Chapter 16
RAELYN
I’d had a terrible day.
It started with me being berated by Dan and ended with my mother being rushed to the hospital by ambulance.
Even though she was fine, the whole thing was exhausting and emotionally draining for all of us.
I’d been terrified that I was going to lose my mother, and while that wasn’t the case, it was a reminder that the time was coming when she wouldn’t be there.
That made my heart hurt.
I planned to come home and go straight to bed, but it was such a nice night, I decided to sit on the porch for a bit and decompress.
I hadn’t been sitting there long when I heard the soft rumble of a motorcycle. My heart did a little dip, and those darn little butterflies started fluttering in my stomach. It was ridiculous. I didn’t even know for sure if it was him.
And then, he drove by the house, and my heart nearly leaped out of my chest. Yes. I’d only known the man for a few days, and he’d already had me feeling all the feels.
Once he came up on the porch, we started talking about nothing and everything.
I told him about my mother falling, and how after an ambulance ride and X-rays and hours and hours in the ER, we found out she didn’t break her hip.
I also told him about her Alzheimer’s and how days like this are becoming more and more frequent.
He listened, really listened, and I did the same when he told me about being on the road and the places he’d been.
We talked about the boys, a little about Dan and CeeCee, and he told me about the club and his brothers.
His entire demeanor changed when he talked about them, and he left no question that these men had meant a great deal to him.
The conversation came easy, just like it had before.
But this time, I felt like I was really starting to get to know him, and I didn’t want it to end. So, I invited him inside. I poured us both some wine, and we made ourselves comfortable on the sofa.
“So, where did you learn to ride?”
“My pop taught me. Started with me riding with him, and it didn’t take long for me to want one of my own.” He gave me a smirk. “And that’s when I got my first taste of …”
His words trailed off, and his expression changed. His eyes grew intense, and his voice was low and strained as he whispered, “You’re really something, you know that?”
That’s when I realized that the space that had been between us seconds ago was gone, and now, he was right there, inches from me.
I could feel the heat radiating from his body.
And I have to say, I liked it. I liked it a lot, but who wouldn’t?
He was beautiful, sexy, rugged, and that salt-and-pepper beard only seemed to make him more appealing.
I’d felt attracted to men in the past. Most of the time, it was fleeting.
The second they opened their mouths, and I figured out who they really were, that lustful attraction went right out of the window.
If it even got that far. It was different with Walker.
The attraction I felt for Walker was on a whole new level.
I actually yearned for his touch. Hell, I didn’t know what yearning was until he stepped up on my porch in that fitted t-shirt and those penetrating eyes. It was crazy. I thought I’d never feel anything close to this again. I’d been too hurt, too betrayed, to open myself up to anyone.
I’d told myself it didn’t matter. I didn’t need a man.
I had the boys. My parents. My friends and my career. That was all I really needed. But the second I saw the look of hunger in Walker’s eyes, I realized just how wrong I was. “Walker.”
It came out in barely a whisper, but it was enough to break the trance.
His hand lifted slowly, like he was giving me time to stop him, but I didn’t move. I wanted to feel his hands on me, so I just sat there, staring into his beautiful, longing eyes, as he leaned in closer.
I knew what was coming.
I could see it in his eyes, feel it in his touch, and my heart started to pound.
After a moment, his resistance broke, and he leaned in, pressing his lips to mine.
The kiss started slow and easy, like we both understood exactly what we were stepping into and chose it anyway.
His hand slid from my jaw to the back of my neck, fingers threading just slightly into my hair as he pulled me closer.
I felt it all.
The warmth of him, the steadiness, and most of all, the way he held back just enough that I knew if I stepped away, he’d let me.
No questions asked. But I didn’t step away.
Instead, I leaned in without thinking. I let my fingers trail along the curves of his ever-so-defined chest and relished in the sensation of having him so close.
This is what I’d been missing.
It was both thrilling and absolutely terrifying.
His mouth moved against mine, and he pulled me even closer. A light whimper vibrated through my lips as his hand tightened at the back of my neck, holding me there.
A wave of need washed over me and settled low in my stomach, spreading slow and warm through the rest of me. My fingers curled into his shirt, feeling his strength beneath my hands as he deepened the kiss.
Right then and there, everything else faded away, and it was just him and me, tangled in each other’s arms. And I couldn’t help but wonder if this could be the start of something more, that maybe I hadn’t lost my chance after all.
And then, without any warning, Walker pulled back, breaking our embrace. My eyes opened, and I looked up at him. My breath caught when I saw the warring in his gaze. I remained silent, and my heart ached when I saw that warring look turn to anguish.
His voice was low and tortured as he whispered, “I didn’t plan this… I was…”
Before he could finish his sentence, I placed the palms of my hands on his chest as I pressed my mouth against his, silencing him with a kiss. I felt his muscles stiffen and feared he’d push me away, but he didn’t. Instead, he kissed me back.
His hand dove into my hair, his fingers clutching the nape of my neck as he pulled me closer. A low, needful groan vibrated through his chest as he delved deeper into my mouth, and I could barely keep my composure as a wave of indescribable desire crashed over me.
I’d never wanted a man like I wanted him at that moment. I thought he was feeling the same, but just as I inched closer, he eased back and pulled himself free from our embrace.
Without a word, he reached down, took my hand in his, and pulled me up off the couch and down the hall to my bedroom.
The lamp in the corner was the only light, and it gave the room a slight glow as we stood there, staring into each other’s eyes.
Neither of us had planned this. We were just talking, but the chemistry, the unmistakable attraction, could not be denied.
“I need you to be sure about this,” he whispered, the warmth of his breath caressing my cheek. I could see the longing in his eyes, the same longing I felt deep inside of me.
“I am.”
The words had barely left my lips when his mouth crashed against mine again. We both let go of our doubts and just let ourselves get lost in the moment. The tips of his fingers trailed along my spine, and I arched towards him, seeking the heat of his touch.
He continued to kiss me, and I could feel a fire burning deep inside me, smoldering as it spread through my body.
The feeling only grew more intense when he reached for the hem of my t-shirt.
As he pulled it from my body, I felt the palm of his hand linger over my bare flesh, making me shiver with anticipation.
It had been so long since I’d been with a man.
Longer than I cared to admit. Dan and I had stopped being intimate months before I discovered the affair.
I should’ve realized it was a sign that something was wrong, but I honestly didn’t care.
I already had enough on my plate, and I was relieved when he’d stopped pursuing me.
If he’d made me feel like this, even once, things might’ve been different.
I would’ve climbed mountains to fix whatever we’d broken and feel this again. This was like nothing I’d ever felt before, and I wanted more. Unable to wait a second longer, I lowered my hands to the waistband of my shorts, and with Walker watching my every move, I lowered them to the floor.
His eyes roamed over me, slow and seductive, and my pulse pounded harder, roaring in my ears as he inched closer.
Everything was happening so fast, but in a good way.
It felt like a dream, every detail playing out in slow motion, and my breath caught as he slipped his arms behind me, unclasping my bra.
Once it hit the floor, his eyes dropped to my breasts, and he breathed, “So damn perfect.”
“Walker…,” I pleaded, stealing the last of his restraint. I gasped when he lifted me up, cradling me close to his chest as he carried me over to the bed. He held me tightly, making me feel safe and secure in his arms, then lowered me down onto the mattress.
He stood over me, gazing down at me as he removed his clothes, and a rush of heat washed over me as he lowered himself onto the bed, covering me with the warmth of his body. His mouth dropped to the crook of my neck, and he began trailing kisses down my collarbone.
When he reached my breast, he gently took my nipple in his mouth, taking his time as he nipped and sucked at my sensitive skin before lowering his mouth to the curves of my stomach. I groaned with anticipation when I felt him lower my panties down my legs before settling his head between my thighs.
My legs quivered as his tongue gently raked over my center. His touch was soft and gentle as he circled my clit, making my entire body tingle with need. While he continued to torment me with his mouth, he eased his fingers inside me, twisting and swirling as he found the spot that caught my breath.
I loved how his hands felt against my skin, so strong and solid, and after just a few moments, I could feel my release approaching, causing me to whimper as my body tensed and filled with heat.
When the sensation grew to be more than I could bear, I screamed out with pleasure, calling out his name over and over as my orgasm exploded, rocking me to my very core.