Page 109 of Carry On

“What’s wrong, Peter?”

“So, Mom and I are going to be in Seattle—well, I was going to come visit by myself, but she doesn’t like the idea of me driving all that way alone.”

“You can drive a tractor, but you can’t drive on the highway?” I frowned at that logic.

“Something like that,” he agreed. “Would you want to… I was thinking… if you weren’t…”

Oh, this kid.

“Yeah, we can do something when you’re in town.” The words were out of my mouth before I thought better of them. I didn’t like that.

And apparently, they were enough to convince Lincoln’s mouth off my throbbing cock. I didn’t like that part either. He stopped everything to stare at me, arching a brow.

“Great!” Peter exclaimed. Fuck, he sounded so happy at the notion. Something tightened painfully in my chest—something I desperately didn’t want to deal with. “I’ll text you when we leave. Mom has like five places she wants to stop along the way, but we’ll get there eventually. Maybe we’ll stay the weekend, and we can catch up.”

“Sure, kid.” What the fuck was wrong with me? Why did I keep agreeing to shit? A whole weekend with them? I wasn’t sure I could handle it.

They don’t need your mess,the voice cut in, weaseling its way back to the surface.

I stumbled my way through a cordial goodbye while I tried to stave off the pending spiral. Lincoln’s lips brushed along my hip as I tossed my phone back onto the floor.

“Did you just make plans with your family?” he asked.

I hated that word.Family.Family were the people you could count on. They were the people who were there for you no matter what. They weren’t the people who walked out on you. If child services hadn’t forced me into their life, they never would’ve known I existed.

They didn’t want me. Not really. They were stuck with me. My mom was the only real family I’d ever had.

“Yeah,” I muttered. Slinging an arm over my face, I needed a moment to get it together. What the fuck was wrong with me? Nothing good could come from opening this door.

Nothing good ever comes from what you do,the voice chimed in.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“What do you need from me?” Lincoln whispered against my skin. Despite everything, the warmth of his skin against mine was pleasant.

“Do that again,” I ordered.

He did, followed by running the flat of his tongue over the curve of my hip.

Liquid heat melted down my spine.

“More,” I urged him on.

Teeth sank into my side, and fingers squeezed and smoothed over my thigh.

I groaned. Yeah, Lincoln was a perfect distraction as the voice retreated somewhere I wanted it to stay.

“More,” I repeated breathily, practically begging. Though I wasn’t above begging for the kind of calming euphoria only he could provide.

“Head back, eyes shut, Lucky,” Lincoln instructed quietly. Strong hands ran over my side as he kissed and licked his way up my chest. His teeth scraped against my pulse, sending it fluttering with anticipation. “Let me take care of you.”

I nodded because I wanted just that.

CHAPTER 74

NASH

LINCOLN: Just text if you need backup.