Page 1 of His to Claim

PROLOGUE

Vanessa

Home.

It was supposed to feel good to be back at the place where I’d grown up, the city where I’d nurtured my dreams. But even after being back in Denver for three months, the city felt foreign to me, as if I’d fallen off a cliff. I was here with a purpose in mind, but lately I’d been terrified to leave my way too expensive condo for fear of the unknown.

Threats.

I’d had a few of them in my past life as a prosecutor and had taken them in stride. This was different, but it felt very much the same, unnerving. I stared down at my cell phone for the umpteenth time, glaring at the request, uncertain of what I wanted to do. Hissing, I tossed my phone, raking my hand through my hair. It almost felt damp, as if I was sweating profusely.

My heart was certainly racing, pounding to the point the sound was echoing in my ears. I couldn’t concentrate, the ugliness of the reason I’d returned to Denver coming back to bite me. I clenched my fingers around the steering wheel, constantly looking in the rearview mirror, utterly terrified someone was following me. I knew I was being childish, but my nerves were raw, completely on edge. I just wanted to get home and lock my doors. I’d slip into something more comfortable, like a Kevlar suit, and drown my fears and sorrows in a glass of wine. Maybe I’d make it a bottle.

I’d never been very good at lying, which was why I was jumpy all the time, fearful my boss would figure out I was deceiving him.

When I noticed headlights suddenly appearing close behind me, I almost freaked out, gasping for air as I tried to figure out where I could go just in case I was being followed. I waited as I headed down the road, making a sudden sharp turn to the right on a road I wasn’t familiar with.

As I glanced into the rearview mirror again, I pressed down on the accelerator, trying to get as much distance as possible.

A split second later, I realized I made a terrible mistake, the crimson hue of a traffic light looming over my vehicle as I passed under it a clear indication I’d run a red light. I slammed on the brakes, but it was too late, all four thousand pounds of steel and a powerful engine slamming into a motorcycle. As a scream erupted from my throat, I struggled to maintain control, finally coming to a hard stop after skidding, the tires squealing. I’d spun around, now facing the opposite direction, my headlights shining brightly on the horrible scene in front of me. The wreck was unimaginable, bad enough I was fearful there was no way the driver could have survived.

Even wearing a seatbelt, I thumped forward, gasping for air. Shaking all over, I fought with the very belt that had likely kept me alive, finally managing to wrangle myself free. I immediately reached for the handle, praying the poor driver was still alive.

Oh, please. Oh, dear God, please don’t let me have killed this person.

Swallowing hard, I stepped onto the pavement, unable to glance directly at the scene again for another few seconds. When I did, I sucked in my breath. There was no movement at first and I was trapped in a horrible realization of what I’d done. I took a step forward, fighting tears threatening to form.

The moment I noticed movement, I breathed a sigh of relief, my steps more purposeful. As soon as the person started to stand, I could tell the driver was male.

A tall, extremely muscular male. Thank God he’d been wearing a helmet. When I was within a few feet, he turned around to face me. I stole a glance at the motorcycle. It was totaled, pieces lying all over the street.

I pressed my hand against my mouth as he walked closer, taking his time to remove his helmet.

“I’m so sorry. So terribly sorry. Are you okay?” I asked, daring to walk even closer.

There was no reaction at first, but I could sense his rage by the heavy rise and fall of his chest. Very slowly, he lifted his head.

During those few seconds, all time stopped as I recognized the one person that I’d prayed I’d never see again. Standing in front of me was the man who’d awakened the darkness and passion of the woman buried inside, the one I’d run away from.

And the very man who’d captured my heart.

CHAPTER1

Hours later…

Stone

Temptation.

Burning to the point that the predator in me had become famished, hunger unlike anything I’d ever known.

Except for a single time in my life.

I wanted to chain her to my bed, feasting on her pretty pink pussy for hours. The thought alone had kept my cock throbbing for far too long.

Vanessa…

I usually succumbed to every libation I craved and had for my entire adult life. Some might call it a weakness. I called it enjoying life. Hell, even when I was a kid, you couldn’t keep me out of a candy store. I’d graduated to more indulgent items after that, reveling in the thrill of the hunt. I’d stolen more than a few items in my life, my hunger for danger finally landing my ass in juvenile court once. The only difference was that my adult temptations were entirely made of darkness.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com