Page 145 of Succumbed

“Hey.” Linc draws us to a stop, taking my hands in his. “I know this is hard, Lex. It’s certainly not how I envisioned things going after Paris.”

“That’s an understatement,” I mumble.

He reaches out and taps underneath my chin with a knuckle. I look up into his amber gaze, threading my arms around him and pressing my body to his. With a gentle smile, he reaches up to cup my face in his big, warm hands.

“Shane and I? We’re not going anywhere. And Dec will come around, beautiful. I know he will.”

“I trust you, Linc.” I do. There was a time when the realization had thrown me for a loop, given how few people I’ve let into my life, but my desire to trust Linc, Shane, and Declan feels natural. Right.

“I’m so grateful for that, gorgeous. I trust you, too.” He presses a kiss to my forehead.

Leaning back, he smiles down at me, his thumbs brushing along my cheekbones.

“You should also know I love you, Lex,” he whispers, tone almost reverent.

My lips part as I stare up at him, pulse thundering in my ears.

“Shane and I, we’ve been loving you quietly for months. It’s way past time for me to love you out loud, don’t you think?”

His expression is so open and earnest, no trace of hesitation or fear in his gaze. My heart swells in my chest as I rise to my tiptoes, gently pressing my lips to his.

I intend for it to be a sweet kiss, gentle, but the moment Linc groans and drops an arm around my waist, it’s anything but. He teases my lips with his tongue, diving between them without hesitation when I open for him. A quiet whimper escapes as I wind my arms around his neck, clinging to him. Emotion claws its way up my throat as we devour each other, tears welling.

I gasp when we part, and stare up at Linc with glassy eyes. “Linc, I…”

“I know,” he whispers, kissing the tears as they spill down my cheeks. “It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.”

My gut twists, the thought of him not knowing how much he means to me repulsive. I reach up and cup his cheek in one hand, smiling through my tears.

“I think it’s time I love you out loud, too.”

The sweetest smile breaks over his face, his perfect dimple appearing to taunt me. I swipe my thumb over it, biting my lip.

“Yeah?” he whispers, voice cracking.

I nod. “Yeah. Someone told me recently love is a choice. And loving you is one of the easiest choices I’ve ever made.”

Linc surges forward, capturing my mouth in a searing kiss. Then he’s squatting down, wrapping his arms around me, and lifting me into the air. I squeal, giggling as he spins me around, just as he did in Paris. He throws his head back and shouts up into the sky as I laugh.

“I love you, Lex Livingston!”

The intercom on my phone beeps right before Miles’s voice comes through.

“Uh, Lex? You have a, um…visitor.”

I blink, looking toward the door. Miles isn’t a person I’d describe as hesitant or timid, but his tone suggests both. Rising to my feet, I slip on my heels and walk to the door. Before I can open it, a sharp knock sounds.

“Sir, please be patient!” Miles barks.

My gaze narrowing, I pull the door open. As I meet the stony gaze of the tall man on the other side, my eyes widen.

“Nate.”

“Lex.” He nods. “Can I come in?”

Miles shoots me a nervous look over my brother’s shoulder, hand raised in an ok sign. I give him a smile, then turn to my unexpected visitor.

“By all means. What brings you to enemy territory on a random Thursday morning?”

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