"This bed is comfortable," Paige said, rolling over to face him.
Walter nodded. He had learned how to sleep in all sorts of places – everyone on Team Scorpion had – but simply being able to fall asleep in a bumpy truck or on cold dirt or in uncomfortable temperatures didn't mean that sleep was quality. For good, sound sleep, Walter needed the mattress he lay on to be just so. This one certainly was, and thankfully he and Paige did not have opposite sleep preferences in terms of mattress firmness.
The rain had probably also helped. They so rarely had such a storm in this part of California that the rhythmic sound of water drops pelting the roof of the hotel, their window, and the ground outside had lulled them both off early.
"I don't want to know what Happy and Toby paid for this room."
"If they wanted us to know, they would have told us," Walter said.
Paige looked mildly annoyed. "I know that, Walter."
"I said something wrong."
"That was just my way of saying I can't believe they did this for us. And I almost feel guilty for accepting it. Do you understand that?"
He nodded. "I think so. But one thing you've taught me is…"
"Only one thing?"
"Hush." Walter smirked. "I've learned from you that it's good to feel guilty sometimes, because it means you're in tune with the other people's feelings. But sometimes you do have to let go of that, not to be robotic, but to allow people to care about you. And Happy and Toby know we care about them, and this is just one way of them showing that they care about us. So it may be easier said than done, but I don't feel guilty, because I know you and I will pay it forward to them."
Paige smiled. "Well look at that. I'm learning about how to handle feelings from Walter O'Brien."
"Don't patronize me, woman."
Paige giggled. "You know," she said, resting a hand on his chest, "I'm finding this perception of yours to be pretty attractive."
Walter's eyebrows lifted just a fraction, a smile playing on his lips. "Hmm, is that so?"
"Yep," she said softly. "How long before we have to check out?"
Walter glanced at the bedside radio, the green numbers brightly lit on the display. "Hour and a half."
Paige rolled over onto him. "Perfect," she said, her voice low, her lips already brushing along his. Walter slid his arms around to her back, content to kiss her this way for several minutes before rolling onto his side so she lay next to him again. Immediately, but without rushing, Paige began to undo the button on his night shirt, making it possible for him to pull it over his head, and by the time he'd tossed it to the side, Paige had slipped out of her nightgown, leaving both of them in their underwear.
"We don't have to do this just because we're in a nice hotel, you know," Walter said in between kisses.
"Oh, I know," she said with a smile, "but Happy and Toby think we're doing it, and we really shouldn't disappoint them."
Walter blinked. "I'm a bit uncomfortable with your reasoning here," he said, an amused smirk coming over him when he realized she'd been joking.
Paige giggled, reaching up and running a hand through his hair and sighing happily when he unhooked her bra, and pushed her fully onto her back. He dropped his mouth to one of her breasts, his hand stimulating the other one, and he smiled as he heard Paige's sharp intake of breath. Her nails dug into his upper arm and her body shifted beneath him. "God."
"Hmmm." He circled his tongue around her areola, slowly and counterclockwise, then switched directions, feeling her squirm again. He flattened his tongue and brushed it over her nipple, the thumb on his other hand mimicking. Paige moaned, her nails pressing more forcefully into his arm. Her hips lifted, bumping against his, moaning his name when he rapidly swished his tongue back and forth. Walter moved his mouth to her other breast, and her hips jerked.
Sitting up, Walter pushed his boxers down his waist and lifted one knee at a time to work them down his calves. Paige was looking up at him with dark, lustful eyes, and he moved back over her eagerly, aching to feel her around him. Reaching down, he positioned himself at her entrance and pushed his hips forward, entering her in one motion and beginning to rock slowly back and forth.
Almost immediately, a loud sound rushed through Paige's lips, and then her hands were on his chest. "Red light red light red light!"
Walter sat up immediately, backing away, startled at her wide eyes. "What's wrong?"
Paige drew in several long breaths and blew them out quickly, something Walter always did when he was trying to ease pain. Her eyes closed, and when they opened again a moment later, he noticed tears. "Paige," he said, his heart pounding, "Paige honey, what's wrong? Did I hurt you? Oh God, I hurt you, didn't I?"
She shook her head, putting a hand up to her face and covering her eyes with her thumb and pointer finger. "No. I mean…" Another long breath. "I mean yes, but you…" Every breath that she took seemed to take forever. "You didn't do…anything."
"What happened?" He wanted to reach out and touch her, but he was suddenly afraid. "What made you hurt?"
Paige moved her other hand over her face, covering it completely, then sighed and looked at him. "I don't know. It just hurt."
Not being able to bear not touching her any longer, Walter placed his hand on her stomach, his thumb rubbing her skin soothingly, and was glad when she didn't flinch. "I'm sorry, Love. I'm so sorry."
Paige shook her head. "You didn't do anything, Walter. I promise. Maybe I had a cramp or something."
"Do you feel better now?"
Paige nodded. "It went away pretty quickly." She took in a deep breath. "I'm sure it was nothing." Reaching for him, she smiled. "Come here, Love."
Walter hesitated, not particularly interested in potentially causing her more pain. He'd lost his erection and felt it would take a lot of effort from both of them for him to get hard again. "Paige…" She looked desperate, so he ran his tongue over his lips and crawled back over her, kissing her tenderly on the lips as his hand slid down her stomach. He slid his fingers along her folds, lubricating them, and circled his thumb around her clit, refraining from touching it. Paige let out a breath, her sigh becoming a moan as he continued. Feeling more confident, Walter dropped his hand, slipping a finger down to her entrance and slowly easing it in.
"No." The frustrated, pained sound hadn't even fully escaped Paige's lips before Walter withdrew the finger, looking down at her with alarm. Paige was staring back at him, biting on her upper lip, and when she released it he saw blood on her teeth.
"Oh God, honey," Walter said, settling down next to her and drawing her into his arms as best he could. "Paige, I'm sorry."
When she spoke again, Walter could hear her voice breaking as she tried not to cry. "I don't know what's happening."
Walter slid a hand up to her hair, cradling her head as it rested against the bottom of his rib cage. "It's going to be okay," he said in a low voice, glad she wasn't laying high enough up to hear how hard his heart was pounding. "You're going to be okay." His mind raced through what he knew could be causes of painful intercourse, none of which were particularly desirable. "You're perfectly okay," he said, wondering after how many uses did okay become overused.
Paige was shaking, and he could tell from the heat and dampness against his skin that she was crying. Walter couldn't remember the last time that his heart hurt like this. He was just glad that she wasn't pulling away, rolling over and facing her worries alone. He never knew what to do in those situations. At least now, with her clinging to him, Walter knew that his presences must be helping her, at least a little. "I love you so much," he whispered, even though he knew she wasn't doubting it.
"I know," she whimpered, sliding her arm farther around him. Careful not to disturb her, Walter reached for the contact pad on the bedside table. He didn't know what Happy and Toby had paid for the room, but he was about to find out, because no way in the world were they in any shape to start packing for checkout.