Page 108 of The Ones We Fight For

“That was new, but I really liked it.” Talia bit her lip and touched her neck gingerly.

“It’s ‘I really liked it, Mr. Hartrick,’” Walker corrected, getting up from the bed to bare-ass jog over to the bathroom.

“Oh, sorry,” Talia laughed, calling out to him as he turned onthe faucet. She dropped her voice to a low, sexy rasp. “Mr. Hartrick, that was the best sex of my life.” He returned with a warm washcloth and a toothy grin, basking in her words.

When the pride dwindled away, Walker climbed onto the bed and tapped the inside of one of her knees. “Open.”

Talia blushed. “I can clean myself.”

“No one asked you if you could do it.” He gave her a stern look. “This isn’t a request. I’ve never been raw with anyone else. I want to see me dripping down your legs and clean it myself. Open.”

She obeyed, her knees falling to either side of her.

“Attagirl,” he said, adjusting on the bed to get a better angle.

“Just be gentle, it’s sensitive now.”

Walker pressed the warm rag into Talia, and her eyelashes fluttered. “This okay?”

“Yes.” Her dreamy tone made him smile. “It feels nice.”

“Good.”

Carefully, Walker swept over her folds and the insides of her thighs, ridding the evidence of his desire. He could still smell himself on her skin, though. He could still taste her on his tongue. He wanted to take a picture, half expecting that anything good was bound to be ripped from his grasp before he could hold onto it. The trauma response evaporated when Talia lightly traced her hands over his tattoos, leaving her lingering warmth behind. A new thought replaced it.

This love was permanent.

It would be there long after they were both ghosts. In musicthat blasted from speakers. In the whirlpool of coffee, swishing around in a mug. In laughter and in sorrow.

Talia brushed her hand across his chest as he finished cleaning her of his release. With joyous triumph, he raised the damp washcloth into the air and shouted “Kobe!” as he catapulted it towards the laundry basket in the corner of his old room. He made it in without a hitch and fist pumped the air in celebration. Talia mumbled “dork” under her breath as he laid down beside her, his eyes softening to take her in again.

“You’re always hot, but holy fuck you’re sexy when you come.” Walker dragged his thumb over her bottom lip. “I can’t wait to see that again.”

Talia lifted her hand to her hair, her cheeks flushing as she tried to comb out her tangles.

“Leave it.” Walker caught her wrist mid-brush and pulled it away, setting it on his chest. “You’re beautiful.”

“You just like knowing that you made it this way.” Talia shoved him playfully, and he chuckled, bobbing his head in agreement.

“You’re not wrong. But neither am I.” He tucked a strand of hair behind Talia’s ear and leaned forward to kiss the top of her head. “You’re gorgeous. Especially naked and in my bed.” His grin stretched over his face, and she rolled her eyes, laughing as she wiggled closer to him and set her head on his chest.

“Your heart is still beating really fast,” she murmured.

“It’s always beating fast around you.”

Looking up at him, Talia tipped her mouth toward Walker, and he brought his lips down to her. The sexual tension had been relieved, and all that was left was Talia. Her sweet citrus scent. Her soft skin glowing in the moonlight that spilled in from the crack in the curtains. The way she sounded sighing against his lips. He continued to drowsily kiss her until he felt the goosebumps spring up on her arms again.

“Here.” Walker pulled up the comforter, covering them both as she wiggled into his side and curled up in his arms again, her eyes falling shut. They both stayed silent, relaxing into each other as the bedding warmed over them. Peace was something Walker didn’t have much of since the accident, but he had it then, holding Talia in his arms and whispering a “good night” into her hair.

It wasn’t long after that her body went completely slack with sleep. Walker was tired, too, but he forced his eyes open just a little longer to watch Talia sleep and to listen to her breathe. The overwhelming sensation that he had finally found someone who knew him fully—every facet and every fault—and still loved him washed over his spent limbs as he smiled down at the top of Talia’s head and settled in for the night. The last coherent thought he had before succumbing to exhaustion was one that he had pushed down many times before. This time, the thought rose to the surface with so much certainty that he didn’t question it.

You’re going to marry her.

Chapter 39

Walker

Walker dreamt about Cole and Paisley, and this time, he wasn’t drowning. Instead, he was in the dining room, sitting at the table with his brother, sister-in-law, all the kids, the Winstons, and Talia. It was family dinner night. Paisley’s hand was entwined in Cole’s, and the kids were all bickering about Colin’s latest Monopoly win. Talia, Amala, and Paisley had their own side conversation going about interior design at Lydia’s as Cole and Roscoe traded horrendous dad jokes. Walker said nothing. He took in the faces around the table with a soft smile as he set his arm on the back of Talia’s chair, leaning into her side. Cole noticed and grinned stupidly at him, tossing Walker a knowing wink before he turned to plant a kiss on his wife’s cheek.

---