Quietly, I slid behind Walker and wrapped my arms around his lusty torso, kissing his shoulder blade softly. “This is a pleasant surprise.” I breathed into his back, kissing him one more time.
I could feel all of Walker’s muscles relax as I kissed his ripped back. He turned around to me after flipping a few pancakes onto a plate, smiling so sweetly. “Good morning, sleepyhead!” His hand ran across my freshly healed tattoo, raising up my shirt a little to look at the little bird flying across my hip bone. “I still need to get my tattoo since you stole my appointment.” A sly smile spread on his virile, stubble-ridden face.
I shot him a playful jab to the ribs. “You offered!” He raised his eyebrows at me and winked, turning to continue cooking. Walker refused any help, saying he had everything under control. I poured both of us coffee, putting sugar and a splash of cream in Walker’s just the way he liked it, and leaving mine black. I leaned up against the fridge and watched with a slight smirk on my face as Walker scrambled cheese into our eggs and plated our feast. With a quick kiss to my forehead, Walker carried both of our plates to the table and pulled out my chair. I smiled at his wonderful gesture and thanked him again for how unexpectedly nice this all was.
Taking his seat across from me, Walker rested his hand gently on mine, a soft expression spread quickly starting at the corner of his eyes and dancing all the way down and across his plump lips. “I’m just treating you the way you deserve, Mags. I promised Mitch, after all.”
A playful smile settled in and I laughed a little. “Well, thank you very much.”
Halfway through our meal, I felt my cell vibrate in my pocket. I looked down to find a text from my boss saying that most of the offices would be ready for work on Wednesday and mine was one of them. I was a little relieved that I was going back to work. Even though the few extra days off gave Walker and me a lot of time to spend together and figure things out, work was my escape from reality, and I was really looking forward to getting back into my routine.
“Looks like I get to go back to work on Wednesday.” I tried to sound a little sad about it, giving a frown and an eyebrow crease for good measure.
“At least you like your job, though. I’m sure you’re ready to go back.” Walker took another sip of his coffee to wash down his last bite of pancakes. “Besides, I’m going to have to report to base soon and now you won’t be too bored without me.” He smiled and winked, getting up to put his plate in the sink.
Before he could start washing the griddle and plates, I shot up and shooed him out of the kitchen. It was simple in my head; he cooked, and I cleaned. He creased his brow while he protested, then plopped on the couch to watch sports highlights in a daze, clinging to his mug filled with coffee for, what looked like, dear life.
“Don’t forget I made plans for us to have dinner with Liz and Jim tonight,” I yelled to him, while elbow deep in hot soapy water. Walker agreed to call and confirm the plans while I finished up. He walked into the kitchen before dialing Jim’s number on his cell.
“Hey Jim, how’s it going?” Walker’s voice was different when he talked to Jim, a little bit rougher than I was used to. “Yeah, Mags and I will be heading over around seven if that works for y’all.” He paused before asking if there was anything we needed to bring, and asking how Liz was doing. Their conversations were always short and to the point. “Alright, Jim, we’ll see you tonight, and we’ll bring something for dessert.”
Walker came over to the counter, crossing his arms over his chest before leaning right next to me. “Is seven good for you, babe?” A sly smile spread on his lips while saying the last word, and it sent flutters through my body.
“Yeah, that’s good.” I was hiding the giddy tizzy in my response to the best of my ability. It was wonderful to be happy again and every time I thought something along those lines, guilt always settled right in. I made a mental note to talk to Candice about that during our next session.
A small frown had formed, along with a crease in Walker’s brow as he looked at me. Shaken by his expression, I threw some suds at him. “What’s wrong, sourpuss?”
Walker shook his head and then smiled amiably. “It just makes me sad that every time I make you smile, it’s followed by a look of pain, sadness or disgust.”
I was taken aback; I hadn’t realized that my face gave me away so easily. I tried to smile, taking Walker's hand in mine. “I’m just still learning how to be happy without guilt. I’m sure you, of all people, understand.”
Walker’s eyes went cold and shallow as his face went pale. “More than you know…” His head fell as his words trailed off. He bent down, gave me a quick peck on the cheek and then started to walk out of the kitchen. “I’m gonna hop in the shower. Be out soon.”
I leaned against the sink and stared after Walker. I was shocked by his reaction; most of the time he seemed so well-adjusted. I felt bad, not knowing if I should have gone after him to make sure he was okay. Right when I was about to take my first steps, the pipes above my head started to whine as the water was turned on in my guest bath.
I went back to the dishes and finished cleaning the entire kitchen and table before Walker came back downstairs. Before his musky shampoo finally filled the living room, where I had found myself curled up on the couch, I’d started to get worried.
From a low, almost growl, Walker strode into the room with pre-made questions that quickly caught me off guard. “Why didn’t you pitch a fit last night? What that bitch did and my half-assed comeback deserved a lashing and you fucking pussied out and I just don’t get it, Mags.” Walker was pacing between the kitchen and the living room, his hand resting on his crew-cut scalp.
I sat, paralyzed for a minute, not sure what to say. “Walker, I am over being pissed for no reason, letting things build. I’m a free spirit and have not been living lately. I died that day with Randy in that fucking hellhole and I am ready to reclaim my life.”
Walker and I had never really talked about our feelings until that moment. We had always been shallow with each other and that was selfish. Finally, in the heat of this moment, ready to let it explode, we were honest for the first time. We saw each other completely and it was beautiful.
In mid-stride, Walker halted, dropped to his knees and held his head in his hands. “He was never supposed to get hurt, but I made him a promise, and I am here living with it every day. I will protect you, Liz and Jim …” His voice cracked, broke, froze and then regained its strength. “And you will never have to live with that bull, like last night, ever again.”
I stood, looking down on Walker’s tensed and shaking body. There was something so strange about the way he was acting. Usually, he was tough, seemingly happy, not broken and never one to harbor anything like this. “Walker?” My voice was weak, I was scared to continue. I sat down in front of him on the floor, picking up his solemn face with my hand, “What’s really bothering you? You don’t care about last night, so what is it? What do you mean ‘promise’? What are you really hiding from? Why didn’t you go back home, why’d you stay here?”
It was almost like something in that moment snapped in Walker, his muscles puffed and his veins bulged, the hair on the back of his neck and arms stood on end, his light green eyes smoldered to an almost black, he seemed to turn almost feral.
He shot up from the floor, breathing heavily through gritted teeth, “Randy made me swear.” He stomped over to the fridge, punching it so violently, the sound sent shivers through me. I had never seen him snap like this. For the first time, I was actually scared of him. I must have let out a cry from fright, because Walker face switched back instantly. His jaw line softened, his eye rounded and lightened into their pale green.
“Mags.” He whispered, kneeling down next to me as tears rolled silently down my cheeks. I was cringing, holding my knees to my chest, staring in the dent Walker had just put in my stainless steel fridge. “Look, my home sucks, Randy knew that. So when our numbers got called he asked me to stick around here with the only real family ever had. That’s all.”
Walker’s arms were wrapped around my body and I let myself melt into him, nodding into his chest, “You just scared me that’s all. I’ve never seen that side of you before.”
He pecked my forehead, leaving his lips lingering on my skin. “I promise to never let that happen again.”
I pressed myself into him harder, still a little shaken. I knew every word he uttered was true. Walker was always too loyal, and I knew he felt it was his duty to take care of Randy’s family, and that included me. It broke my heart to think that what the two of us had was just based on a soldier’s survivor’s guilt, but I was too chicken shit to bring it up. Walker made me feel safe, complete and halfway sane, and I was not willing to lose all of that due to my big mouth. So, instead of opening it to talk, I leaned up and kissed Walker firmly on the cheek.
From his knees, Walker’s strong body lifted mine effortlessly onto the counter, kissing my lips and jaw line as he set me on the chilly granite. Just being in his button-down and my panties made it easy access for his hand
