AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Lexie
Where am I?
I stretched as my brain slowly clicked to life. The striking sunrise view brought the events of last night crashing to the forefront.
I sat up.
Lincoln.
Oh my word. I’d fallen asleep at Lincoln’s.
Where was Eric?
For that matter, where was Lincoln? The last thing I remembered was the strength and comfort of his arms. How my body and mind just let go for a few blissful moments.
I crept to my feet and tiptoed down the hall in hopes of finding Eric. We had to get out of here if we had any chance of keeping our schedule for the day.
And maybe avoiding Lincoln and the embarrassment of crashing uninvited at his place. Or palace might have been a better word.
I peered into the study and found Eric exactly where I’d left him with Muffy curled up against him. A blanket covered him, and his shoes had been removed.
My brother looked so peaceful, I hated to disturb him.
The distinct presence I wasn’t sure how I’d missed when I walked into the room enveloped me. I pivoted.
Lincoln sat behind his desk. His hair was damp. The collar of his white button-down shirt was loose. Had I ever seen him without a tie?
Those dark eyes penetrated through me. The man had seen me in my pajamas, yet somehow being in yesterday’s wrinkled garments was more humiliating.
When we’d helped him bring up Muffy’s things, it hadn’t occurred to me to be uncomfortable. As I stood there, I wasn’t sure if we’d overstayed our welcome. Clearly, we’d made ourselves at home.
Now, I just felt awkward.
Carefully, he rolled back from the desk. He stalked toward me with silent footsteps and stopped when he towered over me.
He hooked my chin, bent his head, and lowered his mouth to mine.
I blinked in surprise.
His movements were gentle, yet confident. Strong, yet somehow tender.
I fisted his shirt as his hand slid behind my head. He parted my lips with his tongue. I leaned against him, the connection and intimacy of such a simple gesture weakening my knees.
Because there was nothing simple about Lincoln Hollingsworth.
And when he kissed me, everything else fell away. The loss of Garrison’s business didn’t seem so bad. The release of my father from prison was something I could take on. Figuring out how we were going to get by wasn’t so daunting.
Lincoln was a rock. Unmovable. Unshakeable. Someone steady for us to lean on. And for once, Lincoln being that rock didn’t offend me. It warmed me. He warmed me.
The sparks of desire lit within me. They were buried beneath a pile of ashes and debris, long forgotten.
I’d never wanted like this. Never craved the nearness.
He kissed me as if he knew exactly the way I needed to be touched.
As if he were the only one who could draw a reaction from me.
As if I belonged to him.
