Claimed By Him: (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

by Alexis Winter

  Elise and I had gotten to know each other even better since we’d gotten back from New York. Elise had even gone out with Janelle and me for a girls’ night out. As I predicted, Janelle adored her, and the two of them clicked immediately. They have a lot in common. They both have the philosophy that life was meant to be enjoyed, so why not grab each opportunity and live life to the max.

  Since I’d been home from New York, I’d been in a mood and Janelle had let me know at every opportunity. I hadn’t wanted to admit it, but she was right…is it the fact that I am jealous Vincent had been hanging out with another woman? Or is it the fact I’d purposely sequestered myself from him? I’d never admit this to anyone, but he had entered my mind several times over the last few weeks…mostly at night when I was trying to fall asleep. Thoughts of his hands making their way up my trembling thighs, of his lips against my neck and my breasts.

  So, I shouldn’t have been surprised when Elise had brought up Vincent on the way to the airport this morning. There had to have been a motive for her to offer me a ride to the airport. She lived only a few blocks down from Vincent, so her suggestion that it was easier for her to give me a ride over him made no sense. It was just as much out of her way as it was out of his, and she didn’t even have any business at the airport for an excuse.

  She had clearly wanted to talk about how he was a nice guy, and how I ought to give him a chance, even after I told her about the headboard banging against my hotel room wall. Elise knew him far better than I, but in the time I’d been around him, I still hadn’t seen this amazing person she described. She told me to try to look past the brazen comments and somewhat reckless behavior. Even after all his frustrating behavior, Elise’s comments were sinking in. Maybe my subconscious wants to give him another chance, and that’s why I agreed to dinner. Maybe I am judging him the way I felt people had judged me in the past.

  The fact is, he’s kind to everyone who works for him. There isn’t a moment when he’s treated any of them like just employees or ordered anyone around. He notices them, which is more than can be said for a lot of billionaires. He consistently praises me for my work, noticing even the smallest of details. He even called Madeline to tell her personally how great of a job I was doing.

  Elise had told me about Vincent’s charities and the things he poured his money and time into. There is more to him than just extreme sports and fast cars and women. There is a depth to him that I hadn’t thought was there, and for some reason, he is interested in my success: a poor, just barely out of college woman, ten years younger than him, who turned her nose up at him. All of that had been swirling around in my head when Vincent asked me to join him for dinner again. He’d asked me before, back in New York, but I’d turned him down. This time, I wasn’t able to hold out.

  The part of me that doesn’t want to keep him out is getting stronger every day that I spend with him while the part that is resistant grows quieter and quieter. I am growing more confident by the day…it is all just a fun time and I certainly don't have to explain my actions to anyone! Maybe Janelle was right when she said that I am too uptight for my own good. Vincent isn’t the marrying type, so why not take a carefree approach and live in the moment? I’m young and beautiful; I could have a good time without worrying about the long term, right?

  But now, we’re in Denver. We check into our rooms in the hotel: matching suites on one of the upper floors. He is right next door, only one wall away, and my heart is pounding in my chest in anticipation of what is going to happen tonight. Will I be able to keep my newfound confidence, or will I wilt under pressure and end up giving him a piece of my mind?

  I rummage through my suitcase. All the clothes I’ve brought for the trip aren’t what I want to wear. They are all either far too casual or far too much about business for a dinner out. I didn’t plan for this, and now I am starting to freak out. Grabbing my phone, I shoot off a quick text message to my sister.

  For some dumb reason, I agreed to go out to dinner with him, and now I have nothing to wear.

  I toss the phone onto the bed and go back to comparing two outfits that are never really going to make me happy when my phone goes off. I grab it and glance at the screen to see a reply from Elle.

  Look in your closet.

  My brow knits together. I walk over to the double doors on the other side of the bed. I hadn’t even bothered to open them when I’d arrived, but just behind them is a red cocktail dress that is exactly my size and a matching pair of high heels resting on the floor underneath them.

  What have you done? I wanted something better than I brought, but this screams sex on a stick!

  I tap out a reply to her before pulling the hanger down, admiring the dress. It is going to fit like a glove.

  It wasn’t me. It was Elise.

  I can’t decide if I want to hit or hug Elle and Elise for doing this, or how they’d known I was going to say yes this time. In the end, it doesn’t matter. I agreed to this dinner, and I am going to look like a million bucks when I walk into it. The dress and heels are fabulous, but I am nervous that it might be a little too much for dinner with my pseudo-boss. Now, I need to get ready and get my nervous sweating under control. I walk over to the minibar and grab the vodka. “Nothing a little liquid courage can’t fix.”

  A couple of hours later, when the knock at my door comes, I am startled. Vincent agreed to meet me in the lobby, so I wasn’t expecting anyone. Thankfully I am ready. My blonde hair is in loose curls down my back. I opted for winged eyeliner and lots of mascara, just a touch of shimmer on my lids, bronzer on my cheeks, and a nude lip to give the look a sultry but not overdone vibe.

  I open the door gingerly and am met by a smiling Vincent. I am not certain what to make of the expression on his face, but I am glad I overdressed for the occasion. I don’t even want to know how much his suit cost, but I’m confident it would cover at least a few months of rent. He looks like he was made to wear it too, filling it out in all the right places. God, why does he have to look so damn good all the damn time?

  “Well, good evening, Alison.” He grins. I can see a glint in his eyes as he looks me up and down. He’s looked me up and down before, but this time, something is different. He looks like a man that hasn’t eaten for a week and just sat down in front of a thirty-two-ounce steak. I take in a breath and pull my bottom lip between my teeth, being careful not to mess up my lipstick.

  “Good evening, yourself. You look nice.” I smile at him and take his arm he offers me. His cologne is intoxicating; mixed with his own scent, it immediately sends my brain spinning.

  “I think you stole my line, but you look more than nice. You’re stunning.” He leads me down the hall towards the elevator, but I become confused when he pushes the button that calls the elevator to take us up.

  “Up?” I glance at him, and he returns my questioning expression with a grin.

  “You’ll see, but yes, we’re going up.”

  We stand quietly together as we wait for the elevator. My arm is still looped through his, and I can feel my body begin to sweat nervously. When the doors open onto the roof, what I see drags a little gasp from my parted lips.

  “Oh wow…Vincent, you didn’t have to do any of this. I mean, none of my other clients have ever made this kind of effort!” I am taken aback by the set up on the roof. Lights have been strung around a single table set with a white tablecloth, attended by one of the hotel’s wait staff. The view from the top of the hotel is breathtaking; the Rocky Mountains surround us, still sprinkled with snow on the peaks. It is clear he’s done this so we could be the only two people in the world for at least a little while.

  “Well, I know I didn’t have to. I just wanted to.” He laughs softly and takes my arm that had slipped free when we stepped off the elevator. He leads us over to the table where the waiter pulls a chair out for me to sink into. He moves to the opposite side of the table to join me and signals for the waiter to get our drinks. He returns with a bottle of wine, filling our glasses b
efore bowing slightly and disappearing through the doorway near the covered area where the elevator was located.

  “I mean,” I look around the roof with a soft laugh and then back to him before continuing, “what is all this? You buttering me up for something? Is there another hotel that I need to redecorate unexpectedly? Or are we jumping off the roof?” I point towards the ledge with a sly grin on my face.

  “No, no unexpected hotel additions, Alison, or death-defying activities. It’s simply a date.”

  He is entirely relaxed as he drinks from the wine glass in front of him. I am stunned for the moment, and I know the fact that I am speechless shows on my face because he takes the opportunity to speak again.

  “I mean, I don’t do this sort of thing for every woman who works for me, Alison. I know you think I’m free and loose with my time, but I promise, I don’t do this for just anyone. In fact, I don’t think I’ve done this ever before.”

  I don’t know how to respond, so I take a long drink of the wine in front of me. I am trying to process what is going on, but I am not sure I am going to be able to wrap my head around the fact that I am sitting across the table from one of the richest men in the world, having drinks on what most people would have called our first date. Part of me wants to put an end to this immediately, but my sister’s words ring out in my head to just relax and take it for what it is.

  “I guess I’m wondering…” I look up at Vincent, fingers still wrapped around the stem of the wine glass. “Why do it for me then? I guess my sister was right when she told me I hadn’t been on a date in so long that I wouldn’t know one if it bit me on the ass.”

  What am I saying? I haven’t had enough wine to blame it on the alcohol. I also haven’t had enough to feel as brave as I do at that moment, eyes locking with Vincent’s across the table, but he doesn’t look away. He keeps my gaze in his, even when the waiter appears with two dishes in hand.

  “Oh, I think she underestimates you, then.” The waiter puts the plates down without a word, removing the silver-colored domes to reveal a plate of pasta: chicken Alfredo, my absolute favorite food. I am not sure I want to know how he knew what I like, but I have a feeling that I have Elise to thank or blame for all of this. I’m pretty sure that the topic of favorite dishes came up at some point in one of our conversations.

  “I’m pretty sure both of us might have been underestimated here, Vincent.” I pick up a fork and stab it into the food on the plate, swirling it around to gather the noodles as I glance back up at Vincent. A grin is on his face as I let out a groan of satisfaction.

  Elle and Elise are probably back at home just waiting to find out how tonight goes. I don’t know because I left my phone back in the hotel room, but they both had a hand in this. I am not sure whether I want to yell at them or hug them both.

  “You may be right there. I feel like we got off on the wrong foot, and god knows my behavior in New York certainly didn’t put any of your thoughts about me to rest.” Vincent smiles at me; it is warm and genuine. I can tell from the way that it traveled through his features all the way up to his eyes.

  “One of the few things I’m good at is knowing is when I’m wrong, Vincent.” I try to soften my expression. I had been wrong, especially about him. I am not convinced in the slightest, though, that this man is anything more than a good time. A mere distraction on my road to a true happily ever after.

  “Oh, I bet you’re good at a lot more than that.” His voice is matter of fact, and he keeps his attention on me rather than the plate in front of him as he eats. I glance away nervously; I’m not a fan of being the center of attention. Maybe I have a touch of social anxiety.

  It is one of the reasons I haven’t even thought about dating since my breakup with Brian. It has only been a few months anyway, and work is providing a much-needed distraction. Frankly, I don’t have the time to try to fit another person into my life right now.

  I feel the heat rise in my cheeks when I process the compliment. I am not sure whether he meant anything more by it or not, but I know exactly where my mind went. Hopefully, the light up here is low enough that he isn’t going to notice my flooding with color.

  “I guess I’ll have to leave that up to you to decide since I’m the one who’s working for you.” I grin up at him. A very loud and large part of me knows that mixing business with pleasure is entirely wrong, and an even bigger, louder part of me wants it more than anything else right now.

  “Right now, you’re off the clock. This is entirely pleasure. I promise.” He stands up, leaving the food forgotten on the plate that he’s barely touched and offers me his hand.

  “May I have the pleasure of a dance, Miss Ryder?”

  “But there isn’t any music.” I look around the roof. We are alone, not another soul there, and I can’t figure out if he planned this and there is some secret source of music that is going to surprise me any moment or if he’s lost his mind.

  “And who says we have to have music to dance?” He grins down at me. With that smile, I can’t resist. I take his hand he’s extended and stand up from the table. There isn’t much point in fighting any of this anymore. I am here. Maybe it is time to give up and enjoy myself for once in my life.

  I let him slide one arm around my waist and pull me into his arms as we begin swaying back and forth. All of a sudden, I don’t know why I’ve been fighting all this time, but the rational part of my brain isn’t exactly working at the moment. The part of me that had been urging me to let go all of this time is feeling pretty vindicated though. This is everything that has flowed through my daydreams since I met Vincent. I keep telling myself it’s just a date. Nothing serious, and nothing to freak out over. Just go with it!

  His firm body feels amazing pressed against mine. I can feel my nipples harden against his chest. I want so badly to be taken by him. I run my arm up his, pausing for a brief second to feel the strong bulge of his bicep.

  My brain is still battling with itself when he leans in and presses a soft kiss to my lips. I tense at the unexpected intrusion as he tightens his arms around me, deepening the kiss into something that steals my breath and leaves me feeling a little dizzy.

  My lips don’t move, and my body stays rigid, but all too quickly, I give up on resisting. Moving my hands from his shoulders up to his neck, to run through his dark hair and lose myself in the way it feels to be held in his arms. His tongue darts out and slips past my lips, massaging my tongue with his own as his lips caress mine. I can taste the sweetness of the wine on his tongue as he continues to explore my mouth. I am drunk on this moment, a moan involuntarily escaping my lips against his. I can feel him growing firm against my belly; I want to touch him, to feel his manhood pulse in my hand and inside of me.

  I am not ready when he pulls away, but it is only then that I realize how much my lungs are screaming for air. I take in a gentle breath and the chance to glance up at him nervously, not sure what to expect. His eyes are heavy and full of lust.

  “So, is this how you treat all the hired help, or I’m just lucky?”

  He lets out a loud, unguarded laugh. It is nice to see him relaxed as well, not focused on trying to run a company…just living in the moment.

  “No, Alison. I’m the lucky one. I seriously doubt you go around dancing with and kissing all your clients, so I’m going to take being the exception to your rules as flattery.”

  He’s right. This is against all my rules. It is the first time I’ve stepped out of the boundaries I set for myself, and it is turning out to be one of the best decisions.

  “You should. All of this is a first for me. I don’t make a habit of dancing without music; it really sets the mood, ya know.” I bite my bottom lip, trying my hardest to flirt…something I am not exactly a pro at. Tonight, I am going to be selfish, and maybe a little bit reckless for the first time in my life. It would make Janelle proud.

  The whole thing is brought to a jarring halt when Vincent opens his mouth though.

  “I like the soft moan
that you let out when I kiss you,” he says, leaning in to run his nose and lips up my neck, stopping only to nip at my jaw.

  Thoughts of hearing moans through the walls of his New York hotel flood back to me. How could I be so stupid as to think he was suddenly different? How could I be so stupid as to think I could have a casual and careless fling with someone who was banging his way through the entire Victoria Secret roster?

  “I can’t…I…” I step back, breaking his touch.

  “You can’t what, Alison? What is it?”

  “It’s New York. I know you made it clear from the beginning you can’t offer a relationship and it would be purely casual, but I’m not like that. I can’t be with someone who’s sleeping with someone else right after kissing me.” I turn to leave, but he grabs my hand.

  “Alison, wait, please. It wasn’t like that. She came up to my room, but nothing happened. I knew it was a mistake and I tried sending her away, but she came on to me. What you heard was me moaning because I fell over a desk and knocked over a chair. I swear nothing happened.” He’s clinging to my wrist tightly.

  “But you invited her up to your room, didn’t you? Even if you didn’t go through with it, you wanted to long enough to invite her over. Casual or not, at the end of the day, I don’t want to be someone’s flavor of the week.” I pull my hand free, leaving him standing there with a look of complete shame and disappointment on his face as I step into the elevator and the doors close.

  I wring my hands as I ride the elevator back to my floor. Do I even care if he thought about being with another woman? Why can’t I just use him like he would me? I let out an exasperated groan and stomp down the hall to my suite. I know the answer…I know I’m falling for him, and this cannot end well.

  When I get back to my room, I draw a bath, filled with essential oils, to wash away this frustration. A warm soak always helps me decompress and calm my nerves. I strip out of the dress and pick up my phone to text Janelle but decide against it and set it on the counter.