Page 78 of Claiming Ours
“There might have been some touching,” he stated a little clearer this time.
“Oh.Oh,” I exclaimed. “And you didn’t want it?”
“And I didn’t know I’d like it.” His hazel eyes met mine, searching as if to see if I’d judge him for the truthful admission. “The sharing piece, all of it. Fuck, what’s wrong with me? After that night, now I actually want to be around people,” he growled, clearly annoyed with the emotions and feelings that night evoked.
“People,” I hedged, “or just one person?”
His eyes narrowed on me, and I held up both hands in surrender. Clearly he wasn’t ready to dissect all those feelings just yet.
“Now we’re both frustrated that we had the best fucking night, and now she’s gone. Neither of us got her name or where she was from. The only thing we know is she was on the tail endof a cruise and flying out the following day. And she ghosted us, left before either of us woke up.”
“And you want to find her?”
“Yes, fuck yes. I even signed up for fucking Facebook, thinking that would somehow help us magically find her. WhoamI right now?” He tossed both hands up in the air in frustration. “I just need to get out in my element. If anyone needs me, they can reach me on the sat phone. I’m going to head out on the trail until I find something of hers.”
I stood so abruptly, the chair slammed against the wall. Both dogs barked and jumped up on all fours.
“Ethan, that’s not safe,” I said, worry in my tone.
The frustration faded from his features, and a genuine grin tugged at his lips, making his beard twitch. “I’ll be okay, Baylee. Promise. Don’t worry about me.”
“But I do, and I will until you’re back. I can’t help but worry about my friends.”
“They’re lucky men,” Ethan said after a second. “I hope they know that. You’re a gem, Baylee. A motherfucking gem.”
With that, he turned and left, the front door’s bell signaling his exit.
I slumped back into the chair with a groan. I really would worry about him. I couldn’t help it with everything going on around Anchor Bay.
Leaning back, I stared at a blank spot on the wall, mulling over everything that had happened the last few days. From starting a physical relationship with Liam, Memphis arriving and him joining our new relationship, losing my virginity in the best way possible, to finding a dead body, it was a lot in a short amount of time. Even the run earlier couldn’t settle the undercurrent of anxiety keeping me on alert.
Not sure how long I spaced out, but the need to check in had me pulling my phone out of the drawer. Grimacing, I cleared allthe missed calls and clicked to the messaging app. A small smirk tugged at my lips at finding one waiting to be read from Liam.
Sat Phone 5: Don’t forget to eat lunch, Little Bit.
Me: Don’t worry, Daddy.
Sat Phone 5: That… is interesting.
I bit my lip to stop the widening smile and shifted in the chair to ease the throb between my thighs just typing that had triggered. Fuck, what would happen if I actually said it out loud?
Me: Interesting bad?
Sat Phone 5: Not sure if working a chainsaw with a fucking hard-on is good or bad.
I barked out a laugh, making the dogs glance up at me like I was crazy.
Me: Ah. How is the cleanup going?
Sat Phone 5: Good. Should head out tomorrow.
Sat Phone 5: I need to see you.
Me: Miss you too.
Sat Phone 5: Go eat. I know you haven’t.
Shaking my head, I set the phone down, unable to stop smiling. How in the hell did I get so damn lucky? Twice. Wait, three times?
