Page 64 of Theirs to Possess: The Marriage Claim

Moments later, Brennan ends the kiss.

As he eases away, he strokes my hair back from my forehead.

My body is bare, and I’m wide open, sprawled in front of them, and the realization makes me pull my legs together.

My body is damp from exertion, and my chest heaves as I struggle to draw air. I’m wrecked—raw inside and out. My pulse races, as if I’m caught in a storm I can’t escape.

Dorian looms over me, raking his gaze down my body. His breaths are heavy and uneven.

After stalking into the bathroom and returning without a condom, he grabs a robe from the chair.

The material rustles as he yanks it on. Then he ties itloosely around his waist. “That’ll be enough for now.” His words are delivered with a bone-chilling cold.

He stalks out, and the door bangs shut behind him with a force that rattles the frame.

Humiliated, I grab hold of my lapels, drawing my robe around me as I turn onto my side and curl up into myself. Dorian was dismissive and cruel, as if I’m nothing more than a toy he’s done playing with.

“He’s a fucking prick.” Brennan leaves the bed, just long enough to pick me up and situate me on a pillow. Then he traces my lips with his thumb. “I’m sorry for the way he treated you.”

“You had nothing to do with it.”

“The argument did.” For a moment, he glances at the door. “I haven’t seen him like this since…”

The words hang between us. “Since?” I prompt.

He shakes his head. “It was a long time ago.”

“I’m his wife.”

Silence, except for the sounds of Dorian in the other room, hang between us.

“Don’t I have the right to know?”

“He’ll tell you when he’s ready.”

I sigh in frustration.

“Doesn’t excuse any of this.” He shakes his head slowly, exasperation etched on his face.

He flexes his fingers, as if he’s holding back the urge to chase after Dorian and have a conversation using fists.

“How about a bath after…” He seems to struggle to complete his sentence. “That.”

I couldn’t have come up with a better word. There’s really no way to describe what had happened between the three of us.

And since I’m now chilled and I feel used, I nod. There’sno way I’ll find sleep anytime soon, and I definitely need to unwind.

Gently Brennan lifts me from the bed. In contrast with Dorian’s earlier manhandling, Brennan’s arms are strong but comforting as he cradles me against his chest. Appreciating that, I rest my head on his shoulders.

He places me on the counter, and I snuggle deeper into my robe.

As I watch, he runs the water and tests the temperature multiple times before finally turning off the faucets.

“Ready?”

He helps me from my marble perch. After everything that’s happened, I’m surprised that I feel a little self-conscious to untie the knot at my waist and stand in front of him naked.

“It’ll get cold.”