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Claiming Her
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2022-09-24 14:04:16Related chapters
We Were One The Power of Thought
I found a room that night in a town about an hour away. For hours, I paced the small room as my heart and soul struggled to understand what happened tonight, even as my body and soul still tried in vain to recover from the taste of Maggie's mouth. What was happening to me? Why was I feeling all this? This was Maggie, not Madeline. I knew this. Simple logic told me this, yet something deep inside me wanted to argue.That mouth, those lips, and that tongue. Could it possibly be that, like everything else about them, even something far more complex than a smile or the sound of their voices, kissing them could feel and taste exactly the same too? For a moment there, I'd been transported back to those heavenly days on the lake as I spent glorious hours devouring my beautiful Madeline's mouth. I knew that mouth better than anything. I'd memorized every angle and crevice. As much as every lap and swirl of our tongues felt exactly and as perfectly in rhythm as my kisses with Madeline, I knew
Last Updated : 2022-09-24We Were One Feeling Entitled
After dropping her luggage off at the motel's office, we headed back to the same café we'd had lunch at the day before. "So, where'd you sleep last night?" she asked when the waitress walked away after bringing us our menus."In Bourbon," I said without looking away from my menu.I explained about the small town, refusing to look up from my menu because I just didn't trust myself not to get caught up in her eyes again. We'd been quiet for a few moments as we both studied our menus until . . . "I think I'll have the corned beef hash and eggs with a side of biscuits and gravy."Now my eyes were on hers, fully expecting her to be looking up from her menu as well. Possibly even grinning in a teasing way. But she wasn't. She was still reading her menu, and I sat there, my insides heating as I tried to figure out if this was her way of being funny—breaking the ice. If it was, she was about to get a mouthful because, after last night, this wasn't cool.Finally, she looked up, doing a doub
Last Updated : 2022-09-24We Were One The Dreams
I shook my head as I pulled into the parking lot of the auto-detailing place. I was getting way ahead of myself here. You didn't move in with someone unless it was very serious. And Nolan specifically said her moving out was recent, so who knew if she still wasn't harboring feelings for the guy or vice versa. This had the potential to get uber complicated and the last thing I needed was more chaos in my life, especially when it involved my dead soulmate's twin, for fuck's sake!"Detailing?" she asked as she got out of her car. "I thought we'd just hose it down or something. Maybe go through a car wash.""Nah, you don't wanna mess with anything being stuck in there or underneath. Looks like your car was in there good and deep. You have a long drive home. Better to be safe than sorry."Ignoring her warmed expression, I reminded myself that my concern for her safety had everything to do with Madeline. She'd want Maggie safe too. I was doing this for her.The guy at the body shop said
Last Updated : 2022-09-24We Were One The Hunch
For the second time that day, I stopped in my tracks, feeling a strangeness in my chest, and faced her. "About me?""Yes." She nodded, glancing away for a moment as she explained how they didn't start until the day she'd seen me at the cemetery. "Before that, I didn't know you existed.""And they're nightmares?"She nodded and took a deep breath before she started walking again, and of course, I followed along like a puppy dog—hanging on her every word—like I used to anytime I was around Madeline. "I have no idea what to make of them. Maybe I was just in so much shock to learn you even existed, but I started to dream of you that day. That day, when I first saw you . . . there were flashes"—she seemed to hesitate but went on anyway— "mainly of your face, your eyes, everything I was seeing at that moment anyway, so like the others, it didn't make sense. You've seen for yourself. The flashes can be traumatic, so I think there's this sense of negativity that comes with them sometimes. F
Last Updated : 2022-09-24We Were One Head Games?
Any chance I might pull off of getting home and still sticking to my story about being in Louisville all weekend was a wash the moment I walked in. I waited until I saw Ama's room light go off and entered through the great room, where I knew my brothers would be if they were still up. I didn't want to upset Ama, and I didn't think I could hide how shaken I was feeling by the time I reached Radcliffe.The more I thought about it, the more my insides felt ready to explode. Not just because I knew how insane I'd sound if I mentioned my theory to anyone, but the fear of giving into staying in touch with her was ever mounting. Already, I missed hearing her voice, looking into those eyes, and tasting those sweet lips again.This had to stop.I'd be in therapy for the rest of my life if I kept this shit up. No matter how good being around her felt, it'd wreak havoc on my mental state. Besides, just like with Tara, this wasn't fair to Maggie either, even if she'd be all for the unimaginable
Last Updated : 2022-09-24We Were One A More Plausible Theory
Even this had me feeling a mixture of something I only ever felt when Madeline was alive—a strange but urgent sense to protect. But protect who? Maggie? And against who? My brother who was only concerned for me? Of that, I had no doubt.So I chose my words and tone carefully. After taking in another spoonful of cereal as nonchalantly as ever, I posed the burning question. "What are you getting at, Nolan?"Tapping his fist softly on the counter in a nervous pattern, he started telling me what I'd suspected already: that since Maggie showed up in Radcliffe, he'd kept in touch with her but hadn't mentioned it because he didn't think I'd want to hear about it. Mostly they'd texted but he'd talked to her on the phone a few times as well. "That blow to the head she took must've been real bad because even after all these years she still seems really confused and has lots of questions."I nodded, trying my damnedest to focus on what he was saying and not my unreasonably heating insides. Ins
Last Updated : 2022-09-24We Were One Delusion or Deception
As if he knew without having me say it, Nolan didn't push for me to finish explaining. Instead, he nodded in understanding; though he still looked a little unconvinced about Maggie not having ulterior motives."I don't talk to her too often," he explained. "She drops me a text when she has questions regarding something she just remembered or whatever. Last I heard from her was when she called to ask about the pier. She'd had a dream about it, but didn't remember anything about the pier."Hearing about her dreams reminded me of Maggie dreaming of me. Of course I'd kept this to myself. I hated how, on top of what a confusing mess this was, I had to be mindful that this was a girl Nolan had slept with. One who though he didn't admit it then I could tell he was beginning to fall hard for. Even if he was long over her now, it'd still be weird as shit.He had nothing more significant to tell me but assured me if he heard or remembered anything else he'd let me know. As far as I was concer
Last Updated : 2022-09-24We Were One The Unthinkable
Nolan spoke so fast I had to stop him. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," I said, holding my hands up. "You're talking too fast. Take a breath, man, and start over."I was still trying to wrap my head around what he'd first said. Skipping the taking-a-breath part, Nolan went on a little slower but just as urgently. "Her mom lied about a whole lot of shit. Kept so much from her it has her completely confused, but she still hasn't questioned her mom because she's trying to gather more evidence of what she suspects. She told me all this yesterday. It's why when I saw the engagement post today I immediately called her on it. How could she be getting engaged if she still doesn't know for sure if you two are soul mates?"That last part sucked the air out of me, but I refused to get my hopes up. Every time I did, that tiny voice of reason in the back of my head cleared its throat and reminded me about the physical proof that she wasn't Madeline. Nolan reeled off, too fired up to let any of us get a word i
Last Updated : 2022-09-24
Latest chapter
We Were One Epilogue - Maddie's POV
MadelineThe coughing in the living room followed by the moaning only made me want to giggle. But I dared not. Mama had warned me what big babies men can be when they're sick, and I'd seen it more than once, but it'd never annoyed me the way it did her. Why they had to moan after every cough and sneeze I'd never know, but unlike Mama, who rolled her eyes when her fiancé Don did it, I thought it was hilarious.Besides, I wouldn't have dreamed of complaining when it came to taking care of Nico. He would have gallantly taken care of me if needed. Not that I'd ever gotten this bad when I was sick. But my entire pregnancy the man went above and beyond taking care of me. That last month when I was on strict bed rest orders, he catered to my every whim. And unlike when it was my turn to do the nursing, between him and Ama, I got some delicious real home cooking"Who's ready for some yummy warm chicken soup?" I asked as I walked into the living room, carrying a tray with a bowl of the hot s
We Were One You Were-ARE-Mine
"I didn't say that. You did." She ran her hand through my hair. "But it was the first time I'd seen him since I broke up with him." She explained a little more about that but then added something more. "I do remember you being jealous, though," she said, looking up at me all whimsically. "Whose bike did I get on that had you seeing red?"Feeling my brows shoot up in reaction, I searched her eyes some more. There was only one time when this happened, and I made sure it never did again. "You remember that?""I had a visual just today when I realized I couldn't stomach him touching or kissing me anymore, not after this weekend." Going tense again as what she just said sunk in, I felt her fingers caress the side of my head, and just like that, I was able to breathe easily again. "Whose bike?""Some douche named Shane. I couldn't stand the way that fucker looked at you."She smiled. "I know you don't wanna hear about it, but after Ryan said 'you're mine' to me one time and it set off a
We Were One Preaching to the Choir
Madeline hugged her mom and their body language said the same thing. It's finally over. As if Loretta, too, had been living under unimaginable stress all these years, wondering when not if the straw would break the camel's back and it all would come tumbling out. She'd said it herself; she knew there was nothing she could do to keep us apart.I watched them, inhaling deeply, my insides filling with pride and emotion. This was really happening. I had my peanut back, and it was all because of her tenacity. Had she not been so bound and determined even after all these years, she may never have caught what she hadn't even known she was chasing. Just like me all this time, her gut kept telling her there was something missing and she needed to get to it.She explained to me as we drove to her hotel room how she'd gotten the room so she wouldn't have to face her mom just yet. She'd told Loretta she was working so she wouldn't be home when her mom got home from her weekend trip."I just nee
We Were One You Can't Make This Shit Up
Loretta explained how she also couldn't take the chance of telling anyone—including me. "Her waking to no memory of her past, while tragic, I considered it a blessing, a sign that I'd done the right thing. I knew my biggest challenge would be getting her to agree to leave Huntsville—leave you. I knew there'd be no way in hell I'd convince her to, and if you weren't willing or able to leave with us, she'd be willing to risk her secret getting out. As discreet as you two were when you were sneaking around, I knew it'd be just a matter of time before the townsfolk got word that Nico was now in love with Maggie. It'd raise too many brows and questions."Madeline chimed in to explain about the birthmark. "Mama said it was an afterthought. Since she hadn't anticipated me waking up with no memory, it wasn't until she was getting ready to make her move and get me out of Huntsville that she thought of it.""I figured I should plant the seed early on," Loretta said, shaking her head. "And then
We Were One This Better Not Be a Dream
None of the random lies Madeline's mother had fed her over the years made any sense, but she said her mother lying about how her grandmother had actually died finally did. "A few years ago, my doctor suggested I have the birthmark on my neck checked. It turned out to be fine." Maggie turned to mom with a raised brow. "But because of my grandmother's supposed death from melanoma cancer, I elected to have it removed anyway."I still couldn't grasp it; though my heart was already leaping to accept it. Afraid to speak for fear of my voice betraying me, I managed one word. "How?"That did it. Instantly, my eyes blurred, and I felt my throat constrict until something else hit me. All these years I'd suffered an anguish I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, and Madeline had been dealing with thinking she was going mad. All because of her mother.The overpowering emotion I'd begun to feel was clouded momentarily as my insides were suddenly on fire, and I turned to Loretta. "Why?"Maggie . . .
We Were One I'm Not Maggie
I didn't even bother telling them to stay put. I could already hear them scrambling to grab their shit and come after me, but they weren't stopping me. At least they had the sense not to try. "The address, Nolan," I barked as I jumped on my bike outside the shop, and Xavier and Quino worked fast to lock the shop up.He was already racing toward his bike as he scrolled through his phone. In the next second, the envelope with the forwarded text popped up on my screen. I tapped it into the navigation app on my phone and squeezed it into my handlebar phone mount as my brothers articulated their loving words of wisdom and heeded warnings."Calm your ass.""Don't drive like an idiot.""Remember we're all following you," Xavier cautioned, knowing full well this one would likely be the only warning I'd be taking seriously. "We'll be right behind you. So whatever stupid maneuvers you make, we'll be making them with you."Fuck me.As if I didn't have enough to worry about, I'd for sure hav
We Were One The Unthinkable
Nolan spoke so fast I had to stop him. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," I said, holding my hands up. "You're talking too fast. Take a breath, man, and start over."I was still trying to wrap my head around what he'd first said. Skipping the taking-a-breath part, Nolan went on a little slower but just as urgently. "Her mom lied about a whole lot of shit. Kept so much from her it has her completely confused, but she still hasn't questioned her mom because she's trying to gather more evidence of what she suspects. She told me all this yesterday. It's why when I saw the engagement post today I immediately called her on it. How could she be getting engaged if she still doesn't know for sure if you two are soul mates?"That last part sucked the air out of me, but I refused to get my hopes up. Every time I did, that tiny voice of reason in the back of my head cleared its throat and reminded me about the physical proof that she wasn't Madeline. Nolan reeled off, too fired up to let any of us get a word i
We Were One Delusion or Deception
As if he knew without having me say it, Nolan didn't push for me to finish explaining. Instead, he nodded in understanding; though he still looked a little unconvinced about Maggie not having ulterior motives."I don't talk to her too often," he explained. "She drops me a text when she has questions regarding something she just remembered or whatever. Last I heard from her was when she called to ask about the pier. She'd had a dream about it, but didn't remember anything about the pier."Hearing about her dreams reminded me of Maggie dreaming of me. Of course I'd kept this to myself. I hated how, on top of what a confusing mess this was, I had to be mindful that this was a girl Nolan had slept with. One who though he didn't admit it then I could tell he was beginning to fall hard for. Even if he was long over her now, it'd still be weird as shit.He had nothing more significant to tell me but assured me if he heard or remembered anything else he'd let me know. As far as I was concer
We Were One A More Plausible Theory
Even this had me feeling a mixture of something I only ever felt when Madeline was alive—a strange but urgent sense to protect. But protect who? Maggie? And against who? My brother who was only concerned for me? Of that, I had no doubt.So I chose my words and tone carefully. After taking in another spoonful of cereal as nonchalantly as ever, I posed the burning question. "What are you getting at, Nolan?"Tapping his fist softly on the counter in a nervous pattern, he started telling me what I'd suspected already: that since Maggie showed up in Radcliffe, he'd kept in touch with her but hadn't mentioned it because he didn't think I'd want to hear about it. Mostly they'd texted but he'd talked to her on the phone a few times as well. "That blow to the head she took must've been real bad because even after all these years she still seems really confused and has lots of questions."I nodded, trying my damnedest to focus on what he was saying and not my unreasonably heating insides. Ins
