What's Left of Us Read online

  “I am,” I say, only half joking.

  Parker and I link arms. I see some confused looks out of the corner of my eye as we make our way to the front entrance.

  “Do you think they’re wondering who these old folks are crashing their prom?” Parker jokes.

  “Hey, buddy, the only old person here is you.”

  Stopping, he turns to face me with a stern look. “Are you calling me old?”

  “No, I’d never suggest such a thing.” I giggle at his sad expression.

  “You didn’t think I was too old last night,” he retorts.

  “Oh, no.” I shake my head. “You were definitely not too old last night.”

  We walk through the front entrance and into the large ballroom. Wow. The place has been transformed into a tropical island. Everywhere you look, white twinkle lights set a romantic mood. Lighted palm trees line a handmade walkway that looks like sand and leads to round tables with big red umbrellas that are set up for dinner. There are cabanas along the back of the room, more palm trees bracketing a line of hammocks, and food stations decorated with little tiki carvings for a buffet. On the back wall, large letters spell A Night in Paradise. There have to be at least five hundred people here, students, teachers, and volunteers dancing and mingling.

  “Damn, this blows my prom out of the water,” Parker declares, looking around with a stunned expression.

  Is this what I was missing out on? I ask myself, still gaping at the beautiful room. Ellie Goulding’s “Anything Can Happen” is blaring through the speakers. I love this song.

  “Hey guys!” Genna calls from behind us. Turning, I see her and Jason walking toward us. Genna looks stunning in her long, purple, beaded halter dress. There’s definitely no evidence that she had a baby a few months back.

  “Hey, Genna. This place is—”

  “Something, huh?” she finishes for me.

  “Did the students do this?”

  “Those on the prom committee, along with some teachers and parents. They’ve been working on it all week, but planning for months.”

  “It’s awesome. So, where do you want us? What’s on the agenda?”

  “You two will be in this room with Jason and me. It’s simple, really. We need to make sure the students behave and don’t leave the area except to go to the bathroom. If they do leave, they have to go out the main entrance, and there is no re-entry.”

  “Sounds easy enough,” Parker says, wrapping his arm around my waist.

  “We have a great group of kids here. I doubt there will be any problems.”

  As the night progresses, the four of us spend our time near the dance floor, laughing and chatting about the students.

  “I can’t wait to get you out of this dress,” Parker whispers into my ear as he traces a finger down my neck.

  I look over my shoulder, meeting his passionate gaze. “I mean it, Aundrea. You look so good. Every time you move, that dress just clings tighter to you and all I can think about is getting you out of it.” I love how husky his voice is when he whispers. It’s low and seductive, causing my heart to beat like a drum.

  “Parker,” I say, bashful.

  “Oh, come on beautiful, don’t tell me you can’t wait for me to get inside of you.” Heat washes over me. I glance around the room but no one is paying us any attention.

  “I can’t wait,” I whisper back.

  He gives me a wink before turning his attention back to the students.

  When Josh Groban’s “When You Say You Love Me” comes on, Parker drags me onto the dance floor, moving as close as he can get. It’s our song. We danced to it at our wedding. We spent the entire night on the dance floor. It didn’t matter if the song was slow or fast, we never left, laughing the night away. It was one of the best nights of my life.

  “You made my heart stop tonight, Aundrea. I don’t think I can tell you enough how beautiful you look,” Parker murmurs.

  “You make mine stop at least once a day,” I reply, looking into his eyes.

  “I hope it never stops, beautiful. Ever.”

  As the song comes to an end, he leans down and whispers seductively, “I got a room tonight.”

  Tilting my head to get a better look at him, I mouth, “A room?”

  His lips brush my ear, whiskers lightly tickling my neck. “A hotel. I promise I’ll have you home by curfew … unless you’re feeling naughty.”

  I give him a wicked smirk. “I don’t like to follow the rules.”

  “I didn’t think so.” He kisses my temple and clasps my hand, leading me to the other side of the ballroom.

  He whisks me off the dance floor toward the exit sign, but veers left instead.

  “Where are we going? What about the room?”

  “I’ve been a horrible date and forgot one of the most important things.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Our picture.”

  “I think that’s only for the students, Parker.”

  “Nonsense. It’s our prom. Besides, I promised you a night you wouldn’t forget. That includes a keepsake picture.”

  “I thought making it a night we won’t forget is what the hotel room was for?”

  “Oh, trust me; it will be. But, first things first. Come on.”

  With our fingers intertwined, he takes me to the photo station. Parker wraps his arms around my waist, and my hands come down on top of his. Being here with him and seeing how much he’s trying to give me the prom I never had reminds me of just how lucky I truly am. Not that I’ve ever questioned it, but it shows how he’ll continue to stop at nothing to give me the life I was always meant to have.

  I glance down at the lotus on my wrist. He’s giving me a rebirth.

  The second the school doors close behind us, I scoop Aundrea up in my arms and carry her to the car. She lets out a shriek of surprise, but quickly relaxes. The light wind blows a few strands of hair across her face and I bend down, kissing the top of her head. The scent of her coconut shampoo is intoxicating.

  Genna and Jason come out after us, laughing like two teenagers in love. “Thanks guys! I had so much fun,” Genna yells as they walk away.

  “It was a lot of fun,” I call back. “Thank you.”

  “Yeah, thank you,” Aundrea adds. “Surprisingly, I enjoyed myself.” She looks at me. “Thank you for giving me this. I needed it.”

  “You’re welcome.” I’d give her the world if I could. Looking over toward Genna and Jason, I quip, “If you’ll excuse us, we’re going to be off like a prom dress.” I can’t even get the last word out before I’m laughing at my own immature joke. Hey, I’m reliving my senior year!

  “Parker!” Aundrea playfully swats my shoulder and Jason laughs from across the parking lot.

  “That a guy! Go get ’em!” he says, and whistles. Genna’s faint giggle echoes off the cars.

  “Men,” Aundrea snorts into my chest, and I grin.

  The parking lot is dim and all I hear are passing cars and the distant strains of music from the ballroom.

  “Really, thank you for getting me to come tonight,” Aundrea says softly.

  I think of what’s about to happen.

  “Oh, you’ll be coming, all right.”

  “You seem so confident.” She gives me an I-dare-you look.

  That’s because I am. “Always, babe. Always.”

  Her chin presses into my chest. I can sense her smile. I love that smile.

  At the car, I set her down and help her in, giving her a smile as I cross to the driver’s side. Her hopeful expression makes me determined to make the rest of our night as good as the prom.

  I can feel her eyes on me as I drive. She doesn’t speak right away, but I know she’s contemplating something. A few more seconds go by before I see the tremble in her mouth.

  “Did you really get a hotel room?”

  I knew she’d like the idea. “Of course. It’s prom night after all.” I waggle my eyebrows, which gets a sweet, soft laugh. I love feeling like I’m seventeen a
gain. “Why? Are you saying you can’t wait that long?” I’m not teasing anymore.

  She doesn’t answer. It’s all the confirmation I need.

  I turn the wheel sharply, and her shoulder hits the door. Oops! Maybe I should have planned that move a little better.

  Her laugh falls flat and her face is blank as I pull over. The few cars behind us speed by.

  “Parker, what are you doing?”

  I undo my seatbelt and face her, tucking a curl behind her ear. I put a hand on her inner thigh, just where her skin peeks through the slit in her dress.

  Her breath catches and I grin. I love that sound. Her skin is so soft and I can tell by her rapid breathing and goosebumps that my touch has sent her into a tailspin.

  Her eyes go wide as I move close, our noses nearly touching. I lick my lips. “Do you think you can wait for the hotel?” I whisper. I trace her upper lip with my tongue. “So sweet,” I groan.

  “Parker …”

  My breathing is shallow. “You can’t wait, can you?” I mumble the words against her lips.

  “No.”

  I blindly reach to shut the car off. We’re going to be here a while.

  I am getting harder by the second and can only imagine the pressure that’s building between her thighs. I can sense how much she wants to kiss me, so I back away playfully. I love teasing her. Tempting her. Her moans make me yearn for her.

  “You’re so sexy in this dress, Aundrea. Since I first saw you in it, all I wanted was to get you out. And I will. Soon. But first, I’m going to get a small taste.” I slide my fingers up her thigh and under her dress.

  “Wait, what if we get caught?” Her eyes go wide and shocked.

  “Living on the edge, babe.”

  That’s all she needed to hear. Her legs fall open, giving me all the access I need, and I groan.

  She closes her eyes tightly when I touch her.

  “I’m going to make you feel so good.” I shift in my seat, adjusting myself in my suddenly too-tight pants. I need to be inside of her.

  Soon.

  I lean over her, easing her seat back.

  “Just relax,” I whisper against her mouth.

  She opens her mouth to speak, but closes it right away. She throws her hands around my neck, tugging me closer. I oblige, considering the tight space. This car was not made for making out, much less for sex.

  My mouth is on hers and our tongues join, gliding against each other. She sucks on my bottom lip and bites down gently. She knows it drives me crazy.

  I pull down the top of her dress, and her head falls back as I taste her.

  “Please …”

  “No need to beg, babe. I got you.”

  I ease the thin fabric of her underwear aside and thrust two fingers deep inside of her. She cries out in pleasure and her hips rock as I work my fingers in and out of her, spreading her wetness around.

  “You feel amazing. Slippery and wet.”

  “God, yes.”

  “God isn’t here, honey. It’s just you and me.”

  “Parker.”

  “That’s it. Say it again.”

  “Parker.”

  I rub the swollen bud that screams for my touch and she begins to tremble.

  “Right there, please!”

  I’m practically on top of her and I wiggle to try and find a more comfortable position in this cramped car, but when I realize that isn’t happening, I ignore the small cramp in my side and focus on Aundrea.

  I can see the lights from cars driving by, but I couldn’t care less. It doesn’t matter to me that we’re in the middle of town on the side of the road. The only thing I care about is making Aundrea scream my name.

  Her hips buck against my hand as I ease my fingers back inside of her. Soft and gentle. In and out. I rub my thumb against her, making her cry out, then I move my fingers faster. Her breathing picks up, then she’s shaking, erupting, and tightening around me.

  “That’s it,” I groan, feeling her orgasm.

  I watch her face. Watch her eyes tighten and her lips part as she comes down from her high. I could watch her like this all day.

  “You are so sexy when you come.”

  Her cheeks turn pink and her chest flushes. She covers her face, embarrassed.

  “Don’t hide.” I pull her hands away. “You’re beautiful, Aundrea, and I love that I’m the only one who gets to experience that face. To know that beautiful expression is there because of me.”

  She doesn’t say anything, but her expression turns devilish. A look that lets me knows she’s plotting something sinful.

  “We have a room.”

  Sitting up, she moves with me, pushing against my chest. I climb back into my seat and she puts her seat back up, adjusting her dress as she sits up.

  “I know, but what fun is that when we have right here, right now?”

  “This was only meant to be a quick stop, considering you couldn’t wait.”

  She raises an eyebrow at me. “I don’t think either of us could wait.”

  I groan. She’s making this so difficult on me. I have a mental fight with myself while staring into her damned hazy, love-filled eyes. A part of me wants to take her right here, even though I know it won’t be comfortable for either of us, while the other part wants to wait until we get to the room. After all, that’s where I intended the night to end.

  “Parker?”

  My decision is made when she pulls her dress all the way up to her waist.

  “Hold on!” Reaching out quickly, I stop her. With a hand on either side of her hips, I hold her in place. “As tempting as you are, I have to stop you right there.”

  She gives me a pout.

  “I know, I know.” I trace her bottom lip, lingering there with my finger. Her eyes close at my touch. “I’m seriously kicking myself right now because Lord knows I want to take you right now, but I can’t. I promised you a night you wouldn’t forget, and that includes the big finish.”

  “I thought that’s what we were doing?”

  Taking a deep breath, I count to five. When I know I have a grip on the situation I begin to roll her scrunched dress back down her legs, watching her silky smooth skin disappear.

  “This was only a preview.”

  I don’t think I can get to the hotel fast enough once we’re back on the road. I’m not certain I’ve come to complete stops when I’m supposed to, and I haven’t even considered slowing down at yellow lights. All I can think about is how good she felt beneath my touch, and how I want more.

  The hotel isn’t that far from the Convention Center. Only a few miles. Or, maybe it only seems that close because of the speed I’m driving.

  Finally, we get there. I clasp Aundrea’s hand and make a beeline for the stairway. I can’t take another moment of torture, and waiting for the elevators sounds like exactly that right now.

  “What about checking in?” Aundrea mumbles as I pull her past the front desk, almost stumbling.

  “Already taken care.”

  “When?”

  “Earlier.” I spent the afternoon here getting it set up while Aundrea was with Genna. It’s nothing major, but I figured if we’re doing prom then she should get the whole experience, which includes the romantic hotel room at the end of the perfect night.

  I only let go of her hand long enough to unlock the door.

  “Oh. My. Parker. This is, wow.” Her eyes are wide and her voice quiet.

  I’ve placed pink lotus flowers all around the room. Dozens of battery-operated tea lights form a path along the red and blue carpet, cover the dresser, and illuminate the bed, which is covered in pink petals.

  “You did all this … for me?”

  Of course I did, but she already knows that. I take her hands and pull her inside. I didn’t come here to talk and I know she didn’t either.

  Her lips turn up at the corners as she follows me.

  When I hit the corner of the bed I stumble backward. I brace myself, but not quickly enough. Before I even kn
ow what’s happening, Aundrea pushes me flat on the mattress. I land on a few tea lights and grunt in annoyance, tossing them aside. Well, it seemed like a good idea to put them here at the time.

  Aundrea straddles me.

  I can’t take my eyes off her as she tugs her dress up to her waist. Her hips shift against me and the hard bulge in my pants responds.

  “Is this what you wanted?” she whispers, leaning into me. Her cleavage is pronounced, and my eyes linger there for a few moments.

  My breathing quickens when she slowly taunts me, leaning back slightly and unzipping her dress. I can’t wait another second. I sit up and tug her zipper down forcefully. She lets out a tiny yelp of surprise.

  “You’re all I want.”

  I kiss her neck and her chest, pushing her bra down and cupping her swollen breasts in my hands. Her head falls back, and before long she’s pushing back on her heels. I look up at her, waiting.

  “I think it’s only fair I make you feel good, don’t you think?” she says, giving me a grin that makes me want to lose myself right here.

  Fuck. “Aundrea.” I don’t smile. “Are you insinuating what I think you are?”

  “I don’t know, but if you’re talking about me riding you, you would be correct.”

  Good God! “Jesus, woman.”

  “Jesus isn’t here.” Her face stays serious as she uses my cheesy line and I try hard not to laugh. I can tell she’s trying just as hard, but a small snicker escapes anyway.

  I grin at her, but when she stands and slips out of her clothing all memories of our joke are gone.

  “You have such an amazing body, Aundrea. So sexy,” I murmur, leaning back on my elbows as I watch her.

  As she climbs on top of me, I lie back. She begins slowly grinding her hips into mine, and I get even harder.

  Our lips join and she pulls my zipper down. I suck on her top lip as she rubs me, but my head falls back when her hand slips inside my boxers, taking my hard length into her palm.

  She lightly traces up and down my shaft, setting it free from my clothing. My breathing speeds up with her movements.

  All I can think about is being inside of her and feeling her soft body around me.

  I cup her cheek and hold her head, deepening our kiss. It feels as if flames are leaping between Aundrea’s skin and mine, igniting us.