“Holden, Holden, Holden...” Walker chuckled as he made his way into the men’s locker room.
“Fuck..” Holden mumbled to himself, as some of the other guys backed away from him when Walker appeared.
“I thought I was very specific when it came to what’s mine...Am I talking to myself? Out of my ass?”
“No...” Holden folded his arms across his chest as Walker rounded the corner and went toe to toe with his friend, “You were very clear.”
“She’s mine to do as I please until she’s mated—no one else’s.”
“Man, so what?” Finn piped up, “She ain’t your girlfriend, ain’t your mate. What if I want a piece of her? You don’t own her, dick bag. No one owns her.”
Walker smiled, “That may be true, but you have no idea what I’m capable of, Finn...or would you like to see?”
Finn stepped back, “No, man..I’m cool.”
Walker smiled, turning back to Holden, “You’re taking Connie to the party.”
“What? No.”
“No?”
“Walker...”
“Do you want Connie up all of our asses with her antics?”
“No...”
“Then it’s settled. Don’t make me find you like this again—you won’t like it next time.”
Roxie found Walker lingering in the cafeteria after their little moment in her home-ec room.
“You never got your food,” she said, handing him the container of lasagna, “It’s really good.”
“Thanks,” Walker said, “How did you find me?”
“I followed you.”
“Me or my scent?”
Roxie didn’t want to tell him that itwas his scent. Bonded mates could only be scented out, but she was learning her new talents and a few vamps could smell everyone’s scent.
“I followed you.”
“Stalker.”
“Eat, please?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”
“It’s my home-ec class,” she smiled, “But I already finished—you weren’t there.”
“Yeah, I decided to skip that,” he chuckled, warming up the food.
“No, you didn’t. I saw you watching me.”
“I skipped the class—I didn’t skip spying on you.”
Roxie knew he’d gone to speak to Holden—she’d followed his trail there.
“So, who’s the stalker now?”
“Don’t go out tonight. It’s really bad out there.”
“Baby, I have to. We’ve got flooding in Oakwood—and it’s getting into a house we just built. It’s not good.”
“I..what if..”
“You always worry about me.”
“I can’t help it. You’re my husband. I can’t lose you.”
“Walker?” Roxie touched his shoulder.
“Say this sentence: “Don’t go out tonight. It’s really bad out there.”
“What?” Roxie smiled, “Is this some kind of joke?”
“Please?”
“Uh, well...’Don’t go out tonight. It’s really bad out there.”
Walker breathed in deeply, taking a bite of food.
“Now say this, ’You’re my husband. I can’t lose you’ and say it like you mean it.”
“Are you in drama? Is that what this is?”
“Sure,” Walker smiled, “I was in drama. Humor me.”
“OK,” Roxie leaned in and bit her bottom lip, gazing into Walker’s eyes.
“You’re my husband. I can’t lose you,” she said, softly, gently and with the most serious and worried expression on her face.
“I can’t lose you, either.”
“What?” Roxie leaned back, “Are those the next lines?”
“Yeah, something like that..”
“Sounds romantic,” Roxie said, taking out her sketchbook and doodling again, “How’s the grub?”
“It’s actually the best lasagna I’ve ever had.”
“You’re just saying that.”
“Why would I lie?”
“I will let my mom know,” Roxie smiled, “She’ll be happy you liked it. Maybe you can take some home,-”
“NO!” Walker boomed, startling Roxie, “No...I can’t take anything from you, mouse. My dad..”
“He doesn’t like too much, I know. It’s just food, though.”
Walker finished the last bite, wishing she could be his equal. What was happening to him?
“You know what? It is just food. I want some more,” Walker said, “Can your mom make some more or,-”
“Of course! She’d probably be more than happy to! My mom loves to cook.”
“What are you working on?” Walker pointed to her book, “Can I see?”
“Uh, no....” Roxie blushed, “It’s not..It’s nothing..you won’t like it..”
Walker rarely took no for an answer and she wasn’t fast enough to slip it back into her bag.
Walker flipped her sketchbook over and came face to face with—himself?
“It’s...me...?” Walker inquired as he looked at the way she drew him, sitting in the tree the night he found her—when she let him find her. He started flipping through the book—it contained pages of him in various settings—watching the deer, sitting at the donut shop, sleeping at the cabin...driving in his Camaro..playing the piano..., “Walker, give it back!”
Embarrassed, Roxie grabbed the book and ran from the cafeteria—leaving Walker speechless.
He didn’t have to go far—she’d allowed him to follow her scent all the way out to her car.
“Mouse..”
“What?”
“So, how long have you been drawing pictures of me?” Walker winked, feeling himself growing hard as steel for the little mouse. He’d be taking her some time that afternoon—he knew she wanted him, he wanted her—they were bound to connect later on, but now?
Now was a moment that was different than other moments they’d shared.
Roxie shrugged, “I don’t know... I just—I feel this desire to draw you, Walker, and I can’t help it. I don’t know why or what’s happening to me. You’ve been such an asshole to me, but now you’re not the whole ass anymore,” she teased.
Walker chuckled, caressing her cheek.
“I’m flattered,” Walker smiled—and he truly was. No other girl had ever done something so special for him—not even Connie.
“You’re making fun of me,” Roxie pouted. She knew better than to take that damn book to school.
“No,” Walker smiled and pulled her closer to him, “I am very flattered, little mouse, but you don’t need to waste your talent on the likes of me.”
“I want to waste so much on you, Walker, and I know I shouldn’t...” she rasped, “I—I don’t want to feel for you...I don’t want to,-”
Walker kissed her softly, her lips tasting like a delicious dessert he couldn’t wait to devour whole.
“I know, mouse..I don’t want to fall in love with you, either.”