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  He rubbed his hand through his thick hair. “I refuse to stoop to his level. Anyhow, I have to pay the consequences for hitting him. I’m a hot-head and lost my temper.”

  “I don’t know what is wrong with him. He has what he wants. Why can’t he let me go?”

  Nick caressed her shoulder. His warm hand felt large and protective on her slim shoulder. “He could let you go if I weren't in the picture. Anthony sees you with the White man that had major issues with people of other races. I’m not that way anymore, Lincoln. I care about you a lot more than you think. Feel free to jump in and add anything.”

  Lincoln drained the rest of the wine in the glass. He was saying all the right stuff, but her heart was too confused to digest any of it. She enjoyed being with him and the sex was the best she ever had. But it was happening too soon. Nick was her knight in shining armor. He was there when she needed him and when she didn’t. He was the type of man women dreamed of having underfoot with his attentiveness and bravery.

  “I want to add more, but I’m scared,” she said in fragile voice.

  He held her hands in his and caressed her fingers with his thumbs. “What are you scared of, Lincoln? Are you scared of me?”

  She shook her head. “No. I’m afraid I’m moving too fast, Nick. I don’t want to hurt you, but I don’t want to lose you either. I know that sounds selfish.”

  “You sound like a woman that’s been hurt and I understand your hesitation. I want to make this easy for you. I can hold back if you want. I’ll do whatever makes you comfortable.”

  “We’re going to see a lot of each other over the next several weeks with the wedding coming up. If I get a little emotional just shake me back to reality, Nick.”

  “So what are you saying?”

  She caressed the side of his face. She didn’t want to take a chance at losing him to another woman. She would have to fight the demons Anthony held her down with, with all her might. “I’m very screwed up right now and it scares me. I want you, Nick, I really do. However, I don’t want you to feel I’m holding you back.”

  He kept a steady gaze on her, and leaned over and kissed her. She let her tongue trace the thin line of his closed lips. As she teased him, his tongue darted out and intercepted hers to dance around each other.

  Lincoln’s hand moved up his leg to caress his engorged erection through his jeans. He jerked and crushed their mouths closer. His tongue invaded her mouth, swirling against the soft flesh.

  Nick’s hands began to explore. She was wearing a skirt, and he stroked her leg gently. Her skin was on fire with each caress of his fingertips. He broke the kiss to gaze at her. Then he sat up. Tenderly he circled a nipple through her blouse. He ignited the embers deep within her as only he could. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the sensations that surged through her.

  She didn’t object as he unbuttoned her blouse and cupped her breast through her bra. His tongue swirled over her nipple hardening it instantly. She thrust her chest out, offering her hard nipples to his soft lips. She gasped when he unclasped her bra and let his lips close around her nipple. As he feasted on her flesh, she bunched the bottom of his t-shirt in her hands, raising it until it broke him away from her breast so he could remove it. “Oh, Nick.” The sight of his muscular chest sent a wave of desire to her very core.

  Nick eased off her and whispered, “Take off your skirt.” She raised her butt enough to unzip the skirt and slide it down her legs. He lowered her back to the sofa to work on getting the lace panties off. Lincoln reached her hand over and touched him. He groaned when she grabbed the bulge in his jeans and squeezed. She licked her lips and said, “Get naked.”

  Nodding, Nick removed a condom from his wallet. He then shoved his jeans down his muscled thighs and kicked them off. She sighed at the sight of his hard erection poking through his boxer briefs. The sight sent a sharp shiver down her arms that spread to her breasts and down to her womanhood.

  He proceeded to kiss down her chest. Her skin prickled from the chill left from the moisture his mouth created. Her body arched into him. “Make love to me, Nick.”

  “Soon,” he mumbled as he adjusted her body on the sofa.

  Continuing to tantalize her with his teasing, he circled his tongue in her navel. Her stomach quivered as his tongue trailed down her belly and circled the rim of her womanhood. “Oh, God,” she groaned as his tongue flickered across the swollen nub.

  He began to use tongue thrusts, increasing in speed, and intensity. She arched her back as far as she could and elevated her hips to give him better access. Nick had every nerve in her body on high alert and ready for a spectacular orgasm.

  He lifted suddenly and positioned one of her legs over the sofa and the other over his shoulder. He thrust his penis inside of her, stretching, filling her to the hilt. Lincoln, felt the building in her loins, the feeling spread outward, increasing in intensity, overpowering her. The top of her head pressed against the arm of the sofa as she bit back a scream of ecstasy waiting to erupt. The confines of the sofa stilled her movements and gave Nick total control of her body.

  He came down on top of her to keep her steady beneath him as he pumped away. Suddenly, his breathing shifted in pattern. The way he moved changed to the familiar jerk inside of her that let her know he was there. “Oh, baby,” he moaned. He sucked on her nipple as he grinded against her womanhood, readying to release his orgasm with her.

  Lincoln was losing her mind as a series of rippling waves washed over her followed by pulses of intense pleasure. She opened her eyes slightly and saw his jaw tight, and heard a low growl escape his lips. Thrusting harder, he slowed and held his body stiff against her. She crossed her long legs around his waist as he emptied. She swore she saw fireworks as their bodies bucked and jerked together.

  Nick rested fully on her. He was heavy as she held him close to her. The more they made love, the more it felt right to her. They belonged together.

  Chapter Twenty

  Lincoln breezed into the banquet hall with a big smile on her face. “Hello, everybody, what’s up?” She went over to her mother and kissed her on the cheek. “Hi, Mom. Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

  Lynette shook her head and frowned. “Girl, where have you been for the last few days? I have been worried sick about you.”

  “Mom, I’m fine. I’m here now anyway. So what do you want me to do? Oh, I will start on the decorations.” She grabbed a basket with purple and green ribbons and bows stuffed in them.

  Regan came over to her with her hands on her hips. “Drop that basket, Missy.” She pulled a chair from the table and pushed it over to Lincoln. “Sit down.”

  Lincoln set the basket on the floor and sat down. “I’m sorry I have been missing in action lately. I’ve had a lot on my mind, but I’m back now and I won’t do it again.”

  “Would Nick be cluttering your mind these days or Anthony?”

  “Regan, if we weren’t setting up for your party tonight I would tell you about it.” She shifted her eyes to indicate the reference to their mother being in the room.

  Regan caught on and turned to her mother. “Mom, will you check on Carter? She is in the kitchen with the caterer and we know how she can be. She’ll piss the caterer off and we won’t have food for the party tonight.”

  “Sure, sweetheart.” Lynette chuckled as she put down the napkins she had been folding. “You could have just asked me to leave, I know you girls want to talk without me around.”

  They thanked their mom in unison as she left the room. “She’s gone, so what gives.” Regan sat next to her sister and eagerly waited for her to spill the beans.

  Lincoln saw the sparks that leaped from her sister’s eyes. She remembered that look when they were teenagers and would discuss their latest boy crushes. Only by the time she was old enough to date, Carter had gone off to college and Regan had eloped with Mark. She had to discuss her crushes with close girlfriends.

  She folded her hands in her lap. “Regan, I don’t know i
f I’m losing my mind or too distraught over Anthony to know what I’m doing. But, I think I’m falling hard for Nick.”

  “What? Well, does he feel the same about you?”

  She nodded and curled her lips in a smile. “Yes, he does. He went to jail for me, Regan.”

  Regan slapped her hand across her forehead. “Jail! When did that happen and why?”

  “It happened Wednesday and I bailed him out. He and Anthony got into a fight and that ass pressed charges against him.”

  “Orlando hasn’t said a word. He can be so closed-lipped at times.”

  “Anyhow, we have been inseparable ever since. I may be presumptuous in my thinking or just plain crazy, either or, I think I’m falling in love with him, Regan. What am I going to do? I made Nick break the code of the brotherhood. My life is a friggin’ mess. Tell me what to do.” She covered her face with her hands.

  Regan lowered the hands that covered Lincoln’s face and lifted her chin until she was looking her in the eye. “First you should calm down. As far as your life being a mess, it is not a mess. You aren’t married to Anthony. You owe him nothing and he can’t expect any loyalty from you after what he did. Nick will have to deal with that code thing on his own. I’m sure he isn’t losing any sleep over it if he is still…ya know…woohoo’ing with you.”

  Lincoln blushed from embarrassment. She was glad this conversation was taking place with Regan rather than her mother whom she wouldn’t be able to talk about this with. She was sure her mother wouldn’t approve her sleeping with Nick and them not being in a relationship or married. “That pretty much is his take on the matter, too. So you don’t think I’m crazy? Could I be over Anthony that quick?”

  “I don’t feel you are crazy. I believe you do have feelings for Nick. How deep those feelings go you’ll have to ask yourself. I’m going to ask you some questions and be honest with your answers.”

  “Okay,” she said crossing her legs and waiting for the drilling to begin.

  “Here is the first question. When you are with Nick and not in a sexual way, how do you feel?”

  “I feel great. He keeps me laughing. He compliments me. I feel as if I’ve known him forever.”

  “Okay, and when you’re intimate with him. You can answer without giving me too much detail.”

  Lincoln tapped her foot nervously. “I’m not going to lie and dog Anthony. He was a good lover and I can’t take that away from him. But, oh my God, Nick is an exceptional lover. He takes me places I’ve never imagined. And I’m doing things I never thought I would do. Nick is the full package I’ve been missing, Regan.”

  “Well my, sister, I can’t see your dilemma. You’re absolutely glowing that’s for sure. I guess if I had to give you any advice it would be to make sure when you say those three little and important words that they come from a clean slate. Make sure you have no doubts in your mind and no feelings at all for Anthony.”

  “Neither one of us has confessed those words yet. We’re going to slow it down some and not rush into anything.”

  “Girl, life is too short. Go full tilt and have the romantic whirl-wind of your life.”

  Lincoln bit down on her lip and smiled. “I am doing that. When he comes over to my place, we forget the outside world exists unless we’re going out.”

  Regan raised her brow. “Tonight should be interesting since Gwen will be here.”

  Lincoln frowned. “Why is she coming?”

  “She was invited before you and Anthony broke up. I’m sure she’ll come just to take notes and report back to him.”

  She groaned and said, “I’ll make sure to keep away from her.”

  “Please, there will be more of us up in here than Anthony’s friends. We’re going to party and have fun. I can’t wait to see the entertainment you have lined up for tonight.”

  Dang! She bit down on the tip of her fingernail. She had forgotten to discuss the matter with Nick again. “Oh, I can’t wait to see how that pans out either. Umm, I have to make a quick call to make sure the entertainment arrives on time.”

  *****

  Nick entered the tuxedo shop and a salesman directed him to the room where the other groomsmen were waiting on their tailor to make final adjustments to the tuxedos. He had made up in his mind on the drive over to ignore Anthony and not get into any more petty fights with him. He and Lincoln were moving in a new direction and leaving any remnants of past relationships behind them. He concluded that his beef with Anthony had to end. The combination of his decisions, actions, and circumstances kept the strife going and if he removed Anthony from his aura, he would get rid of the stress and headaches for good.

  He pulled back the curtain and saw the guys sitting around not doing much. He went over to Orlando’s brother, shook his hand, and spoke to Sergio, who was sharing best man duties with Jon. Anthony sat in a chair with his head buried in his cell phone.

  Nick fought back the cocky grin when he saw the white bandage across Anthony’s nose but remembered his decision and kept it moving. He went over to Jon. He hadn’t seen any of his firefighter brothers since his suspension. He received a four-day suspension for fighting on the premises and it was vague if he had a job once the suspension ended. Anthony was only suspended for one shift since he didn’t initiate the fight.

  “Jon, what’s up?” He greeted him with a fist bump.

  “Waiting on Orlando to get here and get this show on the road. Are you cool with this, Nick? I don’t wanna have to break up a fight in here.”

  “Nah, man, I’m done with that, juvenile shit. Ant, better learn to live with his loss. By the way, have you heard anything about my job? I can’t get in touch with the union rep.”

  Jon hemmed and hawed. The union rep was supposed to deliver Nick the news about his transfer, not him. “Yeah, I have. The chief has requested you be on Orlando’s shift. I’ll serve as Lieutenant on Engine 30 until he returns from his honeymoon.”

  “That’s great news, man. We’ll get to work together for a couple of shifts.”

  “Yeah, but until then you’re still on leave. If I can get Ant to drop the charges, it will work in your favor a lot, Nick.”

  Nick turned his back to Anthony and leaned against the wall. “You know he ain’t gonna do that and I’m not begging him for shit.”

  “Leave Lincoln alone and I’ll drop the charges.”

  He whipped around at the sound of Anthony’s voice. He wanted to tell him to go to hell. But he didn’t say anything, which irritated Anthony.

  “You’re an asshole. You’d throw away your career instead of leaving a woman you don’t want in the first place! You’re only messing with her to get back at me.”

  Nick’s face bloated as he tried to calm himself. “Why are you talking to me, Ant? I’m minding my own business.”

  “Come on, Ant. Go back and sit down. Nick is not bothering you and you’re provoking him,” Jon said as Sergio and the others came over to see what the problem was.

  Anthony defended himself. “I’m just posing a proposition, Jon. I didn’t say it in a mean way or anything.”

  “You can take your proposition and shove it up your ass, Ant,” Nick replied. “How are you gonna fucking give me an ultimatum for a woman you aren’t even with anymore?”

  “Because I call the shots when it comes to Lincoln. So will it be your career or Lincoln? It should be a simple decision to make.”

  “Screw you!” Nick spat. “I’m in love with Lincoln and I’m not giving her up for your bullshit ultimatums. If I lose my career as a firefighter then it wasn’t meant to be.” He took the crucifix from under his shirt and kissed it.

  Ant rolled a glaring set of eyes at him and stormed out the room.

  Sergio spoke. “I don’t know what is going on between you guys and I don’t want to know, but Orlando is my blood. I won’t stand here and let you all ruin his wedding. Either get your shit together or drop out, you got me!”

  Nick agreed. “You know what, he’s right. I’m out of the wedding.
We can’t be in the same room together without going at it. I don’t want to be the reason the cops are at the church on Orlando’s wedding day. Out of all you guys, I’m the weakest link and the best person to back out.”

  He was getting ready to leave when Orlando came in the dressing room. “What happened now? I saw Ant outside pacing the tar off the parking lot.”

  Nick raised his hands. “I’m sorry. It won’t happen again because I just dropped out the wedding.”

  “What?” Orlando asked frowning. “What the hell?”

  “Orlando, it’s for the best. Jon will explain. I’m gonna split so you all can get on with the fitting.”

  Jon and Orlando caught up with Nick in the parking lot. “Wait up, Nick,” Orlando called.

  Nick placed his hands on hips and leaned against his truck. “My mind is made up, Orlando. I don’t want to ruin your wedding because Anthony can’t grow up.”

  Orlando shoved him in the shoulder and grinned. “I’m not letting you off that easy. But, Jon told me you’re in love with Lincoln. Is that true?”

  Nick hitched his chin up. The sun’s rays were warm beaming on him. “Yeah, I am. You got something against it?”

  “Nah, dude,” Orlando said throwing imaginary punches at Nick’s body. “I think it’s great! Welcome to the family.”

  “Well, don’t welcome me yet, I haven’t told Lincoln how I feel. I’m letting her get used to me a little more.”

  Jon put his arm around Nick’s shoulder. “No, no….that’s the worst thing you can do. Sweep her off her feet, Nick. If you give her too much rope, she’ll get away. Think how badly you want her.”

  Nick grinned. “I’m ready to commit. I want a house, a mortgage the whole shebang, now that I’ll keep my job.”

  “So what is this about?” Anthony asked as he stood with his hands in his pockets and his eyes set on Orlando. He had been standing away from them in the parking lot but apparently close to hear their conversation. “If you want Nick to say in the wedding party, I will drop out since I’m the black sheep of the crew.”