24. Walker

Walker

I love waking up next to Dutton, and now that I've officially moved in, I can look forward to doing that every single day for hopefully the rest of our lives. The crew helped on move-in day, even though I didn't really have that much stuff to move in.

They came over and a lot of them helped fix up a few things—just little things here and there that needed work. We're also already talking about remodeling the kitchen. Things to make it even more ours. And I cannot wait.

I know the horrible things his grandmother said to him still live in his mind, but I think they're quieter now. It's starting to warm up, and today is the first day of spring, even if it doesn't quite feel like it yet. I went back to work at the end of last month, but it's still slow, so I'll have time to do things around the house.

"Wake up," I whisper in his ear as I wrap my arm around his warm body.

He grumbles because Dutton is not a morning person. Not at all. "Go away."

I chuckle. "Can't." I kiss his ear and then down his jaw and his neck, "It's spring."

"Tell that to the temperature," he grumbles again, pulling the covers up closer to his chin.

"It's Kansas spring. That means it can be freezing or hot as hell. It's part of the fun!" I say way too exuberantly just to piss him off—because it's fun when he gets all growly.

He rolls, and I'm prepared when he pushes me onto my back and climbs onto me. We're still naked from last night, though we showered after he came inside me, and I can smell his shampoo on him instead of my cum. I have just enough time to fix that before I go to work.

I welcome his warm skin on mine. "Why do you insist on waking me up?"

I chuckle, my hands smoothing over his back. "You're the one who asked me to move in."

"Too late to take that back?" he asks, holding most of his own weight off me, braced by his hands on both sides of my head. His hair is down and falling around his face.

"Yup. You're stuck with me now," I say with a cocky little grin. "Whatever will you do with me?" I roll my hips just a little bit—just enough for him to feel my hard cock against his.

His slow grin as he feels my hard cock against his own erection is sexy as hell. "Hmmm I'm just not sure."

I laugh, but it quickly turns into a moan as more of his body weight rests on me, and he wraps his hand around us both. I grab the lube and quickly add it to the mix before tossing the bottle next to us on the bed and letting him run the show.

I love the way he touches me, and it's not long before my back is arching off the bed, thrusting against his slick shaft, and we're both panting and trying to kiss, even though the pleasure is too great to focus.

I go over first, but he's not too far behind, making a sticky mess. I kiss him hard and let my head fall back onto the pillow. "I really hate that I have to go to work now. I'd rather stay in bed with you."

He chuckles and rolls off me to lie on his back. "You'd be bored after two orgasms. You love your job."

I can't deny the part about loving my job. "Two?" I can dispute that. "Five."

He laughs, and it's rich and hearty. So beautiful. "I have to plan out the wedding I'm shooting this weekend. Chat with the bride."

"Fun, fun," I tease, but I actually know he loves it. I climb up and grab his hand, leading him to the bathroom and then into the shower with me.

"It is fun. She's excited to have a spring wedding and actually wanted my opinion on the flower colors to make sure they match the aesthetic she's going for."

I wash his hair, and then he washes mine. "Keep it simple. Am I right?"

That makes him laugh, and he kisses me as we wash away the suds. "Always. I like your simplicity principle."

I grin at that, my heart totally full as we climb out of the shower and get dressed for the day. We eat breakfast and drink coffee out on the porch, even though we both need jackets to be able to sit in the cool morning air.

The grass is still pretty dead from winter, and there are no flowers, but the hope for spring is there. "You know what I'd like to add next?"

"What's that?" I take a sip of coffee and listen.

"A deck, so we can have a nice table outside, big enough for a large breakfast or dinner." He motions toward the bagels we're having this morning. The two small plates barely fit on the table we have out here between the rocking chairs.

"Oakley's Crew can do that for you," I say with a wink.

"I already emailed Oakley," he says with a great big grin, and goddamn, do I love this man.

"Tell me you requested your favorite landscaper."

"Oh totally." He takes a bite of bagel and chews. "But unfortunately, Gabe is already booked up, so I guess I'll have to settle for you."

I glare at him, and he just cackles, so proud of himself. "Hilarious."

We sit there for a while, and I'm excited about going to work, but I do love these quiet moments with him. I'm reluctant to go, but since it's spring, and it's been on my mind, I have to ask him... even if I think I know the answer.

"You've been through all the seasons now..." I start, and it gets his attention. "Have you decided?"

He laughs effortlessly at that and finishes his bagel, looking out at the land and then back at me. "This is my home."

"You can always change your mind." That thought scares the hell out of me.

"I won't," he says with a smile. "I have no idea if my grandmother gave me this land and this house as a punishment or as an apology. But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter. It's my home, and I found you here."

I believe him. I can see on his face how much he means it. "I'm so glad you hired Oakley's Crew and not the other douchebags in town who we don't mention."

He snickers. "Never those douchebags. Plus, they were like twice the price. How do they survive?"

"Scammers. That's what they are. They don't even do half the work we do," I grumble, finishing off my bagel.

We clean up after breakfast, and then he walks back outside with me, looking around. "I can't wait to experience all the seasons with you over and over again."

I pull him to me, planting a kiss on his supple lips. "I love you. I can't wait to show you even more things Kansas has to offer every season."

"I'm going to find out what your mother does for Christmas Eve. I can't believe I missed it this year."

I kiss him again. "Can't wait."

He's staying. I had six months to show him the beauty of this place, and I've never felt more accomplished in my life.