“Buddy, can I get a hug?”

  He peeked around Palmer’s legs as I knelt down on the floor. Within seconds he was running for me and dove into my arms like a football player going in for a tackle. I shook my head, thinking he’d been watching too much football on Sundays with Clayton. “I love you,” I said, kissing the top of his head as I held him close.

  “Lub you,” he replied, and I got that crazy warm fuzzy feeling I got every time he said it.

  “Be a good boy for Aunt P, and keep your diaper on.” He giggled and started shaking his head “no” as he tried to move away from me. “Yes.” I tickled his tummy and he fell to the floor, wiggling all around.

  Up and ready to leave, I paused at the door to look at him one last time and watched as he once again got absorbed in his movie.

  “Bye, Mommy.” Palmer waved, still wiggling her butt to the beat. “I got this. Have fun and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “I’ll be home to—”

  “Tomorrow,” she interrupted. “Bye.” Turning her back to me, she ignored me completely and for a few seconds I grew emotional. She was amazing, hands down the best person I could have asked for as a best friend. She loved my son something fierce and was more loyal to me than even my own parents. I adored her, heart and soul.

  I forced myself to move forward, using the drive over to Clayton’s house to build myself up. I could do this, I knew I could. I just had to dive in head first and get over this small speed bump. After that I would be golden for sure.

  Parking was a challenge, but when I finally found a space I gathered my things and started for the house. I ignored the lingering looks of a few guys I’d passed on my way up the front steps and in through the front door. The music wasn’t over the top loud, but it grew louder as I got deeper into the house. That was when I saw him, his back to me. A red hat was on his head, and he wore jeans that hugged his ass. I paused for a second, just watching as he interacted with a few guys. There was a girl a couple of feet away, watching him closely, and the need to announce to her and any other girl interested that he was mine hit me.

  I squared my shoulders, channeled Palmer and her “take no shit” attitude, and moved across the room toward Clayton. Reaching out, I touched his waist and when he turned to look at me, I reached up and grabbed for the back of his neck, pulling him in close. His lips met mine and he moaned. Something was off, but I figured it was the element of surprise. I did practically just attack him.

  He didn’t hold onto me like he usually does when we kiss, that gentle grasp of my hip, while his other hand combed through my hair. Instead he securely wrapped both arms around me, pulling me in close and tight. “Well, hello,” he said huskily, and I pulled back, just looking up at him. Something was off, like way off. “And you are?”

  I just stared at him, lost for a second.

  “Not that I’m complaining, sweetheart,” he said again, “but I’m not sure what I did to warrant this sweet attack.”

  “Clayton?” I felt my heart race as I slowly looked him over. A mole, he had a mole on his upper lip. It was more like a little freckle or beauty mark, but it was still there. Clayton did not have a freckle.

  “What the hell, Corbin?” Suddenly I was being pulled backward and my spine collided with something hard.

  “What?” the guy I thought was Clayton said with a laugh as he looked over my shoulder. I followed his line of vision and my heart sank when I saw Clayton behind me. He was seething.

  “Oh my god,” I mumbled in shock. Looking back at the guy in front of me, and then to Clayton once more, I hung my head and covered my face.

  “Is this Emelie?” I didn’t look up as the two of them carried on and the guys around them laughed at what had just taken place.

  “Yes,” Clayton growled.

  “Well, hello, Emelie,” the guy purred, the guy I now understood was Clay’s infamous identical twin.

  “Corbin,” Clayton said, and I could practically feel the heat flowing off his body as he still held me close.

  “I didn’t do anything,” Corbin insisted. “She’s the one that grabbed and kissed me.”

  “You kissed him?”

  “I thought he was you.” I spun in Clayton’s arms and looked up at him. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so pissed off. “I was nervous and I spotted him from the side, so I moved before I had the chance to think.”

  Clayton took my hand in his and started to drag me off as his brother pressed his buttons just a little more. “Bye, Em, it was great meeting you, babe.”

  I hung my head as I was dragged off. Climbing a flight of stairs, I looked up at Clayton to find him staring straight ahead. Suddenly the only thing I wanted to do was go home and forget the entire night.

  We reached a door, and I watched as Clayton unlocked the handle before placing his hand on my back and nudging me inside the room. Once inside, I looked around and could see signs of him all over. Clothes I’d seen him wear tossed here and there, his hats hanging on hooks along one wall. There was a picture of Ethan and me in a frame on the stand next to his bed, next to a monster truck I know Ethan gave to him and told him it was his.

  The sound of the door closing behind me prompted me to turn around and face him. He stood with his hands on his hips, his head hung as he looked at the floor. I wasn’t sure if I should try to explain again or leave it alone. I had never felt so torn over what to do before.

  When he finally looked up at me, he just stared back at me, his nostrils flaring.

  “I’m sorry,” I mumbled.

  “Did you not sense the difference in him compared to me?” he asked as he took a step toward me. “The way he held you, or—” He stopped as he ran his hand through his hair in a frustrated manner.

  I took a step toward him and placed my hands on his chest. “Yes, I knew something was off almost immediately.” When he tried to look toward the ground, I slid my hands upward and cupped each side of his jaw, forcing him to look at me. “It was just a simple kiss, nothing more and I knew, I just felt it. He wasn’t you.”

  His chest rose and fell and I knew he was fighting against some inner battle. I was just trying to rearrange the words in my head to try and explain it all better, only he didn’t give me the chance. He turned me around and pressed my back to the door behind him before he was on me, his mouth claiming mine in a hard, demanding kiss, erasing the memories of what had just taken place. Clayton conquered our kiss. “This is me,” he growled, “and you are mine.”

  I nodded my head, unable to speak because he’d once again kissed me. His body pushed my own toward the wood at my back as he gripped my hips. This was what I’d missed downstairs, that commanding stance, yet delicate. It’s so hard to explain but Clayton was different, he was more.

  “That was hard to see,” he confessed, and my heart ached. “I don’t ever wanna see you with another man.” We were silent for a minute, and I still held his face in my hands, looking up at him, our foreheads resting together, his eyes closed.

  “I’ve never wanted to kick my brother’s ass before,” Clayton’s words sounded sad, “until now.”

  “It was all my fault, and I’m sorry.”

  He finally opened his eyes and I waited for him. I needed him to show me this was okay, that we were okay.

  “I should’ve picked you up or met you downstairs.” Then he stepped back and I sagged against the door behind me. “In the future, remember that Corbin has a freckle, and his front tooth is chipped from a baseball when we were twelve.”

  I nodded my head, still feeling unsure.

  “Plus, I’m much cuter.” Then I saw the trace of a smile and the tightness in my chest began to feel a little less overpowering.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Clayton

  I spent half my night hearing over and over about how Corbin kissed my girl. And each time I heard it, I felt that need to beat the hell out of the dickhead. I think my brothers were starting to get the hint, because I was a raging dick after the first ten minutes.

  I sat on a stool near the pool table watching Emelie and Blake talk and laugh. They were on the opposite side, sitting side by side on a couch. I think Blake picked up on my mood and dragged her off, taking pity on the girl. I’d had a death grip on her from the moment we left my room earlier.

  I saw movement from my side and when I looked to see Corbin approaching, holding out a bottle of beer, I felt the fury return. I knew he had no idea who she was; it was the continuous shit he and the other guys had given me that pissed me off. No guy wants to hear their girl kissed another man. They sure as shit don’t ever want said guy to be their fucking brother.

  “Peace offering.” Corbin placed the beer on the table, still keeping a safe distance.

  “How about a black eye?” He stepped back. “That sounds like a better peace offering.”

  When he chuckled, I stood, and he held out his hand. “Come on, man, I didn’t know.”

  “No, but now that you do, the shit needs to be buried.” And really fucking fast before my head spun off my shoulders and I strangled every dick I lived with. “Enough about it.”

  “Okay, I get it.” All traces of humor were gone. “You really like this girl.”

  “I more than like this girl.” I sat back down on the stool and took the beer he’d just offered. “She’s not just some chick, Corbin, she’s different. You know yourself had she been any other girl I wouldn’t have given two fucks about you kissing her.”

  “I’m sorry,” he finally said, joining me at the table. “It ends.”

  I nodded as I stared over the table, my gaze connected with Em’s. I could see the worried look on her face as she tried to hide it by turning back to Blake.

  “She didn’t know either,” Corbin added. “She went rigid two seconds into it and pulled back.” I could feel my jaw ticking. “She seems worried, bro.” I knew he was right. “I think we all need to let it go and you need to go reassure your girl that everything is good.”

  I watched her look in our direction once again and knew my brother was right.

  “If I hear one more time some shitty comment from you about tongues or moans in regards to Emelie, I will kick your ass.” I looked away from Em and towered over my brother. “One day you’ll be in this position, where you’ve got a girl and the idea of any other man touching her drives you mad. She’s mine, Corb.” He nodded his head in agreement. With one more swig of my beer, I stood up and began walking around the table toward Emelie.

  Pausing near the end of the couch, I bent down and kissed the top of her head. “Let’s go get a drink.” I held out my hand and she looked at it, then back at me.

  “Well, that depends,” Blake answered for her. “Are you done moping over something you can’t change? Or do you plan on being a dickhead all night? Because if that’s the case, then she can stay right here with me, because I’ll be much better company.”

  Looking at Blake, I saw that familiar fire I’ve seen in her often. It pleased me to know she’d bonded with Emelie. Blake was part of my crew, part of my college family, and now Em was too.

  “Crankiness is gone, Mom,” I said to Blake, and she narrowed her eyes at me. “Besides, I was never mad at my girl.”

  “Could have fooled me,” Blake added in her snarky tone.

  “Me too.” It didn’t bother me when Blake said it, but with Emelie it did. I felt like an asshole the minute she agreed.

  Kneeling in front of her, I slid my hands along the sides of her thighs and cupped them both, my fingertips just beneath the hem of her skirt. “I was an ass, but it was directed at the guys. I’m sorry I made you feel like it was you I was pissed at.” I moved toward her to press a kiss to her lips. “I get a little crazy when it comes to you.” Emelie smiled, and I kissed her once more, this time nipping at her bottom lip. “Forgive me.” I could feel myself growing anxious and I knew it was all on my shoulders.

  “I think you have the ability to change how this night ends,” Emelie whispered, and I noticed the gleam in her eyes. “We’ll see how well you do.” I understood then what she meant, and I was thankful I hadn’t completely wrecked it for us.

  “And that’s my cue to leave,” Blake said with a laugh as she slugged my shoulder. “I like this girl, Clayton. Be good to her.”

  “I will.” I didn’t look away from Emelie, and Blake slipped away, leaving us alone. “So how about that drink?”

  “Okay, but on one condition.” I waited for her to continue. “Can we take our drinks upstairs so we can spend the rest of your birthday with just you and me?”

  “Definitely.” My heart raced as I stood up and took her hand in mine.

  We walked together to the kitchen and I grabbed each of us a beer, then led her toward the stairs. “Where are you going?” I looked back over my shoulder to see Morgan standing by Xavier’s side, Marcus to her left. Until then, I hadn’t noticed any of them all night.

  “Upstairs.”

  “Not yet, you aren’t.” Marcus stepped forward and pulled Emelie away from me. I felt the loss of her closeness instantly. “I just got here and I haven’t had the chance to meet this lovely lady yet.”

  I smiled as I watched him accept Emelie into the Marcus club. He was always in the center of the girls, sharing secrets, laughing and such. Emelie looked back at me a couple of times, and I just offered her a smile. I loved seeing her like this; she was always so serious and over stressed. She never let herself just have fun. Oh, we had fun with Ethan, and Palmer was a riot, but I meant outside of her element.

  It was a different side of my girl.

  ***

  “Thank you for finally stealing me away.” Emelie looked up at me through her long lashes. “I like them, but I was ready to be alone with you.” Feeling her hand slip just beneath the hem of my shirt and trace over my abs caused the words on the tip of my tongue to get lost in my mind.

  “I got you a birthday present.”

  “Oh, yeah?” I dipped my head just enough to kiss her. “What did you get me?”

  “You have to step back and sit down.” Leaning back away from her, I wrinkled my forehead as she laughed. “Just do it.” She pushed against my chest with her hands; I followed her directions and sat on the edge of my bed. “Close your eyes.”

  Was she crazy? I didn’t want to miss a second of her.

  “Eyes,” she added again, and I grinned as I closed them and waited. I could hear her moving around and I wanted so badly to peek. “Okay, you can open your eyes.”

  Have you ever felt as if you had lost your ability to speak? Like something took place before you and you were either so elated, or so shocked that all words escaped you, and you were left feeling so weakened that nothing managed to ring through your mind but utter blankness.

  That was me.

  “Do you like it?” My girl had to be insane if she thought I didn’t fucking love it. What guy wouldn’t enjoy the girl they are head over heels for standing before them wearing a sexy as fuck lacy number that hid abso-fucking-lutely nothing?

  “I love it.” I scanned her body from head to toe, over and over, still feeling blank. “You’re gorgeous, Em,” I finally said in a hoarse whisper. “Even that isn’t a strong enough word.”

  “I’ve never bought lingerie before,” she confessed, looking down at herself. “I wasn’t sure where to start.”

  “There.” My throat felt raw and she looked back at me, smiling wider. “You started in the perfect place.” I’d never in my life had a girl make me feel so off my game. It wasn’t just my mind she’d managed to scramble, but my heart too. Telling her I loved her right then just felt wrong, but I knew I did. I knew I loved her and Ethan, and had for some time.

  I stood, moving closer to her and traced over the edge of her bra as it dipped low, showing off the contours of her breast. “I like this,” I confessed, watching her eyes flutter shut from my touch. Slouching slightly, I kissed the same spot and gripped her hips when she wobbled slightly. “This too,” I continued as I hooked the barely there strap at her side that trailed all the way behind her, leaving her entire ass exposed. “These are nice.” She whimpered when I cupped her ass in my hand. “You bought this for me?”

  “Yes.” Emelie’s voice sounded strained.

  “Thank you.” Kissing along her jaw, I paused near her ear. “Best birthday present ever.”

  “It’s not just the panties and bra that are your present.” There was something to be said about how breathy she sounded. I felt like the king of the fucking world knowing it was me who had her feeling the way I knew she did. “It’s what’s beneath that’s yours too.”

  “Like I said,” I began backing up, taking her with me, “best fucking birthday ever.”

  She giggled when I spun her around and moved her to the bed, her body bouncing as it hit the mattress. Instead of joining her there right away, I stood at the end, looking at her. My chest tightened; it literally hurt as I tried to slow down my rapidly beating heart.

  Emelie was my girl, my everything. Fuck, being lost in one woman, knowing she could destroy me so easily if she wanted to should have terrified me. I should feel weak and vulnerable, but instead I felt powerful and indestructible.

  I lifted my shirt up and over my head, quickly removed my jeans, and began to crawl over her waiting body. The way she watched me, her chest moving up and down in quick short breaths, mirrored my own excitement.

  “Do you understand just how much I care about you?” Lowering my body to hers, I pushed my hardness against her and her back arched. Her chest lifted, and I took full advantage to suck on her nipple through the sheer material of her bra. “You have me wrapped around your finger, sweet girl,” I confessed, “so damned tightly.”

  The words “I love you” were again hanging on the tip of my tongue. I was a mess, a whipped fall at the feet of your girl, no hope of surviving without her, guy. Yeah, that was me.

  “Thank you for finally seeing me.” I looked her directly in the eyes. If saying “I love you” didn’t feel right at the time, then I’d ensure she knew just how much being with her meant to me. “For letting me be a part of your life and Ethan’s. You two mean the world to me.”