Claiming His Prize Read online

  “I can shoot you right now and take it.”

  He smirked. “I’d love to see you try.” He opened his jacket, revealing his one-man arsenal.

  “Tell me what you want.”

  “The reason you’re here. The reason this exists.” He shook the file in the air. “It’s all because Boss wants you working for Killer of Kings. Consider this his recruitment.”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “You can choose to walk out the door, but you don’t get the information, and Boss won’t be all too happy.”

  “And that’s it?”

  Chains exhaled. How much should he tell this fucker? He cared enough to release Lori in the first place, and after reading the paperwork, he knew the devil had a heart. “Boss won’t let me leave until you agree to sign on. I need to leave.”

  “Hot date?” Xavier winked.

  “Someone I pissed off is heading to my cottage right now, looking for revenge. Considering my woman’s there alone, I’m real motivated to get this shit moving along.”

  “She locked in the basement again?”

  “Fuck off, Xavier.”

  “El Diablo to you,” he said. “I have nothing to do. How about we take a ride, and then I’ll come talk to your Boss.”

  “Don’t play games with me. You’re going to work for Killer of Kings?”

  “I’ve seen your place, so I know they pay well. What can it hurt, right? Consider our road trip a way to put water under the bridge.”

  “Okay, let’s do this.”

  ****

  Lori woke up and showered. She didn’t expect Chains to be in her bed. And she needed to get used to him coming and going without constantly worrying about him. He was all she had now, and the way he made her feel … she couldn’t lose that.

  After having a light breakfast, she noticed an SUV parked down the road, partly shrouded by brush. Had it always been there? Chains’s car wasn’t in the driveway.

  He said they were at his cottage because it was too dangerous at his home right now. She was safe. The man who’d released her was supposed to be a madman, and the threat of him returning was enough to make Chains pack up and leave his house.

  She glanced over at the kitchen table, looking for the cellphone Chains had left her. It wasn’t there. She wandered around the cottage, checking the counters and ledges, even inside drawers. Where had she put it? Great, if something happened she had no contact to the outside world. She took a deep breath, calming herself. He said he wouldn’t take too long, so she could wait. This was a little piece of paradise, so who was she to complain?

  Lori put on her jacket and shoes, stepping out onto the wraparound porch. The view was spectacular, one side thick forest and the other looking down onto a valley. The air smelled of pine and black earth, a welcoming contrast to the stench of the city where she grew up.

  She’d never been one to exercise, too busy working, then too tired to care. Maybe she’d take up hiking. Lori ventured down the steps, running her fingertips along the wild flowers. She felt so free, so happy. Chains had turned her entire world around. It may have started off a little unorthodox, but she couldn’t complain now.

  Lori picked up a good-sized walking stick and used it as she entered the forest. It was a different world under the forest canopy. The birds sang, and squirrels scampered in the branches above her. She could hear the faint sound of a creek in the distance, so she kept going, hiking deeper and deeper into the forest.

  She wasn’t sure how much time passed, too enamored by the beauty of the nature around her. Lori had never had time for fairy tales, but right now she felt like she was in the middle of one. She’d lived such a sheltered life, so much still to learn and explore. When she heard branches cracking far behind her, her nerves picked up. She looked back and saw nothing, but realized she’d hiked far enough that she’d have trouble finding the cottage again.

  Should she be more afraid of wild animals or El Diablo? She crouched down behind some briars, peeking down the beaten path again. A swath of fabric made her breath catch. Was she seeing things?

  Then she saw him. Lori would recognize that face anywhere. His dark hair was pushed mostly off his face, his black eyes focused. Chains was right, he’d come looking for her. This time she had a feeling he wouldn’t be so generous.

  A sudden wave of dizziness left her head swimming. There was nowhere to go, and even her cellphone had vanished. When he kept coming closer, no longer trying to hide, she decided to take her chances. She got up and started running. The branches and twigs of the unbeaten paths scratched at her exposed skin, but she couldn’t slow down now.

  “Hey, stop!”

  Yeah, like that’s going to happen. Lori wanted to live. She needed to survive until Chains came home. Her mind was a mess. Where would they be safe? Would life with him always be like this?

  When she stopped to take a breath, peering behind her, she noticed two men coming from another direction. What the hell? She’d never seen them before. Had Chains sent them to protect her? Were they hunters? She decided anyone was better than El Diablo. A stitch in her side slowed her up, but she moved in the direction of the strangers. She braced the trees as she roughed it through the overgrown paths.

  “Lori, stop running!” El Diablo was catching up on her. Damn, she was out of shape.

  The other men started to come into better view. They looked like they belonged in a night club, not the middle of the wilderness. That’s when she noticed they had handguns, and once they got a clear view of her, one of them aimed and fired. She screamed and ducked down, not knowing which way to run. So much for her carefree romp in the forest. The only thing she could do was venture deeper, away from all these murderers.

  Another bullet whizzed by her head. She was too hyped up on adrenaline to cry or scream. Her focus was survival.

  The next time she turned to gauge their distance, she saw the violent spray of blood come out the left side of the lead man’s head. He collapsed heavily to the forest floor. The other guy briefly looked down at him before continuing the pace, right toward her.

  What’s happening?

  Lori had been so transfixed on the nightmare in front of her that she hadn’t focused on El Diablo coming from her other side. He bent down and grabbed her, hoisting her effortlessly to her feet. She used all her strength to kick and punch him, struggling like a wild woman, but he wrapped a solid arm around her body, pinning her arms to her sides.

  “Relax.”

  “Let me go!”

  The other man was getting closer. Were they together? Would they torture her? Kill her? When El Diablo’s chest rumbled in laughter, she thought he’d lost his mind.

  Then she saw him.

  Chains.

  He came up behind the other man, wrapping an arm around his neck, and knocking the gun out of his hand. It disappeared in the leaf litter. “I thought we made ourselves clear, motherfucker. The city is Killer of Kings’ turf, and now you’ve just crossed the line.”

  The man gurgled, his face turning red.

  “You shot at my woman.” Chains let him go, shoving him to his knees. “Grab your gun. I fucking dare you.”

  The guy got to his feet, and Chains punched him in the face, once, twice, and a third time. They started going at each other, kicking, punching, and shoving with skills she’d only seen in the movies. As the other man stumbled back, he reached for the gun, but before he could aim, a bullet when right through his hand. He screamed and hugged his arm, blood leaking down.

  Lori gasped.

  “Nothing to worry about,” said El Diablo. “Your boyfriend’s got this handled.”

  She remembered when he’d murdered Carlton for hurting her. He was a killer. And he was hers. Chains grabbed a gun from his shoulder holster and put a bullet in the man’s head, right between the eyes as if he’d done it a thousand times—maybe he had.

  He started coming for her, and instead of feeling afraid or sobered, she only felt relief. A shadow appeared from behin
d a tree on the path Chains had taken. A third man? He didn’t have time to turn all the way around when a bullet stopped him in his tracks. Chains crashed sidelong against a large oak, pointing his gun despite his injury.

  Chains didn’t need to fire back, because the third man dropped to the ground. They all stared, everyone frozen and silent, not daring to move a muscle. Where was the other gunman? Who would be shot next?

  El Diablo used one arm to hold her, getting his free hand onto a handgun.

  “I told you it was nothing personal.” A huge man dressed in black came out into the open, his arms covered in ink. “But weren’t you supposed to deliver the package to Boss at the docks?”

  “Would you take a chance with Scarlett’s life, Bain?” asked Chains.

  “Yeah. Guess I wouldn’t.”

  “At least my cabin’s still standing. I was expecting a pile of ash.”

  “Nice piece of land you have here.”

  Bain pulled out his cellphone and turned around as he talked to someone. She could only make out a few words like “handled” and “three of them”.

  She struggled in El Diablo’s grasp, and he released her. Lori rushed over to Chains, throwing herself in his arms. Even his scent brought down her nerves. He winced.

  “You’re shot,” she said. Lori wanted to examine him, but he only held her close to his chest. He kissed the top of her head.

  “I’m okay. What about you? Did anyone hurt you?” he asked.

  She shook her head.

  “I’m so sorry, baby. All I could think about was getting back to you.”

  Bain put away his phone. “Boss is waiting to see the three of you. I wouldn’t keep him waiting too long. I’ll be meeting Viper in the city to make an example of whoever sent these bastards. Boss’s orders. They don’t know what’s coming.”

  The way he said the words made her shudder. Whoever he was after was not going to have a good day.

  Chapter Eleven

  He took a cleansing breath once they were alone in his cabin. Bain agreed to give them a little alone time before heading back to the city. Lori wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest. “I was so scared. I can’t lose you.”

  “Everything’s okay now.” He stroked her hair and kissed her atop the head.

  “Your heart’s racing. You’re lying.”

  He pulled away, shaking his head. “Boss won’t hurt you. Killian won’t let him.”

  “But you think he’ll hurt you? I thought things were settled.”

  “He’s going to want to punish me.”

  “Punish?”

  He didn’t like the fear in her eyes. His job was to protect her from the dark side of his life. “You know about my Boss. You know what I do for a living. My life’s complicated, and not in a good way. Maybe you’re better off without me.” She was his prize, but now he loved her enough to let her go. He wouldn’t let Boss hurt her. That crazy bastard had shot other women without remorse. He was capable of anything.

  “Don’t say that.”

  “It’s true. I’ll set you up so you never have to work again, never have to worry.”

  She pounded on his chest. “Stop it!” Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I’m not going anywhere without you. We’re together in this. Do you understand me?”

  “I made a big mistake. Let me fix this. Be smart, Lori.”

  Tears streamed down her face. “No! I love you. I won’t live without you.”

  Fuck, she was cute when she was angry. He cupped her face and kissed her hard on the mouth. He needed her, had to be as close as possible. Chains backed her up against the wall and tugged her shirt off over her head. “I need you,” he said.

  “I won’t let you leave me, Chains. Never suggest it again.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He unfastened her bra and bent down to gorge himself on her tits. He was addicted to her body. She mewled as he toyed with her nipples. They both needed this, needed to blow off some steam. Needed to forget reality for a while. He stripped off her pants and undies until she stood completely naked. “Put your leg over my shoulder.”

  When she didn’t comply, he helped her, tossing her leg over his shoulder to give him a nice view of her pussy from where he knelt. “Chains…”

  “Don’t deny me, Lori. You’re my little piece of paradise right now.” He lapped up her folds, making her cry out. He closed his eyes and rubbed his face against her cunt. She was already wet, her clit throbbing when he latched on. Chains suckled her until her leg went weak.

  “I can’t take it anymore.”

  He dropped her leg and stood up, towering over her. Chains shrugged off his jacket, forgetting he had his gun holsters on. But they clearly didn’t scare Lori, and she ran her fingertips along them, her lips parted as she looked up at him. He could feel her wanton energy, and it only increased his tenfold.

  “I want all of you, princess. You ready to give me everything?”

  She nodded.

  Chains removed his holsters and unbuckled his pants. All that mattered was right here, right now. His cock was rock hard, tenting out his boxer briefs once he kicked off his pants. “Tonight’s a good night to break in the kitchen table,” he said. “Lean over it for me, will you, baby?”

  He watched her walk to the table, her beautiful body naked, all her curves jiggling in just the right way. They maintained eye contact, even once she’d passed him. God, she was beautiful. In such a short time she’d transformed from an insecure, shattered woman to a strong, confident one.

  She did as told, leaning over the wooden slab table on her forearms, her lush ass waiting for him. He licked his lips, reaching for the lube in the drawer near the sofa. With everything so up in the air, his need to claim every inch of his woman overwhelmed him.

  “Remember when I told you this would be mine one day?” He rubbed a circle over the globe of her ass. “Today’s that day.”

  “I trust you,” she said, no hesitation in her voice. He repeated the words in his head. Chains was used to being considered a heartless monster, a cold-blooded killer, not a man worthy of a woman’s trust. He would never let her down because he considered her love and trust a gift.

  He kissed her ass, smoothing his hand up her back, pressing her down. Chains poured the lube down her crack, then used his finger to rub it into her tight little rosette.

  “That feels good.”

  “Such a cute little asshole. Tell me you’re mine.”

  “I’m all yours, Chains.”

  He inserted one finger into her virgin hole, moving it in just the right way to make her crave more.

  ****

  Lori squeezed around Chains’s finger. She never realized how good something so dirty could feel. He’d set off something inside that affected her whole body. She needed him, all of him.

  He ran the broad head of his cock up and down the crack of her ass, distributing the lube. Each pass made her clit and ass throb. She wasn’t sure if he was toying with her or preparing her.

  “Chains, please…”

  “This is different. It’ll feel strange at first.” He gripped her hip with one hand and pressed the head of his dick into her ass with the other. “Push back against me. Once I’m in things will get easier. Promise.”

  Yes, he’d kidnapped her, kept her against her will, but that was then, before she knew the real him. She trusted Chains completely, knowing he’d never do anything to intentionally harm her. The first few inches made Lori cringe—the pressure, tightness, and unfamiliar sensations nearly made her change her mind. But Chains was right. As soon as the full length of his big cock was deep inside her ass, she became accustomed to the intrusion.

  He stayed in place for the longest time, running his fingertips up and down her back, playing with her hair. She could stay like this forever.

  “You should see what I see, baby. My cock inside your tight little ass. You feel amazing.”

  She tightened around him, making him groan. Lying on the cold, hard table, h
er bare breasts pressed flat, she was completely vulnerable. New, dirty thoughts flitted in her head. Her beast of a man had claimed her ass, claimed all of her, and she loved every minute of it.

  “How do you feel?” he asked.

  “Better.”

  “I’ll go nice and slow. You let me know if I hurt you.”

  She nodded, using one hand to grip the edge of the table. He slid out, then pushed back in, slowly picking up a steady rhythm. In, out, in, out … it didn’t take long for her to be transported to that beautiful place of pre-orgasmic bliss.

  “Oh God, Chains. I’m so close already.” These new sensations were powerful and exciting. She had a feeling this would be an orgasm to remember. Her entire body heated, her cheeks flushing.

  He grabbed her wrist, bringing her arm down alongside her. “Touch yourself.” He brought her hand between her legs. “Make yourself come while I fuck you.”

  As soon as she touched her throbbing clit, she gasped. Chains picked up the pace, pounding into her ass so hard the table legs scraped the tiles. His big, rough hands squeezed her hips as he rammed her.

  “Chains!”

  “Come for me, Lori.” His voice had taken on a darker edge, a man barely holding onto his humanity. It turned her on to see him so caught up in their lovemaking. Just hearing his command was enough to push her to the breaking point. Her womb cramped, then detonated, a beautiful rush of heat and pleasure rippling through her body.

  She felt him ejaculate inside her ass as he pumped a few final times. They were both breathing heavily, their bodies moist with clean sweat. He pulled out and held a hand to her back. “Wait here a second.”

  Chains came back a few minutes later and wiped a warm, moist cloth over her intimate parts and inner thighs, tenderly cleansing her.

  “Thank you for that,” he said. He beckoned her to stand, taking her hand until she was standing in front of him. He arranged her hair, tucking the remainder behind her ears. “God, you’re beautiful, Lori.” Then he gave her a single kiss on the lips. It was the most precious moment of her life, so much emotion and promise in that one act.