by Amy Marie
The sound of lotion coming out of the bottle has me giggling but once he places his hands on my shoulder all humor is gone. His touch is gentle and precise, hitting every single erotic zone on my body.
Okay, maybe every zone on my body is erotic when he is around.
“I love you, Erin,” he whispers against the skin between my shoulder blades.
His hands find their way to my breasts and the attention has me wanting to move his hands much lower.
“I love you too, Walker.” I cry out when his hands reach my stomach and my head falls back giving him easier access to my neck.
“I love this. I love that my hands are just inches from our daughter. I love her so much and I haven’t even seen her. Erin, thank you so much for this. For giving me a chance. I am going to make you so happy.” He promises.
“God, Walker, you’re turning me on.” I push his hands lower hoping to connect them with where I need them most.
“What was that?!” His hands jump and find their way back to my belly.
“Oh my God, Walker. Don’t tease me damn it.” My frustrated tone takes even me by surprise.
“I felt a bump.”
Oh my God. I’m used to it. Day in and day out I feel Savannah moving around and don’t think twice about it anymore. Every time Walker is around she chooses to stay still. At thirty one weeks he has yet to feel her move. Time to put my hormones aside.
“Here, sit against the headboard.” I point and he quickly complies.
I follow him leaning back and place both of his hand over her favorite spot on my right side. Savannah moves an elbow underneath his touch causing him to pull away.
“Holy shit! That felt like a snake in your stomach. What was that?” I’m sure his smile could light up the night sky right now.
“Her knee or her elbow. Kinda freaky huh?” I laugh and he brings his palms back over my belly.
She moves again and I can feel his smile on the back of my head. “Hi, Savannah. It’s Daddy.”
Tears prick the sides of my eyes as he talks to her. Telling her how much he loves her and even singing to her. I’ve never heard him sing and it’s beautiful. She continues to kick the crap out of me. I start to become uncomfortable but decide that his happiness is worth the constant kicks to the ribs.
He continues to talk to her and rub his hands along my body. My arms, legs and shoulders have never had so much attention. My blinks become longer and soon I am fast asleep dreaming of a little five year old girl with brown hair and green eyes being pushed on a swing by her daddy.
After hours of turning down Walker’s offers to join the mile high club we arrive in Cozumel. The island is just as beautiful as I remember it, except it seems ten times better since we left fifteen degree weather to come here where it’s a balmy seventy five. The trip from the airport is familiar as we pull up to the same hotel Noelle and I stayed in. The Occidental. What’s even wilder is the room we are staying in is the same one I was in back in July with Noe.
The room looks exactly the same but this time I have my man with me.
“Did you know this is the exact room I stayed in with Noelle?” I ask placing my beach hat down onto the side table.
“I did. I planned it that way,” he says eyeing me. Probably to be sure I’m not upset.
“Why?”
“You’ll see.” His gaze looks out the window and towards the beach.
Ignoring his mysterious answer I look around the room that brings scary memories of uncertainty. The last time I was here I was petrified of things to come. I’m so thankful for the way things are turning out. I love this man.
“I got you a gift,” Walker says bringing me back to the present. I find him unzipping his garment bag.
“No more gifts, Walker!” I yell, twirling the diamond letter “S”, for Savannah, pendant that he gave me for Christmas.
It was yet another crazy holiday. Noelle refused to have it at our house so my mom graciously hosted. It almost seemed like an impromptu baby shower with all the gifts for little Savannah. My sister seemed to be doing better with the divorce, Noelle’s parents joined us, and Trent refused to glance her way even once. On top of the necklace, Walker got me a new Kindle, a gift card to add to my eBook collection, a framed picture of the two of us, another framed picture of Savannah’s twenty week ultrasound and at least fifteen movies. All I got him was tickets to see the Bears play their last home game, which I made him take Trent to so I didn’t have to sit in the cold.
“Just one, baby.” Finding what he was looking for he pulls out the most beautiful dress. It’s a knee length orchid color, one shoulder maternity dress with a purple tie just above the belly. Even the one side that has a sleeve has the dark purple outlining it. It’s gorgeous.
“Walker,” I gasp, bringing my hand up to my chest. “It’s beautiful!”
He brings it towards me and I run my fingers along the soft silky fabric.
“No. You’re beautiful. This pales in comparison.” A gentle touch of his fingers along my cheek has me shivering.
“What is this for?” I take the hanger from him, walking towards the full length mirror and holding it up to me. I can’t wait to see how it fits.
“Go take a bath and relax. When you are done, get ready for dinner and ringing in the New Year with me inside you.” I didn’t even hear him come up behind me. His body molds to mine making me want to skip dinner and jump on top of him.
~~
An hour and a half later I am scrubbed, shaved, polished, and made up. I slip on the stunning dress and clasp on my necklace. It’s perfect. Walking out of the bathroom, I spot Walker on the patio looking out towards the ocean, the breeze blowing through his hair. His body is graced with black dress pants, a white button up dress shirt and a purple tie that matches the belt of my dress exactly.
“Hey there, sexy,” I call out just as I reach the patio. His green eyes look lost in thought. “Are you okay?”
He takes the few steps needed to reach me. “I’m perfect. You look amazing, Erin.” Looking past me into the room his eyes look as though they are searching for something. “Where did you find out you were pregnant?”
“Here. In this room.” I turn my body, pointing to the table that holds my beach hat. “Right there is when I realized I was late and where I sat when the first pregnancy test showed up positive.”
“The first?” His right eyebrow raises in question.
I bring my attention back to him. “Yes, we took a lot.” I laugh at how insane I was, buying all those tests.
“Let’s go. I don’t want to be late for dinner.” His hands reach for mine spinning us back into the room and out the door.
~~
I’m so tired. Dinner was amazing. I don’t think I have eaten that much ever. Our private dinner on the beach, listening to the waves, was beautiful and my company was damn hot. I have had confirmation that Noelle spilled every single detail of our trip to Walker because he insisted on taking me to the club where the old man and I danced.
I’m not even sure I want sex at this point. Between the traveling, dancing, and all the food I just want to crash onto the bed before midnight strikes. When we reach the top of the steps closest to our room Walker gently pushes me back against the door, his lips inches from my face.
“Do you love me, Erin?” His tongue darts out licking my bottom lip.
Okay, maybe a quickie.
“Yes,” I breathe out. “So much.”
I reach up on my tiptoes to make the kiss deeper but he pulls away. “I love you too. With everything that I am.”
He swipes the key card and the door flies open, taking me back to our first night together. I stumble in as he catches me. Rotating me around another night flashes before me bringing back one of the worst memories of my life. Candles are lit everywhere and music is softly playing. It’s a scene too familiar from when I caught Robert cheating. A bottle of sparkling apple cider is sitting on the table chilling with two glasses. I step back, retreating, and
bump into a massive chest.
“What’s wrong, baby?” Walker’s voice breaks through the terrible memory, reminding me that that part of my life is gone.
Shaking it off, I reach my arms back, grabbing a hold of his hand and given a reminder how different this time is from that horrible night. “Nothing. Nothing at all. This is amazing.”
“This is nothing compared to what you deserve.” He kisses my neck and I turn around to give him more access. He continues a trail down the shoulder the dress doesn’t cover, moving me back towards the bed. My fingers find their way to his shirt and I pull up, trying to untuck it. My knees hit the back of the bed and his hands stop mine from pulling it up any further. “Right now is not about sex, Erin.”
His eyes are glazed over as if he has unshed tears in them. I look around the room again to find that I didn’t make contact with the bed but instead one of the chairs at the table. “Walker?”
“I love you, Erin.” A lone tear falls and my own start to flow. “Please sit.”
I do and in seconds he lowers himself onto one knee. “Oh my God, Walker.”
“No talking, Erin. Hear me out. I know we’ve only had the past four months to get to know each other but they have been the most incredible in my life. If I am not near you I am thinking about you and our daughter. I want what is best for all of us and what’s best for me is to never live a day without you. I want to wake up to you every morning and be the last voice you hear at night. I want to make dinner with you, fight with you and make up with you. I want you to be happy and I know you will be happy with me because I will spend every day of the rest of my life making sure you smile. I adore you. I love you. I trust you with my heart. In this exact spot your life changed forever when you found out you were having Savannah. Now, I want it to represent another life change...one that will connect us all permanently. I know I’m pushy and I tell you the way things are, so that you don’t have the opportunity to say no, but right now I’m asking. Please, Erin Melissa Decker, would you do me the honor of not only being the mother of my child and future children but becoming my wife and making me the luckiest man on earth?” His green eyes look vulnerable like I could make or break him down with just one word.
My chest is swelling with love and adoration. My heart about to explode. This beautiful, loving caring man wants me to be his wife and I want nothing more than to make that possible. Tears fill my eyes and I can barely see anymore. I grab a tissue from the table and wipe my eyes wanting to be able to look into his with my answer.
“Walker Henry Prescott, the last time I was here I left scared to death, not knowing what my future held or how I was going to get through it but this time...this time I’m leaving one hundred percent sure that my future is safe and secure. There isn’t a minute that goes by that you aren’t on my mind. I feel loved and cherished. So, yes! I would love to marry you and make us both some of the luckiest people on this earth.” My sobs fill the room as I watch him take out a blue box from beside him.
He opens the case and I find the most stunning Tiffany Soleste engagement ring. The round diamond is surrounded by double rows of bead set diamonds. More diamonds run along the sides of the ring and it sparkles underneath the brilliant moonlight filtering into our room.
He pulls it out of the box and grabs my left hand, placing it gently onto my ring finger. “Thank you. A year ago I wouldn’t have thought this is where I would be but I’ve learned to embrace the unexpected because it can bring some of the greatest things into your life. I love you, Erin.”
His words are sweet but I can’t stop staring at the rock he has placed on my swollen finger. “Walker, this is too much. Are you on a thirty year payment plan for this? It’s gorgeous. My God.”
He lifts my chin up so that my attention is on him. “Erin. I want you to know that you never have to worry. Not about me hurting you and not about us financially. I can provide for us if you don’t want to go back to work. I can give everything you and our family need as long as we aren’t foolish.”
“I love my job, Walker, and I like to earn my own way. Plus, on your salary alone we can’t afford to keep me from working.” I shake my head side to side.
He grabs my hand and pulls me to the bed. As he sits, he sets me down on his lap sideways so I can wrap my right arm around his shoulder and admire my ring at the same time.
“I understand you love it, but that might change after Savannah arrives and I’m okay with that. But I do understand. I can afford not to work but I love the feeling of accomplishment and helping kids.” He pushes my hair off my neck and kisses his favorite spot just below my ear.
“Did you win the lottery?” I joke but his hands sliding between my legs show me his is serious.
“I did but only with you.” He caresses my thighs and my legs involuntarily open.
After that touch, the conversation was over for the next two hours. When we were satisfied and exhausted, we lay naked on the bed caressing each other’s bodies.
As soon as I could form a coherent sentence I asked him about the money situation. Not that I would want to stay home but if I was going to marry him I would need to know where the extra money was coming from.
“My paternal grandmother left Deliah and me her inheritance. We were the only grandchildren on that side so we got it all minus what she gave to my mother and father. Everything was sold and we both get a large sum of money each month for the rest of our lives. She didn’t want young kids acquiring such a huge payday so she stipulated that we receive a portion of it every month.”
I told him I was happy he wanted to share that with me but I hoped to continue working. Having the option though made me feel better. When she gets here I might not want to work right away. He said to think about taking the rest of the school year off and maybe start up again next year.
“So, Noelle brought something up the other day.” I want to have this conversation but my eyes are slowly starting to close.
“Mmm hmm,” he softly says most likely falling asleep as well.
“Moving in together. Where are we going to live?” I question and fall asleep just after I hear him mumble “I’ve got it taken care of.”
~~
I didn’t want to take my ring off. I was getting used to the weight of it and the glare it creates when met with the sun. But I had to lock it in the safe when we ventured out, clad in our swimming attire, for some snorkeling and relaxing on the beach.
After a light lunch, Walker coaxes me into the water promising that if he sees a jelly fish he will jump in front of me taking the sting. Laughing, I promise to pee on him if he does.
The cool water feels marvelous after being in the sun for the past hour and Walker starts to get frisky.
“Knock it off. Anyone looking can tell you are trying to molest me.” I laugh trying to stop his advances but he is too strong and I am definitely weak when it comes to him.
He looks around and whispers, “No one is paying attention to us, baby. Let me just get a quick feel and I’ll stop.”
“You promise?” I ask wrapping my arms around his neck while simultaneously bringing my legs around his waist.
He reaches under my thighs pushing my bathing suit bottoms to the side and shoves one finger inside of me. A quiet cry leaves my body.
“I’m not making you a promise I can’t keep.” And with that he pushes a second finger deep into me. “Put your head on my shoulder, baby. I don’t want anyone else to watch you come. That’s for my eyes only.”
I can’t do anything else but submit to him. Everything he does to me is magic and with just a few thrusts of his fingers inside me I forget where I am and who is around. The waves of the ocean roll over my body as I ride his fingers shamelessly.
“Feels good doesn’t it, baby?” Walker shifts just a little and suddenly his tip is at my entrance before slamming into me. “But that feels better.”
“Oh God, yes.” His thrusts are slow and torturous, but I know it’s only because he doesn’t want oth
ers to know what we’re doing.
I try to move faster but his grip on my thighs control the pace. “You want to come, Erin?” His other hand reaches up pushing down on my clit and I immediately explode. A few more pushes and he is groaning in my ear.
“My life would be void without you, Erin. You are everything to me. I can’t wait until you’re my wife,” he whispers just as he is pulling out of me.
“I can’t wait either.”
“So, let’s not wait. We can get married right now.” His serious tenor pulls me out of my Gulf of Mexico bliss.
“Are you serious?”
Pulling into the driveway after the most amazing and romantic trip I have ever been on, I notice my car is gone.
“Where’s my car?” I ask jumping out of Walker’s truck looking around the driveway like it might just appear out of nowhere.
“No clue, baby. Maybe Noelle took it out. Call her.” He shrugs and I climb back into the truck to retrieve my phone.
I’m going to give her an earful. My touch screen suffers the wrath as I pull up her number but disappears when I see she is now calling me.
“Noelle! Where the hell is my car?” I yell into the phone.
“Calm down, Erin. I took it to get detailed...you know a little last minute Christmas gift. Your car needed it. You’re welcome.” I can feel her smirk over the phone.
She does this on occasion. My car isn’t that dirty but in her eyes it could always use a cleaning.
“I do have a problem though. I drove over to Chase’s house and when I went to leave it wouldn’t start. Do you think Walker can come take a look at it? Chase hasn’t a freaking clue when it comes to cars.” She sighs into the phone.
I haven’t heard Chase’s name since Thanksgiving. She must be making her rounds again.
I confirm with Walker he has nowhere to be and tell her to text me the address. I type it into the GPS and it shows we are fifteen minutes away.
~~
I don’t know what Chase does but this house is stunning. It’s white with light blue shutters and is two stories with a wraparound porch. A two car garage is attached.