Page 32 of Claim Me

I’ve long wanted to be able to touch her. Not trusting myself around her, I often shoved my hands into my pockets to keep from losing control.

Now, I can caress her beautiful face. Siobhan runs her fingers across my forearms. I feel the mood shifting toward fucking. Or maybe this is what people feel when they’re dating. All I know is her touch is making me rock hard.

When I step back, Siobhan glances down at my crotch as if she knows exactly what’s happening. Her gaze returns to me, and a smirk slides across her lips.

“You think I’m hot.”

“Iknowyou’re hot.”

“Don’t forget that when I feel sick or have an ugly day,” Siobhan says and walks to the kitchen. “Thank you for the flowers. They’re so beautiful. Did you pick them out by yourself or did someone help you?”

Leaving the foyer, I join her in the kitchen overlooking a breakfast area and the family room.

“I picked out the flowers. Are they the wrong kind?”

Siobhan turns to me and says in a lovestruck way, “They’re perfect.”

We watch each other for a minute. I probably ought to say something smart, but I only want to look at Siobhan.

“We best go so we can get to the theater in time to watch the trailers,” she says, patting my chest. “I like talking shit about the bad ones.”

Siobhan reaches for her purse and hands me her truck keys. On the short drive, she asks me about the kids staying with Caveman. I’m not usually chatty, but Siobhan’s interest gets me going on about the kids and my dogs. I don’t shut up until we’re in the concession line.

The movie is garbage like Siobhan hopes. She whispers complaints to me throughout. I love how casually she speaks to me. We’re not awkward at all. I don’t pay much attention to the screen.I focus on her hand in mine. The warmth of her breath against my ear when she whispers snarky comments. The scent of her hair as it brushes across my skin.Everything about Siobhan feels electric tonight.

During dinner at the upscale steakhouse, she shares everyone’s drama over my decision to stay in the hills.

“Zoot misses you,” Siobhan announces while enjoying her steak. “He won’t admit it, but he owns a big sloppy-ass heart filled with love for his club family.” Siobhan snickers at how she rats out her uncle. “Do you miss the farm?” she asks when I’m quiet for too long. “Do you want to stay in the hills?”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t know about the hills or don’t know if you miss the farm?”

“Of course, I miss the farm. It’s my home.”

“But when things got stressful, you went to the hills.”

“It’s where I lived with my mom and brother.”

Siobhan’s bright expression softens. Still smiling, she reaches over to stroke my hand.

“You were a good big brother.”

“How do you know?”

“You told me about how you taught him to ride his bike. You took care of him when your mom couldn’t.”

“I told you that, huh?” I mumble, hating how my ugly past digs its way into my current happiness.

“Do you ever talk to him?” Siobhan asks, and I instantly want to ignore the question. “He must remember how you took care of him.”

“He doesn’t care.”

“Or maybe he’s in denial.”

“No.”

“Hear me out,” Siobhan says as her fingers stroke my knuckles. “People will sometimes block out bad memories and rewrite their histories to benefit their sanity. But eventually, they’ll need to face what happened to them.”

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