Claiming Julia

by Knight, Charisma

  “It’s about time,” he growled in a husky voice before leaning back in his large black leather chair. “A man could starve around here.”

  Trying to maintain her composure, Julia exhaled several times as she approached his desk. For some unknown reason, his temper and the tone of his voice aroused her. She suddenly wished this day would be over, but she had a long way to go.

  “I don’t control the delivery man, or the traffic. I’m sure he brought your food here as quickly as he possibly could.” She’d really wanted to let him have it, in more ways than one, but she continued exuding the cool and vibrant aura she was known for in the office.

  “Do you have something to say, Julia? I thought you said something earlier, when I came out.” Angus sat forward and stroked his chin while he frowned. “I believe you called me a bastard?” He again leaned back into the large black leather chair. He looked her squarely in the face. “Do you really think I’m a bastard?”

  She was speechless. There was no way in hell he should have been able to hear her mumbling beneath her breath.

  “Come on, Julia. Say what’s on your mind.”

  He was definitely egging her on. What was his point? Right about now, she’d give anything to have the floor open up and swallow her whole. From what she could see, he enjoyed putting her on the spot.

  He folded his arms impatiently. “I’m waiting. I don’t have all day.”

  “Okay. Yes. I called you a bastard. There are times I feel you are unfair to me.”

  “Oh?”

  Julia ignored the amused look on his face. “Yes. You never take into consideration that I may have had plans for the evening or weekend.” She put her hands on her hips. “I extend above and beyond my position, but you just seem to take things for granted, and sometimes I just think you never notice.”

  Angus rose and walked around the large desk with a smile etched onto his face. “I notice plenty.”

  She just wanted to leave and retreat into the safety of her cubicle, but being this close to him was thrusting her into another realm.

  Julia couldn’t help but inhale his manly scent; he was so close. Too close. Before she could do anything else, he’d reached out and stroked the back of her hand. From there, his fingers glided over her skin and up her arm as he closed the gap between them.

  “You’re great at your job,” he said in a baritone voice as he squeezed her shoulder. “Perhaps I do give you more responsibility than you should have. You’re a hard worker and a leader. Truth be told, you should be a manager.”

  She froze as her body succumbed to his heated touch. He was seducing and praising her, wasn’t he? This is what she wanted all along, so why had she suddenly become timid? He was finally taking notice of her attributes, in more ways than one.

  “What are you doing?” Julia bit out. She trembled slightly as Angus leaned down and brushed his lips against her neck. If it weren’t for the desk, she swore she would have fallen onto the floor.

  “I think you know exactly what I’m doing,” he spoke softly before biting the tender area beneath her ear. Not long after that, he had her pinned against the desk, his erection pressing into the small of her back. “Stop playing these games with me. You will only lose in the end.”

  Melting, Julia pressed her ass against him as his hands explored her curves. Without thinking, she spun around and grabbed Angus’s cock. His organ was thick, long, and hard as steel, just as she’d imagined. She couldn’t control herself. This was so unlike her.

  “You’re playing with fire,” he warned.

  God, he’s so damned fine, she thought to herself. Julia searched the depths of his eyes. His pupils were dilated, and his lips were pressed together in a firm manner. She could see the smoothness of his fair skin adorned with slight freckles. Seeing the fine smile lines along his eyes and around the corners of his mouth only made her continue to want to study his features even longer. The slender slope of his nose evened out to flared nostrils, making her wonder how he’d look while they lost themselves in a heated night’s passion.

  “So are you,” Julia interjected, before leaning back against his desk. His jaw muscle seemed to match the rhythm of her heartbeat. She wanted him, and she wanted him now.

  “On your knees,” she demanded as the urge to control coursed through her like a locomotive.

  “What are you doing?” Angus’s brows furrowed in confusion, and he backed away from her as though she were the plague. “It is you who should be on your knees, before me,” he growled. “I don’t take orders. I give them.”

  “Oh? So that’s what you think? You want to control me like you control all the other women in the office,” she confessed as her libido swiftly cooled.

  “What?”

  “Nothing.” She bit her tongue so as not to bare her entire feelings to the man standing behind her. She should have known better. At first, it didn’t matter that he was possibly fucking everything in a skirt, but a pang of jealousy twisted in her gut. It was unlike her to feel jealousy toward any man.

  Angus laughed out loud but didn’t say anything, therefore confirming her suspicions. At this point, she’d be just another notch on his bedpost, and that angered her.

  “Please excuse me,” she snapped.

  Angus backed away and returned to his chair.

  “Is there anything else I can help you with today, Angus?”

  “No, I think we’re good here.” His eyes continued twinkling with amusement, and she feared she’d leap over the desk and bitch-slap him a few times. Because she was already experiencing strange behavior, she decided to exit his office so she wouldn’t act on her thoughts.

  * * * *

  Angus smiled as he watched the way Julia’s full hips swayed while she walked to the door. He admired how the formfitting gray pinstriped skirt hugged her luscious curves.

  Before she reached the threshold of his office, he parted his lips to speak. “Julia. I need you to draw up that contract for Ishimi Tanaka. I need it right away. Think you can work through your lunch?”

  When she turned around, he saw her eyes blazing, and he admired how she fought to maintain her control. “Anything for you,” she said in a strangled voice.

  “Julia!” He called her once again just as she approached the opening of her cubicle.

  “Yes?” She turned, and placed her hands on her hips.

  There they were: lovely orange flames dancing in those chocolate-brown eyes of hers. He loved how she placed her hands on those gorgeous full hips. He could eat her alive. A vision of her lowering that beautiful body over his face so she could ride his tongue while he drank of her sweet nectar danced in his head.

  “Please be so kind as to close my door.” He smiled as she sauntered toward his office, then slammed the office door shut. As a result, the walls seemed to shake. Or was it the motion from the force of her fiery temper?

  He wished he could tell her just how beautiful she looked or compliment her about the fragrance she wore. Sometimes she’d wear a light, musky scent, while other times he could smell coconut or strawberries.

  Unfortunately, he could never bring himself to do so because the urge to claim her as a Connricualen Dragon should burned deep in his blood. He was descended from a long line of dominant dragons that sought out and claimed their mates whether the females desired it or not.

  Angus struggled with this constantly, as he sensed he would push her further away if he claimed her the old-fashioned way. As far as opposites attracting, he and Julia were the same through and through. Each sought to dominate, to outdo, and overpower the other—and they thrived on it. He smiled as he thought of every confrontation they’d ever had.

  He grimaced as her emotions sliced through his soul. She was pissed and hurt, as well as aroused. He inhaled her feminine scent as his dragon clawed at the surface of his human facade.

  She was also jealous when she had no reason to be. Little did the dark-skinned natural beauty know that she held control over his libido and no other
woman would ever live up to Julia.

  Angus loved how her jet-black, coily hair hung just above her shoulders, and he longed to weave his fingers in the strands as he rode her into oblivion. His mouth watered at the thought of what she looked like naked, and the urge to explore her plush curves had him panting.

  His cock twitched in his pants as he imagined those full, succulent lips caressing and nibbling every inch of his cock while those beautiful, Egyptian-like eyes glanced up at him every now and again. Sometimes she’d used black eyeliner to obtain that exotic ancient-Egyptian look he so loved on her.

  His hand drifted to his cock, and he squeezed while imagining sliding his tool in between her breasts and stroking until he came all over the large chocolate mounds.

  Unlike most women in the office, Julia wore very little makeup, with the exception of eyeliner and mascara. Hell, she doesn’t even need that, he thought to himself. She’d still be beautiful without an ounce of makeup marring her precious skin.

  He looked down at his hand as scales appeared and disappeared. He yearned to see if Julia had the dragon imprint on her body that would match his. He knew she did; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so strongly attracted to her. He could feel it, and his dragon was becoming restless with each thought of claiming the feisty beauty.

  A tingling sensation penetrated his soul and traveled down his spine and straight to his cock. Yes, she just had to possess the same imprint as he. He closed his eyes in remembrance of their swift interlude just moments before, wishing he’d taken the liberty to do something of a similar nature in the past. Perhaps they’d be mated by now. His cock ached with need and expanded.

  “Ahh.”

  He clenched his hands into fists as the pressure within him rose. He so needed to return to Pyreer and shift into dragon form, just to blow off some steam.

  Angus licked his lips as he imagined tying her down and plunging in and out of her wet heat. He knew she would not bow beneath him like a human woman would when his dragon wanted to fuck. Furthermore, Julia sought to dominate him. He shook his head in disbelief at the thought. Soon she’d see things his way.

  He closed his eyes, remembering how his fair skin and her dark skin contrasted. He was hungry, as was his dragon, starving for their mate.

  “Oh, fuck!” he muttered as he came close to blowing a load in his briefs. “Fuck, fuck, fuck!” She always left him hot and bothered like this. He’d punish her one day for that. He swallowed hard as he unzipped, releasing his thick cock from his black slacks.

  After locking the door with the hidden button beneath his desk, he focused heavily on her as he gave his dick a few powerful strokes while fantasizing what it would be like to plunge deep into Julia’s velvet chamber. He could smell her arousal, and it drove him mad. His powerful orgasm struck him hard, and he clenched his teeth while jacking off into his hand. Squeezing his eyes shut, he threw his head back and released a throaty growl.

  With a groan, he leaned forward and grabbed a handful of Kleenex to clean himself up. This had to stop. The pressure was relieved, but it was nothing compared to the real thing.

  He’d tried everything to bend her to his will, but nothing worked—his demanding schedule, shoving last-minute assignments into her lap on evenings and weekends. And although her eyes swore she’d burn him a brand new asshole, she’d kept her cool and never allowed him to overpower her, all while successfully maintaining distance between them.

  He hissed as he zipped his pants up and tightened his large hands into fists since masturbating only frustrated him further. If he failed in making her discover she was a dragon and his mate, he’d never be able to claim her. It was possible another would. This thought infuriated Angus more. Another would not be so kind in his claiming of Julia.

  If he were successful in claiming his mate, he’d take her to Pyreer, where they would live out their existence for centuries. That was, if she was willing. Something told him she’d fight him every step of the way.

  He frowned as he looked back at his years of loneliness. His existence had been dark and frustrating, making his dragon a bitter and dangerous entity. If he wasn’t careful, it was possible he’d hurt Julia. Angus sighed his agitation as his dragon slowly retreated deep within the recesses of his soul, allowing him to finally start on rewriting the ad for his client.

  Chapter Two

  “How’s your day going?” Bjorn asked Julia as she made copies.

  Agitated, she quickly glanced at him and continued her task.

  Bjorn ran his hand through his tousled-looking, blond, shoulder-length strands before replying. “Okay. You and Angus butting heads again?”

  “We’d butt heads if we were on two separate continents,” Julia retorted with a smirk. “Sometimes he’s impossible to be around.” She folded her arms against her chest. “I don’t know what to do, Bjorn.” She glanced at him with a pleading look.

  Bjorn laughed. “Do what comes natural,” he suggested with a smile.

  What he said was nice and all, but Julia still couldn’t shake her experience in Angus’s office earlier. She melted at the memory of Angus’s come-on, until a twisted feeling in her gut took over at the thought of his actions when she’d become dominant.

  “Listen. I think you both misunderstand each other. You’re too much alike for your own sake.”

  “How do you figure? He’s always walking around with a chip on his shoulder. I don’t walk around like that. Would it kill him to be a bit nicer to folks? I mean, really, Bjorn. What gives? You’ve known him longer than I have.”

  Bjorn’s eyes narrowed as he picked up a cup of paper clips, shooting each individual clip into the large container of sticky pads. “I think you’ll need to find that out for yourself,” he replied. “You like him, don’t you?”

  Once the copies were finished, Julia walked over to the printer before gathering them into a neat pile without answering. She couldn’t answer, because, yes, she did like the jerk, even if he was the president and she an inferior employee. Only she wished he were a little more compassionate.

  “Come on, Julia, spill.”

  “You better not tell anyone,” she blurted out quickly with a smile and glanced around the large copy room. Although he was the vice president and Angus’s closest friend, Bjorn had immediately clicked with Julia. She didn’t know why, but she trusted the man completely with her feelings. He made her feel safe in a strange sort of way.

  “Yeah, I do like him a little,” she whispered. “For the life of me, I don’t know why. But I do.”

  Bjorn wiggled his brows to make her laugh. “Kinda? The look on your face tells me much more.”

  “Stop teasing,” she retorted. “Okay, I’m really into him, but—”

  “But what?”

  “We’re too different for each other. We’re complete opposites on the outside, you know that. Just look at us.”

  “Well—opposites attract.”

  “Not in my case,” Julia muttered. “I’m too big-boned for him. I’m no swimsuit model. He looks like he could be cover model of the year, but a ruggedly good-looking cover model. All brawny and husky and . . . ”

  Bjorn arched a brow. “TMI, Julia. Don’t need to hear about his brawniness or huskiness. Anyway, is that what you think? Not everyone is meant to be thin. You’re a very beautiful woman, and I think you know it. So does Angus.”

  “Oh, I know I’m beautiful.” Her hand connected to her forehead. “Ah, you’re missing my point, Bjorn. I’m confident in my looks and all, but it seems like he only goes after women with tiny waists.” She squinted at the vice president. “You got me?”

  “Oh, I see what you’re saying. Sorry, not enough caffeine pumping through my blood yet.”

  “Seriously, if that’s the case, then there’s no hope he and I will ever be together.”

  “Think about it, my dear. Have you truly ever seen him with any woman?”

  It was true, Julia thought to herself. She never had really seen Angus with anyone. Come to think of i
t, he steered clear of everyone, with the exception of work-related issues.

  “I swear, I don’t know why people are caught up on what’s on the outside and not what’s on the inside,” Bjorn muttered beneath his breath.

  “Don’t know either,” she admitted with a laugh.

  Bjorn continued talking. “There’s one thing I can say about Angus.” He gently laid a hand on her shoulder in reassurance. “He’s searching for someone who is alive on the inside. Someone real, you know, the total package. The right one, so to speak.”

  “Searching. Really?”

  Bjorn nodded. “Yup.”

  Julia pressed her lips together and smiled at the thought of Angus on the prowl for his better half. “I just don’t see it. I would have thought he’d found the love of his life quite some time ago. How old is he? Early to mid-forties?”

  “You’re missing the point, darling. You can’t go around assuming, you know?”

  She smiled and shook her head. “Why is it that I can easily talk to you, but I can’t seem to break through Angus’s tough exterior?”

  “He’s not as tough as you think he is. I don’t think either of you know what the other feels. Perhaps you should sit down and just talk. Clear the air a bit. When’s the last time you both have spoken to each other without disagreements?”

  “We always tend to butt heads when we’re together for some reason or another. He really rubs me the wrong way sometime. He’s just a . . . barbarian and a control freak.”

  “I think you both may lean a little on the control freak side in my opinion.” Bjorn shrugged his shoulders. “But that’s just my opinion.” Just then, his phone vibrated. “Gotta take this. Look, doll, we’ll talk another time. Promise.”

  “Sure.” Julia finished her last project and prepared for the Tanaka project. “Yes, whatever you say, Bjorn,” she whispered to herself.

  * * * *

  Julia concentrated on preparing a contract for the Tanaka client when Angus strolled up to her desk. She felt him approach, but she refused to acknowledge his presence until she recalled her discussion with Bjorn.