“Thanks for the ride.” I lean in to hug Laken and whisper, “Call if you need anything.”
She holds on a little tighter. “I will. I hope I won’t have to, but I will. I’m over not asking for help. Promise.”
I let her go and offer my hand to Rafe. “It was a pleasure to meet you, and let me thank you for the lovely meal because I’m sure it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as delicious if I hadn’t been dining with the chef’s brother.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t bet on that. The menu at Raff’s is always above par.” He adds a smile to his handshake and I have to wonder if he’ll be so friendly when he finds out about the Rogues.
“Well, I suppose it would have to be, but nothing beats personalized service from the chef himself.” Walker slips his arm around my waist. “We should do this again.”
“Yes. Next time you’re in New York.” Laken puts her hand on Rafe’s arm. “We should get going. I have to be up early to meet with the lawyers.”
“I told you I’d go with you.”
She’s shaking her head. “Not this time. I need to take this first step on my own.”
I don’t know what’s going on with these two but I’m glad my friend has someone in her corner. I’m ashamed to admit after Gerald Senior died, I let my friendship with Laken slip. I should have made more of an effort to stay in contact.
“I’ll call you next week,” I say to Laken. “We can make time to chat over a glass of wine.”
I don’t need to elaborate to let her know I’ll be her sounding board or shoulder or soldier. I know she’s in for a rough few months, and I’ll do my best to support her.
“I’d like that. But I’m not sure how much time I’ll have—”
“I’ll make sure you have time.” Rafe’s words are made of steel.
“On that note.” Laken gives me another smile and quick hug. “We really need to go.”
We stand on the sidewalk outside Walker’s apartment and wait for them to get back in Laken’s SUV.
The driver closes the door behind them before turning to us, “Get in out of the cold.”
I grin, recognizing Arthur from trips I took with Pa to visit Gerald Senior. It’s a reminder that I should fill Walker in on the history between my family and the Cantrells.
“Goodnight, Arthur, drive safe.”
“Always, Miss Annie.”
I laugh at the nickname from my childhood and do as he says.
Looking up at Walker, I say, “C’mon, it is cold out here. Especially for this thin-blooded woman.”
He tightens his hold around my waist and ushers me toward the building. Before we reach it, Henry steps out and holds the door open.
“Evening.”
“Henry.” Walker urges me ahead of him. “We’re in for the night for real this time.”
Henry chuckles. “Okay, sir. I’ll be sure you’re not disturbed.”
“Did my luggage arrive?” I ask.
“Yes, ma’am, it’s been delivered to Mr. Alcott’s.”
“Thank you, Henry. Have a good night,” I say as we head for the elevator.
Even though I know I have to explain a few things to Walker and I’m sure he has questions, we’re quiet on the ride up to his apartment.
There’s a buzz vibrating over my skin and sliding through my veins. I know what it is.
The low simmer of arousal.
The sweet heat of anticipation.
Dinner was a lesson in sexual restraint.
So many times I wanted to kiss him. Wanted to put my hands on him, tangle my fingers in his hair, give in to the lust I could see in his eyes every time he glanced at me.
Every time he put his hand on my thigh, his mouth on mine, I wanted to launch out of my seat and drag him from the restaurant.
I’ve never had to work to control my sexual urges the way I have in the last few hours. It makes me wonder if what we have is only sex.
But then I think about the way he takes care of me in small ways, like wrapping his arm around me while we’re out in the cold air. Or when he checks to make sure I’m not flashing myself to anyone who cares to look in my hotel suite.
We might be dealing with instant lust but it’s not the only thing between us. I can’t explain it, don’t want to examine it, and I certainly don’t want to walk away from it.
No, no matter what happens between us, if we make a personal and professional relationship work or not, I’m not walking away.
All I want to do is get closer. And I know if I touch him before we get inside his apartment, I’ll end up on my knees in front of him.
I want to put my mouth on him. I want to weaken his knees. I want to take everything he has to give.
My body is vibrating from head to toe as we leave the elevator and make our way to his place. Clenching my hands, I wait for him to unlock the door with barely concealed impatience.
And the second Walker closes the door behind us, I pounce.
Catching him by surprise, I manage to shove him back against the wall and kiss him.
I kiss him hard.
I kiss him deep.
I kiss him until we’re both breathless.
Tearing my mouth from his, I suck in great big drafts of air.
“Whoa.” He licks his lips. “What brought that on?”
Tilting my head I ask, “I need a reason to kiss us both stupid?”
Laughing, he tugs me back to him and proves I’m not the only one good at kissing us stupid.
And as much as I love kissing him—him kissing me—I want something else.
Pulling back, I reach down and grab a handful of my sheath dress. It’s loose and only mid-thigh length, so it takes no effort at all to pull it up and over my head.
Walker chokes on a sucked-in breath and I can’t stop the curl of my lips.
The demi bra I’m wearing is sheer, and really, I’d have more coverage wearing plastic wrap. My thong panties match, and I know he can see how wet I am for him.
“Oak,” he says my name on a sigh, and I shiver as the nickname washes over me. “Come—”
I dodge his hand and drop to my knees. Before he can argue, I’ve got the button and zipper on his slacks open and my hand curled around his hardening shaft.
“Oakley.” When he reaches for me again, I brush his hands away.
“No. I want to do this. Here. Now.”
I can’t explain the depth of my need to do this for him. I’ve given head before, even enjoyed it, but the desire scraping through me is raw and urgent and unlike any I’ve felt before.
After studying me for long seconds, he gives a nod and I wrap my lips around the plump tip of his cock.
Not that I need his permission to suck him off. I think we’ve proven over the last day that neither of us can deny the other.
I start slow, a gentle pull, a slow sweep of my tongue around the head then down the shaft.
He pulses and jumps against my tongue, and I grip the base of his length tighter. Adding my other hand, I slide it into his pants and cup his balls.
They’re already tucked up in his groin, the skin puckered tight, and I smile at the grumble of pleasure that comes from him when I lightly graze my nails over them.
“Oakley,” he puffs, his breath stuttering when I put my lips to his crown. But that’s nothing compared to the guttural curse that follows when I suck him deep. “Fuck!”
His fingers tangle in my hair, the tug no more than a mild sting, but it sends a shiver of delight down my spine.
I work him slowly, not too much pressure, just enough. I don’t want him going off too soon. I want us both to enjoy this.
“Oak. Jesus, woman, you’re gonna make me come.”
His grip on my head tightens, the sting not so pleasurable now but it’s the kind of pain that melds with the lust pinging across my nerves and turns into pleasure.
“Not in your mouth.” He reaches down, tries to get his hands under my arms but I clamp them close to my sides and suck him harder, work my hand on his shaft faster. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.”
If I didn’t have a mouth full of his dick I’d laugh. His fingers go back to my hair and with a hard yank that brings tears to my eyes he finally achieves his objective.
“Dammit, Oakley!” He’s breathing hard, his chest heaving, air sawing in and out of his mouth as though he’s been under water too long.
Smiling up at him I ask, “You didn’t like that?”
“Fuck. Get up.” His voice is tight, his jaw the same. “I’m not fucking your face in the goddamn foyer.”
I laugh and push to my feet. Taking a step back I reach out a hand. “How about fucking my face in your bedroom?”
Continuing to walk backward, I keep my eyes on his until he pushes off the wall and follows.
Once he places his hand in mine, I glance around to orient myself. The place looks different in the dark and the tour he gave me earlier didn’t include light switches.
Not that the room is completely dark. The wall of windows in the living room offers enough illumination to find the way.
“You should turn around before you trip in those heels.” Walker has a hand fisted in the side of his pants keeping them up, and I think about telling him to strip them off but I like the idea of him being fully clothed while I’m not.
“I can kick them off—”
“No. I want you to leave them on. I’ve been fantasizing about them since you walked out of the hotel bedroom in them earlier.”
I smile. “As you wish.”
He cocks his head and grins at me. “Is this a Walker gets three wishes night?”
“If it was, what would you wish for?” I’m still moving backward, my hand in his, and I feel him push on our hold, a subtle direction indicator I’m happy to follow.
“I get three?”
I shrug. “Sure.” Although, let’s be honest, I’ll give him as many as he wants.
“Hmm… Okay, number one, you in those heels bent over the bed while I fuck you from behind.”
A shudder rolls through me, drawing a smile from him.
“Two, your legs up over my shoulders, your heels beside my head.”
His words paint clear images in my head, and I know my thong is completely soaked through. “One more,” I say, my voice breathy with lust.
“I can’t decide if I want you crouching over my face, your heels planting on the bed next to my ears or your legs around my waist, those spikes digging into my ass while I fuck you hard.”
The hallway to his bedroom is darker than the living room and I slow until I’m sure I’m heading straight. But truly, his words have turned my body sluggish, the molten heat in my veins making my legs wobble in my shoes.
The knowing smirk on his lips comes closer and the next thing I know he’s backed me up against his closed bedroom door.
“I’m going to fuck you all night in those shoes.” His warm breath fans out over my jaw. “But first, you’re going to get on your knees again and finish what you started.”
“Here?” I’m already bending my knees, but he stops me.
“No.” He reaches behind me and opens the door, making me stumble back a step. “Over there.”
I look over my shoulder to where he’s pointing. It’s the floor to ceiling windows his king-sized bed faces. “Oh.”
“Yeah, right there, your back to the glass, so I can enjoy the view.”
He wants to look at the city? Before I can voice the question, he’s crowding close.
“I’m not talking about what’s outside, Oakley.” He grips my chin and turns me to look at him. When he’s got my full attention, he says, “I’m talking about our reflection.”
Using his grip on my jaw he turns me to look at the window again. That’s when I see what he’s talking about.
I can already see us, not clearly, but we’re there and if we were closer…the thrill that shoots through me is electrifying.
Walker leans in, his lips brushing my ear, and whispers, “But I’m not going to come down your throat. I’m going to pull you up and spin you around, press your hands to the glass and fuck you against it.”
I’m not sure if it’s all the dirty talk, the images rolling through my head, or the man himself, but I’m so close to coming right now it’s ridiculous.
If I wasn’t experiencing it, I’d call bullshit.
Swallowing, I roll my lips between my teeth before licking them. “Okay.”
The word is breathy, barely audible, but he hears it, feels it in the tremble of my body.
“God, Oak, you’re so fucking sexy, you do me in.”
Ha! Like he can talk. He’s got me riding the edge with words and I’m frightened the second I take a step, the moment my legs move, the wet crotch of my thong is going to rub my clit and take me to my knees.
But my knees are where I want to be, where Walker wants me, so with teeth clamped tight, fists clenched at my sides, I step away from him and head for the window.
Once there, relief flows over me and I sink to the floor, my back to the window, and tip my chin up and lock my gaze on his.
I know he’s a man of his word, and I have no doubt the next little while is going to be the hottest sexual experience of my life.
With each step he takes toward me, my breath shortens and sweat slicks my skin. The thrum between my legs becomes so intense I have to widen my knees or risk coming without him touching me.
He’s eyeing me, his gaze probing and concerned. “You okay?”
I nod, not sure I can manage words.
Then a smile tips up one side of his mouth, and he says, “You’re so close.”
Another nod is all he gets.
“Damn. That’s so fucking hot. I’ve barely touched you.”
“You’ve been touching me all night,” I argue.
He’s grinning now. “So I have. But I honestly thought I was the only one affected by it.”
“No.”
“Oakley, I know I just painted a picture for us, but I have to say I don’t think I can do it. Not without losing it the second I stick my cock between your lips and I find myself wanting to fill your pussy so badly I’m shaking.”
“Oh.”
“And I don’t want it against the windows. I want you in my bed. I want to drive you so deep into the mattress, the imprint of you stays there forever.”
I lick my lips. Fuck, this man knows how to paint a picture. I’m so weak with desire, I’m not sure I can get up without his help.
Raising my hand, I wait for him to thread our fingers together and tug me to my feet before saying, “Take me to bed, Walker.”
He smiles down at me. “It’ll be fast and furious this first time.”
I nod. I’m okay with that. More than okay with that. I’m like a grenade with the pin pulled, seconds away from exploding.
“And as much as I love those heels and tiny strips of lace, I want you naked, want to be skin to skin, head to toe the first time I have you in my bed.”
Without letting go of his hand, I slip out of my shoes and use my other hand to push my panties down. The bra isn’t as easy, and he lets go so I can remove it while he discards his own clothes.
I don’t think I’ll ever get over how good he looks naked. The muscles he’s spent years honing draw my eyes and hands, but the second my fingertips touch his skin, he moves.
His hands grip my waist, and he lifts me off the floor. In two strides he’s beside the bed and tossing me onto it.
I can’t help the laughter that bubbles up my throat. The sound of my joy fills the room, surrounds us.
It fizzes and pops in my veins like the finest champagne.
And just like that high priced liquid, Walker is decadent and makes my head spin.