Page 108 of Pieces of Us

‘We don’t need the details,’ he grits.

‘We’ll chat later,’ Mum whispers. I nod giddy at both of them. I’m extremely close with Dad, but it’s nice having Mum back, she’s more like an older sister.

‘And you’ve worked through the past?’ Dad queries. My health and safety is always his number one priority.

‘We’ve discussed it at length between us, and with April, I’m still…’ I think about what I want to say, or am feeling. ‘I’m grieving our past, but I have hope for our future. I feel like I understand everything so much more clearly now, but I’m also blind as we move forward. We know where we want to go, but we’re taking it slow.’

Dad side hugs me, kissing my head, while Mum places her hand on my thigh.

‘And what about how you feel about yourself and your health? How is him being back in your life affecting your mental health?’

‘I don’t ever think he was a trigger. I know I said he was, but I think my own issues encroached and exacerbated my situation. It has been unfair on him all this time to call him that. When he was in LA with me, April made me see that. He’s also made it very clear that what I used to think was so far off base of what he was actually thinking. I feel much more in control about who I am, and I love that he’s been joining my sessions with April, so he can understand what can cause me to fly off the handle. I haven’t had an episode in a while, and I think it’s because I feel happy.’

‘You weren’t happy before?’ Mum asks.

‘I was happy, but I think missing Linc all this time made me realise there was a gaping hole inside me. Now that he’s back in my life, I feel really grounded again. Even without taking our relationship to the next level, it was always our friendship and how he was my soulmate that I was missing.’

‘So where do you go from here?’ Dad, being a typical dad asks.

‘I don’t know if you’ll like the answer,’ I joke, avoiding giving him a serious answer. He gags, pushing me away from him before momentarily enclosing me in a hug. ‘You’re the most important person in my life, sweetheart. I never want to see you lose yourself again. I just want the best for you, and if that’s Linc, then that’s all I want for you. I love you, baby girl.’

I love this man so much. I idolise him. In my heart, I know Linc, being raised by Uncle Jacob and dad, will be just as amazing when he’s a father. How could he not when he’s had the best example?

‘I love you, Daddy.’

‘Me too, baby girl.’

Time flies by while Linc is answering questions. As I sip on vodka and soda, occasionally eating the assortment of canapes, I catch up with Jas and find out she’s seeing a boy from her class. She also got an A on the assignment she did on me, which makes me so proud. Lily hasn’t been her usual sassy self. Actually, she looks quite sullen as the night drags on. She tells me it’s just work stuff, but I have an inkling it’s something more. Rome is pumped for his trip to see Jagger. Jag was filling me in last time, saying that he’s managed to score them an invite to an exclusive club that he assures me I don’t want to know the details of, but ensures that Rome will leave a very happy man. I can only imagine. Those two are trouble when they’re together. Ella flits back and forth between her work colleagues and our little group, but it’s her heated conversation with Uncle Jacob in the corner that captures my attention. She doesn’t seem too thrilled with him, and there is fire burning in her eyes. His temper, of course, is in check, and while I can’t hear their conversation, he says something that makes her storm off. The party starts to die down and people dwindle off.

‘Can I steal her now?’ Linc asks, removing his jacket and placing it over the lounge. My eyes roam over his. There’s a gleam in his naughty eyes. I can almost see the golden twinkle streaking his honey-coloured irises.

‘Want to head home?’ Mum asks Dad. He nods gingerly, but not as enthusiastically as I thought he would. Lily makes arrangements to leave with Jas, while Rome exited a while back with one of Ella’s colleagues. I didn’t see Ella after she stormed off before, and Uncle Jacob has disappeared as well with some of the other board members.

‘Take care of her, son,’ Dad warns. ‘I’m proud of you.’ He gives him a hug. Mum and Dad both kiss me, but have different advice for tonight. ‘Have fun,’ Mum says, while Dad frowns.

‘Don’t be too late.’

Mum responds, laughing, ‘Don’t listen to him. If we don’t see you later, we’ll see you tomorrow.’ She’s insinuating something will be happening with Linc and I, and she’s spot on.

‘I’ll see you both tomorrow,’ I confirm, taking Linc’s hand as we walk them through to the door.

I have no idea if we’re staying or going, but I anticipate Linc doesn’t want us to leave at the same time as it will just confirm that we’re going back to his to have wild, dirty sex all night long.

We wave them off and walk back inside.

Pressing me against the closed door, he nuzzles my neck, inhaling my scent. I’m wearing some expensive perfume, which I know lasts for hours. ‘Tonight was torture,’ he groans, as his teeth skate over my pulse, before his lips fasten around my skin and suck. I moan into the pleasure of the pain. I don’t respond, lost in what he’s doing to my body. ‘I just wanted everyone to leave, so I could be inside you.’ His hands trail up and down the satin-feel of my dress, cinching it up ever so slowly. ‘This dress. Your shoes. You. Everything about your being drives me wild.’ More kisses are pressed to my skin. I need him to kiss me urgently. Springing into action, I direct his mouth to mine and moan.

‘Tell me we’re staying here tonight?’ If he says no, I will be physically incapable of leaving here without fucking him.

‘We sure are, baby. The owners don’t move in for another month, and the cleaners will be coming tomorrow afternoon, so we have all night and all morning to take advantage.’

I know the house has been staged for this evening, so I don’t feel a shred of guilt fucking in the bed.

Tugging me securely to his side, he leads us back into the living space. ‘Before I fuck your brains out, I want to just sit with you for a moment and take in the fact that you’re here.’

He curls his arm around my neck as we sit and look out towards the ocean. My shoes have been haphazardly kicked off and are resting on the lounge, while I lean into him.

‘It means so much that you’re here, baby.’

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