Something shifted in me. I can’t believe that this woman gave herself to me but there’s no way I’m going to let her get away.
I saw quick flashes in her eyes that make me think she doesn’t realize how serious I am.
But that’s a story for another day. For now she’s here and she’s mine. I claimed her.
Just like she claimed me. My heart and soul are hers. Forever.
The soft whisper of noise brings me to feet immediately. Fee flushes and turns towards me guiltily. “What are you doing, Fiona?”
She flushes darker and pulls her shirt around her tighter. “I need to get home and then I need to go and open the diner. I can’t let people go hungry.”
“You can’t run that place alone, Fee.”
“I’m not. I’ve got the cook, Hank. And the other waitress, the day one, will be in soon. She’s probably already there and wondering where the heck I am.”
“Fine. I’ll get ready and take you. You’re lucky the scene has already been cleared.”
Her face goes chalk-white and I curse under my breath. What the fuck am I thinking? Reminding her of what happened last night. What I did.
“Yes,” she clears her throat and moves closer to the door. “I’ve got to go. I just need…”
Her voice trails off and I can see the way she’s moving away from me.
“If you think you’re getting away from me, you’re out of your mind, Fee. I took your virginity. I claimed you. You’re mine.”
Her hands ball up and bunch on her lush hips. My mouth waters. My cock surges and I groan when her eyes drift down, widening. She whips to the door, flushing.
“I’ll just get dressed and meet you at the door, Fee.” My voice drops, sharp and deep. “Do not leave without me.”
She nods jerkily and darts out the door, slamming it behind her. Wincing, I huff out a breath.
This is not how I wanted this morning to go. I wanted to wake her up slowly, kissing her glorious curves and running my hands over every inch of her until she was panting my name and rolling her plush hips into me.
And now I’m scrambling to come awake and stop acting like an ass.
It’s like going from heaven to hell. I don’t fucking like it.
She’s not leaving me. Ever. She’s mine.
The drive to the diner is tense and her fingers clench around each other like she can’t afford to let go of them.
“Angel baby, I don’t know what’s running through that pretty head of yours but I’m gonna tell you one more thing. You’re mine. That’s not gonna change.”
She sighs and stills, her chin dropping. “Last night was wonderful, Grady. But it’s not something that can happen again.”
“The hell it can’t!” I roar, fighting the urge to slam on the brakes and drag her pretty ass home, keeping her handcuffed to my bed until she finally gives in and realizes that she’s mine and I’m hers.
“You deserve more than me. Everybody in this town knows what my father was and where I came from. My mama died after she ran away from that man. She left me there with him because she didn’t want me. He didn’t want me either. Except when he thought it would help him. I worked my ass off for him for a long time and never got a paycheck. Never got a damn thing. Just more yelling….”
Her voice trails off softly and I clench my fingers on the steering wheel. “I don’t care about your damn family. I’m not fucking them or marrying them.”
She gasps and her head whips around, her ebony strands dancing around her flushed cheeks. “We’re not getting married.”
“Bet me, angel baby. One way or another, you’re mine and you’re not getting away from me. So start figuring out what that means. Because one way or another, I’m claiming you. Even if I have to kidnap you to do it.”
My teeth grind when she laughs. “You’re not serious.”
Glancing over, I hungrily drag my eyes down her curves, smiling when she gasps and flushes. I can see her pert little nipples pushing against the blouse she’s wearing. “I am so damn serious it’s not funny.”
