Claimed

by Jaymie Holland

  For the past two weeks Rick had called, left voice mails, sent emails, and sent her text messages. At first she listened to his voice mails and read the messages, but then she couldn’t take it any longer. Her heart hurt far too much to open it up to any more pain. Look where it had gotten her.

  He hadn’t taken the hint. He wouldn’t give up.

  She rubbed her temples as she entered her home and let the door slam shut with a hard thump behind her. She dropped her purse beside the door and faced her living room, and came to a complete halt.

  A vase was on her coffee table and it was filled with a huge bouquet of colorful flowers.

  A vase that hadn’t been there before.

  Someone had been in her house.

  She took a step back. Her spine prickled. Someone was behind her. She started to scream when a hand clamped over her mouth and a strong arm pinned her up against a hard body.

  Terror ripped through her.

  “It’s me, Leslie.” Rick’s voice made her sag in relief. At the same time she wanted to kill him for scaring her. “I’m not taking my hand off of your mouth unless you agree to shut up and listen. Nod if you understand.”

  She was tempted to bite his finger but she nodded.

  He moved his hand away and took her by the shoulders and turned her around. He looked so good she wanted him to hold her close. She wanted him to kiss her. But she couldn’t let herself allow that.

  “I want to shake some sense into you.” He gripped her shoulders tighter. “But let’s start with dinner before the manhandling begins.”

  A feeling of excitement rose up inside of her. Rick was here. Here. She would have smiled if her heart wasn’t aching in her chest. She tamped down her excitement. “It’s been a long day. I’m sorry but I really am not in the mood for dinner out.”

  “Then we’ll order in.” He pulled his cell phone out of the holster on his belt. “Why don’t you get out of your work clothes and get into something more comfortable.”

  “And a quick, hot shower.” She rolled her shoulder as she spoke. It didn’t look like he was going to leave and she needed to clear her head before they talked.

  Thirty minutes later, she caught the rich smells of Italian food when she walked out of her bedroom and down the staircase. Pasta with red sauce and warm garlic bread.

  Her entire body hummed with awareness of him as they put the rigatoni, bread, and salad on the table, along with a bottle of merlot. She was hungry but didn’t feel a lot like eating. For a little while it was quiet between them as she made herself eat. The wine went down easier than the food and the warmth of it as it passed through her helped bolster her resolve and her courage.

  When they started talking, it was about anything but the two of them. He asked about her friends whom he had met, how things were going at work, what had she been doing. He answered her when she asked him how he liked his new position and what it entailed.

  After they finished eating, he brought the conversation back to the two of them. “Did you listen to or read my messages?”

  She sighed and set her fork on her plate and met his gaze. “At first. But it just got to be too painful.”

  “I didn’t know if you did so I came back to talk to you,” he said. “You will listen to me, Leslie. I’m not going to throw away what we have.”

  “Had,” she said.

  “No.” His jaw grew tight. “It’s still there and you know it.”

  “I can’t open myself anymore to this kind of pain.” She shook her head. “I should never have let myself fall for you. What I went through with Michael—I didn’t want to ever experience that again.”

  He frowned. “I’m not Michael.”

  “No,” she said. “You’re not. This is a hundred times harder than it ever was when I broke up with him. Can’t you see that I just can’t take this anymore?”

  “It’s not like that with us.” He clenched his fist on the tabletop. “You have someone right now who loves you and wants to make it work.”

  “How can it work?” She shook her head. “You’re in San Diego now and I’m here.”

  His expression was intense, almost fierce. “People work out long distance relationships all of the time.”

  “Not me.” She shook her head. “I don’t do long distance.”

  “What are you going to do?” he said. “Go through the rest of your life being afraid of being hurt?”

  She swallowed and didn’t say anything.

  Rick put his hand over hers. “I need you.”

  There was pain in his voice and his words sent a strange feeling through her. She hadn’t seen it from his side at all. She had only been feeling her own pain.

  He stood and clasped their hands together and pulled her to her feet. He put his forehead to hers and they stood there for a long moment.

  “I love you, Leslie.” He raised his head and her lips parted as she tried to absorb his words. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too, Rick.” The words came easier than she had thought they would. “But the distance…”

  “Come with me.” He cupped one side of her face and brushed her hair behind her ear with his other hand. “I would stay here if I could.”

  She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again. “I have my business.”

  “Can you telecommute?” he asked.

  “If it was that simple I would consider it.” She reached up her hand and put it over his as he caressed her face. “But with this business I have to be right here. I can’t do this from thousands of miles away.”

  He studied her, his tawny eyes searching hers. “Let’s give the long distance thing a try for now until we can figure something out.”

  “Figure what out?” She never cried but she heard tears on the edge of her words. “It won’t work. That’s that.”

  Rick let his hands slide away from her and he stepped back. “Think about it. Please.”

  She looked down and then back at him. “I’ve been going over everything in my mind for the past two weeks. I just don’t see it.”

  “If you’re not going to listen voluntarily, I’m going to make you listen.” He grabbed her around the waist and she made a sound of surprise as he threw her over his shoulder.

  “What are you doing?” She tried to push herself up a little but he kept her down as he headed up the stairs.

  When they reached the top he went straight for her toy room. He was so strong that he was able to hold her and grab something that she couldn’t see since she was behind him. Then he swung around and carried her back through the door and to her bedroom.

  “I am not letting you go.” He set her on the bed and she bounced a little on the mattress, and she saw that what he had grabbed was a bunch of rope.

  “Oh, no you don’t.” She attempted to scoot off of the bed but he caught her by her wrist and efficiently bound her wrist to one of her bedposts. “Rick. Don’t.” She tried to get up but he grabbed her other wrist and tied it to the opposite bedpost. She struggled to kick him but had her spread-eagle, her ankles secured to the bedposts at the foot of the bed.

  He straddled her. “When I claim something,” he said as he braced his hands to either side of her head, “it is mine.”

  She bit her lower lip. No, she couldn’t allow herself to feel anything more for him. Much less let him claim her.

  “I won’t let you go, Leslie.” He lowered his face so that it was closer to hers. “You are mine.”

  He kissed her hard and moved his free hand up to her breast then back down to her thigh and he grasped the hem of her skirt and pulled it up to her waist. “I need to be inside of you again. I need to make love to you.”

  “I need you, too.” She pressed herself up against the hard ridge of his erection. “Now.”

  He reached down between them and unzipped his jeans. She squirmed, wanting to help. He wasn’t moving fast enough for her but he had her wrists bound.

  When he had his cock out she felt it press against the center
of her panties. He pushed them aside and thrust inside of her.

  Her eyes widened and she gasped at the sudden feel of him. He ground his hips hard against hers and she moved in rhythm with him.

  He took her harder and faster. Everything wound up inside her belly and she felt her oncoming orgasm as he thrust in and out of her. She held back, not wanting to come too soon.

  “Come with me, honey,” he said.

  She cried out with the power of her orgasm, his words all she needed to set herself free.

  He untied her and brought her into his arms like he intended to never let her go.

  Chapter 12

  Leslie settled herself into her window seat on the airline set to take off for JFK from Baltimore. She had to get to New York City and prepare for the afternoon’s fashion show then return to Baltimore in the evening.

  She had left a note on her pillow for Rick to read in the morning that she had to leave town. In her note she told him to give her time and space to figure it all out.

  Thank you for an amazing night, she had written in the note. But don’t pressure me. Give me time.

  She looked out the small window to the tarmac below, as the plane started moving down the runway. It gained speed and then the powerful bird was in the air.

  You’re so messed up, Leslie Adams, she told herself.

  What was she going to do? Keep running? Go through life scared because of one jerk?

  Was she going to keep going through one guy after another, trying to fill that empty void inside of her?

  Such a shallow, unfulfilling life she had in front of her.

  Unless she went with her heart.

  Unless she went to Rick.

  It took her two more days to work everything out in her mind.

  Another two weeks to get things in motion.

  Leslie sat at her desk in her modeling agency as she stared at the papers in her hand. She looked up at her partner, Raul.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” Raul said as he leaned back in his chair, studying her. “You’ve worked hard to help build this place to what it is today.”

  “Yes.” She took a deep breath raised the pen. “It’s absolutely what I want.”

  With a flourish she signed her name on the line, signifying the end of her career in the modeling business.

  She hadn’t expected to feel the power of relief that flooded over her. She hadn’t expected the smile that came to her with the sweep of the pen.

  “Yes,” she said again. She stood and pushed the papers over to Raul. “It’s exactly what I want.”

  He got to his feet as she did and she gave him a quick hug. “I’ll stop by when I’m in town,” she said. “You haven’t seen the last of me.”

  “I will miss you.” He kissed her on each cheek then stepped back.

  Feeling happier than she’d ever felt in her life, she walked out the door of her office. She waved goodbye to people she had worked with for years but didn’t stop to talk with anyone. It was time to track down a certain Navy SEAL.

  She had never loved anyone like she loved Rick, and he had made it clear that he loved her. She had been stubborn, unwilling to give up what was ultimately a shallow life.

  With Rick she could have something richer. A life with someone who loved her.

  San Diego sunshine warmed her bare arms and legs as she stood with her suitcases at the front door of Rick’s apartment. The taxi sped away behind her and a breeze ruffled her skirt.

  A twinge of nervousness made her belly ache.

  Maybe she should have called and told him she had changed her mind. That she had sold her interest in her business and was coming out to be with him.

  Maybe this was a bad idea, showing up on his doorstep without making sure he still wanted her.

  The feelings of doubt came out of nowhere and she set her suitcases down. This was stupid.

  She raised her hand to knock on the door.

  It opened before she ever had the chance to knock.

  Rick stood in the doorway, looking amazing. Her heart felt full at the sight of him and she smiled, wanting him to sweep her into his arms, yet wondering how he was going to react.

  “It’s about time you got here.” He picked up her suitcases. “You’re almost late for dinner.”

  She blinked as he swept up the two large suitcases she had brought with her and followed him inside the apartment. She closed the door and he dropped her suitcases with two large thumps.

  He grabbed her to him and took her down to the floor.

  Her lips parted in surprise as she found herself pinned beneath him, his hips between her thighs, her arms stretched over her head, her wrists clasped in one of his hands.

  He brought his mouth to hers and kissed her so hard her head was spinning. He groaned and kissed her like he’d never get enough. She didn’t think she could get enough of him. Ever.

  “You do realize,” he said when he raised his head. “That if you’re just here for a visit, I’m not letting you go back. Even if I have to hold you captive, you’re not getting away from me again.”

  She smiled. “I’m here to stay, Rick.”

  “It’s a good thing.” His smile filled her with something warm and good. “What about your business?”

  “I sold my interest to my partner.” She couldn’t stop smiling. “I’m a free woman.”

  “You’re not free,” he said. “You’re mine. I claimed you, remember?”

  He kissed her hard, his breathing harsh like her own. “I love you, honey,” he said.

  “I love you Rick.” She knew she could never say it enough.

  He grinned and rolled onto his back with her on top of him. He wrapped her in his arms and she knew she was right where she needed to be.

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  Jaymie Holland

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  He laid the coats and jacket over the back of the chair as if impatient to rid himself of them, and then he brought her into his arms.

  The move surprised her, yet at the same time it didn’t. She had wanted him to kiss her all night. The way he’d looked at her at the nightclub, she had the impression he’d been thinking the same thing.

  Being in his arms was better than she remembered and when he brought his mouth to hers, his kiss was more amazing than the countless kisses she had imagined.

  His kiss was searching, as if he was remembering her taste and the feel of their mouths together. She felt like she’d been transported back to the time when everything between them was amazing and fresh and new.

  As he drew away, he cupped her face in his hands and studied her. Her lips were moist from his kisses and she almost begged him to kiss her again.

  He slowly rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “It almost doesn’t seem real having you here with me.”

  “It feels like a dream.” She put her palms on his chest, feeling his heat through his shirt as she moved her palms up to his shoulders. “I’ve imagined this, imagined being with you again.”

  He continued caressing her cheek with his thumb as his dark eyes looked into hers. “I can’t remember a time when I didn’t think about you when I was with another woman.”