Page 16 of Just One Bite

Chapter Eleven

Olivia

“Checkmate.” I suppress a grin, staring at the chessboard.

Darien's smirk falters on the other side of the board. His sleeves are pulled up and his hair is out of place, where he's raked his hand through a couple times over the last hour.

The entire common room erupts in cheers.

It took another hour, but Noxx House finally agreed on a group activity. Battling Darien in chess. When he offered the suggestion to the room, I immediately accepted. The alcohol might have aided that rash decision, but Parker’s encouragement was the only protection I needed.

Parker squeezes my shoulder, and his lips touch my ear. “You are brilliant.”

“Let’s go again,” Darien says.

“She beat you. Take the loss.”

Parker shoots me a rakish grin, and it charges me in a way I don’t expect. We’re both athletes, so we must share the competitive draw. I’d almost like to go again to show him I can beat him more than once, but the lateness of the night is creeping into my sore muscles and tired eyes.

“Cherry, make sure you get this in the paper.” Gavin, whom Parker introduced to me before the game, is smiling ear to ear.

“No need for theatrics.” Darien’s expression sours as he leans back in his chair. “I need a drink. ”

“I think theatrics are in order. It’s been months since anyone has challenged you.”

“You should join the chess team.” A girl tugs on my arm.

I don’t have the heart to tell her I don’t have time to play chess and do ballet. There’s only enough room in my brain for the perfection of one hobby. The rest of the house is prepping for the next game while Parker escorts me to the drink table.

“Where did you learn to play like that?” Parker asks.

“Will you crucify me if I tell you it was my father?”

“Before the fall out.”

“Yeah. Before.” Before my mother died. I don’t say the words lingering in my mind.

It’s something I’d rather keep to myself.

Talking about her brings up questions. People ask because they feel obligated, and I answer because if I don’t, I look like I’m not handling it well and people worry.

I like to talk about her when I want to or when someone genuinely wants to hear.

“Give me two minutes! Then I’m all yours.” Parker disappears into the common room when one of his packmates calls. I met a few of them. They mostly poked fun at Parker about finally finding a mate, and Parker took it all on the chin with a smile. He relaxes when they’re around and so do I.

I move into the comfort of the hall, away from the noise to decompress, and text Eva and Emma to see how their house parties are.

Emma sent a message about Luxxia's slideshow night where they all convince each other to watch their favorite movies, and Eva sent a picture of a row of easels and canvases for a paint night in Stelliea. She painted a bouquet of flowers.

It’s getting late, and my body aches for sleep.

“Sorry, I just wanted to tell you how impressive that was.” Gavin has a booming voice that echoes but a presence about him that’s calming.

“Thank you.” A beat passes between us. “I’m glad I got to finally meet Parker’s pack leader. I’m sorry I don’t really know much about pack dynamics. This thing with him is … unexpected. We have this connection I don’t understand.”

I hope that’s enough to explain the timing. Gavin is so stoic I think he’ll catch a lie, so being vague is my best bet.

“How much has he told you?”

“Just that he got to integrate with your pack and he’s happy there.”

Gavin smirks. “He’s a rotten liar. But sweet. ”

“What do you mean?”

“Parker isn’t happy. He can’t be under me. He knows it. I know it. He tries really hard, but he’s stalling I think.”

“Why can’t he be happy?”

His brow bends, likely wondering why Parker hasn’t mentioned it.

“Parker is a natural-born alpha. Alphas can’t be led by other alphas.

More than that, he’s got dominance. It rivals even the greatest leaders on campus.

” He must see the vacant look on my face.

“Dominance is a trait you’re born with that other Weres can sense.

It means nothing if you can’t back it up, but Parker can rival the top packs because he shifts regularly, and he can fight.

They see that when he plays Rage. Plus he's a natural leader, very caring. His friendliness and confidence intimidates people. He’ll be a good match for them when he finally accepts his blood and creates his own pack. ”

“Even you?”

Gavin is one of the largest males I’ve ever seen. He’s tall and wide, and his forearms are the size of my head.

“Ha, yeah, but I won’t let him have the satisfaction of my admission.”

“So why didn’t you hate him when you first saw him? If you felt his … dominance.”

Gavin smiles. “The first time I saw Parker was his first day at Doxlothia. We were running our pack booth. That’s something a lot of packs do to feel for new recruits.

Suddenly everyone goes deadly still. I felt him close.

I thought it was Aster or Barrett. My pack growled, and seconds later, Parker strolled up with this huge corn dog in his hand and said, ‘ Hi, I’m Parker . ’”

Gavin’s laughter is infectious. I can tell he’s told the story many times.

“He had no idea my entire pack was ready to attack him if he got any closer. It was confusing at first because the energy coming off him was so … pure. So raw. Powerful. But then he explained how he didn’t have a pack, how his mom was born an alpha but his dad raised him.

He was clearly lost and had no compass for Were etiquette, and he didn’t know how to feel it. ”

“You have a soft spot for him.”

Gavin doesn’t look at Parker like the others do. Their interactions remind me more of me and my sisters than anything. A combination of annoyance, love, and complete acceptance.

“Parker is a good guy. He’ll accept his alpha blood. He just needs to stop getting in his own way.”

“You said his mom is an alpha.” My attention catches on that bit. Had his mother left when he was young, so that’s why he was raised by his father?

“Was. She died when he was a child.”

“Oh.” I don’t know why I’m shocked. We have a lot of things in common. And the dead mom club isn’t reserved for me and my misery. But I didn’t think we had that in common.

“Shit. I’ve had too much to drink. I should not have said that. Parker doesn’t really talk about his mother, so please let him tell you when he’s ready.”

I force a smile. “I won’t say anything. Thank you for everything. Protecting my sisters won’t be an easy task.”

“You guys talking about me?” Parker strolls in. He’s undone his shirt, so the top of his chest is exposed, and his tie is hanging off his neck haphazardly.

“Just that you should listen to your Alpha more.” Gavin grins at me.

“If I did, I’d be unstoppable. Top student and model citizen even my father could love.” Parker hangs an arm over my shoulder. “Too depressing?”

“I’ll leave you two to your night.” Gavin grins at me and leaves Parker with a pat on the back.

“Olivia.” Parker’s voice is in my ear as he leads me farther into the hall. “Can I ask you something?”

“I think you’re going to ask either way, so get it over with.”

He waits until after another student passes by to lean forward, placing a hand over my head to pin me to the wall.

“Can I touch you now?” he says in a low, sultry voice.

My chest is instantly heavy. Parker’s flirting should not work on me, but his eyes sear me into submission, and I stay comfortably still with my shoulder blades to the wallpaper.

“Touch me … how?”

His lips brush my neck, and I nearly gasp.

“Like this.”

“I …” I can’t think with the heat from his body centimeters from my cheek. “Why?”

I squirm to make sure no one is watching us. He smells like the liquor we were consuming, and he had more than me.

“Is it yes if there’s a reason? ”

His skin touching me burns. It’s so soft it almost hurts. It’s barely there, yet he’s moving like he knows where he wants his lips to go. He’s everywhere, like he’s seeping through the fabric of my clothes, and it’s almost like what I need—

He backs away, then I’m empty and hollow. There’s a loss there I don’t understand and don’t like.

“Yes,” I choke out. “Yes, if there’s a reason. A good one.”

“Oh, there’s a good reason.”

His lips tease mine, then he moves to my jaw. It’s like we’re picking off where we left off in the maze, conveniently forgetting everything else. This is good for our cover. That’s why I let him continue.

It has nothing to do with how hot he is on my cool skin. Or how when he’s near, the part of my brain that’s constantly working overtime just flips off.

Yearning simmers under my skin and hollows out my abdomen, and it’s amplified by Parker’s breath. He understands it all, and every breath I forfeit, he’s there to fill with his own, teasing me at my hairline and ear.

His kiss hits my jaw, then he tilts my chin to gain access to my neck. He’s testing my reaction. First, it’s a kiss. Then he uses his tongue.

I breathe out a strangled whisper. But it’s not a no. Not a protest.

Warm and wet, his tongue caresses toward my ear, and my breathing becomes shallow and my fingernails dig into his arm.

“Relax,” he whispers. “You’re always so tense.”

My shoulders fall from my ears, and I let him lead. The throbbing of my heart travels down my thighs when he groans hungrily.

I wonder his reason. I wonder my own. This doesn’t make sense. Maybe this is about the dream. I have one sex dream about Parker, then he gives me a little attention, and I cave. I like the simplicity of that explanation even if it’s embarrassing.

Parker kisses my lips, and my mind goes blank. His tongue slips in my mouth, and he licks my teeth. I grip his shirt, suddenly desperate to give him a little more.

I shouldn’t be kissing him while no one is around. Because if I’m not kissing him for our cover, it just means I’m kissing him. Still, I let it last, savoring each stroke of his tongue and the smell of his hair when he’s pressed up against me.

I’m floating in the heady air between us when I lay my head back against the wall.

“Stay in my room tonight.” He presses his forehead against mine, and his eyes are glowing yellow in the dim flickering lights of the hallway.

“Are you serious?”

“Yes. Don’t make me beg. You don’t smell enough like me. It’s making me crazy.”

“I’ll think about it.” It’s a terrible idea. I can’t trust myself with him, and this is more than enough proof for me. I don’t allow myself to think about being in his bed. I need actual sleep. It’s been such a long day and—

“I’ve got snacks. Warm bed. Clean sheets. Can we go now? Please?”

“Are you begging me?” I tease.

“You like that idea, don’t you? Me getting on my knees for you.”

He leans back to look at me. Heat pools in my gut, and I swallow. I need to go before my resolve crumbles.

“I have to get up early,” I say, peering down the hall.

He doesn’t care; his lips are at my throat again.

I should tell him to stop, but I like the way it feels when his lips move to my ear, so much so, I let my head fall back.

I like the way he smells, the way his fingers dig into my hips.

When I don’t answer, he moves lower on my collarbone, and I let him.

I don’t know why, but I do know I shouldn’t be in his bed, brushing up against him.

There’s a variable I’m missing that comes into play every time he touches me. It changes everything.

My body jolts when his tongue reaches my collarbone and his kiss turns to a light suction. It’s good. It’s so good.

“Please, Olivia.” He nuzzles into the hollow of my neck. The yearning in his voice makes my heart hammer. “If you’re in my bed all night, you’ll smell like me. That’s the easiest way.”

I sigh, pushing him off me and finally gaining back my sanity. I don’t need to know the other ways. I need to get in my own bed.

“I’ve thought about it. No.”

He pulls back and chuckles in defeat. “Fine, but I’m giving you one of my blazers to wear around campus.”

“It will swallow me.”

“It will be so hot. Please.”

My cheeks heat and I sigh. “Fine.”

He shrugs off his blazer, places it over my shoulders, and walks me to my room. And even long after he leaves me, I still feel him all over me.