to wander over my thighs and stomach, and his lips searched over my neck and collarbone.
Breathing deeply, he pleaded, “Mags, just please be open and honest with me.” In between kisses of lustful passion, he continued, “I want you, I’ve wanted you, just please don’t let me screw this up.”
Kissing him back, loving every flutter that was erupting in my stomach, I said, “Walker, I want this, too. We are just going to have to work on it ...” I pushed him away a little so I could look into his eyes, making sure he heard every word. “I don’t care if it’s rough, you’re worth it and I am thankful to have you.”
His kisses softened as they lined my jaw once again and made their way back up to my lips. His muscular chest flexed against me, causing my entire body to tingle with covetous lust, as he lifted me again He started to make his way to the couch. I shook my head firmly once and he halted, stopping to look me dead in the eyes, questioning my response.
“No, not on the couch this time. Take me to my bed.” My voice came out strong and very matter-of-factly. Without another word, Walker obeyed.
We embraced our newfound comfort with each other, and with the only words that escaped Walker’s lips, I knew I was done for. “Just be honest with me, Mags, from here on out. Feel free to scream, whisper, and everything in between. I want to hear it all.”
With that, we made love to the rhythm of perfection and devotion for what felt like at least an hour, and cuddled for about that amount of time after. We lay wrapped up and intertwined in bliss and understanding, knowing it was us against the world.
I was so thankful to not be alone in my fight any longer.
19
Walker sat up and stretched next to me after we realized that we were cutting it close to getting ready for dinner with Liz and Jim. In agreeing for us to bring the dessert, he unknowingly promised I would bake one of my famous German chocolate cakes. It was Liz’s favorite, and usually my bartering chip for her amazing four-course dinners.
“Well, we better get to the store so we can start baking.” I stretched too, and then got up to tie my bed hair into a messy bun and throw on some eyeliner so I looked a little more presentable.
Wrapping me up into an inviting embrace from behind, Walker lips caressed my ear, teasing me a little. “Why can’t you just be a normal dinner guest and bring a store-bought cookie cake or something?”
I smiled, turning to look at the smoldering lust still flickering in Walker’s green eyes, trying to resist how sexy he looked without a shirt on, looking at me like that. “Because this is what I do and its Liz’s favorite. Come on! It’ll be fun! You can help me.”
With an innocent, mockingly cute face, Walker shook his head. “Mags, I can’t bake, I’ll burn the house down.”
“Well, frankly, you don’t have a choice. I need a sous chef and you’re it, so go get dressed and I’ll make us a list.”
Protesting a little bit more, Walker sulked on his way out of the room and I scribbled all of the ingredients onto a loose piece of paper. I was pretty excited to have dinner with Liz and Jim. I really had missed them, and with them only living a few doors down, that notion was almost silly to me. I knew I was avoiding them because of my newfound feelings for Walker, but I also knew they would support me in finding happiness, whichever road I had to take to get there.
I started to rummage through my cabinets and pantry, checking ingredients off my list left and right, realizing I had everything except for the German baker’s chocolate and shaved coconut in my kitchen. I began to line up all the needed items, when a low groan came from behind me. “Mags, is it bad I’m nervous to see the McManus’?”
Walker was standing in the doorway, head down, hands in his pockets, with a solemn look on his face. It was an uncomfortable contrast to my excitement, which confused and pained me. I made my way over to him, cupping both his cheeks in my hands, bringing his gaze up to meet mine. “You have the right to feel any way you do, Walker.” I paused, let my words sink in and then continued. “If you’re not feeling up to going or are going to be uncomfortable being there, then don’t go. I can make up an excuse about you eating undercooked chicken for lunch and they’ll be fine. I’ll have a quick dinner and then come home to you.”
Walker pressed his cheek against mine, took a deep breath, kissed me quickly then shook his head, all in rapid fire. “No, love. Look at you! You’re beaming. How could I miss that, or be scared of it?” He smiled down at me and kissed my cheek again. “Liz and Jim are family. They’ll be supportive over anyone else.”
I hugged tightly around Walker’s waist. “Exactly!”
I started to go over the list of things we needed to do for our baking afternoon. “First, I'll get the last two ingredients, and then teach you how to froth egg whites, and you’ll make the frosting while I do the other stuff.” I was going a mile a minute, bouncing up and down in the kitchen.
Walker grabbed my shoulders to stabilize me, and his face lit up with joy, “Mags, I haven’t seen you like this in, I really don’t know how long. How about this; I’ll run to the store, you preheat the oven and get started, and I’ll be back soon.”
I nodded yes, “That’s perfect. Thanks, love!”
He dug his keys out of his pocket, took the list of two things out of my hand and wrapped me. “Please stay this happy, you’re my joy. When you’re happy, it’s contagious to me.”
I looked up at Walker, smiling with tears forming, but they felt different. They were happy,
Walker only took long enough at the store for me to straighten my hair and have a few sips of a jack and ginger to keep up with my effervescent mood. Once he came in, I made him a drink and we put on aprons. With much protesting on Walker’s part, but I finally got him to wear a ‘kiss the cook’ pink apron with bright red lips on it; the sight was just adorable and I obeyed the writing’s command more than once.
Surprisingly, Walker was a big help and knew his way around the kitchen more than he let on. Within no time, the icing was in the fridge chilling, and the smell of baking chocolaty goodness was engulfing my entire home. I breathed in the delectable smell with every chance I got; it reminded me of a time when I was free of heartache, guilt, and emotion.
While waiting for the cake to finish baking, Walker and I, each with a batter-covered beater in hand, made our way to the couch to relax. Walker’s mood had noticeably lightened, the looks of worry and shame vanished. I was so relieved. It was going to be hard enough with Jim and Liz finding out that I was shacking up with Walker.
I snuggled down into the crook of Walker’s arm and licked the uncooked cake off the cool metal, enjoying every minute of this bliss. “Walker, thanks for this. I know you’re not too excited about dinner. It means a lot to me.”
He shuffled next to me so our eyes could meet, a soft expression lay on his lips along with some left over chocolate from his beater. “Mags, I was just being dumb. Tonight means a lot to me, too. I love Jim and Liz like they were my own parents.” He looked away for a second, his voice growing a little more distant. “Maybe, I just don’t want to upset them.”
I rested my head gently on his shoulder as the buzzer sounded for me to take the cake out of the oven.
Calling out from the kitchen, into the living room where Walker still lazily lay on the couch, I said, “Want to come see our masterpiece?” I smiled as he walked into the kitchen while I spread the cool frosting over the steaming cake layers, letting it melt and drip over the sides perfectly.
“Where’d you learn how to make this?” Walker smiled and took some of the coconut frosting onto his finger
