“Aren’t you going to get ready for church?” Erica asked Linc after they’d eaten dinner on Wednesday night.
“I was thinking we could stay home,” Linc suggested, and Erica frowned.
“Why?”
Linc gave her a sly smile. “I thought we could order a movie.”
“You mean skip church to stay home and watch a porno?” Erica pretended to be shocked. “What would your dad say about that?”
“I could call and tell them I’m not up for church because my knees hurt too much.”
“You mean lie? And use your bum knees as an excuse?” Erica laughed.
“You’re right. I should tell them the truth.”
“Don’t you dare!”
“Is that a yes?”
“Only if you call and tell them we aren’t coming.”
Linc snagged the cordless phone from the coffee table. “Just watch and learn,” he said, winking at her. “Hey, Mom. How’s it going?”
Erica shook her head as she listened to Linc lie to his mother. It was a little scary how well he told that lie, and she had to laugh when he told Meredith not to come by after church because he needed to rest.
As he talked, Erica scanned the cable guide for a suitable movie. Linc was just hanging up when the opening credits began to roll.
“I hope this is okay,” Erica said. “I wasn’t sure what was, you know, appropriate.”
Linc grinned. “It’s porn. I don’t think any of it is really appropriate.”
“Good point,” Erica conceded.
They sat on the couch, holding hands as they watched. So far, it wasn’t worth the extra charge that would be appearing on their cable bill. Slow set up with a busty bleached blonde who was being romanced by some sleazy guy who was supposed to be interviewing her for a job.
Erica barely held in a laugh when Sleazy Boss told Busty Blonde the job title was sex toy representative. Busty Blonde was not only going to have to know all about the products they sold, but she’d have to be able to demonstrate them to any of the customers using whatever means necessary for the sale.
No big surprise when Sleazy Boss handed over a huge, vibrating dildo and told Busty Blonde to show him what she could do. Of course she did what she was told, moaning and writhing as she did.
Sleazy Boss was nice enough to let Busty Blonde bring herself off, palming himself through his shorts the entire time, before he dropped his pants and shoved his erection into her supposedly willing mouth.
Erica frowned when Busty Blonde swallowed the guy whole. “I don’t know if I can do that, Linc. You’re pretty big. I don’t think I could fit the whole thing in my mouth.”
Linc’s face reddened. “You think I’m big?”
“You’re no John Holmes, but you’re definitely above average.”
“Who’s John Holmes?”
“A porn star that was famous for his size.”
“What’s average?”
“I think it’s somewhere between six and seven inches,” Erica replied. “I’m not good at measurements, but I’d put you closer to eight.”
“I don’t know about that,” Linc mumbled, his blush growing darker.
“Are you sure you’ve never measured it?” Erica teased.
“I’m sure.”
“I think I have a ruler in the junk drawer.”
“I think you should skip the ruler, and stick to your illusions.”
“That’s not fair. It’s not like my bra size is a secret.”
“I don’t know your bra size.”
“I’m a thirty-six B. Now for the ruler. Fair’s fair.”
“Okay, fine,” Linc gave in.
She hopped off the couch and ran for the ruler before he could change his mind.
“Promise you won’t laugh?” Linc asked when she returned.
“Cross my heart.”
“Would you?”
“What?” Erica frowned.
“Go down on me?” Linc asked shyly.
Careful to avoid his surgically repaired knees, Erica slid to the floor.
Linc gasped. “I didn’t mean right now.”
“No time like the present,” Erica said, smiling. “Unless you’re saying you don’t want me to.”
“No, I mean, no I’m not saying that.”
Setting the ruler beside him, she reached for the waistband of his sweats. When he lifted his hips, she slid both his sweats and boxers down his thighs. Linc’s dick, fully erect and the tip glistening with pre-come, slapped against his stomach.
Yep, he was definitely eight inches, maybe more. Erica would prove that to him later.
Erica wrapped her hand around the base of his cock. His sharp intake of breath when she drew the head into her mouth told her that she was on the right track. Keeping a loose hold on him so that she didn’t hurt him, she took a few tentative licks with her tongue, making his hips jerk.
“Sorry,” Linc said.
Still keeping her hand around him, Erica pulled back. “Don’t be sorry. Just lay back and enjoy it, but tell me if I do something wrong.”
“I don’t think that’s possible,” he said, and Erica smiled.
Leaning forward, she took him into her mouth, concentrating first on just the head. She liked its softness, and the fact that it was almost spongy.
It didn’t take long before she grew comfortable and bolder, taking more of him into her mouth and loving the soft moan she received in response. Linc was too big for her to fit his entire length into her mouth, something her gag reflex was quick to point out.
She was sure she wasn’t as good as the girl on TV, but he seemed to be enjoying it. Of course, he had no basis for comparison, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Pulling off with a loud pop, she reached for the ruler.
“Please don’t stop.”
“One second.”
Linc’s face reddened once again as she held the ruler against his dick. “Well?”
“Eight inches,” Erica cried, giving him a triumphant smile.
“You sure?”
“See for yourself.”
“I’ll pass.”
“Just do me one favor.”
“What, baby?”
“No coming in my mouth.”
Grinning, Linc ran his fingers through her hair. “No promises.”
“That’s okay. I can’t make any promises I won’t accidentally bite down if you do.”
Linc laughed. “You wouldn’t really bite me, would you?”
Erica gave him a sweet smile. “Try me.”
“How about if you try me instead?” Linc said, thrusting his hips upward.
Tossing the ruler over her shoulder, Erica reached for his still hard dick, sucking him into her mouth. She alternated between swirling her tongue around his shaft and bobbing her mouth up and down, using his gasps and groans as cues for what she should do.
Their low budget porn movie still played in the background, but she wasn’t watching. Neither was Linc.
With her lips and hand still wrapped around his now slick cock, Erica lifted her eyes to look at him, hoping to get an idea of his pleasure from his expression. Instead, she found he was watching her every move through heavy lidded eyes.
Holding his gaze, Erica slid both her mouth and her hand up and down his cock, moving faster and sucking harder.
“Fuck, Rikki, I’m close,” Linc warned, and Erica hummed around his dick. “Shit, pull back, baby. I’m about to come.”
Releasing his dick from her mouth, Erica continued to pump him with her hand. Linc groaned, and his back arched as he shot over her fist and onto his stomach.
Erica didn’t stop moving until she’d wrung the last drop from him. When he stilled and then collapsed against the couch, she released her hold on him.
“Jesus Christ, that was amazing,” Linc said, his chest heaving as he spoke.
“I’m glad you liked it.”
“I loved it. You can definitely do that again.”
Erica smiled. “I can, huh?”
“I’m just thinking of you.” Linc gestured toward his now flaccid dick resting in a pool of sticky semen. “It would be wrong to deny you all eight inches of this.”
Erica laughed, but a weight had been lifted from her heart.
It wasn’t that long ago that she wondered if Linc would ever want to be intimate with her again. Now she knew he would.
At the ringing of their doorbell, Linc and Erica traded frowns.
“I’m guessing you didn’t expect anyone to come over,” Erica said.
Linc grimaced as he shook his head. “Christ, I hope it’s not my mom. I’m not up for dealing with her right now.”
Neither was Erica, but it had nothing to do with Meredith.In the few days since he’d been home, Linc had begun to relax and was getting comfortable being in their new home. Erica wanted him to have a few more days to settle before being overwhelmed with visitors.
Swallowing a sigh when the doorbell rang again, she got to her feet and padded across the living room.
“What are you guys doing here?” Erica frowned when she pulled the door open.
Cory and Veronica stood outside. The stack of DVD movies Veronica held indicated that she and Cory expected this to be any other Friday night.
“Hope you guys have popcorn,” Cory said, breezing into the apartment with Veronica following.
“What?” Erica asked, still frowning as she closed the door.
“Hey, Linc,” Cory called, going straight for the kitchen.
“Uh, hey,” Linc said, not looking up at her.
“How come you guys didn’t call?” Erica asked.
Veronica rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, you guys have been hiding out in here all week.”
“More than enough time to have plenty of sex,” Cory said with an evil grin.
Erica laughed while Linc blushed.
Cory rooted around in the cupboards for a few minutes. “Damn, where’s all the popcorn?” Turning to Veronica, she added, “I told you we should have stopped for snacks.”
“They have Twinkies,” Veronica said, pointing to the open cabinet. “You can live without popcorn.”
Cory sucked in a dramatic breath and pressed a hand against her heart. “You can’t watch movies without popcorn. In fact, I’m pretty sure it’s a federal crime if you do.”
“Then you’re about to break the law,” Veronica said as she pulled open another cabinet and peered inside. “There’s no popcorn in this one either.”
“Um, guys, what are you doing?” Erica interjected.
Both of her friends turned to frown at her.
“We’re looking for popcorn,” Cory said, shaking her head.
“I know that,” Erica said. “I mean, what are you doing here?”
“It’s Friday night,” Veronica said.
“I figured you guys knew we were going to have to take a break from that for a while,” Erica said.
“Take a break?” Cory repeated.
“I told you we should have called,” Veronica told Cory.
“It’s not that big of a deal,” Cory insisted. “We’re only going to watch a movie or two. It’s not like we’re going to run a marathon or anything.”
“Cory,” Veronica gasped, shooting an apologetic look at Erica whose mouth fell open.
“What?” Cory shrugged. “I’m just saying that Linc should be able to handle a movie without getting all weird and freaking out.”
It was Erica’s turn to gasp while Linc turned bright red.
“What?” Cory looked from Veronica to Erica. “You mean he can’t even watch a movie?”
“First of all, stop being rude,” Erica snapped. “Second, he’s sitting right there. Don’t talk about him like he’s not here.”
“Well, since I was talking to you, that really doesn’t matter,” Cory said.
“He was a little scary the last time we saw him,” Veronica admitted.
If they were so afraid of him, what were they doing there? They could have just stayed home and saved a lot of hurt feelings and embarrassment.
“More than a little scary,” Cory said, nodding.
“Fuck you both,” Linc snapped.
Erica spun to face him. “Todd!”
“Well, that’s not very Christian,” Cory said with a bitter laugh. “I guess that answers my question.”
“You don’t know anything about what I went through,” Linc spoke through gritted teeth.
“And you have no idea what you’ve put Erica through,” Cory shot back.
“I thought we were past this, Cory.” Erica took a calming breath. “Why would you even bring that up?”
“Because she likes making me feel like an ass,” Linc answered first.
“Because I don’t want you to turn all psycho if we turn out all the lights for our movie,” Cory sneered. “I know you’re afraid of the dark now.”
“Cory, stop it,” Erica ordered.
“Get out of my house,” Linc snarled.
His voice had dropped to a dangerous, low tone that Erica had never heard from him before.
“Todd, please,” Erica pleaded.
“What are you asking his permission for?” Cory demanded. “Isn’t this your house too?”
“Cory, that’s enough. Linc’s right. If you don’t stop then you have to leave.”
“That’s not what he said.”
“You know what? Stay.” Linc glared at her. “Then we can turn out all the lights, and I’ll go psycho. That’s what you want right?”
Erica couldn’t take anymore. Though her friend had a temper and could be stubborn and opinionated, Erica was surprised Cory would be that cruel.
Dropping down on the couch, she buried her face in her hands and cried. How could her best friend do this to her? Didn’t she realize that hurting Linc would hurt Erica just as much, if not more? Or maybe she didn’t care.
“Rik?” Linc’s soft voice only made her cry harder.
“Why do you keep doing this?” Erica asked, lifting her gaze to meet Cory’s.
“Are you talking to me?”
“Yes, every time I think you’ve accepted Linc, you pick a fight with him.”
“No offense, Linc, but you scared the hell out of us that night we saw you freak out,” Veronica spoke up.
“I can’t control that,” Linc muttered.
“Exactly!” Cory cried. “How do we know you won’t have a psychotic episode and kill Erica?”
“You can’t be serious,” Erica scoffed.
“We are serious, Erica,” Veronica said softly.
“You’re just too blinded by your feelings for him to see that he’s dangerous,” Cory explained.
“I’m not psychotic,” Linc said. “What you saw was a flashback, brought on by post traumatic stress disorder, and I’m not exactly proud of it.”
“You just admitted you can’t control it.”
“That doesn’t make me psychotic.”
“We just don’t want to set you off, and make you end up hurting Erica.”
“Set me off?”
“Something has to give you those flashbacks, and we don’t know what it is. That makes you unstable.”
“You try being tied up and tortured for ten days and see how stable you are.”
Linc pulled his sweatshirt over his head, drawing matching gasps from Cory and Veronica when he twisted around to reveal the road map of scars on his back. They had no way to know the entire back side of his body was covered with those scars, a constant reminder of his torture.
“Try getting beat every hour, of every day, for ten straight days, and see if you can handle it,” Linc snapped. “You don’t know shit about what I went through, so don’t sit there and judge me like you do.”
If it wasn’t for the fact that he was still using the walker, he probably would have stormed out of the room, leaving Erica to deal with her friends.
Erica couldn’t stop crying. She wanted to believe they were trying to do the right thing, but she wondered if it wasn’t something else. Cory had been suspicious of Linc and their hasty marriage from the beginning.
“Rikki?” Linc said and opened his arms.
Erica turned into him and he closed his arms around her. She rested her face against his shoulder and cried, even though her friends were still there. Linc smoothed her hair from her face as he held her.
“I’m sorry you have to go through all of this,” Linc whispered. “You know I’d never hurt you right? I’d die first.”
“I know,” Erica said, her heart breaking at the guilt she heard in his voice.
He placed a tender kiss on the top of her head. “I’d give anything to take it all back and make it like it was, but I can’t, baby.”
“I know,” Erica repeated.
“Listen, Linc,” Cory said. “I never should have said anything. I’m sorry. You have to know I’m just a bitch.”
Lifting his head, he grinned at her. “I’ve noticed, but I won’t fight with you anymore. It keeps hurting Erica.”
“Deal,” Cory agreed.
“Maybe we should try movie night next week,” Erica suggested.
“I have a better idea,” Veronica said. “Why don’t you call us when you’re both ready for company?”
Erica smiled, brushing her tears away. “Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”
Getting to her feet, Erica walked them to the door. Before leaving, they paused to exchange hugs with her.
“I’m sorry,” Cory whispered again. “I love you.”
“I know. I love you too,” Erica said, smiling as she released her friend.
Erica’s shoulders sagged as she closed and locked the door behind them. Cory’s heart may have been in the right place, but that woman was determined to stretch Erica’s ability to forgive and forget to its limits. If she wasn’t careful, it was going to break one day.
“I’m sorry, Rik,” Linc said.
Frowning, Erica turned to face him. “Sorry for what?”
“I’m sorry for everything that’s happened, sorry for coming between you and your friends, sorry for…for so damn much.”
Sitting beside him on the couch, Erica framed his face with her hands. “I’m sorry for what you went through, but you have nothing to be sorry for. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Even like this, with all this baggage?”
“Especially like this, and do you want to know why?”
“Why?”
Erica looked into his eyes as she answered, “Every broken bone, every scar, every scream, every nightmare, reminds me that you went through all of this just to keep a promise to me. You have no idea how grateful I am and how much I love you for that.”
“I love you too, so much,” Linc said and pressed his lips to hers.
The kiss was fierce, full of strength and determination, much like the man in front of her.
Sunday morning, Erica loaded Linc’s wheelchair into the trunk of her car while he shuffled into the front seat. His physical therapist had allowed Linc to have a wheelchair for long trips out, and this would be the longest one yet. After he was seated, Erica broke down his wheelchair and threw it into the trunk.
Linc didn’t speak on the drive to church, but Erica didn’t need to ask why. No doubt he was thinking about having to face everyone since it would be the first time he’d gone to church since he’d been home.
A deep breath escaped him when she pulled into the parking lot.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I just haven’t been around this many people in a long time.”
“It won’t be easy, but these are people who love you and wouldn’t hurt you.”
Linc nodded, and Erica leaned across the seat to give him a reassuring kiss. She rested her forehead against his for a moment, willing her strength into him before taking off her seatbelt to emerge from the car. By the time she retrieved his wheelchair from the trunk and brought it to the passenger side of the car, he already had the door open.
“Maybe no one will notice me,” Linc joked as he shifted into the wheelchair.
“I’ll be right here,” Erica assured him.
Smiling, he reached for her hand. “Promise you won’t let go?”
“Cross my heart,” Erica said as she smiled back at him.
“Okay.” Linc took another gulp of air and looked up into her steady gaze. “Let’s do this.”
The moment Erica pushed his wheelchair up the ramp and through the double doors of the church, they were surrounded by people. Linc had never held so tight to Erica’s hand, but she didn’t let go.
Erica smiled and nodded and said hello to all the well wishers, but she didn’t stop pushing him until they reached the front of the church. Though his parents were mingling with the rest of the parishioners, she hoped having the rest of his family to act as a buffer would calm his nerves.
Mary was the first to hug him. “I’m glad you came.”
“Thanks,” Linc said, not letting go of Erica to return his sister’s hug.
“Good to see you again, Linc,” Dylan said, shaking his hand.
“I like your dress,” Sarah told Erica. “Is it new?”
“Actually, I—”
Before Erica could finish her reply, her hand was being jerked away from Linc’s. His wheelchair was rolling slowly backward, taking her with it. Though she could feel her feet going out from under her, Erica didn’t let go of Linc’s hand.
A pair of strong arms grabbed her by the waist and straightened her. Erica’s face warmed when she realized she’d fallen into David Beale, a firefighter who was a fairly new parishioner.
“Are you all right, Erica?” David smiled as he set her upright.
“Yes, thank you,” Erica answered.
Dropping her hand, Linc whipped his chair around. “Rik, I’m so sorry. Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.” Erica stepped away from David and stood closer to Linc.
“I think we managed to avert a disaster,” David said, still smiling.
Linc narrowed his eyes. “Do you?”
“You must be the famous Linc.” David held his hand toward Linc. “I’m David.”
“Famous?” Linc repeated with a frown.
When Linc didn’t reach to take David’s hand, the other man held it there for a moment. Erica stared at Linc with wide eyes when David let his hand drop. As long as she’d known Linc, she’d never known him to be intentionally rude to anyone.
Well, unless Cory was involved and that didn’t count. Cory could try the patience of a saint.
“I started coming here after you were deployed,” David explained. “Your dad read your letters every week though so I felt like I knew you.”
“Then if you know me, I’m sure you know Erica’s my wife.” Linc reached for her hand.
Erica’s face heated again when she suddenly understood Linc’s odd behavior.
“Yes, of course.” David gave him an amused smile. “I didn’t know you were injured enough to need a wheelchair.”
“You didn’t huh?” Linc said, sneering somewhat.
“It’s only until his knees are stronger,” Erica spoke up.
“It was nice to meet you, Linc,” David said as TJ took the pulpit.
Linc stared after David with his eyes blazing, and Erica had a hard time reading the look. It was one she’d never seen from him before.
The run in with David aside, Linc’s return to church went better than Erica could have hoped. Despite being surrounded by so many people, something that delayed them leaving at the end of the service, he handled it well.
Erica had been worried about how he would react to everyone touching him so she kept a close eye on him. Though he tensed every time someone came near him, he managed to accept the affection without flinching away.
“Are you okay?” Erica asked when she climbed into the car.
“Yeah, sorry I almost knocked you on your ass.”
“What happened?”
“There were too many people, and I panicked. I was trying to get away, but I didn’t mean to. It was instinct. Thanks for not letting go.”
Erica turned to smile at him. “I’ll never let go.”
“Thanks, Rik,” Linc said, returning her smile before his expression darkened. “I don’t like the way that David guy was looking at you.”
Linc’s voice was so full of testosterone that Erica couldn’t help laughing.
“Is that jealousy I hear in your voice, Todd Lincoln?” Erica teased.
Starting the car, she looked over her shoulder before backing out of the parking stall. By then the parking lot was mostly empty, making it easy for her to exit.
“Maybe it is, but I’m a guy, and I know what it means when a man looks at a woman like that.”
“I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed, but you’re followed by girls every time we go to church.”
“Teenage girls,” Linc corrected. “That guy is a grown man with two good knees and shoulders. Bet he wouldn’t have a problem making love to you.”
“Is that what this is about?” Erica demanded. “I’ll bet he wasn’t tortured as a P.O.W. in Iraq. Anyway, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m a married woman. I’ve got this really great husband.”
“Oh yeah? What’s so great about him?”
“This guy is so amazing that I met him on Friday and married him on Sunday.”
“How’d he get a smart girl like you to do a foolish thing like that?”
“I don’t know, but he definitely put me under his spell.”
“How’d he do that? What’s so great about him?”
“He’s got this really hot body and really huge—”
“Rik!”
“I was going to say heart.” Erica pretended to be offended.
“Sure you were,” Linc said, grinning. “What else?”
“My husband is the greatest man I’ve ever known,” Erica answered. “He’s smart and sexy, sweet and shy. He makes me happy when I’m sad. He takes care of me and would never let me get hurt. He loves God and his county and his family. He’s a man of strong principles, and he treats me like a queen.
“One look from this man makes my heart beat faster. One touch makes my body tingle. One kiss makes me melt, like I’d do anything to please him. He’s exciting and virile, but most of all he’s a man of strength. He kept a promise to me that a lesser man would’ve broken.
“A hundred times a day this man could’ve given up, but he didn’t. He would never do that because he has too much integrity to do something like that. I’m the luckiest, happiest woman in the world to have a man like this. I just hope he loves me as much as I love him.”
“Can you pull over?” he asked softly.
“What is it?” Erica asked as she pulled the car to the side of the road.
“I have the most amazing wife in the world, and I want to look into her eyes when I tell her how much I love her.”
“I love you, Todd.”
“I love you so much, Erica.” His voice was full of passion. “I’d be dead if it wasn’t for you. There’s no way I could’ve lived through all that torture if I didn’t have you to come home to. If I’m strong, it’s because of you.
“I was so scared to face you when I came home. I thought all of this would be too much for you. You promised me you’d be by my side every step of the way, and you’ve kept that promise. You’ve been patient and kind and encouraging and amazing. You’ve pushed me when I needed it and backed off when I needed you to.
“There’s no one in this world that makes me happier to be alive than you. You’re strong and sexy and beautiful. You complete the missing pieces of my heart and soul. My heart would break if I ever lost you.”
Tears shone in Erica’s eyes. “You’ll never lose me, Todd. I promise.”
He took her face in his hands. “I just get scared sometimes that you’re going to get sick of waiting for me to be ready to make love to you and run off with some guy like David.”
“Haven’t you been listening?” Erica asked softly. “I don’t want a guy like David. Nobody’s in your league. I don’t care if it takes one month or one year, I know in my heart we’ll make love again. And when we do, it will be everything it was meant to be.”
“I love you, Erica,” Linc whispered, leaning in to kiss her.
Erica kissed him back before drawing him into a tight embrace. She meant every word she’d said. She just hoped he really understood that.