Chapter 18
Eighteen
WALKER
Icouldn’t regret it.
Maybe that made me a selfish bastard.
But as I watched Sloane pull on a fresh pair of underwear beneath the dress she’d redonned, I couldn’t regret my afternoon with her. Or the decision to have her whenever she wanted me to. The woman had zero hang-ups in bed, and she got off on what I gave her.
Big-time.
Fuck, I could still feel her coming around my dick.
“You keep looking at me like that, and I’m going to take this dress off again,” Sloane teased as she smoothed said dress. It clung to her pert, full tits, and I crossed my arms over my chest to stop myself from reaching out to her.
We’d just gone three very long rounds, followed by a shower, and Callie would be home soon. I needed to leave before she returned. At least Sloane seemed to stay true to her word. There were no longing looks or asking me to stay awhile. No “when will I see you again.”
In fact, she turned to me upon her last orgasm and said, “This was awesome, but Callie will be home soon.”
“See, standing there looking all GI Joe with that steely expression of yours,” Sloane said with a smile in her voice as she halted in front of me, “makes me want to ruffle your feathers, and I don’t have time. So stop looking all sexy and get moving, soldier.”
Without thinking, I wrapped my hand around the back of her head and pulled her up into me for a thorough kiss that had her panting and rubbing her body against mine. Problem was, I could feel my blood heating again and shooting straight for my dick.
Woman had me acting like a teenager.
I released her, feeling smug at the dazed look in her eyes, at her swollen, pretty mouth. “I’ll go, but I’m waiting out in the car for Ed to show up.” Ed was one of the security team from Ardnoch. “It’s his turn to watch over you tonight.”
“I hope these guys are getting a bonus for doing this,” Sloane murmured as she pulled away and then edged around me to head downstairs. “It must be boring as hell.”
I followed her downstairs. “It’s their job.”
“Hmm. Well, nothing has happened in two weeks, so I’m not sure there is a threat.”
“Until I know where Andros is, so I can or can’t eliminate him as a suspect, security stays on you.”
Sloane stopped by the couch and looked at me with a glimmer in her eyes. “Let’s hope you don’t find him for a while, because I thoroughly enjoyed having security on me. I mean, in me.”
Amusement curled my lips. “Cute.”
Her light laughter hit me in the gut, and it was time to go. Now. “I’m off.”
She nodded and, still grinning, replied, “After getting me off. Just as we agreed.”
“What are you? The innuendo queen?” I asked as I passed her, rejecting the urge to kiss her again before I left.
“Oh, yeah, I can make anything sound dirty.”
It was nice to see her in such a good mood. Relaxed in a way I hadn’t seen her in a while. I couldn’t regret that either. “Evenin’, Sloane.”
Her smile softened, her tone sincere now. “Evening, Walker. I had a lovely time.”
“Me too. Talk soon.” I gave her a nod and then stepped out of the cottage, closing the door behind me. I waited to hear Sloane locking it before I crossed the street to where my SUV was parked illegally. Half expecting a ticket, eyes on the front window, it took me a second to notice the tires.
“What the …” I reached the car and lowered to my haunches to inspect the front driver’s side tire.
A very obvious slash cut through it.
Alert, I stood and looked around the street. A few people milled around farther down near the cafés and shops. No one was looking in this direction. No one suspicious was hanging around.
I quickly checked all four tires.
All slashed.
I whipped out my phone and sent a group text to the small security team I’d gathered to help watch over Sloane.
The group included Lachlan, and the message I sent updated them on the situation.
I told Ed he didn’t need to show because I’d watch over Sloane and Callie tonight.
Lachlan called me and said he’d send a recovery vehicle.
After explaining there was no sign of the suspect, we agreed we’d ask around the village later to see if anyone had seen anything.
That decided, I hurried back across the street and pounded on Sloane’s door. “It’s me!”
A few seconds later, the door swung open. Sloane stared up at me, wide-eyed. “What’s wrong?”
“Looks like I’m staying for dinner,” I bit out, striding inside and shutting the door behind me. I locked it and peered out the window onto the street.
“Walker, what’s going on?”
At the fear in Sloane’s voice, I turned. “Someone slashed my tires.”
Her face paled. “In broad daylight?”
“Aye.”
“Surely, someone saw something, then?”
“We’ll ask around in the morning. For now, you’re stuck with me, I’m afraid.”
“He’s being a little skunk!” Callie huffed in frustration as we sat eating dinner, plates on our laps.
Sloane’s daughter hadn’t overanalyzed my being here. She was too busy being mad at her best friend because he was annoyed that she kept beating him at things. I wondered if life was ever that simple for me. It probably had been at one point.
“Cal,” Sloane admonished after swallowing a bite of the pasta we’d poured out of a packet. “Don’t call Lewis a skunk.”
“He is.” Callie gestured with her fork. “He can’t stand that I’m good at tae kwon do and video games. I beat him once in class, and I beat him today on the Nintendo, and suddenly it’s a problem? He beats me all the time!”
Sloane flinched comically. “Bad choice of phrase, baby girl.”
I tried not to smile around a bite.
“He refused to play for the rest of the day and holed up in his room. I ended up playing Nintendo with Eilidh because she isn’t a little skunk. Do you think I should have let him win?”
“No,” Sloane and I answered in unison.
She shot me a grin before she turned to Callie. “You won fair and square. Lewis needs to learn to lose.”
“He loses easily enough to boys. It’s because I’m a girl.” Callie looked at me. “Would it annoy you if a girl beat you?”
“No.”
Her eyes brightened. “So I did the right thing?”
“Aye. Especially in tae kwon do. Never let anyone beat you when it comes to self-defense.”
She nodded, her agitation seeming to diminish somewhat.
Sloane frowned. “Why didn’t you come home if Lewis was acting up?”
Callie shrugged. “It was your day off.”
“From work, not you. I don’t need a day off from you, kid. Believe it or not, I kinda like having you around.”
Callie smirked. “I know.” Then she glanced at me. “Anyway, you were hanging out with Walker.”
I dared to look at Sloane and found her staring determinedly at her plate. Her cheeks were a wee bit pink, and I knew she was replaying exactly how we hung out today.
“Still, you don’t have to stay somewhere you don’t want to be. Call me next time.”
“It was cool,” Callie promised. “Eilidh and I ended up playing board games with Regan and Mr. Adair.” She wrinkled her nose. “They’re kind of lovey-dovey, though.”
“Lovey-dovey?” Sloane grinned. “Where did you hear that phrase?”
“Eilidh.”
“Of course.”
“Is it normal for grown-ups to kiss as much as they do?” For some reason, Callie asked me instead of her mum.
I swallowed a bite of food. “If they love each other, aye.”
“I can’t see you doing that, Walker. You’re too cool for that.”
“I appreciate it,” I replied, trying not to laugh.
Sloane, however, smirked at me with a knowing look in her eyes. Probably because I’d spent the afternoon kissing every fucking inch of her perfect body.
“Mom would do it.” Callie wrinkled her nose at Sloane.
Sloane looked affronted. “So, I’m not cool?”
“You’re kind of lovey-dovey with me, Mom, admit it.”
I coughed, covering my chuckle.
“So, I’m not cool?” Sloane repeated indignantly.
“You’re a mom.” Callie shrugged.
“Your mum is cool for a mum,” I opined.
“She is?”
“Very.”
Considering this, Callie finally nodded. “Okay.”
“Oh, so if Walker thinks I’m cool, I’m cool?”
“Pretty much.”
Sloane gaped at her daughter. “Lewis has you all sassy today, huh?”
She grinned around a mouthful of pasta, and Sloane rolled her eyes.
As they continued to tease each other, I watched mother and daughter interact, trying to imagine Sloane as a scared seventeen-year-old with a baby girl.
I’d been in scary situations throughout my life, but none as scary as that.
To be responsible for a child when you were still a child yourself.
It was amazing she’d not only done it, but she had a good relationship with her daughter.
Anyone could see how much Sloane loved the kid, and despite Callie’s teasing, anyone could see the kid thought the sun rose and fell with her mum.
We ate dessert (a piece of bloody delicious birthday cake from an order that got canceled) as we watched some bullshit UK talent show on TV. Sloane and Callie talked through it so much, I asked why we were watching it. They looked at me as if I were nuts, so I shut up.
At eleven, Sloane switched off the television. “Okay, time for bed.”
Curiosity crossed Callie’s expression as she looked between us. “Is Walker staying?”
“I’m heading out soon,” I promised. Though I’d already told Sloane I’d be out in the car Lachlan had someone leave for me after mine was recovered. I’d stay in it, watching over them. I didn’t trust anyone else to take night shift tonight.
“Oh. Okay. It was nice to see you, Walker.” She yawned my name.
“You too, wee yin,” I replied honestly.
Sloane took Callie upstairs, even though she was old enough to go to bed unescorted, and I stood, waiting for her to reappear. When she did, Sloane had a blanket and pillow in hand.
“Sleep on the couch,” she ordered, handing them to me. “It’s better if you’re in here with us than out there. Right?”
At my hesitation, Sloane rolled her eyes. “It doesn’t mean anything, Walker.”
I could guard them better from inside the house. “All right.”
“Do you think it’s Nathan, not Hoffman?” she asked me abruptly.
“I don’t know.” I looked her straight in the eyes. “We can’t find Andros, Sloane. Lachlan is keeping Hoffman busy right now. That makes me think it’s likely your ex behind this.”
“So he knows you’re watching over me?”
“Obviously. I’ll be keeping more of an eye out for familiar vehicles. Anyone tailing us back and forth from work.”
“Two weeks.” She ran a hand through her hair. It had dried naturally after her shower and was a thick mass of waves that made me think of sex. “It’s only been two weeks of this, and I’m already losing my mind. I want my car back. I want Callie and I to do as we please.”
“I know.”
“I … if something happens to Callie, I will kill him, Walker.” Fear raged in her eyes.
My chest tightened. “It won’t come to that. I won’t let him near Callie. Or you.”
She nodded, but I could see the tension still riding her shoulders. “I better go up. Give me a shout if you need anything.”
“Wait.” I dumped the blanket and pillow on the couch. Then I took her by the hips and walked her back into the wall between the kitchen and stairwell.
Her breathing shallowed, even as desire darkened her eyes. “What are you doing?”
“Helping you relax so you can sleep,” I murmured against her mouth as my hand slipped under her dress. My fingers trailed across her belly, and she sucked in a breath. “Remember to be quiet.”
“Walker—”
I hushed her with a kiss and slid my fingers beneath her knickers. Prodding at her opening, I watched as her cheeks flushed and she spread her legs a little wider for me. Then I pushed two fingers into her tight, wet heat as my thumb circled her clit.
Sloane bit her lip against a cry as she undulated against my touch.
I kissed her, swallowing her pants and gasps as I thrust my fingers in and out of her, all the while increasing the pressure on that bundle of nerves at her apex.
She clung to me, her fingernails biting into my arms.
A few seconds later, Sloane cried into my kiss. She shuddered hard as her inner muscles clenched and unclenched around my fingers, wet soaking them. Then she was limp against me, breaking the kiss to catch her breath.
I’d never seen anything as fucking gorgeous as Sloane Harrow flushed from coming.
Gently, I released her, smoothing her dress back down. I straightened the straps that were already straight and then caressed her tits, my thumbs catching her tight nipples. With an inward groan, I dropped my hands to her waist, squeezed it, and then stepped back.
Confusion furrowed her brow. She whispered, “What about you?”
Despite the pressure on my dick as it strained against my jeans, I answered honestly, “I’ll be fine. That was for you. To help you sleep. You can make it up to me when we’re alone.”
“Oh.” She bit her lip against a pleased smile. “Okay. I can do that.”
The wicked mischief dancing in her eyes amused me. I wondered what she imagined doing to me and looked forward to the day it played out. “Good night, Sloane.”
“Good night, Walker.”
As I watched her climb the stairs to her bedroom, I wished like fuck I was following her up.
But that was a dangerous thought.
I threw it out and turned to the couch to stare at my bed for the night. Then I scrubbed a tired hand down my face and regretted it because I could still smell Sloane on me.
It was going to be a long night.