CHAPTER TWO

WALKER

The fuck? I’m not a gentle lover and sure as fuck am not a gentle kisser. But the soft kiss I just experienced with Riley has me wanting to drop everything and worship at her feet for the rest of my life.

Fuck. Me. Now.

When the hell did I get so dramatic? It was my dick talking that got us this far, but it’s not my dick that wants to pledge its allegiance to her. It’s my fucking heart. And here I thought I didn’t have one.

I don’t. It’s gotta be my dick. It hasn’t seen or felt the soft, wet heat of a pussy in so fucking long it’s mixing lust with forever. That kiss we barely shared wasn’t a lust kiss. It was a kiss an old married couple would share, but it fueled my lust for her on a level I’ve never experienced before.

Even if that’s all she offers me tonight, I’ll go back to my room with a smile on my face. Blue balls, too, but it would be worth it. There’s something about Riley with the old-fashioned first name that has me forgetting about the painful hell this weekend is bound to be.

“Come on. Your sexy-ass naked legs are going to get frostbite.” I squeeze her hand and guide her down the block to my hotel.

I don’t maul her in the elevator, or even pin her against the door when I close it behind us in my hotel room like I want. Instead, I take my coat from her, hang it in the minuscule closet, and cross the room to the minibar.

“Would you like a drink?”

Riley folds her hands in front of her, seeming nervous as she takes in her surroundings. The Beatrice Hotel isn’t five-star, but it’s quite a few steps up from the Holiday Inn.

“It’s highway robbery what hotels charge for a little nip of vodka.”

It’s true, but I can afford it. I take out the over-priced nip and set it on the table. “Soda or seltzer to mix with it?” I crack open the small sample of vodka so she can’t argue with me to put it back.

“It’s okay, Walker. You don’t have to—”

“Riley.”

“Seltzer water is good.”

“I can get ice if you’d like,” I offer, pouring her drink into a plastic cup.

“No. This is fine. Thank you.”

She remains standing in the middle of the room, one arm across her stomach, holding on to her waist, as the other takes the plastic cup from me.

I pour the little nip of whiskey into a cup—no mixer needed—and swirl it around before taking a sip. I don’t need it to calm my nerves, but I do need it to keep my hands busy. While I want nothing more than to rip that fucking sexy dress off her body, I also want to take my time with her, making this night last as long as possible.

“How long have you and Kendall been friends?” I ask, pulling out a chair at the corner table, indicating she should take a seat.

Riley curls her bottom lip between her teeth before she crosses the room and sits at the edge of the chair. “Almost five years.”

“She seems like...a lot.” I take a seat across from her.

“Oh, she is.” Riley chuckles. “She says what I wish I had the confidence to say.”

“Such as?”

“If she wants something, she goes after it. If she doesn’t like something, she speaks up.”

“You don’t seem like a pushover.”

“Oh, no. I’m not. I eventually get there, but maybe not as direct as Kendall.”

“So eventually you would have asked me if I had a wife, an STD, or a safe word?”

“Yeah. Sure.” She takes a healthy gulp of her drink and I try not to laugh.

“Interesting that you had no problem asking me about my serial killer career.”

“I mean, there’s no coming back from that. It’s always at the top of my list when dating a guy for the first time.”

I don’t comment that what we’re doing is far from dating. We’re jumping right ahead to the good stuff. But the prospect of dating Riley has a charm to it. We’re doing things backwards, and I’m okay with that.

“I guess I should have asked you some vetting questions as well.”

Riley rests her elbow on the table and straightens her shoulders, ready for the inquisition. Her nerves are obvious, from her rigid torso to her wide eyes, so I go easy on her.

I hide my grin and ask, “Have you ever cut off any body parts of men you’ve dated?”

“Does thinking about it or threatening to do so count?”

My hand instinctively covers my junk. “Nevermind. I got my answer on that one. What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done on a date?”

“Worst? Nothing. I’m a nice person. Now if you asked me what’s the worst thing Kendall has done, I’d need a few minutes to rank them all.”

“Please don’t tell me she’s your inspiration for when you dump a guy.”

“She’s not the inspiration for when I dump a guy.”

“Good.”

“Mainly because I’m the one who’s always getting dumped. She is my inspiration for revenge though.” Riley smiles so sweetly at me that I can’t help but laugh.

“Tell me you’re kidding.”

“I’m kidding.” She uses her cup to shield her mouth, but her eyes are smiling.

“Are you placating me?”

“Oh, no. I’m absolutely not placating you.”

“Wise ass.” She’s cute and spunky. I like her relaxed, and I hope it’s because she’s truly comfortable with me and not because of the alcohol.

Hell. What do I care? This is a one-night stand. We’re both on board. Two consenting adults who want a bit of fun for a few hours. My dick has been hard since I first spotted her on the dance floor, and it’s about time I did something about it.

“What are you looking for tonight, Riley?”

The change in my tone surprises her. She puts the cup down and her hands go back to her lap where I’m sure she’s picking at her nails. Yet she keeps the face of a confident woman.

“Honestly?”

“It’s a good start.”

“I want to forget about the shit that’s about to go down around me. To forget about the expectations everyone else will have of me and just do something for myself. For one night, I want to break the rules. To not think about rules. To feel. To forget. To...fuck.”

My cock pushes at the zipper of my jeans. Hell, it’s as if she spoke my thoughts. My needs. Only, I walked away from the shit and the expectations years ago. This weekend will bring some of them back, but then I can walk away again.

Keeping my face passive, I stand and offer her my hand. When she takes it, I pull her to her feet and into my chest. I trail my fingers up her rib cage and along the top of her dress where her cleavage beckons me. The air between us grows heavy with an unspoken hunger as our lips meet, igniting a blaze that surges through my body.

Time blurs as my hands explore her soft skin, caressing her shoulders and the back of her neck as my mouth seeks after hers with an ache for more.

“If it’s too much or you need me to stop, just say the word.”

Her big chocolate eyes blink up at me. “What word?”

“Any. Stop. No. I’m out. Fuck off, Walker.”

“And if I say, go. Yes. Put it in me. Fuck me, Walker, you won’t stop?”

Our eyes lock with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine, a magnetic pull too fierce to deny.

“Christ.” I curl my fingers into her hips and slam my mouth into hers. There’s no more hesitation. No more luring her in. She wants passion. I want passion. We’re gonna fucking have the passion.

In our heated collision, boundaries dissolve, giving way to a raw, primal connection that leaves me gasping for air.

Our first kiss outside the bar was soft and sweet. This one is raw, hungry. Riley releases the grip she has on my shirt and loops her hands around my neck, pulling me closer, harder into her.

“You sure?”

She moans into my mouth, and I take that as affirmative. My fingers find the bottom of her short dress and inch their way up her thigh until I find the heat between her legs. “Jesus.” She’s as hot and wet as a Florida summer.

Riley curves one of her toned legs around my waist and I walk her back to the wall, grinding my cock against her core. With the wall supporting her, I lift her other leg until she’s circling my waist with her thighs.

They’re thick and strong. Athletic. Perfect. Her dress is stretchy and it doesn’t take much to tug it up over her. I toss it to the floor behind us and marvel at her braless, beautiful breasts. I suck one nipple into my mouth and massage the other. With my free hand, I push her panties to the side and stroke her once. Twice. Her head raps against the wall and she lets out another sultry moan. Fuck. I could get off on her sound alone. But I won’t. Because I’m a selfish bastard and I want all of her.

We’ve been playing this out all night, so I don’t take my time with her and push one finger, then two into her heat.

“Yes.” She lowers her head and I release her nipple to kiss her. When I use my thumb to stroke her clit, she tears away from me, banging her head on the wall again. “Holy shit.”

Her legs tighten around me. It’s too soon for her to be over the edge already, isn’t it? Fuck. I’ve been with a lot of women, and no one has ever come undone so quickly before. Riley lifts her hips, pushing my fingers deeper into her, and fucks my fingers.

“God. Walker. I’m going to—” Her mouth falls open and the most exquisite, delicious, sexy moans fall from her lips. Her pussy clenches and I feel her inner walls pulse around my fingers.

I grind my hips into her as she rides out her orgasm against my hand. “Sweet baby Jesus.” I suck her bottom lip between mine, not giving her time to recover.

“Don’t move.” I set her feet on the floor and make a mad dash for the bathroom.

Hell, why are my condoms buried in the bottom of my travel bag? I swear, if I don’t have any, my balls are going to fucking combust. I strike gold, finding three shoved in the corner under my deodorant and toothpaste, and rush back to the main room where Riley is using the wall to prop her up.

“I can barely stand. And you’re still dressed.”

“Good.” I make quick work shucking my shoes, jeans, and briefs, then step into her space again, propping her between the wall and my hard-as-fuck dick. “By the time I’m done with you, you won’t be using the word barely. ”

When my dick is wrapped in the condom, I lower her onto me and bury myself to the hilt. Her chest rises in surprise, and I take a peaked nipple in my mouth and suck. Hard. My cock throbs inside her but I don’t move. Not yet.

Her pussy is tight. So fucking tight. I should have hedged in slowly, but I’ve been holding back for two hours. Riley rocks her hips and I squeeze my eyes shut, warning my dick not to fire off too soon.

“Riley. Hold still.”

“I can’t.”

“Baby. I’m not going to last. You feel too fucking good.”

“It’s only fair.” She pants, still rocking her hips, smashing her tits in my face. “I didn’t last so you shouldn’t either.”

That’s fair. I pump once. Twice. Three times and she squeezes my dick so hard with her cunt I think I’m going to black out. Needing to feel the pulse of her orgasm on my cock, I slip a free hand between us and play with her clit.

“Oh, God. I’ve never...I can’t. Walker. I’m going to—”

She doesn’t need to tell me, but I like to hear her words anyway. I ram my hips into her, pumping my fucking soul into her, feeling her orgasm on my cock. It’s fucking Heaven and Hell and I can’t hold back any longer. When I think she’s on her way down from her high, I bury myself balls deep in her and explode.

My release sets off another orgasm in her. Fucking hell. Back-to-back, or maybe the same one. It doesn’t matter. My cock is happy. Tired, but happy. I release her nipple from my mouth and make a trail of kisses along her clavicle and up her neck.

Her pussy squeezes me again and my sensitive dick jerks. “Sorry. Aftershocks.” She cups my cheeks in her hands, brings my face to hers, and gives me the most tender kiss. “Thank you.”

“Me? Fuck. Thank you, Riley.”

She drops one leg to the floor, then the other. “I’m pretty sure I got the better end of this deal.”

“Deal?”

“Three orgasms to your one.”

“The night’s not over yet. And for the record, your orgasms are a win for me, so how I look at it, I’m up four to three.”

I hold Riley’s dress hostage and give her one of my shirts to wear while I order room service. We sit across from each other on the big bed instead of at the table—her idea—which I like. I like very much. And I like even more my shirt on her naked tits.

“49ers fan, are ya?” She pulls at the shirt, then reaches across our array of food to steal one of my french fries.

“Do you follow football?” I ask instead of answering.

“I mean, you can’t live in New England and not follow the Revs. I don’t schedule my life around Sunday Football, but if Boston is playing, I watch. I don’t think they play San Francisco all that often.”

“Not usually. Did you play sports in school? I assume since you manage a sports performance facility you’ve always been athletic in some capacity.” I pick up the rest of my burger and finish it in two bites.

“Cross country, basketball, and track. My track coach was really into yoga and had us do all sorts of stretches at the beginning and end of every practice. She got me into Pilates after I graduated as well. My college offered classes and I kinda fell in love with it.”

“Yoga?” I say with a smirk. “Care to show me some of your favorite positions?”

She tilts her head to the side and does a poor job of hiding her grin, which makes me want to kiss her even more than I already do.

“What is it with guys and their one-track minds when it comes to yoga?”

A feeling I don’t recognize in my chest has me wanting to track down any man Riley has been with and kick their asses. Partly because of how they disrespected her—yes, I see my hypocrisy—but mostly because I’m a tiny bit jealous.

Fuck that. I’m a big fucking shit ton of jealous. I’m not the possessive type and have never cared to settle down with a woman before. Not because I’m a man whore or a commitment phobe, but because having a relationship with a woman means sharing details of your life. Details I’m not necessarily trying to keep secret, but ones I’ve buried long ago.

Dredging up the past only feeds into my anger. I’ve got twelve defensemen on another team that piss me off on the weekly during football season. There’s no need to add any more fuel to the fire.

I drag my gaze down the front of Riley’s shirt—my shirt—and suck in a moan when I see her puckered nipples pushing against the fabric.

“Forget the yoga.” I pick up the tray of dishes and set it on the floor. “I’m down for a marathon.”

I sit up on my knees and look down at her. When she lifts those chocolate eyes to me, I push her to the mattress with my chest and hover over her, resting my hands on either side of her head.

She holds on to my arms, her fingertips not even circling halfway around my biceps, and whispers, “Marathon?”

“Mm.” I lower my mouth to hers, keeping a sliver of air between our lips. “I have two more condoms and so many positions I want to try. So many things I want to do to your body. Up for the challenge?”

She skims her hands down my arms and brings them between our bodies, cupping me over my boxers.

“The question is, are you up for the challenge?” She squeezes my dick. “I can last all night, baby . Can you control yourself?”

The last thing I fucking want to do is control myself around her. She has me by the balls, quite literally, and I erase the distance between our lips and crush my mouth over hers.

Riley hooks her ankles around my hips and pulls me closer so my cock is grinding against her hand and pussy. When she slides her hand under my boxers, I pull back and sit on my heels.

“Nice try.” I take her hands and hold them in one of mine, pinning them to the mattress above her head. “You’re going to be the one begging, not me.”

It’s a lie. Total lie. My cock is begging, pleading, to be inside her, but this game is too fun to end. It’s a win-win, no matter who loses control first.

“You sure about that, big guy?” She lifts her pelvis and grinds against my cock.

I’ve never played games in the bedroom or flirted during sex. Hell, I’ve never even laughed during sex. The women I bring back to my hotel room know what they’re getting into. The flirting takes place at the bar or party or wherever I am, and usually done more on her end than mine. If I decide to take it further, there are no terms of endearment, no promises of a second round, and no smiling or laughing.

Moaning, groaning, fucking. The end. My dick gets wet and satisfied, she gets off on a couple of orgasms, and we part ways. It’s worked for me for the past decade.

But once and done won’t do it for me with Riley. I don’t even think I’ll be satisfied after our second round, even if I do win at this game of control. I like her for more than her impressive rack and the way she orgasms around my cock.

“Is that your strategy?” She cups my ass in her hands and squeezes.

“Strategy?”

“Zoning out while rubbing yourself against me? Are you thinking about taxes and baseball statistics or something?”

I furrow my brow and shake my head. “Taxes?”

Riley rubs her toe against my calves. “To distract yourself from coming too soon. Maybe I’ll do the same.” She closes her eyes and gives me a cheeky grin. “I have a load of laundry waiting for me to wash at home. Mostly it’s thongs and lacy bras. I need to—”

I don’t know whether to laugh or kiss her. So I do both, only I kiss her tits instead. I lick her nipple before sucking it between my teeth. Her gasps are going to be my undoing.

“Your dirty laundry is a turn on. Is that your strategy?” I trace my tongue around her areola and bury my nose in her cleavage. “Think it backfired on you, sweetheart.”

She’s soaking the front of my boxers, and I rub my covered cock against her clit.

“You’re...cheating.”

“What rule am I breaking?”

“I don’t know. I can’t think with your mouth and body on me.”

“Good.” I tug her nipple between my teeth then lower my body, trailing my tongue down her torso and giving her a gentle bite on her hip.

“Walker.”

“I want to hear you say my name when my mouth is on you.” I slide down her body and breathe in the scent of her arousal.

She’s soaking wet. I nudge my face between her thighs, which easily fall open. Her hands, now free, tug at my hair. She’s not pulling me away, but rather holding on for dear life, like she can anticipate what’s about to happen.

I love it. And because I want to see her completely lose control, I don’t put my mouth where she most wants it. I kiss her inner thigh and skim my nose up and down the inside of her leg. Her quads flex and she grips harder on my hair.

“Walker. Please.”

“Is that begging I hear?”

Her legs tense, then relax, and she loosens her hold on my hair. “No. Not at all.” Her voice is garbled. “I’m just incredibly bored lying here with nothing to do, thinking about how overdue I am for a manicure.”

“I see.” I breathe in her scent again as I scrape my jaw along the outside of her pussy. “Is that why I have bald spots on my head? Because your chipped nails kept getting caught in my hair?”

“Something like that.” Her legs tense again and I’m so close, I can see the muscles of her pussy contract.

“If you want to take a nap, I promise not to disturb you. I can settle right here and catch a few winks as well.” I lower my cheek to her thigh and my lips rest on her mound. “I could stay right here for hours.” I moan, knowing exactly how the vibration pulses through her.

“New game plan.” She squirms under me but I don’t let her up. “Wait. Can you explain the rules to this game again?”

I love how rattled she is. And truth be told, I am as well. “Easy. I challenged you to a marathon, but it seems you’re not up for it.”

“Um, aren’t you the one who’s about to take a long winter’s nap between my legs? Looks like I’m the winner here.”

She’s right. In fact, I have no idea what the rules are, and none of our banter even makes sense. We’re having fun, teasing each other, prolonging our orgasms and our night. I don’t want this time with Riley to end, but I can’t tell her any of this. Making sex a game is the only way to keep her in my room and not running back to her hotel.

“Interesting theory.” I drag my tongue along her slit and grin when she gasps. “You sure you want me to keep going here, sweetheart? Cause as soon as I bring you over the top and into orgasm Heaven, you’re going to be ready for a long winter’s nap of your own.”

“Um, excuse me, but I had three orgasms less than an hour ago and I’m ready to go again. You’ve had one, and I’m pretty sure after number two, you’re going to need a nap.”

I love her sass. I love her pussy. I give her a few more licks before sitting back on my heels again.

“You’re right. New game plan.”

“Wow. Say that again, please?” She lifts on her elbows, which does amazing things for her breasts.

“Say what again?” I ask, staring at the round globes of perfection.

“ You’re right. Two of the hardest words for a guy to say.”

“Ouch. Stereotyping much, or speaking from experience?”

“Experience.”

Again, I don’t care for the unfamiliar pull that squeezes my chest.

“Every now and then, I get a client at Boston Strong who doesn’t like taking training advice from a woman.”

Fucking douchebags. I’m not the jealous type, and have never felt the need to be protective, but both qualities are rearing their ugly heads tonight. I want to take down a list of names and tackle the limp dicks who’ve talked down to Riley.

“To show you I’m not in the same category as those douchebags, tell me what you want me to do, Riley.”

Her heated stare has me on fire. The moisture on my boxers is now a mixture of Riley and my seeping cock.

She licks her lips and her gaze travels down my naked torso. I’m not a narcissist. I’m not conceited. I’m not full of myself. But I’m not stupid either. My body is in prime condition. I have muscle in places most men don’t.

The media loves to boost ratings by exploiting my jawline and stormy eyes, but I don’t give a shit about that and tune most of it out, only listening when sports reporters comment on my stats. But tonight, I’m more than happy to exploit myself for the beautiful siren under me.

Riley’s chest moves up and down with every deep breath she takes. “I want you to kiss me.”

I like my lips. “Where?”

“Everywhere.”

I shake my head. “In due time. Where do you want me to start?”

Her gaze lowers to her mound. “Between my legs.”

It’s adorable how quickly she turns shy. I scoot back and lower my mouth once again to her thigh, giving it a gentle kiss. “Here?”

“Walker,” she moans.

“Here?” I kiss her other thigh.

“Please.”

“I love hearing you beg.” I inch my way closer to her center and grin when she falls back against the pillows.

“I can’t wait to make you beg later.” She clutches my shoulders and guides my mouth to where she wants me.

I take my time, licking, kissing, nipping. When she’s close, I use my fingers to bring her to the edge, stopping when I feel her start to clamp down on me.

“Payback’s a bitch,” she curses at me.

“I can’t wait, sweetheart.” I close the deal, hooking my finger inside her and sucking her clit until she nearly catapults off the bed.

Using my free arm, I anchor her hips to the bed as she convulses around me and cries out my name, God’s, and lets out a string of curses. I wait until her breathing has slowed before crawling back up over her body, holding the bulk of my weight off her, but pressing my thick, heavy cock against her stomach.

“I won’t be mad if you need a nap.” I grin when her eyes pop open and she glares at me.

“Oh, I think not, Mr. Muscles. We’re just getting started.”