Chapter 11 Lacey
LACEY
Ican already tell that my hangover is going to hurt before I even open my eyes. I don’t want to be awake, but Walker is throwing off heat like a furnace as he holds my back securely to his chest.
I’d love to rub my ass against his very impressive erection, but I have to pee and hopefully locate a bottle of water and something to stop the pounding in my head.
“It’s too early,” Walker complains when I try and ease myself out of bed.
“I know, but I need to get up.”
“I like you in my bed.”
His gravelly admission sends a flutter—the good kind—through my stomach, but I really can’t focus on that now.
“Yes, well, someone made me chug a bottle of water before we went to sleep and now I need to pee.”
He grunts and releases me before rolling onto his stomach and burying his face into the pillow. God, he’s gorgeous.
He’s shirtless, the muscles in his back flexing as he stretches, and for a second, I forget what I’m supposed to be doing before turning on my heel and heading for the bathroom.
With the first order of business out of the way, I pull my hair back with the elastic on my wrist and stare at my reflection.
I look tired but also…happy.
If I’m being honest, it’s been a while since I was happy. I really did love my job, for a while at least. I thought if I kept working hard and bided my time, that I’d be rewarded for my efforts.
But I wasn’t.
Not now and not the few times I’d been eligible before either.
I’d brushed it off as needing more experience, or that they’d been a better fit for the position and staff. But there’d been a pattern—one I tried desperately to ignore.
I worked too hard and had become too valuable in my position. Promoting me would have required other people to step up, but why would they? They saw the same things I did.
Sighing, I turn on the water and splash some cold water on my face, the temperature shocking my system into wakefulness.
And reality.
Holy shit, Walker and I slept in the same bed together.
A mix of disappointment and elation flows through my veins. The disappointment is obviously that I’d been in bed with Walker and nothing had happened. But the elation is directly related to the fact that we’d been seriously intoxicated and that’s not how I want my first time with him to be.
First time?
Drying my face, I give myself the time I need to accept that realization. I’d had it yesterday before Murphy had made things weird, but somehow my brother’s enthusiasm had me questioning everything.
And maybe that’s a good thing because I do want Walker. I just need to make sure he realizes I’m not staying here. My life might have imploded in Chicago, but that doesn’t mean I won’t get myself back on track.
So, we can have some holiday fun and then we’ll go back to the way things have always been.
Satisfied with my plan, I exit the bathroom to find the bed empty and the smell of coffee wafting up the stairs.
With renewed determination, I grab some clothes and my toothbrush and head back into the bathroom to change.
Walker is still shirtless when I make my way into the kitchen, a pair of worn pajama pants resting low on his hips and a toothbrush hanging from his mouth.
“Oh, hey—” he says when he meets my gaze, his movements jerky as he sets down a spatula and moves to the sink to spit and finish brushing. “Sorry about that.”
“Don’t be sorry,” I purr, closing the distance between us and cupping his face before taking his mouth in a slow kiss.
I can feel his shock, the momentary hesitation before he groans and drops the spatula and toothbrush to the floor, his hands falling to my waist as he deepens the kiss.
It’s the best kiss I’ve ever had as Walker expertly slides his tongue along mine in a sensual sweep that has me panting and wanting to be closer.
But not yet.
With more than a little effort, I push myself back from him and smile. “I just wanted a taste.”
“No argument from me,” he rasps, and I take the opportunity to pull another spatula from the container next to the stove and remove the pancakes from the pan.
“In the spirit of Christmas,” I start, keeping my eyes on the batter I’m pouring so I don’t lose my nerve, “I think we should have sex.” I meet his gaze, and when his eyes widen and his lips curve up on one side, I add, “Lots of it.”
“Well, Merry Christmas to me, then,” he muses, and I give him a sexy smile.
“Just while I’m here though, okay?” I ask, emotions flitting over his face and disappearing before I can make sense of them. “I’m not in Starlight Bay for the long haul.”
“Fine, just for the holiday.”
“Condoms? I got tested not long ago and I’m on birth control.”
“I’ve always worn one. Hell, the box I have is practically new.” Sliding his palm over his jaw, he admits, “It’s been a while since I’ve been with someone.”
“What’s a while?”
“A year, maybe?” Walker lifts his shoulder and lets it drop. “Coastal Eats kept us busy, and I just haven’t had the desire to work for it, honestly.”
“Well then, I guess it’s a good thing I crashed into your life, isn’t it?”
Eyes darkening, his expression is almost wolfish, and it has heat pooling between my legs. “You have no idea.”