by J. A. Owenby
“Never,” he said as he brought his mouth down on mine again. My lips parted as I invited him in, and our tongues danced as he walked us toward my room.
“Is Emma home?”
“No, she’s working and then she has a date with Nathan.”
Walker trailed kisses down my neck as he sat me down on my bed. His eyes were heavy with need, but it was more than that. “I love you so much, Lace. You’re sure? You’ll come with me to California?” he asked. A hint of fear flashed in his voice.
“Yes. I’ve never stopped loving you. I just didn’t realize it. I was so scared,” I said. “Everything that’s happened . . .”
“That’s all I needed to hear,” he said as his soft lips brushed mine again.
“Walker?”
“Yeah, babe?”
“I need you,” I whispered.
“You sure?”
“Very.”
“I’ll stop at any minute. You have full control,” he said as he smoothed my hair.
I took his face in my hands and kissed him. His hand cupped the back of my head and then moved gently down my back. I moaned into his mouth as I scooted closer to him. I slid my hand up his shirt and ran my hands over his muscled back.
He tugged at my top, and I sat up long enough for him to slide it over my head. Then I lay down on my back as I gazed into his eyes.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I’ve waited so long to hear you say that again,” he said as he dipped his head between my breasts. He teased my nipples through the thin fabric of my bra with his thumb.
“So beautiful,” he said as he released the front clasp on my bra. My nipples hardened as the cold air brushed against my skin. His tongue flicked across my breast, and then he took me into his mouth. My back arched off the bed as I grabbed the back of his head. His hand moved lightly down my side, and I reached for the top button on his jeans. I flicked it open and unbuttoned his 501s. He moaned as I wrapped my hand around him.
“You feel so good,” I said as I stroked him. “I’ve missed you so much.”
He pulled away long enough to remove his shirt and then he undid my jeans, sliding them down my legs and onto the floor. I sat up on the bed as I pulled his jeans down. He stood in front of me fully erect. I leaned forward and slipped him into my mouth.
“Jesus,” he said as he grabbed my hair.
I ran my tongue along the length of him and then moved my hand in rhythm with my mouth. My nails dug into his ass as he moved with me. I got wetter with each moan he released.
“Babe, you gotta stop,” he panted.
I glanced up at him and smiled.
He reached down to grab a condom out of his wallet. My eyes lingered on him as he rolled it on. He smiled as he leaned over me.
“This needs to go,” he said as he tugged on my G-string.
I lay back and lifted my hips off the bed as he slowly pulled it over my legs.
“I just want to see you,” he whispered as he joined me on the bed. He trailed his finger between my breasts and down my stomach. I sucked in a breath as he continued down my inner thigh.
I reached for him again and wrapped my hand around his erection. I gasped as his thumb moved to my core and then massaged my clit.
“You’re so wet,” he said as he leaned down to kiss me. Our kiss deepened as I rubbed the tip of him. He moaned into my mouth as he massaged me and then eased his finger inside me. I melted against his hand as that sweet sensation built inside me.
His tongue grazed my nipple, and then he took me into his mouth as he gently sucked my breast. I rocked my hips to the rhythm of his hand. I squeezed him as I took my other hand and pulled his finger out of me.
“I need you inside me,” I said.
He paused and searched my face. “If you need to stop—”
“Shh. I’m okay,” I said.
He moved between my legs and lowered himself down. I took him in my hand and guided him to my entrance. I closed my eyes.
“Look at me,” he whispered.
I opened my eyes and focused on his. We held each other’s gaze as he slowly entered me. He began moving, and I sighed as he consumed every part of me. I wrapped my legs around him, the heat between us growing more intense. I leaned up to kiss him as we rocked together. He reached for my arms and moved them above my head, our fingers intertwining.
“I love you so much,” he whispered.
“I love you too.”
I moaned as he picked up the pace, and our bodies melted together as our hearts reconnected. I had loved this man since I’d met him. He’d broken my heart, but then he’d given it back to me again. I never wanted to let him go. I wanted to share everything I had with him—my fear, my love, my strength, and my body. I’d never truly belonged to anyone else.
Walker stopped for a moment and sat on the edge of the bed. He pulled me over to him, and I straddled his lap. I guided him back inside me as he pulled me flush against him. My breasts warmed against his chest as I wrapped my legs around his waist. I rocked against him as he thrust deeper. My body trembled against him as his mouth found mine again. He guided my hips and buried himself inside me.
I threaded my hands through the back of his hair and leaned my forehead against his as he filled me. With each intoxicating move, my heart softened. My walls started to crumble as he kissed and caressed me.
“My heart has always belonged to you,” I whispered. “I’ll never let you go again.”
I bit my lip as I stilled against him.
“Are you okay? What’s the matter?” he asked as he tilted my face toward his.
Tears spilled down my cheeks.
“No, no, it’s okay,” he said as he kissed my cheeks. “It’s okay,” he whispered as he stopped moving. We stayed still for a moment as my emotions overwhelmed me and I tried to collect my words.
“I’m fine,” I said softly. “I just realized that I’m finally home.”
Chapter 34
I’d never loved a weekend more than this one. Walker didn’t have to go back to base until Monday evening. It was the first time I’d willingly slept next to him since before he’d left for Texas. We giggled under the covers and agreed we wouldn’t discuss the move yet. I just wanted a few days to enjoy him again and be happy.
We heard Emma come in around midnight; hopefully she’d had a great evening. We figured we’d surprise her in the morning, and Walker made love to me again before we drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms.
* * *
Walker made breakfast the next morning while I got the coffee started. We laughed quietly as we kissed while he was making the pancake batter. He chuckled as he picked me up and put me on the counter.
“I bet I can get you off before I have to turn this first pancake,” he whispered in my ear.
“Walker!” I said quietly. I gasped as he slid his fingers into my shorts and panties and began massaging me so lightly that I leaned into his hand, signaling him to increase the pressure.
“There’s my baby,” he said and peeked over at the pancake in the pan.
“You can’t do it,” I panted. “It’s gonna burn.”
A mischievous smile spread across his face as he took my clit between his fingers and gave it a gentle pinch.
I gasped as my eyes rolled back in my head. I grabbed his arms as he pinched me again and his hot breath caressed my neck. “I want inside you so bad right now,” he whispered. “I want to fill you up and come with you,” he said with one more light tug on my clit.
I dug my fingernails into him as I exploded against his hand.
“That’s my baby. I love to watch you. I love to make you feel good. I love it so much I almost get off myself,” he whispered.
He slid his hand out of my panties, grabbed the spatula and flipped the pancake. My eyes widened. It was a perfect golden brown.
“Told you,” he said and winked at me.
I flushed a deep red as I realized he’d gotten me off in an incredibly short time.
He chuckled again as he washed his hands in the kitchen sink. I wrinkled my nose. I definitely smelled like sex.
Ten minutes later, Walker had just finished cooking the pancakes when Emma walked into the kitchen.
“Oh! Walker!” she said and grinned.
“Hungry?” Walker said as he pulled the plates down from the kitchen cabinet.
“Starved, but I need some coffee too.”
“Go sit down, I’ll get you some,” I said.
“Well aren’t you being a sweetie this morning,” she said as she walked toward the kitchen table and yawned.
I winked at Walker as I hopped off the counter and filled a cup for Emma. He leaned in and kissed me quickly while she wasn’t looking. I smiled at him as he took the plate of pancakes to the table. I grabbed the butter and syrup as well as Emma’s coffee.
She took a sip and rubbed her eyes.
“How was your night?” I asked.
Her face lit up.
“Great. I think it’s getting serious.”
“Really?” I squealed. “Emma, I’m so happy for you. When is he coming over? I can cook for everyone.”
Walker and Emma responded with silence.
“Seriously? My cooking is that bad?” I asked.
“Your cooking is that bad,” they both responded in unison.
I groaned and glared at them. “Fine, Walker can do the cooking then.”
“Well you can’t just volunteer him,” Emma said. “He has a life, ya know.”
“I’d love to meet him, Emma. Besides, I’ll be around again for a little while,” Walker said.
Emma leaned back in her chair. “Really? You kinda disappeared on us, you know.”
Walker glanced at me, and I nodded. He sat down at the table and reached for my hand. Our fingers intertwined.
Emma’s eyes grew wide as she covered her mouth. “Does this mean? Are you two?”
“Yes. We’re together, but this time for good,” Walker said.
Emma searched my face for confirmation, and I grinned from ear to ear. “It’s true. We are. I’m not letting him go again,” I said.
“Oh my God! I’m so happy for you both. I knew it!” she said and slapped her leg. “I knew you still loved him, Lacey.”
I rolled my eyes as I smiled at her.
“I told you to hang on, Walker,” Emma said. “I told you she was still in love with you. What you two have doesn’t come along very often.” She paused as her expression grew serious. “Don’t either of you screw it up again. Do you understand?”
I tried to hide my smile but failed. “Yes ma’am,” I said. I eyed Walker as a big smile spread across his face and reached his eyes. My heart swelled as I realized his smile was for me. I hadn’t seen that in a long time.
We all sat there with stupid grins on our faces for a moment and then Walker’s stomach growled.
“Dig in,” he said as we all laughed.
* * *
Walker and I cleaned up the kitchen as Emma went into her bedroom to call Nathan. We wanted to plan a night with everyone, and Walker was eager to meet him.
Walker and I crept down the hallway and back into my bedroom. I shut the door and locked it.
“I need a shower. Wanna join me?” I asked and pulled my tank top over my head. Walker’s eyes drifted down to my breasts as my nipples hardened against the air. I put my thumbs into the waistband of my shorts and slowly lowered them down my legs. I stepped out of them as he stood and watched.
“I don’t know what the hell you do to me, Walker,” I whispered as I slid my hand down my stomach and between my legs.
His eyes widened.
“But I can’t get enough of you.”
His jeans bulged as his eyes grew heavy.
“Maybe we should wait on the shower,” I said as I stepped backward until I reached the bed. I sat down and spread my legs apart.
“Take your clothes off,” I whispered.
Walker didn’t hesitate as he removed his clothes and dropped them on the floor, his arousal firm against his stomach. He stepped toward me.
“Nope, stop right there,” I said and smiled mischievously. “I want you to watch,” I said as I leaned back on my elbow and ran my hand between my legs.
Walker moaned as I massaged my clit for him. “My God, you’re so wet,” he whispered. I watched as his hand closed around his shaft.
I picked up my pace as I moved my hips against the motion of my fingers.
“Jesus, you’re going to drive me crazy,” he said as his voice cracked.
I stopped right before I exploded. He grabbed a condom, put it on, and in three steps he had picked me up off the bed and slid into me. I gasped as I wrapped my legs around him. His fingers dug into my ass cheeks as he thrust inside me.
“Oh God,” I whispered, trying to be quiet with Emma in the house.
“I’ll never get enough of being inside you,” he said as he walked with me and leaned me against the wall.
I moaned as he gained more leverage and pushed deeper inside me.
“Shh,” he said, grinning. He kissed me as we groaned into each other’s mouths. I dug my fingernails into his back as he quickened his pace.
“Don’t stop, baby,” I said.
He held me as he turned us back toward the bed and laid us down gently on it. “You doing okay?” he whispered.
I nodded as he slowly pushed inside me. He pulled almost all the way out and then pushed deep inside me again. My back arched off the bed as he continued. He moved his hand in between us and found my swollen clit.
I grabbed the sheets as his pace quickened, gasping for air as my body tingled. The familiar feeling swirled inside me and built with each of his movements.
“Baby,” I gasped.
“Yes?” he asked. “Are you ready?” His finger rubbed my clit. “Come for me,” he panted. “I want to feel you tighten around me.”
I bucked my hips against him and surrendered.
He pushed inside me one more time as he came with me. I grabbed his back as his body tensed and then released.
He stayed inside me as our bodies went limp.
“What are you doing to me?” he asked and smiled.
“Loving you,” I whispered as I ran my fingers down his cheek.
Chapter 35
We reappeared in the living room showered and dressed an hour later. We snuggled on the couch as Emma joined us in the living room.
“I’m off to the store to grab ingredients for our dinner,” Emma said. “Nathan will be here around six tonight if that works for you two?”
“Works for me,” I said.
“Perfect. What’s for dinner?” Walker asked, smiling.
“I thought I’d make meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and some mixed vegetables,” Emma replied.
“Ooh, you’re going all out!” I said and grinned.
“Oh gosh, I just want everything to go okay. I’m so nervous.”
“I’ll be on good behavior, Emma,” Walker said.
“It’s not you I’m worried about,” Emma said and shot me a look.
We laughed as she gathered her purse and grocery list. “I’ll be back in about an hour,” she said as she closed the door.
I sighed as I snuggled into Walker.
“Babe, we need to talk,” he said as he stroked my hair.
“Mm, do we have to right now? You’ve worn me out,” I muttered.
“We need to talk about the move.”
Shit. I’d gotten lost in all the make-up sex we were having, and I’d forgotten about the move. My heart sunk at leaving Emma again.
I sat up and looked at him. “When?” I asked.
“We have about three months. It’ll be toward the middle of March.”
“That soon?” I asked as my face fell.
“Lace, have you changed your mind?” he asked. A worry line creased his forehead.
I sat up and crawled into his lap. I put my hand on his cheek. “Never,” I said as I gazed into his ey
es.
Walker sighed as he covered my hand with his and planted a kiss on the inside of my palm.
“I want to go with you,” I said. “I just wish I could move Emma with us, but she has her family and Nathan here.”
“I know she’s your best friend, and I’m so sorry they’re moving me. I don’t have any control over it. And if you go with me, you won’t either. We could move anytime they tell us to.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I just wanted to explain more to you.”
“Okay, what else do I need to know?”
“I’ll have to live on base a little while longer, but that will help you connect with the military wives . . .” His voice trailed off. “Shit.”
“What?” I asked as my eyebrows knitted together.
“We’re not married. You can’t live with me on base.”
“Why?” I asked, a touch of fear in my voice.
Walker ran his hand through his hair.
“Dammit. I was so nervous about asking you to go with me that I didn’t think about the housing. As far as the military is concerned, you have to be enlisted or married to live on base.”
My back straightened. “What are you saying, Walker? I can’t go with you?”
“We can’t live together. We would have to get married.” He stared at me, waiting for my response.
I wasn’t sure what to say. I struggled to wrap my mind around what he’d just said.
“Do you love me?” he whispered.
“Yes, more than I’ve ever loved anyone,” I said and smiled softly.
“Will you marry me, Lacey? Not because of the military, but because you want to be my wife? Because you want to spend the rest of your life with me?”
The longing in his eyes pierced my heart. My heart raced as I searched for the right answer, but I already knew what it was.
“Yes. I’ll marry you because I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” I whispered.
Walker’s face lit up, and he grinned.
“Really?”
“Yes,” I said and laughed. “I’m not letting you leave again without me.”
He leaned over and kissed me. “Then guess what we’re doing tomorrow?”
“What?” I asked.
