Her eyes locked on mine.
Questioning and curious, but a little heated.“Swift—”
I didn’t let her finish.
I kissed her.
Not quick.
Not soft.
Not something anyone in that room could mistake.
My mouth claimed hers like it had every right to be there, like I’d been waiting my whole damn life for it.She melted into me instantly, her hands gripping my shirt, rising up on her toes like she needed to get closer.
The room went quiet.
Then—“Yes!”Tempi shouted.
I huffed a laugh against Britta’s lips before pulling back.Her eyes were blown wide, her breath coming fast, and her lips parted just enough to make me want to forget where the hell we were.“Why did you stop?”she gasped.
I brushed my thumb over her bottom lip, keeping her right there in my space.“Because we’ve got an audience, sugar,” I murmured.“That’s about all they’re getting.The rest is ours.”
She blinked at me.Twice.“You just claimed me.”
I didn’t hesitate.“Yeah,” I said, my voice low and steady.“Sure fucking did.”
And that was that.
No speech.
No announcement.
Just truth.
“You guys are falling like flies,” Nugget called from the couch.
“First Twister, now you?”Hodge added, shaking his head like he’d just lost all faith in the world.
“You’re just jealous,” Podge shot back.
Rev laughed.“Hodge has been rejected by every woman in Madison.He’s not next.”
“Screw you,” Hodge snapped.“I don’t even want an ol’ lady.”
“Yeah, but I’m sure you want something other than your hand every night,” Gramps tossed in.
“Stay the hell out of my room,” Hodge growled.
Britta leaned into me, laughing under her breath.“Is this normal?”
“Yeah,” I said, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.“This is actually them behaving.”
She shook her head, smiling.And just like that, it settled.
It was accepted.
She was mine.
