hope in his voice.

“My place?” I asked, hesitatingly, again shocked at my own boldness. Who was this new Charlotte? I didn’t know whether I liked her or not yet. “Only thing is, I don’t have a car.” We had come in Sandy’s car, and she was definitely not invited back to my place just yet. Though, to be fair, she lived in the same building.

Parker’s smile was wry and inviting. “We’re in luck. I have a car, but my place isn’t the best for guests.”

I stopped cold. “You’re not married, are you?”

“No, no, nothing like that. It’s just a little complicated, is all.”

I wasn’t about to let a complicated living situation get in the way of a good night with a man who looked suspiciously like the man of my dreams. “We’ll go to my place.” I pulled my phone back out and got the address, which I hadn’t memorized yet, and I showed it to Parker.

He nodded. “I know that area. Let’s go.” He took my hand again, and I realized I didn’t mind it at all when he held it like that. We walked to the parking garage next to the club and a couple minutes later we stopped in front of a sleek, black, sports car. I didn’t know anything about cars, and so I couldn’t name it if my life depended on it, but all I could tell was that it was expensive and looked fast.

Parker took out the keys and unlocked it, the sound ringing out in the quiet parking garage. “Get in,” he said, thrusting his chin toward the passenger side. I nodded and got in, settling back into the cold but incredibly soft leather of the interior. Parker got in the driver’s side and turned the key, bringing the exotic beast to life with a roar that almost made me crane my head around looking for the wild animal chasing us.

Parker noticed my reaction and laughed. “Yeah, it has that effect.” He reached over and took my hand in his again, and stared into my eyes. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you tonight.”

“I know,” I said back, and I meant it. Still, this was so unlike me that I was more than a little hesitant.
 

Parker slid the car out of the parking spot and the garage and we were off into the night. He asked me for the address again and I pulled out my phone and gave it to him, updating Sandy on where we were going at the same time. She asked if I was going to put a sock on the door when we got home and I could feel myself turn crimson, for the first time wondering if this was such a good idea after all.

No, Charlotte, don’t do that to yourself. You’ve come so far, spreading your wings to take a job thousands of miles away from home. Parker seems like a really nice guy, don’t let yourself get in the way of a good thing. Just enjoy yourself for once, rather than try and find reasons not to. If it blows up in your face, well, you’ll be OK. You’ve been through worse.

As if to allay my fears right then and there, Parker took his hand from the shifter in the center of the car and rested it lightly on my leg. It was warm to the touch, and I shuddered involuntarily with how good it made me feel. I couldn’t believe the effect this man had on me, and I barely knew him. He just seemed so…so elementally male that I couldn’t resist. Just looking at him gave me visions of houses and babies and long nights making passionate love to each other.