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“You keep saying that to me, Linc. Should it make me nervous?”
“Very.”
Nova pressed her hand harder to Linc’s wounded shoulder. Her fingertips gently began to curl. She caught herself starting to peel the bandage. It resisted against Linc’s hard skin. He nodded for her to keep going. Nova fought off feeling grossed out and stripped Linc of the bandage.
She gasped at the sight of the wound. The hole. The bullet hole. The nasty looking color around it too.
“You’re sure that’s okay?” Nova asked.
“Yeah, darling. I’ll be fine.”
Linc took the bloody bandage from Nova and walked to the bathroom. Nova looked at herself in the mirror above the dresser. She wanted to keep drinking to settle her nerves some more. But…
In the reflection of the mirror she saw the shirtless Linc walk out of the bathroom with a fresh bandage. She studied his body. His muscles. Tattoos that weren’t there last time she saw him. She remembered his naked skin back in the day. Not a droplet of ink touching him. Now… everything was different.
Nova didn’t help place the new bandage on Linc’s shoulder. She did watch him though. Her mind flirting with her—he’s touching himself! Oh, Nova, look at him touch himself! Look at his muscles flexing! Look at how strong and tough and mean he is! This is what you need!
“Linc, I have to go to work,” she said. “Unless we’re going to go find Nick…? Is there a plan yet?”
Linc reached for his T-shirt. Nova wanted to scream No! Don’t do that! Instead, she marveled at sight of his body as he lifted his hands over his head and put the T-shirt on his body. Muscles flexing and twisting, tightening and… Nova almost had to wipe drool off her mouth. Linc next put his leather cut on.
“Work?” Linc asked. “What kind of work?”
“Believe it or not, I still write stories.”
“Yeah? I guess we both chased our dreams, darling.”
“Except yours worked out. You’re where you want to be.”
“You’re not?”
“I deliver food, Linc,” Nova said, feeling deflated. Her cheeks turned bright red. “The writing thing is… pending.”
“You drive around using one of the apps?”
Nova nodded.
“Alone?” Linc asked. “At night? What neighborhoods?”
“Wherever it tells me to go, Linc.”
He suddenly closed in on her. His eyes flared. His nostrils flared. Nova felt scared but only for a second. Linc didn’t like the idea of her driving around like that. Nova hated herself for a second as she felt seen and protected. She bit her bottom lip with no idea of what Linc’s next move might be.
It was exciting and terrifying at the same time.
Nova knew she couldn’t drive at the moment. The vodka swirled in her head. The sips of beer only added to it. Linc’s outlaw kisses made her mouth tingle. And her entire body ached for him. He was like this gigantic fantasy come to life.
Except there was no escape here. There was no waking up. No realizing you were in bed with a decent guy who worked a normal job. Who had his finances and future in place and hung out with his buddies on Thursday night for wings and a couple beers. Nova swallowed hard.
“You’re not working today or tonight, darling,” Linc ordered.
Not spoke. Not said. But ordered.
“Linc…”
“I’ll cover whatever you would make,” he said. “You need a bill or two paid, I’ve got you covered. Your mother short on something? I’ll take care of it. I told you, walking into this room… I’ve staked my claim, Nova.”
Nova nodded.
