Lincoln
I watchedas her beautiful face crumbled into tears, and I didn’t hesitate to move. I took Joy into my arms and held her close as she sobbed into my chest. Her body shook as the pent-up emotion purged from her body. I hated it was my stupid fault she was crying.
“I’m so fucking sorry, baby,” I apologized into her hair, breathing in her scent, feeling like the biggest jerk in the world. “Please don’t cry, my Joy.” I tried to put myself in her shoes, her vanishing into thin air after the night we’d shared and the promises we’d made. Fuck, I would have crawled out of my skin. “I’m so damn sorry.” I stroked her back, and she pulled away. Her brown eyes red and swollen as she blinked, I wiped away tears that escaped.
“You didn’t ghost me?” she asked. Her pretty lips wobbled.
“No. God, no.” I shook my head. “I am an idiot. I thought I’d pressed Send. I swear to you, Joy. I’m so damn sorry, baby.”
“I thought—" She hiccupped. I picked her up and thanked my lucky stars she let me. She instinctively wrapped her legs around my waist as I stepped into her place, kicking the front door shut behind me. I sat down on the couch and held her against my chest for a long time. Stroking her hair and back until she calmed down. When she looked up at me, she seemed embarrassed.
“What?” I asked as I fell into her dark stare.
“I’m sorry I cried like that. I don’t—"
“Shh.” I shook my head, kissing her forehead. “I’m sorry for putting you through that. I should have called you, left a voicemail, written a fucking letter. Anything more than a text. Especially since that was our first mission.”
“Our first mission?”
“As a couple.” She opened her mouth, but I cut her off. “And don’t dare tell me we’re not a thing. We are, Joy. You and me. You gave me that,” I reminded her like an asshole. “Now, I know I fucked up. You thought I ghosted you, but I swear I didn’t. I want you. Want us.” I wasn’t bashful about pleading my case.
My heart thundered against my chest.
I’d made her cry.
She had thought I’d played some kind of sick mind game with her. Used her. Fuck, I was so angry with myself I wanted to kick my own ass.
“I won’t mess up again,” I promised. “I hadn’t planned on getting called in. And when we go and are on a mission, there is no reaching out to anyone.”
“I know.” She sniffled. “You’d explained that in your letters.”
“We will put stuff in place, so this never happens again. I swear. I’m yours, Joy. Please tell me you’re still mine,” I begged, pride and ego long gone. With every second that ticked away as she looked at me without saying anything, fear started to fill every inch of my being.
I’d lost almost everyone I had ever loved and had somehow survived. But I knew if she didn’t give me another chance, that was what would break me, leave me a shell of a man.
“Please.” My voice cracked.
“Linc.”
“Joy.” Her fingers pressed against my lips as her other hand touched my chest. “I love you,” I murmured against her fingers, and they dropped. Her brown eyes widened, and I breathed in and exhaled slowly. “It’s fast, and it is more than okay if you’re not there yet. But I do, Joy. I love you, and I will wait for your heart to catch up.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered. My body went hard, stock still beneath her touch. “That’s why this week was awful. I fell in love with you, and you just poof.” She snapped her fingers, and I rested my forehead against hers.
Joy loves me, too.
“I swear to you, baby, that will never happen again.”
“It better not, or I’ll kick you,” she threatened halfheartedly. I couldn’t wait any longer without searing my mouth to hers and stealing a kiss.
“We’ll work,” I promised as I pulled away, grabbing ahold of her face. “I promise you we will. You’re it for me, Joy.”
“Lincoln.” She licked her swollen lips, and I smiled.
“Tell me you believe me. We will make it work. I know my life’s complicated. My job takes me away at the drop of a hat, and I can’t give you that many details—"
“Shut up,” she murmured, kissing me passionately, pulling my lower lip into her mouth and letting it go. “Life doesn’t make sense without you. We’ll make it work.”
“Thank fuck,” I groaned as I took her shirt off and she pulled at mine. Before we knew it, we were naked, her sweet curvy body over mine as I watched her take me. Sinking down, taking every inch I had to offer.