Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
“Daddy!”Lucy squeals before breaking free from Patrick and the rest of the campers. She sprints several yards to get to Lincoln before tossing herself into his arms.
He doesn’t even wince, though I know the weight of impact must have been painful. It’s not just his shoulder that hurts from the large rock Lilith struck him with, but there’s a giant golf ball-sized bump on his head from where she hit him with the cane. Instead of showing his pain, his eyes squeeze tight as he clutches his little girl in his arms like he’ll never let her go.
My heart swells, my throat tightens, and my eyes spring a pool of water. I realize the significance of this moment. Fourteen years ago, his sister died in the very woods he just stepped out of. That time, he came out wearing handcuffs, and he never even got to properly grieve over the person he loved most in this whole world. He also spent months paying for a crime he didn’t commit. Now…the tables have completely turned in the best possible way. This time, the true killer exited the Deep Creek Campground woods wearing handcuffs, and Lincoln got to walk out a free man to the girl he loves most in the whole world.
Lucy clings to Lincoln just as hard as he’s clinging to her. It’s almost like she knows that he needs that hug more than she does. The innocence of it all has my watery eyes leaking tears of happiness for their love. For the slightest second, I find myself wishing I knew what that kind of love felt like from a parent. And then a warm arm wraps around my shoulders, the firmness of it causing a cry to lift from my throat.
I turn to Patrick and wrap my arms around him. It’s like he could hear my thoughts. Maybe he could sense them, at the very least. Either way, the hug is proof that I have always had a parent by my side, even if it’s not my biological mom and dad. Uncle Patrick is everything I’ve ever needed and more as far as a parental figure goes. He’s been my rock, my shoulder to cry on, my lifeline. And I’ll never be able to thank him enough for giving me such a beautiful life.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” He sighs. “I saw Lilith and J.D. get hauled out of there and I nearly lost my mind waiting for you to come out too. Lilith killed all those people?”
I shudder. “I still haven’t grasped it all, but she admitted to it all.”
Patrick squeezes me again, and I know it’s an effort to comfort me.
“Gabe was able to fill us in a bit, but he had to get to the station,” he says.
“It was awful,” I tell him, honestly. A tremble follows my words, and it feels more like a release of all the stress I’d been carrying. “Lilith used Lucy to lure Lincoln and J.D. into the woods. She was planning to kill Lincoln and then pin it on J.D.”
His body tenses. “Geez. Who knew Lilith was capable of something so awful?” He shakes his head. “She was always a little off, but I would have never pegged her to be a serial killer. Even though…”
I lean back from Patrick and narrow my eyes, my heart beating faster, sensing that he knows something that I don’t. “Even though what, Patrick?”
He hesitates for a second before continuing. “I was just going to say…even though Lilith always made these strange comments to me that if the Firefly Man story ever came true, it would be a blessing, because he would end the lives of bad people only.”
A chill shoots up my spine. “It’s like she thought she was some sort of vigilante, ridding the world of men that reminded her of her father.”
Patrick twists his expression into something resembling agreeable. “That would make sense. J.D. did tell me once that Lilith’s upbringing wasn’t the best.”
I’m sure the shock is plainly evident on my face. “He broke client-patient confidentiality to tell you that?”
Patrick shrugs. “He told me a lot that he probably shouldn’t have.” He frowns. “That was shitty of him, but I still can’t believe he was covering for Lilith for all these years. That’s sickening.” He shakes his head. “I wish I would have caught on somehow.”
“Yeah, well, he managed to keep that secret from everyone. Don’t feel bad.”
When I look back over at Lincoln and Lucy, I’m surprised to find Francine there too.
I regard Patrick with a tilt of my head. “When did Francine get here?”
He turns to look at where my eyes are focused. “Right after you went into the woods,” he says. “She was worried sick about Lucy. I didn’t know she was in the dark about everything. I might have said too much.”
I cringe, knowing what that means. “What did you tell her?”
He shrugs. “Everything, I think.”
My eyes widen incredulously on him.
“I didn’t have a choice,” he says, defensively. “She didn’t understand all the fuss. Now that she knows, she’s probably beating herself up for leaving Lucy with a madwoman.”
“Probably, but everyone is safe now. That’s what we should be focusing on.” I assess the warm embrace Lincoln has Francine in and I know whatever guilt she feels won’t last long. Lincoln won’t allow it. Besides, Francine was left in the dark for a reason. It’s not her fault. Not one bit.
“Daddy, look!”
Lucy’s excitement is so infectious, we all look in the direction of her focus. She holds out her little hand and a firefly lands on her finger, lighting up her soft pink skin.
“Oh wow, Lucy. That’s good luck.”
She squeals when the firefly’s abdomen flashes. “It twinkles,” she says through her giggle.
Lincoln’s smile is the biggest I’ve ever seen as he kisses Lucy’s sweet head. “Make a wish, Goose. Maybe your firefly will make it come true.”
Lucy squeezes her eyes shut so tight and then blows on her finger, so hard the firefly instantly flies away. When she opens her eyes, it’s gone, and her grin gets even bigger. “He took my wish away.” Lucy turns to look at me and then back to her dad. “Will it come true now? Will you and Evie get married, Daddy?” She tilts her head like she’s trying to reason with him. “Then Evie can be my Mommy and you can be my Daddy.”
My heart jolts into my throat before it beats a million miles an hour in my chest. As much as I’m expecting Lincoln to reject the sentiment altogether, he looks at me instead and winks, then he leans down to whisper something in Lucy’s ear. Whatever that something is makes her smile so bright that her cheeks flush with a different kind of happiness—one that tells me he’s just made one of her fairytales come true.
He ignores my glare, and instead turns back to look at the fireflies with Lucy.
“Hey, Lucy. Do you know who else loved fireflies so much?”
My breath catches in my throat. Meanwhile, Francine’s eyes begin to glisten, and I know it’s because this news is nearly as new to her as it is to Lucy.
“Who?” Lucy’s giant eyes show her innocent curiosity.
Lincoln smiles. “Your aunt Carley, Daddy’s sister.”
Lucy’s little gasp squeezes my heart.
“You have a sister? Have I met her?”
Lincoln shakes his head, maintaining his smile. “No, sweetie. Carley had to go away a long time ago.”
Lucy frowns. “Where did she go?”
Lincoln nods toward the synchronous lights. “Well, I’m not really sure, but sometimes I like to imagine she’s one of the fireflies, lighting up the sky like she never even left at all.”
It takes a few seconds, and I can almost hear Lucy’s brain trying to imagine exactly what her dad is trying to say, and then a new smile blooms on her face. “I think I see her, Daddy.” She wiggles in his hold until he sets her down, then she sinks to a crouching position and extends her hand to point to a tall blade of grass just as a firefly flashes its light. “Right here,” she whispers. “This is Carley.”
Lincoln sinks down with her to examine the little beetle. “You know, I think you’re right. That is her.”
Lucy clutches his leg. “Can we keep her?”
Lincoln shakes his head slowly. “But then she wouldn’t be able to fly.”
Lucy tilts her head like she’s thinking carefully. “Then maybe we can just come back to see her?”
Lincoln’s arm wraps around Lucy’s body as he nods. “Now that is a perfect idea my little Goose.”
I don’t argue with Lincoln when he says he’s taking me back to his place. Dylan and Gabe agreed to hold off on any questioning until the next day, so we could get home and get some rest.
Lincoln lets Lucy stay up a little bit longer so we can all have a late-night snack, then he gives her a quick wash before tucking her into bed. I’m almost surprised when he walks out of her bedroom and into the kitchen five minutes later, chuckling that she fell asleep mid-sentence.
I look over my shoulder from washing the dishes and smile. “Do you blame her? She had quite the eventful day.”
Lincoln comes up behind me, wraps his arms around my body and nuzzles his mouth in the crook of my neck. “No fucking kidding. A kidnapping, roasting s’mores, firefly watching.”
“Learning about her aunt Carley,” I add.
“Nearly losing her dad to a deranged serial killer.”
I shudder. “Yeah, let’s not add that one to the list. You’ll make me drop a dish.”
He reaches for the plate I’m holding and sets it back in the sink. “Those can wait. You must be exhausted.”
Surprisingly, I’m not tired at all. “Wide awake.” I swivel around and wrap my arms around his neck. “I could desperately use a shower, though.”
Lincoln quirks a lip. “By all means, use mine.” He kisses me softly. “With me in it.” He kisses me again. “And me inside you.”
This time, his mouth stays on mine as he pulls me backward, out of the kitchen, past the living room and den, then down the hall to the bedrooms. I giggle against him when he shuts the door to his room and fumbles for the baby monitor on his nightstand.
There’s something about the fact that Lucy is four years old and he still feels the need to check on her breathing throughout the night that makes me fall so much deeper in love with him than the moment before.
His lips continue to claim mine as we stumble our way into the bathroom. He doesn’t even pull away from me when he reaches behind him to start the shower. The desperation in his hold and in the way his mouth practically suctions to mine is the equivalent of reaching deep down into my soul and stealing it to be his for eternity.
I will happily give it.
Lincoln strips me bare, then he removes all his clothes until our naked bodies are colliding as steam fills the room. When we finally step under the water, I almost expect him to hitch my leg up and take me right then and there. I wouldn’t complain a bit. Apparently, he has other ideas.
He breaks the kiss, causing us both to gasp for air. He’s fully under the water, the stream cascading over him while he fills his hands with soap and proceeds to lather up my chest. He makes excruciatingly slow work over my breasts, kneading them, pinching my nipples, then starts on my back, continuing to my ass, and finally to the space between my thighs.
“So beautiful,” he murmurs when my back is to him. His cock is hard against my back as his tongue darts out against my ear. “Every inch of you.” He snakes his fingers between my legs again, this time with a soap-free hand and begins to toy with my clit. “I just got the shit beat out of me and I don’t feel a single fucking thing when I get to touch you like this.”
My abdomen tightens as I feel him sink to his knees. “Be careful,” I warn, clearly caring more about his injuries than him. “We don’t have to do this now.”
He growls as two fingers push deep inside me. “The fuck we don’t.” Then his tongue darts out against my ass, causing me to jerk, but his fingers have me locked in place as he works me faster. “I almost died tonight,” he reminds me before sliding his tongue to where his hand is. “I want to feel more alive than ever right now, baby girl. Making you come alive right before my very eyes is about to be my salvation.”
Between his tongue and fingers and his dirty words, I’m plummeting to my first orgasm with barely any effort on his part at all. I’ve been so wound up all night that it didn’t take much for Lincoln to unravel me. But he doesn’t stop with one. He never does.
“Hang on to the ledge,” he demands before spreading my legs apart and covering my pussy with his entire mouth.
I swear the man is trying to devour me like I’m his last meal. He’s sucking and slurping, licking and flicking. There’s no pattern to his madness, just constant attention to my clit before a moan escapes me. My next orgasm is more intense, electrifying my nerves and causing my muscles to weaken.
“Linc, I think you might end up killing me tonight if you keep this up.”
He stands, pressing his body against mine and teasing his lips with mine. “Don’t worry, baby, I’ll revive you.”
Before I can react, he picks me up into his arms and he walks us out of the shower. I’m not even sure how he manages to turn it off on the way out, but the water squeals to a halt. The next thing I know, I’m getting placed on a firm mattress, my body and hair soaked from our shower.
He doesn’t seem to care one bit as he crawls on top of me, lifts one of my knees and presses it toward me, and then pushes his cock inside of me so fast I gasp from the shocking feel of him.
Nothing will ever prepare me for his size, yet nothing could fill me so perfectly, so fully. The man was made for me, and I will never take that for granted.
“I want to fuck you,” I beg him, knowing if he keeps this up, I’ll be on my third orgasm before I could ever repay him. “Will it hurt if I get on top?”
He slows his hips from rocking into me as his teeth scrape his bottom lip. “No, not if I sit up.”
I’m nearly in tears when he slips out of me, but it’s not long until he’s pulling me onto his lap and I’m sinking back down around him.
“Ah, yes,” I groan as my muscles clench against his thick shaft. I can feel him so deep from this angle that I’m surprised it doesn’t hurt.
“Tell me how I feel.” His eyes are hooded, and his words come out so low and gravelly that a chill snakes up my spine.
I grab hold of my breasts so I can pick up the pace. “Too good to be true,” I gasp. “I love the way you fill me, so completely.” Then I lean forward, because I want him to know that he fills me in more than one way. My heart is the fullest it’s been my whole entire life, and it’s all thanks to him.
I kiss him slowly as my hips pick up the pace. His fingers dig into my hips like he’s trying to steady me, but I’m not sure if that’s possible. I’m chasing another orgasm, but first, I need to make sure he’s with me.
“Come with me?”
He nods against my mouth. “You couldn’t stop me if you tried. I’m with you, babe.”
We’re frantic now, our slick skin slapping together as he drives into me as deep as he could possibly go. Just when I feel my orgasm begin to take control, a sexy groan releases from his throat, telling me he’s just as close. That’s when I let go. The jar cracks, we both escape, and then we’re flying, soaring, lighting up the night sky, our souls now conjoined into one.
Our bodies slow as our breathing grasps for control. We hold each other tight, still connected, his arousal seeping out from where we’re connected.
“I’m going to spend the rest of my life worshiping you, Evelyn Vaughn.” His promise comes with a kiss to my chest, right above my heart. “Loving you…” He kisses me again. “Chasing fireflies with you.” Another kiss.
My throat tightens with emotion. “Linc,” I try, but my voice is just a feigned attempt.
“All I want is to make you so damn happy,” he says, this time looking up and deeply into my eyes.
“You already do, Linc.” I swallow over the lump in my throat. “I love you so much.” I place my hands on both of his cheeks. “More than fifteen-year-old me could have ever imagined. I chose you then, you know?” Then I smile, loving that he told me he would spend his life chasing fireflies with me. “Of all the fireflies in the sky, I knew it then. You’re my one and only.”
His cheeks lift and his nose brushes mine. “I guess that means you’re finally moving in. You heard Lucy earlier.” He grins. “She thinks we should get married and everything. I know how you hate disappointing her.”
I bite down on my smile, but I can’t contain it long. “You’re evil.”
He chuckles and shakes his head. “Just trying to make my two favorite girls happy.” His gaze softens, a seriousness radiating from them now that causes my heart to kick. “Marry me, Evie.”
I open my mouth in surprise, ready to tell him he’s crazy, but he’s not done talking.
“I don’t have a ring. I didn’t plan this at all.” He shakes his head. “But if there’s anything I’ve learned since losing Carley, it’s that time is the most precious thing we have. I don’t want to waste another second when I already know you’re my forever.” His eyes search mine. “Marry me,” he says again, this time a whisper. “Evelyn Beatrice Vaughn.”
Seconds pass, only because it’s hard for me to speak with this damn lump lodged in my throat. I’m not sure I ever told Lincoln my middle name, but I remember telling his sister fourteen years ago.
I swallow over my building emotions and sip in as much air as humanly possible while my heart orchestrates an entire symphony in my chest. “Yes,” I finally say.
Lincoln’s eyes widen but he doesn’t say a word.
“Yes,” I echo, this time with a slow smile spreading across my face. “I’ll marry you.” Pressing my lips to his, I can feel my eyes burning with a fresh set of tears. “Dr. Lincoln Reed.”
He grins, and I can practically feel our chests exploding together.
“So, what’s next?” I tease, since the answer is completely obvious as he grows hard again between my legs.
“Well,” he says, placing his hands back on my hips. “For one, we can get you off birth control, so we can give Lucy a sibling. That was what she wished for tonight, you know?”
My heart melts. “I don’t think you’re supposed to tell me that. It might not come true now.”
Lincoln’s brows raise and he flips me over, so I’m flat on my back and his mouth slides to my ear. “Oh, it’s going to come true.” He presses himself deeply inside of me. “I’ll make sure of it, Evie Girl.”