Claimed: The Complete Short Romance Series

by Nichole Rose

  She feels it against her bottom and moans again. Christ, she's hot for it. She goes wild when I call myself her daddy…which is way fucking hotter than it probably should be. I've never wanted this before, but with her, I need it as badly as she does. I crave it.

  I sink a finger inside her, hissing at how tight and wet she is for me. I can't wait to take this cunt again and again. I already know, no matter how many times I get inside her, she'll never loosen up for me. I'll have to fight my way in every time, taking what belongs to me.

  "Daddy!" she sobs when I flick her clit with my thumb.

  I slide my finger out of her and pop it into my mouth, lining my dick up at her entrance. My stomach clenches as soon as I have her taste on my tongue. I wrap a hand around her hip to hold her steady. Her body resists the intrusion, fighting me exactly as expected before finally letting me in. I slide home in one deep thrust.

  She cries out for daddy again, her knees buckling.

  I grab her around the waist, holding her up. "Quiet, princess," I growl in her ear. "Or I'll spank your pussy next time we're alone."

  "Oh god," she moans, her entire body trembling. Her inner muscles clamp down on me.

  "Maybe my princess isn't as innocent as I thought," I groan through a chuckle. "You like the thought of me spanking your cunt, don't you?"

  "Yes," she whimpers, pressing back against me. She's breathing so hard I'm worried she's going to hyperventilate.

  "Breathe, sweet baby," I murmur, pressing a kiss to her ear. I pump in and out of her. Already, I know I'm not going to last. She feels too good. I slide my hand around her hip, delving it into her panties to stroke her clit.

  She gasps my name, her palms flat against the desk.

  "I've been thinking about this cunt all day. I'm going to have you bent over every flat surface we come across until you're good and pregnant for me," I mutter, kissing all along her neck. "You have no idea what you've unleashed. Obsession isn't deep enough for what I feel for you. You've made me crazy."

  "G-g-good!" she sobs.

  I marvel at the evidence that she feels the same for me. The fact that she's been on the same campus as me for four years without me knowing it…it's a painful realization. We could have had this four years ago. I would have been as helpless to resist her then as I am now. I belong to her, body and soul.

  "Come for me, sweet baby," I croon when I feel her pussy begin fluttering around my cock. "Give it all to me."

  She whimpers my name as she comes all over me, pulling me over the edge with her. I bury my face in her throat to quiet my own groans as my balls cinch up tight, my come spilling into her so hard it borders on pain.

  "I love you," I whisper against her ear, breathing raggedly. "God, you have no idea how much I'm going to spoil you. You can have anything. Anything." I punctuate my words with fervent kisses to her soft skin.

  "All I want is you," she whispers back.

  My heart pulses with emotion. I kiss her again and then regretfully straighten up, not wanting to hurt her by keeping her pinned against the desk. Slipping out of her heat is pure misery. Judging by her little whimper, I don't think she likes it much either.

  Once I'm tucked back into my jeans, I help clean her up and straighten her clothes. Her cheeks are pink with embarrassment when I pull her into my arms in my chair, cuddling her up against my chest. She's still so damn innocent.

  "You never have to feel shy with me, Caroline," I murmur, tilting her face up to mine to kiss her. "I plan to know every single inch of this beautiful body and every thought in your head."

  She hums against my lips and then sighs. "You might not like them."

  "Impossible." I chuckle at her outlandish statement. "There's nothing about you I don't love."

  "I love you too, daddy."

  My dick stirs, making me groan. "Never knew one word could get me so fucking hot," I mutter, chagrined. "As soon as you say it, my dick gets hard."

  "Does it bother you?"

  "God, no. I love it," I admit.

  "Me too," she whispers.

  I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, feathering kisses across her brow. "What are these thoughts you think I won't like?"

  She bites her lip, her expression morphing from contentment to worry. "I think maybe we should—"

  A soft knock at the door cuts her off. She whips her head in that direction and then looks back at me, panic in her gaze.

  "Shit," I mutter.

  She scurries off my lap, putting half the room between us before I can say anything. The office smells like sex. Like Caroline. I reluctantly climb to my feet to meet whoever is out there. If it's a male student, I might actually kill him. But I can't just ignore them and hope they go away. My office hours don't start for another hour, but my students know I'm usually here. They don't come visit unless they need something, which means whoever is out there needs something.

  Caroline sinks down onto the sofa on the far side of my office.

  "Breathe, princess," I murmur to her and then turn toward the door, cursing myself for not telling her about my meeting with the Dean before I fucked her. She still thinks my career is at stake here. I'll tell her after I deal with whatever student is knocking.

  "Come in," I call, my voice curt, impatient. My irritation isn't intended. It's automatic. The longer I'm dealing with this, the longer I have to wait to have my princess in my arms again. I find I don't much care for that fact.

  The door swings open.

  "Fuck," I mutter.

  "Hi, Professor King," Kennedy says.

  "Oh no," Caroline whispers, her face paling rapidly.

  "Oh, I'm so sor–" Kennedy's instinctive apology cuts off, her grimace turning to confusion. She blinks at her sister, who is staring at her in horrified dismay. "Caroline?"

  "Fuck," I mutter again. This is not how I wanted this to go down for either of them.

  "What are you doing here?" Kennedy asks.

  Caroline looks at me like a little doe caught in the headlights, frozen in shock. She's counting on her daddy to fix this and make it right. And I'm not at all sure I can. But I'll be damned before I let her lose her sister.

  "Miss Thorne, why don't you have a seat?" I suggest, pointing to the chair next to where Caroline is seated.

  She stumbles in that direction while I cross to close the door.

  Caroline watches, her expression stricken. She's so pale. I just want to snatch her up in my arms and cuddle her, promise her that everything is going to be all right. I can't promise that though.

  "What's going on?" Kennedy asks, glancing between the two of us.

  I open my mouth to speak, but Caroline beats me to it.

  "Um…remember after the Masquerade when I told you that I talked to one person all night?" she asks her sister.

  "Yes," Kennedy says, drawing out the word.

  "Well, Jared, um, Professor King was that person. Only, I didn't know who he was then," she hurries to add. "Not until you told me when we were outside later."

  "Oh," Kennedy says.

  I move back to my desk, leaning against the corner closest to Caroline. With her and Kennedy seated side by side, the similarities I missed before are blatantly obvious. They share the same long lashes and high cheekbones. Their noses both turn up slightly at the end. They're both tiny, barely over five feet. They also share the same complexion and full lips. Yet, I feel nothing when I look at Kennedy, except the stirrings of guilt and regret.

  Looking at Caroline lights up my system like fireworks. My arms ache to hold her, my lips to kiss her. And my cock…Christ, what this gorgeous little thing does to my cock.

  "But that's not the only time since then that I've seen him," Caroline blurts out. "I'm in love with him."

  Kennedy gasps, but I can't look at her. Caroline is all I see, her big obsidian eyes pleading with me for forgiveness. As if I could ever feel anything but awe and pride to have her claim me so boldly.

  "I love her too," I say, my voice quiet, emphatic. "I realize
that's probably not likely to sway your opinion of me after everything I've put you through this year. I've been an unbearable ass and caused you a world of grief."

  Kennedy glances from Caroline to me again, gaping in open disbelief.

  "He's not a bad man, Kennedy," Caroline whispers, her hands locked so tightly together, her knuckles are white.

  "I…" Kennedy reaches up to touch her forehead. "I am so confused."

  Caroline expels a breath. "On Halloween, I agreed to meet him the next morning, but then you told me who he was, so I didn't go. I didn't want to betray you like that. When you told me that he offered to write you a recommendation, I worried that he did it because he found out that we're sisters."

  Kennedy pales.

  "I didn't," I say before Caroline can. "I didn't know you two were related until she told me after I'd already spoken to you, Miss Thorne. I offered to write your professor recommendation because you deserve it. I want to help you."

  Kennedy looks at me in outright suspicion.

  "I've been an unbearable ass," I repeat with a grimace. "You're one of the most gifted writers I've ever taught, Miss Thorne. But I know how tough this world can be, especially for someone as young as you. The criticism can be vicious. In my quest to prepare you for that by making you a stronger writer, I overstepped. I was an ass. I let my own experiences eclipse one important fact. You aren't me and my experience isn't yours."

  "I'm not you," she agrees, her voice as soft as ever. "I realize your path was difficult, but you don't get to decide for me how my story will go. I'd appreciate being able to forge my own path instead of being pigeonholed into this damsel in distress role you're casting me in."

  There's a light in her eyes, a little thread of steel in her voice that I've never noticed before. Kennedy Thorne may be a hopeless romantic who looks at the world through rose-colored glasses, but she isn't helpless or naïve. Like Caroline, she has claws…and courage. More than I think I let myself realize.

  "Understood. I'd like to help you if you'd let me. Despite how we've started off, I do believe I can assist you." I hesitate and then sigh. This isn't how I wanted Caroline to find out about my decision, but it is what it is. "If you'd rather not, I'll understand. I'm prepared to resign immediately if that's what you'd like. I've already spoken with the Dean."

  "Jared, no," Caroline gasps, her face falling.

  "Being with you is worth any price," I say, smiling gently. "I won't hide you or pretend I feel less for you than I do. The Dean has agreed to let me finish out this semester…if your sister is willing to give me a second chance. But this will be my last semester here. You've reminded me of who I want to be, princess. It's not the resident asshole professor."

  "Jared." Her eyes fill with tears. "You aren't an asshole."

  "I am, but I'm learning to be better." I push away from the desk and stroll toward her, reach out to cup her cheek and brush away her tears. They tremble on her lashes before I catch them with my thumb. "I met a princess at a ball. She taught me to believe in magic and love. She made me want to be a better man, one she could be proud of."

  "I love you," she says, her voice catching on a sob.

  "I love you too, sweet baby." I glance from her to Kennedy, who is watching us with wide eyes. "I apologize for how harsh I've been, Kennedy. You deserve better. If you do give me a second chance, Professor Janson will be reviewing your work with me to ensure I'm being fair and impartial."

  Kennedy nods, looking between me and her sister again. "I think…" She licks her lips. "I think I need to think about this," she says. "About all of it. It's…a lot."

  "Understood."

  "I think I'm going to spend the night in Chattanooga instead of leaving in the morning," Kennedy says.

  Caroline sniffles but doesn't try to change her mind.

  Kennedy climbs to her feet, still looking between me and her sister as if she can't quite believe what's going on here. And then her expression turns as fierce as I've ever seen Caroline's. She spears me with a hard look. "If you break her heart, I'll spend the rest of my life making yours as miserable as possible."

  "I'd expect nothing less," I say, my voice somber. She's a kitten, roaring like a lion. But I think she actually means it. She would spend her life making me miserable. That's how fiercely she loves her sister. And that gives me hope that things between them aren't broken because of me. "But for the record, that will never happen. I plan to spend the rest of my life loving your sister the way she deserves."

  Kennedy nods and then heads for the door. She pauses with her hand on the knob and looks back at the two of us…and then she's gone as quickly as she appeared.

  A tiny sob breaks from Caroline's lips.

  "Sweet baby." I sweep her up into my arms, holding her as she cries herself out, great wracking sobs that break my heart for her. I whisper in her ear, telling her how much I love her, and promising that everything will be okay. Even if it takes the rest of my life to keep that promise, I will. For her, I'll do anything.

  Eventually, she cries herself out and falls asleep on my shoulder. Once she's out, I gather her in my arms and carry her out of my office, cradling her close.

  Students stop to gape, shocked.

  I leave a trail of whispers in my wake, but somehow…I've never felt more hopeful and freer than I do as I put Caroline in my car and head toward home and my future with her.

  Chapter Nine

  Caroline

  "Hey," I say, sitting up when Jared walks into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around his waist and beads of water still dripping from his hair. His eyes immediately come to me, his expression softening when he sees me. He's been so gentle since he brought me home with him yesterday. He even went to the apartment and picked up Meeko to spend the night with us.

  I haven't heard from Kennedy since she left yesterday. It's breaking my heart. We've never gone this long without talking to each other. Well, not since we were little anyway.

  "You're awake," he says, prowling toward me.

  Even though my heart hurts and I've spent most of the last twenty-four hours crying, desire still stirs when I look at him. He's so damn beautiful. He's been my rock, holding me together and loving me so sweetly. Without him, I'm pretty sure I'd be a broken mess in the floor. Instead, we've made love off and on, not emerging from our little bubble other than to take care of Meeko or to eat.

  I guess word is out around campus that we're together. My phone has been blowing up. I've been ignoring all the messages from everyone. Except my brothers. How they found out about me and Jared from half a country away, I don't know.

  I think Kennedy ratted me out.

  Oddly, they seem…willing to entertain the concept of me and Jared. I think finding their own wives has mellowed them out. Or maybe they're just relieved I didn't decide to marry someone like our dad, who values the almighty dollar more than most people.

  "I couldn't sleep," I admit when Jared draws to a stop in front of me, reaching out to touch my face. I nestle it into his hand, pressing my lips to his palm. "I probably need to get home. Kennedy should be back soon."

  "The two of you are going to be okay," he says, the same thing he's told me every time I've brought her up. "She just needs a little time to think things through. We threw a lot at her all at once."

  "Please don't blame yourself," I whisper when I hear the guilt in his voice. "If she's upset with me, it's because I wasn't honest with her. That's not your fault. I made that choice."

  "For me."

  I growl at him, which makes him smile.

  "You feeling fierce again, princess?"

  "Maybe," I huff, annoyed that he keeps blaming himself for all of this. I'm the one who made the decision not to tell her the truth from the very beginning. He didn't have anything to do with that. If she's mad at me, it's my own fault.

  "Good," he grunts, leaning down to pick me up. His lips brush mine as he settles onto the bed with me wrapped around him. "I fucking love it when you're my little lioness.
But seeing you so sad and not being able to fix it for you is killing me, sweet baby. Your sister is going to forgive you. It's obvious how much she loves you."

  "She's still mad at me," I whisper, rubbing my nose against his. His erection stirs against my bottom. "We were little the last time she got this mad at me."

  "What happened?"

  "She broke her arm trying to climb down the bedsheet ladder I made," I admit, nipping at his bottom lip. "I got us grounded for something and we decided to run away to go save the whales. Well, I decided. I think Kennedy was just going to keep me out of trouble."

  He chuckles against my lips, using his hands to ride me up and down against his erection. "Christ, you're fucking adorable."

  "I was nine. It seemed like a good idea at the time. But I guess I didn't tie the sheets to the bedframe tightly enough. I got down fine, but once she was halfway down, they came loose. She fell and broke her arm. She didn't talk to me for a full day, not until my dad got home and threatened to spank me." Tears prickle at my eyes at the memory. "She came swooping to my rescue like she always did when my bad ideas caught up with me."

  "Your father spanked you?" he growls, going rigid beneath me as if the very thought upsets him. God, I love him and how protective of me he can be. I don't think Meeko is going to have very much to do with Jared around.

  "No. He threatened to spank me about a million times, but he never followed through with it. He wasn't very good at punishing us. I think he tried to make up for neglecting our brothers by letting me get away with so much. I drove him crazy, but he never really punished me."

  "He loves you," Jared says, relaxing again. He squeezes my butt cheeks in his hands, kneading them. I think he's obsessed with my ass. His hands are on it at every available opportunity. "It's impossible to know you and not love you, princess."

  "You're biased," I snort.

  "Of course I am," he admits, releasing my ass to brush my tangled hair back from my face. His mossy eyes meet mine. "I'm also right. Loving you is the easiest thing I've ever done."

  "Jared," I whisper, my heart melting.