Page 33 of Claim Me

“How do you know?”

“I went to therapy after Sync and I ended. I wanted to face the reason I stayed with him for so long.”

Losing interest in my food, I rest my hands on the table and ask, “And what was that reason?”

“I thought I could mold him into becoming like my dad. Elvis is cool and fun. I love everything about how he deals with the world. I saw some of that in Sync and figured I’d fix the rest.”

“If you want a man like Elvis, why would you want to date me?”

“I don’t want to date you. I want to fall in love with you, Indigo,” Siobhan says, and her honesty kicks me in the balls.

“But I’m nothing like Elvis.”

“You’re a good man who’s patient with kids and animals. You’re also loyal. You have many of Elvis’s qualities.”

Her praise breaks through the nonsense in my head. She’s chosen to treat this thing between us as normal. I don’t need to feel guilty about lusting over her. With Siobhan smiling at me, I feel like I have a real shot at claiming her heart.

SIOBHAN

Indigo is so sexy once he mellows out. A few times during our date, he gets stuck in his head. He’ll put on his intimidation expression and try to push me away. When I ignore his negative vibe, he chills and returns to his naturally sweet self.

“I don’t want you to leave yet,” I tell Indigo when we pull into my garage. “Will you come inside and fool around with me on the couch?”

Indigo immediately gets tense. “No fucking.”

“Look, I get it. You’re hung up on purity or whatever, but I’m perfectly capable of making out with you on the couch without riding your dick.”

“Are you, though?”

“Didn’t you hear? I had sex a few weeks ago. That ought to last me for a year or two,” I tease and climb out of my truck. “Let’s have a little fun. I might even dance for you.”

Indigo chills out as soon as I mention dancing. He’s no doubt seen my slick moves and can’t wait to admire them again.

Once inside, I use the bathroom, check my teeth, ditch my shoes, and return to the living room to find Indigo standing at the back doors.

“What are you thinking about?” I ask as I consider changing my pants since I’m feeling bloated.

“I was wondering how my dogs would do at your house.”

“You worry too much. Your dogs are smart. They can handle new situations,” I say and inch toward the hallway. “I’m going to change into sweatpants. Between pregnancy and my steak, I’m bound to burst out of my jeans and ruin our ‘no fucking’ plan.”

I don’t wait around to see Indigo’s response. I hurry to my closet, grab loose black sweatpants, and nearly fall on my ass trying to switch clothes too quickly. A little part of me fears Indigo might disappear. He’s been very present all night, yet I’ve seen him bail on uncomfortable situations before.

Hurrying back to the family room, I find him still at the back doors.

He glances at me. “Are you really going to name the baby Bishop?”

“No, probably not. Maybe Apone or Newt instead.”

Indigo walks over to where I rest on the couch. “I don’t like those names. Do I get to help choose?”

“Is that a real question?” I ask, immediately straddling his lap once he sits next to me. “You know Sync helped me pick the twins’ names. Why wouldn’t I ask my new baby daddy to help?”

Indigo offers a little smile. “I think the baby should have a name like the twins. Their names are pretty. I also like how no one says them right.”

Laughing, I kiss his cheek. “One day, Deirdre will absolutely grow to hate how she needs to pronounce her name for everyone. But for right now, she seems to love correcting people.”

“When Caveman started calling me Indigo, I didn’t know what the hell the word meant. It felt weird and made up, but it’s a good name.”

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