Fight For Her (Soldiers in Arms Book 1) (6 page)

“Christ, I love fucking you, baby.”

She curled her fingers into the bedding as his words sent her over the edge. He pounded hard into her, drawing out her orgasm until she collapsed against the bed.

He put his weight across her and eased up on leg, giving him access to her once more. He inched in, his breath brushing the back of her neck. He kissed her.

“Amazing,” he murmured, moving slowly in and out of her. “Amazing,” he said again.

Waverly let slip a smile at the words as his body tightened and he groaned.

Waking with Waverly in his arms had to be about the best way to wake up. Walker resisted the desire to make her come a few more times, aware she would be exhausted after yesterday. They’d walked by the water and returned to the cabin to eat and spend pretty much the rest of the evening in bed. They’d talked until the early hours about their pasts. Waverly was, on paper, a privileged woman. Yet she’d been deprived of affection and controlled from the moment she was born.

He sure as hell didn’t envy that.

She stretched in his hold and he grimaced as his cock lengthened. As much as he wanted to have her again and again, she needed rest. And he needed just a few more answers.

In spite of everything they’d shared, she didn’t talk about the baby or the future. He shouldn’t even care.

But he did.

He pushed up onto his elbow to watch her. She had her eyes shut but he could tell she was awake. With her hair all tousled and her lashes fanned across her face, she looked so fucking beautiful his heart hurt.

What kind of a fucking asshole chased away a woman like this?

Waverly rolled and smiled up at him. “What are you doing?”

“Watching you.”

“Why?”

“’Cause you’re so damned beautiful.”

Her smile widened. “What’s the plan for today?”

“Well, I have to get you back at some point or Justice will think I’ve kidnapped you and chop off my balls.”

Waverly laughed. “Justice’s a sweetheart, she wouldn’t do that.”

“You haven’t seen her mean side yet. I’ve seen her knock a guy to the floor with a right hook several times.”

“I guess being a woman running a bar you have to be pretty tough.”

“I think you’re pretty tough too.”

“Me?” She lifted a brow. “I don’t think anyone would agree with you.”

“You had the courage to leave your father and fiancé and everything you knew.”

“I had a very good reason to.”

Walker rested a hand over her stomach. “Your ten weeks now?”

Her expression shuttered slightly. Talk of the baby made her uncomfortable and he didn’t much like that. “Yes.”

“Have you seen a doctor yet?”

“I did, when I first found out.”

“You should probably go see one. You’ll need scans before long.”

She rolled away from him. “I can’t really afford it.”

“Waverly.” He tugged her arm and pulled her toward him. “I’ll take care of it, don’t worry.”

She met his gaze reluctantly. “I spent all my life relying on a man to look after me. I’m not sure I want to repeat that mistake.”

“I want to do this. And, sweetheart, you’ve sure as hell looked after me these past few days.” He gave her a suggestive grin.

She swatted his arm. “So you’re expecting to be able to take me to bed every time you do something nice?”

He chuckled. “Pretty much.”

Waverly looped her arms around his neck and giggled. “You’re an arrogant bastard sometimes.”

“Yes, but I’m
your
arrogant bastard.”

For now.

The unsaid words hung in the air. They both knew this was temporary. Both knew it was all it was ever meant to be. But that didn’t mean he didn’t half worry about what the hell she was going to do in the future with no one around to look out for her and the baby.

He moved off the bed. “I’m just going to grab a shower. Why don’t you rest a little longer and then I’ll sort breakfast?”

She nodded, lip tucked under her top teeth.

Walker stomped into the shower and turned the water onto cold. He needed to calm down in many ways. His throbbing cock told him how much he needed her and the blood pounding through him reminded him how frustrated he was by this awkward standoff they were in.

They both knew this would end.

He didn’t want it to.

The cold water stung his skin and slowly brought him back to reality. His life had been great before he’d met her, and it would be great again. He’d go back to meeting up with a few select women outside of town and enjoying his job and his friends.

For now, he’d just make the most of every moment he had with her, and damn well make sure she saw a doc.

He finished showering and slung a towel around his waist. Waverly was up and pulling on those sexy tight jeans and cute lacy shirt that Justice had packed for her. He might regret missing seeing the show but at least he could keep his head straight now that she wasn’t naked.

Walker forced a grin. “Are you up to eating?”

She paused. “I think so. The sickness doesn’t seem too bad in the morning. It will be this evening when it takes its revenge.”

“Hopefully it won’t last too long. My sister was only sick for a few weeks.”

“I hope so. I really don’t know much about this stuff. I read on the Internet that some women are sick their entire pregnancies. I really hope I’m not.”

“I hope so too.”

He pulled a pack of bacon from the fridge and silently thanked Rocco for coming and stocking the cabin. Checking around for the pancake mix, he pulled it out and dug around for a bowl.

Waverly followed him in the kitchen area and eyed the bowl. “You cook?”

“A little. I didn’t reach the grand old age of thirty-two without feeding myself occasionally, you know.”

“Sorry, it’s just what with you being in the Army, I would have thought there wasn’t a need to cook for yourself much.”

“Mom made sure I knew the basics. She didn’t want me being one of those guys who didn’t know what an oven looked like.”

“She sounds like an amazing woman.”

“She is.”

Waverly came onto tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “She raised a pretty amazing son too. Soldier, chef, bartender…”

“Don’t forget table wiper and rescuer of pregnant women.”

“That too.” She gave him a soft smile. “I’m glad I met you, Jake.”

Walker busied himself getting the pancake mix ready, unsure how to respond. He was glad he’d met her too. She was the most fucking beautiful, courageous woman he’d ever met and sweet and kind to boot. But at the same time, he had a feeling that when she walked out of his life, he was going to be left with a big gaping hole in his heart.

Chapter Four

“Seeing Walker tonight?”

Waverly looked up at Justice, pausing as she polished the glasses ready for another busy Friday night. “Yes.”

“He can’t keep away,” her manager said.

She couldn’t help wince inside. Apart from three days when he’d been away, Walker had come to the bar every night in the last two weeks, and even stayed over a few nights. Waverly’s body ached from all the amazing sex and her feet were sore from the hard work at the bar.

Yet she’d never felt so alive.

She was finally in charge of her life. Making her own decisions. She laughed to herself. If some of the people at her father’s work saw her with Jake, they’d probably faint.

“Did you go to the doctors like he asked?”

Waverly stiffened. She knew she had to go soon, but the idea of Walker footing the bill made her insides twist. She’d already had her life paid for by one man, she couldn’t let that happen again. Just a few more days of good tips and her next paycheck from Justice and she could afford it herself.

“I will,” Waverly promised.

“You’d better. Baby needs looking after and so do you.”

Waverly nodded. Justice was right. Walker had had a quiet word shortly before he’d whisked her away to the cabin, so her boss knew everything now. She ought to be annoyed at his high-handed ways but she knew he was only looking out for her, and she was kind of relieved not to have to lie to Justice anymore. Really, she was the closest thing she’d ever had to a friend. No one wanted to friend the boss’ daughter.

Justice came around behind the bar and began to polish glasses alongside her. Waverly smiled. Considering she’d worked in a company where the CEOs hardly looked at their employees, she had so much admiration for Justice. The woman worked harder than any of them and never minded getting dirty.

“Any more thoughts on names?”

Waverly shrugged. “It’s too hard. I’ve scoured the Internet but there’s so many to choose from. I made a list, but I’ve got so many on there. How am I meant to make a decision that the baby will be stuck with forever all alone?”

“Sweetie, you’ll be making a lot of decisions alone. You’ve just got to trust your instinct.”

“I’m not sure I have an instinct. I’m only just getting used to looking after myself.”

Justice chuckled. “And you’re doing just great. You’ll be fine, I promise. Once you’ve had the baby, you’ll find that instinct kicks in perfectly.”

“I hope you’re right.”

She had to admit, more and more fear was kicking in now that the sickness had subsided and her belly was looking ever so slightly rounded. How could she be responsible for another life when she hardly knew what she was doing with her own?

Glancing at Justice, her stomach twisted again.

She did know what she wanted.

She wanted to stay.

But how could she, when Jake would be here? She’d made it clear she had no intention of staying. And surely he would lose interest in her once she was huge and waddling around with another man’s baby in her belly?

Justice couldn’t make much use of her either and she couldn’t very well raise a baby in a tiny room in a bar. It wasn’t fair to any of them.

It didn’t stop her wanting to make North Carolina her home, though. It was the first time she’d ever had real friends, not just ones who wanted to use her connection to her father. The first time she’d ever been independent and earning her own money.

“Right, I need to sort out the tills,” Justice declared. “You nearly done here?”

“Pretty much.”              

“Take it easy,” Justice advised. “You look a little tired today. It will probably be busy, but there’s enough of us working tonight if you need a break.”

Waverly nodded then on instinct, snatched Justice’s arm and embraced her.

Justice laughed. “What was that for?”

“Thank you for being such a great friend. I’ve never really had one before. I know you’ve done a lot for me.”

“Don’t sweat it. You’re a hard worker and an asset. I’m sure going to miss you when you leave.”

Swallowing hard, Waverly waited until Justice went into the office before propping her hands on the bar and drawing in a deep breath to try to rid herself of the uncomfortable knot in her throat.

How was she ever going to bring herself to leave here? To leave Jake? She just didn’t know.