She nodded. “I have a feeling this is going to be a serious learning experience for us both. Come on, you have more to look at.”
Lincoln staggered comically when he saw the outdoor kitchen. Then he sobered and gave her a look. “BB, this is amazing. You put a lot of money into this.”
“I did,” she agreed, “but we needed the space. And I needed an office. If you’re going to stay in the military and we’re going to stay in this house it had to fit us.”
Link pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I completely agree. I love you, BB. I’m sorry I was away and you had to deal with all this alone. But I have to say, I’m super impressed with what you’ve done in the time I was gone.”
BB relaxed into him. “Thank you. Coming from a non-military family, this has been one of the biggest trials. It was hard being without you, Lincoln.”
He wrapped his arms around her and just held her. “I’m going to try to change jobs. It’s hard right now because we’re down a few guys from injuries, but I’ve already put in my request.”
She nodded against his chest, basking in just having him close. He felt so good. She looked up at him. “Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?”
He shook his head definitively, grinning. “I’m on leave for the next three days and I’m all yours.”
BB looked up at the beautiful California sky. “Looking a little overcast. Maybe we should go cuddle in bed and decide what we want to do today.”
His eyes lit with excitement. “You have no idea how exciting that is to me.”
They watched the dogs go pee, then they went into the house. It was a process to get Lincoln out of his working uniform and boots and when he did, he sighed, slouching into his recliner. His eyes drooped and BB had a feeling he would totally drift off if she let him. She bent over and picked up the uniform, wrinkling her nose. “I think these things can stand up on their own.”
Lincoln laughed. “You ought to see my dirty ones in my pack.”
BB stuck her tongue out theatrically. “I think you can wash those yourself.”
They laughed and Link lowered himself to the floor to try to make up with Louie. The pup eyed him thoughtfully, sniffing Link’s hand when he held it out. BB was surprised at the dog’s reluctance. Everyone else he mauled to try to get attention. Lincoln was patient and when Frankie came over for attention, he gushed all over her; told her how pretty she was in her sparkly dog collar and basically sucked up to her. Louie seemed a little more eager for attention then and let Lincoln scratch him on the head. Within just a couple of minutes Louie had melted into Lincoln, sprawling on his back. Lincoln scratched him dutifully and BB knew that Louie would be head over heels for him in no time.
Lincoln looked up at one point and seemed to realize that he wasn’t paying attention to the right person. “Sorry, baby,” he grinned. “He’s a cute pup. I think you did good, taking him on. He’s too nice of a dog to be put down.”
BB blinked rapidly, hating that everything he affirmed for her made her weepy. When did she become so dependent upon another person?
When she fell in love with him, she thought with a sigh.
Suddenly, he was in front of her, looking lean and fierce in his sage green t-shirt and athletic underwear. Just in the four months he’d been gone it looked like he’d lost honed down, making his muscles look even more defined. She put her hands on his waist and pulled him tight, resting her head against his chest. The steady thud of his heart was like a balm to her soul. They stood there holding each other for a couple of minutes before Lincoln cupped her face and kissed her. It was amazing to her that this never got old. And when he leaned down to swing her up into his arms, they maintained the kiss, even as he maneuvered them to the bedroom. They broke apart when he dropped her to the mattress, but he was there on top of her within seconds. BB’s thighs separated and she nestled him against her, the move as natural to her as breathing. This was where he belonged, within her sight and touch. Then he shifted down to focus on her tummy. With gentle hands he relearned her shape and introduced himself to their son or daughter. Then he worked his way back up her body, appreciating her full, sensitive breasts.
Lincoln seemed determined to remind her what she’d been missing for the past four months. BB didn’t know if it was the pregnancy or the fact that she’d missed him so bad, but he played her body like a master, bringing her pleasure over and over again, first with his mouth and hands, then when he entered her. BB was crying as he slid deep into her body. He paused, his gaze connecting to hers. “You don’t know how much I missed this,” he breathed. She was shocked to see tears in his eyes as well. “You are the most important part of my life, BrandiLynn Beatrice Jones. I love you so much.”
Those words and the subtle movements of his body made her orgasm again, and this time he joined her, his harsh cries echoing hers. They held each other as they caught their breath, sinking into the mattress even deeper together. Lincoln rested his hand on her belly and they dreamed of a future for their son or daughter. It was pure magic.
BB woke the next morning refreshed. She’d found that the pregnancy was tiring and
