CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Everly
“A re you almost ready?” I hear Linc call out from the living room.
It’s been a month since I came home from staying with Dad and Linc and I have seen each other almost every day since.
Dad stayed a few days to make sure I was settled in but left after the three of us went to dinner.
Linc and Dad got along well and it was nice to see that since I know things got pretty heated when I was in the hospital.
“Mr. Bryant, it’s nice to see you again,” Linc stood from the table and reached out his hand for Dad to shake.
“Call me Tommy,” Dad told him as they shook.
The evening was great and they both discussed his military career as Linc opened up about what happened to his parents and little sister when he was young. We talked about visiting Dad for a few weeks at the end of summer and he was thrilled that Linc was wanting to go fishing out on the lake.
Something else that both Dad and Linc bonded over was my new security man, Sonny. The man is as big as a house but is quick like a puma. Linc made sure to include Dad on the interviews and selection, which I’m sure added more brownie points in his favor.
“Five more minutes,” I yell out as I curl the last few locks of hair.
The reflection in the mirror doesn’t look like the woman I was two months ago. I’m not beaten or bruised. I’ve got my glow back and I look just as happy as I was. I still have some aches with my arm but physical therapy is pushing me to be stronger every day.
“You are so gorgeous,” I hear and see Linc come into the bathroom of his place.
“Thank you,” I reply. “You don’t look half bad yourself.”
I finish the last curl, and grab for the spray to keep them all in place and then unplug the curling iron I have stored here.
I spritz a light layer of perfume, across my body before following Linc out of the bedroom and into the living room.
I notice a set of balloons on the counter with an envelope.
“Come here for a sec,” Linc tells me from across the room.
I walk over as I start to hear soft music playing in the background.
“What’s going on?” I ask, then try to wrack my brain thinking I’ve forgotten an important date or birthday.
“I know that you aren’t ready for me to get on one knee yet but I was hoping we could maybe take this next step together and see where it’ll lead us.” He picks up the envelope and hands it to me.
Over the last month, Linc has made sure that I receive a special gift each week. It’s either delivered to me at work, my apartment, or here at his place. Throughout the day, he’ll take time to send me texts, letting me know he is thinking of me.
I hold the gift in my hand very delicately.
Each gift is so special and you can tell a lot of thought is put into each one.
I turn it over and slide my finger under the flap, opening it up.
Inside is a keycard and a physical key. I turn them both over thinking that there is something written on them.
When I find nothing, I look back up at Linc.
“These are the keys to the penthouse and garage,” he says.
“Okay, thank you Linc,” I tell him. He tried to give them to me before I was attacked but I told him it was too soon to be sharing something like that.
“I want you to use them every day and not have our doorman letting you in.” He moves in closer and circles his arms around my waist, drawing me in close to his body. I place my hands up on his chest. “I want you to move in with me.”
I gasp, “Linc.”
“I know we wanted to take things slow this round but I hate when you or I leave for the evening, to go back to an empty place. I want you with me all the time. I want to come home and see your naked body laid out on the couch. Or shower together every morning before we go into work. I just want you here.”
I look up into his blue eyes and smile.
“I want that too,” I say and watch as his eyes widen in shock. I can tell he was expecting me to put up a fight and that he’d try and negotiate a timeframe.
“Really?” he asks, making sure he heard me correctly.
“Really,” I say.
He leans down and captures my lips to his. His tongue caresses the seam of my lips and I open as he swipes his tongue against mine. Using his hands, he pulls me snug, and then even closer with his hands at my back. Only when we’re breathless does he pull back.
“Thought I was gonna have to pull the big guns out to persuade you to live with me. I’ve been practicing all day,” he snorts with a smile.
“And what would you have used if I said no?” I ask.
“Let me show you,” he says, then he carefully lifts me beneath my underarms and sets me down on the kitchen island.
His hips nudge open my knees and he slides into the space.
Planting both hands on either side of my body, bracketing me into his towering stature, he leans down as I stare up at him.
He presses his mouth to my temple then traces down to my jaw.
Linc makes sure to nibble on my ear as his hands move to pop the single button at my breast. His fingers glide my straps off my shoulders, as he exposes my naked chest.
“Beautiful,” he says when he briefly pulls away from my neck.
He takes one hand then tweaks a nipple as his expert mouth takes in the breast. He starts to suckle, causing my head to fall back in a moment of need.
“How’s my argument going so far?” he asks as he switches breasts.
A moan leaves my mouth, instead of words, as I push his face closer with my hand on the back of his head.
I feel his chuckle as it vibrates right down to my core, sending tingles throughout my body.
His fingers start to push my dress up my thighs, exposing my thong.
He yanks the string causing the string to snap against my skin then tosses it behind him.
Linc grabs underneath my knees and hauls me to the edge of the counter, making me jump to balance myself to not fall backwards.
In a flash, Linc is on his knees with his head between my legs and his mouth latched to my heat.
His tongue lashes at my clit and I yell out at how good it feels.
He’s got me so worked up that I feel like I may come in the next few seconds.
“That’s it, angel. Give me your sweet juices,” he coaxes as he plunges a finger into my channel and rubs me in my favorite spot.
“Mmm, babe,” I groan as my hips lift up to get closer.
Linc adds another finger, scissoring to open me more as I feel heat flush through my body.
“I’m close,” I breathlessly state as he doubles his efforts sucking and licking me. His fingers pick up their momentum.
“Shatter for me, angel,” Linc’s deep voice sets me off and I splinter apart. My body jolts as the orgasm rips through me.
Before my body floats back down from this euphoric feeling, Linc is up and the sound of his belt can be heard.
He makes quick work, unbuttoning his pants and pushing down his boxers in a split second, before he’s pulling me further off the counter and impaling me on his hard dick.
He doesn’t skip a beat as he pumps into me, building me back up for another release I’m not sure I’ll survive.
“You feel so good,” Linc states as his thrust comes in deep and hard. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted. Everything that is good.” His hips drive into me and I feel my legs start to shake as he holds me into place. “I love you, Everly.”
My eyes finally focus on him and I look right into his. “I love you too, Linc.”
He leans over and takes my lips in his as he devours me. One of his thumbs starts to strum my little ball of nerves at my core and I explode again into a million pieces. Linc pumps three more times before I feel his warm cum coating my walls, and goes slack.
I’m laid back on the cold countertop, with him draped over me catching our breath, when a chime sounds on his phone. He finally lifts his head up off my naked breasts and looks up at me.
“That’s the alarm for us to head to the restaurant,” he tells me.
“I thought we were supposed to leave earlier?”
“I wanted to make sure we had enough time to celebrate.”
“Wait! How did you know that I’d say yes?” I question.
“I told you that my negotiation skills are life changing,” he boasts and it makes me laugh. “I love you Everly and one day soon you’ll be saying yes to taking my last name too.”
“Let’s enjoy this celebration first before we jump too far ahead,” I say but in the back of my mind, I already know what I’d say when he does ask.
“Let’s get cleaned up then head out to meet your friend and her man,” he says as he stands up and slowly disengages us. “Mmhmm, feels good every time.”
“We better go before you change your mind and we stay here all night,” I tell him as he helps me down from the island.
“We could always reschedule.”
“No way, I’ve been wanting you to meet Saylor for a while now. Plus, she’s got something important to tell me.”
“Okay, but we’re leaving and having dessert here at our place in our bed.”
“I agree to your terms counselor,” I say and he swats me on my butt before I can clear the living room.
“That’s why I get paid the big bucks, angel.”
Linc and I are sitting down at the table at a small restaurant, near the Santa Monica Pier. Saylor and I love a good Tex-Mex place so Linc thought we’d love this one. I read a text from Saylor, then look up to Linc.
“They’re about to walk in,” I tell him as he checks his phone. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I need to stop in on Levi after this. I told him to take some time off and he hasn’t been checking in as much as I wanted,” He tells me. “Plus, it’ll be good to introduce the two of you.”
“I’d love to meet your brother.”
I look up and watch as Saylor comes in and heads right for our table. She has the biggest smile on her face and if it were possible, she seems to float over our way. I’m excited to see who the man is that has brought such joy and happiness to my best friend.