Could he handle all that came along with a kid? They got along great, but so far, Linc had behaved. He could be a real stinker when he wanted to be, especially with that temper.
And what about Linc?
Would he be okay seeing me with another man? Would it be too much for him? I’d hidden the only other relationship I’d had since Scott from him, wanting to take it slow.
Tears burned as I scrubbed my flesh, their laughter bouncing around the walls giving me all the answers I needed.
Lincoln would be fine.
I was the one who needed baby steps.
Luke
Kids were exhausting.
I’d spent twelve plus hours rebuilding motors in the past and wasn’t nearly as tired as I was after a day with Lincoln, climbing trees and exploring the woods behind the cottage with Josie.
If we weren’t climbing trees, we were racing down hills, Josie looking on while we wore one another out. As a kid, Nan had sent us boys off to burn our energy in the dense coniferous forest, and as teens, Josie and I had loved them the same. Coming full circle with Lincoln was more than weird, but still felt right, like it was meant to be all along.
The thought of a kid had always scared the shit out of me, but the fear was gone when it came to Lincoln and Josie. He wasn’t some screeching hell demon who wanted to drain the life from me. He was a funny little boy that liked counting, playing I-Spy, and asking questions. Lots and lots of questions.
“Luke, why do you have long hair like a girl?”
“Luke, why do you have stamps all over you?”
“Luke, how do you grow a beard?”
He continued his pursuit of all life’s questions while we spent way more time making shish-kabobs than eating them, and kept the questions coming until we crashed in the living room after, finally succumbing to the exhaustion that was slowly pulling me under too.
With the coast clear, Josie and I cuddled and watched the news, not that there was much to report on in Briar. A new town mailbox. An aggressive turkey spotted by the harbor walk. A long-time lunch lady retiring.
Once the informercials flipped on, I carried Linc upstairs to bed, the tiny tyke not even stirring when I lifted him.
The loft differed from the last time I’d seen it, Dan’s old room now fit for a little boy instead of the moron that had once holed up in it. The water views were bared, no longer hidden by the stupid posters he’d hung over them, a small bookshelf holding children’s books instead of porn. It was night and day from bare-bones decor downstairs, Josie putting every bit of effort to making him at home first.
The years had changed us, but I could see who Josie had become in her son. She was funny. She was passionate. She was selfless. She was an amazing mom and woman with enough heart to go around the world and back.
And she was mine.
I tucked Lincoln in, studying the wild man at rest as thoughts swirled. Apprehension. Fear. Excitement.
I didn’t know squat about kids or parenting or any of it. All I knew was that I wanted him to be happy, and I wanted Josie to be happy. I’d do everything I could to make both of them smile every day. Laugh every day. Feel loved.
“I promise,” I whispered, tugging the blanket just up under his chin before heading back downstairs, discovering Tally rolling around on the hardwood.
The other lady in my life was nowhere to be found, her spot on the couch bare.
“Jos?” I called, glancing into the kitchen.
Not there either.
“I’m in the bedroom.”
My cock stirred at the thought of having her alone finally, remembering her lips on mine a night earlier, her hands gripping me through my jeans in the darkness.
I turned the handle, stepping in, spying her lying on the bed looking up at the ceiling with her hands crossed serenely on her abdomen.
“Well, don’t you look comfy?” I shut the door, leaning back against the wood, eyeing the one woman that had always been able to bring me to my knees.
“Damn right. I’m tired.” She smirked, rolling to her stomach, her feet kicking up to lock in the air. “Are you going to stand there all night?”
“I can’t go into a lady’s bed without being invited.”
“You’re the vampire now?” she laughed, looking me over. “If that’s the case, come bite me, big guy.”
“I’ve never seen a vampire with a beard,” I replied, holding my ground. I wanted to flip her over and go to town, but after all these years, I didn’t want to ruin the moment.
“I’ve never seen a vampire, period.” She reached out, patting the bed next to her. “Why don’t you show me one?”
“You’re begging for trouble, Josie,” I warned. She had no idea how fast I could leave her thrashing, bringing her close again and again until she begged for release.
Her eyes narrowed, and she rolled off the bed, breasts bouncing as she turned to face me. “No, I’m begging to be fucked.”
At that, she pulled her shirt over her head, standing there in nothing but tiny black shorts and a bra. Plain, white, and not an ounce of lace, but it was the sexiest goddamn thing I’d ever seen.
She stalked towards me, untying her shorts, pulling them down with a quick tug to reveal a pink thong.
Goddamn.
It was happening.
I finally had my Josie again.
I flicked my eyes to her face, trying to get a grip, not knowing how I’d maintain control once my hands were on her. I’d waited eleven years to touch her, eleven years to taste her.
She didn’t wait for me to find out on my own, crashing against me and claiming my mouth as her hands snaking in my hair.
It was everything I was waiting for.
I’d been holding my breath for eleven years, and she finally gave me the air I needed.
My hands flew to
