Chapter 21
Our ride home was perfect. Neither of us felt the need to talk. It was easy, natural. I park at the corner of the building by Reese’s car. I turn to look at her, and she takes my breath away. Beauty like no other I’ve ever seen. She gazes at me, sending a chill over my body.
I jump from my truck, jogging around to her door. I jerk it open, taking her in my arms. I press a light kiss on her lips, blood coursing through my veins. “I’ll grab your bag. If you’re still staying?”
“It’s behind my seat.” She hands me her keys. I pop the lock, taking the bag in one hand, hitting the button to secure it before tugging her to my side.
“This way, I’ll unlock the door.” We hold onto each other as we walk to the back entrance. I hold the door for her and close it behind us. A turn of the key and I’m back to holding Reese. We take the stairs slowly, just taking the time to be in the here and now.
“Do you have plans to finish this out or did you mean you would be moving to a new place?” Her question hits me strangely, causing a pang in my stomach.
“I—I actually will build on the other side of Riley and Ava. Half the acreage is mine and I’ve always wanted a home there. Their home would be around two acres away. So, close but not so much that we’d have to see each other.” I laugh.
“That’s great. I can tell how much your family means to you.” She strokes my hand as we walk. The mere thought of Sallie opens the fissure in my soul further. Another one of my many failures.
“They do. I miss Sallie so much.” I can’t stop the tears pooling in my eyes. My heart thunders in my chest, and I struggle to breathe thinking of that day. I swing the door to my place wide, allowing Reese in before me. I fight to pull myself together.
Reese glances at me, and I know she can see it in my face. Her eyes flitter to the television. “Let’s watch a movie. Do you have popcorn?”
I don’t focus on any certain thing when I answer her. “I do. It’s not microwave.”
“Even better. Pick a movie and I’ll pop us some.” She runs her hand over my back and walks toward the kitchen.
I stand in front of the DVD player, not even seeing what’s in front of me. I blindly yank a disc out and insert it. I push start on the remote and follow Reese into the kitchen. “Smells good.” I open a cabinet and take out a large bowl.
“Two, please. I made a dessert popcorn.” Her mouth is lopsided with a grin. I set the bowls down, reaching for drinks from the fridge.
“What’d you make, beautiful?” I graze her shoulder, sweeping her hair into my hand.
“Chipotle Ranch and Cinnamon Sugar.” The corner of her mouth quirks up.
I tangle her hair in my hand, drawing her back to me.
Her body heats at my side, fueling the need I have for her.
I run my nose down her jaw, around her chin, to her lips.
She gasps, giving me the opening I was about to make.
I thrust my tongue in, swirling it with hers.
She gives as much as I take. She’s everything.
I pull away, and she slowly pries her eyes open. “The movie’s on. Let’s eat,” I growl, nibbling her neck. “Then I’m going to eat you.” The heat her body was giving off explodes in her eyes. The fire in my belly ignites with want.
“Sounds like a plan.” She grabs a bowl, sashaying away from me. Her hips are hypnotic. I trail after like a good boy.
“I’d follow you anywhere.”
“Come here.” She curls her fingers, motioning me to her. I set the bowl on the table, along with my drink.
Reese wraps her arms around me, clutching me.
We spin until she releases me. I’m caught off guard, losing my balance, dropping to the couch.
She reaches down, yanking my shoes and socks off.
“Ummm, raise up a little.” I do as I’m told.
Besides, it puts her breasts in my face.
I wasn’t going to complain. She unbuckles my belt, jerking it out in one fell swoop.
“There, that’s better.” She shoves me back down.
“What about you?” I tilt my head, looking at her chest.
“I think that should stay on.” She wrinkles her nose. She nestles in next to me between the couch and my body. I put my arm around her, running my hand down her back. She leans forward for the popcorn, giving me my leeway.
She jumps, grabbing her chest as the hooks spring free. The straps immediately fall forward from the release of the tension. “There, now we’re even.”
Her mouth pops open. Finally relenting, she wrestles the straps through her shirt sleeves. Reese snakes her hand up the front of her shirt, yanking her black lace bra free. My nostrils flare as her nipples pebble from the loss of heat.
“Damn, that’s a sight to behold.”
“Such a freaking deviant.” She settles in before moving her hands.
“I’m thinking.” I stretch the top of her shirt out, gawking.
“Yes?” She twists her head to stare at me.
“Maybe we should do shirts and skins this weekend, instead of joggers.” I lift my brow with a curl of my lip.
“You go first.” Oh, baby, that’s what I was hoping you’d say.
“I call shirts.” Her eyes widen, resembling her mouth. “I can do something with that.” I run my finger over her bottom lip.
“I’m not going shirtless tonight,” she stutters the words.
“You will at some point.” I shove some food in my mouth. “Damn, this is good.”
Her face beams. “I told you. I know my way around the kitchen.” She eyes me. “In case, you can’t tell.”
“I’m ignoring that comment for now.” I tug her into me. “Snuggle with me.”
“Never would’ve guessed Walker Pennington would snuggle.” She twists her hair to the side, revealing her neck.
What the hell is it about a woman’s collarbone?
It’s sexy as fuck. I can’t resist it, tracing my finger along the structure.
Reese’s head lulls back against the couch.
I watch her lips part, making her chest heave.
Her nipples strain against the material of her shirt, enticing me beyond all control.
I lean forward, tugging my shirt over my head, watching her pupils dilate. She sucks her bottom lip between her teeth and that does me in. All pretense is over. Time to make her mine. I toss the remote, barely getting the bowls on the table.
I lace my fingers through her hair, working my hand around her neck. She releases her crimson lip to drag in a ragged breath, her breast brushing against me, tempting me over the edge. I tighten my grip, giving me direct access to her.
I sweep the tip of my tongue over her collar, working my way to the exposed skin under her chin. My free hand palms her breast through her shirt, sliding up her body to feel every curve. I caress her neck, tilting her chin to me.
“Reese,” I groan in her ear. She gazes at me beneath hooded eyes. “Do you realize what you do to me?” She shakes her head. “Let me show you.” I take her hand, placing it between my legs. Her hand rubs my erection. “Don’t ever fucking talk about yourself bad around me again. Do you understand?”
Her eyes dart away. “I’m still dressed. Your opinion may change.”
“The fuck it will.” I wrap my hand around her wrist bringing her with me as I stand. Before she can protest, I bend, putting her over my shoulder and turning to the bed.
“Walker! Put me down. I’m too heavy.” I can’t help myself. The minute she utters those damn words, I lose it. The sound of her cursing me explodes through my apartment. “Fuck!”
“Tell me again how unattractive you are.” I toss her on to the bed, gazing down at her. I fist my erection through my pants. “This doesn’t fucking lie.” I set my knee on the bed, crawling toward her. “You are the most desirable woman I’ve laid eyes on.”
She licks her lips. “Show me.” Her words end on a low moan, causing desire to pulsate through me.
I grab her ankle, yanking her toward me. She releases a gasp, teasing me more. “Hang on, baby.” She fists the sheets as I work my fingertips into the top of her pants. I inch them past her belly button, over her hips, hooking her panties with them. “I thought we discussed no panties?”
“We did but I thought it was best to wear them for dinner.” A crease forms between her brows.
I shake my head. “Not anymore,” I whisper. I tug her pants over her thighs, taking them off her feet, one by one. I nod at her. “That next.” Her eyes dart to her shirt and back to me. She sits up, raising her arms. I pull her it over her head, freeing her full, round breasts.
She falls back unto the bed, covering her face with her arm. “Can we turn the lights off?”
“Why, Reese?” I ask, creeping between her legs.
“I’m mortified. I hate the way I look with clothes on. This is embarrassing and now, I’m ruining everything,” she grumbles, squirming on the bed.
“Reese,” I growl. “open your legs.”
She opens them on a gasp. “Fuck.”
“That’s a given, baby.” I leverage my knee, grinding into her. My pants rub against her clit as I take her mouth on a groan. Our tongues war, fighting with one another as our lips melt into the others.
I nip my way over her jaw and onto her neck.
Biting and kissing until my mouth hovers above her cleavage.
I run my nose between her breasts. As my lips find her nipple, I brush over it.
It grows impossibly hard, so much like my cock.
I take her into my mouth, swirling my tongue around the erect pink point.
“Walker.” She says my name on a moan. That alone sends me into overdrive. I release her breast on a growl of my own. I place kisses on her ribcage, working my way down her body. When I reach her stomach, she pushes my shoulder. “Don’t, please. Not there.”
I glance up at her, placing one last kiss on her belly button. “This time.” I wrap my hand around her thigh, wedging my knee against the other, widening her legs. I trail my hand over her pussy, easing back on the bed. As my fingers part her, she squirms with a gasp.
I put my mouth on her, kissing her softly. She lies beneath me, mewling. She responds as if it’s the first time. I fight for control. Craving her is pushing me to the edge. I spread her further, so when my tongue hits her, I drag it through her entire center.