Mine to Hold (Mine 3)

He needed her close. He’d have her close.

And, eventually, he would get exactly what he wanted from her.

He’d watched her that morning as she stood outside, the wind sending her blonde hair flying around her shoulders. He’d been afraid that Claire wasn’t going to walk into his hotel.

Come to me, Claire. Come to me.

Then she had.

He opened the door to her suite. Heard her soft gasp. Good. That sound better mean she liked the place.

“There is no way I can afford this!” Claire turned in a circle as her eyes swept around the suite. “Give me another room. This hotel is huge, just put me—”

“I need my assistant nearby,” he said smoothly. “I do business at all hours, just like I told you. This floor is reserved for me and my associates.” A partial lie. “If you’re going to work for me,” Noah added, “you really do need to start learning how to follow my orders.”

She bit her lower lip. That lip was sexy and full, and he’d like to be the one biting it.

“Staying close is an order,” he told her as his stare swept over her once more.

In the past, he’d gone more for the dark-haired beauties. But Claire—Claire with her blonde hair and blue eyes—she was different for him. Her heart-shaped face kept catching his gaze. Those high cheeks, that small nose. When the light hit her hair just right, she almost looked like an angel.

One who’d fallen so very far.

Claire had lush curves that he couldn’t wait to explore. Rounded hips and tempting breasts that he knew would be perfect for his hands.

But not yet.

Because Claire still feared him. He had to work past that fear.

He would.

“I’ll get your things brought over from the Hamlet,” he told her, aware that his voice had hardened. He couldn’t help it. When he thought of Claire and sex, his response was immediate.

“I only have one bag there.” Her shoulders lifted in a faint shrug. “I’ve learned to travel light over the years.”

Because she’d been forced to do so.

Things were going to change for Claire. Noah believed in protecting what was his.

Claire, you don’t know it yet, but you will be mine.

“I don’t need you to get the bag, though,” Claire said as she notched up her chin. “I’m perfectly capable of doing that on my own.” She cast one more nervous glance around the suite. “I’ll…um…I’ll go do that now, and I’ll come back and get settled. That way, I can get started working this afternoon.” Her eyelashes—so long—flickered. “If that’s okay with you?”

“I’ll come with you to the Hamlet.” He wasn’t ready to let her out of his sight yet. The last time he’d done that, when he’d thought she might want a little time to grieve privately in Chicago, Claire had vanished.

It had taken him weeks to track her down. Claire had a talent for disappearing. He wasn’t about to let her use that talent again.

Instead of arguing with him, Claire surprised him then. She smiled.

Noah stiffened.

Claire’s smile was slow, beginning with a faint curve of her lips. The smile spread, showing a dimple in each cheek. He’d never noticed those dimples before.

Because Claire had never smiled for me before.

And her eyes lit with her smile. Shined even brighter.

“It’s going to be okay now,” she said.

He couldn’t speak. Noah just nodded. Hell, yes, he’d make sure that everything was okay for Claire.

She’d already suffered enough.

***

Claire wasn’t embarrassed by the sight of the Hamlet Hotel. She’d stayed in far worse places in the course of her life.

Even once, for five terrible months, in a place where her other roommates would scream for hours and hours.

Claire shoved that memory into the back of her mind. All of the memories from Shady Pines deserved to stay back in the darkness.

She rose from the car—Noah’s car, a sleek limo that had been waiting outside of York Towers. She cleared her throat and told him, “You know, this car really doesn’t seem to belong here.”

Noah had exited a few moments before her. He glanced her way. “You don’t belong here. You should’ve come to me as soon as you arrived in New York.”

That statement had her frowning. How did he know when she’d arrived in New York?

He took her elbow. Claire stiffened. “You know I don’t—”

“Like to be touched,” he finished grimly. “Yes, I know, but, Claire, you have to get used to me.” He nodded to his driver. Claire wondered if the hulking guy was also a body guard.

She knew a few secrets about Noah’s past. Enough to tell her that the man hadn’t always worn fancy suits. He knew how to fight.

How to kill.

“We’re getting in and out as fast as we can.” He led her into the building. Growled when he found out that she was on the first floor. “Open access to anyone,” he snapped.

The room had been cheap, so she’d taken it.

They hurried past the desk clerk. Turned the corner and—

Her door was ajar. Room one-oh-four. Claire stopped.

Noah immediately stilled beside her. “What is it?”

Claire shook her head, fighting the surge of fear she’d felt. If she wasn’t careful, Claire found that fear could creep up on her far too often. “I think the maid is in there.”

He advanced. Claire tried to hurry with him, but Noah pushed her behind him.

He entered the room first. His body tensed. “It’s not a damn maid.”

She peered over his shoulder. Her clothes were tossed around the room. They’d been…slashed? Torn apart? “No,” Claire whispered. Dammit, those clothes were all she had! Fury had her shoving past Noah.

He grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her stomach. “Don’t! The bastard could still be in here.” He pushed her back once more. Then he stalked forward. He yanked open the closet. Checked the bathroom.

Claire stood in the doorway. The room was wrecked. The mirror was shattered. Chunks of glass littered the floor. The overturned mattress slumped against the small nightstand.

My things…they’re all—

Her gaze fell on the floor. On the picture frame that had been smashed. Claire rushed forward and grabbed it. Broken glass bit into her fingers.

Her family stared back up at her. Her mom. Claire had her mom’s blonde hair. Her dad. Claire had his blue eyes. Her parents were both smiling. And Claire—Claire was standing next to her sister, Sara.