When the Music Stops (Mason Brothers Book #2)

Chapter 8

PARKER

We’d made it to Wednesday morning and Jolie hadn’t called to cancel yet and I considered that to be positive. I cleaned my condo this morning and even got the fixings for some sandwiches if she was hungry after our practice. She had sent me a text message ten minutes ago saying she was on her way, so she should be here any minute.

When I kissed her on Sunday night it was completely unplanned, but I just had to do something. If anybody knew how hard I was working to get Jolie to give me the time of day they’d call me crazy and tell me that it was pointless. Something about her drew me to her though. I didn’t just want Jolie, I NEEDED Jolie.

When I heard the doorbell ring I almost ran over in lightning speed to answer it, but then decided I should wait a bit of time so it didn’t seem like I had been standing there waiting for her. I opened the door and she looked right at me and smiled big. She was wearing light blue denim jeans with a red pullover hoodie. Her strawberry-touched hair was pulled up in a messy bun on the top of her head and no make-up. But she still took my breath away. She didn’t need all that other stuff. She was as gorgeous on her comfy days as she was on the days that she dressed up. 

“Are you going to let me in, Park?” She laughed. More time had passed than I thought and it was now more awkward than anything.

“Park? That’s a new one.”

“Well, if I get a nickname, so do you.” She pats my chest as she walks into my place. I shut the door behind her and follow her as she walks through the house and into the attached garage. She puts her stuff down on a table and then hoists herself up on a stool.

“Make yourself at home.”

“Don’t worry, I will.” She throws a smirk in my direction and I feel a knot growing in my chest. She’s so fucking beautiful and everything she does makes something tighten, my heart, my stomach, my jeans.

I needed to get this meeting back on track before I lost my composure. “So what songs did you want to perform? I liked the ones we did at last time we performed.”

“I hadn’t really thought about it much, what are you thinking? You’ve got a knack for this.”

“I think you should sing “1,000 Years,” again. You sounded amazing singing that.” Her voice was soft and soulful the first time she sang it. The song wasn’t the typical bar song, but it worked well in with our set and she killed it.

“Oh man,” Jolie covers her face, “I don’t want to sing by myself!”

“Why not? You know your voice is gorgeous and the crowd totally loved it.”

“You think so? I get so nervous performing alone. It was a lot easier to perform the songs that we sang together.”

“I’ll be right next to you on the guitar. Come on, let’s sing through the chorus.”

I grab one of my guitars and strum a little to make sure everything sounds on key. After a few adjustments, I play through the chorus once, and then the second time through Jolie joins me in singing the words. I’ve played this song at so many shows before, but I’ve never heard it better than when she sings it.

After the chorus, I end up going back to the beginning and playing the song all the way through. I don’t even have to tell her what I’m doing, she can read me and starts from the beginning. My eyes are stuck on her as I watch her effortlessly reach all parts of the range and go through all the runs.

When the song is over I set the guitar down and reach out for her hand. She slides off the stool she’s on and lets me guide her so she’s standing between my legs. I brush back a few stray hairs that fell down over her face and she leans into my body. “That was beautiful, Jolie.”

She shakes her head, “You’re just saying that.”

I put my hand behind her neck and gently pull her down so she’s just barely touching my lips. “I’d never just say something to you. Everything I say, I mean. You hear me?”

She nods and then my lips press against her and she falls even further against my body. I put my other hand behind her neck as well and brush my tongue along the seam of her lips until she opens herself to me.

She grips my shirt tightly with both her hands and I can feel her breath quicken as we kiss harder and deeper. I move my hands down to her ass and grasp ahold of her tight and lift her into my arms as I stand up. She wraps her legs around my waist and I start walking back inside the house, trying to not break the kiss with her, but knowing I have to so I don’t trip all over.

“Mmm Parker…” The way my name sounded coming from her lips was the things that dreams are made of. I finally made it to my bedroom and dropped her down onto the bed and crawled up on top of her.

“Fucking hell, Jolie, you’re so gorgeous.”

Her cheeks turned an adorable shade of red and she grabbed behind my neck and pulled me back down to her to kiss some more. As we made out, her fingers twirled through my messy hair at the base of my neck.

Every time she moaned I just wanted to be buried inside of her. My hand made its way down her sweatshirt and then snaked up under the hoodie and her tank top. I moved my fingers slowly up her warm skin until I hit the base of her bra. I was about ready to remove her sweatshirt when her hand grasps my arm tightly and I freeze.

“Parker, stop.”

Without her consent, I refused to go further. We were in the middle of something hot and heavy and other guys may have pushed to go a bit further, but no meant no, regardless of how far along I was. I rise up to my knees, still between her legs, but giving her some space.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay? I didn’t hurt you or anything, did I?”

When I look up at her, I notice the tears that are beginning to form in her eyes. She’s barely holding on and it kills me that I made her feel this way. “No, it isn’t that Parker. I just. I shouldn’t have done this. I can’t do this.”

She squirms out from under me and bolts out of the room. I stand up quickly and have to readjust myself as my very hard erection was not planning on having to run after a girl right now. When I get back out to the living room I see her coming back in from the garage with her purse.

Although I’m not planning on pushing her further in the bedroom, I don’t want her running away from me without calming down a bit first. I could fix this, at least I hoped that I could. “Hey Jolie, babe, just stop one second you’re freaking me out. Did I do something wrong?”

“It isn’t you, Parker,” she shakes her head furiously. “You’re...Parker, you’re so great.”

“If I’m so great then why are you running away from me?”

“I can’t do this right now, Parker. I’m so sorry, but we can’t do this. I shouldn’t have led you on, please don’t be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad, Red. I’m worried about you. If something is going on you can tell me and I’ll try to fix it.”

She stops abruptly and turns around, putting her hand on my chest. I see the tears clearly now, especially the ones rolling down her cheeks. “You didn’t mess up, Parker. It’s me, I messed up. I shouldn’t have let you kiss me. I shouldn’t have given you mixed signals. I just, I need to go. I’m so sorry. So fucking sorry.”

She touches my face with her hand one more time and she walks out the door leaving me confused as fucking hell. I don’t get why she thinks she messed up. I just wish she’d talk to me. I could feel her want and desire for me. I know she likes me. I just don’t know what it would take for her to give in and trust me.