Page 12 of Claiming Ours (Anchor Bay #2)

“Um, Bay,” Juno said after a few seconds of the uncomfortable silence and the other women all flicking nervous gazes around the table. “We won’t say anything, but you just told the entire bar yourself.”

Baylee’s blonde brows furrowed before shooting up her forehead, almost hitting her hairline. Eyes as wide as dinner plates, she turned her petite face up to mine, scrunching her tiny nose.

“Did I really?” I nodded, losing the fight with my growing smile. “Well, fucknuggets.”

Several deep chuckles cut through the silence, and the usual sounds of other conversations and laughter filled the bar. Squatting low to put us at eye level, I scanned her rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and wide smile.

“Looks like you had fun,” I said, noting the other guys were doing the same with their women. “And about what you just announced, don’t be embarrassed about that, Little Bit. I kind of assumed you were more innocent than me.”

A mischievous grin spread across her face as she did a slow once-over up and down my body. “But I am very experienced at other things.”

Oh fuck.

Her gaze once again dipped, sliding down my chest and pausing on my crotch. “I can do this thing with my tongue that?—”

Standing with a grunt, I hauled her out of the chair in the same movement.

I shifted her in my arms to carry her bridal style to the truck since I didn’t trust her not to hurt herself walking, but the gorgeous drunk had other plans.

Both her arms circled around my neck while her legs did the same around my waist. Her flushed face pressed between my neck and shoulder, a soft, content sigh brushing against my skin.

Damnit. I was a strong fucker, but even I didn’t have the willpower after her tongue comment to not palm her ass, loving the way it molded beneath my tightening fingers as I carried her toward the exit.

Behind me, I could hear Juno and Langston’s loud argument, followed by an ear-piercing, pissed-as-hell screech that cut through the bar noise.

Twisting to look over my shoulder, I barked out a laugh at Langston storming my way with Juno tossed over his shoulder.

Her legs kicked wildly while she screamed some pretty damn creative insults at the fucker.

Behind him, Dax attempted to guide a stumbling and very chatty Finley through the tables, his lips pressed in a tight line as if attempting not to laugh at whatever she was going on about.

The others were behind them, but not wanting to be run over by a furious Lang on his hurry to get out of the bar, I strode to the door, waving at Gus and the barback on my way out.

Outside, the sun still sat high in the sky, making me squint at the sudden shift from the dim bar.

“I’m sorry,” Baylee said against my neck, her soft lips teasing the skin.

“For what?” I murmured while holding the door open for the others as they filed out.

“For being such a fucking mess.” She leaned back, and her glassy eyes met mine. “I understand if I’m not worth it.”

My stomach dropped. What the fuck was she talking about? That was my line, how I felt about her being too good for me. Which she was, but again, I was a selfish bastard, and I wouldn’t let her go.

“My highs and lows, crying and then laughing, angry, then sad.” She shook her head, blonde hair shifting along her back, and buried her face against my neck again. “I understand if I’m too much trouble, but….”

“But what?” I rasped when she didn’t finish.

“I don’t want you to give up on me.”

I grunted, the pain in her tone almost like a physical punch to my gut. “Never, Little Bit. You listen to me. You are not a mess. You’re perfect, and there isn’t a chance in hell that I’ll ever even think about giving up on you.”

“You fucking bastard, put me down or I will cut your balls off in your sleep.” Juno’s threat echoed down the walkway, but Langston kept marching toward the 4Runner like she hadn’t spoken.

“I will make you pay for manhandling me, Langston. I’ll…

I’ll… fuck, I can’t think up something sinister and painful upside down like this, but I’ll come up with something really awful. ”

“You tell him, Juno.” I turned to find Finley smiling at Juno’s swaying head, giving it a sweet pat as Langston stormed past. “I’m glad we’re best friends.”

“I thought I was your best friend,” Dax said, arm wrapped around Finley’s waist, attempting to keep her from falling over the railing into the bay. “Damn, woman, I’ve never seen you this drunk.”

“I’m fine,” she said, shoving him off, or at least attempting to.

“I’ve never felt this good in my life. No worries in the world—” She slapped a palm over her mouth, and a sickly green tint overtook her face.

I grimaced as Finley spun out of Dax’s hold to pitch over the railing, vomiting everything she drank and ate into the water.

Concern tightened Dax’s features as he fisted her black hair and held it away from her face while Finley emptied her stomach.

“Uh, Liam?” The hesitation in Baylee’s voice had me looking down at her, brows pulled in tight. Skin more pale than fair, she chewed on her lower lip. “Now would be a good time to let you know I’m a sympathetic puker.”

I blinked, not understanding a word she just said. “A what?”

“It means if she hears or sees someone else throwing up, so will she,” Dax shouted over his shoulder.

“Go on, get her out of here. We don’t need two pukers on our hands.

” Finley swatted a hand blindly behind her, smacking Dax in the chest. “Woman, stop it. I’m just kidding.

Take her home, Liam. I’ve got this. I won’t let anything happen to Finley unless she keeps hitting me, and then I’ll dunk her in the freezing water to sober her up a little. ”

Not waiting to get puked on or wanting Baylee to get sick, I headed for the truck, pausing at the hood where Miles and Langston stood, heads bent together.

Movement in the 4Runner drew my attention, and I huffed a humorless laugh at Juno pouting in the back seat, arms folded over her chest, lips moving as if talking to herself.

“Yeah, I noticed him too,” Langston said. “He got here yesterday or the day before that—fuck, I can’t remember, but I can check the bookings. I think he’s staying at The Nest and brought his dog with him.”

Miles looked over his shoulder at Dave’s.

“He didn’t strike me as someone here to make trouble or who would be harmful to us or the town.

” He ran a hand over his mouth. “If we see him around town again, I’ll have a little chat to see what he’s doing here.

He doesn’t look like the outdoor enthusiast we normally get visiting here. ”

Langston grunted in agreement. “He pushed back when I pushed him, but it felt more self-protective than anything. I got the feeling he’s been through shit and is coming out the other side.”

“Like we all were when we got here,” I stated, joining the conversation. “Who are you two talking about? Do we need to go back?—”

“Guys, I need to get Finley home now. She’s done puking for the moment, but I’m not sure how long that’ll last.” Dax didn’t even stop as he guided Finley to the 4Runner’s back seat and opened the door.

I turned to Dave’s, the urge to go back and confront the man my friends were discussing almost too strong to ignore. That was until a soft kiss pressed to my neck, followed by a gentle hum, refocused me on what was important.

“Come on, Little Bit,” I muttered into her hair, inhaling the sweet coconut scent. “Let’s get you home.”

“Home,” she repeated. “He used to be that for me, you know.” I knew exactly who she was talking about, no explanation needed because I had that at one time too long ago. “Now I don’t know where home is.”

I sucked in a breath, her words and sad tone a punch to the balls.

“Home is always with the people you love, who support and protect you. Your home is with me, Baylee, with all of us. We might not be a family by blood and are super fucked up, but we are family just the same. Let us in and you’ll see. ”

Her crystal blue eyes searched mine. “What will I see?”

“That you’re safe, every part of you. It’s okay to be vulnerable, to open up and let us see the good, sad, and ugly. We’ll be here for you, but you have to take that first step to letting us in for us to be your safety net.”

“I’m trying,” she whispered, tears filling her lower lids.

“I know you are, and I’m so damn in awe of your strength. So fucking proud of what you’ve survived and that you’re still able to smile and give so much to others. But you don’t have to do it alone, not anymore. Not with me, not with the others.”

A small smile curved the corners of her lips upward despite the tears leaking out of her eyes. “See, you’re proving me right. Adorable. You’re just a big softy, you know that?”

Shaking my head in disagreement, I stepped up to the passenger door. Before pulling it open, I inspected the area around us, noting how quiet it was now that the others had left.

“Anyone who has ever met me would disagree with you on both counts.” Especially the bastards I nearly killed during my MMA days, the insurgents I handled while serving my country, and the bulls I fucking owned during that rodeo stint in high school. “If they were conscious after, at least.”

It was terrible of me, but I couldn’t help the cocky smirk that formed.

I loved the fight, the thrill of your life on the line, sure, but mostly I loved fucking winning.

That glorious high that came from knowing you were the biggest and baddest shit in the arena was epic.

Never again would I be the scrawny kid who got his ass beat over and over when he tried to stand up to the bullies fucking with those smaller than them.

Even back then, I was a protector. I just couldn’t do shit about it.

Not now, though. Now I could handle my own, either hand to hand or with most weapons.

“Nope.” Her sweet voice pulled me out of those dark memories. “You’re my sticky-sweet cinnamon roll.” Her head popped off my shoulder as I gripped the chrome door handle. “Do you have cinnamon rolls at home that we could make? Oh, or cookies?”

Pressing a smiling kiss on her forehead, I pulled the door open and gently sat her on the bench seat.

Grabbing the seat belt, I stretched it out wide and buckled it around her lap, double-checking she was secure.

A small, warm palm cupped my cheek, freezing me on the spot.

Ever so slowly, I angled my face toward the smiling Baylee.

“I changed my mind. You’re a Tootsie Pop.” Oh fuck. She leaned in close until our lips brushed. “You’re something I want to lick and suck on to get to the yummy center.”

Closing the minuscule distance between us, I sealed my lips to hers, unable to hold back after that strangely erotic metaphor. Fingers wrapped around the back of her neck, I held her in place as I deepened the kiss, tasting every inch of her mouth before reluctantly pulling back.

“Holy fuck, you’re good at that,” she whispered, eyes wide. “Every time we’ve made out, I have been so turned on, but I couldn’t….” She trailed off and flicked an avoidant gaze toward the driver’s seat.

“Hey, it’s okay. I?—”

“Dean is the only guy I’ve ever done anything with.

” She peeked at me out of the corner of her eye.

“Anything,” Baylee emphasized. She paused, waiting for me to catch on to something, but I had no fucking clue what she was alluding to.

“I’m saying you’re only the second guy I’ve ever kissed, Liam.

” Pride swelled in my chest, and I fought the instinct to pump my fist in the air like an idiot. “And you’re fantastic at it.”

She bit her lip, clearly not done sharing. Careful to not break the moment, I stayed perfectly still, only my nostrils flaring with each deep breath. Maybe it made me a terrible asshole, allowing her to spill all this while intoxicated and vulnerable, but… no one ever said I was a good guy.

“I don’t deserve your patience,” she said with a heavy exhale. “But I need it for a little longer.”

“You’ll have it as long as you need,” I promised.

Her eyes rolled to the roof. “Guys have needs that need to be met. Hell, I have needs.”

My brows shot up over my forehead at that tidbit. “Oh yeah?” She nodded. “Do tell, Little Bit. Tell me about these needs of yours.”

Yep, it was official. I was a terrible asshole.

“After you leave my place, I have to take care of myself with these?—”

Nope.

Fuck. Abort mission.

No man on this planet had enough resistance to hear his girl talk about playing with herself and not fuck her right then.

I jerked back, the back of my head connecting with the edge of the roof with a loud thump.

A string of curses flew out as I rubbed at the sore spot while squinting up at the clouds like they were the ones that caused me pain.

Fuck the long-ass daylight hours here in Alaska.

I never needed the cover of night like I did now to hide my flushed face and tented jeans.

A honeyed giggle had me narrowing a fake frustrated expression at Baylee, who hid a wide smile behind a couple of fingers hovering over her curved lips.

“You think that’s funny?” I grumbled, still massaging the pain away from my skull.

She nodded. “Just my yummy Tootsie Pop.”

Groaning, I made sure she was fully tucked into the truck before slamming the door shut. I needed that physical barrier before I bent her over the tailgate and fucked her until her screams echoed through town and everyone knew she was mine.

My footsteps stuttered at that thought. I gave my head a hard shake and forced myself to continue to the driver’s side. Nothing good would come from giving in to temptation tonight.

She needed to feel safe with me while she was this vulnerable and so damn adorable. I’d rather carve out my heart with a rusted spoon than do anything to jeopardize how she viewed me.

A Tootsie Pop and cinnamon roll.

My chest vibrated with a deep chuckle as I folded my tall frame behind the wheel.

Only the amazing, brilliant, and utterly precious woman beside me would ever say that about me. If I were honest with myself, I fucking loved it.

But more than anything, it made me want to be the man she believed me to be.