Mine to Hold (Mine 3)

“One time, then done?”

“I know that makes me sound like a bastard, but ties just screw with your head.” He’d seen it happen. First with Drake—and the man had been to hell and back because of that painful mistake. Then the same weakness had twisted Trace.

Claire’s hand pulled away from Noah, but she still stood close to him. “Why am I still here?”

Because I need you to be.

“Haven’t you satisfied the-the ‘need’ yet?”

“No,” he said, voice roughening, “I haven’t. That’s the problem with you and me.”

Her tongue swiped over her lower lip.

Yeah, that’s the problem.

“The need doesn’t stop with you. The more I have you, the more it grows. The more I want.” Until he felt like the need was consuming him. “And I don’t want gentle and easy. I don’t want rose petals sprinkled on the ground. I want you naked and moaning. I want you screaming and clawing my back. I want everything that I can get from you.”

I want to own you.

And he was starting to think…

The way you already own me.

Claire stared up at him.

“Scared yet?” Noah had to push her.

Claire shook her head.

You should be, Claire. With every moment that passes, I get hooked on you even more. He’d seen Drake spiral, he’d seen Trace sink into near madness.

And now I’m on the brink.

The suite’s phone rang. Its pealing cry seemed to echo around them. Noah didn’t move.

She still doesn’t know all that I’ve done. When she did, what would happen?

The phone rang again. Swearing, Noah headed toward it. “What?” Noah snapped.

“Sir, it’s Janelle at the concierge desk.” Her voice was soft as she said, “I know that you said no visitors were allowed up to your floor, but there’s a very insistent gentleman here right now.”

Noah glanced over his shoulder at Claire. “What’s his name?”

“Austin Harrison.”

Harrison? His hold tightened on the phone. He’d done his research. He knew Austin was the senator’s other son. Three years older than Ethan, Austin had seemed to make keeping a low profile his priority. “You’re shitting me.”

“No, no, I’m not.”

“Keep him right there. I’m on my way.” He slammed down the phone and marched for the door.

Claire beat him to that door. She blocked his path with her body. “Who’s here?”

“I’m heading downstairs for just a moment. I’ll be right back and—”

“No. No way. The last time you tried to go off on your own, a building exploded.” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him. “Who’s here?”

“Austin Harrison.”

Shock had her mouth dropping.

“And I’m going downstairs to talk with him while you, baby, are staying right up here.”

“I’m coming—”

“Concussion, Claire.” Gently, but firmly, he picked her up and carried her back to the couch. He put her down on the cushions. Pulled a blanket over her. Kissed her. “You stay here, and I’ll go deal with the bastard at the door.”

Her lips pressed into a determined line.

He wasn’t going to argue with Claire. The last thing she needed right then was a confrontation. He headed for the door. Opened it—

Talk about a bastard at the door.

Drake had his hand raised to knock.

“No one is supposed to get up to this floor.” Noah glared at the two guards near the elevator. Guards who’d been sent over from Weston Securities. Guards who were apparently damn inadequate.

“Trace told them I was clear.” Drake smiled. “Come on, you know that you can trust me.”

Yeah, he did. And that was why he yanked the guy in the suite. “Keep Claire company until I get back.”

“Uh, wait, where are you—”

Noah shut the door behind him and stalked to the elevator.

Austin Harrison.

Well, he’d met the other two members of the family. Time to see if Austin was as much of a dick as they were.

***

The guy had just twisted her into knots and walked away. Claire shoved off her blanket and jumped to her feet. She was going after him and—

“I think the idea was for us both to stay put.” Drake flashed her a broad smile. “So don’t think you can just bat those big baby blues at me, and get out of here.”

She glared at him.

His smile slowly faded. “You look like shit.”

He was always such a charmer.

Drake’s hand lifted toward her face.

Instantly, Claire stepped back.

“Easy,” he murmured as he advanced. “I just want to see the damage.”

She forced herself to stay still. “It’s just a scratch.”

“A scratch that’s got you purple and black on your temple.” His head cocked and his fingers feathered over her cheek. “And I’m guessing the bandage is covering some stitches?”

“A few.”

He whistled. “Bet that made Noah go insane.”

She pushed his hand away. “Nearly getting blown up made us both react that way.”

His hand caught hers. “Explain it to me.”

“What?”

“I’ve seen Noah touch you, and you act like a cat getting stroked.”

She did not.

“But I come close, and you tense up like you’re afraid I’ll hit you.” His voice and eyes had gone flat. “I don’t know what Noah told you about my past, but I only did what I had to do. Killing my lover—hell, no, that wasn’t my plan. She went rogue. Turned on us all—”