Claimed By Him: (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

by Alexis Winter

  The next morning, I get ready early and stop by the same florist to pick up some flowers. I jump in my Tesla and punch Samantha’s new address—helpfully provided by El—into my GPS. I got the “all-clear” text from El this morning that Sam would be home today.

  It’s about a fifty-five-minute commute to her new place, and my nerves are in overdrive. I jump into the express lane and stomp on the pedal. I manage to cut the trip down to forty-three minutes, but I now sit frozen in my car outside her apartment building. Thoughts of doubt still bounce around my head. At this point, though, I have nothing left to lose.

  I knock on her door and hear the bell on Cocoa’s collar bouncing around inside. I reach into my back pocket and pull out the cat treats I picked up for her. I hold the flowers over the peephole, figuring Sam might not answer if she sees my face. As the door slowly opens, a look of shock registers on her face.

  “Uh, hey,” she says, half-hiding behind the door.

  “May I come in?” I ask quietly. She looks down, assesses her outfit, and gingerly opens the door a little more.

  “I’m sorry—I wasn’t exactly expecting company.” Her new place is spotless but she’s dressed in one of my t-shirts and sweats. She looks like she’s been going through exactly what I’ve experienced. A wave of relief rolls through me.

  “Nice shirt.” I point at it; she must have taken it from the floor of my bedroom after we had…been together.

  “Oh, yeah, sorry. I shouldn’t have taken it. I think I accidentally packed it, actually.” She seems like a shell of herself as she pulls at the oversized clothing. It breaks my heart to know I’m the cause of her pain and sadness.

  “Sooo, what are you doing here, Cam?”

  “Look, Samantha, I’m going to get straight to the point.” I lay the flowers and treats down on the table. “I’m in love with you. I have been for—well, for a long time. You’re all I think about. I miss your smell, I miss holding you, I even miss Cocoa. I—I know I fucked up big time. I wrongfully assumed that you were dating the doctor and that you wanted nothing to do with me. I thought you were just going along with everything to make the situation more tolerable, but that you didn’t really care for me at all. And you weren’t wrong that night when you thought you heard me say ‘I love you.’ I did, but I was just an idiot and mumbled it when you were already half-asleep. I was scared. I am scared…”

  I’m rambling—I can feel the words vomiting out of my mouth, but I can’t seem to stop. I’m not even sure if I’m making sense or getting through to her, but I see big tears well up in her eyes and begin to fall down her cheeks.

  I reach out and wipe one away, but I don’t remove my hand from her cheek. “Samantha, I’m sorry. I understand any fear or apprehension you may have about me—about the kind of man I am. I would, too, to be honest. I swear you’ve changed me. You’ve made me want to be the man I’ve always wanted to be. When I think about my life and my future…it’s you. You’re it for me, Sam. You’re my everything.”

  She doesn’t say a word. She stands there staring at the floor with tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “Sam,” I whisper, “say something. Anything.” I’m terrified.

  And then she lunges at me. She wraps her arms around my neck so tight. “I love you too,” she says against my neck. I can feel her warm tears against my skin as she exhales a shaky breath and continues, “I wanted you to love me so bad.” I squeeze her tighter.

  Suddenly, she pulls away and runs to the bathroom before emerging again. “Sorry, I had to splash some water on my face.” She takes my hand and pulls me to the couch. “I’m sorry, too. I know I made assumptions as well, and to be honest, I judged you. I was terrified of ending up as just another one of the women in your life—still am, actually. I tried to move on. I really did. I wanted to like Dr. Ken so much. I kept telling myself that he’s the kind of man I should be with, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the way you make me feel, the way you touch me, and the way you look at me when you kiss me. It’s like you’re actually seeing me.”

  I reach my hand back up to her cheek and pull her toward my mouth. He lips are soft and plump from her tears. It only takes a second before the kiss deepens and she’s climbing on top of me on the couch. “Wait—wait, Sam! I don’t want you to think this is just about sex, or…” Before I can finish, her lips are back on mine.

  “Shut up and kiss me,” she says between kisses. Her tongue snakes its way into my mouth as she paws at the buttons on my shirt. We’re both in a frenzy to strip each other of our clothes. The sound of plastic and yowling interrupts our passionate makeup session, and we both laugh to find Cocoa on the table, chewing on the bag of treats I bought her.

  “I actually missed that damn cat, ya know?” Sam smiles at my comment as she climbs off of me to give her a few of the treats. I continue, “I was thinking, when you move back in, she can have free roam of the house.” I pick at the couch cushion nervously.

  “When I move back in?” she says, turning around.

  “Yeah, I figure you’ve had a week of space. It’s early enough in your lease that we should be able to cancel it without too much of a hassle.”

  “Is that so, Mr. Styles? You’re just deciding what I’m doing now?”

  I give her a smirk as I slowly make my way over to her. “Yes, Ms. Fox, I am. Do you have a problem with that?” I grab a handful of her ass as I take her in a deep, passionate kiss. “That’s what I thought. I like my women obedient and ready to please me at a moment’s notice,” I whisper in her ear as I press her against the wall and shove my hand down her panties. I know she loves when I’m dominant with her; she gets off on the dirty talk.

  She’s already wet and panting for me. I bet I can get her off in thirty seconds. She’s writhing against me, and I can feel her getting close. She grabs my shirt and pulls me in for another kiss then whispers in my ear.

  “That’s not in the contract, Counselor.”

  Epilogue

  Samantha

  Eighteen months later…

  * * *

  “Samantha!” Cameron shouts my name for the third time.

  “I said I’m coming!” I shout back, giving myself a final look in the mirror in our closet. We finally have a date night scheduled with Griffin and El. Since the birth of their son, Quinton, we barely even see them anymore, which is to be expected. We convinced them to grab a babysitter and accompany us out for some drinks and dancing.

  “Ow!” I yelp as Cameron’s hand lands a loud smack! on my ass.

  “I told you ten minutes ago to get your perky little ass downstairs. Do I need to teach you another lesson in obedience, Ms. Fox?” A tingle runs through my lower belly as I think about the last time he “taught me a lesson in obedience.” He’d left me quivering and begging for release as he teased me for over an hour.

  He pulls my back against his chest as he locks eyes with me in the mirror. Placing one hand on my hip, he uses his other to smooth my hair to one side, leaving my neck exposed.

  “Maybe,” I say as I bite my bottom lip and push my backside into his growing erection.

  He lets out a small groan as he runs his lips up my neck until he gets to my earlobe, nipping it before whispering, “You are such a fucking tease, baby. You sure you want to do this? Just remember it means you’re going to have to explain to our friends why we’re late.”

  My knees are weak and I know exactly what he wants me to do. I slowly pull my straps down my arms until the top of my dress falls, exposing my breasts to him.

  “Mmm, that’s a good girl,” he says as he moves his hand from my hip to my breast, pinching the nipple as he continues to lick and nibble along my neck. I can feel my pulse quicken and a pressure begin to build between my thighs.

  “Keep your eyes on me, sweetheart. I want you to slip your hand up your thigh and into your panties.” I do as he says—all the while keeping my eyes on his. “Now rub your clit for me.”

  I slowly begin to rub my clit, slickness already coa
ting my fingers. I quicken my pace as the pleasure begins to build even faster. Cameron continues to whisper naughty things in my ear as he pinches my nipple and bites my neck. “Put your fingers in that tight little pussy, baby. I want to see you cum.” With those words, I slide two fingers inside myself as my top half falls forward and I catch myself against the mirror with my free hand. My body convulses as my thighs clench together. Wave after wave of pleasure rolls through me from my earlobes to my toes.

  Cameron pulls my hand from my panties and licks my fingers clean before pulling the straps up my dress and covering my breasts. “Good job, sweetheart. Now go clean up and come downstairs. We’re late.” He gives me a soft kiss and winks before he turns and walks out of the room.

  We laugh and scroll through what must be hundreds of pictures of Griffin and El’s toddler. I can’t believe my best friend is a mom. The looks on both their faces fill me with so much joy and cause a tear to prick my eye. “When are we going to have one of those?” Cameron leans over and mumbles in my ear.

  I stare back at him in shock. “Are you serious?” We’ve certainly talked about a future together, but neither of us has seriously or even jokingly discussed children. Truthfully, I never thought I’d want children. Cocoa was enough, but over the last few months, I must admit my maternal instincts have kicked into overdrive.

  “Just a thought, baby. Nothing we need to decide right now.” He kisses the top of my head and we lift our glasses to Griffin and El and their little bundle of joy.

  “You guys ready for some karaoke?” Cam says as he rubs his hands together in excitement.

  “Oh boy, I’m more nervous about this than I was about labor!” El jokes.

  Cam and Griffin had told us about this karaoke bar they’d found and insisted we had to check it out. I’m not shy, but singing in front of others isn’t exactly my forte.

  The bar isn’t too busy, so I’m hopeful I won’t make too much of a fool of myself. We watch a few others go first and my nerves calm a little.

  “Next up, Janelle and Samantha singing ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ by Cindi Lauper,” the emcee announces.

  “What?” I exclaim. El laughs as she grabs my hand and pulls me up on stage.

  “I knew if I told you, you’d back out,” El admits. They hand us microphones and the music starts up. “Just go with it!”

  I let loose and sing my heart out, dancing around the stage and having the time of my life. We finish our song and head back to the guys, who are cheering, whistling, and giving us a standing ovation.

  “Next up, Cameron singing ‘Wonderful Tonight’ by Eric Clapton.”

  Cameron squeezes my arm on his way up to the stage. “Before I sing this, I want to take a moment to say something to an amazing woman.”

  My heart is pounding and I can’t stop the huge grin from spreading across my face.

  “Samantha, I thought I was happy and that I knew what I wanted in life before I met you. I thought I was content being an arrogant and pompous ass, and that pushing people away was the answer to my own issues. But since you’ve come into my life, you have shown me what it means to be happy. You have shown me through your own values and actions that I not only need to be a better man, but that I want to be a better man, because I want to be the kind of man who deserves you. Sam, I love you more than words can express; thank you for showing me what true love is.”

  Everyone cheers and claps as the music starts up and Cameron serenades me. He puts on a show, walking around the room and hitting all the notes perfectly. I had no idea singing was one of his many talents.

  As the song comes to an end, he hits the last note on bended knee in front of me. The spotlight is on both of us as he reaches into his pocket. “Samantha, you are everything I could wish for. When I’m with you, I’m home. Will you marry me?” He pulls out a gorgeous princess-cut champagne diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller diamonds. The light catches the ring and I’m dumbfounded. It was the ring I had pointed out at Tiffany’s almost two years ago. He remembered!

  “Yes! Yes!” I say as tears pour down my face. He slips the ring on my finger and pulls me in for a tear-soaked kiss. I wrap my arms around him and he stands, picking me up and spinning me around to the cheers of the crowd.

  I wipe the tears away as El pipes up and raises her glass, “I just want to take this moment to take credit for setting this up. If it hadn’t been for me suggesting that Sam take your stupid-ass fake fiancée job, we wouldn’t be sitting here celebrating this.” We laugh as we raise our glasses and toast to a bright future together.

  I walk in our front door, still staring at the beautiful ring that now sits honestly on my hand. Cameron shuts the door and wraps his arms around me. “So, Ms. Fox, are you sure you’re ready to become Mrs. Styles?”

  I wrap my arms around his neck, “Oh, without a doubt. But are you sure that you’re ready to settle down your wild bachelor ways with one woman?”

  “Wait—one woman? This isn’t going to be an open marriage?” he says in mock surprise. “I don’t recall that being in the contract.”

  I jokingly pinch him and roll my eyes as I lean in and press a soft kiss to his lips. “You’re mine now. Trust me, Counselor, I’ll make sure it’s in the contract.”

  Damaged

  South Side Boys Book 1

  I’m Damaged. Dark. Haunted.

  A shell of a man with no hope for a future.

  Annabelle Locke is Innocent and pure.

  Is she my cure?

  A bright light of hope in my cold world?

  She’s everything I want and everything I don’t deserve.

  I thought I could have a taste and walk away.

  Now the shadows from my past have returned and I’ll stop at nothing to keep her safe.

  Even if that means I have to lose her forever.

  She can’t know the secrets from my past.

  She can’t know the truth of who I really am.

  Or what I’ve done.

  But maybe it’s too late…

  Also by Alexis Winter

  Hate That I Love You: Castille Hotel Series Prequel

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  Want this prequel for FREE? Sign up here to get it along with a second free novel delivered right to your inbox!

  * * *

  Make Her Mine Series

  My Best Friend’s Brother

  Billionaire With Benefits (Coming this September)

  My Boss’s Sister (Coming this November)

  My Best Friend’s Ex (Coming this January)

  The Friend Agreement (Coming this March)

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  South Side Boys Series

  Damaged-Book 1

  Broken-Book 2

  Wrecked-Book 3 (Coming December)

  Redemption-Book 4 (Coming February)

  About the Author

  Alexis Winter is a contemporary romance author who loves to share her steamy stories with the world. She specializes in billionaires, alpha males and the women they love.

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  If you love to curl up with a good romance book you will certainly enjoy her work. Whether it's a story about an innocent young woman learning about the world or a sassy and fierce heroin who knows what she wants you,'re sure to enjoy the happily ever afters she provides.

  When Alexis isn't writing away furiously, you can find her exploring the Rocky Mountains, traveling, enjoying a glass of wine or petting a cat.

  You can find her books on Amazon or at https://www.alexiswinterauthor.com/

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  Follow Alexis Winter below for access to advanced copies of upcoming releases, fun giveaways and exclusive deals!

 

 

 
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