Thieves 2 Lovers

by J. D. Hollyfield

  No one ever prepares for death. No one leaves their house in the morning on their way to work, saying, today I’m going to die, make sure you kiss your loved ones and tie up any lose ends.

  Linc left the house today the happiest I have ever seen him. And now he is lying in a bed, fighting for his life. Or maybe even letting death win. I’m not sure anymore. I lift my eyes to the statue of Jesus, offering him one last plea, before turning and making the long trek to Linc’s room. With each step, my legs feel heavier. A force almost fighting me. If I don’t go in there, then he won’t die. He wouldn’t leave this world without letting me at least say good bye, right?

  It’s when I turn the corner that I run into Lana. I try turning around, but she calls my name.

  “Reagan, please. Just a quick word?” I want to pretend I don’t hear her. Keep going until I can make my way out of this hospital and keep walking until I can disappear away from this life, this pain, this emptiness quickly filling my heart.

  I take in a breath for strength and continue walking forward. Two, three, four more steps closer to goodbye.

  When I make it to Lana, I see the loss in her eyes. I look away. I refuse to let go.

  “I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for loving my son. Giving him what he ached for his entire life. For making him feel like he wasn’t such a burden.”

  I don’t want to cry.

  I’m sick of crying.

  It does nothing to help Linc.

  I allow her to wrap me in her arms and hug me, offering me warmth. She releases me, trying to offer a small smile for courage. “He’s all yours,” she says patting me on my shoulder, walking back towards the waiting room. I begin walking, when I turn and call for Lana.

  She turns and I speak. “He was happy. He smiled and laughed and loved. But it wasn’t me who showed him how to do that. It was him showing me. He always knew how precious life was. He just needed reminding himself.” Then I turn back and head toward the end of my future.

  The beeping of the monitor fills the quiet room as I take my seat next to his bed. He looks the same as before. As if he’s sleeping off one of our fireball nights. But this time his silence has nothing to do with having too much to drink. I take his still hand in mine, pressing the top of his hand to my cheek. The hairs on his hand brush against my skin, and I close my eyes, trying to memorize the feeling.

  “I remember the first time you touched me. Well, not really touched me, but the first time I felt your skin on mine. Remember Roman’s office, when you were trying to be suave with me? Complimenting my hair? I about swooned the moment your finger brushed against my cheek. So silly, right?” I laugh at the memory. “I know Roman wanted to murder you, but I couldn’t get my legs to leave. I just wanted to get you to keep talking. For some strange reason, I was so entranced by your voice. I was willing to do anything to spend more time with you, but then you offered to take me to a movie. You didn’t even know me and asked me to sneak into a movie without paying.” I laugh again, shaking my head at how hard he had to convince me to go. “You told me I needed to live a little and then started to spit out fake statistics on how beneficial it was for the economy when people didn’t pay for movies.” And he did. He went on and on about why we were doing society a favor by not paying, then ended up spending the cost of a ticket and then some on snacks and sodas.

  “Everything you ever did, made me see life more brightly. From the moment you convinced me I was doing my civic duty by stealing from the movie theater, to showing me how it felt to truly love.” I wipe the tear running down my jaw, fighting to stay strong. “You taught me to be whoever I wanted to be and not worry about what others thought. You always acted like you never knew how it felt to live. But you were wrong. It wasn’t until you came into my life that I ever truly lived. Every day with you was life.”

  I can’t say it. I can’t say goodbye.

  But it’s time, Reagan.

  “Goddammit, Lincoln Carter. Why are you leaving me? Why are you making me say goodbye when I feel like I just said hello?” My tears are starting to soak his cradled palm. “We have a future planned. A life. And I can’t do it without you. I won’t. You promised me forever, dammit, why are you giving up?”

  I feel weak and ashamed that I’m crying so hard. I wanted to be strong for him, but I can’t. I can’t walk out of this room knowing it’s the last time I’ll see him.

  “I will never forgive you. If you leave me, I won’t forgive you. Do you hear me? I love you. If you say you love me as much as you do, show me. Wake up! GODDAMMIT, WAKE UP!”

  I grip his hand, resting my head on the edge of his bed, not wanting to hurt him. As if it would matter. I try catching my breath, so I can pull it together. I need to…

  I lift my head up quickly, staring at the hand I’m holding.

  “Do it again,” I whisper, praying it wasn’t in my head.

  I wait.

  And I wait.

  Then it happens again.

  I feel the small twitch of his hand inside mine.

  “Oh God, I knew it. I love you, please, come back to me. Come back to me.”

  The movement in his hand gets stronger at the same time the monitors start to react. I stare at the heartrate monitor, watching the pace pick up. I’m holding my breath, waiting for it to flat line again.

  “Come on, baby. Give me another sign. Come back to me.”

  The machines go nuts.

  I almost drop his hand as the sudden beeping startles me. I’m not sure what’s happening, but I start to yell for the nurse.

  It’s then that I watch his eyes open, locking directly with mine.

  Six weeks later…

  Yes

  “IN A MINUTE,” I SAY, my focus on my sketch pad.

  Reagan huffs, and I can’t help but smile. “You said that ten minutes ago.”

  “Surprises have to be timed just right.”

  I steal a glance at her. She’s beautiful today in a silky cream-colored shirt and fitted black skirt. With her brown hair twisted in a messy bun, she reminds me of a naughty school teacher or librarian. My dick twitches.

  “How are you feeling?” she asks as she comes to sit on the edge of my desk where my feet are propped up.

  “Like a million bucks.”

  Another huff.

  Every time she asks me, I give her the same reply. And it’s the truth. I may have been pumped full of lead but I made it through. I had to. She was waiting on the other side for me.

  “Okay, done. Whatcha think?” I ask and pass her the notebook, ignoring the pain that streaks across my chest at the movement.

  She stares down at it and her lip trembles. She loves it. I knew she would. “Oh, Linc.”

  I lift a brow at her and reach forward to pat her knee, my new tattoo visible on my forearm that’s exposed with my dress shirt sleeves rolled up. She runs her fingers along the words—words that match her forearm exactly.

  Thick as thieves.

  “Yes,” she tells me firmly without hesitation.

  “It was a rhetorical question,” I say in a smug tone and wink at her. “I already knew the answer.”

  She laughs and slaps at my hand. “You’re too much.”

  “I’m not enough.” My words are somber. Often, I worry that’s the truth. Especially since I’ve had to rely on her to do everything for me the past few weeks. Driving. Laundry. Hell, at one point, showering. My sweet Reagan has had to fucking take care of me. It’s annoying as hell that I can’t sling her over my shoulder and have my way with her. I’m still too weak and only recently have I been feeling more like myself. A collapsed lung, punctured intestine, and shattered spleen will bring a strong man to his knees. It nearly took me to my grave.

  “You’re everything,” she says in the fiercest tone.

  Our eyes meet and she almost knocks me over with the love shining in her eyes. “I love you,” I blurt out. I don’t ever refrain from telling her anymore. I’ve been made well aware that life can be over in the bl
ink of an eye, and you can’t waste a minute of it.

  “I love you, too.” She leans forward to kiss me, and I pull her into my lap. “Linc! You’ll hurt yourself.”

  Smirking, I brush some hair away from her face. “I’m fine. You were there at this morning’s appointment when Dr. Adams said I was fine…” I trail off and palm the inside of her thigh before inching my hand up under her skirt. “I’m fine for everything.”

  Her cheeks blaze red and a shy smile curves her lips up. “Everything?”

  My fingers brush against her panties. “Everything. Even anal.”

  She giggles, and I’m trying to sneak my fingers into her panties when my office door swings open. Roman groans and covers his eyes.

  “Really, man? We give you an office for what? So you can have a quiet place to feel our sister up?” His words are amused despite his grumbling.

  “I specifically told you both that this office would be used for shenanigans with the CFO. You and Ram chose not to believe me,” I say in defense.

  Ram walks in after his brother and gags. “Fuck, man.” He shakes his head and glances at Roman. “But he did say that.”

  Reagan scoots out of my lap and stands. She hugs the sketchbook to her chest. “You’ll live. The both of you.” Her eyes are warm and full of love as she regards me. “You ready?”

  “Ever since the day I met you,” I say with a wink.

  “Now?” Roman asks. “Like right now?”

  “Yep,” Reagan huffs. “We’re leaving and that’s that.”

  “You’re still going to do this? Have an impromptu vacation two weeks before my wedding?” Ram asks in astonishment. “Is it even safe for you to travel?”

  I sit up and wince slightly. Ram frowns but I brush it off with a smile. “I’m fine. Besides, we’re not flying.”

  Roman’s eyes fly to his hairline. “You’re driving all the way there? Goddamn, it’ll take you the whole two weeks.”

  “We’ll be back before the wedding festivities,” Reagan assures them. “Linc and I need this vacation.”

  The room grows quiet, everyone undoubtedly recalling that fateful day a month and a half ago. I wonder if she’ll show them the drawing. A part of me hopes she won’t. She makes no moves to bring it from her chest.

  Looks like she loves her secrets as much as I do.

  “When you get back, Andie wants to have dinner at the house one day before the wedding,” Roman says, his eyes finding mine. “She’ll want to celebrate…”

  He knows of course.

  It makes me wonder if my sister knows.

  It’s all my fault. I asked him and he said yes. The motherfucker said yes. I still can’t believe that one.

  “To celebrate you being back,” he tells me, assuring me my secret is still safe.

  I give my him a tip of my head in thanks. “Tell her to make me that coconut cake I love. The one where she puts actual rum in the cake mix,” I instruct and pat my stomach.

  Reagan laughs and looks over her shoulder at me. “You’re not supposed to drink.”

  “I’m not supposed to do a lot of things,” I tell her, my palm sliding up the back of her thigh. “But I do them anyway.”

  “And on that note,” Ram groans. “I’m out.”

  “Me too,” Roman agrees. “Be safe. Be good.”

  I snort and Reagan laughs.

  “Fuck it. Have fun,” Roman says, chuckling.

  “We are not stopping here,” Reagan says, her smile wide and breathtaking.

  “I have it circled on the map. We’re stopping.”

  She puts on the blinker and is shaking her head. “You do realize this is the most ridiculous spot to stop.”

  “We’re having a picnic.”

  I guide her to Lake Dardanelle State Park in Arkansas. We find a camping area that has several picnic tables and an unobstructed view of the glistening lake. And…

  “A nuclear power plant,” she says as she unpacks the cooler and tosses me a sandwich.

  Shrugging, I unwrap my sandwich and grin at her. “Ever watch The Simpsons? I’ve been dying to see one of these in real life.” I point at the steam coming out of the reactor. “Stunning view.”

  She laughs. “We’re probably getting radiation poisoning as we speak.”

  “My love for you is nuclear,” I jest. This earns me a piece of lettuce to the face.

  We finish our lunch and then she leans up against me. The sun is high on this cool December morning, but we’re warm. Everything about this day is perfect. I’m not in a rush to get out west. We have all the time in the world. These small moments with her are the best. It isn’t the destination with Reagan Holloway, it’s the motherfucking journey.

  “It really is beautiful in a bizarre kind of way,” she admits. “Even if we are exposing ourselves to chemicals that will make us grow extra body parts.”

  Chuckling, I kiss the top of her head. “Those are steam clouds. Water vapor. Don’t worry your pretty little head. Besides,” I tease. “If I grew an extra dick, I seriously doubt you’d complain. Mark that off your bucket list. Double penetration by Lincoln Carter.”

  “You’re ridiculous.”

  “You won’t say that when you’ve had both my dicks at once.”

  “The view is gorgeous. I love it here,” Reagan chirps as she throws herself on the giant king-sized bed at the Bellagio. “Those fountains are so pretty.”

  My view is breathtaking as well but I’m not staring out the window like she is. My gaze is following the curves of her body in her silky pale white dress. The way it pools around her like she’s sitting in a cloud. An angel. So fitting. Her dark hair is a stark contrast. It’s pulled up in a fancy do, but she releases some pins and it falls down behind her, brushing against her shoulders.

  I loosen my tie and toss it away. Apparently, you have to be fancy here. I don’t normally do fancy but I’d be fancy as fuck if that meant making Reagan happy. And boy is she happy. Unimaginable, but it’s true. She’s on top of the world. I put her there.

  She toys with a strand of her hair as I pluck through the buttons on my shirt. I shed the shirt, wincing only slightly when I pull my arms back to tug it away from me. The wife beater goes next and then my pants. When I’m naked, I crawl in behind her and stare out the picturesque window with her. It’s dark out, but the fountains are dancing and lighting up with many different colors.

  “You’re naked.” There’s a smile in her voice.

  “You should be, too.”

  I kiss her soft throat and roam her breast over her dress with my palm. She rolls onto her back and runs her fingers through my hair before pulling me down to kiss her mouth. This trip has been unrushed and exciting. We’ve done exactly what we’ve set out to do. Live in the moment. Enjoy each other. Laugh. Make love.

  She’s mine forever.

  Even if my forever ends tomorrow.

  I’ll have had her fully and all encompassing for every second that’s left in my life.

  “You make a lot of serious faces lately,” she says when I pull away from her lips. Her brows are crashed together in concern. “Where’s my smiling man?”

  My lips quirk up on one side. “Sometimes I have to take a minute and appreciate how lucky I am. It’s a sobering fact.”

  Her brown eyes pool with unshed tears. “I’m so lucky you didn’t leave me. I wouldn’t have…” She swallows and a tear leaks out. “I don’t think I could have survived losing you.”

  I press a soft kiss to her perfect mouth and swipe away her tear before slipping my hand under her dress. I’m pleased to find she’s bare beneath the fabric. Slowly, I run my fingers between the lips of her pussy and massage her clit.

  Despite not being able to have sex until recently, I’ve still been unable to refrain from touching her. Two days ago, the doctor said I was cleared for sex, but she’s been hesitant this entire trip. Tonight, we’re going to make it work. I don’t care if I die in the process. I’ll have my sweet Reagan again.

  “Ready to
get fucked, Rey?” I growl as my finger enters her tight sex.

  She moans and shakes her head. “No.”

  I frown but continue to tease her between her thighs. “Why not?”

  She gently pushes my shoulder until I’m on my back. Her brown eyes that were sad moments before now flicker with wickedness. “My sex bucket list. I was thinking about it on the way here. There’s something I want to try. You’re usually too busy manhandling me to let me.”

  I smirk and hold my hands up in defense. “Well, I certainly can’t manhandle you now, so I guess you’ll get to have your pretty little way with me.”

  She straddles my hips and starts to peel away the white dress, but I stop her.

  “Leave it on. You’re sexy as hell in it,” I tell her, a grin tugging at my lips.

  Her fingers go to her neck and she unties the halter top. When she pulls the fabric down just below her tits, I get an unobstructed view of them. The material of her dress still hides the rest of her from me.

  “Actually,” I growl, my dick impossibly hard and eager. “This is better.”

  With her eyes on mine, she lifts her dress with one hand and uses the other to guide my throbbing cock inside of her. Once she’s settled on me, she doesn’t move.

  “I’m pretty sure you’ve ridden me at least once,” I observe, my palms sliding up her thighs under her dress.

  She grabs my wrists and pins them to the bed beside my head. Her lips are parted and her eyes are dilated as she starts working her hips. “Not like this. You’re under my control, Lincoln Holloway. I’m woman-handling you.”

  I smile and drink in this gorgeous vixen, fucking my cock like she owns it. Hell, she does. Hottest damn thing I’ve ever seen.

  “You’re mine,” she says, mimicking something I say to her all the time. The possessiveness in her tone makes my dick twitch inside of her.

  Her eyes grow sad again as she runs her fingertips over my still healing wounds. They’re angry and agitated, but she’s tender as she touches them. Tears well in her eyes again. We both know how close we were to losing each other. It’s something we think about a lot each day. Not long after I came home with her from the hospital, she spent an entire day crying while curled up beside me in the bed. I teared up, too, but never let her see how fucking emotional I was. Truth is, I was fucking terrified. Seeing her with Louie cut my soul deep. The crushing responsibility I’d felt over putting her in that position is something I’ll never be able to fully recover from. It haunts me in my nightmares. A scenario that plays out more horrifically than what happened. And because of that, I walk the straight and narrow for her. It’s easy being good when you follow around an angel all day.