Page 15 of Sanctuary After Dark

"Morning, squirt."

"G-good morning. I um… I made coffee. I hope that's alright?"

Biting my lip a little, I suddenly became nervous that I had overstepped. I should have asked what I could eat while I was here, or asked Alec to stop at the grocery store on the way over yesterday.

"More than alright. It's perfect. I need my caffeine before I face people." He grins over at me before winking and heading into the kitchen.

I can't help my eyes from trailing over his muscular back and down to his ass. Oh, he has a nice ass. Blinking, I shake my head and sink into the couch, scolding myself. I only just got here. I don't need to be lusting after him and Lucas. I need to focus on why I came here and put my all into this exposure therapy. But they are really, really pretty. With their black hair and ice-blue eyes, the scruff on their face that looks so soft, their muscular bodies that clothes don't even hide, how tall they are, and, ugh, their hands. I noticed their hands right away, and I about drooled over them.

Strong, calloused hands with veins on the backs running up their forearms and a light dusting of black hair. I shiver a little just thinking about them.

I have a hand and arm kink. Sue me.

Hearing Lincoln coming back into the room, I look up at him as he walks in with a steaming mug of coffee and what looks like a bagel on a plate. My mismatched eyes follow him as he comes over to sit close to me on the couch. There's at least a cushion between us, though, which makes me feel a little better.

He sips at his coffee, and my eyes track the way his Adam's apple bobs as he swallows. He leans over to set his mug on the coffee table before he slouches down on the couch and spreads his legs to get comfortable.

Whoever invented grey sweatpants either needs a Nobel Prize or they need to be locked in the deepest depths of Hell for the torture they put upon all of us. Because how are we supposed to act normal and not like a blushing, fiending, horny mess when you have a sexy man sitting close to you, shirtless, man-spreading, and the sweatpants hide absolutely fucking nothing.

It's criminal.

Or the greatest gift on this earth.

I haven't decided yet.

But one thing I know is that it's frustrating.

And Lincoln is clearly not wearing underwear and has no shame.

I hate him.

"Why are you glaring at my legs, little one?"

Looking up at him quickly, I see him smirking before picking up his bagel and taking a bite out of it. I blush and look away from his stupidly pretty face and down at my Kindle again.

"I wasn't glaring."

"Mmhmm. Sure you weren't." He chuckles before leaning forward and picking his mug up to take a sip. "Thanks for making coffee, by the way. It's really good. You picked my favorite flavor we have."

"R-really? It's your favorite?" I blink at him for a moment after putting my Kindle down on my lap.

He hums and nods as a soft smile graces his lips, and he scratches his jaw. "Oh yeah. Toasted buttered pecan? Fucking delicious. You did good."

A blush creeps up my face, and I smile as I look into my lap. "Thank you. I was nervous I overstepped and used something I wasn't supposed to. I don't know whose food is whose here. Nothing had labels.”

"Wanna know why that is?"

Looking over at him, I see him still smiling at me. I nod because I do want to know, so I don't mess up again and take something without asking.

"It's 'cause everything in the kitchen is free game. We're a family here, and families share with each other. You never have to ask if you can have something from the kitchen unless it is labeled, in which case, leave it alone." Lincoln picked up his bagel and took a bite, chewing. "And if you want anything at all, there's a shopping list on the fridge. Just add it to that, and we'll try to pick it up when one of us goes shopping."

The idea of just taking something was so foreign to me. For the longest time, I had to ask permission for anything I wanted. Alec has been working on it with me, but it's still hard sometimes, and I still get anxious about it. But hearing Lincoln assure me I can have whatever I want in the kitchen helps to relieve that anxiety a bit.

"Thank you. There's not much I need. Although maybe some oat milk… I use that in my coffee and my tea instead of creamer or milk. But I can use creamer or milk, too. It's not a big deal..."

I didn't want to ask for too much. They were already doing so much for me. They were letting me stay here and helping me with my issues when they didn't have to. They probably have much better things to do than babysit me.

"Alec mentioned you like oat milk. I think Raven is grabbing some on their way in today with Gar. We didn't have time to stop yesterday, or else we would have already had some for you."