Chapter Seven #2
I swallow back the argument that automatically rises, because if I look deep, I don’t want to be alone. I want to lie down in Linc’s big bed and let him comfort me while I fall asleep.
“Okay, thanks. I will.” After padding into his room, slowly wilting, I brush my teeth again because I’m getting into bed with Linc, turn down the covers, crawl onto the mattress, and immediately pass out.
* * *
Something warm and heavy cushions me in suffocating heat. I adjust myself and try to push off the comforter, but a hard barrier stops me. I blink and remember. I’m in Linc’s bed, and his arm is wrapped securely around me, holding the covers in place.
I attempt to wriggle free and he clamps his arm tighter.
“Going somewhere?” he asks in a morning-roughened voice.
A sexy gruff voice that has me relaxing back into him. Morning wood stands stiff against my lower back, and I moan at the feel of his sizeable erection.
I close my eyes and accept the inevitable. I can’t resist him and don’t want to, and knowing I’m done fighting, at least for now, I roll within his embrace and turn to face him.
A light coating of beard covers his face, and I run my hand over the stubble. “I like the scruffy look,” I murmur.
He catches my wrist in his hand. “I like waking up to you in my bed.”
I can’t hold back my smile. “I’m not going to give you a hard time for bringing me here. And I’m not going to fight us. Not right now.”
“What changed?” he asks, clearly needing to understand.
I sigh. “I can’t deny the attraction between us, and it’s taking too much out of me to try.” Biting down on my lower lip, I wonder how deep to delve, how much of myself to give.
In the end, I can’t be anything but honest. “Last night was emotional, and you understood without my having to explain.” It broke down my defenses and put me in a place where I’m willing to act on our mutual need.
“Well, I’m glad.”
I swallow hard. I don’t know what the future holds, and yes, thinking of things imploding and changing scares me. But I’m not willing to walk away from him now. “Do you really want to waste time talking?” I ask.
He treats me to his sexiest grin. “Hell no.” And then he pounces, his big body coming over mine and capturing me beneath him.
As I wind my arms around his neck, his mouth comes down on mine. He kisses me long and hard. He kisses me like his life depends on it. And I return the sentiment, teasing back with my tongue, nipping with my teeth, dragging my nails down his back as our bodies grind together.
He lifts his head, draws in a harsh breath, and sits up so he can wrangle my tee shirt over my hips, my torso, and as I raise my arms, he’s able to complete his mission.
He flings the shirt onto the floor, leaving me naked except for my underwear.
I wriggle them off, then push myself farther up on the bed.
Meanwhile, he hops off and strips off his boxer briefs.
I glance at his thick cock, hard and ready for me, and a moan leaves my throat.
Hearing the sound, he grins before pulling open his nightstand and retrieving a condom, ripping it open, and gliding the covering over his erection.
He returns, climbing onto the bed and brushing a roughened fingertip over my nipple. My pussy spasms and my hips arch off the mattress.
“You’re gorgeous,” he says, desire glittering in his eyes. “And I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life.”
I open my eyes wide. Before I can otherwise react, he speaks. “Up and on your knees, baby.”
At his domineering tone, my nipples harden, and I have no problem obeying. If I’m going to give up the fight, I’ll enjoy every last minute.
I turn and settle on all fours, my entire body humming with anticipation even as I wonder why he’s positioned me this way.
Maybe he just likes it. Or, knowing Linc, maybe he senses I don’t want to see him face-to-face and add to the emotional overload I’ve experienced. Regardless of why, I’ll take it.
He comes behind me, the heat of his big body tempting as he wraps around me. He slides a finger over the bumps in my spine, causing me to tremble and arch beneath his hand as he teases me.
Without warning, he poises his erection at my opening, one hand grasping my hips. “Hold on,” he warns, and I hold my breath as he thrusts deep inside me.
I groan, filled up, body quivering and, dammit, my emotions engaged. Closing my eyes, I fight past the lump in my throat and focus on the sensations overtaking me every time Linc pulls out and slams back in. Over and over. And like last time, he knows my body, hitting the right spot.
“Oh, damn, Linc. Harder.”
His fingers squeeze my side tighter, and he does as I ask. He takes me with a steady rhythm, hammering into me until I forget where we are, my name, everything but the building euphoria inside me and the knowledge it’s Linc causing the feelings.
Slipping his hand farther around me, his fingers find my clit and strum the tight bud until I explode, my body stiffening as the waves keep pummeling me. Linc keeps up the stroking until I’m wrung dry. Then he thrusts in and out, hard, fast, until he finds his release.
We collapse together onto the bed, my breathing ragged, his coming in desperate gulps. Finally he rises and disappears into the bathroom, returning quickly.
He pulls down the covers and helps me climb beneath them. Although I’m sticky between my thighs, I don’t care as I snuggle against him. For now, wrapped in his arms, I feel safe. And want to hold on to those feelings while I can.
* * *
Linc
I hold Jordan in my arms, silence surrounding us.
I bury my face in her hair and inhale her fragrant scent.
She’s taken me by surprise and though I’d planned to join her in bed and urge her to talk about her feelings, I wasn’t able to deny her what we both needed.
But with our physical desires sated, it’s time to deal with her past.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Amazing,” she murmurs. “Want to do it again?”
I let out a low chuckle. “Later. Right now I want to talk.” My cock doesn’t like that answer, and from the way Jordan stiffens, neither does she. But I’m not going to let her ignore me.
Rolling her onto her back, I prop an arm up, and lying on my side, I meet her gaze. If I have to wait an hour for her to respond, I will.
“About what?” she asks at last.
“How you felt being with Aurora last night. Watching her give birth. Holding the baby. I don’t want you to bury it all inside. It’s not good for you.”
She shifts toward me and her big blue eyes meet mine. “I was happy for her, of course.”
I shake my head. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
Her sigh echoes around the room. “It hurt. Is that what you want to hear?”
“I want to hear the truth.” And then I intend to comfort her.
Closing her eyes in resignation, she begins to speak.
“Back when I found out I was pregnant, I was petrified. I mean, I’d had a plan.
Go to college, find a job, and make money supporting myself in the business world.
All of a sudden, those plans were in jeopardy.
The baby’s father, my boyfriend, wanted nothing to do with us.
And there might have been a time or two I wished it hadn’t happened.
” A tear leaks out of her eye, and I brush it away with my thumb.
Her eyelashes flutter and she looks at me. “But I never meant I wanted to lose my baby.” Her voice cuts off, a choking sound coming from her throat.
“I know that,” I rush to assure her. I’ve never once thought she blamed herself for her miscarriage. Needing to touch her, I pull her back into my arms. “And it wasn’t your fault.”
“Mentally I know but in my heart I feel guilty.”
I stroke her hair as she gathers the courage to continue.
“I was so happy for Aurora,” she says into my chest, moisture from her tears coating my skin. “But at the same time, I was faced with what I lost.”
I hold her as she lets out the pain she’s been holding back while being strong for Aurora.
After a while, her trembling subsides and she pulls back. “I’m okay. Thank you.” Her cheeks are red, her eyes glassy, but she isn’t an ugly crier. In fact, she’s appealing with her heart out there for me to see.
“I hope you feel lighter,” I say.
She nods. “But don’t expect me to thank you,” she says with a wry twist of her lips.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” I let out a low laugh and then decide we’ve had all the discussion she needs.
Lying beside her, I breathe in the mixed scent of sex and her floral fragrance and get hard all over again. She meets my gaze, and I see the second she becomes aware of my renewed desire. Her cheeks flush, her eyes dilate, and suddenly we’re on the same page.
She presses my shoulders back and crawls on top of me, sealing her mouth over mine. No way will I argue. I grasp the back of her neck, holding her in place as we kiss, her soft, wet pussy sliding over my abdomen.
“Fuck,” I mutter, breaking our kiss, my focus on the warm feel. “Grab a condom,” I tell her. “Top drawer.”
She reaches over and pulls out protection from the partially open drawer, tearing the packet open, and settles back over my lower body.
Wearing nothing but a sexy smile, she wraps her slender fingers around my erection and works the condom over my hard length. She takes her time, and I grit my teeth against the teasing she subjects me to. Then, rising up on her knees, she grips my cock in her hand and positions me at her entrance.
“You’re torturing me,” I say, my jaw clenched tight.
She shakes her head, her long dark hair flowing around her shoulders. “I’m enjoying touching you,” she says, her grip tightening at the base of my shaft. Slowly, she works herself over me, her slick body tightening as she takes me deeper inside her.
Letting her be in control is killing me.
I want nothing more than to take over and pump my hips up and down until I explode, bringing her with me.
But she seems to need this. Seems to want the power, and after the emotional break she wasn’t able to control earlier, the one I pushed her to experience, I need to give her this now. Even if it kills me to wait.
Finally she lets go, her legs collapsing, her sweet pussy engulfing me in heat.
“F-u-u-ck,” I say, pulling in a deep breath.
“That’s what I’m trying to do.” She laughs, squeezing my dick tighter as she does.
And I lose my ability to wait. “Ride me or I’m going to flip you over and fuck you hard.” It’s a promise, not a threat.
“Do it.” Her eyes dilate and her words shock me, but I don’t doubt her sincerity or the way her body pulses around me.
Without breaking our physical connection, I manage to switch our positions and take her hard and fast. But hard and fast doesn’t negate how much I feel, how what we share is unique and nothing like I’ve experienced with any other woman. Because Jordan is special.
And when she wraps her legs around my waist and gives herself over, my name on her lips, her orgasm triggers my own. I come hard and fast, aware only of the woman beneath me and how perfect she makes me feel.
* * *
Jordan
I could go home, but I opt to make breakfast for us instead. While Linc showers, which I’ve already done, I head to the kitchen.
Going through his cupboards, I find everything I need to make French toast. Not because he goes food shopping or cooks for himself but because someone does it for him.
Mrs. Farley makes certain his fridge and cabinets are stocked.
She cooks dinner for him if he’s going to be home and leaves it for him to heat.
Which means, I think as I flip the bread in the frying pan, I’m spoiling him more.
But I don’t mind. As usual, he was there for me and pressed me to deal with something I’d have otherwise buried deep.
I can’t help but be grateful for last night and this morning even if I’m setting myself up for heartbreak each time I give in and find myself in his bed.
In my heart, I know Linc would never intentionally hurt me. I’ve also discovered I can’t resist him. All I can do is move forward and do my best not to let this happen again. But I’m not going to beat myself up for being with him, either.
My body hurts in the best ways. Muscles are sore, reminding me of how good we are together. How in sync. How well he reads my need.
My cell phone rings from its place on the granite countertop, Mom showing up on the screen.
I wince because I’ve owed my mother a phone call for too long.
We normally speak more often, but I’ve been so busy since coming home from Florida, I haven’t had a chance to do more than exchange texts with my parent.
I don’t want to talk to her now, from Linc’s, but at this point, my mother will worry if I don’t take the call.
I pick up the phone and touch the accept button. “Hi, Mom.” I tuck the phone between my ear and shoulder.
“Jordan Marie, where have you been? I called you a few times last night and again this morning.”
I cringe. I never want to worry my mother. “I’m fine, Mom. Sorry. It’s been a little crazy.” I add a slice of toast from the frying pan to the plate where the other finished pieces are before placing the final coated piece onto the pan.
“Is Linc working you that hard?” my mother asks.
“No, Mom. His new sister had a baby last night.”
“Oh, a baby! A boy or a girl?” my mom asks.
I smile. “A girl. Unnamed but I’m sure Aurora will pick one soon. And the baby is the sweetest thing.”
“You were there? At the hospital?” My mom sounds surprised.
“Yes. Actually I was in the room with Aurora when she gave birth.” As I speak, I brace myself for a negative reaction.
“I don’t understand. Wasn’t there someone from the family who could have been with her? You aren’t family.”
Ouch. “I’m well aware. And if I wasn’t, you certainly remind me of it often enough,” I snap.
My mother sighs. “Honey, I’m not trying to be mean. I’m just reminding you of your place. One day the man you call your best friend is going to find a woman to marry, and where will that leave you?”
I flip the bread and do my best to breathe and not let my mother’s words get to me, but it’s hard after spending the night in Linc’s bed, sleeping in his arms.
“Can we talk about something else?” I ask.
“Sure. Did I tell you the fire alarm went off in my building the other night? We all had to go outside, and I was wearing my robe…” My mother goes on with her story, and I murmur the requisite mmm-hmms while she speaks.
By the time I hang up, my good mood has been ruined by my mother’s judgmental assessment of my place in Linc and Aurora’s life. It only serves to reinforce all the negative thoughts I already hold about why we can never be together long-term and why I need to be better about guarding my heart.