Walker and Valerie

by Annette Stephenson

  I stacked our snack plates with some others, then I refilled our glasses. The girls took the dishes and leftover snacks off the table then brought dinner plates and silverware. Ammo and Gena started bringing steaming dishes over. Everything looked delicious and smelled great.

  “Looks great, guys. Thank you both for cooking today,” Domino said to Ammo and Gena.

  “You’re welcome. Now eat, before it gets cold.” Gena said as she started to fill her plate.

  We enjoyed our meal, but the company made it even better. I found out that Trick had returned the toilet paper with an apology but took Domino’s toiletries, including his shaving kit, instead. He also left the girls a book, Fifty Ways to Kill with a Spoon. Good old Trick. After the brownies were polished off, I could tell Val was ready to go.

  “You ready to head home?” I leaned in to ask her.

  “Yeah, this has been wonderful, but I want to go relax.” She squeezed my hand.

  “Sure, let’s say our goodbyes and we can go, okay?” We thanked Gena and Ammo again for cooking. We thanked Domino for including us and said goodbye till next Sunday. I walked with her out to the van and let her get herself in. “So now that you met some of the crowd, are you okay with joining us on Sundays?” I asked her. I hated the thought that she would sit home alone all day.

  “Yeah, I even think going out to Dean and Eve’s will be fun. Though I think you will have to take us in your Jeep since this can’t hold two wheelchairs.” I was happy that she wanted to go.

  “That’s no problem. Just another excuse to have you in my arms.” I smiled at her. She laughed.

  “Did you need to go back home after you drop me off or can you stay a while?” She was playing with the sleeve of her jacket again.

  “I have nowhere I need to be until tomorrow morning at 7:30. Would you like me to stay a while?” I looked at her in the rearview mirror.

  “Yeah, I would.” She smiled. I was enjoying seeing her happy.

  We got to her place and she went to use the washroom and change. I went to the kitchen and got us some water. I saw Tabby-Girl on the counter, pawing her dish.

  “I don’t know if your mom wants me to feed you, but I will freshen your water. How does that sound?” I took her water dish to the sink, rinsed it, and refilled it.

  “Oh, thank you, Walker. She is probably hungry,” Val said, coming in the kitchen. I got out of her way so she could feed the cat.

  “I wasn’t sure if it was dinnertime or not for her. I know my mom’s cats are the best at begging second and thirds out of me and my dad,” I said as I took our waters to the couch. I saw the remote and turned the TV on. I found a movie that I thought we could enjoy. I saw her come into the living room. “Did you want your spot or for me to hold you?”

  She smiled. “Hold me, please. As long as you are sure you aren’t getting sick of it.”

  “Nope, I’ll never get sick of it,” I said as I scooped her up and sat on the couch with her in my lap.

  “Today did not go as I thought, but I am glad it happened. You have had a lot of change this weekend. How are you feeling about it?” I had wanted to talk to her and make sure she was okay with everything.

  “Honestly?” she asked.

  “Always.”

  “This has been a lot. I have not shared this much about myself with anyone but a counselor. It was scary, but maybe it was time. I’ve been lonely for a long time but letting people in is scary. I realized I am not the only person who has had bad things happen to them. If I didn’t want to be lonely, I was going to have to share the worst. I did, and now I have the start of something with you. And then the added bonus of one of my best friends back.” She smiled. “It was like we picked up where we left off. I didn’t realize just how bad Rachael was to us. I am glad that Josie and I are getting a second chance.”

  “Good. I am glad you are feeling positive about everything. Just do me one favor?” I asked her.

  “Hmm?”

  “Never get in a car with her if she is driving. She terrifies me, and that is hard to do.” I was thinking back to the terrifying drive to get back to Forces.

  Val laughed. “She likes fast, always has, but don’t worry, I won’t. I like how you can take what I tell you and sum it up. I am feeling positive about all the changes. What about you?”

  I looked at her. Her eyes were sparkling, and her smile was wide. “I am very happy. I was ready to rush you out of Domino’s when you realized who Binary was, but I am glad I didn’t. I saw how talking with her and accepting her apology took a lot of weight off your shoulders. I like seeing you happy.”

  “I am. Is what Josie said true? You need to touch me, you will be very possessive of me, and you will protect me? I know you are bossy. But most of the time it’s been in my best interest.”

  I sighed; I really didn’t want to freak her out. I took her hand and held it in mine, rubbing my thumb over the back, “Yes, it is true. I know a relationship is a new experience for you, and I am trying very hard to keep a lid on it for you. But I am still me, so it will come out.”

  “You said I shouldn’t hide from you. Well, if we are truly trying to make this work, you can’t hide from me either. Just be you, and if it is too much, I will tell you.”

  I looked down at our hands. We had linked them together. I was thinking about how I had been in the past and how I wanted to be with Val. She brought out this very fierce protector side of me that I still felt would scare her. I knew that as soon as I let myself be possessive of her, she would feel smothered. “Val, I …” I knew I shouldn’t hide from her, but I didn’t want to rush her either. I wanted her to set the pace. Letting that side come out would not be doing any of those things. “Not yet, I can’t.” My voice sounded strangled.

  Chapter 14

  Valerie

  He couldn’t what? Be himself? What was the point of the relationship if he wasn’t going to be himself? I might have had some fucked-up things happen in all of my relationships with people, but I knew you had to be yourself if the relationship was going to work. I looked in his eyes; they tended to change color from a clear blue to a stormy gray as his emotions rose. Right now, they were the stormiest that I had ever seen. Josie was right—when these men cared it went deep.

  “You can’t what, Walker?” I asked him. I squeezed the hand I held; my other was lying over his heart. I could feel his heart beating nice and even. He was still calm though he was warring with his emotions.

  He blew out a breath. “I don’t want to scare you or smother you. I will do both if I am myself right away.”

  “So, you want me to be in a relationship with only the parts you want to share of yourself?” I felt my temper flaring. I wanted to resolve this, not snap and fight about it.

  “No, I don’t want that either,” he said. He looked down at our hands again. “I just wanted to go slow and let you set the pace. Let you see what I was like without me jumping on anyone who touches you. Without me taking charge of things in your life, that I can do to make it easier for you.”

  “So, you decided to hide it and take the choice away from me? How does that work in a relationship? What were you going to do when I found out?” He hung his head. “Walker, the one thing I cannot stand is when people take away my choices and make decisions for me, thinking it’s better for me. Walker, look at me.” I waited for him to raise his head. His eyes were still stormy.

  “Walker, I am an adult. I can make my own decisions; I can speak up for myself. I want you to be yourself, as Neanderthal as you want to be, so then I can make my choice if I want to be with you or not, based on who you really are, not on a part of you. If I don’t like the way you are acting, I will tell you. Then we can talk about it and work out how to deal with it. But hiding it so I find out later is not a way to deal with it. Okay?”

  His eyes were becoming less cloudy and bluer. “Okay.” His smile was too small.

  This would help it come back. “All right then. So, are we going to make out or what?” He
watched me as I licked my lips, hoping he would kiss me like he had the night before.

  He picked me up and turned us, so I was lying my back. His lips were on mine, his tongue willing me to open for him. I wrapped my hands around his shoulders and held on. His hands roamed my body till he found my breasts. He flicked my nipples through my shirt. I felt the liquid heat pool between my legs. He kissed me deeper. He had settled himself between my legs and soon was grinding against me. I wanted him.

  I pulled on his shirt till he pulled it off. He was gorgeous. His arms were solid with muscle. I ran my hands up and down them as he kissed my neck. His shoulders were well developed and then there was his chest. Fuck, he was so sexy. I mussed his hair; it was soft and silky to my fingers. Even his well-trimmed beard was soft. He pulled up from me and I looked in his eyes; they were stormy again.

  He was panting. “Val, I gotta stop,”

  I looked up at him. I was confused. Why did he have to stop?

  “Val, when I take you, I want us to be making love, not just having sex. Do you understand?” He reached down and cupped my face.

  I wasn’t good enough to have sex with?

  “Val, you are not listening to me. You need to listen. I want us to be in love for our first time. You are too special to me to just fuck.” His eyes bored into mine.

  “Oh.” When he said like that, I understood. He felt I deserved to feel special. I smiled. I would like that.

  “Now you understand. Okay, good,” he said. He got up, turning his back to me.

  I gasped; his back was a work of art. From the base of his neck down to the top of his jeans he had tattoos. It was all black, and the shading was intense. “Walker, your back is amazing.” I couldn’t take my eyes off it. There was so much going on.

  I heard him chuckle. “Here, lie on your side and I will explain them.”

  I turned as he asked, and he sat on the edge of the couch so not only could I see his back but touch it as well. It started at his neck and went down to the top of his hips.

  “At the top is the Helm of Awe, for protection. The next circle is the Pathfinder, to bring me home safe and sound. At the bottom is the Tree of Life; it connects everything. The dragons contain the Matrix of Faith. The past connects to the future. The two ravens are Huginn and Muninn; thought and memory.”

  “How many hours did it take?” I knew big pieces like this could take forever. I had traced the areas as he explained them.

  “It took five sessions, about five hours each. And yes, it hurt. It’s like getting a sunburn.” He put his shirt back on “Do you have any?” he asked. I was sad to his body covered again.

  “No, I never found anything I wanted to keep on me for life. But I think they are beautiful. Well, most of them anyway. Some, well, you wonder if the artist was drunk.”

  He laughed. “Yeah, I’ve seen some bad ones. All right, Val, I am going to head home. Can I help you before I go?” he asked as he stood up.

  “Please.” I raised my arms so he could pick me up easier. He set me down. “Walker.” I held on so he would have to kneel so he could be at my height. “Thank you. Thank you for today; thank you for making sure I am special.” I looked in his eyes as I spoke.

  He took my hand and kissed it. “It was my pleasure and honor, Val,” he said. He kissed me one more time.

  “Call me when you get home?” I asked. I liked making sure he got home safe.

  “Sure will. Let me hear the door lock.” That was his way of making sure I was safe. I let him out and locked the door.

  I made sure Tabby-Girl had enough food and water then went to my room. While my head liked the thought of us waiting till we were in love, my body needed release. I hoped I had enough time before he called. I got in bed and took off my pants. I opened my nightstand and found my favorite vibrator.

  I was imagining him kissing my neck, moving down to my breasts, sucking and nibbling on my nipples. I found my clit and let the vibrator do the work while I kept imagining him making out with me. I was just about there and heard my phone ring. I stopped. It was Walker. I answered.

  “I’m home, you okay? You sound breathless,” he said.

  “Yeah, fine.” I was still trying to catch my breath.

  He chuckled. “Val, are you masturbating?” he asked. Of course, he asked.

  “Uuuhh, yeah,” I quietly whispered.

  “I see. Well, I am apparently overdressed for this phone call. What are you wearing?” he asked. I heard him shuffling around.

  “My T-shirt.”

  “Take it off. I am taking mine off.” I could tell he moved away from the phone. I whipped my T-shirt off as fast as I could. “Are you on your bed?” he asked. I heard rustling again.

  “Yeah.”

  “Me too. Are you using your fingers?”

  “No.” I had turned the vibrator back on, but it was so low and slow, it was not doing much for me.

  “A toy, Val? Mmmm, is it up high enough for you?”

  I turned it up and it felt so much better as I found my clit again. I moaned.

  “Mmm, did you find your clit? Are you thinking about me rubbing it for you?”

  “Yeah, are you stroking your cock for me?” Now I was thinking about him masturbating for me as I was for him. This was so much better than my imagination on my own.

  “Yeah, I have my hand wrapped around my cock, sliding up and down, wishing it was your hand. Are you close, Val?”

  “Nearly there. Thinking about you flicking my nipples.”

  “I would take one in my mouth and swirl my tongue around the tip and suck it.”

  That did it. I moaned out my release, then took a few breaths. “I am so hot and wet. And ready for you. I feel you rub the tip in my folds before sliding in my hot wet pussy. Not all the way in yet; just enough to get your cock wet. You pull back, then all … the … way … in,” I said slowly.

  I heard him groan. “Oh, Val … fuck … yeah,” he groaned out, then took a few breaths and cleared his throat. “Fuck, that was hot. You enjoy yourself?”

  “Ummhmm, that was very hot.” I could not believe we just had phone sex. It was fucking awesome.

  He chuckled. “Yeah, go to bed, Val. Curl up and think about me holding you in my arms. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  I curled up like he told me to. “I am, thank you. I look forward to it. Night, Walker.”

  “Night, Val.” He hung up.

  Tabby-Girl jumped on the bed and found her spot next to me, I started petting her. I could not believe how and fast this was all moving. But it all felt right. My grandmother had said when it was meant to be, it would be a perfect whirlwind. Then she would tell me the story of how she and my grandfather met and married within one week. It worked for them though; they had been married for forty-seven years and counting. I fell asleep thinking about him holding me.

  Chapter 15

  Walker

  I had spent Monday in the command center. We had taken apart the video and gotten an image. The person was wearing a baseball hat, hoodie, sunglasses; all of it was dark. We couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. Their height and weight were average. I hit a dead-end there until I could get the names from Val. I went back to my problems—Jessica and her cousin. I pulled as much background as I could on both. The only progress I made there was I did confirm they were cousins. More like a step-cousin by a marriage, but it was there.

  I talked with Val that night. I made plans with Val to pick her up and take her to work in the morning. I needed to get the names from her, and I wanted to show her the picture from the video. I was falling hard and fast for her. I talked to my mom about everything, trying to sort out how fast things had changed. I talked to my dad. He liked to study Norse mythology; right now, he was studying Valkyries. He told me all about them.

  I pulled up to her house on Tuesday morning. She was waiting for me. “Hi, how are you?” I kissed her.

  “Better now.” She smiled. I opened the passenger door for her. She had her arms up s
o I could pick her up and placed her in the seat.

  “I know this is not ideal, but I can’t borrow Domino’s van all the time.” I felt bad; I knew she would rather do it herself.

  “It’s fine, I like you holding me anyway.” Her smile lit up her face. Beautiful.

  “Okay, let’s get you to work.” We drove over. She let us in and opened the theater. I watched her work; she was very efficient and before I knew it, she had about twenty people in theaters one and three. Five-dollar movie day was popular.

  “All right, let’s get you Jim and Mother’s info so you can go to work.” She went to her office and in a few minutes handed me some printed sheets. “That’s all I have. I don’t think you will find anything with them.”