Chapter Eight
Walter tried to jerk away but her grip on his shoulders kept him in place.
Her mouth slid over his, kissing him softly and he couldn't help but to respond.
She grew bolder, and he tasted the salty sweetness of the cheesecake as she
teased his tongue with hers.
He shouldn't be doing this, they shouldn't be doing this. . . Any thought
of protest, however, fled as she ran her fingers through his hair and crushed
herself against him. He placed his hands on her back, caressing his way down
to her bottom. Closing his eyes, he felt her body soften as his hardened.
Then she pulled back and disappointment filled him until she started unbuttoning
his shirt, methodically undoing each button. "Have I ever told you," she
whispered into his ear before giving it a nip, "how sexy you look in your
button-down shirts?" She flicked open the last button as his breathing grew
shallower. "Especially when you roll up the sleeves. Drives me crazy."
"Uh. . ." She kissed him before he could reply. She then pushed his shirt
off his shoulders and he helped her remove it. Slipping her hands under his
t-shirt, she smiled shyly at him as she rubbed her palms against his bare
chest. His knees nearly buckled as the contact made his head spin.
She started walking backward, and he stumbled after her. "Couch or bed?"
she murmured as her lips touched his cheek.
"Huh?" She repeated her question. "Bed." He had dreamt of her there for so
long, doing all the things he'd ever imagined doing to her, ever since the
day he'd met her. Definitely bed.
They left a trail of clothing behind as they made their way to his bedroom.
Paige fell back onto the mattress, still wearing her bra and underwear, and
he almost landed on top her, rolling away at the last second so they were
side by side.
"Paige," he said, the fog in his head clearing a little. "Paige, wait. .
." If she was pregnant, he didn't want to do anything that would hurt her.
. .or the baby. He had to admit he didn't know much about pregnancy. Toby
would know, but the doc would be the last person he would ask for advice
about this.
She stared at him, her eyes full of what he now recognized as love and desire.
"What?"
"Nothing." He couldn't say no to her, not when she wanted him like this.
Mindful of her reaction of the previous evening, Walter unclasped her bra,
gently cupping her breasts as he kissed the tip of each one. His lips tingled
as he could feel the heat of her body, smell the scent of lavender on her
skin as he moved downward.
He paused when he reached her abdomen. Resting his hands on her hips, he
wondered if their child was growing inside her before placing a kiss just
below her navel.
Paige watched as he put his mouth on her belly before moving down between
her legs. He gazed up at her, his dark brown eyes seeking her approval. She
nodded, shivering with anticipation as he slipped her panties down the length
of her legs then slid his fingers back up again. A few moments passed before
he touched his lips to her. A jolt of pleasure shot through her as he began
using his tongue. It was obvious he had never done this before, but what
he lacked in experience, he more than made up with in enthusiasm. She bit
her lip, losing herself to the pleasure he was giving her.
"Oh, God, Walter," she cried out as he slipped a finger inside her, causing
her to come.
He crawled up to lie beside her, wiping the back of his hand over his mouth
before kissing her. She could still taste herself on his lips and vowed to
return the favor. Another day, however, as she didn't think he was ready
for that quite yet. He flipped onto his back, bringing her along so she was
on top, straddling him.
"We don't have to do. . ." he began, resting his hands on her bottom.
"Oh, I think we do," she teased, deliberately misunderstanding him before
lowering her mouth to his. She sank down onto him, feeling herself stretch
as he filled her. "Relax and enjoy the ride,"she murmured as she swirled
her tongue in his ear.
Walter was gasping for breath as Paige collapsed on top of him. "Is it. .
.is it always like this?" he asked once he could speak again.
"Like what?" She kissed his nose.
"So. . . so overwhelming. Intense." He was still shaking from the force of
his release and he could feel her quivering around him.
She shook her head. "No, not always."
"Oh." He couldn't stop the hint of dismay he heard in his voice.
"In fact," she said, running her hands through his hair, "it's never been
this overwhelming for me before."
"Never?" He grinned as a strange mix of pride and something else he couldn't
name swept over him.
"Never." She kissed his cheek.
"I love you," he said. All of his doubts and worries disappeared. She was
his and he was never letting her go. And even though he knew sometimes he
might fail, he would protect her and Ralph and any future children they may
have with his life if he had to
He pushed upward, rolling her gently onto her back. Lowering his head, he
stopped when he saw she was crying. "What's wrong?" he asked, panic rushing
through him as he tried to pull away. "Did I hurt you?"
"No." She wiped at the tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. "I'm just
so happy. I love you, too, Walter."
She grasped his face in her hands and fiercely pressed her lips to his.
Happy parked her truck next to the liaison's red Malibu. "Looks like Paige
is still here," she commented.
"It's after noon," Toby replied, waggling his eyebrows. "Must be some date."
"Yeah, it's about time O'Brien got laid."
The shrink snapped his head around to stare at her. "How did you know he.
. .?"
"It was pretty obvious, Doc," she said with a smirk. "Maybe now he won't
be such a hard ass."
"Oh, I imagine he'll continue to practice his own brand of hard ass-ery."
He sighed. "It'll take more than the proverbial roll in the hay to cure him
of that. Exhibit A: I left my wallet in my desk drawer because he practically
shoved us all out the door yesterday because of his plans to get the divine
Miss Dineen into the sack."
"Speaking of which," said Happy, "you should let me go get it. I'm stealthier
than you."
"This is very true," the psychiatrist agreed. "It's in the upper right hand
drawer. . . Oh, crap."
"What?"
He glanced away, but not before she caught the guilty expression on his face.
"The wallet should be right on top. No need to go searching under anything."
Happy shook her head. "Like I'm interested in looking at your porn stash,
you pervert." Opening her door, she got out of the truck, throwing a disgusted
glance over her shoulder as she entered the garage.
She quietly made her way across the room to Toby's desk, noting there was
nothing but silence coming from upstairs. Good. The last thing she wanted
to hear was her friends getting it on. Pulling open the top drawer, she snatched
up the billfold, which was resting on top of several thick folders.
Shit, did he have it organized by type of debauchery or what? Curiosity got
the better of her and she lifted up the top file. Underneath it, written
in the doc's poor penmanship, was a note which read ‘Ha, ha I knew you'd
look' with a sloppy smiley face drawn under it.
Yanking open the door of her truck once she was back outside, she threw the
wallet at his head. "Idiot."
He was laughing as he ducked, the billfold almost clipping his ear. "How
long ago did you put that there?" she asked as she climbed into the driver's
seat.
"A couple of months back," he gasped out between guffaws. "Just waiting for
the right opportunity."
"You're one sick puppy." But she was smiling as she said it.
"I wish you didn't have to leave." Walter looked up from tying his shoes
as Paige emerged from his bathroom. Her hair was still wet and a smile crept
over his face as he thought of the shower they had just taken together.
"I know, but I have to pick up Ralph from Sylvester's, then I have a ton
of laundry, and I need to go grocery shopping, and. . . You don't want to
hear about my boring life of household drudgery," she said with a chuckle
as she sat on the bed next to him.
"Yes, I do." His grin faded. The thought of her going back to her condo for
the rest of the weekend was causing his stomach to churn. He wanted to go
with her, to stay by her side, to not let her out of his sight. He didn't
know how to ask her though. What if she said no? And why hadn't she said
anything about being pregnant? She had to know, didn't she? She would tell
him, wouldn't she?
"Walter?"
He was surprised to find himself staring at her. How long had he been doing
so? "What?"
"I was thinking, that maybe, you could come with me?" she said. "Ralph could
show you the robot he's been working on while I do my chores. He's been asking
when you could come over and see it. Then we could all go out to dinner."
Searching her face, he realized she was as reluctant to end their time together
as he was. Heaving a sigh of relief, he stood up. "Yes."
"Maybe you could bring a change of clothes, you know, in case you get robot
oil or whatever it is that Ralph manages to get all over himself," she suggested.
He chewed on his lip. Was she asking him to spend the night at her apartment?
Not that it mattered. He'd stay as long as she'd let him. "Uh, sure." Bending
down, he finished with his shoe. "Just let me throw some stuff together."
Ten minutes later, they were walking hand in hand out the garage door.
"Thanks again, Sylvester," Paige said as she stood in the entrance of the
human calculator's apartment.
"Hey, it's no problem," he said before ruffling Ralph's hair. "We had fun,
didn't we, buddy?"
"We saw a California Black Sea Hare," the boy genius said excitedly. "They're
really rare."
"Ugh." Sly pulled a face. "It was disgusting. All big and slimy and gross.
. ."
Paige's stomach lurched at the sea creature's graphic description. Oh, God,
she was going to be sick. Gulping, she willed herself not to throw up, doubting
her germaphobic coworker would appreciate her barfing all over his floor.
"Is that Walter waiting out in your car?" Sylvester's voice, full of curiosity,
broke through her struggle. "Why didn't he come in? So, are you guys like,
still on your date?"
His prying questions caused her nausea to pass as she was overcome with exasperation.
It was going to be impossible to keep their relationship a secret, not with
nosy people like Toby, and unfiltered people like her son, around anyway.
"Not that it's any of your business, but yes." She sighed and changed the
subject. "Do you have all your stuff, Ralph?" The youngster scampered over
to the couch to fetch his backpack.
"For whatever it's worth, I think it's great you and Walter are finally together,"
said Sly. "You're good for him." He smiled nervously.
Feeling bad for snapping at him, she patted his arm. "Thanks, Sylvester.
Come on, Ralph."
They said their goodbyes before heading down the stairs to the apartment
complex's parking lot. Ralph ran ahead, greeting Walter enthusiastically
before climbing into the back seat.