Present
“Was that all she said?” Linc asks, his concerned face filling my screen.
I’m sitting cross-legged in bed, my new laptop sitting in front of me. We’ve been chatting for a little more than half an hour and I’m silently thanking whoever came up with the innovative idea of FaceTime. I don’t know what I would do if I had to go two weeks without seeing his handsome face.
He’s caught me up on his day and how the second he landed he was whisked away to his first of several interviews and one performance to promote the new album. Tomorrow and the day after will be packed full so this might be the only chance I get to talk to him like this until Thursday.
“I don’t like the idea of you two being there alone with her. I want you to call Rachel and Will over. It would make me feel better knowing someone else is there.”
“She’s not going to do anything, Linc. She would never hurt us.”
“You said the same thing about him and he almost…” He clears his throat and leans closer to the screen, his eyes swimming with pain. “It fuckin’ kills me to think about it. Ever since you told me what happened I keep wondering what-if. What-if he would have…”
I swallow back the guilt but like always, it still lingers. “Linc, don’t. Don’t do that to yourself.” I’ve thought about it enough myself. It’s frightening to know how close I came to death.
“Forgive me for being a little protective. I understand you want to trust her, and I’m not here to dictate what you do, but I do not want you or Caroline alone with her. Period.” His stern voice forbids me to argue.
“I’ll call Rachel in the morning.”
He sighs in relief. “Thank you.”
“You look tired.”
“I am. And I’ve got an early morning. Long day tomorrow.”
“You should get some rest.”
“Yeah, but there’s no way I could go to sleep without talkin’ to my girl. I wish I were in bed with you right now.”
I smile. “Me too.”
His eyes become hooded, desire swirling deep in their green depths. “Is your door locked?”
I nod.
He lowers his voice. “Take your shirt off.”
I can see his arm moving slightly and I wonder if he’s touching himself. Instead of asking, I do as I’m told and remove my thin T-shirt to reveal my white bra.
“Beautiful. Now your shorts.”
Getting up from the bed, I shimmy out of my shorts, my heart thundering in my chest as I climb back onto the mattress. I feel self-conscious and awkward but that all fades away when he says, “Relax, babe. It’s just us.”
“I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”
“You have nothing to be nervous about. You trust me, right?”
That’s the stupidest question ever.
“Completely.”
He smiles, satisfied with my answer. “Lie back, spread your legs, and put the laptop between them. Close. I wanna see everything.”
Swallowing hard, I summon my courage and situate the laptop between my legs, tilting the screen.
“Perfect.”
He reaches behind his neck to take off his shirt, then tilts his screen so I can see all of him, too. He’s sitting in a big leather chair. I can see numerous awards displayed on the lighted shelves behind him and several large picture frames scattered about.
