Page 21 of Hero: Claimed

He brings his hand up to my face, stroking the apple of my cheek and for a split second, I think he gets it. He leans in close, his breath dancing against my ear, tickling the skin, sending icy trills down my back. “They won’t judge you,” he whispers.

My eyes begin to water, giving him the perfect opportunity to launch a sneak attack, forking off a piece of decadent banana cake with dark chocolate frosting and bringing it to my mouth, smudging some of the frosting over my lips until I have no choice but to lick the sweet glaze away and he feeds me. Legit, he feeds me cake and it’s so romantic that I want to punch him.

Who does he think he is being sweet and romantic to me? I know who I am. I know my place. Why the hell is he trying so hard to change things up? I don’t get it. Then, I kid not, he takes a bite of cake for himself—off the same fork!

To make matters worse, it’s freaking delicious cake, to boot. We sit together sharing cake and ice cream, drinking our beers. Conversation flows around us, but I’m too in my own head to pay attention.

Levi stands to throw our plate away and takes our empty bottles. He comes back with fresh ones and it’s like we’re a real couple. I can’t let myself believe in any of this. It’s not real and it won’t last. I’m not stupid. But I’d be lying if I said he’s not getting to me because he’s starting to wear me down.

Dammit.

8.

Levi

After the party winds down and the brothers and old ladies with kids take off for the night, Brin and I head back to the clubhouse. She tries to stealthily maneuver her way back to the room, but I catch on to that, quickly nabbing her hand to lead her to the bar. We’ve had a good day. One of the most fun days I’ve had in memory.

She laughs at my jokes, and not because she wants me to fuck her and thinks that’ll get her what she wants. She shares her opinions and doesn’t shy away from being vulnerable around me. There are very few women I’ve ever shared this kind of connection with. How the hell did it even happen?

Around midnight, Brinley turns to me. “Levi, would you mind if I called it a night? It’s been a full day and I’m really pretty tired.”

“Nope. You’re right; it’s been a long day.” I pull her up from the stool, not letting go of her hand as I lead her through the common and down the hallway to the room.

“I know the way,” she says.

“Yup.”Yupis all she gets from me. I open the door, ushering us both inside. In an attempt to not make things any more awkward, I walk over to the dresser to get a pair of sleep pants, heading to the bathroom to change. It only takes me a few minutes. I dump my clothes in the hamper and walk over to where Brinley sits on the edge of the bed, still fully dressed. “Where’re your PJs, Brin?”

“I… What’s going on here?” she asks. And yeah, I get she’d be confused. I spent the night on the disgusting couch in the common last night, but that’s not gonna get her comfortable with me. It’s not putting her in a place to trust me.

“It’s a big bed.”

“I’m a big girl. Don’t know that any bed is big enough.”

I’ve had enough.

“Seriously, don’t do that. I’m sick of hearing you cut yourself down. It shits me that you can’t see how beautiful you are.” Holy shit, did I just say that out loud? When I see her blink back the tears forming in her strikingly exquisite eyes, I know I did. But God help me, it’s the truth. When the truth does me no good, I try a different approach. “C’mon, that couch is gross, Brin. I don’t know how many brothers have fucked pieces on that thing.” And I shudder for effect. Some brothers don’t mind letting it all hang out. I prefer to get my lovin’ on in private. “Don’t make me go back there. I could catch hepatitis or some shit…please.” I waggle my bottom lip until she laughs. Why do I feel proud for making her laugh? “Go on. Get ready for bed.”

She nods and stands, tentatively looking back at me for? To make sure I’m not going to change my mind? I’m not. I actually want us to try sleeping next to each other. And I never want to crash on that dirty-ass sofa ever again. I’m not lying about catching some STI. That thing is nasty.

Whiles she moves to the dresser, I slide under the blankets, watching her move. Brinley has a grace about her, that given her life up to this point, you wouldn’t expect her to have. After a few minutes, she walks out of the bathroom in a pair of stretchy, dusty pink sleep pants and a tank top. Her tits look sumptuous, straining the limits of the stretchy fabric.

I’m a tit man, among other things, and hers… God, what would they look like minus the tank? She dumps her sweater and leggings in the hamper and comes to stand at the side of the bed.

“Are you sure?” she asks.

Rather than answer, because I’ve already told her what I want, I flip the covers back for her. She lies down next to me, not touching, and as this is our first night in bed together, I’ll give her that. Brin rolls onto her side, tucking a bent arm under the pillow. I roll to face her, mimicking the same position.

“Thank you for today,” she says. “I don’t remember ever having such a good time.”

“Stick with me, kid. I’ll give you more.” I sort of mean it to be funny, but at the same time, I actually mean it. If she sticks with me, gives us a chance, I’ll give her more good days to remember.

“You really don’t have to do that—pretend to enjoy my company. Not here, not in the bed, in the dark. This might make me naïve, but words whispered in the dark mean something to me,okay?”

“You’re right. Words spoken in bed, in the dark,domean something. But I’m not blowing smoke up your ass here, woman. I like you. I like you exactly the way you are.”

“Of course you do. I’m hilarious.”

“Bird, you’re so much more than that. You’re fun and sweet and—”

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