Everything Changes Read online

  I lowered my eyes nervously again. “I do too.”

  “You know that he couldn’t sleep the night before we left because he knew you were coming?”

  My smile took over. “Yeah?”

  Justin nodded, giving me a familiar wink. “If I had to guess, I’d say he’s in love with, and for Parker that’s rare.”

  Addy found us after that, so I didn’t get a chance to reply.

  Wrapping her arms around Justin’s neck, she smiled into his skin. “Come on, babe, I love this song,” she told him, dragging him towards the makeshift dance floor they had set up by the pool. I silently hoped the sticks fell in and ruined their fake blonde hair. Then I wondered if their tans would wash off. That would improve my mood.

  I was just about to go back inside when I felt two familiar arms wrap around me. I nearly dropped the paper plate in my hand when his warm lips kissed along my neck. “Will you dance with me?” Parker asked, his voice soft.

  I tossed the plate in the garbage can beside us then turned in his arms. His hands dropped to just above my hips, hanging loosely around me.

  I could practically taste him with how close he was, but his lips just hovered above mine, waiting.

  Giving in, I pressed my lips to his, carefully leaning into his embrace.

  Parker’s arms tightened around me before he swayed to the beat of the bass thumping loudly in our ears. The song didn’t last long before it changed, and Parker was once again pulled away by his friends. This time I took comfort in knowing it was another guy, Russ Reynolds. Apparently, Russ was another pro rider. I recognized him as an AMA Supercross rider for Suzuki.

  Parker seemed eager to talk to him but stayed right beside me and even introduced me as his girlfriend. I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I just simply smiled. Girlfriend sounded good to me.

  The worst part was when Russ asked me some questions. Questions I wasn’t prepared for.

  “So, Rowan, keep an eye on him.” Russ smiled. “He needs to be in one piece come November.”

  “Oh, I’m sure I can do that,” I said, thinking I was intelligent or something.

  Parker’s chest shook with laughter beside me. “She does just fine.”

  I wasn’t looking at any one, but the silence was pretty telling. Instead of stopping there, I continued to further embarrass myself. I wished like hell I could have gotten a handle on myself at some point that night, but it never came. I felt like a complete idiot, emotionally and then verbally when I said, “I’ve got many talents.”

  My face must have been bright red, and I was sure the glowing in Parker’s eyes was just a reflection of my cheeks.

  Thankfully, Parker laughed but it was nervous. “That she does.” He winked at me as his arm tightened around my side. I was waiting for Parker to whisper something in my ear like, “Hey, why don’t you go inside and I’ll meet you in there.”

  But he didn’t.

  Russ laughed and looked at Parker again. “You two have a good night.” He shook Parker’s hand. “Lonnie’s been asking about you, so don’t be surprised if he calls.”

  Parker only nodded, his eyes focused in the distance towards the canyon which was lit up by the setting sun. I wanted to ask who Lonnie was and why he’d been asking about Parker, but I didn’t. Instead, a tall, gorgeous blonde caught my attention. And she had Parker’s attention as well.

  “Parker?” she called out in a voice I was sure could have been used for a nine hundred number.

  Parker sort of bowed his head with a smile before looking up at her. “Kayla, wow, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen you.”

  “Oh, it hasn’t been that long.” Kayla giggled, stepping closer.

  Awesome. Fucking awesome.

  To my surprise, Parker’s arm stayed around me for a moment until she leaned in to hug him. His arm dropped from my waist to return the hug with both arms. I had to suppress the twinges of jealously from overtaking me.

  The more they talked about old times, the more I hated her and the more I felt physically sick. Kayla knew him in ways I didn’t. Turns out they had known each other since they were five and spent nearly every day together growing up.

  I ended up excusing myself within minutes of her arrival. He never did introduce me, and that bothered me more than her sultry porn voice and stick figure.

  Even though she knew him, there was a side she didn’t know. At least I hoped she didn’t know it. It was the gentle sweet side I grew to know in Moab. The side I was sure he only let me see.

  Around ten I rested next to Addy as we made fun of the other girls, which was always entertaining for us. She felt the same way towards these girls but more towards Lucy since she was Justin’s ex-girlfriend.

  “Jesus...” Addy gestured towards Kayla with a nod of her head “...if her jeans were any tighter, you could read her lips,” Addy said, slurping her beer.

  I giggled. She always had a way of making me laugh when I didn’t want to.

  Parker found me again after that, but I noticed his slumped posture in my periphery. “You okay?” he asked.

  I could sense his concern and smiled. “Yeah.”

  Returning the smile, he was about to say something when Dusty showed up. I still hadn’t figured out why he hated him so much, just that he did.

  I could see the twitch of Parker’s eye and the tightening of his jaw when Dusty appeared next to us and smiled at me. “Hey, Rowan...” his eyes raked down my body “…you look great.”

  Parker stepped forward. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve always had a standing invitation at this party.” Dusty appeared relaxed, staring intently back at Parker who wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “I didn’t know things had changed.”

  “I think you know when they changed,” Parker challenged, his grip tightening around me.

  “When was that? When you decided you were too good for your friends down south?”

  Justin got between the three of us along with another guy, Colton Neely, who I had never met before but knew him as a GNCC rider. “All right you two…simmer down.” Justin pushed against Parker’s chest as Colton stood in front of Dusty. “Go take a walk or something.”

  Parker looked right past Justin, his eyes narrowing on Dusty. “You’re the reason I have nothing left down south.”

  “Oh spare me your self-pity bullshit, Parker. You just couldn’t cut it any longer.” He laughed. “Unless you want to prove it now,” he hedged, gesturing to the track.

  Oh great.

  I peeked up at Parker, his expression dark and intense. “Fine, let’s see what you’ve got,” he challenged, arching his eyebrow at him.

  Damn, he did have a mean streak.

  “Oh please.” Dusty chuckled, throwing his head back. “I’m not going to embarrass you in front of your girl.”

  Parker’s face looked pissed. “Fuck you, Dusty.”

  Justin pushed against him once more. “Stop it.” He turned towards Dusty. “Leave or I’ll make you leave.”

  Dusty wasn’t afraid of Parker, nor did I think he was afraid of Justin, but he took his advice anyhow and left.

  Standing near the fence with Justin, Parker looked over at me as I kept a distance from their argument. His eyes were sharp and intense before he averted his gaze to the ground. He seemed upset and maybe even a little hurt that every time he tried to have a good time he was interrupted.

  I wasn’t sure if Parker wanted to prove something to himself or whoever, but he and Justin got out their bikes along with Colton and a couple other guys that showed up. They must have played around out there for hours, jumping off rocks and flying through the air some thirty feet up, just having a good time. That was when I realize it had nothing to do with proving himself. That was just what relaxed Parker. He rode. The screaming and rumbling of the bike filled the air along with the faint distinct aroma of the racing gas they used. I too found the sight and sound relaxing.

  Thinking of Parker riding was doing things to my pervy side, esp
ecially the way he threw the bike around and controlled its every movement. Nope, I was thinking of all the riding I wanted to do later. Parker was serious when he said we should take it slow, and we had other than that first night together. Since then, we hadn’t done much but make out. Whenever things progressed, he pulled away.

  When Parker was done on the bike, he rode over to the rock on the other side of the condo where I was leaning, watching him.

  His bike revved a few times before he shut it off and pulled his helmet off, running his left hand through his hair once which made it stand on end.

  “Did you watch?” His eyes twinkled with excitement.

  “Of course I did.”

  He leaned forward capturing my lips. I eagerly sought out his, kissing along the salty curve of his lower lip. I was bold and sucked on it softly before running my tongue across it. He deepened the kiss, and I had no complaints.

  Parker shifted his position forward on the bike and let out a tiny moan into my mouth. That drove me forward. Literally forward, and before I knew it, Parker picked me up and placed me on his bike between him and the handle bars, my ass resting on his gas tank. I straddled the gas tank. My legs found the foot pegs while his remained planted on the ground to keep the bike from falling over.

  I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, leaning as far forward as I could. Our kisses heated rapidly as they always did. The heat from the day may have been fading, but the heat between us wasn’t.

  “I want you,” he whispered against my lips. His hips pushed forward again. This time my legs slid over his hips, allowing him to slip underneath me. In turn, I was now straddling him. My hands found the back of his neck, slick with sweat. Warmth spread throughout me, sending a tingling sensing of anticipation throughout my body. “Every time I got close to you tonight, I thought about this…and you…and us.”

  Thank God we weren’t in plain view of anyone. It would have looked pornographic to say the least. Although, I did wish the sticks were watching. I had half the mind to moan real loud just to call attention to us, but I didn’t. Instead, I enjoyed the time alone in his arms without watchful eyes.

  “You are so pretty, Ro.” His voice was a little husky as his hips shifted once again. This time I moaned when I felt the bulge through his shorts. The friction from his was delightful as his hungry lips searched for any spot of bare skin I had.

  He let out a low laugh that shook his chest when I moaned again, this time he pulled back. “As much as I want to hear those moans get louder…and as much as I want you...” he kissed along my collarbone, his hands grasping the sides of my face “…we can’t do this on my bike. For one, it’s not really safe…and two…well, there are people all around us. I’d rather them not see you naked.”

  Naked? Holy shit! He had plans. Plans I was more than happy finalizing. The excitement running through me was enough to make me lightheaded. Just thinking about it made my stomach tie in knots, my legs tingle, and my insides feel needy and impatient.

  “You want to see me naked?” I vocalized. It seemed I was on a roll with embarrassment. I wasn’t about to stop now.

  Parker quirked a questioning but amused brow at me. “That’s all you picked up from everything I said to you?” He smiled.

  Oh God, that smile. It sent me hurtling over the edge of control every time and was also the only thing that brought me right back.

  I wasn’t sure whether it was the smell of the night air, but I felt such a strong connection with him in that moment. There were about a hundred people around us but all I saw was him—smiling.

  Kayla found us in this awkward position, and I made absolutely no attempt to move. Parker seemed okay with that as well when his hand traced circles along the band of my jean shorts.

  “Hey, Parker, me and Anna were heading out. You wanna join us?”

  “No thanks,” he answered quickly, tightening his grip on me. “I’m fine here.”

  “Suit yourself,” she said, turning away to walk back towards the other sticks. I could see Justin and Addy off in the distance by the pool watching us.

  Parker nudged my knee with his and gave me a crooked smile, shaking his head. “You’re beautiful…they’re superficial.” I knew why he said something like that. Wasn’t that what all men were required to say when they felt their girlfriends were jealous?

  “You don’t have to lie to me.”

  He was looking at me, really looking at me as though he was trying to make me understand. “I would never lie to you.”

  My breaths were slow and deep. The world slowed and I didn’t know what to do or say.

  He seemed to have the same problem.

  It also seemed to take him a moment to find his voice. “You want to take a walk with me? There’s a fireworks display starting soon.”

  My eyes that were once focused on my hands looked up at Parker grinning in front of me, his cheeks flushed.

  I just nodded eagerly. After that teaser and display of skills on his bike, I was ready to show him my own display. Thinking about it sent me into this hot flushed and prickly panic attack. I was panting so much as I removed myself from the bike I sounded like I had just finished ran some marathon.

  His hands caught me just before I was about to throw my leg over the bike to climb down. “Stay, let’s take a ride instead.”

  If he said ride one more time, I was actually going to ride him whether he let me or not. I was done waiting. I was done playing this seventeen-year-old virgin. I had plans. Riding plans.

  So I stayed on his bike, only I moved behind him, clinging to his back as we rode through Arches National Park to find a quiet spot to watch the fireworks. Before we left, Parker grabbed some water and blankets for us along with a few snacks that I carried in a backpack.

  By the time we reached a quiet spot that wasn’t swarming with people, the fireworks were starting.

  When we got off the bike, the sky lit up the canyons with each burst of color. The loud cracks echoed through the town. I smiled watching them when I sensed Parker’s eyes on me.

  He laid the blanket on the ground next to his bike, motioning for me to come near him.

  My heart pounded in my chest so fast it made my entire body hurt. I was sure this was the night we’d finally have sex. And then that just made me prickly and hot all over again. I was sweating like crazy and could barely catch my breath.

  Once I was beside him, it didn’t take long before we were pawing at our clothes, fireworks going off in the distance as my back pressed into the rocky ground. His skin glowed under the light, illuminating just enough so I could see his eyes shining down on me.

  Soon only our shorts were left, and I was working on that quickly. We stared at each other while he removed mine. It was all happening so fast that I was getting nervous. It was like my heart was beating in my toes, and I was dizzy. I could even feel my scalp sweating.

  Parker’s gaze broke from mine first as he watched me unzip his shorts, pulling at his belt. It took him a minute, but he got them all the way off and tossed them next to mine in front of his bike which was parked next to us. I could smell the gas along with the burning of the fireworks mixing with the honey and pine smell of Parker.

  “I’ve never…” he murmured against my hot skin, nudging my legs apart with his knees. Beads of sweat from my scalp ran down my neck. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” He shifted slightly at his admission, his hands trembling. His eyes, oh those eyes, told me with trepidation that we both felt the same in that moment.

  I brought my hands up, running them over his back, feeling the contours of his muscles as he hovered over me. I kept thinking about how jealous I was all day and how silly that seemed now with his gaze fixated on me.

  He moaned into my mouth when my hand reached between us to grasp him. I tensed when he settled between my legs, our skin meeting with no barriers for the first time.

  “Me either,” I finally whispered, looking up at him.

  The desire between us was mutual
, a need that could only be met by this.

  It felt unfamiliar to have him this close, but I took comfort in knowing this was us—perfect. Parker took a deep, shaky breath before reaching for the condom in his shorts beside us. After a moment, he relaxed above me but made no attempt to move or push forward.

  Sometimes my naïve side scared even me, but I knew nothing about sex, aside from what we’d done so far felt wonderful. I also had no idea if this would be the same. Addy said it hurt when she and Justin did it, but then she liked it after the initial shock of it all.

  Parker wasn’t moving, instead it seemed as though he was waiting for me to tell him I was okay with it. I was more than okay with it. Or maybe it was that he didn’t know what he was supposed to do next. I certainly didn’t, but I gathered that we needed to move in some way.

  “Please try…” I whispered against his cheek, kissing along his jaw before finding his lips. He sighed when our lips met, and he pulled my right leg up his hip.

  “Rowan…” he began and then his breath caught as he pushed forward. He seemed to forget what he was about to say. His muscles tensed as did his grip on my leg. His right hand tangled in my hair. I opened my eyes to see him focused on my face watching me, and I managed to reach my hand up and stroke his cheek. We stared at each other letting the sensation of our connection consume us. I’d never felt so alive as I did right then, burning with nerves, excitement, and fear of what this would mean.

  It was clumsy and awkward as we tried to figure out what we actually needed to do, but when we did get it together, we both had entirely different reactions.

  “Jesus,” he moaned, sliding inside me. His stomach muscles flexed and then tightened, arms shaking.

  “Holy shit!” I screamed in a sound that echoed off the boulders around us. My thighs automatically squeezed around his waist, and my back arched as my body recoiled from the contact.

  Like I said, we both had completely different reactions.

  Parker stopped immediately, panicked, and pulled out completely.

  “I’m so sorry, Rowan,” he said frantically. Even in the shadow that concealed his expression, I could see the fear radiating from him. Staying between my legs, I could feel his erection against the inside of my thigh, his body trembling.