I wake slightly disoriented. The room is cooler than what I’m used to, darker, and missing the usual comforting sounds. My cats aren’t nearby, but I’m also not overwhelmed by panic. Because even in my slightly confused state, I feel her. Casey’s warm, soft body is wrapped around mine. Her wispy blond hair tickles my face as she breathes against my neck. The rhythm is slow and measured, an indication she’s sleeping deeply.

I crave to wrap my arm around her and pull her tighter to me. To smash her tits against my chest and grab a handful of her ass. Like a normal fucking man would. Like Tyler would. Thoughts of my brother are a bewildering mix of anger, betrayal, and utter devastation.

He’s dying.

Dying. Dying. Dying.

No escape from it. It’s inevitable.

But what had me losing my mind was watching them through the slat in the wall. The way they gravitate toward each other, both eager for touch. I want to touch Casey so goddamned bad it hurts, but my body refuses. Hell, it’s all I can do to force myself to look at her most days.

I want her.

With every part of my being.

I want to peel away her clothes, kiss her pouty lips, and sink my cock deep inside her to claim her as mine.

And last night, I had to watch as my brother stuck his tongue down her throat because I couldn’t. The stinging sensation of a knife through the heart still burns through me. All I could do was watch them. As he held her as though she belonged to him.

She’s mine.

She’s always been mine.

Her body moved with his, tentative and unsure but eager.

Jealousy raged through me. I wanted to charge in there and yank her into my arms instead. All I could do, though, was watch helplessly. He brought Casey for me, but then he took her anyway. The fury blazing through me was doused the moment he had a seizure. Her terrified scream jolted me into action. I was scared to death he’d die too soon. But he’s coming home. Today, in fact. And when he gets here, I’ll make sure to let him know that Casey isn’t his.

She’s mine.

A small moan escapes her as she begins to wake. It makes me hyperaware of every part of her that touches me. Having her pressed against me is more soothing than my cats or my weighted blanket. It just feels nice. Perfect. I wish there were a way I could do more to show her how much I want her. When her thigh rubs against my cock, it hardens at her touch.

Fuck.

Fuck.

I clench my eyes closed and my hands automatically tighten into fists. Her leg rubs against me again, sending pleasure zinging to the ends of my hairs and the tips of my toes. Images of my cock stretching her open and owning her have me growing dizzy with need.

My dick throbs and strains against my boxers. Pre-cum seeps from the tip of my cock and trickles onto my flesh. Holy shit, I’ll come right now if she doesn’t stop with the rubbing. But I’m helpless to push her away. I haven’t ever been with a woman. I’m on a first name basis with my hand, but I’ve never been rubbed against so intimately.

A choked groan garbles from me. My heart is racing in my chest.

“Torin?” she breathes, her voice thick with sleep.

Her palm splays on my chest and she slides it a little lower on my abdomen. That’s all it takes. I hiss as my orgasm spurts from my dick like a goddamned out of control water hose. It soaks my boxers and immobilizes me as it takes over. My hips lift from the bed slightly, even with her up against my side, as I come in such a humiliating way. Flames of embarrassment singe me from the inside out. Her body stiffens beside me. I’ve probably just scared the hell out of her or disgusted her. Either way, she’s not making a sound.

“Casey-Casey,” I grit out as I jerk away from her.

She cries out my name and her hand reaches for me, her fingertips dragging along my abs as I’m pulling away. I don’t stick around, though. I stumble from the bed to the wall and slip inside. Her voice echoes inside my head as I run to my safe haven.

Torin. Torin. Torin.

Why can’t I be like Tyler, dammit?

I just want to hold and kiss and fuck my woman.

She is my woman.

And I don’t care if I have to write them both an email, attaching a forty-page PowerPoint presentation explaining that she’s mine, because I will.

I so fucking will.