Chapter 16
***WALKER***
Walker walked over to the window and pulled open the drapes, letting in enough light that was reflecting off the snow that he could see Maddie waiting for him nervously across the room.
“We’re not going to do anything but sleep,” he said, walking over to her.
“I’ll be happy just holding you in my arms tonight.
There’s no rush to do anything more; we’ve waited this long, a little longer won’t hurt either of us. ”
Maddie studied him in the near darkness, then started shaking her head. “You’re wrong, I don’t want to wait, I’ve waited long enough,” she said, taking a step toward him. “I know there are still some things between us to work out, but if everything you’ve told me is true, waiting won’t matter.”
He closed the distance between them, but didn’t touch her. “I trust you, Maddie, and I meant it when I said that nothing you can tell me will change my feelings for you,” he said. “We’re meant to be together, I just don’t want to push you, you’ve been through a lot tonight.”
“I think I can handle just a little bit more excitement,” Maddie said, reaching up and starting to unbutton his shirt. “Just promise me that you won’t compare me to that young girl I used to be.”
He captured her hands in his, brought them to his mouth and kissed each palm, making Maddie gasp, then brought them back to his chest. “Let’s get one thing clear right from the beginning, you’re even more beautiful now than you were then,” he said.
“You’re a woman now, Maddie, not a girl, and I want you more now than I did back then. ”
She’d managed to get his shirt unbuttoned, but he couldn’t wait and pulled her into his arms, then slammed his mouth down on hers in a kiss that instantly ignited the passion between them.
Their clothes seemed to fall away on their own, and she was soon naked in his arms, as soft and warm as he remembered.
The years faded away along with the pain of their separation.
He scooped her up into his arms and carried her over to the bed, feeling like everything was right in his life again.
He covered Maddie’s body with his own, deepening the kiss while his hands roamed over her body, reveling in the feel of her soft skin as she shifted restlessly under him.
She finally became brave enough to reach out and stroke his chest, then let her hand trail down between them until her fingers closed around his swollen manhood.
He groaned, only encouraging her, and she gripped him a little tighter and then began to stroke him.
This time it was a growl escaping from his lips as pleasure rocketed through him.
A few minutes of Maddie’s ministrations were all that he could handle, his body was throbbing with need and all he could think about was burying himself deeply inside her, but he didn’t want to rush.
Gently pulling her hand away, he rolled her onto her back, then leaned up on one elbow to look down at her, his hand trailing up and down her stomach.
He leaned down and kissed her gently, then trailed kisses down her neck before cupping one breast in his hand and sucking the pert nipple into his mouth.
Maddie gasped and arched her back, then began to let out little mewling sounds as he lavished attention on her ample breasts while sliding his hand down to the juncture of her thighs and pushing her legs apart.
He could feel her heat before his finger slipped between her folds, sending a wave of anticipation rocketing through him.
She was slick and wet, making the throbbing between his legs even more intense, but he wanted her trembling beneath him before he took her.
Using his finger, he began to rub her swollen nib, and Maddie let out a cry of pleasure, then opened her legs wider for him, grabbed his shoulders, and dug her nails in.
This time it was her hips that came up off the bed as she gasped in pleasure.
He knew she was going to tumble over the edge in just seconds and held his breath until she cried out his name over and over, then went limp in his arms.
Only a few seconds later, she opened her eyes and looked up at him.
The raw need he saw there took his breath away, and he didn’t need her to speak to know what she wanted.
Slipping between her legs, he shoved them open further, then with one powerful thrust of his hips drove himself deep inside her.
Stars instantly exploded in his vision, pleasure nearly overwhelmed him, and the undeniable feeling that he was finally complete settled over him.
Still buried deeply inside her, he rode out the emotions, feeling the dragon inside him rejoicing, then Maddie shifted beneath him, and it all drained away, leaving only the deep need to take what belonged to him.
He buried himself in Maddie’s welcoming heat over and over, driving deeper with each thrust of his hips, her answering cries of pleasure only driving him on, until they tumbled over the edge together on a huge wave of sensation.
For several seconds, he couldn’t breathe, couldn’t do anything but ride out the most incredible feeling that he’d ever had and hold onto Maddie.
When he finally came floating back down to Earth, he collapsed on top of her, then rolled to his side, taking her with him.
Wrapping his arms around her, incapable of speech while he was trying desperately to catch his breath, he was aware of her having the same struggle.
It was several minutes before he let out a long sigh of contentment and looked down at Maddie, smiling when he saw the look on her face.
“That was better than I remembered,” she said, a blush spreading across her cheeks. “If I’d known it was going to be like that, I would have said yes the first time you suggested it.”
He laughed, “I would have run away for sure, that was just a lot of talk,” he said, shaking his head. “Besides, I think it was much better because we waited.”
“You’re not going to make me wait three years again, are you?” she asked, a pouty look on her face. “I’m not sure I have that much patience this time.”
He laughed, “You’ll be lucky if you get three minutes before I’m ready again,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows at her. “We have a lot of time to make up for.”
Maddie gave him a little slap. “Stop teasing me,” she said. “We just…”
He flipped her onto her back, then slid his hand down between her legs. “I wasn’t teasing,” he said, then covered her mouth with his, and there was nothing more said for a long time.
***Maddie***
Maddie woke to the smell of coffee the next morning and rolled over, expecting Walker’s side of the bed to be empty, but he was still there, snoring softly.
Remembering Betty, she slipped out of bed, put her clothes back on, and left the bedroom, shutting the door quietly behind her.
She found the other woman in the kitchen, a fresh pot of coffee on the stove, and the baby sitting on the floor playing with a set of plastic measuring cups.
“Oh, I hope we didn’t wake you,” Betty said when she saw Maddie in the doorway. “We were trying to be quiet.”
“It was the smell of the coffee that did it,” she said. “No worries, I’m a bit of a morning person.”
“I’ll get you a cup. I was just trying to find something to make for breakfast,” Betty said, pouring her a cup. “It’s the least I can do after you saved me last night. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“It was mostly Walker, but you're welcome,” she said, crouching down next to the baby and making faces at him. “It’s a miracle that you weren’t hurt worse. How’s your head this morning?”
“It’s a little sore, but I’ll live,” Betty said, sitting down at the table. “It’s all a bit of a blur, first my brakes locked up, then I saw you coming…I swear I thought we were flying for a bit there…but I guess that’s not right…I mean, we ended up on the road…I just…”
“I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Sometimes our brains have a way of letting us remember just enough,” she said. “You and Carter made it out alive, that’s all that counts.”
“I guess you’re right,” Betty said, getting up again. “Okay, back to breakfast. There’s oatmeal, some more of that canned milk, and a big can of peaches. What do you think?”
“Sounds like a gourmet meal,” she said, standing up again, a pang of longing for Justin making her a little breathless. “Then we’ll see if we can get out of here. I need to get home; people are going to be worrying about me.”
“I’ve got a little cell service if you want to use my phone,” Betty said, holding it out to her. “I already texted my parents so they wouldn’t worry about us.”
She took the phone, tapped in a quick message to Mrs. Mathews, then gave it back. “Thanks,” she said. “Let me help with breakfast.”
They were just cleaning up the last of the breakfast dishes and discussing their options when they heard the whine of an engine coming up the road.
“Hey, it looks like we’re saved,” she said, pointing out the window over the sink.
“There’s someone coming up the road. I hope it’s not the owners of the cabin, they might not be very happy to see us in here. ”
“They’ll understand, we were desperate,” Walker said, heading for the door. “You two stay inside, and I’ll handle this. I want to tell them about the broken window before they see it.”
After putting on his coat and boots, Walker stepped out onto the porch and stood waiting for the big four-wheel drive to reach them, his breath making little clouds in the air.
When the vehicle finally came fully into view, there was an emblem on the side for the local police department and the same cop they’d talked to the night before behind the wheel.
“I’ll be right back,” she said, grabbing her coat and joining Walker on the porch.
“I got worried about you kids last night,” the deputy said when he jumped out of the truck. “I saw that wrecked car back a way, looks like it was for good reason. Are you all okay?”
“We’re fine, we weren’t in the accident,” Walker said, stepping back to let the deputy into the cabin. “Come in and get out of the cold.”
As soon as they stepped inside, Betty came out of the kitchen holding Carter in her arms. “That’s my car down the road; I lost control in the storm,” she said. “Walker and Maddie saved us. They got us out of the storm and into this cabin. We would have died if they hadn’t been there.”
“Well, how about that, here I was expecting something bad and you’re all cozy and safe,” the deputy said. “That sure is a relief. I don’t suppose you’ve got any more coffee? It’s been a long night.”
“You bet,” she said, “and some oatmeal if you’re hungry.”
“I could eat,” the deputy said. “Then we’ll see about getting you folks out of here. Betty, your car is already being towed back into town. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to get the car out of here. There’s a good three feet of snow out there; you may have to come back and get it.”
As it turned out, with a lot of digging and a little pulling, they were able to get the car back on the main road and head home.
She was anxious to see Justin, but it only reminded her that she still had to tell Walker about him, and she found herself putting it off, not wanting to spoil the mood.
Another day wouldn’t hurt, she told herself as they drove through the snow-covered landscape.
She’d waited three years; twenty-four hours more wouldn’t make that big of a difference.
Walker kissed her so thoroughly before she got out of the car when they got home that she stumbled on the way to the door, but managed to get inside.
Mrs. Mathews was waiting for her, a big smile on her face, Justin in her arms when she opened the door, and she couldn’t help the big grin that spread across her face.