Page 29 of Fumbling for Perfection

“A heart attack for a heart attack. I’d say we’re even.”

I can’t help the satisfied smile on my lips. Walker rests both arms on either side of my face and brushes his lips across mine as he slowly sinks his cock in me.

“Perfection,” he moans.

He fills me completely. I’m stretched thin, but not painfully so. He’s large, and hard, and I mold to him as if I were made for him. Our bodies sync as he thrusts slowly in and out of me. I wrap my arms and legs around him, holding him tight, never wanting to let go.

After our frenzied foreplay, the slow, languid lovemaking is a nice change.

Lovemaking.

I should drive my heels into his ass and make him fuck me like a one-night stand. Like a casual hook up. Like I don’t matter to him and he doesn’t matter to me.

But I can’t. Instead, my body holds on tight to everything he has to offer, knowing it will be the last. I can’t see him again. What I’m doing is wrong. To him, to me, to Jackson.

Especially since I’m pretty sure I crossed the line with deceiving in a much worse way.

I hold on to every sound, every thrust, every touch, every kiss that Walker gives me, and keep my tears to myself until I let myself into my apartment an hour later.

CHAPTER EIGHT

WALKER

While I hate that Riley didn’t sleep over last night, I respect her work ethic and didn’t want to guilt her into staying when she’s been overworked and stressed out. Still, I missed her when I woke up this morning to an empty bed. Especially when it still smelled of sex.

She was different last night. Unabashed, yet timid at times. I didn’t have the right to ask her what was on her mind when I wasn’t about to tell her what was on mine. It doesn’t feel like we’ve only known each other for a few weeks. And in those few weeks, we’ve only spent two evenings together and never talked in between.

You could say we’vegone outtwice. Not nearly enough time to fall for her. Not nearly enough time to want to spend every waking minute with her.

Nope.

That would make me needy and clingy. Two things I’m anything but.

Between the hot-as-Hell night I had with Riley and my disappointment in her not staying, I totally forgot to set my alarm for my eight a.m. flight. I was awake at seven, but that didn’t leave me enough time to throw my crap in my suitcase and get to the airport in time. The next flight available isn’t until noon, so I get a quick workout in, shower, pack, and talk myself in and out of stopping by Boston Strong.

The reasons Ishouldstop by win out. I remember Riley mentioning she drinks matcha tea, so I pick up one as well as a selection of muffins and a fruit salad. I have no idea if she had time to eat this morning before her six a.m. Pilates class—the reason she couldn’t stay the night.

Julie greets me as soon as I enter the facility.

“Welcome back. Are you on our calendar today?” She types on her computer, and I hold up the bag and to-go cup.

“Bringing sustenance to the boss. Is she available?”

Julie reads her computer screen and frowns. “She’s on a call right now. I’m not sure how long she’ll be.”

“No problem. I’ll just drop these off. She’s in her office?” I start to move toward the stairs, not giving Julie the chance to offer to take them from me.

“It’s the last room on the right.”

I take the stairs two at a time and slow my pace when I hear her frustration from her office. The door is partially open, and I stand outside waiting for a good time to knock.

“I appreciate your concern, Mr. Tompkins, but I can assure you one hundred percent of the money raised from the 5K goes toward training and scholarships for underprivileged kids.”

“There’s a lot of scams out there. How do I know you’re not pocketing the money from this event? I haven’t heard of your program before.”

Riley must have the phone on speaker, otherwise I’d be tempted to ringMr. Tompkinsby the neck for insinuating Riley is anything but honest.

“If your accounting department would like me to send a copy of last year’s expenditures, I’m more than happy to. I have a detailed report of where and how all the monies raised from the event were spent.”

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