Page 158 of Twisted Needs

For a second, neither of us says anything. Then Parker lets out a low laugh. “Zucchini,” he repeats. “Perfect.”

The sound of his amusement settles some of the frantic energy buzzing beneath my skin. Just enough to keep me from bolting.

I stare down at the comforter, twisting my fingers together. My pulse is loud in my ears. Part of me feels ridiculous. The other part is so aware of Parker standing behind me that I can barely think straight.

The first strike lands. The breath leaves my lungs in a rush.

Before I can react, Parker’s hand is in my hair, his fingers combing gently through the strands. “Good,” he says, his voice calm and steady. “We’re going to count to five, okay?”

The reassurance grounds me more than I want it to.

“One,” I say, my voice unsteady.

A second follows. I squeeze my eyes shut, focusing on the sound of Parker breathing, on the weight of his hand resting against me, on anything except the nervous energy trying to climb its way into my throat. “T-two,” I manage.

“That’s it.”

His praise sends a strange warmth through my chest.

I swallow hard. “Three.”

The room feels impossibly quiet except for our voices. Parker stays close, patient and unwavering, as if he’s watching every reaction, making sure I’m still with him.

“Four.” By now my heart is hammering so hard I’m surprised he can’t hear it.

The final count hangs between us. I draw in a slow breath and let it out. “Five.”

“Good,” Parker murmurs, his hand gliding down my back in a slow, reassuring pass. “That wasn’t so bad, was it?”

I let out a shaky laugh as I push myself upright. The adrenaline is still humming beneath my skin, making everything feel a little too intense. My heart hasn’t quite figured out that it’s allowed to slow down yet.

Parker curls a hand around the back of my neck, his grip firm without being harsh. The gesture immediately pulls my attention back to him. “Did you learn your lesson?”

I tip my head back to look at him. “Yes,” I say. “Yes, Pet’ka.” One of his eyebrows rises. The look alone is enough to make me crack. “What? I did. I learned my lesson, Lovie. I’m a smart boy.”

“You don’t sound convinced.”

Heat crawls up my neck. “I’m sorry I didn’t wear a plug,” I mutter, mellowing a bit.

A laugh slips out of him. The sound does absolutely nothing to help my dignity. “Thank you,” Parker says. I roll my eyes. “You’ll know for next time.” The matter-of-fact certainty in his voice sends an entirely different kind of nervousness through me.

Parker rises from the bed. I watch him for a moment, my stomach twisting itself into knots as he reaches for his belt and slides it free. Every movement is unhurried and deliberate, like he knows exactly what effect he’s having on me. My pulse jumps.

When he finally looks back at me, there’s something certain and unreadable in his expression. “You can get on your knees now.”

I look up at him for a long moment, then laugh. “Dude, I got my degree today.”

He gives me a shit-eating grin. “Anders, I emotionally supported you. I deserve this.”

My eyes widen. “I graduated college a whole year early.”

His expression softens immediately. “But you love me so, so much,” he says, sticking out his bottom lip. I stare at him. Parker blinks innocently. “I shaved…”

“Oh come on! That’s a disgusting thing to do right now.”

I let out a dramatic sigh, I shake my head and slide off the bed. “Yeah, yeah. Congratulations to you, too. Big scholar over here.”

Before I drop to my knees, Parker yanks me by the thong. “I’m gonna take this off,” he murmurs, his voice lowering as he peels the panties off my body. I feel his lips brush over the back of my neck as he slides his hands around to my front and strokes me absentmindedly.