by Sam Crescent
Kicking off she did the width of the pool before swimming lengthways.
The feel of the water was amazing. She did several lengths before lying on her back staring up at the ceiling.
Time passed, and Clara realized how happy she actually was. When she was with her family she spent all of her time being scared in case she said something out of line to upset them. Constantly watching what she said or the way she looked had been exhausting. Nick didn’t want anything from her, apart from her body. He wasn’t making any demands.
Was it really so bad to be bought?
The anger she clung to evaporated as she thought about how good her life could be away from her family and the pack. They never loved her or cared about her. She’d been a thing of ridicule to them.
Something grabbed her around the waist. Screaming, Clara panicked and kicked out at the person who held onto her.
Kicking to the surface she spun to face him, and she saw Nick breaking the surface. He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and her gaze wandered to the expanse of flesh on display.
“If I knew showing you the pool would get you naked I’d have done so this morning,” he said, pushing hair off his face.
“You fucking scared me.” Finding her anger, she slapped out at his chest. Her heart was racing, and it had nothing to do with wanting sex. Nick had scared her.
He must have seen her fear as he held his hands up. “I’m so sorry. I thought you’d hear me.”
She’d been so lost in her thoughts she hadn’t heard anything. He held her arms pulling her closer. Hitting him one final time she wrapped her arms around him.
“Shit, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you at all.”
When she got her bearings back, she swam away, going to the other side of the pool.
Idiot. What the hell was all that about?
“How did you know where I was?” she asked.
“I followed your trail of crumbs. Those chocolates are expensive,” he said.
“I was hungry.”
“I’m not surprised. You should have eaten more this morning.” He was close.
His hands went to either side of her blocking her against the side of the pool and his large body. She wouldn’t turn around to look at him.
“If you let me get a job I can replace your chocolates.”
“Not a chance. I don’t care about the chocolates. They’re yours. Everything in this house is yours.”
Glancing over her shoulder, she saw him lean closer kissing her shoulder.
“I was bored,” she said.
“What would stop you being bored?”
“Work.”
He chuckled. “You’re not getting a job, Clara. Try again.”
Rolling her eyes she thought about what would keep her sane.
“Books.”
“I’ve got plenty of books for you to read.”
“Your taste in books is boring. I’m a woman, Nick.”
“I know.” His hands cupped her breasts making her gasp.
“I like romance books.” Trying to focus on anything while he cupped her breasts was hard. Romance books, she needed romance books. Focus on them.
“Do you want paperbacks, or should I organize an e-reader?” he asked.
“What?”
“I can give you an account for your books, or I can have an e-reader in your hands by the end of the day and you can order whatever the hell you like.” He kissed her neck, sucking on her pulse once again.
Heat flooded her pussy.
“You’d do that for me?”
“I can’t have my woman bored, now can I?” he asked.
She shook her head getting a thrill at his attention.
“Turn around and kiss me.”
Clara spun around, wrapping her arms around his neck holding on. Pressing her lips to his she moaned at the contact.
His hands moved to her hair, tugging on the strands. She broke away from the kiss, closing her eyes as his lips descended. His lips and teeth bit her nipples.
She wanted more.
The sound of the doorbell going echoed around the house.
“How can we hear that?” she asked, jerking up expecting to see a lot more people entering the room.
“The house is big, and I need to be able to hear everything.” His gaze fell back to her. “Saved by the bell.”
He kissed her lips before climbing out.
Clara accepted his hand and got out alongside him. She wondered who was at the door. Her curiosity was the only reason. She refused to accept that she hated Nick being interrupted.
Grabbing her shirt, she followed behind him. Her emotions were all over the place. She didn’t know what she liked or not.
Chapter Seven
Nick grabbed his trousers tugging them on as he walked out of the pool. He’d forgotten all about the delivery of Clara’s clothes. Taking her hand they walked toward the front door. He left the gate open on his way inside.
The moment he entered the pool seeing her naked all of his plans left his mind. The only plan he had was to get Clara wrapped around him. Fuck, his cock was rock hard and causing him no end of trouble.
He opened the door and ushered the people toward the sitting room. “I want you to pick out whatever you want,” he said.
His money spoke volumes, and he had been able to get the woman who owned a boutique in town to bring plenty of outfits for Clara to try.
“Where are you going?” she asked, nibbling her lip.
Shit, she was going to be the death of him.
“I’ve got to see a guy about an e-reader,” he said.
Her smile was beautiful. Kissing her head, he ordered her to have fun. Going into his office, he dialed Dean’s number.
“What can I do for you now?” he asked. “I gave you the means of getting a woman. What more could you possibly want?”
“I need you to pick up an e-reader and bring it to my house,” Nick said, eating one of the chocolates left in the box. They really were tasty. He wondered if she liked them or not. There were not many left in the box. Sipping at the juice he stared out of the window.
“What the fuck for?” Dean was a lazy ass. He only ever did what was necessary and never went out of his way.
“I’ve got to find some way to keep my woman interested. I didn’t buy her to remain on her back at all times.” He took another chocolate waiting for his friend to answer.
“I can’t stay for dinner. Pack is having a meeting and is requesting my presence.” Dean’s pack didn’t like their friendship. Nick wondered if it was going to cause the other man a problem and asked. “It shouldn’t. None of the packs should have any influence in being friends.”
He heard Dean sigh. Their friendship was strange. They were both wealthy businessmen. Dean worked for him as well when it came to business with other wolves. They also had many ventures together making money.
“If it does let me know. I doubt you could handle exile.”
“Fuck off, Nick. I could more than handle exile. I’ve got a string of willing women who’d come with me.”
Laughing, Nick turned back to look through the door. Clara was turning in a pair of jeans that did nothing for her figure and pissed him off. In fact they were horrid. They made her look large without any curves. “I’ve got to go. Don’t forget the e-reader, or I’ll never forgive you.”
“Whatever. See you soon.” Dean rung off first. Snapping his phone shut, Nick went toward the other room.
“You’re not having them. They’re fucking horrid.”
For the next hour he stopped Clara from taking clothes that were awful. When she made no move toward the dresses or skirt, Nick picked out the colors he liked. He stood watching her as she changed into the skirts. The women were sniggering, but he didn’t give them any of his attention. His focus was entirely on the woman in front of him.
“Nick, please, turn around,” she said, begging him.
“This is my hard-earned money. I’m not going anywhere, honey. Yo
u’re going to change into the clothes I like.” Tapping his chin, he waited for her to wriggle into the skirt. Staring at it with a critical eye, he picked out three pencil skirts along with ten dresses. “We’ll go shopping soon for more clothes.”
He packed the women out of his house leaving him alone with Clara. Turning around he saw Clara wasn’t standing behind him. Nick found her folding up clothes and placing them in a neat pile. She tugged off the tags hanging from the neck of each item.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m putting my new clothes away,” she said. Her agitation was easy to read.
“Why do I get the feeling you’re pissed at me?” he asked.
She stood up, glaring at him but not saying a word.
“Am I supposed to guess what’s going on in your head?”
Clara picked up the clothes and brushed past him. Staring up at the ceiling, Nick wished they were back in the pool when she was softer against him, loving what he did to her body. Checking his watch, he saw it was only a little after three. Dean wouldn’t be arriving ‘til six, and then they had the rest of the night. There was no way he’d be spending the rest of the day dealing with her mood.
Following upstairs, he found her putting clothes in the walk-in wardrobe. “What’s your problem?” he asked.
“Nothing,” she said, brushing him off. She pushed past him to grab another item of clothing. For several minutes she busied herself ignoring him at every turn. His anger was increasing. She was supposed to be thankful to him. Not only had he bought her but he’d also given her a far better life.
“Stop.” He grabbed her arm as she tried to pass him.
She stared at the ground, not giving him the time of day.
“For fuck’s sake, stop being a baby and tell me what your problem is.”
Her eyes sparkled, shooting him with a glare. He found her anger incredibly cute.
Not good. She’s pissed.
“I’m being a baby? I’m not the one who has to be in control of everything.” She growled out her frustration. Tugging her arm out of his hold, she finished putting away her clothing.
His frustration was piqued. “What the fuck are you talking about?” he asked.
“You have no idea, do you?”
“I’m not a bloody woman. I can’t read minds either.” Running fingers through his hair he was confused by what went wrong.
“Fine. It’s all right for you being used to being this fucking god to all women, but people like me are not.”
“What the hell are you getting at?” he asked.
None of her words were making sense. Why couldn’t they go back to the pool where she was more than happy to give a part of herself to him?
****
Nick was going to make her say it. Clara folded her arms underneath her breasts aware the shirt she wore rode up her thighs. She had spent the last hour listening to the women laugh and giggle. Every noise made her aware of how she stood out like a sore thumb. He could have any woman he wanted. Instead he’d bought her.
Why would anyone want anything to do with her? The women were gorgeous and didn’t have a single ounce of excess fat on them.
“What are you trying to say?” he asked, repeating his question.
“Why me? Why did you pick me?” She opened her arms wide feeling all the years of insecurity clawing up on her.
His eyes looked up and down her body. “Whatever you’ve got to say, Clara, just come out and say it,” he said.
She knew he was angry, but so was she.
“I’m not like other women. I eat food, and I’ve got extra weight on my bones. I’m not beautiful at all. Why me? Why did you pick me?” she asked, glaring at him.
When she finished, she was panting for breath.
“You didn’t learn anything from your punishment, did you?” His hands rested on his hips waiting.
“This morning wasn’t about punishment. You were just looking for any excuse to get me naked. You’re like them.” She pointed downstairs thinking about how the woman left her feeling. “You only want to humiliate me.”
Clara stared at him accusing him at every turn.
“So you think I only want to hurt you, humiliate you?” he asked.
“We don’t know each other. What am I supposed to think?”
Nick took a step back. “I don’t care what you think, but whatever it is, I need to get away from you, otherwise I’m going to hurt you.”
He left the room, leaving her standing, staring at the space he’d been standing in.
What had just happened? Folding her arms, she held onto herself trying to ground her rioting thoughts. Shit, she’d just accused him of using her when the truth was she’d been angry and jealous of the women. When he left the room they’d talked amongst themselves ignoring her.
Why had she lashed out at Nick? He’d not done anything but make her feel special since knowing him. This morning had been the highlight of her life. His touch made her burn in ways she didn’t know existed.
Great, Clara, you’ve fucked up big time.
Feeling awful at blaming Nick for everything, she started walking around the house trying to find him. He was nowhere to be seen. His office was bare along with the kitchen, sitting room and the garden. The doors were no longer closed. Her chance to escape was at her fingertips. Stepping out, she looked up at the sun feeling the heat glowing over her.
“No,” she said, speaking to herself.
She couldn’t leave.
Turning, she walked back into the house and went toward the gym. She found Nick pummeling the life out of a punching bag that hung on a hook. He didn’t stop as she entered.
“You could have run,” he said, hitting out.
“I know. I didn’t want to leave.” She answered him truthfully.
He jerked, turning to look at her. “Why? I’m such an awful person.”
Staring down at the floor she wished it would open up and take her away. “I was an idiot.”
Nick started to hit at the punching bag.
“I’m sorry, okay. I don’t know you at all, and I lashed out. I shouldn’t have done it, but I did.” She ran fingers through her hair, looking around the room. “You bought me with money, Nick. What do you expect me to say?”
“I took you away from cruel bastards who were abusing you.” His eyes shone amber as they stared at her.
“I don’t know you. You’re outlawed.”
She’d seen the silver in his chest showing his outlawed status. The sight didn’t affect or offend her. Clara recalled women saying how ugly it made the person who carried the outlawed mark. Nick wasn’t ugly. Nothing would stop his sexiness, not even silver embedded in his chest.
He lashed out, kicking the punching bag off the hook. She watched the dent the bag made in the wall. His strength shocked her.
“You want to know about me, fine, I’ll tell you what you need to know.” He turned to stare at her.
She glanced down to his chest, biting her lip at the silver. It must have hurt to have his flesh cut apart and the silver poured into the cut.
“I was an alpha. A fucking good one. I ruled my pack and took pride at how they flourished. Every decision I made, I did so to bring them a good life. I’m not a mean son of a bitch like some of them.” He picked up the bag, resting it against the opposite wall. She saw him shake his head at the damage he caused.
“Then one day I invited some of the alpha collective to my place in kindness and celebration of a mated couple.” He stared at something over her shoulder, clearly seeing into his own past rather than at her. “The celebrations were high, the alcohol was flowing, the love building to a combustible level.” He swallowed. “I walked into the house to hear screaming and scuffling. The smell of fear came from the basement. Without calling for any of my pack I went to see what the damage was.”
Tears filled her eyes at the memory he was creating. She didn’t want to know what happened next but felt compelled to listen.
&n
bsp; “I found the mated female dead on the floor. Her body was badly bruised, and one of the collective alphas was trying to clean up the mess of his rape and murder.” Tears glistened in his eyes at the bitter memory. “I helped that girl. She had been part of my pack from a baby. I was there when she reached full maturity. The full moon was a festive reason to gather and enjoy.” He stopped to bite his lip. “The alpha took that away from her. He forced himself on her, and before she could shout out, he killed her. Suffocated her until he was finished.”
The sight must have been horrific, but to have known the woman would leave more scars that were worse than any kind on the flesh.
“He was an alpha, and he had hurt one of my females. I loved her like a daughter, and he ended her life because she refused him. I didn’t seek justice from the others. I took care of my own justice. I killed him and gave his head to her mate as a prize.” Nick took a step closer. “That’s the kind of man I am, Clara. If anyone tries to hurt what’s mine, I will exact my vengeance. I was tried and then outlawed.”
“What happened to the man, the mate?” she asked.
“He killed himself. If they could outlaw a man for killing a rapist and murderer, it didn’t leave him much hope. He thanked me in his final letter for giving him some kind of closure.”
He stormed past her, leaving her alone to dwell in everything he said. Nick was a good man regardless of the fact he had bought her.
Chapter Eight
Nick stayed away from Clara after admitting the truth. For the next week he only saw her for breakfast and dinner. He left for work early only to return late at night to find his dinner keeping warm in the oven. The e-reader was in the top part of his desk. He still needed to give it to her.
His reluctance to be near her was ridiculous. Staring at his phone on his office desk, Nick wondered if he should call her. At night he snuck into her bedroom to hold her throughout the night. Come morning, he left her alone. She never said a word about him staying with her.
She tried to have conversations with him, but he cut her short, finding peace in another part of the house.
“You know, buying a woman was supposed to mean you’d stop being so bloody moody,” Dean said, sitting opposite him.