Page 12

12

Lincoln

T oday has been the longest day. Despite all the updates about Katy, I need to get eyes on her. My protector instinct took over the moment I saw her in that alley.

Miller told me they were on their way back from Justin’s house after Nicole, Spencer, and Katy had a small shopping trip for essentials for Katy.

I arrive at Spencer’s first, and since it’s a nice afternoon, I get out and wander around the pool between the houses. When I’m lapping back to the front of the house, I see a large envelope with her name handwritten on the front, leaning against her door. As I bend down to pick it up, I hear the crunch of gravel behind me and the distinct feeling of a gun barrel in my lower back.

“Stand up, slowly.” I make no sudden movements and slowly rise with the envelope in my hand. I already locked up my duty gun in my glove compartment, but I have my personal piece on my ankle if I need it. “What’s in the envelope?”

“I have no idea. I was picking it up to look.”

“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” The gun digs a little farther into my back, and I do my best to keep my balance while my hands raise in surrender.

“My name is Lincoln Reed. I’m a friend of Spencer’s. I’m waiting for her to come home.” I’m wearing my navy tactical pants and department polo, but whoever this is can’t see my shirt. I have the upper hand at the moment since he doesn’t know who I am or the training I have.

“My daughter doesn’t have any male friends other than that kid with glasses, and you aren’t him.” Daughter? Is this Spencer’s father?

“Sir, my name is Officer Lincoln Reed. I’m with the Chicago Police Department. I’m a friend of Justin’s as well.” I feel the pressure of the gun relax for a moment before it’s back.

“The envelope. Hand it over.” I carefully shift my arm back, and he takes it from me. I hear a phone ring from behind me, and Spencer’s dad adjusts to answer it.

“Spencer, do you know an Officer Reed?”

“Dad, get that gun out of Lincoln’s back. He’s a friendly, Detective.” Detective? Was her father on the force?

I hear gravel from tires coming up the driveway, and the gun moves from my back. When I turn, Miller’s truck is parking, and Spencer is jumping out before it comes to a full stop.

“What are you doing, Dad? Put the gun away. That’s not necessary. You’ll scare Katy.” Her dad’s gaze turns to the teenager climbing out of Miller’s truck wearing real clothes. I’m glad to see she’s no longer wearing a combination of everyone else’s.

“Spencer, who are all of these people? He was standing here with this envelope. Do you trust him?” Spencer sighs and pushes past us to unlock the door. Miller and Axel, who had been hanging by the truck waiting, come over with several shopping bags in hand.

Miller approaches and extends his hand to Spencer’s father. “Miller, sir. I work with Spencer at the fire department.” They shake, and it’s Axel’s turn.

“I’m Axel. I know your daughter from the Emergency Department. I’m a nurse there.” As Axel walks into the house, I turn and extend my hand.

“Officer Lincoln Reed, I work as a school resource officer at Katy’s school.” I motioned to Katy, who hung back outside.

“And who are you, child?” Katy’s eyes shift to me, and I nod, giving her an encouraging smile.

“I’m Katy.” She offers her hand, and his face softens. He clasps both his hands over hers and smiles.

“Nice to meet you, Katy. My name is Eddie. Eddie Hall.”

“Detective Edward Hall? I thought Spencer’s last name was Coble?” He smiles at Katy and directs her to go inside. When the door closes, he turns back to me.

“You know my name, I see. Spencer’s mamma kept her last name, and so did our daughter. You know how dangerous this job can be. We thought it would be safer.” I understand his reasoning. Eddie Hall is a decorated detective who retired with honors. I had no idea Spencer’s father was one of my idols.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Detective.”

“I don’t want any of that bull shit. Just call me Eddie. But Lincoln, was it?” I nod. “Do you plan on sticking around here?”

“For as long as your daughter will allow me.”

“You and I need to talk. There are some things I need to tell you in confidence. She’ll be madder than hell if she finds out, but I won’t be around forever.” Now, my curiosity is piqued.

“Understood. Should I bring this to her?” I motion to the envelope he’s still holding.

“Shit.” Realization dawns on him that he’s still holding it under his arm. “You didn’t bring this here?” I shake my head, not understanding his concern. “No one drove up the driveway after I saw your friend’s truck pull out. Someone walked this here.”

“Any idea who?”

He assesses me. Trying to figure me out.

“Who are you to my daughter?”

“I’m just a friend, sir.”

“You know she’s a special woman, right? Her life hasn’t been easy. I…I blame myself for a lot of it.” A cloud of guilt washes over his face. Spencer is a strong, independent woman. I can’t imagine her being anything other than who she is.

“I’m sure you did the best that you could.”

The look he gives me is haunted. There’s a story behind it that he wants to tell me.

“Take my number, son. We need to talk.” He looks at the front door and then back at me. “Soon.” He hands me the envelope and I give him my phone. “I’m passing this torch to you. I have a feeling I know what’s in here. Look at them with her alone, and I hope she’ll tell you her story so I don’t have to.” His words are cryptic, and coming from a fellow officer that puts me on high alert.

“Eddie, is Spencer in danger? Katy will be staying here for the foreseeable future, and I can almost guarantee that one or more of us will be here with them. Is there anything we should be worried about?” His eyes quickly flash to the envelope.

“Just be vigilant and take care of those girls. We’ll talk.” With those last words, he slaps me on the back and walks toward his house.

Shifting the envelope in my hand, I bounce it up and down, feeling the weight. The shape makes me think there are pictures inside. Should I open it before I show Spencer? The cop inside of me wants to, but the person wants to respect her privacy. She didn’t seem concerned when her father showed it to her, so maybe I shouldn’t be either.

As I walk into the house, Katy is showing off some of her outfits to the guys. Spencer sits at the kitchen counter on her laptop, and when I approach, I see she’s looking at furniture.

“Doing some shopping of your own?”

“Katy needs a proper bedroom. There’s enough space in my room to move my desk there. She needs a place for her clothes. Maybe a vanity. Does she need a shoe rack?” Spencer seems a little on edge, which is uncharacteristic for her. Placing a gentle hand on her arm, she looks at me with furrowed brows.

“Why don’t you ask her?” Her face lights up as if she hadn’t thought of that.

“Lincoln, did I make a colossal mistake? I don’t know the first thing about raising a teenager.” She’s worried. I can’t help but smirk, seeing her frazzled.

“Spencer, you aren’t alone. You’ve made an incredible decision to help Katy. It may be sudden, but I think I know you well enough to know you don’t make any decisions lightly. We are here to help. Use us.” Hmm. Why did her cheeks flush?

I place the envelope on the table next to her and she assesses it. Turning her attention back to her laptop, she sighs.

“What did my father tell you?” She looks over her shoulder at the fashion show and then back to me with curious blue eyes.

“Only that I should show you these alone, and he hoped you would tell me your story.”

She nods and stares off. “Not now, okay?”

“Whatever you need, Dream Girl.” I walk away before yet another nickname slip-up can be questioned. Although I may have only officially met Spencer a month ago, this woman’s voice on the other end of the radio has haunted my dreams for far longer.

? ? ? ? ?

My hand caresses her body from her hip to the side of her breasts. She’s so soft and awakens nerves in my body that haven’t been roused in ages. I lean over and take one of her rosy nipples into my mouth, sucking and licking until it becomes hard. Her sounds turn me on.

My hand trails down her body, reaching the heat I long to bury my face into until she comes on my tongue. Her breathing increases under my hands, and I feel her panting breath on my face as I continue to alternate between her luscious breasts. Her back arches under my caress as my fingers brush over her clit.

Her moans spur me on, and I increase the speed and pressure of my fingers. I want to feel her pulse around my fingers as she comes.

Fingers tug at my hair. The bite of pain makes me want to pull her pleasure from her even quicker.

“Lincoln.” Her breathy moan of my name sounds fucking incredible, spilling from her lips. “Lincoln.”

“Mmm. Tug harder, Dream Girl.”

“Lincoln. Wake up. Fuuuuck.”

“Mmm, you like that?”

“Oh god. Oh fuck. I’m…I’m…” She sounds even more beautiful than I imagined when she comes. What does her face look like? I have to open my eyes and see.

Open my eyes.

Open.

“Oh fuck!” I scramble up from my position, practically laying on top of her. That was…I thought. “I was dreaming. Spencer, I’m so fucking sorry.” She lays panting below me, and I hear clapping.

“That was spectacular to watch.”

“Fuck Miller, get out.” I just violated Spencer in her sleep. I thought I was having a fucking wet dream with my Dream Girl. It wouldn’t be the first time Spencer was the star of a late-night fantasy for me.

“Nuh-uh.” He steps further into the room and closes the door behind him. “I heard Spencer moan and had to see what was going on. What is going on in here?”

Tentatively, I look over to Spencer.

“I’m so fucking sor—” Spencer grabs my shoulders and pulls me into her, crashing our mouths together. Her lips move and coax mine to open in my momentary state of shock.

She’s kissing me.

Spencer is kissing me.

I feel the bed dip, and a hand smooths up my back. “Kiss her back, Babe. Live out your fantasy.”

The feeling of being pressed between the two of them encourages me. I slide a hand into Spencer’s hair and revel in the feel of her soft locks. Miller’s lips caress my neck as Spencer’s tongue caresses mine.

I must still be dreaming because there’s no way my boyfriend is kissing my neck while I’m half lying on top of my dream girl with my tongue down her throat.

My cock is rock hard and pinned against Spencer’s leg. I lift my hand and slide it along her bare stomach, and feel the goosebumps pebble under my fingers. Miller’s mouth alternates between nips and licks along my bare shoulder as my hand reaches Spencer’s breast.

Knock Knock. “Breakfast.”

Spencer quickly pulls away at the shock of hearing Axel’s voice through the door. The lust fog in the room quickly dissipates. She touches her lips, and her eyes bounce around the room.

“Where’s Katy?” Spencer looks at Miller as if she’s looking through him before he responds.

“She fell asleep on the couch while the two of you were in here talking last night. We took her to her room. Axel and I slept on the floor. That rug is comfortable.”

“Okay.” Spencer nods her head, remembering the details. “We all have work today, right?”

“Axel is tonight, but yeah.” I’m glad Miller can think straight to answer questions because right now, my mind is mush.

“Good. Okay. Let’s get ready.” She stands and disappears into her bathroom, leaving Miller and I both sitting in her bed with raging hard-ons.

“What the fuck was that all about, Linc?” I can’t form words. I stare at the bathroom door, my hands flexing at the memory of her velvety skin.

Miller grabs my wrist and sniffs my fingers. “Fuck she smells good on you. Her orgasm was…fuck.” He shifts next to me and adjusts himself.

Grabbing Miller’s hand, I shove it down the front of my joggers and rub it over my aching cock.

“I need you to take care of this. Can we slip past them to the other bathroom?” I feel the groan in his chest as he wraps his fingers around me, giving my cock a quick stroke.

“I’ll make it happen. Let’s go.”