Page 104 of Fumbling for Perfection

“This doesn’t sound good.”

I chuckle and squeeze his hand. “To be fair. She’s the one who encouraged me to go back to your hotel room in Rhode Island.”

“Recanting. Kendall is a goddess of advice. What did she tell you this time? To surprise me in my apartment?” He brings our joined hands to his mouth and kisses my knuckles. “While I love the surprise, I’m only happy about it if youwantto be here.”

“This was my idea.”

“I’m glad. So what’s this advice your best friend gave you?”

“In a nutshell, she reminded me how stupid I’m being for overthinking everything and not following my...heart.”

“For the record, I’d rather have you overthink than make a decision you’ll regret.” Walker releases my hands and places them on his shoulders and squeezes my hips. “Can I ask where your heart is leading you?”

Damn, his stormy gray eyes are heated with lust, and I’m the luckiest girl on the planet to be on the receiving end. I curl my fingers around the back of his neck and lift up on my toes so our mouths are only a breath apart.

“Here,” I whisper across his lips as anticipation builds and my heart quickens with a blend of excitement and nervousness.

“Damn.” Walker slams his mouth down on mine.

I’m flooded with a whirlwind of sensations and emotions. An explosion of feelings seeps into my soul. There’s a rush of tenderness as Walker’s hands frame my face, and the softness of his touch, coupled with the fervor of the kiss, sends shivers down my spine, leaving me feeling both vulnerable and empowered.

The world outside, all my doubts, my insecurities, my worries, fade into insignificance. The connection between us is so deep, not just through the touching of our lips and mating of our tongues, but through the emotions exchanged in our intimate embrace. His touch awakens a cascade of emotions within. A longing, desire, and an overwhelming sense of being cherished.

This is what Walker does to me.

The intensity of our kiss speaks volumes, hopefully communicating a language of love and desire without the need for words. Time seems to halt, allowing me to savor every sensation, every heartbeat, every shared breath.

Either my ears are ringing from the intensity of the kiss, or there’s a beeping in the background.The lasagna.

I pull back and rest my forehead against his. I’m breathless, my mind reeling with the sheer intensity of the kiss. It leaves me yearning for more yet feeling content in the depth of our connection.

“Do you need to get that?” Walker asks, and I smile when he sounds as breathless as I feel.

“Unless you want burned lasagna.”

“It would be worth it.” I giggle and he kisses the tip of my nose. “But I don’t want all the hard work you put into making dinner to go to waste. And I’m starving.” He gives my butt a light slap.

“Go wash up. The lasagna needs to rest for at least fifteen minutes anyway.”

“Perfect. It gives me just enough time to have dessert.” He follows me to the kitchen, and after he’s washed his hands and I’ve set the cooling lasagna on the counter, he gives me a devilish smirk.

“We’re starting with salad while it rests.”

Walker plucks the hot mitts off my hands and tosses them on the counter. Shaking his head, he drops to his knees in front of me and tugs on my leggings. “Dessert first.”

“Walker!”

He strips me of my bottoms, then stands and flips me over his shoulder.

“I thought you were hungry.” I can’t contain my giggle as he carries me to the living room and plops me on the couch.

“Starved.” He kneels on either side of my hips and lowers his mouth to mine, kissing me deeply. “I’ve missed you so fucking much. Tell me it’s too soon, that you’re not there yet, and I’ll stop. But I need to taste you. All of you.”

Oh, hell. I’m so wet I’m sure there’s a puddle on the white sofa under me. I nod and he growls as he kisses me again while his hands work their way up my shirt. I’m glad I took my hoodie off while I was making dinner. One less barrier between us.

When I reach for the waistband of his joggers, he pushes my hands away.

“Not yet, baby. This is about you.”

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