Page 62 of Linc
Linc bends his head down and captures my mouth with his.The feel of his soft lips touching mine makes my body ignite and come alive.
A roar of noise booms through the hall, making us break up our kiss.
“I told you LT had game!”
“Where’s my twenty bucks?”
“Man, I never get the fine ones.”
Linc looks down at me, as the voices and comments carry from his group of kids who are creeping through the small windows of the door at us, and we burst out in laughter.
“Let’s get out of here so we can talk,” Linc says and stands from the chair as he gently places me down back on my feet.
“Are you sure it’s okay to leave?Don’t you have a class or something?”
“I’ll explain everything at home.”
Home.
The word has me feeling a lightness that I haven’t had in a long time.Warmth filters over me and a flutter expands in my chest.
“Okay.”
Linc
Everly is laying down with her head on my bare chest fast asleep.We got home an hour ago and from the exhausted look she had, I knew she’d crash soon.I had her lie down for a bit and then we’d have an early dinner with just the two of us.She feels good in my arms and as I breathe her in, I eye every part of her.I had her change into some of my sleep pants and tank top to get comfortable.Her injured arm is carefully across my stomach, and I can’t help the knot in my belly when I see the scars from the incident.How can a person do something like this to an innocent woman, who’d never hurt even a fly?
Linley is in some serious trouble.She was found with several illegal substances in her purse, not to mention the attack she poured down on Everly.She also assaulted an officer when she was arrested.Olivia is wanting the book thrown at her and I couldn’t agree more.Linley has always thought the world revolved around her and that nothing could touch her.I hope a judge sees it our way and locks her the hell up.Olivia and I have a few markers we could call in on but are waiting to see which direction the trial is headed first.
These last twenty-eight days have been hell for me.Being forced out of her hospital room and told that she didn’t want to see me again was like a knife through my heart.I’m not even sure how I managed to get home from there because everything was a blur.The thought of never seeing or hearing from Everly again was like being told she was dead.The finality in her words stabbed every inch of skin on my body.Olivia tried to reassure me that she just needed some space and that once she got a clear head that she’d call or come by, but as each day the sun rose and set, I was starting to have doubts.What if I’d fucked this up so bad that there was no coming back?
Finally allowing myself to relax, I tighten my hold on Everly and let my tired eyes shut.I’m just hoping that when I wake, this isn’t some horrible joke being played on me and that she’s really here in my arms.
“NO!”
A scream jolts me awake, putting me on high alert.My eyes roam around the now darkened room, as the sun is setting.Movement on my chest brings awareness to the sweaty mess in my arms.
Everly.
She’s thrashing around but because of my hold on her, she’s putting up more of a fight as the seconds continue.Scared she’s going to hurt her arm, I gently untangle my arms from her and lay her on her back.I place my body down on hers to secure her in place and then lean in with my face to her neck, close to her ear.
“Baby it’s just a dream, wake up,” I coax, hoping to bring her out of this.
“Please stop!”She begs as her body shivers.
It kills me that she’s probably reliving what happened with Linley attacking her, and it makes me want to hunt that bitch down and kill her with my bare hands.
Nuzzling her neck and telling her everything’s alright seems to help some.I kiss her cheek and her eyes start to flutter.
“You’re safe, baby.I won’t let anything happen to you,” I whisper and it seems to rouse her from sleep.Everly turns her head towards me but then looks around at her surroundings, as if not believing she’s here with me.
“Linc?”Her voice is groggy from sleep.
“I’m here, it was just a nightmare.”I can feel her heart racing and it pains me to no end.Does she have them often?
“It was… I thought…” Everly rubs her hand down her face.
“You’re safe,” I tell her again.“Nothing can hurt you ever again.”I promise.
