Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Skylar
Walker has to practically drag me to the car after I sucked down a shake and devoured a loaded bacon cheeseburger with onion rings.
“Did Ridge not feed you?” he asks as he buckles me in. I should stop this habit of his, but I’m in a food coma, and my limbs aren’t working.
“I’m pregnant; I’m always hungry.” I shrug. “Plus, he tried to make me eat bear stew, Walker. Bear. Stew.”
“Oh yeah, he and Wilder took one out earlier this year. It was my first time eating it, but I was pleasantly surprised. Tasted like pork.”
“That’s what he said,” I say with a shiver, both from the insanely cold temperature and the thought of eating a bear.
“It’s the city girl in you. But watch out—once you live here a couple years, you’ll be eating wild game too.”
“Not happening.”
Despite Walker’s efforts to keep me awake, I fall asleep on the drive home. Today was one of the most relaxing, fun days I’ve had in years, but it was also exhausting. I was scared to hang out with Ridge all day, but once he opened up, we got along well.
I’m looking forward to getting to know him even more as time goes on, maybe even finding out what put that haunted look in his eyes. There’s no doubt he has been through something, and I hope one day he trusts me enough to tell me what it was.
Going to the diner was my first real experience with the town, and I have to say, I love this place already. Lavanya was a hoot; I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between her and Walker. It was nice seeing how he has become a part of this small town. I hope I will be too someday.
I rouse as I’m being lifted out of the truck, but I have no energy to even ask to be put down. If I’m being honest with myself, I love the way he takes care of me. I remember this about him, but I gaslit myself into thinking he was overbearing and I didn’t need him.
I was so wrong, but I also refuse to be a princess. I’m going to take just as good care of him. Once inside, he pulls off my boots while I take off my vest and coat, all while remaining in his arms. It felt good to wear my own clothes today, so after shedding my winter layers, I’m left in my jeans and a flannel.
“Take me to bed,” I say, nuzzling his neck and inhaling his scent as I scratch his cheek through his beard.
“Feels so good, sweetheart,” he says, carrying me upstairs. Sprocket jumps up and down, so excited his person is home, maybe even a little happy I’m back too. Walker moans when I kiss from his neck up to his ear, where I drag my teeth down his lobe. “Fuck, you’re killing me.”
“I love you, Walker,” I whisper, turning his head to kiss his lips. It quickly turns from something sweet into something much more intense, yet he gets me to the bedroom without running into anything.
He pulls away as he lies me down. “I’ll be right back.”
“Can it wait a minute?” I ask, batting my lashes and sliding off the bed. I turn him around and give him a little shove until he’s sitting on the mattress.
His throat bobs, the only indication he knows what I’m up to. “Why?”
“I want to thank you for everything you did today.” I unbuckle his belt and undo his pants.
“I’m not looking for repayment.”
“I know, but trust me when I say, this is as much for me as it is for you.” I pull his cock, already half-hard, out of his boxer briefs. “I love sucking your cock.”
“Then by all means, who am I to stop you?” He leans back on his hands. “Sprocket, go lie down.”
“Poor guy.”
“Trust me, he won’t have to wait long. Just thinking about your hot little mouth on me is making me want to blow.”
While I’m vertically challenged, having such a tall bed means Walker is at the perfect height for me to bend over and reach him. Cradling his length in my hand, I lick up and down the underside, then swirl my tongue around the head. The taste of his salty pre-cum bursts on my tastebuds, spurring me on.
“Take off your shirt and pants,” Walker says, his voice husky and demanding. “I want to watch your ass while you work me over.”
“You seem to only have two moods.” I stand and undo the buttons of my shirt.
“Oh yeah?” His eyes go hooded as he watches me push my shirt off my shoulders, leaving me in my black lacy bra. Underwear is at the top of my list of things to replace, and since I want him to look at me like this each time I undress, I’ll make sure it’s all sexy—at least until I blow up like a balloon. Does sexy maternity underwear exist?
“Yeah.” I push my jeans to the ground and kick them off. “Demanding asshole or doting husband.”
“You should be lucky you get the doting husband. Everyone else only sees the demanding asshole. Now come suck my cock while I play with your ass.”
“Demanding asshole,” I say under my breath as I bend over. A sharp swat to my ass makes me yelp in surprise.
“Remember, you’re the one who started this.”
I roll my eyes but take him in hand, dragging my tongue up and down his shaft before wrapping my lips around him and sucking. My mouth is small and his cock is big, especially from this angle, so it’s hard to take him too deep, but he doesn’t seem to mind, judging by the sounds he’s making.
He reaches over my flattened back and palms my butt cheek, shaking it. “I didn’t think I could find you any sexier than I did back then, but goddamn, your ass is so juicy. I’m banning any kind of diet from this house so you don’t lose this.”
I want to argue with him, tell him that while he has hulked up, I’ve chunked up and could stand to lose a little weight. But is that really how I feel, or has my self-esteem been destroyed by Klutch, and I’m allowing his opinion to infect my subconscious? The last time he forced himself on me, he said I was lucky he could even get it up because I was so fat.
Another stinging swat brings me back into the moment. “I don’t know what I said that made you check out, but come back to me.”
Shit. He’s right. Klutch has stolen enough of my time. I refuse to let him get between Walker and me, especially when his fat dick is in my mouth. So until I can banish his opinion of me from my mind, I’ll trust Walker’s. He’s the one who loves me, so why should I listen to anyone else? And it’s pretty safe to say he likes what he sees because his cock is hard as steel, and he sounds like he’s about to blow.
I suck him down as far as he can go and hold him there, swallowing around his tip. His breath hitches and he curses, so I do it again, only this time, I roll his balls in the palm of my hand.
“Do it again. Please, baby,” he pleads, making me feel more powerful than I have in years. This big, sexy mountain of a man, who is also caring and kind, is turned on by me. I’m not the easy choice, and he could have almost any woman he wants, yet it’s me he’s begging to get him off. “Fuck, your wicked little mouth sucking me is so good while I get to stare at your heart-shaped ass. I’m in fucking heaven. You better decide where you want it, ’cause I’m gonna come.”
For me, it’s not even a question. The second I feel a hot jet of semen squirt into my mouth, I pull him almost all the way out of my mouth until just my lips are wrapped around his tip and suck. Then, with firm strokes from base to head, I milk every last drop. His hips leave the mattress as he grunts his release, his cock pulsing and throbbing with each pull of my hand.
“Feel free to thank me like that any time you want.” He falls back onto the mattress.
I give his dick an affectionate peck before releasing it onto his belly. “I will. I love sucking your cock.”
“Fuck, don’t say things like that. You’ll get me hard all over again, and then the animals will never get dinner.”
“Oh no. They haven’t eaten? Why did you let me do that?” I scan the floor for my clothes.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting dressed so I can come with you and apologize.”
“You want to apologize to my cow?”
“Yes.”
He lets out a full belly laugh. “Shit, you’re cute. You can apologize tomorrow. I don’t want you out in the cold.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” He walks over to his dresser and pulls out more long underwear. I’m starting to think his drawer is like a Mary Poppins bag—never-ending. “Get ready for bed and I’ll be back in a bit to return your appreciation.”
He kisses me with no regard for the fact that I just had his cum in my mouth. Then he’s out the door, leaving me excited for his method of payback. I fish my new phone out of my pocket and flip it open with a sigh. My iPhone was destroyed for a burner that flips as if it’s the late 1990s.
I click on one of the few numbers programmed in and sit on the edge of the bed. Dee and her family are already in Utah, and according to her texts, they’re having the time of their lives. But I want to tell her about today’s events.
“Quit splashing your brother!” Dee shouts into the phone before softening her tone. “Hello?”
“They’re enjoying the pool, huh?”
“Oh my god, so much. I don’t know how I’ll ever talk them into going home.”
I smile. “That’s good. Maybe after the baby is born, we can plan a trip there with you guys.”
“I’d love that.” I hear the sound of a sliding door closing, and suddenly, there’s no more splashing and yelling in the background. “I’m glad you called. I needed to talk to you.”
Not liking the seriousness of that statement, I scoot until my back is resting against the headboard and pull the covers over me. “I need to talk to you too, but you go first.”
“Klutch called. I didn’t answer, but he left a voicemail.”
“What did he say?” I ask, chewing on a nail.
“He said I better tell him where you’re at, or he’ll hurt me and my family. Exactly what you thought.”
“Damn. I’m sorry, Dee. Can you send that voicemail to my email? We’re collecting everything we can to build a case against him so I can get a restraining order. It won’t keep him from finding me, but the more evidence I can collect against him, the better.”
“Sure, babes. I’ll do that right now. What did you want to tell me?”
“Walker and his friend, Wilder, took a trip down to Bakersfield to get my stuff from my apartment and found everything in there had been trashed. Everything, Dee.” I swallow the emotion. It was easier to be brave and logical with Walker, but I don’t need to feel that way talking to my best friend.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Dee shouts.
I shake my head, even though she can’t see. “They couldn’t bring back anything. Nothing. Not even a pair of underwear.”
“I’m gonna kill him. I don’t care if I go to prison. It’ll be worth it.” It’s an empty threat, we both know it, but it feels good to hear it anyway.
“You look hideous in orange,” I say through a sob.
“Oh, babes, don’t cry.”
“I don’t want to. It’s just stuff, and I love shopping. This’ll give me an excuse to buy all new things.”
“It’s not the stuff you’re crying about. It’s knowing how unhinged that man is because if he can do that, what else will he do?”
Walker strides through the bedroom door, a smirk playing on his lips, no doubt thinking about what he’s going to do to me tonight. The second he spots me, my legs tucked to my chest, making myself as small as possible with tear-stained cheeks, his whole demeanor changes. He’s next to me in seconds, pulling the phone from my hand.
“Who’s this?” He pops the button of his jeans and pushes them to the ground, leaving him in a pair of boxer briefs. “Hi, Dee. Yeah, she’s fine, but can she call you back tomorrow?” He pats my shoulder and jerks his head, indicating he wants to slide behind me on the bed, so I scoot forward. Once he’s in position, I lean back against his chest as he wraps an arm around my middle. “You guys enjoying the place? Good. Good. Yeah, I’ll tell her. Okay, bye.”
After tossing the phone to the mattress, his other arm joins the first. Then he’s everywhere—his body, his love, all of him surrounding me and making me feel safe. But why? He could so easily turn me away and not make this his problem. Before I showed up, he had a good life, one full of friends, his animals, and his business. He didn’t need the tornado of problems I brought to his door.
“I love you, Sky. The best day of my life was the day you showed up on my doorstep, half frozen.”
I think back to when I had snow up to my thighs as I climbed the hill to his house that glowed with the lights he had on. Part of me wishes I would’ve gone down the hill instead of up so he didn’t have to deal with all this. He never would’ve known just how big of a mess I’d made of my life.
But didn’t I just agree to trust his love not even twenty minutes ago? Yet here I am, already doubting everything. If the roles were reversed and he didn’t accept my love and believe me when I told him I wanted him in my life, it would make me feel terrible. How many times would I have to say it before I grew frustrated?
I don’t want to find out the answer, so instead, I ask him a question that has been on my mind ever since I climbed that hill. “Why do you have so many lights on outside? You don’t like visitors, so why would you want to make it easier for people to find you?”
He exhales deeply, his voice heavy with emotion. “It all began when I moved into that crummy garage apartment. I was convinced you would come to your senses and try to find me. So, I kept the lights on all the time, just in case. It became such a habit over the years that the first thing I did when I moved into this place was make sure the house could be seen. I don’t know. . . the thought of turning them off felt like erasing my hope for us.”
“For fifteen years, you left all the lights on in case I ever showed up at your door?”
“Well, yeah. It’s stupid, huh? But even after all that time, I never gave up hope.” He kisses my shoulder. “And I’m glad I didn’t, because you’re here with me now.”