Love beyond the mask ( Whitney )
Chapter 826

Parker had always prided himself on never losing control over a woman before.

Even with his limited experience, his first time had been with Endora at a club three years back.

After that, no other woman had caught his eye.

But now, with Tiana, he felt a fiery passion, his mind constantly replaying fantasies of moments with her!

It was bizarre!

"Look, tell me, are you hiding something from me? Did we...cross a line?" His eyes dark with uncertainty, he ventured a guess.

Thunder rumbled-

Tiana's gaze danced as wildly as her fluttering heart.

If previously, in the car, he had merely harbored suspicions upon seeing Ludwik and Whitney together, this time, he was outright confronting her.

He recalled her naked form after their long, intimate embraces in bed!

Tiana's heart raced, her wrist aching from his grasp, her eyes misting over.

"Why are you avoiding me? Is there really something? Look at me and answer!"

He pressed closer.

Tiana felt suffocated. What should she do? Recollections were surfacing in his mind, and oddly, she felt wronged.

She never wanted to be just another woman he'd slept with then discarded.

But to confess, to come clean, how would he see her? Would he think she had taken advantage of him, harbored ill intentions?

Or could there...could there be a future for them?

Tiana suppressed her breath, but his breath was scorching, drawing her in with a manly scent that made her voice tremble as she dared to meet his gaze, "What if, I mean if something did happen between us, what would you think about it?" "What do you mean?" Parker's lips thinned, his voice hoarse.

"Did something really happen?"

"Answer my question first." Tiana frowned, her question earnest, "If something did happen, how would you feel? Regretful, annoyed, disgusted to have touched the woman once humiliated by your brother, right? You can't explain it to your brother, nor handle the situation with me, would you just avoid me then?"

"You..." Parker's features darkened, his grip tightening on her hands pinned against the wall, his gaze fixating on her pessimistic eyes, a flame igniting within him, "After all these years, is that really what you think of me? Huh? Tiana, do you see me as such an irresponsible jerk?"

"Then how would you handle it? If something did happen, it shouldn't have... could you really be responsible towards me with a fiancée?"

Tiana was skeptical.

Not to mention, his fiancée was none other than Endora from the Melford family, a woman who always had it out for her.

Even if he wanted to, could the Melfords accept her given her complicated past with Barclay?

It was all too complicated between them.

Moreover, she had no clue about Parker's true feelings.

A second, two seconds passed, his lips remained sealed, his expression growing more intense.

Tiana mocked herself inwardly, pulling away with a forced jest, "Your silence says it all. If something did happen, you'd surely regret getting involved with me, a troublemaker. You wouldn't be happy, would you?" "Did I really touch you?" Parker's fingers, now empty, suddenly gripped her waist tightly.

Unexpectedly, her waist felt as fragile as a willow in his grasp.

Memories of that intoxicating sensation flooded his mind, her body yielding to his every demand.

His pupils flared red, his emotions churning darkly, "How do you know I wouldn't be happy? You're not me, Tiana. Don't presume to understand a man's heart."

"I want to review that feeling, see if it's true..."

Parker's voice broke, hoarse with lust overpowering reason, as he captured her cheeks in a hurried kiss, prying her mouth open for a deep, possessive kiss.

"Wait... don't..." Tiana's eyes widened at his imposing figure, momentarily losing all resistance.

The familiar touch of his lips ignited her, her heartbeat racing to a standstill as she trembled in his arms, inciting him further, "Parker, don't be rash..."

"If something did happen between us, revisiting it will confirm it!"

Parker's kisses trailed down her neck, his hands burning trails along her waist.

Just as he seemed ready to engulf her entirely, to claim her in the most primal way, Tiana knew, even with her limited experience, that a man in desperation could say anything, casting aside all reason.

She didn't want this ambiguity, this crossing of lines again and again.

No longer a naive girl, she couldn't let herself be swayed so easily!

Panicking, she began to struggle, withdrawing from his fervent kiss to beat against his solid chest, "Come to your senses, this isn't right... Parker, if you can't be responsible for me, then don't touch me! Even if my reputation is tarnished, my innocence lost, I am still a woman. You can't just take advantage of me like this!"

Thud.

A bottle of body wash crashed to the floor.

Parker winced at the sharp pain on his toe from her stepping on him, his face contorted in anger, barely restraining himself, glaring at her with an explosive mix of frustration, "I asked you for the truth because I wanted to take responsibility. Are you that foolish? If I, Parker, have ever been with a woman, would I stoop so low as to shirk my responsibilities?

You stir me up then deny me, Tiana, isn't that too much? Do you need to be set straight?"

"I didn't... Ah!"

Suddenly lifted off her feet, Parker carried her out and tossed her onto the bed.

Tiana saw the terrifying look in his reddened eyes, his scholarly glasses doing nothing to hide his wildness. She knew of his physical strength and his rough side, his lean, muscular frame harboring untamed power.

Her face flushed with fear, she retreated under the covers, curling up to protect herself, "Don't come any closer, stay away."

"I damn well want to sort you out, but I'm not about to force a woman.

If you're unwilling, then so be it." Parker glared at her frustratedly, still seething, pointing at her with a harsh command, "You stay there. I'm going to take a shower. Listen carefully."

"What... what?" Tiana's face was a picture of confusion, lost for words.

The moment Jack strode into the bathroom, leaving the door purposely ajar, the sound of cold water cascading down soon filled the air, alongside the silhouette of his figure projected onto the frosted glass in an unapologetically revealing manner. Tiana felt her entire face burning with mortification.

How could he!

But then again, Parker was always known for his ruthlessness when he chose to be.

He really could be so shameless, and she had experienced it firsthand. Those three days, he was just that beastly.

Tiana bit her crimson lip, enduring the embarrassment for what felt like an eternity until he finally emerged. The man was drenched, still in his shirt and black trousers, his short hair dripping water over the scholarly charm of his glasses, crafting an image so sensually roguish she found herself unable to look directly at him.