His Prize (The Cleaners Book 1)

by Doris O'Connor

As though she’d conjured the man up by thinking about him, he entered the VIP area. It wasn’t him that made her almost drop the tray of glasses she was carrying however, but the tall, silver haired man by his side. Owen laughed at something that Ren had said, and when both men turned to look in her direction, as though they were talking about her, the proverbial rug was pulled out from under her for the second time this evening.

  With his hair now loose from the tie and falling freely down to his shoulders, Ren looked so damn sexy it took her breath away. He’d changed his clothes, and her stomach churned as her imagination went into overdrive. As much as she hadn’t liked Myrtle, the thought of what either man might have done to her made bile rise in Susie’s throat.

  She needed to get out of here. However, Ty had taken up brooding residence by the staff exit, and she would have to cross right in front of the VIP area to leave the club by the front. Neither Owen nor Ren would let her, of that she was sure. Dropping her gaze and doing her best to ignore the feel of Ren’s stare on her ass as she turned her back to him, she attempted to pick up the empties on the table in front of her. Unfortunately, the glass in her hand slipped, and she watched in growing horror as it crashed down onto to the table, knocking over the half empty beer bottles. The pale liquid fizzed over the surface and soaked the customer, who’d been staring down her exposed cleavage.

  “Fuck, you bitch did that on purpose.”

  Susie cried out in shock as the guy’s fingers clamped painfully around her wrist. He staggered to his feet, and his alcohol laced breath blasted her straight in the face as he yanked her closer to him. The heavy tray clattered to the floor, glass broke, and liquid splashed up her bare legs. Before she could even formulate a reply Ty appeared behind the swaying customer. He glanced behind her as though looking for permission, and in the temporary lull of the music, she heard glass crunch under heavy footsteps, seconds before a familiar scent engulfed her.

  “Take your hands off what’s mine, mister.”

  Ren’s gravelly drawl held a dangerous edge, which made her stomach do flip-flops, especially when Ren put his solid arm around her waist and clamped his large hand over the other man’s wrist.

  Sweat broke out on the inebriated man’s forehead, but he was either too stupid or too drunk to grasp the danger he was in, because instead of letting go, his beefy fingers dug into her wrist even more. Tears sprang into Susie’s eyes, and she couldn’t suppress a whimper.

  Ty exchanged a glance with Ren, and in the next instant brought his hands down either side of inebriated guy’s neck in a karate move that meant the overweight guy slumped immediately. Ty held him up by the scruff of the neck, while Ren uncurled the man’s fingers from around her wrists, and in the next instant the world tilted and she was tucked up in his arms cradled high against his chest, as he strode away with her in his arms.

  “Take out the trash, Ty.”

  “Sure thing, boss.”

  Susie risked a quick glance up the man who was carrying her as though she weighed no more than a feather, and his dark gaze briefly connected with hers as they left the busy club behind. Her heart beat faster at the quiet determination she saw in his eyes, only to turn into a jackhammer when they entered Owen Huntly’s office. She’d only been in here once, the day he’d hired her, and the place had seemed ominous then. With its dark mahogany furnishings, the massive desk, and the floor to ceiling window—one way glass she knew—that afforded an unrivalled view over the club below, it screamed extreme wealth and power, and made her so nervous she could barely breathe. Why on earth had Ren brought her here? A door banged shut behind them, and in the next instant, Ren had set her on top of the club owner’s desk. Susie didn’t know where to look when Owen Huntly himself stepped up to her, grasped her hand and clucked his tongue.

  “Best ice that, Ren. Seems your prize is somewhat fragile?”

  His prize?

  Before she could question that odd choice of words, Ren was back, and she jumped when he wrapped a cold icepack around her hurting wrist.

  “It’s okay, pumpkin. It will help, trust me.”

  His large hand held the pack in place, while he grasped her chin with his free hand and nudged her head up until she had no choice but to look at him.

  The quiet fury that emanated from his frame made the fine hair on her neck rise to attention. It seemed so out of proportion to what had happened, and surely he wouldn’t be that furious because she got hurt? A muscle ticked in his jaw, and she forgot to breathe altogether when he rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip, in an almost absent minded gesture, while he addressed Owen.

  “That was unacceptable, Huntly.”

  The other man chuckled.

  “Not like you to be this possessive, Ren.” The far too arousing moves of his digit across her lips stopped, and he flashed her a brief smile. Releasing her, he stepped away, and Susie made a quick grab for the icepack. It did soothe her sore wrist, after all.

  “I’m not, just don’t like my property being damaged, that’s all.”

  ****

  Susie gasped and dropped the ice pack when he said that, while Owen shook his head and smirked. If the man wasn’t one of his oldest friends, he’d deck him for sure. Instead he bent down to pick up the ice pack and handed it back to her.

  “Keep that on. It’ll help keep the bruising down.”

  Already ugly fingerprints marred her delicate skin, and it took every ounce of self-control he possessed to not storm out of the club, hunt that fucker down and beat him to a pulp, for hurting his pumpkin. The possessive nature of his feelings made him angrier. Why her, and why now, he had no idea, but no other man was ever going to put his hands on her again. He scowled at her, disgusted with his thought processes, and a faint blush appeared on her cheekbones as she dropped her gaze again and dutifully wrapped the pack around her wrist.

  “If you say so, Ren.” Owen laughed, and then sobering, turned his attention to Susie.

  “You will recall I gave you a choice when you started working for me, Susie?”

  “Yes, sir?” Susie raised her head to look at Owen, and the slight tremble in her voice as she addressed Owen made Ren hard as freaking nails. He needed to get them out of there, so that he could fuck her senseless. That would surely stop these conflicting emotions that made him act so out of character.

  “You also said I could work here as a waitress. I’m not ready for anything else, and with all due respect, sir, you can’t make me.”

  “He isn’t. I am. I’m claiming you as payment for services rendered, and besides, this way I can ensure you can’t squeal about what you saw out there.”

  It was immensely satisfying to see her head whip round to look at him. Mouth slightly open, her breathing sped up, and Ren watched her reaction.

  “I won’t sleep with you. I’m not a whore.”

  Owen chuckled as though watching this interchange was the most amusing thing ever. Ren flipped him the finger, without breaking eye contact with the curvy redhead in front of him.

  “I never said you were, and I agree you will not be sleeping with me.”

  Her eyes widened, and the flare of hope in their blue depths pissed him off.

  “More like pass out after I’ve fucked you raw. You’re mine now, to do with as I please, and you best remember that.”

  Her reaction would have been comical in any other circumstances and with any other woman, but the way she wrapped her arms around herself, while biting down on her lip so hard she was drawing blood, made his already dark mood worse.

  Especially when she wrenched her tear-stained gaze to his, seemingly determined to have the last word.

  “So, murder isn’t enough for you now? You’re gonna add rape to your repertoire, because that’s the only way you’ll get anywhere near me.”

  The words were brave, but she flinched when he stepped up to her, wrapped his hands in her hair and yanked her off the desk. Another swift move had her face down on the piece of furniture, and she gasped when he kicked her
legs apart and cupped her pussy through her underwear.

  Owen smirked at him over the prone girl’s body. Lifting Susie’s head to make her look at him, Ren traced one finger along her slit, satisfied to feel the dampness under his fingertips. Oh yes, his little pumpkin could protest all she wanted, but she wasn’t immune to him. To prove his point, he nudged the elastic of her underwear away, and sank two fingers into her hole, while circling her clit with his thumb. The girl bucked underneath him, and her internal muscles squeezed the shit out of his fingers when he found the spot he was looking for. Her whole body tensed underneath him, and having proven his point he withdrew his fingers and smacked her ass twice. The flesh wobbled and pinked up nicely. Pulling her back up by her hair, he made a point of licking his fingers clean, before he grasped her chin with that hand, and smiled at her.

  “It’s not rape if you’re enjoying it, pumpkin, and trust me, by the time I’m done with you, you’ll be begging me for my cock.”

  “Never.” The word was barely above a whisper, but Ren heard it anyway, as did Owen, because he laughed again.

  “As entertaining as this is, I’ve got things to do, so take your toy home with you, Ren.” Owen smirked at Susie when she shook her head, as best she could with Ren’s fist still buried in her hair. He loosened his hold on her and dropped his hand to her nape. Whether to reassure her or to make sure she wouldn’t run, he wasn’t entirely sure himself, but she’d gone so pale, the enticing line of freckles dusted over her nose stood out in dark contrast. Definitely a natural redhead, if he had to guess.

  “You can’t just pass me off to him. It’s not right. It’s—”

  She stopped speaking and reared back when Owen shot to his feet with so much force that his chair went flying and crashed into the glass wall behind him. Ren tightened his hold on the girl’s neck, but he needn’t have worried, because she pushed back against him as though she was seeking his protection.

  “Enough, girl! My mind is made up, and I’m not in the habit of repeating myself. You accepted my protection when you sought out employment here, which makes you my property. I made my terms perfectly clear, so either shut up or instead of letting him fuck you, I’ll put you to work on the floor. Ren wants you, so you’re his, for as long he deems you useful. So, I suggest you keep your ungrateful little trap shut, and keep my man happy. Are we clear here?”

  Susie’s shoulders slumped. She started trembling, but she did nod.

  “Excellent. Enjoy your prize, Ren. You’ve certainly earned it today.” Owen regarded the trembling woman through dispassionate eyes. “It would be far easier to simply kill this one, too. I know you like a challenge…”

  “Please, I’ll be good. I don’t want to die.”

  Owen waved a hand in dismissal, and Ren threw his newly acquired bundle of curves over his shoulder. She struggled, so he swatted her ass several more times in quick succession, until she went limp against him. Her sweet feminine musk hit Ren’s nostrils, and he winked at Owen while adjusting himself with his free hand.

  “Like I told you earlier, pumpkin, if I wanted you dead, you’d be floating in the canal already. Now be a good girl, and thank Mr. Huntly for taking care of you.”

  Something sounding suspiciously like a muffled Fuck You! came from the girl flung over his back, and Ren pinched the ample thigh under his restraining arm.

  “I’m waiting, pumpkin,” he said.

  “Thanks for nothing.” The sassy reply made Ren grin, and his boss shook his head with a wry grin in his direction.

  “Have fun taming that one, Ren,” Owen said.

  “Oh, I intend to.”

  Chapter Three

  Being carted out of the club, flung over Ren’s shoulder as though she was nothing more than a sack of spuds, shouldn’t be a turn-on, especially after the way both Ren and Huntly had talked about her as though she was nothing more than an object of payment. Damn the sorry lot of them, and damn her hormones. Maybe it was just the threat to her life that made her act so out of character. They said that, didn’t they? Sex was life affirming, after all, and with all your senses heightened it made some sort of convoluted sense that she was turned on … maybe?

  Susie gave up trying to make sense of it as she bounced over Ren’s shoulder. She couldn’t see much with her hair obscuring her vision, which was probably just as well. She didn’t want to see other people’s smirks at her humiliation, especially as she found the rhythmic clenching of Ren’s ass cheeks a far too arousing view. Her work uniform consisted of nothing more than a tiny skirt and low cut blouse, and with his hand clamped firmly under her ass, he would know how embarrassingly wet she was getting at this blatant caveman act. It spoke to the deeply buried submissive part of her, the one that was always attracted to the bad boys. The one awakened by her ex. The one that had meant he’d taken full advantage of her need to please him. Little had she known it had all been an act to groom her to bend to his will, and when that hadn’t worked, he’d run up debts in her name she would never be able to pay off in her lifetime, unless she did what he wanted her to. As she wasn’t prepared to do that, the circling loan sharks had forced her out of her home and into seeking refuge here at this club and with Huntly. Talk about jumping from the frying pan and into the fire.

  She’d known Brian was bad news, hadn’t she? Just like she knew Ren was even worse news, yet that thought just turned her on even more. She was turning into a fucking cliché, and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it, even if she wanted to.

  Her life was spiraling out of control and down the proverbial drain at a speed that left her breathless. Cold air hit her exposed flesh when they left the club behind. A car alarm beeped, and in the next instant she was on her feet. Ren’s hand dug into her elbow, as he wrenched open the door to an old, silver E-type Jaguar. Susie didn’t know much about cars, but she knew this one had to be worth a fortune. From the brief glimpse she got, before he pushed her inside the plush interior, it was in pristine condition. Her heart turned into a jackhammer when he reached across her to strap her into the seatbelt.

  “Don’t even think of trying to make a run for it, pumpkin. While it would be fun to chase you, it wouldn’t end well … for you.”

  He smirked at her sharp intake of breath and tightened the seatbelt over her breasts. She screwed her eyes shut when he ran his fingers over her nipples. His hot breaths ghosted across her face, bringing with it the faint scent of tobacco, mint, and a whiff of whatever cologne he used. Something dark and spicy, dangerous like the man himself. Susie couldn’t stop her whimper of need when he pinched each of her nipples. Even through the fabric of her blouse and the thin lace of her bra those traitorous points responded and sent darts of need down to her clit. That little bundle of nerves contracted, and her pussy muscles clenched, further soaking the gusset of her knickers with her arousal. Heat stained her cheeks, and she shook her head in denial at his breathy words.

  “So responsive, pumpkin. I’m going to have fun torturing these, until you beg me to fuck you.”

  “Never.” Even to her own ears that reply was far too breathy, and sure enough his dark laughter washed over her. She breathed a sigh of relief when the air displaced with his retreat. Her car door slammed shut, his opened, and the car dipped as he slid into his seat. Seconds later the powerful engine throbbed into life. Country music filled the space, and Susie cautiously opened her eyes. A grim smile played around his lips as he pulled away, and she knew her mouth fell open when he startled to whistle along to the tune of an old Dolly Parton song. He glanced over to her and reaching across snapped her mouth shut for her. The devilish wink which accompanied those actions made her insides clench. Whether in fear or arousal she wasn’t entirely sure, but in the close confines of the car, his sheer masculine presence was overwhelming. It made breathing difficult, especially when he slid his large hand down to her thigh.

  “Open up, girl.”

  She didn’t even think to disobey that clipped command, and goosebumps broke out over he
r skin when he murmured his approval at her compliance.

  “Good girl.”

  He slowly slid the calloused pads of his digits up her thighs, until he reached the sodden crotch of her underwear, and his smirk deepened.

  “Such a naughty girl, too.” Susie bit the inside of her mouth to stop herself from moaning as he traced the seam of her slit through the cloth with maddeningly slow strokes, designed to drive her insane. “Take them off for me, pull your skirt up, and let me see what’s mine.”

  “Wh-at?” Her squeak of an answer seemed to amuse him, and in the next instant, she screeched when he slapped her hard across her pussy.

  “Let’s get one thing straight, girl. When I tell you to do something you do it, and the correct address is Sir. Are we clear?”

  The ache in her cunt turned to a soothing caress when he rubbed his palm up and down her slit, before he released her with a sharp pinch to her inside thigh.

  “I’m waiting, girl. You’ve already earned yourself a punishment, so don’t make this worse for you.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Susie ground the words out through gritted teeth, and his low laughter washed over her as she shimmied out of her embarrassingly wet knickers. Heat stained her cheeks when she handed them over and saw him lift them to his nose.

  “See, that wasn’t so hard now, was it? We’ll get along just fine, as long as you do as you’re told.”

  Suzie thought it wisest not to comment on that. She crossed her arms instead, and stared straight ahead, determined to ignore him. It was only when they pulled up in her street, that she broke her silence with a groan. Her front door was open, the living room window was broken, and some of her clothes were strewn all over the garden path. By far more frightening, however, were the painted words across the door.

  Time to pay, Bitch.

  She felt rather than saw Ren’s whole demeanor change. One of his large hands clamped down on her shoulder, and she didn’t need his harsh command to stay rooted in her seat to comply. There was no way she was going anywhere until she knew whoever had done that to her house wasn’t still there.