So my dumb ass apparently deleted one of my chapters without editing it. Sigh. I hope it didn't have any little pieces of information that will be important later on…
I thought about Michael all night long. Every time I closed my eyes, I could see his face as I walked away. I could feel his lips on mine. Why couldn't things just stay the way they were? Why did he have to come back?
My phone beeped signaling I had a text message. Call me it read. The number didn't look familiar, but with the way my day was going so far, it really couldn't get any worse, so I called it back.
The phone clicked a few times signifying that it was a very long-distance call.
"Abbie?" A voice answered, sounding far off.
"Hello? Lincoln?" I answered, hopefully.
"Hey! Yeah, it's me. I just wanted to call and hear your voice."
Smiling, I settled myself on the couch, "You have no idea how happy I am that you called, Linc. I've been so worried about you."
I could hear the grin in his voice when he answered, "Aw, Abbie. I knew you loved me. You know if you wanted to come down to Mexico with me, all you had to do was ask."
That stopped my smile in a heartbeat. Two people were wanting to take me to Mexico in one day. What was the world coming to and why did it feel the need to take me down with it?
"I have no desire to go to Mexico with you and you know it, Lincoln. Mention it again and I'm terminating this call."
"Hey now! What's got your panties all in a twist?"
In the background, I could hear a faint voice groaning, "Ugh dad. Please do no talk about Abbie's underwear. That's just wrong."
My bad mood quickly evaporated, I bounced up and down on the couch in excitement. "Was that LJ? Is he okay? Can I talk to him."
I heard Lincoln pass the phone off and a happy voice came on the line. "Abbie? Tell me the truth- you miss me more than dad. I'm right, aren't I?"
"Of course I do, LJ. However, do not tell your father that. His ego is as large as his muscles." I laughed.
LJ and I talked a little bit more before he put Lincoln back on. I knew Lincoln had called just so I could talk to LJ, and I was glad he had thought of me. Since I was actually closer to LJ's age than I was to Lincolns, we had become like brother and sister over the years.
He had come and stayed with me for a few weeks in Buffalo when Lincoln was arrested. We kept that our secret, though. Nothing physical had ever gone on between us, of course, but he did not want his dad to know and I did not want Michael to know where I was, so we both agreed to keep it quiet.
LJ knew about Grayson, obviously, since he had stayed with us. He never asked questions and I never offered answers. The knowledge of Grayson was another unspoken agreement to keep to ourselves.
The first time LJ saw him, his brow furrowed as he put two and two together, but when he looked at my distraught face, his expression softened.
"Hey there, little guy. What's your name?" He had asked, rubbing his hand over Grayson's hair.
From that moment on, he had kept his questions to himself.
"Hey babe. It's me again. LJ ran off to keep a lookout for us. He has been badgering me about wanting to talk to you for days now."
I smiled, "Thanks for putting him on. After the day I've had, hearing both your voices really helps."
"So how are you? Has anyone else come around to ask questions?"
I hesitated before answering. I was not sure if I wanted Lincoln to know about the men who kept showing up at my house. I had told Michael and him that they had showed up once, but the truth was, they had showed up and called several times since the escape. If Michael was ten times more violent than he was before prison, there's no telling what state of mind Lincoln was in. He was already a violent person before the arrest. He would probably leave Mexico and come back to get me himself.
"I've had a few people question me, but I think I evaded them pretty well." I answered as honest as I could be.
"Are you sure? I hate that you got dragged into this. They need to leave you out of it, it has nothing to do with you."
His voice trailed off so I knew he was thinking about something important. I waited patiently for him to say whatever it was he needed to say.
"Abbie, listen, I don't want to alarm you or anything, but there's something I need to tell you." I shot up and gripped the phone tighter. "Michael was supposed to follow us down here, but I haven't heard from him in a week. There's not been anything on the news at all, but that doesn't mean something hasn't happened to him. I don't know where he is."
I slumped back down, grateful that there was nothing really wrong. Lincoln took my silence as what he just told me sinking in. In reality, I was debating on whether I should tell him about the last couple days or not. On one hand, Michael was his brother and he deserved to not to worry about him. But on the other hand, Michael wouldn't make Lincoln worry for no reason, so maybe there was a purpose behind his not contacting him.
"Linc… There's something that you should know." I closed my eyes and hurriedly spat out the rest so I would not lose my nerve. "I know where Michael is."
"Wait, what?"
"Michael. I've talked to him recently. He's fine."
"You've seen him? Talked to him?" He asked incredulously.
I didn't want him to know that Michael had come to see me, but I knew he needed to know he was safe. "Just talked to him. He was wanting me to come with him. I told him to fuck off."
He chuckled, "Well that certainly sounds like the Abbie I know. And if I know Michael, he's just waiting to ambush you. He's nothing if not persistent."
"I don't know." I sighed. "I was pretty bad to him. But in my defense, he said some pretty rotten things to me, too."
"Yeah, he's not the same Michael you remember. If I had known he was going to get a hold of you, I would have warned you. I wonder why he's wanting to go after you. He should know I'll take care of you."
I rolled my eyes, "Linc, I hate to be the one to break this to you, but I've been taking care of myself for a couple years now. I don't think I need a babysitter."
"I know, but Abbie, you don't understand everything that's going on. These men chasing us, they will stop at nothing to get what they want. And what they want is Michael. If you had any connection to him at all, and you do, they will use you and then lose you. And when I say lose, I mean cover up whatever they did to you."
"I'm pretty sure this fair maiden can handle it, but thank you kind knight." I said, dryly.
"Aw, now that's my sarcastic Abigail that I know and love! I've missed your stupid comments that you think are so witty." He paused and I heard him talking to someone. "Hey, Abbie? I need to get off here. LJ noticed a few policemen down the street. I'll call you soon, okay? Tell Mike to call me when you see him next."
"Sure thing. I love you, Linc." I whispered sadly, willing the tears to say in my eyes.
"Hey baby, don't cry. It's all going to work out, I promise. Remember what I said, I will come get you soon. I love you."
End call
I laid my phone down on my coffee table and sat back on the couch. Lincoln didn't sound suspicious about Michael's 'call', but I still felt guilty. He was always so good to me when we were together and he tried his hardest to take care of my needs.
But he wasn't Michael.
In the beginning Lincoln's touch made me feel tingles, but over time they fizzled out and we just became comfortable together.
Michael's touch felt like fireworks exploding all over my skin. His lips would touch mine and I would see stars. I never felt that with Lincoln. And I hated myself for it.
I checked on Grayson before getting ready for bed. No matter what happened, he was my only concern.
His eyes were clenched tight and his lips were moving as if he was talking in his dream. When I ran my hand over his black curls, his face visibly relaxed and his breathing became soft and deep again.
knockknockknock
I frowned, shutting Grayson's door. Who could that be this late at night? I stopped just before reaching the door. I knew who it was. Someone who would never give up until he got what he wanted.
I threw open the door and narrowed my eyes at the man on my stoop.
"Goddammit, Mike. Can't you leave well enough alone?"
"And when have I ever left well enough alone?" He asked. "I mean, except for that one time. And I ended up not seeing you for over two years. So from now on, I'm done with it."
His mouth turned into a smirk as he realized what I was wearing. Since I was not expecting company, all I had on was a pair of panties and a t-shirt that barely covered said panties. I could feel his eyes trailing over me and I self-consciously pulled the shirt down to try and cover myself a little better.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" His voice sounded hoarser than usual.
His eyes finally met mine and I was so engrossed in the intensity behind them that I almost did not notice him make a move to step into the house.
As soon as his foot hit the door frame, I gasped and threw myself into his way.
"No!" I yelled, a bit to forcefully.
He jumped back and gave me a shocked look. "What's wrong? You know I would never hurt you, right?"
"I-I know…" I stuttered out. "But I don't think I'm comfortable with you coming in."
His smirk returned and I realized what he thought I meant. He assumed that his very presence made me uncomfortable.
His hand came up to brush my cheek as he stepped back over to me. "Sweet, sweet Abigail." He whispered to me. "I could never do anything to you that you didn't want." He brought his face down to mine and dragged the tip of his nose along my jaw line. "What you didn't beg me for."
My waist was instantly enclosed under his palms as he slowly pushed me into the house.
His face was still pressed up against mine as he replaced his nose with his lips. I heard him let out a deep rumble in his chest as soon as his lips pressed against my neck.
With one final push, he had me inside the room and the door shut. He wrapped his arms tightly around my waist, with my hands clenched tightly to his shirt.
"God Abbie. Why do you keep trying to push me away?" He murmured into my ear. "You can't tell me this is not what you're wanting." I could feel cold air on the back of my thighs as his fingers bunched into my shirt and started to raise it up.
When his hands brushed over the back of my panties, I arched into him, garnering a low moan from his throat.
"You're making this very hard to stay in control." I could barely hear him, his voice had gone so low.
Deep in the back of my mind, I was screaming at myself to make him stop and force him out of my house, but I wasn't sure if I was able to do that anymore. The feel of his lips kissing my neck and his thumbs grazing the waistband of my panties was taking over all of my synapses.
Besides, even if I did manage to make him stop, he would never leave of his own free will. Either way, he finds out my dirty little secret. Either way, he hates me and I know I will never see him again.
Might as well have one more moment in time with him while I could. It had been so long since I had been with him that my whole body was screaming for his touch.
I encircled my arms around his neck and pulled my face back from his.
"Then lose control, Michael." His head jerked up and his eyes locked with mine. I nodded, giving him permission.
He paused for a moment and then threw my body against the wall behind me. My head cracked against it when he slammed his lips onto mine, but I was to far gone to feel any pain.
This kiss was harder and more forceful than our previous ones. When I moaned the second his tongue darted out over my lip, he picked me up and wrapped my legs around his waist.
All I could think about was how right this felt. Michael and me. I hadn't been with another man since him, no matter what he believed. My body instantly froze when I remembered why I was mad at him in the first place.
"What's wrong?" He gasped against my lips.
"Michael, I just wanted you to know-" I pulled my head back from him. "There's been no one else. Not since you." My eyes sought his as I tried to impress on him the truth of my words.
He smiled softly and laid his head against mine, "I believe you. I'm sorry I said those things to you. You didn't deserve that." His lips were pressed gently against mine as he let me know without words what his thoughts were.
His hands started up their roaming over my lower back as he turned me around and started up the hallway. "Which door is the bedroom?"
I managed to point to the correct door while secretly hoping he would open it silently. Even though there was no getting around the knowledge of Grayson anymore, I still wanted Michael all to myself for at least a little while longer.
He threw me down on the bed and crawled his way back up to lips. My legs wound their way back around his waist as I ran my hands up his arms ending up at his neck. My hand sought entrance at the top of his so I could run my hand over the top of his back.
I could feel him chuckle against my lips. "Would it be easier if I took my shirt off?"
"Much." I breathed against him.
He leaned back and gave me a hesitant look. "Don't be alarmed by what you see alright?"
I raised my eyebrows at him. "I'll try not to." What could he possibly have that would alarm me?
In one swift motion, he pulled his shirt off and threw it across the room to reveal something I never in a million years thought I would ever see.
There were dozens of intricate tattoos from his wrists to his neck and even on his stomach. I gasped and rose up on my elbows. "Mike, I- I don't understand. What is this?"
"This is how I was able to free Lincoln."
I gently touched one before he hung his head looking ashamed. "What's wrong?"
"You think I'm insane, don't you." It was a statement, not a question. "I don't blame you."
"Are you kidding me? After all this time, I don't care if you had showed up with a third nipple!" I grabbed hold of his shoulders and flipped him over onto the bed putting myself on top of him.
My hands roamed over his chest and shoulders, touching every inch of his skin that I could.
Smiling to let him know it was okay, I leaned my head down and placed a kiss on his chest. His breath caught as my lips touched his skin. Sensing the go ahead, I trailed kisses on his hot skin. "You are so perfect." I whispered against his shoulder.
His hands reached up and pulled my lips back to his, "Did I mention they're on my back, too?"
"What are you trying to do to me?" I managed to groan out. He gently bit my bottom lip while his own breath was starting to get shorter.
He swiftly pulled my shirt over my head and flipped us back over so that he was on top again.
"I'm trying to love you." His voice was a soft whisper as his hand caressed my cheek.
I opened my mouth and quickly closed it again.
"Michael, I…"
My lips were again pressed against his as he murmured how much he loved me repeatedly. Grasping the tops of my underwear, he gently tugged them off, never moving his lips from mine.
Of course I loved him, I'd never stopped loving him. He was the only man I wanted in the world.
But before I could reply, I felt him shrug off his pants and boxers, and I lost all rationality and gave myself over to his love.