Hunter's Moon

The Next Morning

I awoke the next morning in a tangle of blankets. How had I ended up on the floor? I stretched and my foot rubbed against something I could only describe as a leg. I flexed my fingers and felt hard muscle under them.

Oh no.

My eyes flashed open again and I realized I was resting my cheek against Lincoln's chest. How had that happened? I was sure I had fallen asleep in my own bed. My toes brushed against his leg again and I froze. Did we...? I looked down in panic and realized my pajamas were still on, letting out a sigh of relief. But then why was Lincoln out of his clothes?

His shirt was off, thrown in a heap on the floor beside our heads. His chest was well muscled, a firm six-pack of abs resting underneath. His arms weren't overly muscular, but the veins in them popped out. My hand ran over his chest, dipping with it as I drew my hand closer and then down his abs, my fingers fitting into the grooves.

Lincoln shuddered. "Are you still sleeping?" he mumbled thickly.

I yanked my hand back and looked up at him. He was smiling through narrow eyes, his eyes still foggy from sleep. "I'm sorry."

He chuckled and pushed me aside to sit up. "I wouldn't bother apologizing if I were you. You were rubbing on me all night. Stop blushing," he added with a grin. "Once I warned you I was going to take off my boxers you stopped."

"Oh my God," I muttered into my hands, rubbing them against my face in hopes of cooling it off and stopping the blush from spreading.

His smile was sweet. "Don't worry. I thought it was cute."

"Lincoln," I groaned.

"Liza," he mocked. He groaned as he stood up and slipped on his pants. Reaching for his shirt, he added, "We should do that again sometime. It was...interesting."

I stood up and strode past him. "Okay. You know what? How about you just put your shirt on and march your little butt out of here."

"Too worried about liking it too much?" He waggled his butt for emphasis.

I laughed and grabbed his hips to make him stop. "No. I just don't want my mom knowing you were here." I checked the clock. "She's going to be home in a few." I pushed against his back, trying to ignore the way my fingers sunk into firm muscles. "Hut hut! Go!"

He laughed as he slipped his shirt on. "I'm not a horse!"

I followed him upstairs, begging my mom to be just a little late. Why hadn't he gone out the downstairs sliders? He bid me farewell at the door and told me he'd see me soon. I had just started closing the door when Mom pulled in, casting us a curious glance. Lincoln grinned back at me and sprinted across the yard when Mom had pulled into the garage, leaving to explain the situation by myself.

It didn't take long for Mom to storm inside, set her stuff down on the table, and face me with her hands on her hips. "Who was that, Elizabeth Rose?"

"Just some guy, Mom," I lied. "He was going around the neighborhood asking for donations for some animal shelter."

"At six thirty?"

"Mhmm."

"Elizabeth." Her tone told me she knew I was lying and she wanted the truth. When I didn't give her it, she asked, "Do I need to give you The Talk?"

"Oh God, Mom! No!"

"Are you sure? Because you could definitely use a little recap it would seem. How long was he here, Elizabeth? Did you two sleep in the same room?"

"Mom, chill. We didn't do anything. And if we did, I definitely wouldn't tell you."

"You're too young, Elizabeth. Wait until you're older, more mature. You'll be more prepared then and it won't be because everyone else is doing it. You don't need to give yourself away because of pressure from friends."

"Mom! Honestly, we did nothing!" I shouted. "We aren't even that serious yet and I know not to give myself away that easily! Jeez, I'm not some cheap whore."

"I never said you were."

"It was implied," I shot back, crossing my arms over me.

She sighed and pinched her nose. "I need to sleep, Elizabeth. Now stop arguing with me and just tell me you won't pull that again. It's not funny and I don't enjoy coming home to a boy running across the lawn."

I just shook my head and went down to my room.