Page 47 of It Takes a Thief
“Take a nap,” he encourages me. “I’m going to check in with Addie. If you need anything, I’ll be right next door.”
“Thank you.” After I crawl into bed, he tilts his chin and leaves, quietly closing the door behind him.
My chest tightens with emotion because I know he’s calling Addie to set up his flight home.
“You are not going to cry,” I tell myself fiercely and squeeze my eyes shut. We both knew this was coming. Even so, it hurts more than I ever thought it could.
My nap lasts longer than I expect, and by the time I get up, dinner is ready. I made sure to message Chef Louis from the plane and requested a special dish for Linc with a couple of suggestions. He’s quite selective when it comes to food, so I’m hoping he’ll enjoy my little surprise.
It takes a little cajoling to get him to join me and my parents, but he finally agrees. I know he doesn’t want to intrude, but I want him sitting beside me, not hovering in the shadows.Plus, I want to see his reaction when they place his meal down in front of him.
The typical fresh seafood spread awaits as we sit down at the dining room table, and my lips twitch when I see the look on his face. As red wine is poured all around, a server places an open bottle of ice-cold Heineken in front of Linc followed by a covered plate.
“I figured you might like this a little better,” I whisper, watching as he slowly lifts the lid.
His mouth drops in surprise then quickly closes. The plain cheeseburger and pile of fries smell delicious, and there’s also a single chocolate cupcake. He looks over at me and something unreadable flashes in his espresso eyes, but it disappears before I can discern what.
“Thank you, Mer,” he says quietly.
“You’re welcome.”
Linc doesn’t say much more throughout dinner, but my parents talk extensively about the party tomorrow night. I nod in all the right places, but I’m more focused on the way Linc’s thick thigh presses against mine. I’ve never been so aware of anyone before, and I can’t wait until dinner ends so I can steal him away somewhere private.
Forty-five minutes later, I get my wish as I lead him off the back veranda and into the night beyond.
“Where are we going?” he asks in a silken whisper, wrapping his arms around my waist and trying to nuzzle my neck. “Please tell me someplace private.”
His stubbled face makes me giggle, and I draw him across the lawn, heading toward the stables.
“You have horses?”
“They belong to my mom. Do you ride?”
The moment the words leave my mouth, I blush furiously.
“There’s only one thing around here I enjoy riding, sweetheart.”
“You’re so bad.”
“Just you wait.” He scoops me up, tosses me over his shoulder and marches through the barn door.
“Linc!” Hanging upside down, bouncing against his back, I laugh and swat his flexing ass. “Put me down!”
He stops, lifts me straight up in his arms and slowly lowers me to the ground. My body slides down his, and before my feet touch the ground, our mouths collide and consume. It’s like an inferno, the heat so intense, I can barely stand it.
“I need you,” I gasp, reaching down and opening his cargo pants. Dropping to my knees, surrounded by the soft nickering of horses and the smell of hay and man, I lower his boxer briefs and watch his hard cock spring upward.
“Mer,” he growls. As I wrap my fingers around his throbbing hardness, he slides his fingers through my hair, gently holding my head.
“You only get to say four words: harder, softer, faster, slower,” I tell him, repeating the directions he gave me.
This is the first time I’ve taken control, because normally he rules and commands. This is also the first time I’ve been brave enough to try this. His size is intimidating, but I grip his base firmly, then look up at him through my lashes, and squeeze.
He grounds out a curse.
“That’s not one of the words,” I chastise, echoing exactly what he told me.
His fingers dig into my scalp, pulling my hair, as he grates out, “Harder.”
