Page 89 of Claiming Ours
His heavy, resigned sigh sent a few blonde hairs floating between us. A single palm guided my head back to rest on his shoulder.
“I know you wouldn’t, Baylee, but that kind of betrayal creates a deep wound that never really heals. Having someone you trusted wholeheartedly deceive you like that leaves scars.” Nodding to let him know I was listening, I traced the tip of asingle finger over his chest where I knew actual scars marked his tanned skin. “A trauma response like that can’t be stopped. It just happens. But I’m better now at reasoning with myself. Like earlier, I knew you weren’t like her, and Ethan and Oliver wouldn’t do that to me either, but that initial suspicion sank in and gripped me tight for a few seconds before I could talk myself down.”
“You’ve lived so many lives before now, before me,” I whispered, suddenly hit with the impact of him being older. I didn’t mind, had never really thought about it, but now the realization landed that he’d been through and done so much more than me. “Which has been your favorite?”
His chest rose and fell with an exaggerated inhale.
“I feel every bit of all the different paths I’ve taken, from the broken bones to cracks in my heart that felt like they would never heal. But my favorite? Hell, from my dumb cowboy days on the rodeo circuit to amateur MMA fighting and, of course, the Army, all have made an impact, and I wouldn’t change any of them because it brought me here. Where I have a real family again, a job I love, and you.” I pushed up to look deep into his gray eyes. “With all that I’ve done, all that I’ve yet to do, this, right now with you, is the favorite part of my life. Hands down, no competition. It’s you and me, the way you make me feel and who you make me want to be. I never could’ve imagined someone as beautiful, smart, and funny with such a deep soul was waiting for me just on the other side of all the pain I’ve experienced.”
“I love you,” I whispered as hot tears leaked down my cheeks. “I’m terrified to say it because… of what happened to the last man I said it to, but I do. I really do love you, Liam. So much that I can’t breathe sometimes when I think about you and the potential of losing you too.”
A mischievous glint flashed in his eyes. “I’m too much of a stubborn bastard for you to lose me, Baylee. I’m yours now and forever. I’ve loved you from the day you told me we were going to be friends, and it’s only grown deeper every day since.”
Not caring about the tears coating my lips, I pressed forward, sealing my lips to his. Cupping his face between both palms, I held him exactly where I wanted and poured all the love, fear, and hope that was bottled up inside me into him.
When I pulled back, we both sucked in heavy breaths.
“I think I’m warm enough,” he said huskily. Glancing over my shoulder, he hitched his chin. “Dinner can wait. Get over here so we can turn our girl’s tears into screams.” He turned his focus back to me with a wicked grin. “Looks like you’re getting a preview of later, sweetheart. Now, I’m going to spin you around to ride me reverse while you open that perfect mouth of yours for Memphis to fuck.” He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Wonder how that piercing will feel against your throat.”
Holy shit.
Whatever I did in a past life to deserve this, I’d forever be thankful.
29
LIAM
Islumped in the cheap metal chair and leaned back, folding both arms over my chest. All around me, other members of the Uplift team talked and laughed, but I couldn’t bring myself to join the conversations. My mind was stuck on the two I’d left sleeping in my bed to be here on time. I forced myself to walk away after wasting too much time staring at them cuddled together, Baylee’s bare tits peeking out from the blanket, begging me to suck on them like I had the night before.
And nibbled.
And bit, leaving love marks all over her body—which, based on her pleas and begging, she liked as much as I did. Directing them all night while adding in Memphis’s kink, keeping Baylee restricted with a few of my belts, was a memory I’d gladly replay all day every day for the rest of my life. Who knew seeing her struggle against the restraints would be so fucking hot? Or watching while controlling some other guy as he fucked my girl balls-deep?
I still hadn’t revealed my newly gained kink that started after meeting Baylee, shocking the hell out of me the first time I gothard fantasizing about it. Who knew the idea of her belly swollen and tits huge would make me want to keep fucking her every second to ensure it happened? Last night, I even pushed my cum back into her cunt, keeping my fingers there to hold it in, even though I knew she had that birth control contraption.
I wonder what it would take to convince her to have it removed.
She really wanted another goat….
“Shit, you have it bad,” Aiden joked as he fell into the chair beside me. Miles hitched his chin in greeting from the other side of his best friend. “I’m guessing things are full steam ahead with you and Baylee.”
I nodded, not wanting to get into it with him.
“And that guy, the one with the sweet-ass tattoos. I’m not into men, but if I was, it would be?—”
“No, your kink is birds, remember,” I remarked with a smirk, knowing that would get the entire team engaged in trolling him.
“I’m a proud ornithologist, thank you very much.”
“Every time it’s said out loud, it still makes me shiver. Sounds illegal and disgusting,” Juno grumbled.
“Don’t yuck my yum, sweetheart,” Aiden responded with a wink.
I scanned the table, noting that Langston wasn’t present to kill Aiden with his death glare for daring to joke with his so-called nemesis—who he also couldn’t stop staring at or complaining about constantly. “Has anyone heard anything regarding West?”
Juno’s smile faded. “The surgery went well, and they’re hopeful he’ll make a full recovery. Since we’re so far from the hospital, they wanted him close for a few more days. That’s where Langston is, with West until he can come home.” She cleared her throat and forced a smile. “How’s my girl Bayleedoing? I noticed an uptick in online scheduling through the website I built for her.”
I rubbed my jaw. “She’s good.” A small smile broke free from my normal expressionless mask. “Happy.”
