Chapter 4

Four

A llison was going to have to transfer to another job if this kept up. She could barely turn around without a big, hunky soldier in her path. Her demand for both Lincoln and Ford to leave had lasted all of a day before they'd returned.

Ford had come in with another assignment, he said. And Lincoln had come in with a pulled shoulder muscle. She had a feeling it was faked, but of course it meant sitting him down and getting his shirt off.

On the flip side, a heated flush came alive inside at the memory of what Lincoln had said to her yesterday about knowing how to pleasure her.

She'd gone home after her shift, taken off all her clothes and masturbated to thoughts of his steely muscle under her hands while their tongues tangled and he slid his cock into her needy pussy.

"What are you doing here?" she asked Ford.

His broad back was presented to her, but at her voice, he turned, revealing that he was holding a small bag with a coffeehouse logo on it. The Rise and Grind had the best donuts, and she from the smell, she knew what his gift was. He extended the bag to her.

"Oh Ford. My favorite." She accepted the bag and brought it to her nose. Inhaling the sweet fragrance, she tried to suppress the leap of her heart she felt at receiving his gift and special attention. She shouldn't like it, but she'd been so lonely lately.

"You spend too much time holed up in this place, Allison."

"It's my work."

He stepped up to her, cupping her chin in his hand. Compared to his rough, long fingers, she felt like spun glass. His gaze burned into hers and a part of her responded. "Did someone hurt you, sweetheart?"

Was she that obvious that both he and Lincoln would pick up on it?

"It was a long time ago." She looked away.

"Go out with me. You need to be made to feel like the woman you are again. I'll be by to get you at the end of your shift. We'll walk down to Walker's and have a drink."

Getting out did sound appealing. Sometimes she and Jessy went for drinks but lately their schedules hadn't been meshing. It was either go out with Ford or go home and watch boring reruns.

She felt herself nodding. "All right."

Standing so near she could feel the heat of his body brush against hers, he caressed the point of her chin with his thumb before releasing her. "Good. I'll see you then."

For the next few hours of her shift, she wondered if she should cancel. She talked herself out of going at least a dozen times, but when Ford showed up to take her, she couldn't say no.

"Give me a minute," she said. She went into the restroom and set her bag on the countertop. She usually brought a change of clothes and shoes because she hated running errands in her nurse's attire, and luckily she had a change today. She took off her scrubs and slipped on a sundress over a matching pair of white silk panties and bra that didn't look like she bought them in stock. And finally a pair of ballet flats. Then she fluffed her hair, applied some face powder and lastly, a smear of bright lipstick.

Funny, I FEEL like a woman again.

Smiling at her reflection, she went out of the restroom to find Ford waiting for her. Arms crossed, biceps bulging. It felt good to have a gorgeous man on her arm. She shouldn't be going out with a soldier at all, but he was more harmless to her than Lincoln. That man was pure trouble to her heart.

Ford offered her his arm, and she took it with a smile. Together they went out of the building into the sunlight. The Army base had its own smell, like trees and hot pavement. When she'd first come here, she'd been stunned to find the place so huge. It was its own city and covered several counties.

"I have my motorcycle on the grounds but it seems nicer to walk if you're up for it," he said.

She envisioned him with solid steel between his thighs, shirtless, his tattoos standing out in the sunlight. Shaking herself from the daydream, she nodded. "Walking is good."

Walker's wasn't far, and the evening wasn't too hot. She welcomed the sun on her face and bare arms.

"You look beautiful," he said in his deep tone.

She swallowed thickly. "Thank you. I'm glad you asked me to come."

"See? A woman like you doesn't always know what's good for her."

That made her bristle. "And you do?" She should be annoyed at how high-handed he sounded, but his words intrigued her. Sometimes she did overwork herself and forget her basic needs. Like human interaction and fresh air.

"You're having a good time, right?" he asked with a waggle of his brows that made her laugh.

"Yes, this is nice."

They passed people on the sidewalk, but Ford didn't speak to any of them or acknowledge them.

"How long have you been on base?" she asked.

"A year. They're talking about deploying my platoon again."

Her heart sank a little. "Really? When and where?"

"Afghanistan again. Two hundred paratroopers, by the sounds of it."

"Should you be telling me this? Is it confidential information?"

He skimmed his fingers over her hand where it was tucked into the crook of his arm. "I'm cleared to share that much. But I might be gone by the end of the month."

"I'd hate to see you go." Some soldiers never returned, and that scared her.

He looked down at her, a crease between his brows. "I'd write to you. And call."

"Yes, you could," she said at once. The morale of the troops was as important to their well-being as what she did in the triage unit.

He smiled. "Good. Ah, here we are. The renowned bar, Walker's." They stopped on the sidewalk to look at the building. It was long and flat-roofed with a black front door and very few windows. She remembered it being dark inside.

"Should we go in?" Ford asked.

"Yes. I'm ready for a drink. It's hotter out than I thought."

He opened the door for her to pass through first. A growl sounded from her right, and before her eyes had even adjusted to the dimness of the interior, Ford was lying on the floor, bleeding from a blow to the mouth, and Lincoln stood over him, chest heaving and fists clenched.

L incoln was going to end up in deep shit for this, but he didn't care. Fucking Ford was with Allison? His Allison?

His heart thundered in his veins, and his throat was tight with the need to roar. Ford lay bleeding, and Lincoln's knuckles stung from cutting them on the man's teeth. They were always trained not to go for the face when in a fight—the face was bony and you had a bigger chance of breaking your hand.

Fuck that.

He shook his fingers and made another fist a second before Ford popped to his feet and swung at him.

Allison screamed. The crowd parted to let them at each other, but the bar owner, Liberty, pounded on the bar top with police baton she used to keep her patrons in check. "Break it up, dammit! You two knuckleheads know the fucking rules. No fighting in my bar!"

Ford lowered his head and charged Lincoln. They flew backward in a tangle of locked limbs and fury.

"I said no fighting! Take it outside." The police baton was making a hell of a racket, even reaching Lincoln above the shouts from his fellow soldiers and civilians in Walker's.

Lincoln swept his leg across Ford's body, pinning him down and attempting a wrestling move. But Ford was healed, and they were well-matched in size and strength. He caught Ford in the jaw with his fist, but he turned aside before he could do any real damage.

Ford connected with Lincoln's abdomen, and the air whooshed from him.

"Lincoln, stop!" That sweet voice broke through his haze of anger, but he couldn't stop.

"Enough!" The barked order brought him back to his senses. Guys fell upon them, ripping them apart.

Ford flailed, trying to get at him, but Lincoln gave him a grin and the middle finger.

"Your commanding officers will be hearing about this," the sergeant said.

Ford shrugged and backhanded the blood from his mouth. Lincoln was still feeling that punch to the midsection. Tomorrow he'd feel it worse, but he embraced the pain in his hand from punching that little fucking weasel in the face. Multiple times.

He shrugged off the guy who was holding him back.

"You got this, Lincoln?" he asked.

"Yeah," he said, tone gritty. "I'm in control." He swung his gaze toward Allison—just in time to see her walk away.

Fuck.

She vanished through the door.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He hurried to catch up. He caught her on the sidewalk half a block away and wondered if she'd taken off running the minute she hit the open air. His heart squeezed at the sight of her angry face.

"Allison, stop." He got in front of her. She circled him and continued on.

He jogged to her side once more. "Please talk to me."

"All you soldiers are the same. I knew I shouldn't have let myself get carried away with thinking things could be different."

He pressed his lips tight. "You mean with Ford?"

"With anybody. You guys think you own a woman, that you're entitled to something because of your positions. Possessive assholes. All of you. And I was dumb enough to fall for it twice now."

"Wait." He pulled her to a stop, and she stood glaring up at him, a flush high on her cheekbones and her eyes bright with unshed tears. His chest walls flexed, and he wanted nothing more than to pull her close and comfort her. Kiss the angry away and show her he wasn't like that at all. And tell her she might be wrong about Ford and whoever else had hurt her, but not about him.

"Please don't do this, Lincoln. Let me go and don't mess with me again. I'm glad your foot is healed, but this is where whatever the hell this is ends." She jerked forward, moving around him. He stood on the sidewalk for a moment, watching her go. That sweet little ass of hers walking away from him.

His heart in his throat and an unreal ache in his body.

After she made it to the corner and rounded it, he brought a fist to his mouth. "Fuck. Goddammit fucking hell motherfucker!"

A guy in uniform gave him an amused glance, and Lincoln turned from him before he beat the shit out of him too.

The worst was knowing she'd gone out with Ford. Was this the first time? Lincoln had served with Ford—they'd fought together, shed blood together. They hadn't been getting along for a while now, but he respected the hell out of the guy. He was good at soldiering and never let their team down.

As Lincoln headed back to the barracks, he let his mind wander. He'd probably get called in for an inquisition about the event at Walker's. He didn't give a damn about that, nor did he care about smoothing things over with Ford.

At least she wouldn't be in Ford's arms or bed. The idea made Lincoln grind his damn teeth. Since the moment he'd set eyes on Allison, he'd felt something there. A kindred spirit kind of thing, and if he believed in soul mates, then he'd call her that.

"Shit." He couldn't believe he'd lost her before he'd had her.

There had to be a way to bring her around. She'd looked at him with those big blue eyes and he'd felt their connection twine together instantly. She was resisting this pull between them, but only because of some hang-up from her past. Whatever it was, he wanted to help her work through it. And he wanted to be the guy who came to her rescue, swept her up and let her see how worthy she was of love.

Then make such passionate love to her she couldn't walk for a week.

No matter what she'd said, all soldiers weren't cut from the same cloth. He was different, and he had to get close enough to prove it to her.

How was a huge question mark in his mind. As soon as he walked into triage, she'd find someone else to take care of him, no matter what injury he faked. No, he had to find another way to speak with her, to make her see that her fears were unfounded and he wasn't somebody to run away from.

As far as Ford was concerned, Lincoln hoped he'd taken care of his rival. Ford wasn't right for Allison—the way she looked at Lincoln was proof of that. The way she'd kissed him. Fuck, his dick got hard just thinking about it. Now he just had to make her see that the right man for her was one who'd lay down his life for her, shed blood for her and give his all for her.

He'd never felt so strongly about a woman before, and he wasn't a quitter. The Army had trained him well.

" S tupid." Allison tossed her flats into the corner of her room and went into the bathroom to splash water on her face. She'd cried all the way to her apartment and felt hot and sticky after the long walk.

Her apartment was too hot after baking all day in the North Carolina heat, but she didn't have enough money to buy one of those small air conditioner units to fit in the window. Her apartment building was old and off the beaten path, unlike some of the new places for rent.

In some ways, she was glad to be farther from the base. It meant she wasn't seen often, and maybe Ford and Lincoln wouldn't know where to find her.

She looked into the mirror at her tear-tracked face and red-rimmed eyes.

Her last boyfriend had gotten possessive and controlling. He'd flip out over who she'd treated that day and what body parts she'd seen. He'd question if the guys had hit on her at all.

Part of the reason she'd accepted some of Ford and Lincoln's advances had been pure rebellion against her ex. Like saying look at me, I'm touching this guy, he's touching me. And kissing me.

But all of her choices lately weren't right for her. She had to cut off her desire. When she thought of a long, lust-filled night, Lincoln came into her mind. Visions of his strong body working over-top her as he plunged his cock deep into her aching pussy. Their gazes locked and all of the fireworks blasting between them.

She pushed out a breath. "You don't even want Ford. You shouldn't have gone out for drinks with him," she said to her reflection.

Ford was a convenient distraction for what she'd really been feeling since meeting Lincoln. And the way he'd stared down at her on the sidewalk made her wonder if he felt the same.

With a noise of annoyance at her racing thoughts, she ripped off her clothes and got into the cold shower. Instead of the cold spray cutting her desires, her skin pebbled and her nipples hardened. Her clit pulsated between the lips of her pussy, and she couldn't stop it anymore.

She ran her fingers down between her legs and gasped as she circled her hard nub. Girl cum instantly soaked her pouty fold, much hotter than the water in the shower. She sank one finger deep in her pussy and continued to stroke her clit. Pressure built in her core and tendrils of pleasure radiated through her system.

She needed Lincoln. The filthy fantasy running through her head was on instant replay. Had been for days now, to be honest. She needed the hard, swollen cock she felt pressing into her stomach while he kissed her inside her, pleasuring her into the best orgasm of her life.

She panted into the quiet space as hot sensations ran over her

Leaning heavily against the wall, she imagined kissing Lincoln again and his rough fingers teasing her clit, stroking her velvety walls.

Driving her wild. She bucked her hips into her hand, and cried out again. Breathing hard, she finger-fucked herself. Lincoln loomed in her mind. His eyes, mouth on her nipples, teasing her pussy and ass as he stole her sanity.

Her blood ran hot, searing through her veins. Lava would be ice water in comparison.

She peaked too fast, suddenly exploding in a blinding glow. She screamed his name, and it echoed off the walls. Contraction after contraction hit her body, and slick juices ran over her fingers.

"Lincoln," she almost sobbed as her bliss came to an end. She hung against the wall, forehead pressed to it, wondering how the hell she was going to stop thinking about him and if he'd really abide by her wishes and leave her alone.

She hated herself right now, because she didn't want that—not one bit. She turned off the water and grabbed the vibrator from her dresser drawer and fell to her bed, legs wide open, pussy angry with need. But the thick fake cock wasn't enough to get her off the way she wanted. No. Only Lincoln could do that for her.