Page 52 of Drifting Hearts
Cupping his face, I tilted his head, angling for the kiss. His mouth was soft and he parted his lips, kissing me back, letting me inside to explore his mouth as though I hadn’t done it before.
His arms circled around me, and without the cast he was able to grip onto me with both hands. I desperately wanted to be alone with him. I wanted to kiss every inch of him. To strip him bare and explore him. Take my time driving him wild.
“How soon is dinner?” I asked, kissing his neck.
Clay ran his hands down my back and over my ass. He squeezed both cheeks and moaned against me. “Not soon enough, apparently.”
Before I could respond, Clay was kissing me. Grinding against me, he let out the most needy little sound. It went straight to my dick andif we didn’t stop kissing soon, I’d have to walk back into the kitchen with a huge, embarrassing erection.
“Clay,” I breathed against his mouth, breaking the kiss. Needing air, but still needing him like hewasair. “Come home with me tonight.” I’d beg him if I had to.
He looked like he was going to say yes, then suddenly he jerked and yanked himself out of my arms like I was on fire. My confusion only lasted a split second, and then I saw Shane’s thunderous face. Archer stood behind him looking equally shocked, but not quite as murderous as his boyfriend.
“It’s not what it looks like,” Clay said.
The fear in his voice made my hackles rise and I reached for him, pulling him against me.
“It’s exactly what it looks like,” I countered, staring at Shane, daring him to be stupid.
“It looks like Clayton is running a new con and you’re his new mark.” Shane sneered.
Archer didn’t say a word, but he wrapped his hands around Shane’s arm and tugged, pulling him away like he was scared Shane might take a swing at me or Clay.
“Then Clay was right. It’s not what it looks like.”
Clay tried to pull away from me, but I wasn’t about to let him. I’d half expected Shane to have his head up his ass about this, but I’d hoped to have more time to soften him up to the idea.
“This man stole from Archer. Did you forget that?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, I totally forgot that Clay got himself into several deep holes. I also forgot that until recently he was in a cast because he had the living daylights beat out of him.” I took a step forward, angling myself to stay between Shane and Clay. It neverwould have crossed my mind that Shane might throw a punch, but my gut screamed at me to protect Clay.
“What are you doing?” Shane asked, eyeing the way I was putting myself between them like a wall. Not since we were unruly kids had I entertained the thought of kicking Shane’s ass, but the possibility crossed my mind now.
“What does it look like I’m doing?”
“Are you two involved?” Shane looked at him, then back at me. “Please say no.”
“Why? Would it be so fucking awful if we were?”
“Yes!” Shane shouted. “He was supposed to leave now. He’s safe from the shit he got in. He got therapy and a free ride for a few months. I thought he’d have a plan by now to get out of Archer’s life because it’s the least he could fucking do. Instead he’s grinding on my brother in our mom’s back yard. Does Mom know about this?”
Shane’s voice had gotten increasingly louder and I didn’t miss the way Clay shrank against me.
“Yes, she does.” Mom’s voice had everyone freezing in place like we’d been caught misbehaving, which wasn’t far off the truth. “And she doesn’t appreciate the ruckus out here, not with two new guests inside who are sleeping, who don’t need to wake up to this bullshit. Your brother is old enough to make his own decisions.”
“We should go,” Archer told Shane. He made eye contact with me, then glanced at Clay. “We’re sorry about the noise, Patricia. We’re going to go, right, Shane?”
Archer tugged on Shane again, but my brother stared me down like he thought he could win.
“You should go,” I told him before turning away and leading Clay back toward the house.
“This isn’t over,” Shane growled.
“Let’s just leave.” I heard Archer say as I stepped into the house behind Clay. Instead of sitting down in the kitchen, he made a beeline through the house and I followed him into his bedroom.
I quietly shut the door behind us. Clay stood in the middle of the room, unmoving.
“I don’t care what Shane thinks,” I told him.
