Page 136 of If You Claim Me
“Take your panties off,” he demands once we’re on the road.
I shimmy them down my thighs. Connor holds his hand out, and I drop them into his palm. He groans as he brings them to his nose and inhales deeply.
“Oh my fucking God.” I shudder and dig my nails into my thighs.
“Are you coming again?”
“Maybe,” I say through gritted teeth. The roll of my hips gives me away.
Connor almost misses the turn. He makes a hard right, then straightens out the wheel, easing off the gas. His hot hand lands on my thigh, squeezing. I part my legs for him, and he skims my clit. My body is on fire, and I’m on the verge of combusting.
We turn onto our street, and he punches in the code for the gate. As soon as we’re through, he shifts into park and wraps his hand around the back of my neck, yanking me over and into a kiss. With that, we’re frantic, insatiable. He throws open his door and steps out into the cool fall night. I clamber over the centerconsole, and he pulls me out of the car with one arm while he frees his cock with the other.
He hurriedly rolls on a condom, and then I wrap myself around him and he presses me against the side of the car. Our gazes lock, my heart skips a beat, and then he fills me in one rough, glorious thrust. Our mouths clash, tongues lashing. Connor fucks me into oblivion at the mouth of the driveway. I can’t get close enough, will never be full enough. I want him in ways I’ve never wanted anyone.
And then he softens. His hold gentle, his lips tender on mine as he fucks me still. I think I could love him, if he would let me.
CHAPTER 36
CONNOR
“Where’s Dred tonight?” Meems asks as Norm and Ethel fuss over her, making sure she’s comfortable before they leave us to eat.
“She’s visiting a friend.”
Meems brightens. “Her Babes?”
I smile. “Uh, no, she’s playing board games with Flip,” I explain.
“Ah.” She nods knowingly. “And how do you feel about that?”
“He’s her best friend.”
“That’s who he is, not how you feel,” she presses.
I cut my parmesan green bean in half and spear it with my fork. “He’s her family. They’ve been a support system for each other for a long time.”
She widens her eyes and waits.
“I mean, obviously I’m jealous. But I know there’s nothing going on between them.” Mildred sleeps beside me every night. I’m the only man who gets to touch her, kiss her, love her.But I’ve never said those words. “Their friendship is easy. They’re very close.”
“She’s an easy person to love,” Meems says.
“She is,” I agree. I want to claim her forever. To make her love me back. “But I’m not.”
“That’s not true,” she argues.
“My father hates me.”
She sighs, her expression softening as she sets her fork on the edge of her plate. “He doesn’t understand you. Your father is very much like your grandfather. His entire existence is a business transaction.”
“But Pops loved you,” I point out.How am I any different when my own marriage is based on a contract?
“He did, but that took time. And unfortunately for your father, I was theonlyperson your grandfather was soft for. You can’t escape genetics, but you also have pieces of me and your mother. You have kindness and compassion.”
I don’t see these things about myself. I’m not selfless. “Mother lets my father walk all over her. My sisters do the same with their husbands.”
Meems sighs. “I hoped that Courtney would soften your father the way I did your grandfather. But instead of softening him, he hardened her. Your mother is too conditioned to be what everyone else wants. You played your part, but you never stepped in line for either of them.” She reaches out to squeeze my hand. “It isn’t hate they feel. It’s frustration, confusion, fear. The ultimate failure as a parent is being unable to see your children for who they are. It isn’t your fault they don’t understand you.”
