Chapter 5

Walker

The instant she opens the door, the thought of going to dinner turns into a bad idea. My eyes drift over her, taking in the little black dress that clings to her perfectly, showcasing her every curve. Her hair is styled with long curls falling over her shoulders, hitting right below the dip of her neckline. My fingers flex with the urge to run through the waves and feel exactly how soft it is. I notice she’s barefoot, and her toenails are painted a glittery purple. My eyes travel back to hers, and it takes great effort not to yank her into me.

“How’s it even possible that you’re more beautiful every time I see you?”

Her cheeks turn pink as her smile widens. “Come in.” She waves her hand in invitation.

I step inside and am immediately assaulted with a variety of scents. Cherry, vanilla, and coconut all fill the air from candles lit around the room. She sidesteps past me and walks to her living room, giving me the perfect view of her from behind.

Exactly like the first time I saw her, my eyes gravitate to her ass as it sways in that dress.

Fucking perfection.

“I’m almost ready. Give me a few minutes.” She starts blowing out candles and makes her way around the room. “I’m sure the smell is overwhelming in here. I always light these when I work and forgot to blow them out earlier.”

“Doesn’t bother me. What were you working on?”

“I had some things to finish up before tomorrow. It’s an occupational hazard to jump online on Sundays. It helps Mondays run smoother.”

“I guess fraud never really stops, even on Sundays.” I already knew she worked in insurance from what Marcus mentioned, but Friday night, I learned she’s a Fraud Analyst.

“Today, I caught up on reports. It’s a little boring, but I like it.”

“Somehow, I doubt anything you do is boring.”

The blush returns as she focuses on putting things in her small purse.

“Let me get my shoes and I’ll be ready.” She disappears down a hallway, and my eyes follow, enjoying the sway.

“Jesus, Scott, get it under control,” I mutter and try to ignore the twitch in my dick.

While she’s gone, I take in my surroundings, not surprised at what I find. Picture frames, knick-knacks, and books clutter her floor to ceiling bookshelves. Her oversized sofa extends on one side with a chaise lounge, and the whole thing is covered with colorful throw pillows.

Out of habit, I analyze her windows and doors for security and scowl when I notice the door’s deadbolt is one of the easiest to break in a robbery. This may be a nice townhome community with little crime in the area, but she needs a new lock.

I’ll mention it tomorrow.

Thoughts of the lock flee my mind when I hear her heels on the hardwood. My breath gets caught in my throat at the sight of her. The dress, the hair, the makeup, it was all a tease. The shoes are the killer.

One look at her legs in the crimson sky-high heels and all bets are off. She stops, her eyes growing when I stalk to her in two easy strides. One hand goes to her hair while the other circles her waist, pressing her close.

“Walker, what—”

“Not waiting,” I cut her off, the scent of strawberries becoming stronger as I lower my mouth to hers.

She gives a little whimper that dies when our lips touch. I skim my lips over hers gently, using the tip of my tongue to coax her mouth open. She responds by tilting her head and parting slightly. The second our tongues meet, I grip her waist tighter.

The kiss starts slow, her giving over control. She falls into me, her hand clutching onto my shoulder. The faint taste of mint from her toothpaste mixes with the strawberry lip gloss, and I slide my tongue deeper, wanting more.

Burning need takes over, and I bend, slipping my arm under her ass and lifting her leg. Her free hand circles my neck as I back her against the wall. My lungs sting from lack of oxygen, as thoughts of her naked body wrapped tight around mine as I devour her mouth and drive into her relentlessly take over, but I don’t stop, kissing her harder.

She arches her chest into mine, and my dick strains against my zipper painfully. My fingers dig into her scalp, holding her in place. Our mouths move more urgently together, both of us panting softly. Warnings fire off in my brain, telling me to reel it in before I lose all control.

Reluctantly, I pull away, tracing her lips with my tongue and placing small kisses to the corners of her mouth. My forehead falls against hers, both of us fighting to catch our breath. Her chest heaves against mine, her heart beat racing.

“Jesus, Emi,” I breathe out.

“Walker,” she whispers, barely audible.

The heat and tension in the air surround us, and the familiar stir starts in my gut. “First time I saw you, walking into that restaurant, I was in trouble.”

“You saw me?” She leans back enough to look me in the eyes.

“You’re hard to miss. Laughing and smiling, like you didn’t have a care in the world. I knew then.”

“That was over two weeks ago.”

“Yeah, it was. Lucky for me, you hauled your ass into the station spewing attitude and made it easier for me to find you again.”

“I wasn’t spewing attitude.”

“You were, and it took me less than a second to decide I was going to handle your problem. Sometimes, even a man like me needs a little push.”

“Man like you?” Her question comes out raspy, and fuck if it doesn’t make me want to kiss her again.

“I’m not one to fuck around, Emi. I don’t play games. Tonight, seeing you open the door was a test of my self-control. But watching you waltz toward me, my restraint snapped. I may have waited over two weeks, but I’m done waiting.”

She’s still in my arms, clutching onto me as I hold her close. She crinkles her eyes, and one side of her lip tips into a sideways grin when the words sink in.

“Did you really bribe the bartender into snooping at the bar?”

“I prefer to call it intelligence gathering.”

“And then you paid my best friend a hundred dollars to cover my loss.”

“Do it again in a heartbeat. Told you, I’m done waiting.”

“Suddenly, I’m not that hungry anymore.” Her eyes drop back to my lips.

“Dinner, Emi. Don’t tempt me.” I set her back on her feet and graze my lips over hers quickly. “I’m taking you out on a proper date. It’s what happens after that, that may not be so proper.”

Her breath hitches as her eyes snap back to mine with a flash of hunger. My chest tightens at the effect that look has over me.

“Dinner,” I repeat, linking my hand with hers. “Then we’ll talk about dessert.”

“Do you want to come in?” Emi murmurs against my lips.

I break away from her mouth long enough to see we’ve been going at it in my truck for the last ten minutes. She’s draped across my lap, her body pressed between me and the steering wheel. I didn’t bother to adjust my seat when we pulled into a parking spot and I hauled her to me. The heat inside the vehicle is thick, and beads of sweat roll down my neck and back, but I can’t seem to let her go.

“Yeah, I want to come inside, but I don’t think it’s a smart idea.”

“Why?”

“Because I know what’s going to happen when we walk through your door, and I’m pretty sure it’s bad manners to rip off your clothes on the first date.”

“I thought you said you were done waiting.” She throws my words from earlier back in my face.

“There are different kinds of waiting, Emi.”

“Well, that sucks.” She huffs grouchily.

At the word ‘sucks’, my dick lurches with a mind of his own.

“The night’s not over yet.” I kiss along her jawline until I reach her ear. She squirms in my lap, her hip digging into my groin, and I hiss at the ache shooting through my cock.

“Sorry.” She giggles, purposely doing it again.

“Careful, babe.” I slide my hand up her side until it reaches the underside of her breast and run my thumb across her hardened nipple. “Two can play at this game.”

“That’s not a threat.” She twists, bringing her lips back to mine, and wiggles again.

I groan into her mouth when she arches her chest deeper into my hand. A war wages in my head. In under a minute, we could be inside her townhome, with her writhing against me in a totally different way. As much as I want Emi, I’m enjoying myself right here.

Her tongue swirls with mine, the faint taste of wine and chocolate coating my mouth. She continues to grind on my lap as I caress her breast, circling her nipple. Her nails dig into the back of my neck, scraping up and down as she whimpers at my touch.

That sound sends a surge of red-hot desire boiling through me. When she takes my bottom lip between her teeth and tugs gently, I struggle for control. Slowly, this woman is unraveling me, testing my limits.

In the distance, I hear a door slam and then a rapping sound. Emi is oblivious, deepening the kiss further. She presses closer, tangling her tongue back with mine, and encourages me with her little hums.

The rapping grows louder, drawing my attention to the outside of my truck. “What the fuck?” I tear my mouth away, ready to kill whoever is knocking on the window.

Even though it’s dark outside, and my windows are foggy, I can make out two hands cupping the glass as someone tries to see inside.

“Is someone watching us?” Emi goes stiff in my arms.

“Slide over, baby. I’ll handle this.”

She does as I ask and straightens her dress before nodding at me. I flick on the overhead light and reach down to grab the gun under my seat, ready to unleash on the intruder. My military and police training kicks into high gear, careful of what’s on the other side of the door. I take a quick scan out the windows, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. The glass starts to clear, and I raise my gun before slowly lowering the window.

My words of warning to back up die when I see who’s standing there.

Emi groans, then hisses, “Shoot her.”

“Thank God, it was you two, or else, I’d feel like a peeping Tom,” Maren chirps, grinning wide.

“That’s because you are a peeping Tom, you idiot! What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“It couldn’t wait until tomorrow?” Emi screeches so loud I have to shake my head to stop the ringing in my ears.

“No.”

There’s silence among us as I look between them. Wordlessly, they communicate with their eyes until Maren starts to sniff, breaking the silence.

“Fine.” Emi’s face softens as she digs in her purse, handing the keys across me through the window. “Give me a minute. Go on inside.”

“Sorry, Walker.” Maren gives me an apologetic glance before walking away with tears in her eyes.

I roll up the window and turn to face Emi, who’s chewing her bottom lip. “This is so embarrassing, Walker. I swear, she’s not usually like this. She’s been doing fine, but sometimes, the humiliation that Carlton put her though gets to her.”

“Why the hell is she humiliated? He’s the asshole. I don’t know their situation, but the one encounter I had with him, it was evident. She’s much better off. She seems like a cool woman. He’s the loser in this situation.”

I know I’ve said something right when Emi’s face lights up. “You are such a great guy, Walker Scott.”

Hearing her say this makes me want to drag her back into my lap and resume where we were, but then I remember her friend inside.

“Let’s get you in there.” I jerk my head in the direction of her place before getting out and going to her side.

“You don’t have to walk me to the door,” she tells me as I take her hand.

“Emi…” I frown at her statement.

When we get to her door, she turns to me, cupping my cheek as she rises up to kiss me gently. “I had a wonderful time tonight.”

“I’ll pick you up tomorrow at seven.”

She doesn’t hesitate, nodding in agreement.

“Do you like steak?”

“I love steak.”

“Good. Now go inside and take care of your friend. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She grazes her lips across mine again and steps back, not hiding her disappointment.

“Hey.” I tug her back into me. “Tomorrow night, my place. I can guaran-fucking-tee that no one will interrupt us there. If they do, I will shoot them.”

She giggles, her smile returning.

I watch her go inside and wait until the lock turns before walking away. Hopefully, tomorrow night, there will be no walking away.