Page 89
Chapter Eighteen
Tatum
Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I fight back a smile as a blush creeps up my cheeks and my gaze cuts to the large tub in the corner where Lincoln and I had sex a couple times last night. Closing my eyes, I can almost still feel his hands on my skin and I let out a sigh as I open them again. The woman staring back at me looks like me but better like a Tatum 2.0 – brighter eyes, a permanent smile on her face, and so in love with the most incredible man on the planet that it shines through every pore. This is what pure happiness looks like. I’ve never seen it on my own face before but it looks damn good on me and I know I’ll fight to the death to hang onto it.
Biting my lip, I peek around the bathroom door and grin at the sight of Lincoln stretched out across my bed on his stomach. He’s naked as a jaybird and the sheet has fallen enough to show off his pert ass that I just want to grab. My mind replays last night again and I shake my head as I watch him. I still can’t believe this is my life now when only a month ago, everything was falling down around me and I’m never going to take that for granted.
“Why are you just standing there staring a me?” Lincoln asks, his voice thick with sleep as he peeks one eye open.
“I was just thinking how sexy you looked sprawled out in my bed.”
He flashes me a lazy grin as he rolls to his side. “Yeah? Why don’t you come over here and prove it?”
“You’re insatiable.” I laugh, shaking my head. I lost count of how many times we had sex last night and my poor vagina needs a damn break.
He nods. “I’m never going to get enough of you, Tate.”
“Well, I was actually thinking I’d make you some breakfast first and then we can come back to bed.”
His stomach growls and he nods. “Mm, yeah. That sounds good. Is it cool if I jump in the shower first?”
“Of course.” I step out of his way and he swings his legs to the side of the bed before scrubbing his hand down his face. When he hops up, he barrels toward me and I squeal as he picks me up and claims my lips.
“Good morning, gorgeous,” he whispers as he pulls back.
“Back at you, handsome. You feelin’ pancakes or french toast this morning?”
He purses his lips and I giggle. God, he’s just so damn cute. “Pancakes sound good but let me take you out for breakfast.”
“You sure you don’t want to stay in?” I ask, wiggling my eyebrows and he laughs, squeezing me tighter.
“Yeah, I want to take my girl out for breakfast and then we’ll come back here and spend the whole day in bed. How does that sound?”
I nod. “Perfect.”
“You want to get in the shower with me?” he asks as he sets me back on my feet and I shake my head as I pat his chest.
“If I did that, we would never get to breakfast and I’m starving.”
Grinning, he reaches for the tie on my robe. “Let me just get a peek then.”
“No.” I slap his hand away and he laughs, grabbing my hand and pulling me back into his body like he can’t stand to be away from me.
“I love you,” he whispers, flicking my nose with his and my heart skips a beat as I close my eyes and nod.
“I love you, too.” My stomach growls and I smack his bare ass. “Now, go get in the shower.”
“Okay, okay,” he concedes, holding his hands up and letting me back away from him. Before he disappears behind the bathroom door, he blows me a kiss and my grin grows. Damn, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much but I don’t think I even care.
As the water starts running, I turn away from the bathroom door and yawn.
“Coffee,” I mutter to myself as I head toward the bedroom door. When I step into the hallway, my foot hits something and I glance down, shaking my head as I scoop his jeans off the floor. Glancing up, I giggle at the trail of clothing from the front door to my bedroom. I guess we weren’t all that concerned with tidiness last night.
I tuck the jeans over my arm and walk into the kitchen, depositing them on the island before I turn toward the coffee maker and turn on the radio. Take On Me by A-ha starts playing and I dance around the kitchen as I set the coffee maker up. I should find a few minutes to call Theo back today since I haven’t spoken to him for a few days and I want to talk to him about coming for another visit. I’d really love to introduce him to Lincoln.
A beeping sound cuts through the music and I turn it down as I spin around and inspect the kitchen as I wait for the beep to come again. When it does, I turn to the sound and spot Lincoln’s cell phone laying on the floor in between the bedroom and kitchen. The notification light is going crazy and I roll my eyes as I trudge over to it and scoop it up off the floor. I press the button on the side to wake it up. If nothing else, I’ll just turn it off so it stops annoying me.
Before I can do anything, an image appears on the screen and I freeze, my mouth popping open as I stare at it, my mind screeching to a halt. I don’t know how long I stand here, staring at the image before I suck in a breath and glance up at the camera in the corner of the kitchen. When I turn back to the phone, I take a step to the left and watch in horror as the image moves also. Spinning toward the camera, I watch the image of me spin also and shake my head.
