“Get dressed,” Linc calls from the doorway. Twisting around, I look over the back of the couch as he shuffles into the living room with his walker. It’s the first time since I arrived that he’s wearing jeans. Fucking jeans that mold his thick thighs and hug his impressive cock. A groan escapes the back of my throat as I lift my gaze, noting the view up top is just as sweet as it is below the waist. The cotton of his thermal stretches over his biceps making it abundantly clear he’s put on some muscle since starting physical therapy.
Is it wrong to want to swing from his arms?
Fuck, I don’t give a damn. Sign me up.
Bringing the walker to a stop, he stands tall and grabs the worn leather cut draped over it. Shrugging it on his shoulders, he tips his chin toward me.
“Did you hear me?”
“I’m sorry,” I say, blinking as he smooths a hand down the patches. “Were you talking to me?”
“No, I was talking to the pint of Cherry Garcia ice cream in your lap. Cobra and Celeste will be here in twenty minutes to pick us up,” he says.
Glancing down at the ice cream on my lap, I try to place which couple he’s referring to. Someone should really consider dubbing Brooklyn the city of brotherly love since everyone here seems to be in a relationship.
“That’s the couple with the little girl, right?”
“Yeah, and they’re having another one,” he supplies, dropping down on the couch next to me. His cologne assaults my senses and I shove another spoonful of ice cream into my mouth. Taking the spoon from my mouth with one hand, he uses the other to snatch the pint of ice cream.
“Hey, give that back,” I say, lifting my palm to my forehead. “Fuck,” I growl as a bout of brain freeze slams into me.
“You’re done,” he says, placing the pint on the coffee table. “Now, go get dressed. Cobra hates being late for anything.”
“Late for what?”
“The eight of us are going to The Crazy Taco,” he reveals.
“Who is the eight of us?” I ask.
Raising an eyebrow, I lower my hand.
“Me, you, Celeste, Cobra, Deuce, Ally, Stryker, and Gina.”
“Whoa,” I interject. “What?”
Rolling his eyes, he twists his torso to face me.
“Don’t make a big deal out of it,” he says. “The guys just figured we all could use a night out before all hell breaks loose and since they’re all wifed up and don’t do anything without their women, it became a couple thing.”
After last week’s episode in the kitchen, Linc and I haven’t mentioned where we go from here. We both have made our intentions clear but, until this mess the club comes to a head, neither of us is willing to make a move. For him, he wants to make sure he comes out of this thing alive and for me, I want to make sure he understands I am my own person. We both want to give it another go, there is no denying that, but, we’re kind of stuck in purgatory.
“So, I’m your plus one,” I tease.
“You know there are better ways to use that mouth of yours,” he points out.
“Ha!’ I exclaim, slapping his shoulder. “That’s something you have to earn,” I add, scrambling off the couch. “And to be clear, it’s going to take a lot more than a few tacos to get this mouth,” I pause, pointing a finger to said mouth before continuing. “…where you want it.”
A mixture of mischief and want flit across his features as he leans back against the couch.
“I’ve waited this long,” he says. “Besides, I’ve got my sights on something sweeter.”
“Is that right?”
“Baby, I’ll take your pussy over your mouth any day. Now, go get dressed before I call Cobra and tell him we’ve made other plans.”
I know I’m playing with fire but, sue me—I don’t remember the last time I had an orgasm. Up until now, I’ve been able to control my attraction to Linc. I was too hurt and too angry to want him but now, the ice around my heart is starting to melt and my vagina has decided she’s done being on strike.
“Just so we’re on the same page, what would those other plans be?”
“You naked and riding my face.”
“I wanted to be sure,” I say swallowing. “I’ll go get dressed.”
“Later, then,” he says with a wink. “Oh, and Pinky, while you’re in the shower don’t do my job,” he warns. “I’ll know if you’ve touched what’s mine.”
Holy mother of God!
It’s like he’s inviting me to finger myself in the shower.
Part of me wants to defy his wishes, while the other part knows it will be much more rewarding if he’s the one getting me off. As I climb the stairs, I chastise myself for my illicit thoughts. Making my way toward the bathroom, I start to wonder just how bad of an idea, getting naked with Linc might be. Deciding to throw caution to the wind and let the chips fall where they may, I step into the shower. I’m not going to over analyze things tonight. This is a first for us. Going out with couples even though technically, we’re not a couple. I don’t want to ruin tonight by abiding by some set of imaginary rules. I’m going to follow my gut and go with what feels right. If I happen to end up straddling Linc’s face, so be it.
Stepping out of the shower, I make my way to Nico’s room. Since my arrival, the simple space has turned into a tornado of clothes. Grabbing a pair of jeans, a simple white tank and my favorite leather jacket that resembles the British flash, I dress. Staring at the alarm clock next to the bed, I decide there isn’t much time to style my hair and opt to slick it back in a high ponytail. Next, I take the first tube of lipstick I find, a dark crimson shade, and apply it to my lips. Quickly, I brush a coat of mascara onto my already long eyelashes and slip my feet into my favorite pair of riding boots.
By the time I make my way down the stairs, Linc is standing at the door. Slowly he turns around and I watch his eyes travel up my body. The heat in his eyes makes me wet and I regret the decision not to relieve myself in the shower.
“You’re in for it tonight,” he growls as I reach the final step. Extending his arm, he takes my hand and pulls me close to him. “You’re beautiful, you know that.”
“What I know is you’re trying real hard to get me naked,” I tease, as his breath mingles with mine.
“Is it working?”
“Guess we have to wait to find out,” I rasp. He dips his head and I hold my breath as his mouth inches closer to mine. Teasingly, he kisses the corner of my mouth. A groan slips past my lips and he grins devilishly.
“It’s going to be a long night,” he murmurs, leaning back.
It sure as fuck is.
Cobra emerges, taking Linc’s walker and shoving it into the back of his SUV. It takes some time for Linc to get down the few steps but, he does it with no assistance from me or Cobra. Reaching the truck, Linc and I slide into the back seat. Before Cobra pulls away from the curb, Linc laces our fingers together.
“There’s a change in plans,” Cobra reveals. His eyes meet Linc’s in the rearview mirror. “The Crazy Taco is closed.”
“Get the fuck out of here,” Linc retorts.
“Nope, he went there this afternoon to speak with the manager about tonight and there was a sign taped to the door.”
“Wait a minute, why’d he go there to talk to the manager?”
Cobra eyes Celeste and I watch as a grin spreads across her face. Meandering as best as her protruding belly will allow, she glances at us.
“Stryker’s proposing to Gina tonight,” she squeals.
“No shit,” Linc says unable to suppress the grin. Squeezing my hand, he turns to me. “That’s huge for him,” he explains. “He did a tour in Iraq and struggles with PTSD on a daily. For a while, he wouldn’t allow himself to get close to Gina. He thought he didn’t deserve her,” he adds, cocking his head to the side as he stares at me.
“What made him see the light?”
“He accepted that she didn’t need a hero, she just needed him.”
Suddenly, I’m not so sure we’re talking about Stryker and Gina anymore. Drawing in a deep breath, he tears his eyes from me and looks to the front of the SUV.
“So, now where are we going?” he questions.
“Deuce got us a table at O’Neill’s it’s an Irish pub on Forest Avenue,” Celeste supplies. “And at ten o’clock a band is going on.”
“Anyone good?” Linc asks.
“Wait for it,” Cobra mutters, earning him a playful nudge from his girl.
“The Amish Outlaws are playing,” Celeste replies, turning to me. “Wait until you hear these guys,” she exclaims. “Me and some of the nurses caught their set a year or so ago and they were amazing. Picture a bunch of guys dressed like Amish folk, rocking out to Bon Jovi. They sing everything though. I mean the bald guy does a mean cover of Andrea Bocelli.”
Her excitement is contagious.
I can’t wait,” I tell her with a smile.
“So, wait, he’s going to propose with the Amish cover band playing in the background?”
“You offering to step-up and belt out a tune?” Cobra challenges.
“It was just a question,” Linc says.
“You should,” I tell him, squeezing his hand. His eyes find mine and I wink at him. “I bet you can give those Amish fella’s a run for their money if you sang Don’t Stop Believin’.
“You know, Linc,” Celeste starts. “I’m always hearing how good of a singer you are from this guy,” she continues jutting her thumb toward Cobra. “You should do it.”
“Nah,” he says with a lopsided grin. “I’m retired.”
Collectively we let it go but I secretly wish he does sing. I miss Linc’s voice. I miss seeing him be one with the music.
It doesn’t take long before we arrive at O’Neill’s and meet the other couples. Once we’re seated and the first round of drinks are dispersed, I grow quiet. Taking in my surroundings and the way everyone seems to fit. The couples, the men, and the women all play off one another like they’ve known each other forever. I notice that Stryker and Gina are total opposites. He’s rough around the edges and she’s perfectly polished yet, somehow, they’re perfect for one another.
Then, there is Cobra and Celeste. Loving one another since they were fourteen-years-old, they’re the couple that finishes each other’s sentences. At first glance, one might think Cobra is the most intimidating out of all the men. But, then he places his hand on Celeste’s belly and anyone with a pair of working eyes can tell he’s a teddy bear around his girls. His eyes light every time their daughter, Skylar is mentioned and the way he looks at Celeste makes me wonder if they’ll be next to get married.
Deuce and Ally might be my favorite though. I was afraid to meet Ally after hearing what she had gone through. I feared I would look at her differently than I look at the other girls or possibly say or do something that would upset her. I imagined a girl who saw as much pain and suffering as she did, must have triggers and worried I might do something unintentionally to set them off. However, Ally was nothing like I expected. She was funny and, she smiled more than anyone sitting around the table. My heart grew heavy when she ordered three different entrees simply because she could. Ally wanted the full Irish pub experience, and no one was going to stop her from getting it. Watching her and Deuce, I decided they were the real deal. Their story was as beautiful as the others, but it was also inspiring. It was a story of survival and second chances.
The three couples all had a rough go at getting their happy endings, but you would never know it by looking at them. In an ugly world, they found their beautiful. If I wasn’t already sure I found mine, I would’ve searched high and low after spending the evening with them. Instead, I turned to Linc and in front of his brothers and sisters, I kissed him.
I claimed my beautiful too.
Right there in O’Neill’s with the Amish Outlaws playing a cover of another beloved Journey song.
Life isn’t a song.
It’s a soundtrack.
The first track on mine and Linc’s will always be, Don’t Stop Believin’
And when it ends, the last track that plays will be Faithfully.
“Right down the line, it’s been you and me,” I whisper the lyrics against his lips.
“Lovin’ a music man ain’t always what it’s supposed to be.”
Breaking the kiss, Linc touches his forehead to mine. Cradling my face in his hands, he stares into my eyes and gives me the gift of his voice.
“Oh girl, you stand by me,” he sings. “I’m forever yours, faithfully.”
The song continues telling the tale of two star-crossed lovers who stood by each other’s side and got the joy of rediscovering their love for one another. It’s a song fit to tell a beautiful love story like ours.
The final chords drift into the air and the sound of Stryker’s voice brings us back to the moment. Turning our attention to the front of the bar, we watch the beautiful unravel as Stryker gets down on one knee and presents five facts to Gina before asking her to be his wife.
When you think the world is horrible, when you want to give up remember around every dark corner there is light to be found.
Reach out and grab your beautiful.
Hold on tight.
Always and forever, hold on tight.