Chapter 8
CHAPTER 8
Lincoln
T he moment I spotted Erika across the room, a surge of desire hit me hard, like a punch to the gut. I’d been nursing a Belgian beer for the past half hour, biding my time until she showed up. And when she did, she didn’t disappoint. That silver dress clung to her in all the right places, showcasing the glorious cleavage I’d been craving ever since our last encounter.
Now, as the cab sped toward my apartment, I couldn’t keep my hands off her. I reached out, letting the back of my hand graze her cheek before tracing the line of her jaw with my fingers. Finally, I cupped her chin, unable to resist the urge to kiss those full lips. The taste of her vanilla lip gloss was intoxicating, leaving me eager to discover if the rest of her tasted just as sweet.
“Stop it,” Erika whispered, her voice a soft plea.
“I can’t help it,” I murmured, my lips brushing against hers again. “I’m under your spell.”
“That’s so corny,” she replied, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone.
“But it’s true,” I insisted, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “I think I love you.”
She raised her eyebrows, clearly skeptical. “Don’t be ridiculous. Love at first sight is a myth.”
“I don’t think so anymore,” I said, my voice low and serious.
I grabbed her hand, stroking her palm with my thumb. Erika shivered slightly, pulling her coat tighter around her. I knew it wasn’t because she was cold—the cab’s interior was warm, almost too warm. I had to fight the urge to shrug off my thick black wool coat, which was doing a poor job of hiding my arousal. I shifted in my seat, trying to ease the pressure of my erection, but it was no use. I felt like a kid on his first date, completely captivated by her.
I kept hold of Erika’s hand as we stepped out of the cab, my thumb tracing lazy circles on her soft skin. She purred in response, leaning into me as we rode the elevator up to my floor. The moment we stepped inside my apartment, I stripped off our coats and claimed her mouth, savoring the taste of her vanilla lip gloss. I backed her toward the couch, feeling her cling to the lapels of my jacket as we kissed.
“No more,” Erika panted, pushing herself away from me. Her resistance only made me want her more, like a predator stalking its prey. But I knew I had to be careful—if I pushed too hard, I’d lose her.
“We’re just kissing,” I said lightly, trying to ease the tension.
“If you have no plans to go further, I have to leave,” she shot back, her eyes challenging me.
“Further as in sex?” I asked, trying to gauge her intentions.
“What else?” she replied, frustration lacing her voice.
“You’re not ready,” I said softly, knowing it was true for both of us.
“You really are full of yourself,” she scoffed. “I’m no virgin. I think I can handle you.”
“I mean emotionally,” I clarified. “Neither of us is ready to take that step.”
“Then let me go home and relieve myself,” she retorted, her tone daring me to stop her.
I groaned, loosening my gray tie in frustration. “The last thing I want to think about is your orgasm.”
“Then share it with me,” she challenged, her voice sultry.
“No,” I said firmly.
“Stubborn fuck,” she muttered, standing up. “I have a vibrator calling my name.”
Before she could move away, I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back, causing her to tumble into my lap. Her lips curled into a slight smile.
“You’re hard,” she commented, her voice teasing.
“Did you expect otherwise?” I shot back, trying to keep my composure.
“Let’s have sex,” she suggested, her tone almost playful.
I shook my head, even as every part of me wanted to say yes. “No. Soon though.”
“I have a phone full of contacts that can relieve my misery,” she threatened, her eyes glinting with mischief.
“Don’t you dare,” I warned, my voice low. “You might as well clear them out because you won’t be needing them.”
“You’re so sure of yourself?” she asked, raising an eyebrow as she began to wiggle her ass against my cock. It felt damn good, but I quickly moved her off my lap before I lost control.
“Go home,” I said, standing up. “Let’s have lunch tomorrow.”
“Will you fuck me after?” she asked, clearly enjoying how much she was testing my resolve.
“What is it with your preoccupation with sex?” I asked, shaking my head in disbelief.
“Are you serious?” she replied, standing up as well. I followed her to the foyer, pulling her coat from the closet.
“Should I escort you home?” I offered, slipping her coat over her shoulders.
“Do you trust yourself?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.
“I trust myself,” I said, fastening the buttons of her coat. “It’s you I don’t trust.”
“You make me sound like a nymphomaniac,” she said, shaking her head.
“Are you?” I asked, smirking. “I’m asking for the future, so I know what I’m in for.”
She laughed, and I took the opportunity to bend down and kiss the soft ivory skin between her breasts.
“Stop that,” she warned, though her voice was laced with desire. “Don’t fire me up any more than I already am. You’re trouble, Elliott.”
“And don’t you forget it, sweetheart,” I replied with a grin.
After Erika left, I stripped down, my arousal still raging with no outlet but my hand. With images of her sweet body tangled with mine, I jerked off until I was spent. Exhausted, I slipped under the soft white sheets, pulling the thick black quilt over me. My dreams were full of her—her laugh, her smile, her touch—not just sexually, but in every way that mattered. I was jolted awake less than three hours later, my heart pounding as I dreamt of our marriage.
“Jesus Christ, you’re pathetic,” I muttered into the darkness, running a hand through my hair. Erika was turning my life upside down in just a matter of weeks. Marriage? For God’s sake, it wasn’t even on my radar, but my subconscious seemed to be all in on the idea. I dragged my tired body out of bed, padding into the kitchen where I located the eighteen-year-old scotch in my glass-fronted cabinet. Skipping the glass, I drank straight from the bottle, relishing the burn as it slid down my throat.
That woman was driving me crazy. Who would’ve thought a simple real estate transaction could send my life careening off the path I had meticulously planned? With a frustrated sigh, I put the bottle back and returned to my room. I snatched my phone off the nightstand as I slipped back under the covers, my mind racing. I debated for a moment, then decided to take action.
Please tell me you’re up.
A few minutes later, my phone buzzed with her response.
It’s 2:30 in the morning. Why would I be up?
Because you’re as disturbed as I am.
My cell rang a few seconds later. Erika’s voice, thick with sleep and sultry as ever, came through the line. “What do you mean by disturbed?”
The sound of her voice had an immediate effect, and I shifted under the covers, trying to get comfortable. “We’re getting to each other,” I replied, my voice a little rougher than intended.
“Why are you up?” she asked, a hint of curiosity creeping into her tone.
“I can’t sleep,” I admitted, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “I shouldn’t have sent you home.”
She giggled, the sound light and teasing. “The offer was there, Elliott. You let it slip away, and now I’m the one benefiting—from my vibrator.”
My cock twitched at her admission, and I let out a groan, not bothering to hide the effect she had on me. Erika giggled again, clearly enjoying my reaction.
“Silly Elliott,” she teased, her voice full of amusement.
“Don’t silly me,” I said, trying to maintain some seriousness despite the playful banter. “I want this to work.”
“What exactly do you want to work?” she asked, her tone challenging now, as if daring me to be honest.
“Us,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I told you the truth about my relationships for a reason. I’m a work in progress, and this is all new to me. You’ll be the first.”
There was a brief pause, followed by the sound of crunching. “First what?” she asked between bites.
I frowned, momentarily distracted. “What the hell are you eating?”
“Popcorn,” she said casually. “I eat when I’m nervous.”
I smirked, feeling a small sense of satisfaction. “I make you nervous?”
“Shut up, Elliott,” she shot back, though I could hear the smile in her voice. “I asked you a question.”
“First girlfriend, first relationship,” I admitted, feeling a little exposed by the confession.
“What makes you think I want to have either with you?” she challenged. “Maybe I just want a good, hard fuck with a nice-sized cock.”
“You’d get both with me,” I replied, my tone full of confidence, “and then some.”
She crunched on a few more kernels, the sound making me chuckle. “What kind of popcorn are you eating?” I asked, trying to bring the conversation back around.
“Trying to change the subject?” she asked, a teasing edge to her voice.
“What kind? Is it spicy or sweet?” I pressed, genuinely curious now.
“Can’t it be both?” she responded playfully.
“Is it both?” I asked.
“It’s kettle corn with a dash of cayenne,” she said, the smile evident in her voice.
“Sounds delicious,” I said, picturing her with the bowl of popcorn, the image somehow making me want her even more.
Erika yawned softly into the phone, her voice drowsy. “I need to sleep. I have a showing at nine thirty today.”
“On a Sunday?” I asked, surprised.
“You don’t do showings on a Sunday?” she countered, sounding genuinely curious.
“Sometimes, but not today,” I replied, trying to mask my relief that I had the morning free.
“You asked me to lunch. Are we still on?” she asked, a note of anticipation in her voice.
“Will you be done with your showing?” I leaned back against the headboard, imagining her day ahead.
“I’m pretty sure I will,” she said, her tone light and teasing.
“Then I can’t wait to see you,” I said, my voice low with promise. “Noon at The Diamond Square.”
“Fancy,” she murmured, clearly pleased. “I knew I liked you.”
“Just don’t wear that same type of dress,” I added, half-joking but knowing it was more of a command.
She sighed into the phone, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. “I told you to stop ordering me around, but I’ll take it under advisement. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go back to bed. Some of us have to work.”
“Wait,” I said quickly, not ready to let her go just yet. “You never told me why you’re awake.”
“A woman can’t reveal all her secrets,” she replied, her voice a playful whisper that sent my mind racing. “Goodnight, Lincoln.”
The line went dead, and I let out a frustrated breath, dropping the phone beside me. I stared at the ceiling, willing my body to relax despite the persistent ache of arousal. I forced myself to close my eyes, knowing that sleep was my only escape from the thoughts of Erika that refused to leave my mind.