Chapter 13

Walker

I don’t want to wake her up. There’s no doubt she’s going to feel like shit. I stare down at her, wrapped in my blankets, and wish like hell I could get back in bed with her. Even drunk and semi-conscious, she found a way to curl into me, her arm and leg slung across my chest all night.

I think back to the time before Emi, and my clear aversion to having any woman sleeping with me all night. It had happened, but I was never a cuddly man. It’s not my style, or at least it wasn’t until a few weeks ago. Now, I’m not sure how I’d sleep without her body pressed against mine. Since the very first night, when she nuzzled into my side, it has become the norm for us.

The jumpsuit she wore last night catches my eye. It’s in a puddle on the floor where I left it after getting her undressed. It serves as another reminder of how much life has changed since meeting Emi. Years in the service are ingrained in my soul, and before, you’d never find clothes on my floor. But this doesn’t bother me.

When I walked onto the terrace last night and saw her for the first time, the only thought in my head was getting her home and peeling her out of those clothes. Then I glanced around and saw I wasn’t the only one having those thoughts. All four of the women were collecting attention, and the possessiveness inside reared. Marcus thought it was hilarious. I did not.

So, I made my decision, staking my claim, and at the same time letting her know I wasn’t there to ruin her girls’ night. What I didn’t tell her is that even though Brett had called telling me she was there, I already knew. Nina had confirmed with Rachel.

All night, I observed her with her friends, laughing, joking, telling old stories. I noticed Maren was happy, much happier than the night she beat on my window to get to Emi. Her color was great, her laugh was full, and her whole attitude was changed. I hoped to God she was finally over her break-up.

Emi starts to stir, moaning as she lifts her head. Without opening her eyes, she reaches for my pillow and buries her face with a soft groan. I sit beside her and sweep her hair over her shoulder, trying to avoid the knots.

“Babe, I’ve got to go.”

“Do I have to go?” she grumbles.

“No, call me when you get moving. I’ll come get you and take you home. Sleep all you want, shower, eat, watch TV… You don’t have to go home at all if you don’t want.”

“Am I naked?”

“I left your panties on.”

“You undressed me?”

“Yes.”

“Please, tell me I didn’t miss the hot, sweaty, fire-cracking sex.”

“I can assure you that’s not something you’d miss.”

“Good, I want to have hot, sweaty, body-grinding sex and rub it in Maren’s face. This is all her fault.”

“I’m not following. Is this drunk sleepy speak? Because Maren didn’t pour those drinks down your throat, this one’s all on you.”

“It’s more fun to blame her.”

“Is discussing our sex life going to be a thing with your girls?”

“Most likely, they’re nosy.”

I kiss from shoulder to shoulder and caress the back of her head. “You think you can rollover and give me a kiss goodbye?”

She rolls slowly, only rotating her head enough for me to see half of her face. Her hand cups my jaw, feeling the smooth skin.

“Today was a shave day.” She notices.

“Yeah, it was time.”

“I love the scruff, but then again, I love it this way, too.”

“I’ll remember that.”

She presses her lips to mine and kisses me quickly, then folds her hands under her head. “I’m going back to sleep.”

“Call me and I’ll come get you,” I remind her and replace the comforter.

“Umm, hmm. If you’re busy, Maren can get me. She won’t mind, and I have to work a little too…” is all I get out of her before she’s back asleep.

I find a spare key and lay it on the counter with a short note before leaving.

When I get to the station, I immediately feel something off. Captain Corny flashes me a sly smile, standing at the edge of my desk. The hair on the back of my neck stands at his expression.

“Have a good night, Scott?” someone yells from across the bullpen, and the crowd starts howling.

There is an 11x14 picture of Emi and I from last night propped on my computer. Our lips are touching, my hand is gripping her ass, and she’s grasping my shirt. Then, scattered on my desk are more smaller shots of us throughout the night.

“NINA!” I bark, searching for her.

She pops her head from behind the middle partition. “Yes?” She smirks with mischief in her eyes.

“Don’t be too hard on her, Scott. It’s a good way to start the day.” Captain pounds me on the back.

“Looking at pictures of Emi and me is a good way to start your day? You guys are pathetic.”

“Pathetic, maybe, but I can tell you’re gloating inside,” he says low enough for only me to hear.

I start to give him hell, but a new hush comes over the room. I glance up to see Agent Kelly with SLED coming straight toward me. His eyes are hard and cold, his jaw tight, and it’s obvious there’s something on his mind. We worked together a few weeks back when he came to discuss the issue with the car found in Greenville. He accompanied me to interview the owners of the vehicle, and it was quickly decided they had nothing to do with it. Then we scoured over piles of notes from different parts of the state reporting vehicle heists.

He stayed two days, we found nothing, and he left frustrated. Since then, our communication has been sparse, mostly because only two cars have been stolen in the last few weeks in Charleston, and both turned up, wiped clean and with no damage.

As he stops at my desk, I know something’s changed. He has news.

“Detective Walker, Captain Cornelius.” He holds out his hand for us to shake. “Can we talk privately?”

Captain tilts his chin to the conference room, and I notice Agent Kelly zeroing in on my desk. His eyes meet mine, and I catch a brief hint of humor before he follows.

“Nina, clean this up.” I wave my finger around my desk.

The playful mood from earlier is gone with the unexpected arrival of Agent Kelly. She rushes over and starts straightening the pictures.

“Gentlemen, it’s not my style to show up without notice, but we’re being careful of communication. Word has gotten to us that there’s a commune of drug dealers meeting in Charleston next weekend. They’re low ballers on the totem pole—big enough to cause problems, small enough to fly under the radar. Our informant says they’re meeting to discuss channels of distribution up and down the coastline,” Kelly explains.

“How are we going to play this?” I ask him, leaving no room to be pushed aside.

“We’re going in cold, not knowing exactly where, when, or how they’re meeting. But we’ve got a starting point.” He takes out his laptop and sets it up on the table, logging in and pulling up a video.

I recognize the hotel bar from a few weeks ago when we raided the gambling ring. “Hate to tell you, but I’ve watched this a hundred times and see no evidence of drug activity.”

“Right, but wait,” he punches a few buttons and another feed pops up, specifically focused on the actual bar, the people surrounding it, and the bartenders.

“You see this guy right here?” He points out the bartender. “He’s one of us, undercover, bouncing from place to place to scope out suspicious activity. We had him in the bar for months, making sure his face was familiar, his regulars were comfortable, and he gained trust. That’s how we were able to know about the gambling.”

“Why are we just now hearing this? I asked to interview this guy and was turned down.”

“Because he’s too valuable to get discovered. We swooped him out and set him up somewhere new.”

“I’m not Barney Fife, Kelly. I can play by the rules,” I bite out.

He snaps his head to me, his face full of the same fury I’m feeling. “I know that, Scott. That’s why I’m here. I could have easily passed you by on this, but it wasn’t a smart decision. You know your shit, you have a level head, and fuck if you’re not clever. So, lose the attitude and get on board because we have a lot of work to do.”

Captain slices his eyes to mine, daring me to say something else. I cross my arms and look at Kelly to continue.

“Our man is now in a club outside of town. It’s an exclusive and private group. He’s been training and hasn’t gotten to the main floor yet, and they’ve kept him out of sight. He was recruited by one of his regulars at the hotel. High dollar man that scooped him up when the raid went down.”

“This old man is getting lost. Can you help me out?” Captain sits at the head of the table and looks at Kelly expectantly.

“We’ll know more in the next few days because they’re putting him on the schedule starting tomorrow night. It’s an invite only establishment. He’s signed a privacy clause—no talking outside the club, no discussing what he hears—and get this—no sleeping with the clientele.”

“That doesn’t sound too out of the ordinary, seeing as it’s good business sense.”

“Yes, but he’s got a gut feeling there’s more to it. It may be a long shot; however, this could be a great place for five out-of-towners to discuss moving drugs.”

“So is a golf course. This is a huge conclusion. Lots of balls in the air on this one.”

“Maybe, but there’s a lot of chatter about more car thefts over the next seven days. Word is they’re trying to occupy the local police to take any eyes off them.”

“Now, that makes sense.” I begin to understand the whole round-a-bout way of thinking.

He starts talking again, but my eyes zoom in on the still playing video. There’s a brunette and a platinum blonde sitting at the bar, laughing and drinking, obviously not aware of what’s going on around them. The blonde asks for the bill while the brunette gets up to leave. I’m struck immediately by familiarity of her body as she folds off the stool and strolls away. I remember seeing her briefly, but I was too focused on the job.

Not to mention, I haven’t looked at another woman since seeing Emi for the first time.

But the way this woman walks, her steps becoming a strut as she passes by is so natural. My blood runs cold, catching the brief glimpse of her ass.

It couldn’t be. Nothing about this woman resembles Emi… except that ass.

And that strut…

I shake my head and steer back to the blonde who’s paying the bill and following her friend. She’s completely unfamiliar, nothing striking me as odd.

I scrub my eyes with the pads of my hands and turn back to Kelly and the Captain who are now discussing strategy. As Kelly reveals details, it becomes clear. This case is going to be my life for the next week.

I walk into my house and smile when I spot Emi curled on my couch sleeping soundly. She said she’d try to wait up, but I knew when I spoke to her earlier, she wouldn’t make it. Quietly, I toe off my shoes and lay my keys, wallet, and gun on the side table before going to her.

“Hey, sleepyhead.” I curl in behind her, kissing her cheek lightly.

“Walker?”

“Who else would it be?”

She turns into me with a sleepy smile and runs her hand along my cheek. “I didn’t know if I was dreaming.”

“Nope, I’m here.”

“Did your day get any better?”

“Yes, about ten seconds ago.”

Her face starts to glow and she leans in to kiss me. “Can you tell me about it?”

“Car theft expanded over the state and is causing concern. We’re looking into a few reasons, including drug smuggling.” I glaze over the details.

“Well, shit, that sucks.”

“We’ve got it under control.”

“I have no doubt you’ll get them. It sounds like you’ll be wrapped up all weekend.”

“Probably, but you have a key to be here when I get home. That gives me something to look forward to.”

“You want me here when you get home?”

“You seem surprised by this.”

“I guess I am.”

“You’re here now, aren’t you?”

“Obviously I am.”

“I can come to your house if it’s easier.”

“No, I like it here. I didn’t want to presume anything.”

“Why would you presume when I gave you a key?”

“Maybe that was only for today.”

“It wasn’t just for today. It’s yours.”

Understanding washes over her, and she sucks in a deep breath, her eyes locking with mine. “Okay.”

We stay this way for a few minutes, her fingers stroking my cheek as I run mine through her hair. I can tell by the way she’s looking at me there’s something on her mind, but she remains quiet.

I take her silence as an invitation and bend to kiss her, tasting the faint taste of toothpaste in her mouth. She kisses me back lazily, her tongue curling with mine. The stress and aggravation of the day disappears as I press her closer, tangling my hand in her hair. As always, my body comes alive. The heat between us grows as I deepen the kiss and roll my hips into her. My hand cups the back of her head, holding her in place as she gives a little moan of pleasure.

That’s all the encouragement I need, tearing my mouth from hers and kissing along her jaw until I reach her ear.

“I want you naked now.”

She arches into me at the same time I twist and lift, bringing her to straddle my lap. The blanket between us falls, exposing her outfit. She’s wearing one of my old ARMY shirts and black satin panties.

Two items of clothing… that’s all that stands between me and the body I’ve become addicted to. There’s no hesitation. She raises her arms as I rip the shirt off and throw it behind me.

Her hands slide under my sweater, her fingers running up my torso as she pulls it over my head. I’m momentarily frozen at the vision of her sitting astride me, her nipples hard and inviting, the navel ring sparkling, and her eyes shining brightly. My mouth starts to water as I lean in and take one nipple, rolling my tongue on the tightened bud, then sucking it roughly. She purrs approvingly, bracing her hands on my shoulders as I take my time, paying special attention to each breast until she’s writhing on my lap, rocking against my aching cock.

There’s a coiling at the base of my stomach, and the friction becomes too much. A wave of urgency pulses in my blood, and I tear away from her chest and see my marks on her perfect body.

“Naked,” I repeat, my voice rough and demanding. Sexual tension cracks in the air as I bend to lay her down.

“Wait!” she squeaks, her own voice strained.

“What’s wrong?” I freeze at the expression on her face.

“We can’t do this in here.” Her eyes travel to the walls above us and then back to me.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” My dick lurches, not happy about the interruption.

“No, I don’t think I can have sex with all their eyes on us.”

“Babe, you’re not going to be thinking about their eyes in about five seconds. As soon as my mouth is between your legs, I swear you’ll forget about them.”

She doesn’t look convinced, clutching my shoulders tighter and chewing on her lip. Then a look of mischief spreads across her face as she leans in, her mouth at my ear. “If you can make me forget, I’m all yours.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Oh, yeah, it’s definitely a challenge.”

Now, my body burns for a whole new reason.

I lay her down and crash my mouth to hers, then make my way down her neck, chest, and stomach, stopping at the edge of the black satin.

Slowly, I roll the panties down her legs and toss them on the floor. She lays below me naked, her body on display, waiting. Her eyes pin mine as I lower myself to swipe my mouth along her center, tasting her arousal. The addictive taste clings to my lips, and my tongue darts out, sliding through her slickness.

Her eyes flutter closed, and her moan echoes through the room, filling my ears, encouraging me to delve further. I lick, thrust, and suck until she’s thrashing and bucking her hips for more. My hands grip her inner thighs and hold her in place while I graze my teeth along her clit, paying special attention to the sensitive area that drives her crazy.

The muscles in her thighs flex and tremble as she struggles to free herself from my grasp. Throaty whimpers escape from her mouth, sending all the blood rushing to my dick.

A sense of greed comes over me, knowing I’m the last man to have Emi this way. No one else will ever see the erotic vision of her as she flies apart. It’s a drug of power and control reserved only for me.

Her hands clasp to my head when she starts to mumble my name.

The aching in my dick pulses in rhythm to the strokes of my tongue, needing to hear and feel her come undone.

“Walker,” she breathes out in a pleading voice. “Oh my God.”

She digs her fingernails into my scalp and arches off the sofa, shattering in pleasure as she comes, giving me everything she has.

I don’t stop, sucking her harder until she screams again and starts to shudder. One hand releases her thigh and goes to undo my belt and pants, yanking them low enough to free me.

In one fluid movement, I’m on my knees and positioning her. She releases my hair, using my shoulder to balance, and slides down my dick easily, coating me with her slickness.

“Kiss me, Emi,” I demand, my mouth finding hers.

She does as I ask, rocking slowly against me.

“Do you taste yourself?”

“Yes,” she rasps, her heart racing against my chest.

“Do you feel me?” I slam my hips up, watching as her eyes roll.

“Yes.”

“Where? Where do you feel me?”

“E-e-e-verywhere,” she stammers, dropping her head to my neck, her hair falling in a blanket over her face.

“Gorgeous, look at me.”

She shakes her head, her breathing staggered.

I drive into her, swiveling my hips until my own release builds. My movements speed up, and I know the instant I hit her g-spot because she cries out again, her hands on my shoulders clutching hard. She clenches down with all her core muscles, and my balls tighten as I explode into her.

For several minutes, the only sound in the room is our heavy breathing. She’s wrapped around me, her chest heaving with my own.

“I never back down from a challenge, Emerson,” I say into her hair.

“Thank God for that.” She rolls her hips and nips at my earlobe. The seduction in her voice is all I need to hear.

I’m ready to go again.