Meet Brennan West

Theirs to Possess

You don’t look like someone who minds a little mystery anyway.

More like the kind of woman who’ll keep asking questions until I finally give in.

That could take a while.

I’m stubborn.

You are too, aren’t you?

Yeah. I thought so.

Most people decide what they think of me pretty quickly.

My size.

My scars.

My criminal record.

That last one usually does it.

You’re still here, though.

Interesting.

Maybe you’ve already figured out something most people miss.

I’m not particularly interested in being frightening.

I just don’t mind if I am.

There’s a difference.

I’d rather know what’s happening around me.

Where the exits are.

Who’s watching too closely.

Whether you’ve gone quiet because you’re comfortable or because something bothered you.

I notice things like that.

I’ll notice that you’re cold long before you ask for my jacket.

And that you skipped lunch because you got busy.

And I’ll definitely be paying attention when you say you’re fine but you mean please don’t make me talk about this.

So I won’t.

Not yet.

I’ll wait.

But I’ll stay close.

That part isn’t negotiable.

You’re smiling.

Something funny?

Let me guess.

You’ve decided I’m the reasonable one.

That happens a lot.

Dorian has a way of making everyone around him look reasonable.

Don’t tell him I said that.

Actually, go ahead.

I’d enjoy watching you do it.

You should know something about him and me.

Dorian is my best friend.

My partner.

My family.

There isn’t much I wouldn’t do for him.

And if you’re wondering whether that includes sharing a woman…

Oh, yeah. There it is. That little change in your expression. Curiosity, maybe?

The answer is yes.

We share.

Not because one of us steps aside.

Not because one of us gets what the other leaves behind.

That isn’t how it works.

If you were ours, you’d belong to both of us.

Equally.

And before that word makes you bristle, let me be clear about something.

Belonging doesn’t mean disappearing.

It doesn’t mean giving up who you are.

It means when the world gets ugly, you have two men standing beside you.

One of us will probably be arguing with you.

That’ll be Dorian.

I’ll be the one making sure you ate first.

Don’t laugh.

You’d be surprised how often those things happen at the same time.

You also might be surprised by me.

Dorian is direct about what he wants.

I tend to be quieter.

I’d rather watch.

Learn. Take my time. Figure out what makes you relax. What makes you smile. And I’ll definitely figure out what makes your breath catch.

Then I’ll remember.

Every single time.

You’re wondering what happens when I stop being patient.

I can see it.

Careful…

That curiosity could get you into trouble.

Because patient doesn’t mean gentle.

And quiet sure as hell doesn’t mean harmless.

If you want softness, I can give you that.

If you want someone who’ll take his time until you forget there was ever anything else in the room, I can do that too.

And if you want to push?

Test me?

See how far that restraint really goes?

Well.

Now we’re both curious.

Come here.

No, closer.

There.

Better.

You should probably know the most important thing about me before we go any further.

Once I care, I’m in.

Completely.

I don’t disappear when things get difficult.

I don’t decide you’re too much trouble.

I don’t leave because you’re angry or scared or confused.

You can tell me you need space.

I’ll give it to you.

You can tell me you’re not ready to talk.

I’ll wait.

You can tell me you don’t need protecting.

I might even believe you.

But if someone threatens you?

That conversation is over.

You won’t need to ask for help.

You won’t even need to know there was a problem.

I’ll handle it.

You can yell at me afterward.

I’ll be there for that too.

And yes, before you ask, there are things in my past you probably won’t like.

Things I’ve done.

Lines I’ve crossed.

There are reasons Dorian trusts me with his life.

Not all of them are pretty.

Does that change anything?

You’re still here.

I’m starting to like that about you.

There’s one more thing.

People sometimes assume that because Dorian is louder about possession, he must feel things more deeply.

They’re wrong.

I just don’t talk about mine as much.

But if I choose you?

You’ll know.

Not because I tell you every five minutes.

Because I’ll be there.

Morning.

Night.

When you’re happy.

When everything falls apart.

When you’re convinced you can carry the whole damn world by yourself.

I won’t take it away from you.

I’ll just put my hands underneath yours and help with the weight.

And if you decide someday that you want me there?

Not because you need me.

Because you want me?

Oh, sweetheart…

That might be the one thing capable of bringing a man like me to his knees.

You’re looking at my scar again.

Go ahead.

Take your time.

I told you.

I’m patient.

Just remember— while you’ve been trying to figure me out? I’ve been learning all about you too.