AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Lincoln’s back is turned toward me as I rush into the indoor track area where we always meet, but he immediately turns, and it’s like I can feel the full weight of his stare bearing down on me from twenty-five feet away. I pause, panting a bit from my jog, but Lincoln doesn’t hesitate as he strides over and crushes me in a tight hug.
It feels unreasonably good, settling my nerves and even momentarily easing my headache.
“Hey,” I greet, voice muffled against his chest.
He doesn’t respond verbally, just breaks away from me far enough to do a thorough scan with his eyes. “You’re okay?” he finally says. His tone is stuck halfway between a question and a confirmation.
“I’m okay.”
He nods, seemingly satisfied. “Let’s get to it then.”
* * *
I can’t decideif it’s my night of barely any sleep and feeling like I’m getting sick or if Lincoln is purposely trying to push me to my limit.
“Another one?” I gape. I’ve already gone through four sets of burpees with him, and now he’s telling me to go again.
“Yes. We’re going a full minute this time.”
“Linc—”
“This isn’t a democracy, Espy. I’m the trainer here. I know what I’m doing, and I know what you need.”
“What Ineed?” I turn to face him, anger starting to burn through my exhaustion.
“Yes.”
“You. A man. An alpha. Someone I’ve only known for three months, who is five years older than me, and who grew up in a completely different family dynamic.Youknow whatIneed.”
“Objectively, yes.”
I scoff, honestly shocked that he’s refusing to back down. “Are you serious right now—?”
“I’m more than serious, Espy. That’s my point! Better than anyone, I know the kind of threats you’re facing, and as your brother’s packmate—”
“Don’t you dare pull that shit with me!” I cut him off, surprising myself as I shove his chest. “Just because I’m an omega doesn’t give you the right to—”
“It does! Have you not been paying attention? There are Gods-damn fuckingterrorist cellsout there snatching omegasjust like youoff college campuses. And I don’t care if it pisses you off, if it offends your sense of independence or autonomy or whatever the hell is in your head right now, but itismy job to do whatever I fucking can to keep you safe. Even if that means pushing you or pissing you off. Ihaveto make sure that if any one of those fucking scumbags ever gets near you, you know how to get away. That you’re strong enough to fight—to do everything you can to survive.That’smy job.”
There’s no one else around, and the silence that falls as Lincoln trails off is broken only by our heavy breathing.
I want to hold onto my anger; it’s more comforting than the turbulent mix of heartache and fear his words have instilled. His heady scent hangs heavy in the air between us, the hints of leather far overpowering the dominance of his usual salted honey. As much as I’ve tried to push away my inappropriate feelings for this man, in this moment I want so badly for him to be my protector. My alpha. To be able to give myself over to him and trust that I’ll be okay. The same feeling I had last night—that sense of “rightness” I had from being in Mason’s arms—sweeps over me again.
“Espy—”
Lincoln gets cut off abruptly as I reach up to wrap my arms around his neck, tugging his head down to mine. I’m too short to reach his lips without his help, so instead I press my mouth against the skin of his neck, my tongue sneaking out in a gentle caress. The moan he lets out spurs me on, and my hands clutch him tighter as his whole body rumbles against me. I pick another spot on his neck and go in for another kiss, but before I can, I feel Lincoln’s arms go around my thighs as he hauls me up his body and crashes his mouth down against mine.
My kisses with Mason were a sweet exploration, but with Lincoln things are explosive, desperate, and messy.
My legs squeeze his waist. They’re not long enough for me to be able to lock my ankles behind his broad back, but I mindlessly trust his strong grip to hold me up. There’s no art in the way our mouths move against each other; all that computes is a messy dance of teeth and tongues. My body undulates in his arms, my hips desperately seeking out any kind of friction between my legs. His hair is wet with sweat as my fingers instinctually comb through his hair, and I can’t help but let out a moan as his mouth pulls away from mine to dive for my neck.
He growls as he nips at my skin, the light pressure from his teeth lighting a fire in my blood. The thought of asking him to bite me flashes through my mind, and I can’t help the whine I let out as I tilt my head to offer him more of my neck.
“Shit, Espy,” Lincoln whispers as he pulls away, our eyes locking briefly before our lips come together again. Any thoughts of right or wrong fade away, and all I want is more as I feel one of his hands move up from my thighs and dip under my shirt, the rough feel of his skin against my bare back sending a thrill shooting through me and spurring me on.
My body, already heated, somehow gets even warmer. I feel something pulse low in my stomach, and then suddenly I’m enveloped by a wave a heat that moves from my core and out through my chest. The smell of roses sweetens and deepens around us, and I feel my head go fuzzy as a low whine escapes me, my need for Lincoln ratcheting up impossibly higher.
I roll my hips against him reflexively, protesting when he abruptly pulls away and drops me to the ground as though he’s been burned.
