Clasping a tired hand on my shoulder, he clears his throat. “I get it; you need it to be known. But… Lex isn’t a chew toy to fight over, Gage. She’s a pretty flower that needs to be handled with care. You’re right, I do love her, and yes, it’s hard for me to be in love with her and see her in pain. To see a man who claims to love her, snap at her, when she brings him a sandwich.” He raises a brow at me and I cower. Yep, I’m the world’s biggest jerk. I want to apologize; instead, I let him continue.
“Everybody knows my reputation, that I’m a Dom. If it wasn’t for my need, I would have sought her out long ago. Loving someone isn’t just about you; it’s about how it affects the other person. Could I have convinced her to try to be with me? Yes, probably. Would I? No, absolutely not. I’m not what she needs. I can’t be selfish with her. I see the way she looks at you. She’s falling. And if you fuck up, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces of her heart and ultimately your face that I’ll bash in. This isn’t a competition. I know you’re a man and we all have that need to protect and claim what’s ours. Lex, has been mine since the day I saved her from Brian. Just not in the same way she’s yours. It’s not one or the other. It’s both. I’m not leaving her life. Yes, you belong with her and I honestly think you can make her happy. If you get your head out of your ass long enough to realize she’s already yours. She’s claimed you, even if she hasn’t said it to you or admitted it fully. It’s true. Now don’t screw it up.” Giving my shoulder one final squeeze he stands, and walks across the hall to Emma’s room.
I follow behind him and stand in the doorway as he approaches my girls, who are both, fast asleep. Leaning over the side of the hospital bed, he kisses Lex’s forehead and a potent jealous sensation fills me with a deep thirst to kick his ass. What is my problem? The guy has told me twice now that he isn’t interested in pursuing her and I like Linc, I have for years. But when I feel threatened or worried that something or someone is able to come between the one thing I want and need, I can’t help but reiterate my devotion. Even if in the end it makes me sound like a jealous dick. I am a jealous dick. I can accept that flaw.
Between Tank this morning, my brother Maxwell and Linc, I’ve had my fair share of heart pangs of possessiveness today. Maxwell, as soon as he laid eyes on Lex, couldn’t stop staring quite literally. That’s why, when we rode to the hospital, I made him ride with us and her with Lincoln. I couldn’t let him be in close quarters with her. My brother never, and I mean never, takes interest in women. Now that he’s gawking openly at mine, it pisses me off. I’m used to women being that way with me, flirting with me, checking me out. What I’m not used to is being with a woman who evokes the same reaction from men. It shouldn’t surprise me Lex draws that kind of attention. I just never thought it would bother me as much as it does. Maybe it’s the high level of emotions that’s making me this way. I can’t be sure.
“Later.” Lincoln pats me on the shoulder and exits. I see Lex awake smiling at me from the hospital bed. Guess I didn’t notice he’d waken her.
“Hi sweetie,” I walk next to her and give her a kiss on the forehead, cheek, nose and a lingering one on the lips. Inhaling her delicious scent and savoring her taste.
Pulling my lips from hers, she says, “Hello, handsome. Are you okay? I was worried about you.”
God I love this woman!
Kissing her lips again, I smile down at her and run my hand across her cheek.
“Yes, Angel, I’m fine. Promise. Sorry I kind of lost it. Did Linc wake you?”
She hazily nods, batting her sleepy eyes to stay awake. “Yes, he wouldn’t leave until I said so. He’s a dork like that.”
Yeah it’s because he’s in love with you. That’s why, Lex. Lincoln would whisk you away and marry you and you’d let him if he wasn’t a Dom. Fuck, I hate that I feel this way. But it’s true. He came way before me, only because Melissa got pregnant with Emma. I wouldn’t ever change that, but I hate that I’ve waited so many years to finally stake my claim. Having to share the spotlight with a bigger man, who’s just as dominate and protective as I am, sucks. And it doesn’t help that standing next to Linc I feel like a puny child. I’m not skinny or fat. I’m medium built and I’m tone. But he’s a thick piece of meat and about three inches taller than I am. To say he’s massive is like saying a Great Dane is comparable to a cocker spaniel. Not that I’m the cocker.