Missing Linc

by Kori Roberts

thighs, his cock buried deep. Mitch”s hands gripped the weight bar above his head, his legs

  wrapped around Linc, holding him tight. He started to move, slowly pulling out halfway

  before pushing in hard, his hips slapping against Mitch”s ass. He increased his thrusts, his

  cock bumping against Mitch”s prostate every time. Mitch”s body rippled around his cock,

  squeezing and clenching.

  When he looked down, the look in Mitch”s gaze ate him alive. It said, I belong to you,

  and I”m giving you everything I have and then some.

  “Come on,” Linc spoke through clenched teeth, sweat pouring down his face. “Give it

  up for me.”

  Mitch nodded and shot, his body going tight around him. Linc held back long enough

  to watch Mitch”s face, watch his features transform from need to pleasure to satisfaction,

  before he groaned, everything in him shaking, building in his thighs, spreading throughout

  his frame, overwhelming him. Then he was lost, pushing in one last time before he blew,

  drowning and yelling out Mitch”s name like a fool.

  For several seconds, neither of them moved, both caught in the moment, in each other.

  Slowly, he lowered himself, his gaze still holding Mitch”s, unable to look away.

  “Damn,” Mitch whispered. “That was…” His words trailed off, his expression filled

  with awe.

  “I know.” It wasn”t much of a response, but it was all Linc had. He eased out of Mitch

  and stood, pulling Mitch along with him.

  “Man.” Mitch stretched. “I”m going to feel you all day.” “Good.” Linc growled against his lips, kissing him hard. “I want you and Tomi thinking

  about me all day, every day.”

  The look in Mitch”s eyes made him pause. “We already do.”

  Linc nodded. It was the same way for him.

  Christ, he was so fucking screwed.

  *

  Mitch closed the hotel room door, his gaze immediately searching for Tomi. He

  followed the sound of her voice to the patio, where she stood with her back to him, talking

  on the phone.

  He leaned against the patio doorway, watching her for several minutes until she finally

  became aware of his presence. Smiling, she reached for him, pulling him against her when he

  grabbed her hand.

  “Okay, we”ll see you tomorrow.” She disconnected the call and turned in his arms.

  “Hi.” She leaned forward and kissed him. “That was Linc. He said he”d see us in the morning.

  Rosa has a special breakfast planned for us tomorrow.”

  He nodded as he placed kisses on Tomi”s forehead, her nose, and her lips. “Did I tell

  you I love you today?”

  Her smile grew even wider. “Yes, but you can feel free to tell me again as many times

  as you”d like.”

  “I love you more than you can ever imagine, more than I could ever express.”

  She reached up, and her warm, soft hand stroked his face. “I love you too. Tomorrow

  can”t arrive soon enough for me.”

  “I know you do.” Mitch cupped her face. “I know that your love for me is equally as

  strong and true as mine is for you. It”s deeper than anything I”ve ever felt before, and I know

  that it will never change, never fade.” He looked into her beautiful eyes and smiled. “The love we have for each other can handle anything, Tomi” — he took a deep breath —

  “including being in love with someone else.”

  Several emotions flashed across Tomi”s face all at once. She closed her eyes for a

  moment and when she opened them again, they reflected the resignation she felt. “I didn”t

  mean for it to happen.” Her voice trembled, her eyes turned watery. “I —”

  “Shh.” Mitch stopped her, using a finger to wipe away a stray tear rolling down her

  cheek. “It”s okay. Neither of us meant to fall for him, but it doesn”t change the fact that we

  did.” He pulled her close, and Tomi clung to him as if she never wanted to let him go.

  “What are we going to do?” she whispered.

  Mitch didn”t respond immediately. Finally, he chuckled sadly. “Unfortunately, I”m

  fresh out of answers.” His face grew serious again. “We”ll talk to Linc, but not until after our

  wedding.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “Marrying you is my one and only

  priority right now. It”s more important to me than anything and anyone.” Mitch leaned

  down and kissed her. “Everything else will work itself out.” He tried to assure her, while

  silently praying that he was correct.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Linc stood at the edge of his aunt”s large yard, watching the reception party in full

  swing. The wedding had been beautiful, but he hadn”t expected anything less. It took place a

  couple of hours earlier in a secluded section outdoors on the grounds of Tomi and Mitch”s

  hotel.

  Tomi was stunning in a long, white, strapless dress made out of silk. The style was

  simple, but Tomi made it look incredible. Fresh orchids adorned her normally free-flowing

  tresses, which she”d pinned up for the occasion. Mitch was similarly clad in a long-sleeved

  shirt and loose-fitting slacks. The white silk material emphasized his newly tanned skin.

  As promised, Linc”s relatives showed up in full attendance, taking up every available

  seat. Mitch and Tomi made several last minute changes, electing Tracee as the maid of honor

  and Linc as the best man. Pedro had the honor of escorting Tomi down the aisle.

  They looked picture perfect as they stood in the gazebo facing the setting sun and

  overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The ceremony didn”t last long — maybe twenty minutes at

  most. By the time it ended, all of the women — and a substantial portion of the men — were

  teary-eyed, including Linc. When they exchanged vows, Linc remembered silently saying them as well, wishing

  with everything in him that he could put a voice to the love that he felt for them, just as

  they”d done with each other. As they kissed, Linc felt it clearly, as if he were kissing them as

  well. He smiled and clapped with everyone else when the officiator announced that Mitch

  and Tomi were husband and wife. Inside, he was dying, aching to be a permanent part of the

  bond they shared, but knowing it wasn”t possible. The handshake he”d given Mitch and the

  chaste kiss he placed on Tomi”s cheek didn”t scratch the surface of the emotions that he felt

  for them.

  As everyone followed Tomi and Mitch back into the hotel, he caught Pedro staring at

  him knowingly, his cousin”s expression a mixture of disappointment and sympathy. Linc

  ignored him and headed to the waiting vehicles parked in front of the hotel.

  He”d arranged for Tomi and Mitch to have a separate limo take them to his aunt”s

  house. They”d asked him if he wanted to ride with them, but he”d declined, hiding his true

  feelings by joking that they should take advantage of their private time before they reached

  the reception and wouldn”t have a moment alone for the next several hours.

  The truth of the matter was that Linc couldn”t handle being alone with them, too afraid

  that he”d ask them for things that he had no right to request.

  He felt a hand on his shoulder just moments before he heard Pedro”s voice. “How are

  you holding up?” Linc remained silent, certain that the answer to his cousin”s question was

  already apparent. Hell, it was obvious that Pedro was right all along about hi
s feelings. If

  Linc were being truthful with himself, he”d admit that he hadn”t just fallen for Tomi and

  Mitch, he”d jumped in headfirst and heart wide-open.

  “You know you have to end it between you and them, right?” Pedro said softly. “I

  know it”s not what you want to hear, but you know it”s true. And the longer you wait to do

  it, the worse it”ll be for everyone when it finally happens.” He continued to watch Mitch and Tomi, looking more at home with his family than he

  did now. As far as he was concerned, they were exactly where they belonged, and if he had

  his way, this is where they would always be. Christ, why couldn”t life ever be simple?

  “I think” — he paused and cleared his voice — “I”m going to head out a little early. I

  need…” Mitch and Tomi, but I can”t have them the way I want, and it”s killing me to know

  that they”ll never be mine. “…to get up early tomorrow.”

  It was a lie, and they both knew it, but Linc didn”t care. He looked longingly at Mitch

  and Tomi once more, before he turned away and walked toward his car.

  “I”m here for you, primo, if you need me.” Pedro”s voice followed him. He waved over

  his shoulder without turning around.

  On the way to his car, Linc passed his employee, Mario, who he”d assigned as Tomi and

  Mitch”s limousine driver for the day. “Take them wherever they want to go when they leave

  here.” Mario nodded in understanding, and Linc got in his car and drove away.

  The ride home was a blur, and before Linc knew it, he was outside his house. He”d told

  himself that he was going straight to bed, but he couldn”t seem to shut down his brain, so he

  wandered around his house instead, thinking about Tomi and Mitch. It wasn”t until his

  doorbell rang that he looked at the clock and realized that more than an hour had passed

  since he”d gotten home.

  Linc opened the door and found them standing there, looking as gorgeous as ever.

  “Hi,” Tomi said softly. “You disappeared on us. You tired of our company already?”

  He could live two lifetimes and that still wouldn”t be possible. Linc forced a smile,

  looking from her to Mitch. “No, I just figured that you two wanted to be alone tonight.”

  “We do want to be alone.” Mitch held his gaze. “With you.”

  Linc couldn”t refuse them any more than he could refuse his next breath. He waved at

  Mario, who still waited by the limo at the curb, before he stepped to the side and let them in.

  *

  They undressed Tomi together, carefully removing her wedding dress and laying it to

  the side. Mitch was next, and they removed his clothes with equal care before placing them

  with Tomi”s dress. When it was his turn, Mitch and Tomi took their time, slowly stripping

  off his clothes one piece at a time.

  Tonight was different for so many reasons. They all seemed to feel it, yet neither of

  them appeared willing to acknowledge it. Their kisses became more gentle, their touches

  held more reverence, their bodies joined together with more passion, more emotion than

  ever before.

  Somehow, Linc found himself in the middle with Tomi beneath him, her legs wrapped

  around his hips, and Mitch behind him with his hands on Linc”s ass. Groaning, he sank his

  cock deep inside Tomi, and then he pressed back, aching to feel Mitch”s dick inside him. As

  he slid smoothly in and out of Tomi”s heat, she moaned for him, the sound filled with

  promises of things that there weren”t even words for.

  His slow, easy rhythm faltered when two of Mitch”s lube-coated fingers pushed inside

  him, and then he started up again, riding the sensations in his cock and his ass. In one easy

  movement, Mitch”s cock replaced his fingers, and he pushed in, spreading Linc wide, the

  sensation aching, burning, making him gasp and push deeper into Tomi.

  He bit his lip, forcing back the words that threatened to overwhelm him, knowing that

  if he let it go, he”d say something he”d regret, something about how he desperately wanted

  and needed them, how far he”d fallen in love with them already. No, Linc couldn”t do that.

  His body said too much already. He couldn”t help it. Tomi knew just where to kiss; Mitch

  knew exactly where to touch him to send him flying.

  Mitch”s hand slid between them and found Tomi”s clit, rubbing and teasing until she

  was screaming. Her walls tightened around Linc, causing his own muscles to clench around

  Mitch”s cock as his bellow of pleasure filled the room. Mitch”s roar matched his, and Linc felt the heat from Mitch”s pleasure shoot deep

  inside him. Linc jerked a few more times, rocking back and forth between them, trying to

  make it last as long as possible, knowing he”d probably never share this with them again.

  Finally, he went still, panting heavily, holding himself up so he didn”t collapse on top of

  Tomi.

  They settled in next to him, falling asleep long before he did. Linc lay there for hours

  with his cousin”s words repeating in his head.

  It killed him to admit it, but Pedro was right. However, that was little comfort when

  he had no idea what he was going to do without Mitch and Tomi in his life once he”d said

  good-bye to them forever.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Linc stood in his home office, staring out of his window, looking at nothing. His mind

  was spinning, his heart heavy with the decisions he”d made. He”d been up most of the night

  arguing with himself, trying to figure out the best way to end things with them. No matter

  how he tried to spin it, no matter how he wanted to position it, the outcome was always the

  same: heartache. Finally, just before dawn arrived, Linc settled on the quickest option of all;

  the one guaranteed to push Mitch and Tomi away without them making any effort to change

  his mind.

  He stiffened, sensing more than hearing a presence behind him. When Mitch”s strong

  arms wrapped around him, Linc mentally braced himself for what would come next.

  “Hey.” Mitch”s warm breath caressed Linc”s neck, his hand cupped Linc”s cock. “Are

  you still joining Tomi and me for brunch?” His whispered words were right next to Linc”s

  ear. “We, uh…there”s something we need to tell you.”

  Tell him now, before he admits too much and you lose the courage to do what you

  know has to happen. “It”s over.” His voice sounded foreign to his ears.

  “We still have time.” Mitch massaged his balls, the sensation so intense it made Linc”s

  eyes roll back. “Brunch doesn”t —” “Not brunch.” Linc pushed his hand away and pulled out of Mitch”s embrace, turning

  to face him. “Us.”

  Mitch went completely still, his eyes slightly narrowed. “I don”t understand.”

  “Don”t you?” Linc chuckled, his brow arched.

  “No, I don”t think I do.” Mitch continued to stare at him unblinkingly, those blue eyes

  growing stormier with each passing second. “Why don”t you explain it to me?”

  “Come on, you can”t be that naive.” Linc”s tone turned mocking. “Listen, the past few

  weeks have been a lot of fun, but it”s over now. It”s time to move on.”

  Mitch”s throat worked. “I thought —”

  “You thought what?” Linc interrupted him. “That this was a relationship?” He laughed

  contemptuously. “We were fucking!” Linc practically yelled. “Don”t tr
y to romanticize it,

  Mitch. It was good — hell, it was great — but that”s all it ever was. It”s all I ever wanted from

  you and Tomi. And if you thought differently, you obviously don”t know me.”

  There was a sound in the doorway, and they looked in that direction. Tomi stood there

  with tears in her eyes, the look on her face so devastated, it made him want to weep. She

  turned and left the room as quietly as she”d appeared.

  Mitch turned back to him, his eyes practically black, the muscles working in his jaw,

  his hands balled into fists. Linc prepared himself to be hit, knew he deserved at least that.

  Shit, he even welcomed it, hoping that the physical pain would distract him from the

  emotional agony he suffered.

  “You finally said something that I actually agree with.” Mitch”s voice was unnaturally

  calm. “We obviously don”t know you at all. We had no idea that the caring, decent man we

  thought we met three weeks ago was really a bitter, shitty bastard. Well, you don”t have to

  worry. We can take a hint, and we have no interest in staying where we”re not wanted.”

  He walked toward the door, pausing for a moment in the doorway before turning to

  look at Linc. “You got what you wanted from us, and now you”re done. I get it. It”s fucked up, it hurts, but it”s okay. I”m not angry. In fact, I feel sorry for you. Eventually, Tomi and I

  will get over this, and in the end, we”ll always have each other. You, on the other hand, will

  still be here, choosing to be miserable and alone for the rest of your pathetic life, just because

  you”re too afraid of being hurt again to man up and admit your feelings.”

  Linc stood there long after Mitch was gone, frozen in place, unable to move, to think.

  Shit, he could barely draw a decent breath as he listened to his front door close as Mitch and

  Tomi walked out of his house and his life for good.

  *

  Three days. That”s how long it”d been since he”d seen Tomi and Mitch. Linc spent most

  of that time sitting in his office, replaying that day when he”d destroyed the two most

  important people in his life. He stared out his window, wishing he had the power to roll back