“And, on that topic, there is no in hell that I would ever name my son Ben. One N or two.”
“Walker, I’m definitely not pregnant, and, I would never name a child Benn. I’ve just...it’s been, I’ve just had a lot on my mind.
“Right, but something upset you tonight. What did you and your cohorts talk about tonight? Did one of them upset you?”
Avoiding his eyes, she rubbed her finger over the stitching on his pillow case.
“The usual...you know, the usual, bras, slumber parties, our periods, and...you,” she answered without looking up at him.
“Oh shit. They trashed me. Is that what upset you?”
“No. They loooove you. They’re absolutely on your side.”
“My side? I wasn’t aware that you and I were on different sides,” Walker countered, finally sitting down on the bed.
“Waverly you’ve avoided this long enough. Enough avoiding. I’ve recently heard the key to a strong relationship is communication. Now tell me what’s going on with you.” He demanded.
Waverly didn’t want to tell him but it all just bubbled up and out of her. She had held it in for too long, she was terrible at lying and felt guilty, angry and hurt.
“You’re saying all of these nice things - right now. But you walked away like I meant nothing, it didn’t seem to hurt you at all to leave me, but I was devastated. Then you got engaged...to her. Of all people - her?”
Walker tried to reach out to her but she pushed his hands away. Her voice grew softer, she wasn’t even really speaking to him anymore just purging what had been weighing her down emotionally. Her face resting sideways on the pillow that she was clutching to her chest.
“Her? Why her? How could you have chosen her? After everything you said. You’ll go to her again. I just know it. How could you be with her!? How could you do that to me! It killed me?”
“I’m sorry Wave, so sorry.”
She cried harder., “I think I’m still mad, I tried not to be but I am. Why didn’t you just talk to me? How can I trust you?”
“I was an asshole, an angry asshole. I was mad. And, hurt and I thought you hurt me on purpose. I wanted to hurt you back.”
“I didn’t think that you cared enough about me enough to be hurt.”
“I did then and I do now.” Walker wrestled the now damp and mangled pillow out of her hands and pulled another tissue out for her.
“Baby, no more crying, please,” he pleaded.
“I want to trust you but I don’t. You’ll go to her again, I know you will. She’s the one you should be with.”
“You’re the only person I should be with, Waverly, only you. You’ll aways be the only one. Only you,” Walker’s low voice hummed sweet words until sleep took her.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Waverly woke to the room brightly lit with the rising sun, the temperature had dropped the night before and there was frost dusting the windows. The heavy weight of Walker’s arm wound around her keeping her anchored to him. Turning her head up slightly to look at him, her movement causing his arm to tighten around her waist, his face was calm and untroubled, with a sexy morning stubble showing. It was surprising that he was still there, that he hadn’t run out the door screaming, in light of her repeated emotional outbursts.
The man had the patience of a saint, his analytical mind seemed to be the perfect foil to her overly emotional nature. Softly, she ran her hand up over his arm pausing at his tattoo and resting it there, tracing her finger back and forth over the words. If she hadn’t kept him up so late with her craziness she would wake him slowly, smoothing her lips all over his body until he slowly opened his beautiful blue eyes. But he must be exhausted, and she knew that he had a meeting later, she decided to let him sleep when he woke on his own there would still be time for her to show him her gratitude.
Walker’s phone buzzed from the night stand. Groaning he shifted and rolled to his side picking the phone to see who it was.
“What?”
He answered gruffly.
Waverly giggled to herself at his greeting, granted it was early on a Saturday morning but still, a bit harsh, even for him.
“Where are you?”
Pressing the phone to his shoulder he sat up abruptly turning away from her to put his feet on the floor.
“Okay, I’ll be there soon.”
The call ended with his voice tight, his jaw clenched, then turned dressing hurriedly, not even glancing in her direction.
“Is everything okay?”
He paused and looked over to her, the lack of sleep showed on his face. What the hell was going on that he had to hurry out?
“I’m sorry. It’s something I have to take care of, something...it shouldn’t take too long.”
“I’ll come with you?”
“No. No just go back to sleep, you had a rough night last night. Stay here Wave, in bed, get some more rest.”
“Walker, what’s going on? Last night you were all ‘Dr. Phil’, with ‘the key to a strong relationship is communication,’ and now you won’t tell me what’s going on.”
“I don’t have time to explain right now,” he offered with his foamy toothbrush sticking out of his mouth.
“I’m going with you,” standing she began to make her way to pull on some clothes.
“No Waverly, you’re not,” he said firmly, his jaw set in the familiar uncompromising line.
“I’ll explain it to you when I get back.”
Noting his determined expression, Waverly gave in. What he had said the night before was true she had been overreacting and much too weepy lately. She needed to try harder to trust him. After wiping his mouth, and running a hand through his hair, he crossed the distance between them, grabbed both of her shoulders and kissed her hard and deep.
“Sleep Hippie Girl. I’ll be back soon,” he assured her, then rushed out the door.
After showering and brushing her teeth, Waverly crashed on the sofa texting and reading, eventually, she drifted back to sleep. She woke to find him seated next to her on the sofa his hand idly smoothing her hair back from her face.
“You feel rested, Wave?”
His voice was lower and rougher, his exhaustion showed, the poor man needed some rest.
“Are you okay?” Waverly asked, sitting up to make more room for him next to her on the sofa.
“Here, I got you a coffee,” he reached over to hand her a take out cup of her favorite coffee. A wave of strong wave of guilt hit her, whatever he was going through, he still found the time to stop and get her a coffee. She needed to start finding more ways to spoil him.
“Thank you,” she leaned forwards and kissed him softly on the lips.
He leaned his head back as she placed her legs over his lap and then covered them both up with the throw. His head still leaned back he turned to her with the corners of his mouth slightly tipped up. His eyes roamed her face for a few minutes and then he sighed wearily, “You’re welcome.”
“Walker, I don’t want to give you a hard time, I know that you’re exhausted. Just tell me that you’re okay.”
His grip tightened on his own take out cup as he took a drink.
Groaning he shoved his hands through his hair, putting a very small distance between them. Waverly watched fearfully.
“I’ll tell you, just don’t flip the fuck out. Understand?”
For the first time ever she saw him hesitate, reaching over he covered her hands with his, squeezed them slightly, then threaded their fingers together.
Fearfully, her heart started to pound in her chest. No. It’s going to be bad, she studied their hands.
“Stop Waverly,” he replied in a husky tone, “Don’t think the worst,” he whispered, a warm look on his face, his eyes soft on her.
“Are you mine, Wave?”
With tearful eyes, she nodded, so afraid of what he was about to say that she couldn’t speak.
“I’m trying so damn hard to keep you, but I feel like one wrong step will send yo
u running again. I just fucking can’t lose you again.”
“Then, you’re right, we should talk,” Waverly choked out leaning back.
Walker nodded his head but tightened his hold on her hands pulling her closer to him.
“We will.”
Waverly maneuvered herself behind him on the sofa, her front to his back her legs resting on each side of him.
“What are you doing to me, Wave”
“Hush. Poor baby, you’re exhausted. You always take such good care of me, let me take care of you for a while. Lifting his shirt off of him and settled herself behind him on the sofa,
Pushing him forward slightly Waverly blew on her hands to warm them up and then placed her warm, soft hands on his shoulders. He instantly let out a deep breath. Her hands began to press and knead in gentle circles on his back, then drift up to his neck to scratch his scalp. Her fingers kneading his tough, knotted muscles with care. A low grunt escaped from Walker. Her fingers to his low shoulders pressing deep into his flesh, she heard his breathing become more relaxed and even.
Occasionally she couldn’t resist leaning in kiss the broad expanse of skin on display for her. Using a low even voice she began to coo and console him. Such a big guy, these muscles are so strong, so perfect. Taking care of me, protecting me. You run that big business, all of those important decisions, all of that responsibility for all of those workers. Her hands continued to work out the kinks and knots in his shoulders before traveling down each arm individually. Waverly felt his taught arm muscles loosen as she massaged she leaned forward until her nose rubbed on his neck, then inhaled his masculine, clean scent.
“Wave” he murmured.
“Come on Boss”
She wiggled out from behind him and stood, offering him her hand,
“You need rest, I’ll set the alarm for your meeting and you’ll feel so much better then.”
He stood taking her hand, he was practically asleep on his feet. She tugged him by the hand to the bedroom forcing him to sit, removed his clothes and forced him to lay down. Yawning he stretched out his entire body relaxing, then he reached out a hand to her.
“Stay, Wave.”
“I can’t I have plans, remember,”
His eyes closed and she sat on the edge of the bed watching and admiring him. His breath finally evened out, and he slept, she watched for a minute longer then leaned forward to give him a gentle kiss. She made sure that he was covered with an extra blanket, set his phone alarm and then left.
CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Although the much-needed sleep Waverly had sweetly forced on him left him feeling refreshed, he was plagued with guilt. Waverly desperately wanted to know about his earlier errand, and he knew damn well that he should have told her. But seeing the fear visible in her eyes halted his good intentions. Then, like a selfish prick, he had wanted another chance to just be with her before the shit hit the fan. Before she found or created another excuse to run off from him again. One more chance at peace and calm with her before he would be forced to go to hell and back to earn her back again.
He dreaded her reaction to his errand, he could only hope that in typical fashion, her volatile anger would flare and she would lash out...and then listen to him. The alternative was too painful for him to think of. He was in love with her. He needed to tell her. And, he knew that if things went badly over this, and the unthinkable occurred, his life without her would always be incomplete.
When Waverly strolled into his office, Walker was mid conference call, his eyes widened slightly, pleasantly surprised at her unexpected appearance, he admired every step of her graceful approach. Tumbling into the chair, across from his desk she relaxed, while he talked about developing a comprehensive integration plan and a need for robust advance planning. He ordered, coerced and commanded with his usual finesse. He looked gorgeous and...edible. Wearing a crisp white shirt under a perfectly tailored dark blue suit with a pale yellow tie, pulled loose around his neck. The quintessential poster boy for hot, successful, businessman.
Leaning forward in his chair, he communicated a few more concerns, then ended the call with a blatantly made-up excuse.
“Mr. Rike, you take my breath away when you talk about...whatever you were just talking about,” she complemented him in a soft breathy voice.
Getting out of his chair and rounding his desk. “Is something wrong Wave?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I was going to ask if you felt better after some rest, but you seem jumpy.”
He looked out his office window, pausing for a moment then looked back up to her.
“Shit, sorry, just business,” he explained, reaching down he pulled her up into his arms, holding her to him for a long quiet movement, Waverly sank into his strong arms enjoying the feel of them locked around her. Finally, he withdrew from her, his hands holding her shoulders, his expression serious as he searched her face.
“You’re okay?”
“I’m fine, I just wanted to see you,” she assured him, running her hands up to fiddle with his tie.
“You just saw me a couple of hours ago.”
“Well, that was hours ago. I just wanted to make sure that you were...refreshed.”
“Are you still meeting up with Kate?” He asked, removing his tie from her busy hands.
“I am, but you said that you wanted to talk, we avoided it this morning,” she answered with a hesitant smile.
Waverly unloosened his tie and removed it completely, resting her hand on his chest, over his heart, feeling the thump thump, strong and steady. Leaning in she brushed her lips on his, Walkers eyes watched his expression curious.
“Miss Matthews, are you sure that you came here to talk?”
He questioned, his lips tipping up at the corners.
Not a full force smile, but she was still pleased to see it.
“Hmm,” “she murmurs against my throat, her tongue licking and pressing hot open mouthed kisses along his jaw.
“Do you and Kate have big plans? Will Benn and I have to carry the two of you home again?” Walker pressed trying to ignore her wandering lips.
“Well we’re starting out slow today, tequila, some crack and a couple of underage college boys,” she offered teasingly.
“I’m thinking I’ll handcuff you to that chair,” he informed her in his bossy voice. The same sexy bossy voice she found irresistible, she was beginning to forget all about the reason that she was there.
“Walker, you can’t handcuff me to a chair, or tell me what I can and cannot do, I keep telling you that I won’t listen to you,” she scolded, laughing at him as she moved out of his arms.
“And I keep telling you that I can and you will.”
She bit her lips, trying to hide her smile. She was wearing a bulky wool sweater and yoga pants with brown leather boots, a scarf wrapped around her neck. She unwrapped the scarf and set it behind her on the chair.
Walker was smart enough to know he should remain silent, simply watching her movements with great interest.
Turning away from him, she Pulled her sweater over her head, tossing it carelessly on the chair next to her.
“You’re such a slob, Wave it’s just as easy to fold that as it is to...”
She turned to face him.
He stopped, she was standing in front of him in just a sheer cami, no bra under it.
“Fuck the sweater,” he groaned, dropping his head back staring up at the ceiling.
“I thought something was wrong, but no, you walk in here to my office and then you...”
“I,,,what?”
She prodded him, her eyes soft on him now, her nipples clearly showing. Reaching down she kicked off her boots, each one flying across his office, then she tugged off her yoga pants, pitching them backward without looking. Standing before him in just her sheer cami and a thong, she raised her eyebrows questioningly at him.
“You are so beautiful and so fucking sexy. Everywhere I look, I see you and every time I see you I want you. You just walk into
the room and I want to bend you over the nearest...anything and fuck you. You’re so goddamn soft and sweet, sometimes in the middle of the day, I find myself laughing at some bizarre thing you’ve said. I know you hate basketball, but you watch the Bulls games with me, you even DVR them for me when I can’t watch and I know that you put an extra blanket on the bed and cover me up with it when you think that I’m asleep. You...”
Interrupting him Waverly placed both hands on his biceps, leaning in to kiss him softly.
He tensed.
Testing she squeezed his biceps again watching him try not to wince.
“What’s wrong with your arm, did you hurt it this morning? Let me see,”
“Nothing. Wave, stop. I’m fine,” he huffed at her, trying to pull away then conceding once he realized that she wasn’t going to stop’
With an eye roll at her, he gave up, dropping his arms so she could unbutton the cuffs and push the shirt completely off of him. A new tattoo was the cause of his pain, an angry red surrounding it. Above the tribal tattoo circling his arm he had added a line of simple geometric waves.
Awed, she gently ran her fingers over it.
“Waves,” she whispered, finally raising her tear filled eyes to see him looking at her expectantly.
“Waves,” he answered simply, reaching up to brush away a tear that had escaped and begun to roll down her cheek.
“Baby, please, no tears today.”
Walker soothed as he cupped her jaw, drifting his thumb softly across her cheek.
Sniffing to end the tears, she smiled weakly at him then pulled back to let her eyes wander down his body. His abdominal muscles rippled as he leaned his hands back on his desk, entertained by her hungry eyes moving over him. Dragging her fingertips through the dark hair that trailed down beneath the waist of his pants. Her gaze dropped to his arousal, straining against the front of his pants, reaching down to touch him, stroking his growing length with one fingertip. Walker tensed, as she knelt before him, leaning forward, pressing open-mouthed kisses along his covered cock, her breath hot against him, her eyes locked on his.
The Dumbf*ck - Part Two of The DumbFuck Series: A Billionaire Bad Boy Humorous New Adult Romance (The DumbF*ck Part Two Book 2) Page 10