Claimed by the Ex-Con: An Ex-Con Second Chance Contemporary Romance Novel

by Ambrielle Kirk

  I heard the noise again. It sounded like someone was talking. The voice belonged to a woman. Something else scraped across the floor. Whoever was inside the room down the hallway was doing some serious furniture moving. I eased closer, pressing my back to the wall. The door was cracked open.

  A woman laughed. She sounded beautiful. My raging heart stilled. Music was playing inside the room. I held my breath, hoping to hear her voice again.

  There was a moment of deafening silence, and I couldn't stand it. I nudged the barrel of my gun against the door and pushed it open even further.

  The woman gasped. “Pop? Poppa?” she called out.

  I pressed my lips together.

  Another long deafening moment of silence followed…

  Then, the door creaked and the woman stood in the doorway. Only she wasn’t a woman. She was just a girl.

  Her eyes widened and she released an audible gasp. The door was open just enough for me to see that she was holding a wedding dress up to her body, but I could tell she was naked. I could see her hourglass hips and the pink and red cotton panties covering them. Her lips were rosy and plump. Her gray eyes were wild and innocent. Her black hair was long and silky.

  I could tell she was frightened as she looked at me…and my gun.

  I didn’t want to scare her, so I slipped my gun back down between my belt and waistband.

  I couldn't take my eyes off of her, and it seemed that she wasn't going to stop looking at me either.

  I looked at the wedding dress clutched to her body and wished that I could murder the bastard who was so lucky to marry her. I wanted her for myself. I wanted her to be mine.

  “Hi,” she said.

  I almost fainted. I swallowed. I opened my mouth to say something, but I didn’t know what to say.

  “Can I help you?” she asked.

  I shook my head.

  Her eyes were mesmerizing with the way they traveled all over my body, up and down my arms, and across my face. She was looking at my tattoos. I knew it. Probably wondering why I had so many.

  She licked her lips. “Well, if I can’t help you with anything, I have a dress to finish.”

  “Wait!” I put my hand up against the door so she couldn’t close it.

  She looked startled, but she didn’t try to oppose me. I reached out, sure that she would beat my hand away, but she didn’t do that either. She allowed me to run my fingers through her hair. I used my thumb to stroke her young, delicate throat. She gasped again and lifted her chin upward. Her lips trembled. Moments passed before I realized that her vein was throbbing furiously against the pad of my thumb. My attention shifted from her pretty little neck to her face. She was scared.

  I took a step back. Her lips parted. She licked them again.

  The wedding dress she’s holding up to her body dropped from her hands and fell to the floor in a heap around her feet. I didn’t know if she did that on purpose, but I had a full view of her delectable little body. There were candy cane patterns on her panties. I bet her pussy tasted like a sweet treat. I could make out the imprint of her plump lips behind the cloth. Her nipples were so erect that I could see the shape against the bra. She made no moves to cover herself up.

  I licked my lips as my fucking dick throbbed against my fly.

  She slammed the door in my face.

  I marched back down the hallway and into the kitchen where I found old man Anwell drinking a beer and lighting up a cigar.

  “I changed my mind,” I stated.

  “Wh-what? Oh, no…please don’t kill me,” he begged. “I told you I’d make this right.”

  I must have looked angry. Well, I was fucking furious. I was angry and aroused as fuck after what that sexy little wench just did back there.

  “No, I’m not going to kill you,” I said.

  “Then what have you changed your mind about?”

  “I don’t want the money. I want your granddaughter. Give her to me and consider the debt paid in full.”

  All the color faded from old man Anwell’s face as he contemplated my proposal.

  That was only the start of our relationship.

  When Khloe Anwell turned eighteen, she was supposed to be mine. Every month and sometimes every week, I came like clockwork to visit old man Anwell’s home and to make sure that Khloe was still unspoiled. I had a feeling she knew I was coming to get a glimpse of her sexy little body. She would make it a point to strut her cute ass through the kitchen where Anwell and I were discussing current events to grab a glass of milk or a snack. She knew exactly what she was doing to me. She knew that I wanted her. I wanted to fuck her virgin pussy.

  What she didn’t know was that she was already mine. Already paid for. And come hell or high water, I would collect what was mine.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Ace

  I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept so peacefully, but the sins of my past still haunted me. And like any other night, I was rattled awake by them to the point of not being able to fall asleep again.

  As I stared at Khloe's slender, naked body lying beside me, sprawled out on the bed, it was all I could do to resist the temptation. My imagination ran wild with fantasies of ravishingly pursuing her again. I craved her skin pressed up against mine in a blur of sexual ecstasy, hazing over my mind and taking over my senses.

  She’d already given me the most incredible time of my life. I’d soared to new heights of sexual bliss with her, an encounter that I’d never experienced with any other woman before. I watched the motions of her chest rising and falling gently with each breath she took in rhythmic, peaceful sleep.

  She was tantric, intoxicating. I couldn't get enough of her. I was sure I was addicted to her already. Watching her sleep gave me a sense of peace I hadn't felt in years, no matter how often I came out here to the private wilderness to be able to breathe in the fresh air and run away from my problems.

  Khloe's jet black hair spilled delicately over the edge of the pillow like feathers of a raven. I had a bond with her that was undeniable and indescribable. I drifted closer to her body, craving to smell the delicious scent of her sweat and her perfume blended together on the surface of her soft, smooth skin.

  I leaned over to give her a gentle kiss on the shoulder. The silky strands of her hair tickled my cheek. I didn’t want to rouse her. She looked so beautiful and delicate sleeping beside me, in a blissfully oblivious state of mind.

  As I transitioned back to my side of the bed, she stirred ever so slightly, sighing with sexy contentment. Her soft moan sent a ripple effect of desire for her, inside and out. My cock throbbed to be inside of her again. I couldn’t get enough. Even when she was sleeping, I fantasized about tasting her, about being buried hard and deep between her legs.

  I couldn't sleep. It was no use in even trying anymore. I glanced at the bedside clock. The bright red numbers revealed that it was just after five o'clock in the morning. Daylight would soon brighten the sky as morning shattered the darkness.

  I pulled the covers off of my side of the bed, stepping down to feel the smooth wood floor beneath my feet. I stretched and grabbed some boxers from the dresser drawer on the other side of the room.

  I glanced back at Khloe. She had shifted positions but was still sleeping soundly. I walked into the bathroom and waited until the door was all the way closed to turn on the light. Looking in the mirror, I almost didn’t recognize myself. That was a temporary plus for now. I had been on the run for so long. I was tired of the drifter life, but I knew it would never leave me until I settled this score.

  I twisted the nozzle on the countersink. I ran the cold water over my hands for a few seconds, not bothering to switch to hot water. I waited a few seconds and then splashed the cool liquid onto my face, watching it drain down my temples and cheeks.

  I was torn, conflicted. I didn't want to leave Khloe, but at the same time I had obligations, and most of them involved keeping her not only safe but alive as well. There were too many unknowns still swirling
out there in the real world that needed to be dealt with. I couldn't rest until the threat had been eliminated.

  After patting my face dry, I turned off the bathroom light and exited, turning on my cell phone flashlight in order to see around the room without completely disturbing Khloe. She was still in the same position as before, but she was stirring a little now that there was a faint gray glow pronouncing itself through the curtains, declaring a new day just off the horizon.

  Deep down, I knew I should probably get dressed and leave. I had already attempted this plan before, but I’d failed as soon as I put my hands on her. I walked over to the side of the bed and stared down at her. She was too addicting to leave.

  She must have unconsciously somehow felt that I was fondly gazing down at her, admiring every part of her body and the way her lips pouted in slumber. Her eyes blinked open after a moment or two.

  She glanced up at me with a confused expression lingering on her face.

  “Hi,” I whispered, crouching down to rub her cheek and gently stroke her hair. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning,” she whispered back with a dreamy, glazed look. “What are you doing up?” Her eyes trailed over to the bedside table to glance at the clock. She scrunched up her nose. “It’s early. Too early to be awake. Only trouble lurks out there.” A grin cracked her lips into a smile.

  “Or, promising things happen on the cusp of a new day,” I countered as I kissed her lips.

  That was all it took. I had bridged past the point of no return with her. As she snaked her slender arms around my neck, I knew that it would be impossible for me to leave her now.

  She was so gorgeous, and her warm breath on my cheek and her legs wrapped around my waist sealed the deal. I melted back into the bed with her, tousling through the tangle of sheets. Her breathing became faster and faster in the intense heat of the moment. Her heart pounded in her chest against my ear. I inched myself between her legs, pushing my face in to taste her sweet nectar.

  She was trembling with desire. Electricity and chemistry swirled around us, drawing us together like a magnet. “Yes, right there,” she purred, arching her back as I slid my tongue between her legs and her pulsing slit, already puddling and dripping with desire.

  Her thighs shook against my head and she buried her heels into my back, panting and breathing heavily. Her moans exposed her, gave away her ravishing hunger for more. I swirled my tongue in gentle circles around her pulsing flesh, engorged with desire. It wasn’t more than a few minutes that she gave into the burning flames of her heart. Her body tensed and then shuddered, convulsing underneath me as she succumbed to her climax.

  I was erotically charged, throbbing to bury myself deep inside of her. I pushed my boxers down to allow my dick to break free, just like the rest of my mind. I spread her legs apart as I teased her, waiting a few seconds before pushing inside of her.

  She gasped and cried out as my girth filled her raw pussy. She was so wet that I slipped out of her and had to grab myself to push back inside of her.

  She was lying beneath me on the sheets, staring up at me with a star-gazed expression of lust and ecstasy. I was entranced by her beauty, in awe of how passionately we could make love, especially under the light of the fading moon.

  I couldn’t hold it in any longer. She was too hot, her moans were insanely sexy, devouring my mind through my eardrums.

  With one final thrust, I exploded inside of her, pouring out my heart and soul inside of her. After I finished, I sagged deliciously beside her, making sure to keep my arm draped around her as she gasped for air.

  I stared up at the ceiling, glowing in the perfect aftermath of sex with her. After a few minutes when I’d finally recovered enough to move or speak, I glanced beside me, only to notice that she had drifted off into the oblivion of peaceful sleep once again. My heart was torn. I didn’t want to leave her, but I was afraid of what might happen if I stayed.

  Chapter Twenty

  Khloe

  I absentmindedly raked my hand across the bed, expecting to feel Ace's masculine and muscular chest against my palm. That didn't happen. I shot up in bed like a lightning bolt hitting the ground.

  “Ace?” Panic rang in my voice. My throat was hollow and swollen as I raced through the house. My pulse drummed loudly in my ears.

  I threw open the front door in one swing and my fears were realized instantaneously. I wasn’t going to find him standing there in the dusty driveway sprinkled with pebbles.

  No, he wasn’t there. He had left me alone with the truck. And the thick trees. The birds…

  I was alone.

  I slammed the door shut and heaved my back against the wood of the wall, panting hard. He’d left me anyway. I didn’t know how to react at first. Part of me was numb. Part of me had a pit in my stomach that was threatening to plummet through the floor beneath my feet. Part of me felt a rushing relief.

  A hundred unanswered questions wreaked havoc through my brain. Would he come back?

  What else was there that he left behind, besides a piece of himself that I felt when I wandered to each room. I smelled him everywhere. His presence lingered. I missed him, but I stoically understood that he had a job to do. Ultimately, he was keeping me safe, even if he left me in the wake of his dust in the process.

  I wandered around the house, trudging along to the kitchen to make it my first stop. I was parched and needed something ice cold and refreshing to drink. When I yanked the fridge door open, I noticed that it had been stocked full. I had no idea how long I'd been sleeping since we'd made love early in the morning, but apparently, it had been a while for him to leave and bring back all these supplies.

  I was stocked and loaded. There was enough food in here to last a few weeks, maybe even a month. Plus, I had clear directions to the farmer’s market and a tank full of gas to get me there. I plucked a bottle of water from the fridge door and twisted the top open with a crack, chugging the cold liquid down my throat to replenish my senses.

  Glancing behind me, I cautiously stared at the same linen closet that I’d noticed Ace rummaging through when we initially arrived. He’d also used that same closet to store his gun cases under a blanket.

  I twisted the door open. The frame was so old that it creaked in protest against the movement. The same blanket was still on the top. I knocked it away by standing on my tip toes. It fell to a heap on the floor.

  Two briefcases were stacked on top of one another. Different ones than the one he showed me encased behind the wall. I hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly stretched my arm up to try and grab the handle to the briefcase.

  There was definitely a factor of caution in my movements. I didn’t want to accidentally knock the briefcase to the ground and inadvertently set off a loaded gun if that’s what was on the inside.

  Once I had the briefcase carefully in my grip, I tenderly edged it back down to waist level where I delicately placed it on top of the kitchen counter. I was nervous to open it. My heart wildly drummed in my chest, but I knew it had to be done.

  Much to my surprise, there wasn't a lock on the briefcase. I merely had to push open the sides, and I was in. There they were. A handgun and a smaller pistol with a silencer attached. I heaved a deep sigh, relieved in knowing that I would be able to protect myself now and then in weary apprehension when I realized that I'd have to learn how to protect myself.

  A twinge of sadness erupted inside of me. Why didn’t Ace at least leave me a note? Would he ever return, or was that one night of sexual bliss the only thing I’d ever get to experience with him? It was eerily quiet through the house with his absence.

  I closed the briefcase again, drumming my nails against the top surface. That’s when I remembered there was still another briefcase that had been placed on top of this one. I tucked the one containing the guns carefully back into the closet, only this time planting it on the ground, so I could easily reach them for quicker access.

  I tugged on the other briefcase, pulling it down as it lande
d on my head with a thud. This one was significantly heavier than the one containing the guns. I grunted as I pushed it over to the kitchen floor.

  This one didn't have any special technique to open or any security latches to unlock either, but instead of locks like a briefcase, it had a zipper. With guarded caution, I slowly pulled the zipper to the side, and in one hasty swoop, I pushed the top open.

  I gasped when I noticed what was inside. Fresh stacks of hundred dollar bills sat in neat rows, stacked on top of each other. I couldn't even guess how much money this was, but from the number of stacks inside, it was a considerable sum. It was more than enough to live on comfortably for a long time. He must have brought this briefcase from somewhere else while I was sleeping. How many stashes and hideouts did he have? How many contracts had he worked to be this rich in cash? It almost seemed too easy.

  A pang of guilt hit my heart when I realized I had no viable way of contacting my clients and explaining to them why I was absent. I had vanished. Just like the last time I had to do this when I realized I had been living in the same city as one of my grandfather’s old colleagues. But I'd figure it out. All I needed was a chance to network, possibly with some friendly neighbors, and a new book of clients. I could build my business again. And with the amount of money Ace left, I'd have this little cabin filled with sewing equipment and supplies before long.

  I closed the briefcase full of cash and placed it back on the briefcase that held the guns. I needed a breath of fresh air. I opened the front door and stood on the porch, relishing in the gentle breeze as it softly billowed my hair against my cheek. There was serene quiet all around me. It was peaceful and secluded, just as Ace had promised.

  I might as well try and make the best of my situation. After all, this cabin already harbored many fond memories I had of my Mama. I could feel her all around me too, in a supernatural kind of way that I wanted to cling onto forever. I was being given a second chance to start all over, adding to my stockpile of memories. Not everyone was as lucky to get this stroke of fate in a lighter direction, and I intended to gratefully charge forward, no matter what happened next.