Yesterday he had been lucky. He knew he would have saved Riley or died trying, and they were both very fortunate it had worked out. Riley was okay. But it had taken it out of him. He kept imagining how it could have ended very differently. He’d pictured himself frozen by fear and her plunging past him. What if he’d hesitated too long and her shoe had worked itself free? He’d had to get up in the night, pacing his bedroom, trying to clear his mind of old images of times when things hadn’t gone right. He was exhausted. And any thanks were unnecessary. In fact, he’d just like to turn his attention to something else entirely. Or someone. He glanced across at Gabi and found her watching him. Their eyes met.
‘Riley made you this.’ Rosie handed over a card and everyone gathered in to see. Hand-drawn and colourful, the card showed a stick man wearing a helmet, with something in his hands. Something long and thick. They all stared. Gabi giggled.
‘What the hell is he holding between his legs?’ Isabella asked. Rosie snorted.
‘That’s hispole, apparently.’
‘Wow.’ Amber cracked a smile. ‘It’smassive.’
Walker felt his mood lighten with relief as the girls pulled appreciative faces. He looked up at Gabi again and she raised an inquisitive eyebrow. He winked and her eyes widened. If she wanted to know, he’d be only too happy to oblige.
The waitress approached and the group went to sit at the table. Walker took his chance, moving closer to Gabi now that the focus was off him. She smelled of shampoo and soft, musky perfume. Delicious. He pulled up the chair next to her and trailed a finger down the side of her arm when nobody was watching. She shot him a look under her eyelashes, and he did it again. She bit her lip. The waitress appeared between them and he reluctantly let his hand drop.
Everyone ordered meatballs, as that was the only thing on the menu. Isabella’s brainchild of a restaurant had been a resolute hit with the locals.
‘We’re booking a massive table for the Honeybridge Community Awards next weekend because Walker’s been nominated for an award. Who’s in?’ Alex said as drinks were poured. Everyone shouted their acceptances.
‘Let’s hope you win,’ Etienne said, raising his beer bottle in a salute.
‘I’ll do my very best,’ Walker said, wishing that the mention didn’t fill him with anxiety.
‘You always do,’ Wren added, saluting him with her wine glass.
‘You certainly did your best by me the other day,’ Gabi said quietly. ‘Didn’t leave a job half done.’ He turned to her, glad to change the subject. And the subject of her body was probably his favourite topic right now. The only thing that didn’t come with extra stress.
‘What can I say? I like to please.’ Walker shrugged, and she laughed, a throaty chuckle. He might be tired, but he decided to shoot his shot.
‘What are you doing later?’ he asked and her eyes caught his.
‘You, hopefully,’ she said mischievously, and the spark was lit.
By the time they managed to escape, it was early evening. All afternoon, she’d teased him. Letting her hand trail on his thigh under the table as they ate or rubbing her leg against his own. He gave as good as he got, accidentally on purpose knocking her shoulder so her top’s strap slipped down her arm. She was in full force, telling stories about her co-stars, impersonating their accents, and he found her husky laugh as sexy as her body. As tired as he was, the energy between them was keeping him going.
‘Can you do a Scottish accent?’ he asked her, remembering the French accent she used at Story Stars.
She shook her head. ‘Maybe I could do with a little one-on-one tuition?’ She looked at him cheekily.
‘I’d be happy to help.’ He winked.
‘Do you ever wear a kilt?’ she asked.
He grinned. ‘Yep.’ She raised her eyebrow again.
‘I’d be interested in seeing that,’ she said. She dropped her voice and leaned in. ‘And what’s underneath it.’
He laughed outright.
Everyone watched them leave together but nobody said a word, apart from Isabella who laughingly warned her to watch out for his pole. It wasn’t just them that were heading off for an after-party either. He’d seen the flirty looks between Amber and Alex flying all day.
As they’d each settled their share of the bill, Alex had whispered to him, ‘Amber is coming back to ours for a while.’
Walker had nodded at his hopeful expression. ‘You’ll have the place to yourselves. I’m going back with Gabi.’ They’d bumped fists discreetly, wishing each other well.
It started as soon as he closed the door. Gabi came at him this time, letting her crutches fall to the floor and winding her arms around his neck. He crushed her body against his and his mouth found hers, forcefully, unable to wait any longer. She kissed him back ferociously. Only when Walker heard her gasp did he pause for breath, before scooping her up in his arms. He kicked the bedroom door shut behind him before laying her in the middle of the bed. He clicked on the bedside lamp and peeled his T-shirt off in the orange glow. Her eyes were almost black as they roamed over his chest. Gabi wiggled expertly out of her vest top, and he licked his lips at seeing her breasts again, spilling out of a tiny bra, nipples almost escaping. She unclipped the clasp and the fabric fell away. He watched the nipples bud under his gaze. She reached a hand out for him. He didn’t need asking twice. The bed dipped as he joined her, rolling her in close.
Gabi’s fingers traced the tattoos on his shoulders, leaving tiny trails in their wake. She ran her palms over his pecs and circled his nipples. He clutched her against him, her breasts pressed to his chest, and then he kissed her deeper than before. She wound her fingers into his hair, and he was hard and straining for more. He thrust against her, and she moaned. Suddenly she stopped.
‘Lie back,’ she said, breath ragged. Walker hesitated, torn between wanting to explore her body more and wanting her to take the lead. ‘Lie back,’ she repeated. ‘It’s your turn.’
