On the shore.
nineteen
Brinkley
My breathing finally slowed after two of the most epic orgasms of my life. Lincoln Hendrix was not only a rock star on the field, but he knew his way around a woman’s body. I’d never had an orgasm with a man before, though I’d obviously had plenty by myself.
This was new.
And let me tell you—the man delivered.
If there was a GOAT award for delivering the best orgasms, he would hold that title, as well.
I couldn’t believe that I was lying on the beach butt naked, or that I’d literally cried out his name like something you’d see in a porno movie. I’d never been so turned on in my life. I’d never allowed myself to be this vulnerable with a man. Losing control like this.
And I was here for it.
Control was overrated.
He pulled out of me and tugged off the condom, tying the end and setting it beside our clothing. I figured he’d grab his clothes, so I sat forward to reach for mine, but he stopped me.
He came to sit beside me, pulling me onto his lap. He reached for the corners of the blanket and wrapped it around us.
We sat there, looking out at the water.
“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
My gentle giant? He acted all tough on the outside, but he was a softy beneath.
“Of course not. If you didn’t notice, I wasn’t crying in pain. That was pure pleasure, Captain.”
He tightened his arms around me. “Yeah. I noticed. Just want to make sure you’re okay.”
I tipped my head back to look at him. “That was amazing.”
“Did you expect anything less?”
“Ah… there he is. My cocky football star.”
He kissed the tip of my nose and looked back out at the water.
“Your family is pretty amazing. Must have been fun growing up with all those kids in the house.”
“Yes. It was the best. But it was also chaotic and crazy. We love hard. We fight hard. But we always have one another’s backs, no matter what.”
“That’s cool. It’s like your own built-in football team.”
A loud laugh escaped. “Never thought of it like that, but yes, I’ve got my teammates for life, I guess.”
He was quiet for a minute, and there were so many things I wanted to ask him.
“You and your mama are really close, huh?”
“We are. She’s the best. She’s already looking at homes in New York now. The woman has supported me for my entire life.”
“She sounds incredible.”
“She is. You’re going to love her.”
My stomach flipped at the way he spoke about the future. Like it was a no-brainer that I’d meet his mother.
“I look forward to it.” I cleared my throat.
“Something you want to ask me, sweetheart?”
“Yeah. It’s not for the story; it’s just for me.”
“Then there is nothing off the table. Ask away.”
“Well, I know you don’t like to talk about your father. But I just wondered if you talk to him?”
He let out a long breath, and I waited. “My father left shortly after I was born. Just took off and wanted a new life, I guess. They were young, and she got pregnant when she was only nineteen years old. My mom used her name on my birth certificate because she was fully prepared to raise me on her own, which she did. He kept in touch with my mother and would check in a couple of times a year, and then he eventually stopped reaching out. He remarried a few years later and had a new family. Last I heard, he had a son and a daughter. I’ve never met them and have no idea where they live. Where he lives.”
I turned to face him, placing a hand on his cheek. “Wow. He sounds like a selfish asshole.”
“Probably a fair description.”
“Do you want to meet his other children?”
“I used to wonder about it. I don’t even know if they know about me. But at the end of the day, I don’t know him or them, nor do I consider them my family. The man left my mom to fend for both of us on her own. He never paid child support because she didn’t put his name down on the birth certificate. She said he used to send money now and then to try to help out. My mom worked really hard to make ends meet when I was growing up. That’s why I was pretty horrified that I’d gotten you fired. I’d never intentionally take someone’s livelihood from them.”
“I know that now that I actually know you. Your mom sounds like such a rock star. So, she struggled financially?”
“Oh, yeah. I didn’t grow up with a lot, as far as material items, but there was a shit ton of love in that house. We lived on peanut butter sandwiches and macaroni and cheese. But we always had a good time together. We’d play cards and board games, and there was always a lot of love in our home. That’s probably why I overreacted when you walked into that bathroom. I’d been on edge ever since she got diagnosed. She’s kind of it for me as far as family goes.”
My heart ached for a young Lincoln and his mother, who were clearly on their own.
“I know how scary it is,” I said, leaning my head against his chest. The sound of his heartbeat soothed me. “I told you that my father was diagnosed with colon cancer when I was in college. It was the reason I came back to San Francisco when I graduated. I’d interned for a big magazine back east that had offered me a position, but I knew I needed to be close to home. It was a scary couple of years.”
“He’s okay now?”
I nodded. “He is. And hopefully, it stays that way. Every time the poor guy even coughs, we all get nervous.”
Lincoln chuckled. “I get that. I did my research when my mom got sick. Wanted to be sure we got her the best care possible. I’m always on her about eating right and getting rest. She pushes herself. Never misses any of my games.”
“She loves you.”
“She does. And she deserves a break. She’s lived her entire life for me. I want her to do things for herself, you know?”
“Yeah. My aunt Beth lost her battle to pancreatic cancer when my cousins were young, and Uncle Jack just focused on them. Making sure they were okay. But now they’re grown, and we all worry about him. I think my cousins would be okay with him dating now, well, aside from Dilly.” I laughed, and he shot me a puzzled look. “She’s just super protective over him, and I don’t know that anyone would be good enough for him in her eyes.”
“I get that. My mom’s dated a few guys, nothing serious. But I didn’t find a single one of those dudes to be nearly good enough for her.”
I shook my head. “I get it. You’re protective over the people you love. It’s a good quality to have.”
We sat there quietly, listening to the waves for a few minutes.
“Tell me why you love your job. Where do you see it going?” he asked.
“I’ve always loved sports. I spent my childhood and teen years trying hard to beat my brothers at everything. So, choosing a career in the sports industry was a no-brainer. But I also have a love for knowledge. Information. Learning about people and what makes them tick.”
“You are a nosy little one,” he teased.
I elbowed him in the stomach, and he tightened his grip on me. “I majored in journalism, and I interned at Strive Forward magazine, and my mentor was this super cool woman, Audrey. She would tell me how much power there was in the written word. The ability to communicate with hundreds to thousands to millions of people. The ability to make people fall in love with a sport, a person, or a place. The ability to change people’s perception about an individual if they’ve been presented unfairly. It was a way to use your voice for good. And I found it inspiring, I guess. But I also know there’s another side. The side of the bloodsuckers,” I said with a chuckle. “But I always wanted to be fair. Tell the truth. And I was drawn to you because no one really knew your story.”