Kelly Clan 02 - Connor by Madison Stevens Read Free Book Online Page A

flipped off, and she stared at her reflection in the black screen. This was pathetic. It was Friday night, and all she ever did was work and sleep. There was only so much fulfillment she was going to get from work.
    Claire jumped when her cell rang next to her. She glared at it and then the clock. People liked to make calls at nine. She wondered if there would ever be a normal calling hour again at her house.
    The number on the screen was new to her, and she debated answering but knew there was always a chance it could be Finn.
    “Hello?” she said.
    “Took you long enough.” Conor’s smooth voice came over the line.
    “Conor.” She breathed a sigh of relief and frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    His chuckle came out as a rumble, and she bit her lip. There had always been something very erotic about his low voice.
    “Relax,” he said. “I just need an ear.”
    Claire propped her pillow on the end of the couch and lay down.
    He grunted and she stopped.
    “What’s wrong?” she asked softly.
    He sighed in her ear. “Just getting comfortable.”
    Claire liked that they were thinking the same thing. Part of her pictured him on his bed with his top off and pants unbuttoned slightly. Lord, she hoped he didn’t wear underwear.
    “Have you been drinking?” she asked after a moment.
    Conor chuckled. “Just a couple, Mom.”
    She frowned. It wasn’t crazy for her to ask.
    “I’m going to get off here,” she snapped.
    “Wait,” Conor said. “It’s just been a hell of a day. I need to hear someone with some sense.”
    Claire prickled slightly. “So, I’m your go-to for sense?”
    “You’d be my go-to for a number of things,” he purred in her ear.
    Her nipples tightened, and she struggled to keep her breathing normal.
    “How did the dinner go?” she asked, changing the subject.
    Conor groaned. “A total clusterfuck. She likes him, and I think he likes her.”
    Claire winced. It was not a good situation.
    “Maybe she’s just a phase for him,” Claire said. “Like his interest in Alyssa.”
    Conor sighed. “I’m not sure if that’s much better.”
    “What are you going to do?” She threaded her hair between her fingers absentmindedly as she spoke.
    “Nothing,” he said. “There’s nothing I can do but stand by and hope things don’t blow up how I think they might.”
    “Teagan is a smart girl,” she said. “I’m sure she’ll do the right thing if he tests her.”
    “Let’s just hope that the right thing doesn’t fuck us all,” he groaned. “I never thought keeping the women I cared about most safe would be so hard.”
    Claire froze. Was he talking about her? She took in a shaky breath.
    “You care about me?” she whispered.
    Conor let out a breath, and she wondered if he had been holding it in.
    “If only you knew,” he said softly.
    Claire rolled to her side.
    “You could always tell me,” she suggested. It was silly, but she liked knowing that she was still special to him. The place he held inside her had occupied so much of her thoughts, she’d had to turn off how much she felt.
    “Claire,” Conor rumbled in her ear. “What are you wearing?”
    Her breathing kicked up as she looked down. Not the most sexy thing to talk about.
    “Lace bra and panties,” she said.
    He grew silent, and she worried that maybe she had misunderstood.
    “Hmm,” he said. “That doesn’t really sound like you.”
    Her face heated at how well he knew her.
    “Blue satin button-up short set,” she said stiffly.
    Conor gave a little laugh. “That’s better.”
    She swallowed as the line grew quiet.
    “Talk to me, Claire,” he whispered.
    Her mind raced with what to say. This was the first time she’d ever even thought about doing anything like this.
    “What are you wearing?” she asked. The words came out easier than she ever expected.
    “Boxer briefs,” he mumbled.
    Her breath hitched into her throat. It wasn’t at all like she expected.
    “Tell me you want me,” he