Claimed By Him: (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

by Alexis Winter

  “Daisy gets a bath so that she can smell pretty for her new family,” Amy coos.

  “Looks like we need to put in a tracking chip too,” I say, standing up. “Let’s get busy, Aims.”

  Amy stands and dusts off her pants. “What did you do last night?”

  “What?” I ask, turning my back to her so she can’t read me.

  “You look different.” She takes a few steps to my side, peeking at me. “Did you do something different with your hair or makeup?”

  “No, nothing is different.” I roll my eyes and grab the clipboard.

  She gasps loudly, and when I turn to look, she’s covering her big smile with her hand. “You got laid!”

  “Shhh! Seriously, why are you so loud?”

  “You did, didn’t you?” She’s pushing against my shoulder and nodding her head vigorously.

  “Liam came over last night,” I admit.

  She screams and jumps up and down.

  “Shhh. What the hell, Amy?”

  She’s laughing so hard she doubles over. “I’m sorry. I just so fucking excited!”

  “Why are you excited? I’m the one that should be excited.”

  Suddenly all her noise making goes silent. “Wait. Are you not excited? Did he suck? Was his,” her eyes flash downward, “too small?”

  “What? No!” I shake my head. “It was perfect, everything I thought it would be and more.”

  “Then what’s the problem?” She places her elbows on the table and leans down to study me.

  I shrug. “Nothing. I’m just trying to keep myself in check before I get attached again and he leaves.”

  She nods slowly. “Good idea. Don’t put too much thought into it and enjoy it while it lasts.”

  “I can do that,” I tell myself.

  Amy and I spend the day getting Daisy ready for her adoption. We put in the tracking chip and update all her vaccines. Then we give her a bath and a haircut, paint her nails, and put a bow in her hair. She’s happy with all the attention she’s getting, and after the grooming, her gray coat is shiny and smooth, looking more silver than gray.

  I bend down to my knees and pet her head. “You’re going to be so happy with your new family!”

  “Ves, Daisy’s new owners are here,” Amy says, walking in the door behind me.

  I hug her close. “Okay, Daisy. Don’t be nervous. They’re going to love you!” I stand and lead her from the room up to the front where an older couple stands, eyes wide and smiles in place. The lady drops down to her knees and opens her arms up wide. “Hi, Daisy!”

  Daisy automatically recognizes her name and she runs into the woman’s open arms. I’m so happy that Daisy found a home with people who will adore her, but I’m also sad to see her go. This is the best and the worst part of my job.

  When I pull up at my parents’ house, Dad is standing in front of the garage, flipping the steaks on the grill.

  “Hi, kitten,” he says as I exit the car and close the distance between us.

  “Hi, how are you feeling? Mom mentioned you’ve been a little under the weather.” I lean in and kiss his cheek.

  He waves his hand through the air. “It ain’t nothing that can stop me. Your mom’s inside. Go tell her to stop fussing about everything and to sit down and take a break.” He shakes his head. “That woman goes ninety to nothing all day long!”

  I laugh. “Okay, I’ll tell her.” I leave Dad standing alone to go inside and check on Mama. When I walk in the kitchen, she’s dancing around to an old Conway Twitty song while preparing dinner. I smile as I lean against the door jam, listening to her sing along and watching as she dances with the music. It reminds me of being a little girl and doing this same thing with her while she prepared dinner.

  “Oh, you scared me,” she says when she spins around to find me watching her.

  “Daddy said you need to slow down,” I say around my smile, now understanding why. I look at the island that’s covered in food. BBQ ribs, coleslaw, baked beans, corn on the cob, and potato salad are all laid out.

  Dad walks in with a tray. “Here’s the steak.” He places it on the island next to everything else. “I don’t know why you wanted to fix all this. It’s going to take us a week to eat it all.”

  She shoos him away with the dish towel in her hands. “I wanted a BBQ. We’ll send a plate home with Vesper. Maybe she can take it to that man she’s been seeing.” She looks at me from the corner of her eyes as a small smile spreads across her lips.

  “Damn it, Amy,” I mumble. “How has she even had the time to tell you? I just left her at the animal shelter.” I move deeper into the kitchen and pour myself a glass of sweet tea.

  “She called me as she was walking out the door,” Mom says, taking some plates from the cabinets. “We just want you to be happy, dear. You work too hard.”

  I roll my eyes and grab the silverware, carrying it to the island. “I just wish you would all stay out of my personal life.”

  “Good luck,” Daddy says, fixing his plate.

  Mom ignores me and starts fixing her plate. “I have the patio table set up out in the back. I thought it was too nice of a night to waste it indoors.”

  Everyone fixes their dinner and heads outside to sit at the patio table. The food is delicious, but I’m too lost in thought to engage in much conversation. I keep wondering if I should try harder with Liam or if I should stick to my original plan of keeping some distance between us outside of the bedroom. It seems like everyone is rooting for us, and his words still echo in my mind: I want you by my side every single day.

  Maybe I’ll just have fun while it lasts and see where it goes.

  19

  Shortly after dinner, I’m pulling up at the ranch. The sky is dark and bright stars speckle the blackness. A slight wind blows, giving the night a chill that cuts through me. I grab my purse from the passenger side seat and the plate my mom sent with me and head for the door.

  Before I’ve even made it up the steps, he’s opening the door for me. He has a big smile on his face, and he looks dead sexy wearing a pair of basketball shorts and no shirt. His eyes darken the moment they lock on mine.

  “Hey, what’s this?” he asks, allowing me to pass him.

  I make my way toward the kitchen. “Since you’re preparing dessert, I brought dinner.” I place the plate on the table and grab a fork.

  “This looks delicious. Let me get us some wine.” He takes a step toward the wine fridge but I shoo him back.

  “Go sit and eat while it’s still a little warm. I’ll get the wine.”

  He sits down and I grab two glasses and a fresh bottle of wine. I take my place next to him and pour us both a glass. Lifting it to my lips, the sweet mixture spills into my mouth, and I swallow it down quickly to kill the nerves that are coursing through my body.

  “How was your day? How’s Lucy?” I ask, leaning back in my seat.

  He takes a bite of potato salad. “She seems to be doing well. I spent the day mucking stalls with Tyler. I just got out of the shower when I heard you pull up.”

  “I spent the day at the animal shelter. I probably smell like a wet dog.” I laugh.

  “Upstairs, in my bathroom, there’s an old claw-foot bathtub, and you can fill it to your ears.” He smiles. “Go wash up, and when I’m done with dinner, I’ll be up with your dessert.” His eyes darken as his smile starts to fade away into a more serious look.

  “Okay, but don’t keep me waiting. I want that sundae you promised.” I stand with my glass of wine and head upstairs.

  I fill the tub to the brim, topping it off with a sweet-smelling bubble bath, and sink deep into it. The hot water soothes away the pain in my rigid muscles, and the relaxing scent of lavender makes me forget all my worries. I lean back and close my eyes, breathing deeply.

  Only minutes later, Liam struts in. “You’re doing this all wrong,” he states.

  “What do you mean?”

  He turns around and pulls some candles from the cabinet, and lights the
m, scattering them around the room. He dims the lights, then pulls his basketball shorts down his sculpted hips. I can’t help but lick my lips as he walks over and slides behind me in the deep tub.

  He pulls my back against his chest, and my head rests on his shoulder. His arms wrap around me, holding me close and I breathe his rich scent in deeply.

  “How many girls have you seduced this way?” I ask around a small smile.

  “Only you. Is it working?” He lets out a short laugh.

  I turn around to face him, climbing up on his lap and wrapping my arms around his neck. “It is,” I whisper, leaning in for a kiss.

  Our soft kiss turns hard, and his hands latch onto my hips, pulling me downward where his hard cock slides between my folds, rubbing against my sensitive nub. He sits up, leaning me back, as his lips leave mine and travel down my neck. His hands move up my sides to my breasts where he massages them before gently pinching my nipple. I let out a loud breath as my head falls backward, exposing my throat to him.

  “I don’t know what it is about you, Ves, but when I’m around you, all I can think about is sinking deep inside you.” Suddenly, he grabs my hips and stands, lifting me with him.

  I let out a squeal as he carries me from the bathroom and into his room where we fall, soaking wet, onto the bed. The bright moon is shining through the window, giving just enough light to see him in the darkness.

  His lips start on mine, but they quickly descend lower, covering my neck, breasts, stomach, down to the junction between my legs. He runs his tongue between my folds, causing an electric current to run through me the moment he brushes against my bundle of nerves. My thighs want to close, but his hands hold them back as he sucks, flicks, and nibbles in the perfect combination to have me withering away in pleasure. My eyes close, unable to stay open as he continues his much-wanted assault on my body.

  My release builds as he doubles his speed, working me over the edge with every flick of his tongue.

  “Liam,” I breathlessly call out, unable to move to stop the flood of passion running through my veins.

  His hands are up to my ass, squeezing as he pushes me over the edge. My orgasm rises to its peak and explodes, raining down on me like a flood of hot lava. I can’t move. I can’t stop it. I have no choice but to let it claim me.

  When he pulls away, his face is glistening with my arousal and his blue eyes are so dark, they appear black. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, eyes trained on mine. My chest is rising and falling quickly, and I want nothing more than to push him back and slide down his hard length.

  He leans forward, pulling a condom out of the bedside table, and he slides it on, never speaking a word or looking away from my body sprawled out before him.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” I whisper.

  “Because I’ve never wanted a woman as badly as I want you right now.” He reaches down between us, wrapping his big hand around his cock, stroking it as his eyes greedily take me in. “You’re so fucking beautiful. Just looking at you right now makes me want to cum.” He presses his thumb against my nub and applies pressure while rubbing circles around it, all the while, stroking himself.

  My hands fist the sheets of the bed as my eyes fall closed and my hips lift upward, needing to feel his touch, needing him to slide deep inside me and claim me as his. My lips part and a gasp leaves them.

  “Liam, please,” I moan, releasing the bedsheet and tangling my hand into his hair, gently pulling. “I need you. I’m going to explode.”

  He lets out a deep growl as he jerks his hand away and positions himself at my entrance. Thrusting forward, he slides inside faster and harder than I can process. The moment we connect, we both let out a relieving sigh, but neither of us move, needing a second to gather ourselves.

  I can feel his heart beating wildly against my chest, and his hot breath is quickly blowing against my neck.

  “You feel so fucking good, Ves.” He slowly slides out. “You’re so tight, I want to cum already.” He pushes back inside just as teasingly slow. “I’m taking my time with you tonight, Ves.” He rolls his hips and hits that perfect spot inside of me that causes me to call out. “I’m not pulling out of you until you’re begging me to.” He pulls out and slams back into me hard and fast.

  I wake in the morning and my body feels sore and drained of energy. We stayed up all night, making love and taking our turns with each other’s bodies. Just thinking back on last night brings goosebumps to my skin.

  I roll over, and instead of finding Liam lying next to me, there’s a note.

  Ves,

  Sleep in and rest. When you wake, take a long hot shower and put on the dress that’s hanging in the corner. You should have everything you need. I’ll be back this evening. I hope you’ll be waiting.

  Liam

  I lift my head and look at the corner of the room. On the closet door hangs a black dress. On the floor beneath it, there is a pair of high heels. Smiling, I push myself from the bed and walk over to the corner. The dress is beautiful. It’s sleeveless and looks form-fitting. It has a small amount of beadwork along the bodice that the sun reflects off. I bend down and pick up the shoes that will match the dress perfectly. My mouth drops open when I flip it over to see the red bottom. These shoes cost more than a year of rent.

  I place it softly back in its place, afraid to even touch something so expensive. When I stand, my eyes catch a glimpse of a black box sitting on the dresser. I slowly move toward it and pick it up, opening the lid to see a pair of diamond earrings, a silver necklace with a single diamond charm, and diamond bracelet. The sun that’s streaming in through the window catches the diamonds, forming prisms around the room.

  I close the box with a loud pop, putting it back on the dresser and making my way back to bed. Laying down and pulling the blankets up my naked body, I’m completely speechless. I know Liam has a lot of money, but I don’t want fancy, expensive gifts. I’m not with him for his money, and I hope he realizes that. In fact, I’m not with him at all. We’re close, yes. But together? Does he think we’re together? Surely, he wouldn’t buy all this for every girl he dates.

  Then I remember something: the movie Pretty Woman, and the way Richard Gere borrowed the expensive jewelry for the fancy event he took Julia Roberts to. Maybe that’s what Liam did? He has tons of money and probably friends in high places. He probably just borrowed the jewelry. It’s not a gift.

  That thought helps me settle my racing heart. I can handle the dress and the shoes that cost more than my life is worth, but not the diamonds. We’ve only just become close. We barely know one another.

  I take a deep breath and tell myself that the jewelry isn’t to keep. As I feel my heart slow down and my head stops spinning, I stand up and push myself toward the shower.

  I walk down the stairs, wearing everything that was laid out for me, and Liam walks in wearing a suit. He looks up at the stairs and when his eyes land on me, he freezes, his eyes following me down the stairs.

  I come to a stop directly in front of him. “You look…” He shakes his head. “Beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” I smile. “Where are we going that we have to be so dressed up?”

  He takes my arm and leads me out the door where a black limo is waiting in the drive. “We’re going to fly to L.A. My company is hosting a big event where we will dance, drink, and have a fancy dinner that’ll leave you hungry.” He laughs. “The event is held at a hotel, so I hope it’s okay for you to stay gone overnight.”

  “I will need to call Amy, but I’m sure it will be fine,” I say, sliding into the backseat and pulling out my phone to ask Amy to move any appointments that may be set up.

  A few hours later, we are exiting the plane in LA, loading up into another limo. I’m in awe as we drive down the busy roads, unable to keep my eyes off the sights.

  “Everything moves so fast here. I don’t know how you can go from this to home. There is a world of difference between the two places.”

 
He shrugs. “This is mandatory. The ranch, that’s home. That’s where I want to be.” He picks up my hand and presses a kiss to the top.

  When we walk into the hotel, I’m stunned by everything. It’s all so big and fancy. There are waiters wearing suits, and they walk around holding trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Everyone is dressed in their best suits and dresses, and I see more diamonds on the bodies of women than I’ve ever seen in my whole life. I’m a country girl. All of this is new. I feel like I’m dreaming or watching a movie. Now I know how Pretty Woman felt: lost, confused, and out of her element.

  Liam stays busy talking to every single person that walks up to him, but he’s sure to always keep a hand on me and to introduce me to everyone we meet. Classical music plays as people dance in the center of the floor. I wish we were out there dancing, but it seems like everyone wants a piece of him.

  While he’s engaged in conversation, I walk away, unnoticed, and get myself a drink. As I’m sitting at the bar alone, a man with dark hair and eyes sits beside me. “I thought you were here with Liam O’Connor?”

  I offer a polite grin. “I am. Why do you ask?”

  He shrugs his shoulder, raising his glass to his lips. “When Liam marches women into these things, they don’t leave his side. You’re different.” He points at me with his index finger, even though it’s still wrapped around his glass.

  A silent laugh leaves my lips—even this guy, a man I’ve never met before, can see the difference between me and the women Liam is usually with. If that doesn’t scream doomed, I don’t know what does.

  “I just have a mind of my own,” I tell him, picking up my glass and taking a sip.

  “I’ll sit and keep you company if you’d like.” He winks at me.

  I want to roll my eyes but refrain. “Thank you, but I’m sure Liam will be here for me soon.”

  He lets out a deep laugh. “I can tell you are new around here. If he didn’t notice you walk away, he hasn’t noticed you’re missing. Liam doesn’t care about the women he brings to these events. I’ve seen enough of them to know.”