Lahat ng Kabanata ng Choked And Claimed By My Brother’s Best Friend : Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 90

I definitely didn’t wake up this morning expecting to be molested by a pack of hyperactive fur demons, but here we were. Apparently, Fitzgerald had marked me as his territory in some primal cat way that translated to “free buffet” in dog language.The golden retriever currently attempting to excavate my lap with its snout was the size of a small horse and had the subtlety of a freight train. “Oh god, oh god, oh god,” I whined, frantically wriggling my fingers in its face like some demented jazz hands routine. This was exactly why I’d gotten a cat instead of a dog – cats were assholes, but at least they were small assholes who couldn’t physically overpower you.The massive husky that had tackled me into the corner earlier was now trying to remove my shoes through what I could only describe as aggressive pawing. I’d almost started crying when that furry battering ram had knocked me over – these things had way too much muscle and way too many teeth for comfort. They were basica

Allie’s hand hovered in the air, dropped an inch, then froze. Her eyes narrowed on me, suspicious and sharp, not the look of a woman easily fooled.“You really think I’m that gullible?” she asked, tilting her head.Before I could answer, she tossed the empty cake box onto the counter with a careless flick. It clattered behind her, but she didn’t flinch. Her gaze stayed locked on mine. Then, with a slow shift, her eyes widened, lashes fluttering. She bit her full bottom lip, almost coy.“Right here, yes?” she whispered, her voice soft, breathy, dangerous. Her hand pressed against her chest, thumb brushing over the curve of her breast.“Jesus Christ,” I muttered under my breath. Heat ripped straight through me, pooling low and sharp.She caught the flicker in my expression and smirked.“What’s wrong?” she teased. “Cat got your tongue?”I braced a hand on the bar, leaning in just enough to shield us from wandering eyes. “No,” I said, dragging a hand across m

“I’m so fucking proud of you, babe.” Peter crushed me against him in what could only be described as an enthusiastic bear hug, forcing me to thrust my frappuccino-wielding hand toward the sky to avoid baptizing his back in caffeinated sugar milk.The park bench had been strategic brilliance on my part – a foolproof oral-sex-repellent that came with built-in physical boundaries unless you were into public lap-sitting, which I definitely was not.“Thank you,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to his cheek that tasted faintly of the coconut chapstick he’d been obsessively applying since we sat down.“I knew it was only a matter of time before someone realized how smart you are. Like, genuinely smart, not just book smart. You know?”Right. Because obviously my months of unemployment had been a personal intelligence failure, not the result of a predatory administrator who’d made my life hell for sport. I forced my face into neutral territory before the frown could fully form.

I stared at my phone, Peter’s name glowing accusingly on the screen. Okay, sure, I was lying to him about literally everything, but his first concern was my stuff? Not me? Not my emotional wellbeing? Not even my demon cat who could theoretically be trapped under imaginary debris?“It’s fine,” I huffed, shoving my entire makeup collection into a toiletry bag with zero organization. “I just have to stay somewhere else for a few weeks until they fix it.”Fix what, Al? The fictional burst pipe in your web of lies?“Uh, are you asking if you can move in with me? Because I’d have to check with Tanner first.”Of course. Because nothing said romance like having to get permission from his brother to let your girlfriend crash during a housing emergency.“No, no, don’t worry about it.” I grabbed my laptop charger and three different phone cables because technology was chaos and I wasn’t risking it. “I’m staying with a friend.”Tanner was ob

She slipped her trembling hands into mine, her grip so tight her knuckles whitened as though I was the last thing tethering her to the ground. I steadied her, feeling the way her weight sagged against me as she pushed herself up from the sofa. Her knees wobbled, body swaying dangerously, but she didn’t collapse again.“I’m good,” she whispered before I could scold her or offer more help. The words were firm, but the way she leaned into me betrayed the lie. Her body pressed against my side, most of her weight balanced on me, her feet dragging across the carpet like an afterthought while I guided her through the bedroom and into the bathroom.Her eyes drifted around, unfocused, sweeping across the space like she wanted to comment but lacked the strength. That silence alone told me how far gone she really was. Normally, Allie always had something to say, some clever retort, some teasing edge. Now she simply let me maneuver her, pliant, trusting.“Sit,” I ordered, even thoug