The Sins of Lincoln (9 page)

Mav continued. “When you see me, you don’t really see me. You don’t see me for me, do you?” Her voice was tender, like beads of water running off an oak leaf in spring. But, there was no answer. “There’s nothing you can do to bring her back, Brock.”

Brock gasped, still choking back his feelings.

“I’m not her. I’ll never be her, Brock. When you look at me, that’s what you see, isn’t it? You see her. Now turn around. Turn around and look me in the eye.”

With some hesitation, Brock turned. Her hands were on his chest and abs, but she looked at him with love.

“Saving me won’t bring her back. Brock, look at me. Look at me. I’m not her. I’m not Lori, Brock.” Mav wasn’t sure if her knowledge of Lori would anger him, or bring him to his knees, but she prayed for the latter—it was the only way to break the barrier.

Brock could no longer hold back his emotions. He was silent, but tears came forth, and he pulled her body against his. The two stood in silence for a few minutes. Then, he exhaled, long and deep. “I know. I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to treat you that way. I didn’t realize how much seeing you being attacked made me think of Lori, but it did.”

“Then tell me.”

“You are not Lori, Mavery Healy. You are not her.”

“Brock,” said Mav, running her hands over his muscles, “take me to bed.” She could feel the firmness forming in his blue jeans. “I want you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Brock, they raped me, they stole something precious from me. But I’m not going to let them steal the rest of my life from me. I’m going to live my life. I’m not going to give them that power.” Mav looked around the room, deep in thought. “I’m taking it back. I’m taking that power back. That power is mine and mine alone.”

He picked her up in his powerful arms and carried her into the bedroom, then laid her on the bed. In the flickering light of the lantern hanging on the wall, everything was yellow and dark. When he unbuttoned his shirt, the glowing light cast shadows formed by his bulging muscles, and he looked like a dream. Mav let her eyes run across his body as he unzipped his jeans and let them fall. The intensity of the tingling between her legs and the sensuality of the moment was enough to cause Mav to clench her thighs together, and Mav knew, this was going to be something that would last into the dawn.

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