This conversation is picking up pace. Lincoln’s determination to get to wherever he’s going is evident. I just try not to pass out.
A million thoughts swirl in my head. Am I ready for this? Do I go with my brain and breathe, thinking of logic and risk assessment? Or do I follow my heart and just go for it?
He smirks and one thing is certain: I can’t follow my vagina.
“Do you think you know me, Dani?”
I nod. Or I think I do. I’m not sure. I’m lost in his gaze and a chorus of crickets chirping around us.
“The last time I said this, you tried to break up with me,” he laughs. It’s not real though. It’s a choked version, broken up by a set of nerves I don’t see often in him. “But I want to say it again. And I want you to consider it.”
He steps towards me, closing the distance between us. Without a thought, my arms reach up and dangle off his shoulders as his own find my waist and pull me up against him.
“That’s why you brought me out here, isn’t it?” I tease. “You brought me into the forest where I can’t run away.”
“Damn right,” he laughs, kissing me gently. “I didn’t bring you here to convince you that I’m the guy for you. I really want you to enjoy the holiday and relax and have fun with this bunch I call family. But I’d really, really, like it if you’d think about maybe . . .”
“Maybe what, Landry?”
His face blushes. “You’re going to make me work for this, aren’t you?”
“Totally.”
Blowing out a breath, he looks at everywhere but me. When his eyes finally find mine, I’m smiling. There’s no way not to.
“I would like it if you’d think about taking this thing between us to the major leagues,” he says. His shoulders go back, like he’s proud of his little proposition. The entire thing makes me giggle. “You’re laughing at me?”
“The majors? Really, Landry?”
“Yeah,” he scoffs. “We’re in the minors now. We’re practicing, getting our timing down. But, sweetheart, our timing is impeccable. If it gets any fucking better, I’m just not letting you out of my bed.”
“Don’t tempt me with a good time,” I wink.
“I want to move us up to the majors. Charge the mound whenever I want.”
“Oh my God,” I laugh.
“Have some day games, maybe a double header or two. And I’ll slide in head first whenever you want me to, baby.”
“You aren’t talking about baseball, are you?” I say, feeling my thighs clench together.
“Nope.”
His fingers skirt the top of my waistband, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. My body temperature elevates quicker than Pepper changes her mind about soup.
“Landry . . .” I all but beg.
“Say yes.” His breath is hot against my cheek.
The harder I try to focus on the request, the harder it is to do just that. My body riots for this man. My heart leads the charge. My brain, even though it still blinks a faint red light of warning, gives in.
“You win,” I say, working to dig my hands beneath the elastic of his boxer briefs.
“Does that mean yes?”
“Damn it, Landry,” I pant, taking his girth in my hand. “Didn’t you hear me?”
He skims up my abs and removes my breasts from my bra, leaving them sitting on the cups. The cool evening air causes my nipples to form peaks.
“I heard you,” he says. “And I didn’t hear a yes.”
He squats in front of me. My shirt is raised to my chin. His tongue darts out, flicking against one nipple before doing the same to the other. “Yes?” he asks.
Taking both a deep breath and his face in my hands, I pull him back just so I can see in his eyes. “Yes, Landry. But I’m going to need you to hit me home now.”
His lips hover over my breast. “It’ll be my pleasure.”
Danielle
I CRAWL INTO THE BED layered with down comforters and crisp white sheets. Fresh from the shower and wearing one of Lincoln’s Arrows t-shirts, I don’t smell quite as much like dirt as I did when we got back to the house. Nestling deep in the mountain of fabric, I wait for Lincoln.
I hear his laughter trickle from the stairs, a voice with his that I think is Ford’s. Some inside joke was shared between him and Lincoln when we came up the path and saw Ford standing there. I’m not sure what it was about, but the way they teased each other made me wish I had that rapport with them.
The door squeaks open and Lincoln walks inside. A pair of dark grey shorts is the only thing covering his delectable body. His hair, still damp from the shower, shines in the light radiating from the desk lamp across the room.
“I had needles stuck everywhere,” he laughs, setting a glass of ice water on the table beside the bed. “I’m not sure why we thought that was a good idea.”
He flips the lamp off and slips out of his shorts and climbs into bed next to me. I cuddle up beside him.
“I don’t think we were thinking much,” I giggle. “Well, not about the ramifications.”
“Speak for yourself.” His hand trails down my spine until it lies flat in the small of my back. “I was securing our contract.”
“Well, Mr. Landry, I like the way you deal.”
My cheek bounces with his chuckle. “And I like the way you sign on the dotted line,” he says.
A knock raps against the door. I yelp, burying myself under the blankets as Lincoln chuckles.
“I’m not dressed appropriately,” I hiss, looking at him for help.
“You’re covered,” he doesn’t quite whisper back. “Come in.”
A head full of blonde hair peeks around the corner and flips on the light.
“Hey, brother!”
“Hey, Camilla.” Lincoln sits up against the headboard. “It’s about time you got here.”
“I’m sorry. I should’ve been here earlier. I just got tied up.”
“Doing what?”
I don’t know this girl at all, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what’s going on. She’s nervous, careful, and obviously in love. I grin at her, despite my state of undress. Her eyes register my expression and her return smile, while cautious, is warm.
“I apologize,” she says to me. “I’m Camilla. And you are?”
“Swink, this is Danielle,” Lincoln says, “Dani, this is Camilla.”
We exchange greetings and she appears a little relieved that Lincoln forgot his line of questioning. When his mouth opens and I see that tug between his eyes, I talk first.
“Is your mom baking already?” I ask.
Camilla’s shoulders slump in relief. “Yes, she is,” she says hurriedly. “Sienna and Ford are helping her. I think she put a butterscotch pie and a pumpkin pie in the oven and a coffee cake for breakfast.”
“Wow. I love coffee cake,” I say.
Catching on to what I’m doing, Camilla giggles. “Me too. I’m going to grab a shower and get some sleep. I’ll talk to you guys in the morning.”
The door closes before we can say much more.
“She seems nice,” I say, yawning.
“She needs to work on her game.”
“What?” I laugh.
“She’s a terrible liar. I have no idea how my family is so confused as to what’s going on with her.”
“What’s your guess?”
“Swink has a boyfriend Daddy won’t approve of.”