Page 86 of Claiming Ours
And just how close were we all to the hidden danger?
28
BAYLEE
Carefully balancing the Kindle on my thigh, I tapped the screen to turn the page while continuing to thread my fingers through Memphis’s soft strands. I smiled down, loving the view of his head resting on my lap, lips parted in sleep. When they returned from the suspicious errand, Memphis had stormed into the cabin, kissed me senseless, then headed to take a shower while Liam went to his place to do the same.
I swiped a clump of soft blond hair off his forehead and studied his handsome face.
How did I get so lucky?
Memories of Memphis had surfaced a few times over the years that would remind me of the friend I used to have and missed like hell, but I never took that step to track him down. Thankfully, he was braver than me, or we wouldn’t be here now with me quickly falling back in love with him.
While they were gone and I had time to process the last week, I recognized that love was what I felt for Memphis then. It was platonic—though I guess not fully, or I wouldn’t have enjoyed him watching me and Dean or fantasized about him joining us.What made me love Memphis then and now was how he treated me with respect, made me his priority no matter the situation, and I always felt safe with him both physically and emotionally. I could tell him things, and he would listen, then ask for more, or just hold me when that was all I needed.
Panic of the unknown, of losing everything all over again, tried to weave through the quiet moment. Even if this wasn’t long-term, or ended badly, I would forever be grateful for the time I had with Memphis.
Same with how I’ve recently viewed my time with Dean. The grief surrounding his death and our lost future was still there, but it no longer had the debilitating choke hold on me that it once did. Instead, every day I found myself more and more grateful for the years I had with him instead of being sad about the ones I wouldn’t.
My gaze slid to the front door, brows pulling in tight as I impatiently waited for it to open. Where the heck was Liam? Over two hours had passed since he left to shower, and he hadn’t returned or at least called.
A noisy growl that erupted from my empty stomach had me stilling, hoping the sound wouldn’t wake the exhausted man using my thighs as a pillow. After the shower, Memphis had stumbled out into the living room where I sat catching up on the book club read for the month, dropped to the couch beside me, and exhaustedly murmured that he needed to rest his eyes. He was sound asleep within minutes.
“Your stomach is loud,” Memphis rasped, voice thick with sleep. He shifted on the couch, rolling to his back to blink up at me. “What time is it, Kitten?”
I checked the time on the tablet. “Almost eight thirty.” A buzz came from the kitchen, and I inclined my head toward his phone. “Your phone has been going off nonstop for the last thirty minutes or so.”
A guttural groan rumbled in his chest as he pushed off the cushion to sit up.
He rubbed tatted fingers against his closed lids. “That many texts in quick succession is probably my mom.” I bit my lip to conceal my knowing grin. “Yes, I’m still a mama’s boy. Some things will never change.” My stomach released another loud growl, making his eyes narrow. I pressed a hand to my belly button, hoping to quiet the sound. “Shit, I need to feed you.”
“I’m not a zoo animal,” I grumbled, turning my attention back to the book. “And it’s not just me. You need to eat too.”
Memphis snorted like it was ridiculous that he would consider his needs before mine. Warm breath brushed along my throat as he pressed a gentle kiss just below my ear. “I could always eat you now to fill me up, Kitten. I’ve missed your taste on my tongue.”
Heat flamed on my cheeks, no doubt flushed red, and my breath hitched with the surge of desire his words evoked. “I wouldn’t be opposed to that.”
Passion flared in his green eyes. “Did you miss us, Kitten?” Biting my lower lip, I nodded. “Missed us taking care of you in all the ways? Tell me, did you touch yourself while we were gone?”
“No,” I breathed, pulse racing. The Kindle slipped in my grip, and I tucked it between me and the couch to keep it from falling to the floor.
“Good girl, but I’ll admit that we did. Just thinking about you had us gripping our cocks at night, stroking ourselves as we reminisced on the feel of your cunt and the taste of you on our lips, while the potential of being caught with our dicks literally in our hands added to the thrill.”
My eyes were so wide I probably looked like a cartoon character. “Did you touch each other?” Was the idea hot? Fuck yes. But even if they didn’t, the thought of them touching themselves in the same room while talking about me had a freshrush of desire leaking from my core and soaking my already damp underwear.
Memphis’s smirk slowly spread into a mischievous grin. “We didn’t, but by your reaction, it seems you wouldn’t be opposed to it.”
Gripping my chin, he held me in place, kissing my lips hard and pushing his tongue inside to devour my mouth like I knew he could between my thighs. I moved along the couch to ease the demanding throb in my core.
“How soaked are you right now, Kitten?”
Drenched. I was almost worried there would be a wet spot on the couch when I stood up.
Before I could respond, my stomach growled again, reminding us both that it was way past dinnertime. With one more quick kiss to the corner of my lips, Memphis stood, adjusting his tented sweats with one hand while helping me off the couch with the other. He tugged hard, making me stumble against him.
Gripping a handful of one ass cheek, he squeezed it tight. “First I feed you, then we play.”
“Play?” I asked, trailing behind him to the kitchen.
