Claim Me Hard (Bridgewater County 2)

“You know we want you. Long term. We’ve made that clear. But I think I can speak for Dec when I say we’re willing to wait, to be with you any way you want. It’s up to you. We just want scraps. Whatever you’re willing to give.”

I looked between the two. Big and broad. Brawny. Strong. Brave. Cole was laying it all out for me. Yes, they’d said they wanted me. At first, I hadn’t really believed it, but they’d proven it over and over that they were there for me, for everything.

I’d strung them along. Yes, I’d gotten naked with them on the first date, but I’d kept my emotions separate. I’d given my body, but I hadn’t given anything else. They wanted me. Somehow, they knew I was exactly what they wanted the very first time they saw me. Yet I kept pushing them away.

I was afraid they’d get hurt by Brad. Afraid they’d get hurt by me. That I couldn’t get tangled up with two men. I hadn’t seemed able to trust what they were saying, that while they wanted me to be theirs, entirely, I’d never said I wanted them to be mine.

They’d told me they wanted me. Over and over and over again. And they were still waiting.

Tears filled my eyes.

“Hey, what’s all this?” Declan asked, wiping away one that slipped down my cheek.

“I’m sorry,” I said, swallowing hard to will the tears away. While my uniform was ugly as could be, an ugly cry was not something I wanted these two to see.

Cole gave a slight nod, then started to back off the bed.

“No,” I said, grabbing his wrist. I sat up and he stilled. I didn’t let go. I looked from one to the other, their focus squarely on me.

I didn’t want to ever let go.

“I mean, I’m sorry I didn’t trust you. I’m sorry I didn’t put value in the intentions you had toward me.”

“We’ve said—”

I cut Declan off. “I know. You’ve said I was yours all along. But I just heard it as possessiveness and not the good kind. I just thought of Brad. I never really believed it. You’re talking living together and commitment, mortgages and babies.”

Cole perked up at that. “You want babies?”

I wiped my eye, the last of the tears gone. I couldn’t help but smile at his eagerness. “Yes, someday.”

“That’s good, because we want a whole bunch with you. A football team worth.”

I slid my hand from his wrist to entwine our fingers.

“That’s just it. You knew this all along. I just didn’t realize the depth of your interest.”

“Maybe we didn’t make ourselves clear,” Declan said, taking my hand and holding it so we were all connected.

“You did,” I confirmed.

He shook his head. “Maybe we didn’t say the right words.”

“Dec’s right. We said everything but the most important three words.” Cole lifted our joined hands, kissed my knuckles. “I love you, Hannah Lauren Winters.”

The tears returned, but so did a smile.

“And I love you,” Declan added. “We might tell you you’re ours, but haven’t you figured out that we’re yours?”

I nodded, sniffed. “Yes, about three minutes ago.”

“You can boss us around all you want.”

“Even in the bedroom?” I asked, a smile curving my mouth.

“If you want to have your way with me, I’m fine with that,” Declan added.

I looked between the two, knew they wouldn’t like that all the time. Neither would I. So I told them that. “No, I like it when you have your way with me,” I admitted. I looked down at the bed, then up at them. “I love you. Both of you.”