by MINK
Claiming His Bride
MINK
Claiming His Bride
MINK © 2020
All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book only. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from MINK.
This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Contents
Claiming His Bride
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Also by MINK
About the Author
Claiming His Bride
MINK
Performing onstage in front of tens of thousands of fans is a rush, without a doubt. But one look from Diego sends an even hotter thrill of excitement through my veins. He’s huge, a man of few words and hungry eyes. No matter how much I try to get him to open up to me, he won’t. So, I have to change my tactics.
This mountain lodge is full of mysterious men, and Diego is the one I’m desperate to solve. He’s madly protective, but he won’t get close. Pushing him over the edge has become my main goal. I tempt him with skimpy outfits and my signature chocolate cake.
My plan is going perfectly until my biggest fear comes true. I thought I would be safe out here in the snowy wilderness with Diego. Was I wrong?
1
Aurora
It’s crazy how fast your life can change. One minute you can be performing in front of thousands of people chanting your name, and the next you're in the middle of nowhere watching the man you’ve been crushing on fight over who gets the kill count for the dead man who’s currently on the snowy ground. If you told me a week ago that this would be my reality, I would have said you were insane.
Yet here I stand in front of the window watching it all play out. The dead man’s blood is turning the fresh snow crimson. I should probably be scared or screaming; maybe both. But I’m not any of those things. I lift my eyes to see Diego turn to look at me.
His light blue eyes show no emotion. I give him a soft, small wave that gets me one of his scowls. He stands up to walk to my window. I open it, and the cold winter air flows in, nipping at my skin. I wish Diego would nip at me. All he does is grunt and point.
I step back, but I don’t give him enough room to climb back in without touching me.
“Now are you scared of me?” he asks gruffly.
I've been here for almost two days, and he is always asking if I’m scared of him. I get it. The man is huge. Bigger than the other men that run this lodge. He’s also the quietest of them all.
They saved us when we got stuck in a snowstorm. We were trying to escape hectic popstar life and one particular asshole. I needed a moment to shut down. So we picked a town in the middle of nowhere and started driving with the hopes that no one would recognize me. The good news is, none of the men knew who I was until we told them. Maybe that should hurt my pride. It doesn’t. If anything, it makes me feel free to be myself instead of “Aurora the headliner” or “Aurora the Grammy-winner” or whatever pop princess tag they attach to my name.
Diego doesn’t know about any of it, and I think that’s wonderful. On the other hand, he doesn’t seem to think having me around is wonderful. Not at all.
Three angry scars run down one side of Diego’s face. I bet if I could see him naked, there would be more of them. I’m thinking he may have been in the military or something at some point. I’m not sure what he did there, but I’m guessing it was something involving special ops.
It’s not like he’s going to tell me. He never talks. But he does a whole lot of staring at me. Especially when I’m going on and on about things. The hard lines on his face make him look as though his face was carved out of stone. What always gets me are those striking eyes of his. They are the softest blue I’ve ever seen.
“Who was he?” I ask my own questions instead.
“He was trained well, so I’m guessing an assassin.”
I swallow, my mouth suddenly dry. I have no idea what these four men do here in the giant lodge. They said they’re retired but never said what they are retired from. All I know is that they’ve been nothing but nice to us since we got here. I'm pretty sure Clover is in love with Charles. She isn’t only my friend, but my assistant, too. By the looks of it, I don’t think she has plans of ever leaving here now. I can’t say that I blame her. I’m happy for her. She needs to slow down. We all do.
Being Aurora Davenport is definitely starting to wear me down, and I’ve only been at this for five years. Being a pop sensation was not originally in the cards for me. But then a few of my videos went viral. I never would have thought that my singing would bring me this level of success. I don’t want for anything anymore, besides privacy.
“Do you think it was an assassin for one of you guys or me?”
His eyes roam down my body and then back up.
“You.”
I drop my head and stare at my feet. Diego insisted I needed socks, so now I’m wearing two pairs of his, and I’m still in the shirt I snagged from his closet. I’ve been making myself right at home in his room. He never tells me to get lost, but then again he’d have to actually talk to me in order to do that.
Socks aside, someone is trying to kill me. And I know exactly who it is. “I never thought he'd go this crazy. I can’t believe he would hire someone to kill me because I wouldn't go out with him! The whole thing has been insane.”
“I would.”
My head jerks up.
“If you were mine, I’d kill anyone that got in my way to get to you. Are you scared now, my krasota?”
Something clicks in my brain at his question. Maybe he’s the one that’s actually scared. He’s been keeping me at arm’s length the entire time I’ve been here. But he’s also kept a close watch over me. So maybe he’s interested, but worried, too?
Does he think that I’m going to hurt him? That in a few days I would up and leave? That was likely true. We’d only planned for this to be a short escape for us. When we get back to the city, we’re supposed to start recording a new album, and I have no doubt a tour will follow. A few years ago, the thought of traveling and touring excited me. Not so much anymore. The thought actually fills me with dread. I know I should be grateful for everything I have, but I can’t help but dream what it would be like to live a normal life again.
“Are you scared of me?” I ask him the same question. I don’t think I’m going to get an answer, but he surprises me.
“Terrified.” With that, he stomps out of his room and leaves me alone. I follow after him. I don’t make it two steps out the door before I’m being lifted. Diego picks me up by my hips and puts me back into his bedroom. “Put pants on, or you don’t leave the room.”
“Why? Would you get jealous if I walked around like this?” I tease him. It doesn't work. His face gets even stonier. I huff out a breath and find my pants from the other day. I put them on as he looks everywhere but at me.
Life has opened so many doors for me. Things that people only dream about happening. Usually anything I want is dropped right into my hands.
Excep
t Diego. I want him, and he's running scared. But I’m not a quitter, and I’m not going to let him get away. I have a few scars myself that I know without a doubt he could help me heal.
I have a new ‘mission,’ as Clover likes to call it when it’s time for a game plan. This time the plan is to break down Diego’s walls. He doesn't have to take them all down. I just need to chip away at them until there’s enough room for me to slip in there with him.
2
Diego
She finally gets her pants on. I’ve only been trying to convince her to wear them from the moment she took them off. Why does she insist on teasing me? Of course I look at her long legs and hold my breath for a glimpse at her panties. They’re pink with white stripes, and they look so, so soft. But nowhere near as soft as her skin, or the waves in her hair.
She’s a beautiful princess, and I’m the ogre keeping an eye on her. The sooner this is over with the better. Because smelling her cherry scent and looking at her big, innocent eyes and listening to her angelic voice is breaking my mind.
It’s torture. She knows it.
I sigh as she follows me from my room and into the main area of the lodge. I share a living area, kitchen, and weight room with the others, but I still prefer to keep to myself. My room is farthest from the common areas.
“So you killed that guy? Or did Charles kill that guy? And what’s going to happen to his body? Is it just going to stay out there? Gross,” she mutters. “I feel a little bad. I mean, he came all the way out here to kill me, right?”
“Yes.” I can’t imagine what’s going to come out of her mouth next.
“And he failed. He didn’t even get a look at me before you—or Charles—killed him. I mean, did he even get paid? Did his money go into a bank account for his assassin friends to split amongst themselves or—” She gasps.
I whirl, and her eyes wide, a hand to her mouth. “Did he have a family?”
“No.” I want to soothe her, to try and put her at ease. But I’m not capable of it. I’m a brute, hulking and scarred.
She’s just too sweet to realize I’m a monster.
“Men who do merc work—mercenary work,” I amend for her. “Or who join the Brotherhood, they aren’t allowed to have families. He was a lone wolf, he came for you, and now he’s dead.”
“Oh. But how do you know he came for me?”
“No one knows I’m here.”
“Surely, someone knows you—”
“No one.” I turn away from her and keep stomping down the hallway.
She keeps to my heels, her voice and scent impossible to escape or ignore. But the problem is, I don’t want to escape her or ignore her. I want to be able to talk with her. I can’t. I don’t have the tools. I never have, even before being a merc and getting these scars.
“No one?” Her voice is softer, and I feel the gentle touch of her fingers along my arm.
I stop again.
She’s right behind me. Her warmth hits me in waves, every bit of her wrapped in softness and sweet like sugar.
“My parents are dead. Anyone who knew me before the Scorpions thinks I’m dead.” I turn back to her. “And I should be. These scars aren’t for show. I almost died the day I got them. Look, princess. I’m not some nice guy you just happened to meet in the snowy woods.” I don’t know what I’m saying or why I’m saying it. “I’m not nice. Not even a little. So don’t bother.” I spin again and lead her toward the rest of the lodge. That’s settled it. She’ll quit teasing me and—
“You know, I think the scars make you look sexy. They’re dangerous. Like you’re a secret spy who knows all sorts of dirt on politicians and—oh—maybe even celebrities. I bet you’ve been like a bodyguard to the stars or something, haven’t you?” She is utterly undeterred.
I should be frustrated with her. Instead, I listen to every word that falls from her lips. The way I’ve been doing from the moment she showed up at the lodge. I can’t seem to stop—stop staring, stop listening, stop imagining. But I have to. She’ll be gone in a day or two, back to her life in the spotlight.
Just the thought of a spotlight anywhere near me makes my insides curdle.
“Like maybe the Queen of England? Or, oooohh, Dolly? Dolly Parton is my favorite. If you’ve saved her life, I think I’m in love with you.”
I stop short.
She bumps into me. Wasting no time, she throws her arms around me. “You did, didn’t you?” she whispers. “You saved Dolly?” She’s so small she can’t clasp her hands around me. I’m too big for her.
I sigh as she snuggles her cheek against my back.
“You smell so good. Is that your soap? It must be. I want to shower when we get back to our room. Rub that tasty smell all over me.”
I swallow hard, my cock jumping to attention at the thought of her naked in my shower and rubbing my bar of soap—the one that’s touched my body—all over her body. Jesus, that’s almost like us touching … everywhere.
“—and then we can just lie in bed and talk. Like last night?”
Last night, I didn’t sleep. Last night, all I could do was lie along the edge of my bed and listen to her talk herself to sleep. She looked like an angel in my bed.
And I was … I was terrified. As soon as she was out, I got up and sat in the big, cozy chair near my fireplace. There, I held my vigil. Because there, she was safe. There, I couldn’t hurt her.
I gently remove her hands as she takes one more deep breath against my back. “Come on, princess. I need to find out the situation so I can keep you safe.”
“Diego, it’s like you’re my own super personal bodyguard!” She squeals with excitement. “This is a dream come true.”
I groan inwardly and hope that I can keep her safe from any threats, and also safe from me—a huge, ugly, foolish man who is already hopelessly smitten with the perfect pop princess he can never have.
3
Aurora
“He hates me,” I whisper to Clover. She’s sitting next to me on the sofa. I’m pretty sure this is the common area. This place is crazy cool. I think it’s neat and awesome the way everyone lives here together.
“Trust me. He doesn't hate you.” She tries to reassure me.
I lean into her and drop my voice even more. “You and Charles did the dirty, didn't you?”
Clover’s cheeks warm, telling me all I need to know. I’ll let her slide without giving me the details right now. We need hot chocolate and lots of time on our hands.
“I was sure you’d be the first to lose your virginity,” she whispers.
I lean back when Tiernan walks through the room. He looks like he’s about to go work out. There’s a gym here. I should probably use it, too.
“I never found the right guy. You know how hard it is for me to even talk to guys. They’re all so… suspect.” Everyone wants a piece of me for one reason or another. The more success I have, the harder it is to tell who my real friends are. Clover is the exception. She grew on me fast after we met. She’s so loyal. I can tell her anything. She’s like a vault. I trust her as much as I trust Bells. God, Bells. I should’ve checked in on her. I’ve been so obsessed with Diego that everything else fell away.
“Trusting is hard. I get it,” Clover says.
I lean my head to rest on her shoulder.
“Bells is fine.” I smile at the fact that she knows me so well that she knew I was worrying about Bells.
“Maybe a little too fine,” I tease. Bells has never shown interest in any man that I know of. But there’s no mistaking the way she looked at Barrow. I can tell the feeling is mutual, too, based on the way he’s been hovering over her. She’s been staying in his room recovering since he’s the only one here with medical training. I’m pretty sure that’s not the only reason she’s been staying in there. She pretends he annoys her, but I see the way she looks at him. It’s a way I’ve never seen her look at anyone else before.
It’s a bit odd that none of the men around here seem to mention exactly what they
do for a living. But the one thing that is clear is that they are all deadly. It doesn't matter to me what they’ve done in the past. They not only saved us, but they have now killed for us, too.
“I can’t believe that asshole Kent sent a fucking assassin to take me out. What am I going to do now? I have a target on my back.”
She wraps her arm around me. “I’m pretty sure Diego is watching your back every second of every day. You’re safe.”
“True.” I can’t imagine Diego letting anyone come near me.
“By the way, I need to put in my two weeks’ notice,” Clover teases.
“Shut up. Did you really think I believed there was any way that you were going to be leaving here? You’re in love with Charles. That’s something I dream of having. Even if you wanted to, I wouldn’t let you leave.”
She gives me a giant hug.
“I’ll miss you,” I say in her ear before we let go.
“I’ll miss you, too, but we’ll still see each other.”
“I love this place. It’s a nice escape. Trust me when I say I’ll be coming back here when I need a break from the rest of the world.” To be honest, I don’t want to leave at all. I’ve never felt more relaxed and unplugged. I don’t have to be on all the time. I can just be me. That’s something I never get to do unless I’m with the girls.
“You know what I think we should do?” A mischievous smile spreads across her face. “Go work out.”
