By this time, Ashley’s gaze had turned whisky dark and full of anticipation and need. Linc could relate, tenfold. Her breath hitched, and he felt the rapid rise and fall of her chest as it brushed against him.

God, she was beautiful.

Then her gaze dropped to his mouth and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.

That was it. He was sunk.

With a muffled groan, he kissed her, unable to resist the urge to pull her lower lip into his mouth and soothe it with his tongue. Ashley moaned, and pressed against him. He could feel the strain where he held her wrists while he continued to kiss her long and wet and deep.

It wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.

He let go of her wrists and ran his hands down her arms, her chest, to her hips, then slipped his thumb under her shirt to brush her skin. She was hot and so silky soft…and trembling. He’d never ventured to touch her under her clothes before, but since she hadn’t stiffened or pushed him away, he inched higher until his hands were full of her lace-covered breasts and his thumbs brushed over her nipples.

A sexy mewl sounded in her throat a second before she grasped his hips and rocked against him. Son-of-a-bitch, he saw stars. She did it again. With a growl, he lifted her up and carried her to the sink where he set her gorgeous ass on the counter, already in love with the trajectory the high vanity placed her body. He loved that he was standing between her legs and that he could feel her sweet heat through her jeans. Loved that she scooted closer and moaned into his mouth as she brushed against his mother of all hard-ons. And what he really loved was releasing her lips to lift her shirt and place open-mouthed kisses down her chest.

“Linc,” she breathed, fisting her hands in his hair.

He took that as a sign to continue, so he tugged the lace aside and sucked one of her delectable tips into his mouth. She moaned and shifted closer. And he was just reaching around her back to unhook her bra when a knock sounded at the front door—before it opened.

He released her and straightened.

“Linc? Where are you?” Logan’s voice echoed through the house.

Fuck.

His brother had the worst timing.

With a reluctance borne out of weeks of frustration, he fixed Ashley’s shirt, and set his forehead to hers. “Hold my place. I’ll be right back. Just need to go murder my brother first.”

“This place looks awesome,” Chloe exclaimed, her boots clapping off the pine floors downstairs.

He groaned. “And my sister-in-law.”

Ashley laughed and kissed him on the lips before pushing him back so she could slide off the vanity. “We’re up here,” she called out, straightening her clothes before heading for the hall.

“Hang on.” He grabbed her arm, unable to hide his smirk. “You may want to look in the mirror.”

But it was too late, Logan and Chloe appeared in the doorway.

“New painting technique?” His brother snickered until Chloe elbowed him in the gut.

“Don’t mind him, or us,” she said, backing them out into the hall. “We’ll show ourselves out.”

Best sister-in-law ever.

Ashley laughed. “You don’t have to leave.” She tugged the rag from his back pocket and wiped the paint off her face that had transferred from his when they’d kissed.

Since her cheeks had already been flushed from going at it hot and heavy, it was hard to tell if she was blushing. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel awkward, or take a step back from the progress she’d made over the past week. The thing was, she didn’t seem to lose any footing. In fact, she appeared to gain some, because after she wet the rag and removed the remaining paint from her face, she stepped close and wiped his clean.

Right in front of his brother and Chloe.

This bravado was new.

He glanced at the smiling couple in the doorway, noting the surprise and approval in their gazes. The same emotions rolled through him, along with an unexpected contentment. Normally, the domesticated act would have him running for the hills. Oddly enough, the only place he wanted to run was back into Ashley’s arms.

“Don’t forget Mom and Dad are coming down for cake tonight for Mom’s birthday,” Logan reminded.

Damn. He’d forgotten about that.

“We made a pit stop at Hardbodies for a triple order of Avery’s wings if you want to come now. I was going through withdrawals.” Chloe shuddered.

His laugh mixed with Ashley’s as she glanced at him and raised a brow, as if checking with to see what he wanted to do. As if his needs mattered to her.

No woman had ever worried about him, or been considerate of him and his needs—outside of the bedroom. It was unchartered territory. Red flag territory. But he didn’t care. Delving into it with Ashley negated the danger.

“I’m game if you are,” he told her, holding her gaze, letting her know they were far from done. He had every intention of picking up where they’d left off.

A sinful gleam only he could see entered her eyes as she nodded. Her agreement soothed his soul, and sparked his libido.

She turned and walked toward Chloe. “Come on, I’ll give you the tour and you can tell me about your honeymoon—minus the intimate parts.”

As he closed up the paint and listened to Ashley answering the couple’s renovation questions, Linc was hit, once again, by a swift wave of contentment. Crazy stuff. It was all new, and although Ashley wasn’t a stranger to a monogamist relationship, he wasn’t sure she was ready to jump into another. Especially with him. Plus, it was the first week of February. She didn’t have many left. Soon, she’d be California bound.

He glanced at the counter where she’d been soft and giving and willing in his arms a few minutes ago, and he knew, then and there, he’d never be able to let her go back without at least trying to give it a shot.

Too bad he didn’t have the slightest idea what he was doing.

***

All during dinner, Ashley was acutely aware of Linc and the way he appeared to need to touch her to keep a connection, whether with the brush of his leg against hers, or an arm draped around her chair as he held a conversation with his parents. All evening, he hardly left her side, and his warm, sometimes hungry gaze, followed her if he wasn’t at her side.

With anyone else, the action would’ve irritated her, but not with Linc. He consumed her thoughts too. Her need to feel him, to keep that connection was just as strong. Now that she’d made that decision to take their physical relationship to the next level, she could barely keep her hands to herself. She was antsy and excited, and couldn’t wait to be alone with him later. To take him back to her cabin and spend the night wrecking her sheets.

“What do you think, Ashley?” his mother asked, tearing her mind from thoughts of ravishing her son.

Warmth flooded her face as she tried to recall what the conversation was about, but came up empty.

“I prefer milk chocolate, myself,” Chloe said, meeting her gaze.

Bless her.

Ashley nodded. “Yes, I like milk chocolate best, too.” Although, she’d never turn down a piece of dark chocolate, either.

“Wonderful.” Mrs. McCall smiled. “Then you two can help me eat this box of Belgian chocolate Mac sent for my birthday.” The woman dug a box out of her large purse and set it on the table, her smile faltering. “I do wish he’d call, though.”

Linc stiffened next to her. “He hasn’t called you today?”

“No.” Mrs. McCall shook her head. “And it’s not like him. He always calls, no matter where he is or what he’s doing.”

Her heart went out to the poor woman. She knew exactly how hard it was to wait for word or correspondence of any kind from a loved one in the military. It took a toll, no matter how hard you tried not to let it. No matter how hard you tried to keep busy, to take your mind off the fact he was in harm’s way. To keep dire thoughts at bay.

It sucked.

She just hoped to God Mrs. McCall’s wish to hear from her soldier didn’t end up like Ashley’s last wish.

“Well, it’s still early yet in some parts of the world,” Mr. McCall stated, reaching out to cover the woman’s clasped hands. “He’ll call when he gets the chance.”

Logan nodded. “Yeah, Dad’s right.” He set his fork down after polishing off his second piece of birthday cake. “You know Mac, he always finds a way.”

“I’m sure you’re right.” The woman squared her shoulders and put on a big smile. “Now, what do you girls say we open these chocolates?”

An hour later, Mr. and Mrs. McCall were on their way home, and Ashley was in Linc’s truck on their way to her cabin.

Finally.

Slowly drawing in a breath, she tried to calm the nerves that suddenly wiggled in her stomach. She wanted to continue the deliciousness they stared in Lincoln’s bathroom, but for some reason, God, she was feeling shy.

Which was stupid. Linc wasn’t a stranger. She’d known him for decades. And wanted him pretty much that long, too.

“You okay?” he asked, cutting the engine.

It took her a second to realize they were in her driveway. She blew out a breath. “Yeah. Sorry. My mind was…” She let her voice trail off as she shrugged.

“That talk about not hearing from my brother bring up bad memories?” He reached out to squeeze her hand.

“Some.” She shrugged again. “I feel for her. It’s tough when you’re the one left behind.”

He nodded. “That’s one of the reasons I’ve been single. I’ve seen what it can do to a relationship from both sides of the coin. Not something I want to put anyone through.”

His admittance surprised her, and yet, it made total Lincoln McCall sense. He was selfless. Always put others first. That part had never changed. It was perhaps her favorite part.

That and his sexy-as-sin body.

And panty-melting kisses.

She squeezed his hand back, wanting to tell him the right one changed all that. Gave more meaning to leaving and coming home. The right one made it worth it. But, she didn’t want to answer questions that conversation might invite, so she tugged free and got out of the truck.

He met her by the stone pavers that led to the small porch of the two room cabin. Dusk was setting in, casting shadows around them.

This time, she reached for his hand. “You’re a good man. And a good friend.”

“Yeah?” He stopped at her door and cocked his head, twinkle back in his eyes. “Right back at you.”

She glanced at their entwined fingers, trying to come up with something flippant to say to invite him in.

God, she was bad at this.

“You’re thinking too hard.” He crooked a finger under her chin. “Ash, you don’t have to do anything you don’t want. I’m okay with our usual kiss goodnight.”

Her heart swelled.

The guy didn’t stop. He just kept endearing himself to her more and more.

She brought their entwined fingers to her mouth and kissed his knuckles. “I don’t want to stop at the door. I want you to stay. So bad.”

His chest rose with his indrawn breath. “Then I’m not going anywhere.”

To prove it, he kissed her, slow and long and thorough. By the time he drew back, they were both breathing heavy. She dug in her purse for the key, her hand as unsteady as her pulse, but she managed to unlock the door and lead him inside.

Her stomach fluttered and pulse raced. It felt like she’d run a marathon.

“I’ll start a fire to take the chill out.” He released her hand and headed for the stone fireplace in the middle of the far wall.

Ashley was too flushed with anticipation and need to notice. And bless him for giving her a moment to collect herself. Although, truth be told, after that kiss, she was ready for more.

Forcing her body to relax, she set her purse on a side table near the door, then shrugged out of the jacket she’d donned when she’d stopped by to grab a quick shower earlier, and change into something without paint on it for dinner. Jeans and a turquoise sweater were as good as it got.

After hanging up her jacket, she turned to find him heading straight for her, his gaze turning that gorgeous shade of slate.

“Now, where were we?” he asked, cupping her face with one big hand, while the other ran down her spine to rest at the small of her back.

Only a small space separated them, but he didn’t move. Not one inch. She knew, once again, he was letting her decide. Giving her time to make sure. Giving her an out. The thing was, she didn’t want an out. With every ounce of her being, she wanted to take this step with Linc.

She was done fighting it.

Done waiting.

With her gaze locked with his, she stepped into him, running her hands up his chest and into his hair, absorbing his heat and relishing the feel of his hot, hard body.

“Right about here,” she said into his mouth, initiating the kiss she wanted more than air.

It didn’t take long to become lost in the kiss, and when he touched his tongue to hers, desire exploded through her body. The kiss deepened, and their intense connection morphed until the circuits in her brain blew right and left.

Damn, he felt good. So damn good. She moaned and melted into his body. “Linc…”

He drew in air and dipped his head to concentrate on her throat. “I know,” he uttered, dragging his mouth to the sensitive spot behind her ear, while he released her face to slide his big hand down to her leg. Then, have mercy, he lifted her leg to his hip and ground against her.

Her moan echoed around them as desire shot out in every direction. She released his head to run her hands over him everywhere. God, she couldn’t get enough. She stroked his neck, then down his torso, sneaking under his shirt to brush the hot, sinewy goodness underneath. His body rippled under her touch. He was granite-hard and she couldn’t stop herself from rocking against him.

He muttered something in a groan, and once again claimed her mouth for one of his yummy kisses. She pulled her touch from under his shirt to wind her arms around his neck and mold her body to his. Heaven. When she parted her lips and slid her tongue to his, he groaned into her mouth as one of his hands stroked up her ribs, his wicked thumb brushing the underside of her breast.

A low sound rumbled in her throat. “Linc—”

His answer was to release her long enough to rip the sweater over her head then remove his shirt in a sexy one-handed maneuver that threatened the integrity of her legs.

“God, Ashley,” he murmured, taking in the way her breasts spilled out of the lacy, black bra she’d put on in hopes he’d take it off.

Then he backed her up against the wall and cupped both breasts in his hands before he dipped down to place open-mouth kisses across her chest. She closed her eyes and moaned, then gasped when he tugged the straps down her arms and captured an exposed nipple in his mouth.

Heat ricocheted south and her eyes threatened to cross. Damn, he was good. She lifted her leg to wrap around his hip again, then rocked against the delicious bulge in his jeans. She wanted him to take her right there against the wall, but apparently he had other ideas.

In a swift motion, he scooped her up and carried her to the couch, were he quickly removed everything but her panties, his gaze hot enough to scorch, lingering on the lace as he slowly started to tug them off. By the time they joined the rest of her clothes on the floor, she swore she was going to scream if he didn’t touch her.

“You’re so damn beautiful, Ash.”

Desire, and something else, blazed in his eyes as he lightly grasped her wrists and guided them above her head to the armrest. Her heart rocked in her chest while anticipation ran rampant. Then he was on the couch, a muscled thigh between hers, making room for himself, while he surrounded her with a bicep on either side of her face.

God, it felt amazing to be underneath him.

A grunt of agreement rumbled in his throat as he took her mouth in a hot, demanding kiss that left her shaking. It was different. Stronger. Unhindered. No more restrictions, or holding back. He consumed and possessed, and gave and needed.

Lordy, she was so wound, and pent up for so long, it wasn’t going to take much more to set her off. As if knowing, he lifted his head and held her gaze while he trailed his finger over her bottom lip, down her throat, to her chest were he slowed to a stop just before a nipple, pebbled tight because, hello, she was dying here.

“Linc…”

“Shh…” he murmured, gaze dark and intense. “I’ll take care of you.” A beat later, he kissed his way down her throat, then nipped at her collarbone before making his way to her breasts. Cupping one in his hand, he used his mouth to drive her mad, laving, nipping and teasing until she squirmed.

Then he switched sides, in an unhurried exploration that had her uttering his name, along with a curse, in a shocking show of need that matched the desperate rock of her hips. As if wanting a better angle, he slid to his knees on the floor and continued his wicked exploration with more kisses down her belly and a few nips of her hip.

But when he stroked her thigh and hooked her other leg over his shoulder, she lifted up on her elbows to stare down at him. “I…wait…I don’t want to waste it.”

He glanced up at her, that gorgeous slate gray gaze of his dark with need and concentration. “Oh, trust me, Ash. You’re going to come more than once tonight. I guarantee it.” He turned his head to lightly brush her inner thigh with the scruff of his jaw, and she nearly came right then.

With anticipation and desire calling the shots, her pulse hiccupped and stomach fluttered as he set a hand low on her belly, putting him in close proximity to where she needed him most. Then his thumb scraped over her, and her whole body quivered.

“Linc.”

Gaze still locked with hers, he brushed her again and followed it up with his tongue. Damn, he was good. A wave of intense feeling swamped her. He made her feel so much. Deep, powerful things, and Ashley could tell that Linc was feeling them too. It was overwhelming and incredible. She breathed his name, and when he picked up the pace, she burst apart, coming with a shuddering cry that rocked her to her very core.