Page 29 of Hero: Claimed

Right. Okay. Quit stalling, Brinley.I squeeze my eyes shut, take in a lungful of air, and when I open my eyes again say it.“I’m naked.”

Water drips from his hair onto my face. Levi uses a hand to wipe his hair back and then wipes my face. I notice a droplet roll down his neck to come to rest in the trap at his shoulder, but my eyes can’t focus anywhere else when he smiles. “You absolutely are,” he says and his smile turns roguish. “Can fuck with clothes on, but gotta say—this is by far my favorite way.”

“But you aren’t drunk today. I don’t understand.”

“I wasn’t drunk last—wait—you think what happened last night was because I was drunk? Fuck, Brin. What do I have to do to prove that I want you?”

I open my mouth to answer, but soon find out his question was rhetorical when he moves his hand over my mouth to stop me from speaking.

“You’re sexier than any woman has the right to be. I used to think Elise was the hottest woman I’d ever seen, then you came along and knocked me off my goddamn feet. It wasn’t lip service when I told you about my dad. He’d fucking clap me on the back for finally being smart enough not to let the greatest opportunity of my life pass me by. And before you ask—youare the greatest opportunity of my life, bird.You.”

Me?

He can’t be this nice to me because I’m seriously in danger of falling for the guy. He’s too good not to. I contemplate what he’s said and tilt my head up to meet his lips with mine in order to project every feeling he brings out in me.

“The thought of settling down used to scare the hell out of me. Fucking worked for me—a different woman every time I had an itch needing a good scratching.”

“Do you think that might be because you lost your mom?” I ask stupidly because I’m not his shrink and I’m sure he doesn’t want to talk about it with me.

My faux pas becomes abundantly clear when he blinks and stares at me, not talking.

“Never mind,” I offer.

I offer, but he throws me for a loop answering. “See… that’s it. You ask these questions and I feel compelled to respond. Opening up has never been my thing. And yeah, you’ve called it. When I stop to consider why I don’t let women close, it’s because losing my moms ruined my pops. Before you, I couldn’t imagine giving someone that piece of me, yet here I am, spilling my guts because it’s you asking.”

“I’m just easy to talk to. When you’re the fat girl, you have two choices. Either become the funny girl or the girl with empathy. I guess I’m the girl with empathy.”

“It’s more than that. When I talk, you listen and I never feel judged. You take shit in and move on instead of stewing on it. Fuck, just you being you makes me feel better about myself. Showing up to Jade’s birthday with you on my arm, I was so damn proud. When I went to sleep next to you that first night, I actually hoped that I’d always go to sleep next to you.”

“You’re a cuddler,” I admit, not having a clue what to say in response to all he’s given me.

“I wasn’t. Not until you… Do you get what I’m saying, bird?”

It’s hard to know if I do or don’t understand because he’s said so much already. But Levi, Levi grasps my chin, holding it still, and stares deeply, directly into my eyes. The power in his gaze makes me fear burning my retinas, like when you’re looking directly into the sun. I’m mesmerized by the beauty and raw energy coming off him. He brushes his lips against mine. A simple touch that suddenly feels huge and I understand why when he lays the way of things out for me.

“I think I’m falling for you, Brin. Never fallen for anyone before, but this feels—real.”

Whoa.

“I’ve never had much in my life that meant a damn,” I say, hesitating. If he can be honest, then so can I. “I never dreamed of much because dreams don’t come true for girls like me… You offered to take care of me and I still didn’t dream because it was foolhardy. But the first time you kissed me, a dream broke free. It was an impossible dream, so impossible, it hurt me, like a shot through the heart.”

“Tell me, what was the dream?” If his voice grows any deeper, he’ll be speaking to me from the center of the Earth, and there’s a longing there that makes me think my answer is actually important.

“You just gave me my dream, Levi.”

12.

Levi

Fuck.

Nothing feels like being inside Brinley. I wish we were back at the hotel or already at the compound because even though I had her a few times before checkout, I’m jonesing for the woman. More addictive than nicotine. And what she said to me, “You just gave me my dream,Levi.”

She squeezes me tighter, her arms wrapped around my waist with her head pressed to my back. Wisps of hair not wrangled by the helmet whip my face. For the rest of my life I will never forget those words… she gave me that. The chance to give someone their dream. The chance to step up, to be the man someone needs—and not just any someone. Brinley. I had no idea what that punch to the chest feeling meant the first time we locked eyes. It appears my body knew well before my head ever did.

I take the longer route home, enjoying her at my back too damn much. As I pull up to a stoplight, Boss rolls up next to us. He smiles, giving Brin a chin lift. “Brother,” he yells over the rumbling engines. “Goin’ out or comin’ home?”

“Home,” I say, proud as fuck, reaching my hand down to stroke one of Brin’s still holding my waist, but waiting to see his reaction at the same time. “Brin and I stayed in Cumberland last night.” Would he give me shit?

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