“In the way of what?”
“Freedom. In the way of being free to do what we want.”
“You’re on parole still.”
“That’ll be over eventually.”
“I don’t understand this,” I said, still reeling.
“I talked to Cliff, and he admitted to pressuring Jess into stirring everything up between us. So I asked if she had any dirt on him, anything I could use to loosen his grip.”
“And she happened to have proof that my dad is a cheater?”
“Yeah. Unfortunately, that’s how it shook out.”
“Fuck,” I said, and sat back on the pool table. “Who is she?”
“Some minor celebrity. I don’t even know if it’s still happening or what. The video I have is from a few months ago.”
“Some minor celebrity,” I repeated. “How old is she?”
“About our age.”
I made a face. “Gross. Why the hell would he do this to Jules? To all of us?”
He took a step closer. “I don’t know.”
“I thought he was in love with her.” I felt like an idiot, but processing the fact that my dad was a cheater was taking a lot more out of me than I could have imagined.
“He probably was, once. But love isn’t about what you want. It’s about what you need.”
“And he doesn’t need Jules,” I said softly.
He shook his head. “It pisses me off too, Brie. But he clearly doesn’t get it.”
“Get what?”
He came closer, less than a foot away.
“You can’t control it. When it happens, you’re fucked. You either control the flow or it consumes you completely.”
“You have to stay relaxed and loose,” I said softly.
“Everyone is wrong. It’s not a fire or something like that. It’s a wave, and you either learn to go with it or you drown.”
“Lincoln . . .” I said, staring at him.
“No. No more, Brie. I’m taking control of the flow now.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t have to. I didn’t want to say anything that could break whatever was growing between us, hot and heavy and sudden. He reached forward, took my hair loosely in his fist, and crushed my mouth against his.
I opened myself immediately to his kiss, losing my body and mind in the overwhelming flow of his desire. I spread my legs and wrapped them around him, pulling him closer against me. He reached forward and cupped my ass, pulling me tight against his chest as we kissed.
It was what I had been so afraid of for so long, the still-new lightning of his touch. I was afraid it would break me, break us both, but he was right. It wasn’t something that could burn us. It was a wave.
And I wanted to go with it. I wanted him more than anything. I felt the muscles of his chest as his hands squeezed my ass, pressing me even tighter against him. His mouth was insistent and needy as he bit my lip gently.
“Fuck, Lincoln,” I gasped. He kissed my neck.
“I’m done pretending,” he said.
“Me too.”
He reached down and practically tore my shirt over my head. His eyes were intense as he grabbed my breasts. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“I can’t stay away from you. I don’t want to.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I whispered.
He kissed my chest and neck and I let out a soft moan. His right hand slowly moved down between my breasts and stomach and slipped down the front of my shorts, gently cupping my warm pussy.
“No, you don’t want to leave at all, do you,” he said, smirking.
“Don’t be an ass,” I gasped as he began to work my clit.
He grabbed my hair again and pulled gently, tugging my chin up.
“You’re mine. You’re going to be mine.”
“Yes,” I gasped as he kissed my neck and continued to work my clit in slow circles.
“And I’m fucking yours. To do with whatever you want.”
His mouth found mine and kissed me hard as his hand deftly worked under my panties, touching my bare, soaking skin. I resisted the urge to writhe in pleasure as he worked my swollen clit with his skillful fingers. They were slightly callused from hours of playing piano, and the hardness of his skin felt incredible rubbing gently over my clit.
“What do you want to do with me?” he whispered in my ear.
“I don’t know,” I gasped.
He pulled my hair slightly harder. “Tell me what you want to do.”
“I want to fuck you. I want to come on your big dick.”
He practically growled as he tore off my bra, working my bare tits with his hands. Suddenly, he pushed me back and tugged my shorts down off my ass. I watched as he pulled his own shirt and shorts off.