“You can’t fit anything else,” I say, smirking as I lift my hips.
He groans and slams his eyes shut. He thrusts slowly and I wrap my legs around his waist. “Lincoln,” I whisper his name.
His eyes fly open, his forehead pressed against mine.
“I… I...” I stutter against words that have always tripped me up.
The way he’s admiring me, I know he knows what I’m trying to say, even if I can’t because my messed-up childhood disallows it. “Don’t try to explain,” he says. “It’s more than love, Maeve.” He brushes a sweet kiss against my cheek without breaking his gaze. “And ditto.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
LINCOLN
My heart was dormant. Then it awoke simultaneously with the knowledge that Maeve Ahern is mine. Now that I know she loves me and our emotions align, I’ve never wanted to fight for something harder. I never fought for Rena the way I’ll go down swinging for Maeve. I suffered through lonely years to recognize this soul-numbing adoration for what it is—the reason I exist on Planet Earth during this time and space. For her.
I’m sitting in front of her house with Turner in the backseat waiting to bring him inside. He’s going to stay with her while I go on my training trip to Utah. It’s a new shooting range, not the one where Rexy died of friendly fire, but I can see the worry in the way Maeve’s face creases anytime I bring it up. “I’m so excited, Daddy. Maevey said I could help decorate the Christmas tree you chopped down yesterday!” It was part of my plan to give them something to do, but I want her to get the credit.
“You’re going to have so much fun. I’ll be home in no time. Are you sure you’re okay staying with Maeve?” I ask again, even though I’ve asked him over and over. It was Maeve’s suggestion. I can’t deny the happiness she brings him. “I can call Grandma,” I offer.
“I’m better than okay. I love…” Turner starts, then backtracks. “I love her house. It’s going to be fun.”
My heart thumps jaggedly. Me, too, buddy. Me too, I think. I’m comfortable leaving because there has been zero stalking activity for weeks. The night I set up the camera and security system at my house, nothing happened. I mean, if you don’t count me fucking Maeve in almost every room of my house, in every sexual position, nothing happening, then nothing happened. No slashed tires even though her car was brazenly parked in my driveway all night. No blood. No lip prints. We broke a chair in my office because my leg didn’t bend that way, but that was the extent of the collateral damage. I gave her the lingerie I purchased on a whim, and she seemed overly delighted to receive the scraps of lace. The salesgirl was right. I liked it better on the floor of the bathroom, but she did look like a vision of carnal pleasure for the few minutes I allowed her to keep it on.
Pushing the best night of my life to the back of my mind, I walk Turner up to the door and hear Chonk barking. She appears, opening the door, a vision, creamy apricot skin, and flowing blonde hair. The snow falling from the sky makes her appear as a fucking dream. A flake catches in her eyelash, and I inhale a deep breath. Control yourself, Wilds. A hard feat when you know how obsessed with her I am. Unlike anyone else, she brings me peace. Leaning over, I kiss her cheek.
“Hi there.” I swallow down the lump in my throat. “You sure you’re up for this?”
“For the thousandth time, yes.” She closes the door behind us and locks it. She squats down to get Chonk off Turner. “I’ve been looking forward to this all week long.” Maeve made all the plans without my help. She rearranged her schedule to make sure to be available before and after school to pick him up and drop him off. Maeve fell into the role so effortlessly, I’d be a fool not to question it a thousand times.
“Can I go see the tree?” Turner asks, eyes alight.
Maeve stands and ushers him up the stairs. “Go right ahead. It’s in the living room waiting for you.” Chonk follows him, eager for attention. She turns to peer over her shoulder. “You coming in?”
The lump in my throat feels like a brick. “I have to get going so I don’t miss the flight, unfortunately.”
She crosses her arms and raises one brow. “What was your plan if when you asked me for the thousandth time, I said no, I wasn’t sure about watching Turner then?”
Her gaze is playful, but she doesn’t realize how significant this is for me. “I knew you wouldn’t say no, Maeve.”
Maeve’s smile fades. “Oh. That makes sense.”
Peering upstairs to make sure Turner is out of sight, I grab her face in both my hands and dominate her tiny body with a kiss. “I’m no good with long goodbyes,” I say, breaking my mouth away from hers.
“I’m no good with any sort of goodbyes, so I win,” she counters, lips lingering near mine, wet and warm. When I’m this close and I can smell her perfume and shampoo, and taste her chapstick, I think this goodbye might be my greatest torture. “Turner is going to be fine. I have that doorbell camera now. Chonk barks nonstop. We’re going to be okay.”
“Maybe I won’t be okay,” I say, brushing my thumbs across her cheeks. “You have all the phone numbers?”
She nods in between my hands. “Go so you can come back sooner.”
I call up to say bye to Turner, but he’s already off and playing in
