24
*********
Walker
Poppy stares out at the Atlantic, her beanie pulled down to her eyebrows as her long lashes peek out and almost curl around the fabric. It’s cold today. But not the cold that chills you to the bone, making it hard to breathe. Though I’m sure we’ll experience plenty of those days once we live here full-time. But right now, it’s sort of refreshing.
The waves roll in, crashing along the rocky coastline before they get pulled back, only to do it again, over and over. It’s a perfect, synchronized motion. I swear I hear the saltwater making a fizzling sound, and when I blow out a breath, it turns to white smoke, drifting into the air.
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she calls over the sound of the churning waters by Portland Head Light, Maine’s oldest lighthouse.
Apparently, everyone in Portland is too busy finishing their Christmas shit for tomorrow because we’ve got the whole place to ourselves.
“It is,” I say, keeping my eyes on her as she closes her eyes, dragging in a deep breath before opening them again.
I could watch her forever like this—content. I’ve loved her when she’s been sad, angry, and hurt. But right now…she’s happy.
She’s at peace, which isn’t something either of us can say has always been the case. But right now, she is.
“Have you ever, like…been somewhere for the first time and you just…” She pauses, her voice growing thick with emotion. “You just know that it’s where you’re meant to be? Like…it’s all completely new, but it feels like you’ve been here a thousand times before?” Her nose sniffles, and she glances at me. “Maybe it’s because you’re next to me. Maybe I’d feel this way in, like…freaking Arkansas.” She looks at the water again, watching the turning tide as the corner of her lips turns up. “But this place, it just…feels like home.” She nuzzles her body against mine.
“It feels like our home,” I murmur, kissing the top of her beanie. “I think Arkansas, or hell, even Idaho, would feel like home if you were with me. But this place, Poppyseed? This feels right.”
“Our first Christmas…actually together,” she says, peering up at me, “and we get to spend it here.”
“We do.” I slide my hands down her body, burying my face into her neck. “And we get to spend it in a sweet place that overlooks the harbor and the boats. Oh, with a Jacuzzi, where I plan to have you naked by the end of the night.”
She giggles. “Sounds nice, but what if some horny fisherman sees me?”
I narrow my eyes at her before nipping the skin of her neck, which I have to work to get to because she’s bundled like we’re at the North Pole. “You should know by now that I’d make sure they sure as hell didn’t,” I growl before bringing her mouth to mine. “Actually, I’m not sure I can wait that long. Our condo is a fifteen-minute drive from here, and my cock is straining against my jeans so hard right now that it hurts.”
Her head turns to look at me, eyes wide. “Wait, what? Where?”
Jerking my chin up, I nod toward the lighthouse, and she gasps.
“We couldn’t. That would be, like…so bad. You can’t even get inside of that thing.”
“Who said we needed to?” I growl low before lifting her and tossing her over my shoulder.
*********
Poppy
When he finally sets me down, my back is pressed against the lighthouse’s exterior. And even though we’re no longer in the sunlight to warm my skin, at least being tucked in this crevice blocks the wind.
“You can’t be serious?” I whisper as he gazes down at me like he’s about to attack. “What if there are cameras?”
“There aren’t,” he says quickly, narrowing his eyes. “Do you want my cock inside of your tight, greedy pussy, baby? Or are you going to keep pretending like you aren’t a whore for my dick?”
My thighs squeeze together, and despite the temperature, my body warms as he steps closer, sliding his hand to my neck and gripping it gently.
“What’s it going to be, Poppyseed?”
I don’t give him a verbal answer. Instead, I reach down and slide my hand over his impossibly huge bulge, dragging a hiss from his throat.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” he coos before dropping his mouth to mine. His lips are cold, but his tongue is warm, making all the blood inside my body heat up and between my legs ache.
Sliding his hand inside my leggings, he sinks his fingers into my heat, pumping a few times in and out before bringing them to his mouth and running his tongue over them. “Christ almighty, I love the way your pussy tastes when it’s dripping and in need of my cock.”
A small moan escapes my lips before he pushes my leggings and panties down to give him better access between my legs, and his fingers plunge inside of me again.
“You’re fucking soaked for me, and I’ve barely touched you.”
Using his free hand, he brushes his thumb over my bottom lip. “What I wouldn’t give to watch you swallow my cock right now. To feel this hot little mouth take every inch of me and watch your eyes water as you gag, needing air. Or to fuck your ass, that tight little hole of yours.” He moves his hand to my neck, gripping slightly. “But we don’t have time for everything. That’ll come later. Right now, I’m gonna take you hard and fast.”
Pushing his jeans and briefs down just enough to set his hard length free, he palms himself, making me envious of his hand, and I push it away, replacing it with my own.
“Jealous of my hand, are you?” he growls against my lips, his eyes squeezing shut for a few seconds as I slide my hand back and forth. “You become such a needy little slut when my cock is out, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I moan as he grips my neck.
“But only for my cock, right?” he growls low. “Only for me.”
“Only…for…you,” I choke out, and his eyes light up with satisfaction just before he releases his hold.
Lifting me, he presses my back to the building and pushes his hard length inside of me. I whimper as I take him deeper until his hips begin to work in a quicker motion.
His hand fists my hair, and he gives it a pull as he thrusts in and out. “Always so wet. And so tight.”
He grunts, and my legs dangle at his sides, unable to keep them clasped around him as his movements grow harder and faster. Just as promised.
Even through my winter jacket, I can feel my spine pressing into the lighthouse. His lips attack mine, moving to my neck. He nips and licks my flesh, making me wince before both of his hands move to my ass, pushing me down harder on him.
At the very moment that I feel my orgasm get closer, his eyes snap to mine. “Gonna come with you, baby. Eyes on me while I fill you full of my cum.”
I keep my eyes open, and my vision blurs as I lose control. My body gives in, putting me over the edge at the same time I feel him pulsating inside of me.
His eyes remain on mine, though he shivers slightly. But I don’t think it’s from the cold.
Moments later, both of our chests heave deeply as we suck in the cold Maine air. And once we both pull our pants up, he cups my cheeks and kisses my nose.
“I love you, Poppyseed.”
“I love you too.” I smile. “So much.”
He suddenly looks nervous, which isn’t something Walker James usually shows.
“I know we just got back together not all that long ago, but…don’t you think this would be a cool place to get married? You and me?”
I don’t think I fully digest his words as I stare at him with likely a dumb, confused look on my face. “Um…yeah? I guess it would.”
“So, what if, like…we did?” He swallows hard. “What if we got married here? Just the two of us.” He pauses, releasing my face. “I mean, unless you wanted people here. Then, we could have whoever you wanted.”
Most of the time, I know where Walker is going with something. But right now, I have absolutely no idea. A few minutes ago, he was spewing filthy words from his mouth, banging me against a beautiful lighthouse. Now, suddenly, he’s talking about marriage.
“I mean, to be honest, I’ve never really wanted a wedding,” I say softly, but when I see a frown instantly form on his face, I take his hand. “I don’t mean that I don’t want to get married. I just mean weddings. All eyes on us. Spending a fortune to show our love for each other in front of a ton of people, who would probably be thinking in their heads that they have better shit to do that day than watch us tie the knot.” I pause, smiling at him. “I might not want a wedding. But someday, I’d love to get married.”
His frown slowly disappears, and he grins, looking like a geek. “Yeah,” he says nervously. “To who?”
Sliding my hands to his waist, I beam up at him. “Oh, you might know him. He’s a big deal. He’s also the New England Bay Sharks newest center.”
“He sounds…pretty awesome.” He bobs his head up and down.
“He’s all right, I guess.” I shrug playfully before I sigh. “Walker, what’s this all about? Why are you bringing up marriage?”
He looks around before pinching the bridge of his nose and grabbing both of my hands. “I don’t know. I guess I just feel like we’ve finally got it figured out. The universe is finally letting us just…be together. And we’re here. On the rocky coast of Maine—a place I never imagined I’d live and certainly didn’t think you’d want to move to with me. But you said it yourself. It feels like home.” He gives me a slight grin, showing off that subtle dimple of his I’ve always loved. “What if we got married tomorrow? On Christmas Day?”
“For real?” I blurt out. “Are you, like, asking me to marry you?”
“I guess I am.” He shrugs before he quickly drops to his knee. “Shit, what was I thinking? I have to do this right.” He blows out a long breath, keeping hold of my hands, and looks up at me. “I have no ring for you. And I know the traditional way to get married is to have one. And to have a plan. To ask for permission—but we both know you and I don’t need permission from anyone. Because we’ve already been taking care of each other for as long as I can remember.”
I can feel the emotion in his voice, which only makes a lump form in my throat.
“Will you marry me, Poppy? Because for my whole entire life, everyone seems to leave or get taken from me. You’re one thing I can’t afford to lose. Not again.”
I smile down at him through my tear-soaked lashes, which I’m sure are about to turn to lash-icles because the temperature seems to be dropping as snow begins to fall from the sky. “Walker James, I would love to marry you.” I nod slowly, pulling him to his feet. “I don’t care about a ring. I just care about you.”
His lips are on mine, and he scoops me up and twirls me around. I feel as light as a feather, like my soul has officially left my body, and I’m flying freely with no risk of hitting the ground.
“Wait,” I say, frowning. “Tomorrow is Christmas Day. Who in the world would marry us on a holiday?”
Kissing me again, he winks. “Don’t worry. I’ll figure it out.”