Page 91 of Claimed

E turns to me with a cocky, I-told-you-so grin. “Oh? And what did you say?”

“Nothing.”

“What the fuck do you mean ‘nothing’?”

I think back to earlier tonight and take a deep breath. She confessed her love and I clammed the fuck up. I didn’t know what to do, what to say. I fucking froze. I wasn’t prepared for it, wasn’t expecting the overwhelming emotion I felt when she said it. I’ve never combined feelings…emotions and women before, and I just didn’t know what to do. “What was I supposed to say?”

“You were supposed to say it back, genius.”

“I couldn’t.”

“Why not? And don’t even try to tell me you don’t love her. Everybody and their mommas know you do.”

“I don’t know, E. I care for her...a lot. I know I want to be with her. I just don’t know if I’m capable of anything more.”

“Stop being a fucktard. The sooner you accept that you’re in love with her, the better. Just patch her and be done with it. She’s a good woman and if you don’t lock her down, there are plenty of guys who would gladly do it.”

“Guys? What guys?” I look around the room suspiciously. Brother or not, I’ll kill all these motherfuckers if they even think about touching her.

“See what I mean? I’ve never seen you act possessive of a woman. Ever. And the guys? I’m pretty sure if you weren’t in the picture, any one of them would jump at the chance to claim her.”

“Including you?” I raise a brow at him.

“Nah. She’s like a little sister to me. Which is why I’m telling you to step up to the plate. I’ve never seen you this happy, Gage. I’m telling you...hold on to her.”

I’m contemplating his words when Razor plops down next to me and asks for a bottle of Jack. Cassidy walks out behind him and heads over to a corner where some of the Hounds are gathered.

“You still hittin’ that?” I ask Razor.

He takes a swig from the bottle and turns his gaze toward her. “Fuckin’ psycho bitch. I’ve tried to get rid of her a million times, but then she sucks my dick and I forget what I was trying to do.”

“Hey, you knew the bitch was crazy from the jump. I warned you.”

“Yeah. Next time, hit me over the head with your Glock or something.”

E chuckles and says, “Next thing you know, she’ll be your old lady.”

“Fuck that shit. Fuckingshootme in the head if that shit happens.”

We laugh at his distress, but he needs to be careful with her. After the shit she pulled with Nita, she’s capable of anything. On top of that, she seems like the obsessive type. If she’s transferred her obsession from me to him, it would be my fault. I hope I haven’t put my brother in trouble. Hopefully, Razor can handle her better than I did. I shoot the shit with the boys for a bit then grab a beer and head back to my room. I haven’t had much sleep this past week, and I just want to curl up with my baby.

She’s in bed, reading. Damn, I missed seeing her there. Shit, E might be right. I may be incapable of love, but I know I need her in my life. I leave my beer on the nightstand and take a shower. When I return and climb into bed, she turns off the tablet and moves close to me, turning so I’m spooning her. Fuck, she smells good. I bury my nose in her hair, inhaling deeply.

“Gage,” she warns. “Go to sleep.”

I slip my hand under her shirt and seek out her breast. When I touch her nipple, she hisses in pain.

“I’m sorry, babe. You should have told me it hurt.”

“Well, it didn’t hurt at the time.”

“Let me make it better.”

She tries to remove my hand from under her shirt. “Don’t touch it.”

“Can’t do that, doll. I need to touch you.”

She moans as I slide my hand down, reaching between her legs, but she presses her thighs together, hindering my progress.