All of You (27 page)

My phone chimed, and I jumped up to answer
it, the display showing it was Lincoln’s sister.

“Kennedy,” I said into the phone, my voice
betraying my feelings. I sounded totally freaked out.

“He’ll be okay,” she said, but she sounded
worried.

“Are you sure? How do you know?”

“He wasn’t unconscious. He was moving on his
own. They’re just taking him out of the game to check him out,” she
said with certainty.

“Are you sure?” I sniffed and wiped a tear
off my cheek.

“I know it’s terrifying. But they have really
good trainers and doctors. It didn’t look like he broke any bones,
so the worst thing right now would be a concussion. And they are
trained to deal with that.”

“Okay.” I sniffed again. “Thank you for
calling,” I said, trying to calm my anxiety.

“Lincoln told me you watch his games. I
figured you’d be watching tonight,” Kennedy explained, and I nodded
into the phone even though Kennedy couldn’t see me. “He’ll be okay,
Jillian.”

“I’m sorry. I believe you. I just—” I paused,
not sure how to voice my concern.

“You just haven’t gone through this before, I
know. I know how scary it is. One time in high school he got
knocked out cold and they took him off the ice on a stretcher. That
was terrifying.”

I couldn’t answer her. I was terrified now, I
couldn’t imagine how I’d feel if Lincoln hadn’t gotten up. I would
be worried until I talked to him.

I looked up as Rebecca walked into the room.
She saw I had been crying and immediately knelt down next to me.
“What’s wrong?!” she asked with alarm.

I looked up at the TV and saw them replaying
the collision that had taken Lincoln out. I pointed at it, and
Rebecca’s face changed from confusion to understanding.

“Is he okay?” she whispered.

I shook my head. “I don’t know. I’m talking
to Kennedy.”

“He’ll call as soon as he can,” she said
through the phone. But when I didn’t reply, she offered to come
over and keep me company.

“Is Brian home?” I asked, wondering if her
husband was away for work.

“Yeah, he’s here tonight. But I’m going to be
up until Lincoln calls me anyway, so I can easily come over.”

“You really think he’s all right?”

“I’m sure. No permanent damage done, anyway,”
she replied in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“Okay. I’ll just wait for him to call then.
Thank you again, Kennedy. I really appreciate it.” I really did
appreciate it. Lincoln’s sister was amazing.

“Anytime,” Kennedy replied, but then added,
“Well, hopefully not anytime. Maybe he can stay on his feet in the
future,” she said with a laugh.

I chuckled and said good-bye to Kennedy.
Rebecca and I moved back to the couch and I picked my knitting back
up and continued working on Lincoln’s present. Rebecca got her
tablet out and surfed the net. We kept the game on in the
background hoping the announcers would say something about
Lincoln’s condition.

My phone balanced ominously on my knee. I
checked it obsessively and could have sworn time had slowed down.
Every time I looked at the clock my anxiety grew. What could be
taking so long? He was either okay, or he wasn’t. Either way, they
should let him call. Not calling meant something was wrong. What if
he did have a concussion and he couldn’t use the phone?

“Hey, no news is good news,” Rebecca said to
me as the game ended and I turned off the TV. The Hawks had won,
but Lincoln never returned to the ice. I felt another tear run down
my cheek, and I wiped it away.

“I love him, Becca,” I said, finally
admitting it to someone.

“Well, obviously, Jillian.”

I looked up at her with raised eyebrows. She
knew I loved Lincoln?

“You’d be an idiot not to fall for him with
the way he worships you. I’m practically in love with the guy, and
I’m just the future sister-in-law.”

I snorted. “Future sister-in-law? Don’t you
think you’re rushing things?”

“Well, I didn’t say the near future. I didn’t
mean like this weekend. But someday,” Rebecca said smiling
sweetly.

“You don’t think this is all too fast? We
haven’t even known each other a month.” This was one of my main
fears. I was already in love and practically obsessed with Lincoln.
Was it too soon?

“You deserve to be happy, Jillian. And it’s
obvious Lincoln makes you happy.” She patted my hand.

I had finished the scarf and hat and was
currently wearing both of them. I ran my hand down the scarf
wrapped around my neck. “Do you think he’ll like these, or was it
dumb to knit this for him?”

“Jilly… he’ll love it. It’s from you,” she
answered, and I hoped it was true. “Has Lincoln told you he loves
you yet?”

I shook my head. I hoped he felt the same way
about me but, no, he hadn’t said it. “We’ve only known each other
three weeks,” I reminded my sister.

“So? You love him already.”

“Yeah, but that’s 'cause it’s Lincoln. I
mean, he’s like perfect,” I said, sounding like a teenage girl with
a crush.

“I’m sure Lincoln feels the same way about
you, Jilly Bean,” she said with a smile.

“He’s a guy, Rebecca. They don’t analyze
their feelings like girls do.”

My sister just shrugged in reply.

I looked down as my phone lit up, chimed, and
vibrated all at once on my knee, and the screen displayed Lincoln’s
picture and name. I swiped my finger across the screen and stood
up. “Lincoln!” I exclaimed into the phone, holding it tightly
against my ear.

“Hey…” He sounded weak.

“Are you okay?” I tried not to sound panicky,
but I failed.

“I’m all right. The doc said I just got the
wind knocked out of me.”

I sank to the floor. “Oh, thank God. No
concussion?”

“No. I didn’t hit my head. He was just going
too fast when he hit me and I didn’t see him in time,” he said,
sounding regretful.

I sniffed into the phone. I was crying again.
But this time it was from relief of my anxiety. My man was all
right. “I was so worried.”

“Are you crying?” Lincoln asked, sounding
surprised.

I sniffed again. “Maybe.”

“I’m okay, baby. A little sore, but
okay.”

I let out the breath I had been holding. “I’m
sorry. I’m not going to believe that until I can see you for
myself.”

“Oh? You know better than our doctor?” he
teased me. I think he was trying to make me feel better.

I let out a slight laugh. “No, but I just
have to see you to believe it. They kept replaying it on TV, and it
just looked so bad.”

“It wasn’t that bad, Princess.”

“When are you coming home?”

Lincoln exhaled into the phone. “Plane leaves
in an hour or so. I’ll be home by midnight.”

“Okay. I miss you,” I told him.

“I miss you too, baby,” he said, his voice
turning warm and soothing.

I remembered Kennedy. “Call your sister.
She’s worried too.”

“I will. You should get some sleep,” he told
me.

“You should too. I’ll call you when I get off
work tomorrow, ok?”

“Sounds good, Princess.” We said good-bye and
I hung up, extremely relieved that he was okay, but still wanting
to hold him.

“He’s okay, I take it?” Rebecca asked.

I nodded and crawled back onto the couch. “He
had the wind knocked out of him and he’s sore, but he’s all
right.”

She patted my leg. “Good. That was
scary.”

“You’re a nurse. You’re supposed to be able
to deal with this stuff.”

“At my clinic, I deal with runny noses and
rashes. There’s a reason I didn’t go into emergency medicine. Plus,
it’s always different when it’s someone you care about. Doesn’t
matter if it’s you, or Tabby, or Lincoln.” It made me smile that
she included Lincoln in her list of people.

My phone chimed again. Kennedy had texted me.
“Told you so. :)”

Lincoln must have called her. I smiled but
then bit my lip trying to contain the idea that was forming in my
head.
“Can I ask for a favor? Are you busy?”
I texted
Kennedy and then told Rebecca my idea, hoping for approval.

~~~~~~~~

I awoke to two strong arms wrapping around
me. I opened my eyes to see Lincoln’s silhouette in the moonlight.
I sat up slightly and reached to turn on the lamp that sat on
Lincoln’s nightstand. I had tried to stay awake until Lincoln got
home, but his bed was so warm and inviting. I hadn’t been asleep
long when he woke me up.

“Hey… surprise,” I whispered while blinking
and squinting to help my eyes adjust to the sudden light.

Lincoln was on me in an instant. His mouth
crushed against mine, and his hands cupped my neck and head, his
fingers tangling in my hair.

I was surprised by his intensity, but I
kissed him back as he pushed me flat on the bed. He broke the kiss
and went motionless after nestling his face in my neck.

“Hey… “ I said, running a hand through his
hair slowly. “You okay?”

“Mm…” Lincoln said into my neck before
turning his face out to speak normal. “I’m just so glad you’re
here,” he replied and squeezed me tight.

I smiled big into the dim room. “Me too. How
are you feeling?”

“I’ll live,” he said, still snuggled into my
neck. “Where’s your car?”

“I had Kennedy bring me out. And… I took off
work, and my mom is staying with Tabitha until Rebecca gets home,”
I said, revealing my plan.

He pulled back, propped up on his forearms
and gazed down at me with a smile. “You mean I have you all to
myself for the whole day?”

I bit my lip to contain my smile and nodded
slowly.

“Is this because of what happened at the
game?” he asked. “You have to believe me when I say I’m okay. It
wasn’t that hard of a check.”

I realized he thought I was still worried.
“Lincoln, I might have freaked out when it happened, but it was
more the anxiety of not knowing. I’m not here tonight because I
didn’t believe you when you said you were okay. Logically, I knew
you were okay after I talked to you, but I still wanted to hold you
and make sure for myself. I could have done that tomorrow after
work, though.”

“Then why are you here?” Lincoln asked. “Not
that I disapprove, mind you. I’m still not sure if I’m dreaming
this.”

I rolled my eyes at him and smirked as I
lightly pinched the exposed skin between his tank top and his
pajama bottoms. “There. Not dreaming,” I teased.

He chuckled and kissed me lightly on the
lips. I wanted to tell him I was here because I loved him. But I
didn’t want to freak him out if he wasn’t there yet, despite what
my sister had said.

“I’m here because I missed you, and I wanted
you to be happy when you got home. I thought me being here would
make you happy.”

“It does, baby. Very much,” he said and
kissed me again. Passion and desire flamed through my body, and I
ran my hands up his back under his tank top and tried to deepen the
kiss, but Lincoln pulled away. “Jillian…,” he whispered and rested
his forehead against mine. “Can I just hold you tonight,
Princess?”

I pulled my hands out from under his shirt
and moved them up his sides. “Yeah, absolutely.” I told myself he
wasn’t rejecting me; he was just tired and sore.

Lincoln shifted and reached to turn off the
light before rolling to his side. He gathered me up in his arms and
pulled me on my side tight against his chest. I tucked my head
under his chin, wrapped my arms around him, and tangled my legs in
his. I wanted to be as close to him as possible. Lying in his
embrace, I felt absolute comfort and love, and I hoped Lincoln did
as well.

~~~~~~~~

Sunlight filled Lincoln’s bedroom when I
opened my eyes next. Lincoln was still wrapped around me, but I was
now on my back, and he was partially lying on top of me with one
arm around my chest and one leg over both of mine. I shifted
slightly to check the time and saw it was midmorning.

Lincoln tightened his hold on me and sighed.
I turned to look at him and saw his eyes were still closed, so I
took the opportunity to study him while he slept.

His handsome face was free from tension and
was slightly smashed up against the pillow, which I found adorable.
His full lips moved slightly every time he exhaled, and his stubble
had grown thicker overnight, but I could still see his strong
jawline.

I slowly rolled to my side to watch him
sleep. He unconsciously squeezed at me again, but this time I felt
his erection against my hip. I gasped quietly. The previous times I
stayed the night, either Lincoln or I had to wake up early, and we
hadn’t cuddled like this in the morning. I hadn’t experienced his
morning wood before, but now that I knew he was unconsciously
aroused, it brought wicked thoughts to my head.

I bit my lip and debated if I should wake him
with a blowjob. It turned me on just thinking about it. I squeezed
my thighs together feeling my own arousal, remembering the
overwhelming pleasure from the other night when he brought me to my
first-ever orgasm. And it had been mind-blowing. Was that just the
night before last? It felt like so much had happened since
then.

I silently moved my hand from my own hip to
his while watching his face. He made no indication that I had woken
him when I placed my fingertips on his warm skin above his hip. I
moved my hand to his erection and lightly caressed it through his
pajama pants. Lincoln moaned in his sleep and flexed his hips.

I bit my lip and smiled, knowing my simple
touch was turning him on, even in his sleep. I flattened my hand
against his lower abdomen and slid it down until my fingers brushed
against the skin of his hard penis.

“Jillian…” he whispered and opened his
eyes.

“Good morning, my sexy man,” I said to him
with a smile. He growled erotically and pushed my shoulder down,
causing me to roll to my back and lose my grasp on him.