Page 72 of Resist Me Not
In case you have forgotten, I have been carefully curating the way I saydoctor, two syllables, purred in a husk from deep in my throat, so that it sounds almost identical to when I say his name in bed or when I call him mygood boy.
I take the flowers from Doctor Dunham and tug Walker closer to me with my free hand in perfect tandem so I can whisper near his ear.
“Oh, believe me,doctor, I’m keeping you.”
Walker shudders, and I imagine he is very grateful to accept the bouquet again to help hide his erection, if the added flush to his cheeks is any indication. We say our goodbyes, and Walker ushers me toward the elevators as swiftly as he had that awful father and his floundering family.
He also not so subtly slips something into my blazer pocket.
I don’t look at whatever it is until we are in a car on our way to the restaurant. It’s a slip of paper with a name and address written on it. I glance at Walker, but his expression is neutral, eyes forward. This is his little gift to me, like permission. Maybe he knows that awful father is truly terrible, maybe he only knows enough that he wants me to investigate, but it is permission. It’s… acceptance without a single word spoken to sway me against my nature.
I put the paper back in my pocket and reach over to take Walker’s hand.
His face brightens, and he smiles when our eyes meet.
“So, where are we going?” he asks, snuggling in closer against me and resting his head on my shoulder with the roses cradled in his arms. Their pleasant smell wafts up between us, a spicy sweetness almost like cloves.
“Don’t worry, I hear their Old Fashioneds are fabulous, but you can be the judge. Have you ever had a burger with fried mac n’ cheese sandwiched between the patties?”
Walker laughs. “Is this comfort food or prepping me for a coronary? You and all your unique restaurants to frequent are going to make me fat.”
“Nonsense. First, it is not only unique restaurants I frequent. After dinner, we are going to watch the sunset from the observatory.”
“We have an observatory?”
“It’s small, secluded above the city, and has a perfect view of both the cityscape and the stars beyond all that light pollution. A beautiful marriage in my mind.
“Second, you have been on your feet all week. You deserve comfort food. And besides, I wouldn’t want to lose aninchof you.” I wrap my arms around Walker’s middle to press my fingertips into the softness at his hips that first attracted me to the perfection of everything else.
He lifts his head from my shoulder and gently kisses me. “I wouldn’t want to lose an inch of you either,” he whispers, low and suggestive, before adding, “Daddy.”
How wonderful, because until Walker first called me that I had honestly never felt so oddly whole. And now I get to remain whole all because he chose me rather than resisting all that I am.
It seems I was wrong, however, when I said I was the hero of this story. The real hero was always him.
“That’s my good boy,” I whisper back and kiss him deeper.