Mardi Gras 1969

Chapter 9

Ebony threw a towel to Lincoln and they both wiped themselves dry. She looked over and caught a glimpse of him smiling to himself, tight little curls forming in his hair. It really was a sight to see. A glimpse of who he could've been had his life not been so tragic.

Lincoln finished drying off and picked up a jar on Ebony's desk, "Can I?" "Knock yourself out!" He smoothed the sweet smelling oil in between his hands and then into his arms. Turning to look outside the window, he saw his reflection. Damn. He couldn't remember the last time he looked like this, his expression so full of life. I think she's rubbing off on me.

He rested back on the desk and picked up one of her mirrors. He played with his curls and chuckled. Setting the mirror down he noticed Ebony watching him intently. Her eyes were pensive and he felt a bit uneasy and embarrassed by her gaze, "Did I do something?" She inhaled, "No Lincoln, it's just, you're beautiful." Lincoln was touched by her admission, it was not often that a woman complimented him in that way. She walked towards him slowly and cupped his face, planting a kiss on his lips and holding it there. He leaned inwards and for a while they stayed that way, a smacking sound when their lips parted slowly.

Ebony walked back over to her mirror and started finger coiling her hair. Lincoln sat back on the desk leaning against the window as he shut his eyes. He felt his heart skip a beat, overwhelmed with an emotion that he struggled to remember. He felt loved and for a moment even vulnerable. I can barely remember this feeling. The memory was faint but he fought to place it. It had to have been, it had to have been her. The last woman to embrace him in that way was his mother. It was long before his memories of his life at Sammy's or even the orphanage where he spent his childhood. He hadn't thought about his mother in a while. I hope she's ok, wherever she is.

He opened his eyes and watched as Ebony made her way to the bed, her back turned to him. She dropped her towel to the floor and motioned towards him, "Come." Lincoln obliged taking her hand in his and laid down on the bed. She crawled up on top of him and rested her head on his neck. Her hand caressing his chest lightly as he pulled the covers over them. He rested his hand around her waist and rubbed her thigh. Damn, what a night. He stared out at the moon as he felt the need for sleep beginning to claim him. His eyes fluttered closed as he watched Ebony dose off as well, looking peaceful as ever in his arms.