Six weeks later…
Yes
“IN A MINUTE,” I SAY, my focus on my sketch pad.
Reagan huffs, and I can’t help but smile. “You said that ten minutes ago.”
“Surprises have to be timed just right.”
I steal a glance at her. She’s beautiful today in a silky cream-colored shirt and fitted black skirt. With her brown hair twisted in a messy bun, she reminds me of a naughty school teacher or librarian. My dick twitches.
“How are you feeling?” she asks as she comes to sit on the edge of my desk where my feet are propped up.
“Like a million bucks.”
Another huff.
Every time she asks me, I give her the same reply. And it’s the truth. I may have been pumped full of lead but I made it through. I had to. She was waiting on the other side for me.
“Okay, done. Whatcha think?” I ask and pass her the notebook, ignoring the pain that streaks across my chest at the movement.
She stares down at it and her lip trembles. She loves it. I knew she would. “Oh, Linc.”
I lift a brow at her and reach forward to pat her knee, my new tattoo visible on my forearm that’s exposed with my dress shirt sleeves rolled up. She runs her fingers along the words—words that match her forearm exactly.
Thick as thieves.
“Yes,” she tells me firmly without hesitation.
“It was a rhetorical question,” I say in a smug tone and wink at her. “I already knew the answer.”
She laughs and slaps at my hand. “You’re too much.”
“I’m not enough.” My words are somber. Often, I worry that’s the truth. Especially since I’ve had to rely on her to do everything for me the past few weeks. Driving. Laundry. Hell, at one point, showering. My sweet Reagan has had to fucking take care of me. It’s annoying as hell that I can’t sling her over my shoulder and have my way with her. I’m still too weak and only recently have I been feeling more like myself. A collapsed lung, punctured intestine, and shattered spleen will bring a strong man to his knees. It nearly took me to my grave.
“You’re everything,” she says in the fiercest tone.
Our eyes meet and she almost knocks me over with the love shining in her eyes. “I love you,” I blurt out. I don’t ever refrain from telling her anymore. I’ve been made well aware that life can be over in the blink of an eye, and you can’t waste a minute of it.
“I love you, too.” She leans forward to kiss me, and I pull her into my lap. “Linc! You’ll hurt yourself.”
Smirking, I brush some hair away from her face. “I’m fine. You were there at this morning’s appointment when Dr. Adams said I was fine…” I trail off and palm the inside of her thigh before inching my hand up under her skirt. “I’m fine for everything.”
Her cheeks blaze red and a shy smile curves her lips up. “Everything?”
My fingers brush against her panties. “Everything. Even anal.”
She giggles, and I’m trying to sneak my fingers into her panties when my office door swings open. Roman groans and covers his eyes.
“Really, man? We give you an office for what? So you can have a quiet place to feel our sister up?” His words are amused despite his grumbling.
“I specifically told you both that this office would be used for shenanigans with the CFO. You and Ram chose not to believe me,” I say in defense.
Ram walks in after his brother and gags. “Fuck, man.” He shakes his head and glances at Roman. “But he did say that.”
Reagan scoots out of my lap and stands. She hugs the sketchbook to her chest. “You’ll live. The both of you.” Her eyes are warm and full of love as she regards me. “You ready?”
“Ever since the day I met you,” I say with a wink.
“Now?” Roman asks. “Like right now?”
“Yep,” Reagan huffs. “We’re leaving and that’s that.”
“You’re still going to do this? Have an impromptu vacation two weeks before my wedding?” Ram asks in astonishment. “Is it even safe for you to travel?”
I sit up and wince slightly. Ram frowns but I brush it off with a smile. “I’m fine. Besides, we’re not flying.”
Roman’s eyes fly to his hairline. “You’re driving all the way there? Goddamn, it’ll take you the whole two weeks.”
“We’ll be back before the wedding festivities,” Reagan assures them. “Linc and I need this vacation.”
The room grows quiet, everyone undoubtedly recalling that fateful day a month and a half ago. I wonder if she’ll show them the drawing. A part of me hopes she won’t. She makes no moves to bring it from her chest.
Looks like she loves her secrets as much as I do.
“When you get back, Andie wants to have dinner at the house one day before the wedding,” Roman says, his eyes finding mine. “She’ll want to celebrate…”
He knows of course.
It makes me wonder if my sister knows.
It’s all my fault. I asked him and he said yes. The motherfucker said yes. I still can’t believe that one.
“To celebrate you being back,” he tells me, assuring me my secret is still safe.
I give my him a tip of my head in thanks. “Tell her to make me that coconut cake I love. The one where she puts actual rum in the cake mix,” I instruct and pat my stomach.
Reagan laughs and looks over her shoulder at me. “You’re not supposed to drink.”
“I’m not supposed to do a lot of things,” I tell her, my palm sliding up the back of her thigh. “But I do them anyway.”
“And on that note,” Ram groans. “I’m out.”
“Me too,” Roman agrees. “Be safe. Be good.”
I snort and Reagan laughs.
“Fuck it. Have fun,” Roman says, chuckling.
“We are not stopping here,” Reagan says, her smile wide and breathtaking.
“I have it circled on the map. We’re stopping.”
She puts on the blinker and is shaking her head. “You do realize this is the most ridiculous spot to stop.”
“We’re having a picnic.”
I guide her to Lake Dardanelle State Park in Arkansas. We find a camping area that has several picnic tables and an unobstructed view of the glistening lake. And…
“A nuclear power plant,” she says as she unpacks the cooler and tosses me a sandwich.
Shrugging, I unwrap my sandwich and grin at her. “Ever watch The Simpsons? I’ve been dying to see one of these in real life.” I point at the steam coming out of the reactor. “Stunning view.”
She laughs. “We’re probably getting radiation poisoning as we speak.”
“My love for you is nuclear,” I jest. This earns me a piece of lettuce to the face.
We finish our lunch and then she leans up against me. The sun is high on this cool December morning, but we’re warm. Everything about this day is perfect. I’m not in a rush to get out west. We have all the time in the world. These small moments with her are the best. It isn’t the destination with Reagan Holloway, it’s the motherfucking journey.
“It really is beautiful in a bizarre kind of way,” she admits. “Even if we are exposing ourselves to chemicals that will make us grow extra body parts.”
Chuckling, I kiss the top of her head. “Those are steam clouds. Water vapor. Don’t worry your pretty little head. Besides,” I tease. “If I grew an extra dick, I seriously doubt you’d complain. Mark that off your bucket list. Double penetration by Lincoln Carter.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“You won’t say that when you’ve had both my dicks at once.”
“The view is gorgeous. I love it here,” Reagan chirps as she throws herself on the giant king-sized bed at the Bellagio. “Those fountains are so pretty.”
My view is breathtaking as well but I’m not staring out the window like she is. My gaze is following the curves of her body in her silky pale white dress. The way it pools around her like she’s sitting in a cloud. An angel. So fitting. Her dark hair is a stark contrast. It’s pulled up in a fancy do, but she releases some pins and it falls down behind her, brushing against her shoulders.
I loosen my tie and toss it away. Apparently, you have to be fancy here. I don’t normally do fancy but I’d be fancy as fuck if that meant making Reagan happy. And boy is she happy. Unimaginable, but it’s true. She’s on top of the world. I put her there.
She toys with a strand of her hair as I pluck through the buttons on my shirt. I shed the shirt, wincing only slightly when I pull my arms back to tug it away from me. The wife beater goes next and then my pants. When I’m naked, I crawl in behind her and stare out the picturesque window with her. It’s dark out, but the fountains are dancing and lighting up with many different colors.
“You’re naked.” There’s a smile in her voice.
“You should be, too.”
I kiss her soft throat and roam her breast over her dress with my palm. She rolls onto her back and runs her fingers through my hair before pulling me down to kiss her mouth. This trip has been unrushed and exciting. We’ve done exactly what we’ve set out to do. Live in the moment. Enjoy each other. Laugh. Make love.
She’s mine forever.
Even if my forever ends tomorrow.
I’ll have had her fully and all encompassing for every second that’s left in my life.
“You make a lot of serious faces lately,” she says when I pull away from her lips. Her brows are crashed together in concern. “Where’s my smiling man?”
My lips quirk up on one side. “Sometimes I have to take a minute and appreciate how lucky I am. It’s a sobering fact.”
Her brown eyes pool with unshed tears. “I’m so lucky you didn’t leave me. I wouldn’t have…” She swallows and a tear leaks out. “I don’t think I could have survived losing you.”
I press a soft kiss to her perfect mouth and swipe away her tear before slipping my hand under her dress. I’m pleased to find she’s bare beneath the fabric. Slowly, I run my fingers between the lips of her pussy and massage her clit.
Despite not being able to have sex until recently, I’ve still been unable to refrain from touching her. Two days ago, the doctor said I was cleared for sex, but she’s been hesitant this entire trip. Tonight, we’re going to make it work. I don’t care if I die in the process. I’ll have my sweet Reagan again.
“Ready to get fucked, Rey?” I growl as my finger enters her tight sex.
She moans and shakes her head. “No.”
I frown but continue to tease her between her thighs. “Why not?”
She gently pushes my shoulder until I’m on my back. Her brown eyes that were sad moments before now flicker with wickedness. “My sex bucket list. I was thinking about it on the way here. There’s something I want to try. You’re usually too busy manhandling me to let me.”
I smirk and hold my hands up in defense. “Well, I certainly can’t manhandle you now, so I guess you’ll get to have your pretty little way with me.”
She straddles my hips and starts to peel away the white dress, but I stop her.
“Leave it on. You’re sexy as hell in it,” I tell her, a grin tugging at my lips.
Her fingers go to her neck and she unties the halter top. When she pulls the fabric down just below her tits, I get an unobstructed view of them. The material of her dress still hides the rest of her from me.
“Actually,” I growl, my dick impossibly hard and eager. “This is better.”
With her eyes on mine, she lifts her dress with one hand and uses the other to guide my throbbing cock inside of her. Once she’s settled on me, she doesn’t move.
“I’m pretty sure you’ve ridden me at least once,” I observe, my palms sliding up her thighs under her dress.
She grabs my wrists and pins them to the bed beside my head. Her lips are parted and her eyes are dilated as she starts working her hips. “Not like this. You’re under my control, Lincoln Holloway. I’m woman-handling you.”
I smile and drink in this gorgeous vixen, fucking my cock like she owns it. Hell, she does. Hottest damn thing I’ve ever seen.
“You’re mine,” she says, mimicking something I say to her all the time. The possessiveness in her tone makes my dick twitch inside of her.
Her eyes grow sad again as she runs her fingertips over my still healing wounds. They’re angry and agitated, but she’s tender as she touches them. Tears well in her eyes again. We both know how close we were to losing each other. It’s something we think about a lot each day. Not long after I came home with her from the hospital, she spent an entire day crying while curled up beside me in the bed. I teared up, too, but never let her see how fucking emotional I was. Truth is, I was fucking terrified. Seeing her with Louie cut my soul deep. The crushing responsibility I’d felt over putting her in that position is something I’ll never be able to fully recover from. It haunts me in my nightmares. A scenario that plays out more horrifically than what happened. And because of that, I walk the straight and narrow for her. It’s easy being good when you follow around an angel all day.
“Oh, Linc,” she whimpers, her tears splashing my chest.
I pull from her hold on me and reach up, ignoring the pain tearing across my muscles, and grip her jaw. Her eyes are wide as I pull her down to my lips. I may not be able to toss her around and own her like I want but I can do this. My lips power over hers. I let her know with a kiss that I’ll always protect and cherish her. That I will love her with every ounce of me that I have. Those are my vows.
“I love you,” she murmurs between kisses. “So much.”
I slide my other hand into her silky hair and kiss her hard. “I love you more, Rey. I always have.”
“Stop babying him,” Reagan teases, her pretty mouth curled into a smile. “He’s eating this up. Aren’t you, babe?”
I clutch my chest. “Owwww. Andie, please give me another slice of coconut cake.” I give my sister my best puppy dog eyes. She’s growing soft in her old age because her face crumples.
“Of course. Don’t move, Linc.”
Reagan shakes her head at me. “You’re impossible.”
Molly shrieks as if to agree with her. Roman laughs and pats her back. “The kid agrees. I totally fucking agree.”
Andie slaps his shoulder before leaning across the table to hand me the plate. She gave me an extra big piece. “Leave him alone, guys. He’s still hurt.”
I wink at Reagan and flip Roman off. They both groan.
“I can’t believe Dani is getting married Saturday. Pretty soon, you two will be next.” Her blue eyes are lit with happiness as she teases us. It’s such a good look on my sister. Pride thumps in my battered chest.
Roman makes a grunting sound and wears a smile like he’s the cat that ate the fucking canary. Reagan shoots him a warning glare.
“Rey,” I say after I polish off my second helping of cake. “Can you help me go to the bathroom?” I shrug. “I’m practically an invalid.”
Andie’s mouth parts, and I swear she’s about to cry. “My poor big brother.”
Reagan laughs. “Oh my God. He’s not helpless. Trust me on this.”
I turn my puppy dog eyes on my woman this time. “Please, angel. Help me upstairs. I might need to rest a moment.”
Andie shoos us away. “We’ll clean up down here. Help him, Reagan.”
I play the part of wounded victim as Reagan helps me from my chair. When I twist a little too quickly, the hiss of breath and wince are real, though. Reagan senses this and her arm wraps around my side. She guides me upstairs. I point at my sister’s room.
“In there.”
She frowns up at me. “Why?”
“I’ll show you.”
We shuffle down the hallway. Once we make it to their room, I shut the door and lock it before flashing her an evil grin.
“Wanna fuck on their bed?”
“Lincoln!” she screeches but she’s already peeling away her shirt.
“I knew you’d be down, bad girl.”
She tosses her jeans and panties to the floor as she backs up to their bed. I shove my jeans and boxers down my thighs far enough to pull my hard dick out. She sits on the edge of the bed. I give her a tiny push until she’s on her back. Then, I grab her hips and yank her toward me. The motion has me gritting my teeth because it hurts like fuck, but I power through it and hope to hell I’m not grimacing. When I tease the tip of my dick at her entrance, I’m pleased to see she’s wet and ready. With a quick thrust, I’m inside of her. I fuck her as roughly as I can without hurting myself too much while I finger her clit. The moment she comes, I spill my seed deep inside of her.
We’re all smiles and jokes as we clean up and redress.
While she smooths out her hair, I pick up Roman’s big expensive watch from the dresser. “Who even wears something this big? It’s an old man watch.”
Reagan laughs. “Mom got that for him.”
“Of course she did,” I say, my lips twitching. “It’s big as fuck. Like it should be a mantel clock. In fact…”
“No.”
“I think—”
“No.”
“—it would look great—”
“No.”
“—on the mantel, next to the picture of him and Molly we took last time—”
“No.”
I laugh as I set the watch back down. “What? You act like taking his ugly watch and doing him a fashion service is the worst thing we’ve ever done to your big brother. I’m pretty sure me fucking you on his side of the bed was right up there in the number one slot.”
Her face turns bright red and she shakes her head. “You’re crazy.”
“Crazy for you,” I challenge.
“Fine.”
“Fine?”
She picks up the abomination and shoves it in her pocket. “How long you think it’ll take him to notice?”
“Oh, I imagine tomorrow morning, he’ll be over with the sunrise and another laundry basket to collect his things,” I say, my chest rumbling with laughter.
“We won’t answer the door.” She grabs my hand and beams at me.
“You know he secretly likes when we steal his shit.”
“You just like to live dangerously. And if we keep swiping his stuff, he’s going to kill us.”
I pull her into my arms and kiss her forehead. She hugs me tight. Our eyes meet and say so many things our lips never seem to be able to express properly.
“At least we’ll die together,” I tell her. My hand strokes through her hair and my thumb brushes along her cheek.
“Thick as thieves,” she murmurs, her eyes full of love and adoration. “In it until the end.”
My mouth crashes to hers and I kiss her with that very promise. She’s mine until the end. And then she’s still fucking mine because that’s the way love is.
It’s selfish and powerful.
It’s ridiculous.
It defies reason or logic.
Love follows no rules.
I’m smirking as we kiss. The realization hits me like a ton of bricks.
Love is a fucking rebel.