Breathe

  I nod and stomp to the bedroom, breathing heavily, feeling like a helpless little girl.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  “What the shit?”

  “I can't believe it either Rafe. I'm so confused. Who are they and what claim do they think they have on me to want to protect me from Linc?”

  “I can't tell ya babe. I wish I knew. But let me tell you this...any of those assholes come at you or me and I won't hesitate to scratch up my best Prada's.”

  I giggle. “You’re too good for me.”

  “I want to see you. I'm coming over.”

  “You don't have to. All the guys are here.”

  “That’s exactly why I should. You need someone on your side.”

  “See you soon then.” I hang up.

  I sit on my bed playing with Duritz as I wait for what feels like forever for my best friend. The one who is always on my side. Who drops everything when I need him. I hear my name being screamed from the other room.

  “Grace Evelyn Stratton!”

  I race out of the bedroom and straight into Rafe. I leap when I'm close enough and he catches me as I wrap my legs around him. He spins as if we're dancing. Once we stop moving, I take a glance over to Linc, whose sitting at the bar. His face reads of confusion. Or jealousy. I can't tell and, frankly, I don’t care. See, not many people really understand Rafe's and my relationship. This is a completely normal move for us. I slide down to my feet and we walk hand-in-hand to the sofa. When I look back to the bar, Linc is still staring at us, watching our every move. Cal isn't looking, probably feeling a bit awkward and Miles is shaking his head and laughing. He knows how we work.

  “What the hell is his problem?” He points with his thumb over his shoulder.

  “I still don't think he gets us. He's not used to it yet.”

  “Too bad. Any boyfriend of yours is a boyfriend of mine; we're a package deal.” He looks over his shoulder. “I was here first. Get over it!” he shouts.

  Linc rises and stalks over to us. “Grace, can I talk to you for a sec?”

  “Not now, Linc.”

  “Please.” He’s dripping with irritation and desperation.

  “Rafe is here and I really want to be with him right now. We can talk later.”

  “Please,” he begs.

  “Dude, she'll talk to you later,” Rafe cuts in not taking his eyes off me.

  “You do not speak for her.”

  Rafe stands and even though he’s shorter, he gets in Linc's face. “Neither do you, man.”

  “Whoa!” I jump up and squeeze in between them putting a flat palm to each of their chests and pushing with all my might. Miles and Cal make way into the room and stand at attention as well.

  “What's going on?” Miles questions.

  “Nothing. These two were just having some kind of pissing contest. And I'm the one getting hit with the pee,” I say in anger. I grab Rafe's hand and pull him away from this. “We'll be in the bedroom.” I look at Linc and point. “I'll talk with you later.”

  Linc reaches out for me. “Grace, I-”

  “No.” I cut him off yanking my arm from him. “ Later.”

  We get inside the bedroom and I slam the door.

  “Ahhhhhh!” I scream while throwing my arms around awkwardly.

  Just breathe.

  “Gracie, I'm so sorry,” Rafe apologizes. “You know how I get when people try that shit on you.”

  “I know.” I hug him. “I have no idea what came over Linc. He's had a hard day with his father and the thing outside the gym. He thinks they have some sort of connection. I don't think he's so pissed about the beat down. I think he's pissed at the fact that they were...they thought they...they said they were protecting me from him.”

  “From Linc? That's stupid. Makes no sense whatsoever.” Rafe is clearly angry.

  “And then he watched as I ran to you and not him.”

  “I should go talk to him. Clear the air between us. Besides, I guess if this is serious between the two of you I need to learn to share.”

  “You don't know how to share.”

  We both laugh.

  There’s a knock at the door. I jump up and pull it open.

  As if he knew we were talking about him, Linc stands in front of me.

  “Grace, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean-” I throw my arms around his waist and bury my head in his chest. He wraps his arms tightly around me in response and bends to rest his head in the crook of my neck. “Ti amo, la mia bella ragazza. Si prega di non lasciarmi.” (I love you my beautiful girl. Please don't leave.)

  I hear Rafe silently gasp behind me. “Oh, lord.”

  I pull back a little. “I don't understand what you're saying.”

  He shakes his head. “Never mind. Can I just hold you?” I nod. “But before I do that, I need to talk to your best friend.” I nod again.

  He lets me go and heads further into the bedroom. He stretches out his arm and extends his hand to Rafe. “I'm sorry man. I didn't mean to start anything.”

  Rafe takes his hand and they shake like men, pumping twice. “Nothing to it. I'm just looking out for her. I always have.” He lets go. “And I always will,” he states slightly possessive, semi-threatening.

  “Ah. We have something in common.”

  “I guess we do.” Rafe stands taller.

  “I'm not sure I'll ever understand the relationship you have with my girl. But if you look out for her like that, then we have nothing to fight about. Your all right in my book.”

  Rafe leans into Linc. “Be good to her.” He pats him on the back and strides over to me. “I'll go hang with Miles for a while. Love ya, girl.” He kisses me on the cheek and steps out of the room.

  I smile. “Ditto,” I yell after him.

  After watching my best friend in the whole world walk away, I turn to the man I'm falling for. “Thank you for that.”

  “I guess I didn't realize how much of a package deal you two really are.” He grins slightly as he saunters my way.

  “Just be lucky that Briar is preoccupied with Miles or you’d be in some real trouble. The two of them together in any situation can get pretty messy. Add Olive to the mix and there will be hell to pay.”

  He snickers. “I'll be sure to remember that.” He grabs me by the waist and lifts me so I'm standing on my toes. “I'm sorry how I acted with him. And with you. I just...” He shakes his head again and tightens his grip on me. “I just don't want anything to happen to you.”

  He sets me back on my feet. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”

  “You don't know. I can't risk it.”

  “This has to be some assholes that have seen pictures of us or something. It'll pass like everything else does.”

  “No baby. This is different. You didn't hear them. And the fight in them.” His voice cracks a bit.

  “Hey,” I coo. “It's fine. I'm fine. And they didn't get you too bad. We have each other. We have Miles and Cal, and all these other people to help us with this. We'll get through whatever this is.”

  “Yeah, but...” He stops and something is happening that I do not expect. Linc's eyes fill with moisture. He looks beautiful even with tears in his eyes.

  “Ohmigod,” I whisper with concern. “Linc. No. What is it? What's wrong?” I pull his head down and kiss his closed eyes. He’s so vulnerable right now and I’m not sure what to do. I want to take all that pain away.

  “Grace, I... I don't think I could live without you. You’re my breath. My reason for breathing.”

  “Why are you saying this? Nothing is going to happen to me and I'm not going anywhere.”

  He pulls his head up and looks deep into my eyes, which instantly start to fill with tears of my own. I try and blink them away, but they fall anyway.

  “I love you, Grace.” He bends and kisses me softly on the lips. This kiss is filled with so much tenderness. So much hope. So much...

  I'm ready.

  “I love you, too,” I reply against his lips.

  H
e jerks back upright. “You do?”

  Jeez. Why does he sound so surprised? I know I've never said it back to him before, but he had to know it was coming.

  “I do,” I confirm with a girlie smile. “It's not like you didn't already know.”

  “Right. But to hear you say it is fucking amazing.”

  He bends down again and lifts me by the waist. He kisses me harder this time as he carries me across the room to the bed.

  Gently placing me back on my feet, he stares down at me as he toes his shoes off. Caressing my stomach under my tee, he kisses me with so much passion and need. My hands roam through his mess of hair while his move south and he undoes the button of my jeans, then lowers the zipper. Those masculine hands of his slowly make a path around the waistline of my pants. He pushes them down my legs. I step out of them, leaving them in a heap on the floor. His hands retreat back up and lift my tee. I raise my arms and he pulls it straight over my head.

  Stepping back, he stares at me, standing in my soft pink satin and lace bra and matching panties.

  “La mia ragazza bella.”

  I step toward him, but he stretches his arms out in front of him to stop me. “You have the sexiest unmentionables I have ever seen.”

  “Well, I was raised in Manhattan, Linc. Not Nowhere, USA.” I giggle.

  “So beautiful,” he mumbles.

  He reaches back behind his neck and pulls his shirt over his head revealing his oh-so-sexy chest, even though it's bruised. I step forward and lay my hands flat on it. I move my hands down to his fly and unbutton then unzip. He pulls back and lets the denim fall off his waist. He dips his hands into the waistband of his boxer briefs and pushes them down in one quick move.

  And there he is in all his nakedness.

  Glorious!

  Reaching behind me he unclasps my bra, letting the straps fall down my arms. I pull it the rest of the way and throw it to the side with the rest of our discarded clothing. He gently pushes me down to sit on the bed, hooks both index fingers in the waistband of my panties and pushes them down my legs. He crawls back up leaving a trail of kisses as he goes. Stopping at the apex of my thighs, he softly blows on my sex.

  Whoa.

  Two of his fingers find the opening and circle around spreading my hotness. He pushes his fingers in then pumps in and out. Crooking those long digits, he finds the sweetest spot ever. It's my undoing.

  “Oh God. Linc.”

  “I know baby. Let it go.”

  He keeps his fingers moving as I ride out my orgasm. He continues his way north with his skilled mouth until he reaches mine and kisses me hard.

  I need him.

  “I need you Grace,” he breathes.

  Sexy mindreading tricks.

  Linc crawls over me and slowly sinks in. We find our familiar rhythm. He’s is so full of passion and need and want that I can feel it to my very core. We’re all hands and lips and sweat and love. We writhe with each other, feeling every movement. His pace is slow and then starts to quicken. This love I'm feeling for him is like nothing I've felt before. I crave him.

  He rolls us and holds me by the waist on top of him, guiding me to keep the rhythm that we’ve already created. I grab his arms to keep myself upright and start to move at my own pace making Linc growl from somewhere deep within his chest.

  “Oh God, Grace,” he breathes. My name has never been spoken with so much passion. He takes one hand finds my sensitive spot and circles it with his thumb. My ears start to hum and the familiar pull in my tummy grows.

  “Not yet. Hold on for me.”

  I move faster. Up and down. Up and down. Linc removes his hand and grabs my waist again, guiding me to the rhythm that he needs. With every pulse, he lifts his hips to push himself into me as far as I can take him. The faster we move, the harder he pumps. I can't hold on anymore

  “Let go, Grace.”

  With the demand I find my release, screaming his name and telling him I love him. Shortly after, he finds his. Squeezing my hips and holding me in place, mumbles something that I can't quite hear. I softly moan and bend down to lay on his chest. He wraps his warm arms around me and we lay still for a few moments before he rolls and lays us on our sides. With his head perched on his hand, arm bent next to me, he reaches up and caresses my arm with the tip of his index finger. We don't speak, we simply stare at each other.

  No words are needed.

  I didn't think this could have happened after everything with Patrick. With Linc, it's as if our souls are connected. This feeling is surreal.

  Right here, right now, Linc is very much real and I am very much in love with him.

  As we lay in our post coital bliss, I break our silence.

  “Why do you always whisper to me in Italian?”

  “Because I can.”

  “Because you can? Really? That's your answer?”

  “No,” he chuckles. “Truthfully?” I nod. “There was a time when I wasn't able to say what I was thinking or feeling. I would use these.” He holds up a fist. “Or these...” He softly kisses me once on the lips. “My mom knew this and suggested I start speaking the things I didn't want everyone to know in Italian. That way I could get things off my chest and no one, except my family, would know what I was saying. I could get it out without reservation.” He shrugs. “It's a comforting habit now.”

  “Oh.”

  “And besides,” he looks down at me, “I think it turns you on a bit.”

  I smile and flush.

  “That's what I thought.” He leans in and kisses me. “Ti amo,” he whispers against my mouth.

  He rolls over me, covers my body with his and presses his lips on mine, thrusting his tongue into my mouth with purpose. He kisses me so hard our mouths are fucking. I'm jealous of my own mouth.

  My jealousy is halted when I feel what Linc wants on my thigh. Breaking our kiss, I push him on his back and scoot down on the bed. I’ve come face to face with the most intimate part of his body.

  Well, hello there!

  I smile up at him as he gives me a devilish grin. I know what he wants and I plan on giving it to him.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  During the next few days Linc and I settle more into the bliss of being together. Christmas is approaching in a few weeks and I’m anxious. We're all gathering at Daddy's the evening before. Linc wants to stay at the apartment on Christmas day, avoiding his parent’s house at all costs. I think it's a bad idea but I don't want to upset him. Maybe he'll change his mind. He still wants to find a way to see Kennedy without having to see his parents. Well, at least not his father. For now, we plan on having a quiet day, just the two of us. That is a gift in itself.

  Sitting at the breakfast bar, we consume a lovely breakfast of veggie omelets and wheat toast. We sit in the now familiar comfortable silence and read our perspective parts of the daily paper. This is our morning routine. This is us. Calm, comfortable, easy.

  Duritz paws at my ankle.

  “Did you take him out this morning?”

  “Oh, sorry. I forgot,” he says not looking up from the sports page.

  “No problem. I'll go.” I give Linc a kiss on the cheek, grab Duritz's leash out of the front closet, bundle up in my parka, put on his puppy vest and head down to the ground level. Jack holds the door open for us and my little pup gallops out to relieve himself.

  He circles and circles trying to find the right spot to squat. He tenses and leans back on his hind legs at attention.

  “What is it Duritz?” I squat down to his level. “Just go already. Mama is very cold.” He whimpers.

  I get a sudden chill down my spine, and not from the cold air. Pushing to my feet, I glance around my surroundings. I can only see the few citizens brave enough to walk down the street on this cold Saturday morning. I shake the leash to let Duritz know that I want him to make already. He complies and we retreat back into the building. After holding the door for us to re-enter, Jack goes out to the grassy square by the sidewalk to pick up the puppy pelle
ts. I love our doorman.

  We get back to the apartment and I immediately tell Linc about the feeling I got being outside.

  “I'm sure it's nothing. It’s cold out there,” he says very nonchalantly.

  “You're probably right.”

  “I gotta get going. I have several meetings today and I need to get out to Jersey by five.” He gives me a swift kiss on the lips. “I'll miss you.”

  “Me too.”

  He smiles and walks to the front closet to get his jacket and bag.

  “Hey,” I shout out to him as I enter the foyer.

  “Yeah?”

  I lean against the doorframe and cross my arms. “I love you.”

  His mouth curves into a heart-stopping smile as he saunters towards me, dropping his jacket on the floor. Sliding his arms around my waist, he gives me a gentle kiss. “Say it again.”

  “I love you,” I giggle.

  He kisses me again. “I love you too.”

  I push him slightly away from me. “You better get going. You don't want to be late.”

  “Screw work. I want to stay here with you.”

  “How will you ever make any money if you do that? I have very expensive taste.” I tease as I playfully push on his chest. “Go. Work. Be successful.”

  He kisses me one more time then bends down to pick up his jacket and bag.

  “I'll call you later.” He opens the door but doesn't walk out. “Ti amo, la mia bella ragazza,” he says with ease over his shoulder.

  I have come to learn that this means “I love you, my beautiful girl”.

  I smile shyly at him as he winks back at me.

  LINC IS TRYING TO GET out of one of his meetings to come to Asher's hockey game, but I don't feel very confident in that happening. Thomas had gone out to Jersey and picked up Kennedy so he could come with us. He drives Amy, Kennedy and me to the rink. When we pull into the parking lot I see a familiar sleek black Bentley parked by the front sidewalk. Thomas pulls up behind it and helps Amy, then me out of the vehicle. As I stretch to my feet, Daddy is walking towards us looking more casual than I’ve seen him in quite some time. He's wearing dark denim and a cream cable knit turtle neck sweater under his navy peacoat. He reaches Amy first giving her a kiss on her cheek that lingers longer than I would expect it to. Kennedy follows me out and stands by Amy. Daddy gives a curious look to him.