Claimed

FREE EXCERPT

He was waiting by the table when she returned. She’d reapplied her lipstick and smoothed back her hair. Her cheeks were still flushed and her eyes were shining. Her suit jacket was flung over her arm, and she’d opened the top two buttons of her blouse. James’ fingers itched with the sudden desire to push her down against the table so he could claim her then and there. He shook away the image, hoping she wouldn’t notice his sudden erection in the dim light of the bar.

He dared to place a hand lightly on her lower back as they pushed their way through the loud, drunken throng. It was a welcome relief to breathe the air outside, in spite of the fumes from a nearby bus. They walked in companionable silence to the car garage and James exercised every ounce of self-control to keep from reaching for her hand, or worse, pulling her into his arms.

Not yet, he warned himself. Not yet.

He felt lightheaded and almost reckless, and realized he, too, had had too much to drink. But so what? It only gave him the added courage he needed to make his move. Because tonight was the night. He was sure of it.

When they got to the garage, he led her to the small elevator that would take them to the top floor where he always parked. At this hour the place would be nearly deserted. As the elevator lurched upward, again he exercised all his self-control to keep from pressing her against the wall and kissing her.

As they walked through the empty garage toward his car, James clicked the button on his key fob to unlock the doors of his car, which flashed its lights in greeting as they approached. “I wish you’d let me take you all the way home. I don’t like the idea of you waiting for a bus at this hour. The crazies come out at night, you know.”

“Well, if you’re sure it’s not too much trouble,” Kelsey said hesitantly.
“It would be my pleasure,” James assured her, already imagining her inviting him up to her apartment. They would share a nightcap. She would smile shyly at him and lift her face for a kiss. When their lips touched, they would both know beyond a doubt that they belonged together as man and wife.

As they approached the car, Kelsey gave him her address and directions to her place, not that he needed them. The garage was empty and silent, save for the clacking of her heels against the concrete. The moon had risen and was shining in through the wide slats in the walls, casting a pearly glow over everything. Kelsey stood by the car like a shimmering angel.

James hadn’t meant to do it, but somehow he found himself pressing Kelsey gently against the car, his hands on her shoulders. He dipped his head, unable to stop himself, the need to kiss her suddenly overwhelming him. A small voice whispered to wait, but James could wait no longer.

“Hey!” Kelsey twisted from him, turning her head sharply away. “James! Stop it. What’re you doing?”

“What I’ve wanted to do since the moment I saw you.” He tried to pull her back into position.

“James, cut it out. You’re drunk. Look, I can just take the bus—”

James came suddenly to his senses. Holy shit, what the hell was he doing? His timing was off. He was going to blow this before it had begun. He tried desperately to backtrack. “Please forgive me. I lost my head for a second. You’re right. This isn’t the place. I—I got carried away. You’re just so beautiful, Kelsey.”

Kelsey was backing away from him. She wasn’t smiling. No, if anything, she looked horrified. Horrified! Like he was some kind of sex fiend or ax murderer or something. What the fuck? After all they’d shared? All the secret glances, the knowing smiles? What about tonight? She’d waited, along with him, until they could be alone at last.

Yeah, so he’d jumped the gun a little, but it wasn’t like he’d whipped his dick out in the parking lot or anything. What was her problem?

She began to shake her head. “Look, I’m sorry if we got our wires crossed or something, but I’m not interested in you in that way, James. You’re my boss. And anyway, I’m not looking for a relationship right now. Let’s just forget this happened and…”

Her mouth continued to move, but James could no longer hear the words. The blood was roaring in his ears. He felt like he was going to explode. Rage hurtled through him and he clenched his hands into fists at his sides.

This couldn’t be happening. She couldn’t be like the rest of them—just another prick tease, another fluff ball with nothing in her head or heart. How could he have gotten it so wrong? He brought his fists to his chest and pressed hard. His heart felt as if it had collapsed in a hard, tight ball in his chest.

Without realizing what he was doing, James reached for Kelsey. He grabbed her arms and pulled her toward him.

“James! You’re hurting me. Let go!”

He didn’t let go. He dragged her back to the car and managed to pull open the passenger door, while still keeping her in a tight grip. He shoved her into the seat and slammed the door. He pressed the lock button on the key fob while he sprinted around to the driver’s seat. She was still trying to get the door open when he pressed the child lock button that only he controlled from the driver’s side. Kelsey wasn’t going anywhere.

Still blind with rage and grief, he started the engine and gunned the gas. Skillfully, he maneuvered the car rapidly down the spiraling exit ramp toward the ground floor as if his life depended on it.

Kelsey pawed at his arm while he drove. “Let me out!” she screeched. “James, what are you doing? Stop the fucking car!” She fumbled in her purse and pulled out her cell phone. James grabbed it from her hands and threw it in the back seat.

Keeping one hand tight on Kelsey’s arm, James drove as quickly as he dared down the city streets and onto the highway that led to his home, thankfully only ten minutes from the office. A vein pulsed at his temple, beating time to Kelsey’s caterwauling. Somehow he made it to his driveway.

He let go of Kelsey long enough to use the garage door remote that was clipped to his sun visor. He slid the car into the garage and pressed the button again to close them off from the world.

James turned to the beautiful, trembling girl beside him. His heart was pounding, his cock throbbing at full erection. He felt more alive than he ever had in his life.