All Through The Night
"White Knight Christmas"
"Parker..." Lily fidgeted with her hair. "May I ask you something?"
Mesmerized, he watched her delicate fingers as she teased that long loose curl hanging over her shoulder, twining it around and around. He asked, "What?" and was appalled at how hoarse he sounded.
"It's kind of personal."
His gaze shot back to her face. She looked far too serious and alarm bells went off in his beleaguered brain. "This might not be the best time..."
"Why don't you like me?"
Damn it. Her blurted words hung in the air. She looked anxious and young, and Parker wanted to reassure her - then ravage her for about a day and a half.
"Don't be ridiculous." Unable to meet her gaze, he stared down at his plate of food. "Of course I like you."
"But you've never asked me out."
Trying to appear blasé instead of edgy, Parker forked up another big bite of ham. "We're neighbors, Lily. Friends."
She folded both arms onto the table and leaned toward him, giving him a clear shot of her cleavage. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth. Lust churned in his belly. Heat rose.
"I'd like us to be more."
A man didn't get to be his age without meeting plenty of women. He'd liked some, he'd lusted after others. A few he'd really cared about.
But none of them had ever looked at him the way Lily did. None of them had ever sent a jolt to his system that obliterated all thought. More times than he cared to admit, he'd gone to sleep thinking of her, and awakened in the middle of explicit dreams.
"I've tried," she pointed out, as if he might not have noticed all the ways she deliberately provoked him. "But you don't even see me as a woman."
Parker did a double take, and sputtered. "That's just plain stupid."
"Is it?"
Gaze dipping to her breasts, then darting away, Parker snorted. "Trust me, Lily. Your... femaleness , is not something I'd miss."
"Then you must find me unattractive."
He rolled his eyes. She deliberately put him on the spot, but Parker couldn't stop himself from reassuring her. "You have mirrors. You know what you look like." When she remained quiet, just waiting, he huffed out a long breath. "You're beautiful. Okay?"
Pleasure brought color to her cheeks. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"So if you like me and find me attractive, why haven't you asked me out?"
A full frontal attack. And at a time when his defenses were down. Stalling for time, he took another bite of ham. Hell, he was too hungry not to eat. He swallowed, then eyed her with cynicism. "What's this all about?"
Lily pushed out of her seat and began to pace.
Parker again noted her bare feet. She really did have cute, sexy toes.
Turning to face him, she folded her arms under her breasts and drew a deep breath. "I want you."
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