Mine to Hold (Mine 3)

When Noah entered his suite, he found Drake lounging on the couch. Drake glanced over at him, brows raised. “Don’t you look fancy?”

“Fuck off, Drake.” He was already wearing his tux. He’d changed earlier, before Claire had made it up to the suite. He’d slipped in long enough to see the dress that he’d ordered for her. Then he’d headed back downstairs to make sure the staff was set on security guidelines for the night. When he’d left the suite, Drake hadn’t been there.

“In the last thirty minutes, you’re the second person to tell me that I should fuck off.” Drake gestured toward the closed bedroom door. “Claire told me the same thing when I asked why she had tears in her eyes.”

Noah’s fingers tightened around the small, discrete box in his hands. “Claire was crying?”

“No.” Drake rose, slowly unfurling from the couch. “Claire doesn’t cry. She had tears in her eyes, but they never fell.” He approached Noah and the guy’s face held a hard flash of…anger? “But I think you probably know why they were there.”

Are we finished? He’d hated that question. “Thanks for watching her this week. Trace went to D.C. to chase down some leads, and—”

“Why were you trying so hard to stay away from her?” Drake asked him.

He looked down at the box. “She was hurt.”

“And you were busy hunting.”

Noah’s gaze rose once more.

Drake laughed softly. “That’s it, right? When you ran off each day, you were looking for the jerk-off who set that bomb. And you wanted me here because you knew I’d take a bullet for your lady.”

“I haven’t found him.” He was turning up jackshit everywhere he turned. “Sloan Hall’s crime scene was swept clean. There wasn’t anything there. And at the Claymire Hotel bomb scene—”

“Nothing was left but rubble,” Drake finished.

Unfortunately. “This guy isn’t just going to vanish. Another attack is coming, and I have to be ready.”

The bedroom door opened.

“Are you ready for her?” Drake whispered as he backed away.

Noah’s gaze locked on Claire. So beautiful.

Her dress was the same blue shade as her eyes. It hugged her breasts, revealing the sexy curves of her body so perfectly. There was a long slit in the dress, one that flashed her gorgeous legs as she walked.

She looked sophisticated. Sexy.

Mine.

She’d tied ribbon around her wrists again, and, as he stared at her, Claire tucked her hands behind her back. “The dress wasn’t necessary,” she said quietly. “I had plenty of things to wear—”

“It was necessary for me.” Because tonight, he had plans. Big plans.

I’m not going to wait for an attack. I want the asshole to bring it on. Noah had never been the type to hide from a fight.

“I figure you got things now,” Drake murmured as he gave Noah a little salute. “See you at the party.” He made his way to the door.

When Drake was gone, Claire’s gaze dropped to Noah’s hands. “What’s that?”

“A present.” He had to clear his throat because the words came out too rough and hard. “For you.”

Her lips quirked a little at that. “Well, I was hoping you hadn’t bought jewelry for yourself.” She walked toward him. The slit in her dress parted, his cock jerked, and he had to remember—

Control.

“Stop that.” Claire’s voice held a surge of heat that surprised him.

“Stop what?” Now he was confused. “Getting you presents? Most women don’t usually complain about gifts.”

Claire gave a hard, negative shake of her head. “Stop shutting yourself off from me. I could actually see you doing it just then.” She didn’t reach for the jewelry box. “And I’m not most woman.”

He knew that fact too well.

He opened the jewelry box. Offered the diamond bracelets to her.

Claire’s breath caught. “Those are beautiful.”

The diamonds caught the light, shining even more. Very rare, the natural blue diamonds had cost him a fortune—and they were worth every penny that he’d spent.

They were the same shade of blue as her dress.

The same shade to match her eyes.

“I had the bracelets specially made for you. I’d hoped they would be here sooner.” He put the jewelry box down on the table. Reached for her right hand. His fingers slid over her wrist as he pulled the ribbon away. “You won’t need this anymore.” He took out one of the bracelets. The diamonds were surrounded by gold, a tight band that would slide over her wrist and hold easily in place.

He slid the first bracelet around her wrist. It fit her perfectly.

Then he removed the second ribbon from her skin. He eased the other bracelet into position around her wrist.

The bracelets were savage in their beauty. The blue diamonds gleamed, and the gold cuff design of the bracelets gave the jewelry a harder, sensual edge.

“Noah…”

His head lifted. He stared into Claire’s eyes. “I don’t want you to ever feel self-conscious again. Those scars don’t define you.” They just prove you’re stronger than death. He stepped back. “We need to hurry downstairs. I should—”

“Thank you.”

I don’t want your thanks. I just want you. He straightened his tux. “There will be a large number of photographers and reporters in the hotel tonight, so you need to prepare for their questions.”

Her fingers slid over the bracelet on her left wrist. “Am I supposed to be your assistant tonight? Or your lover?”

The question caught him off-guard. “You’re both. I thought I made that clear.”

Her fingers kept stroking the bracelet.

I want to see her in those bracelets and nothing else.

By the end of the night, he would.

“You don’t fuck your employees, remember?”

“You’re more than an employee.” Soon, everyone would know that.

He offered her his arm. “Time to go.” There would be no going back after this.

She touched him lightly. Her body pressed against his. The woman smelled delicious.

Her fingers curled around his arm. “I don’t know what you’re planning, but I’m worried.”

“You shouldn’t be.” He caught her hand. Lifted it to his lips. Pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I want you to trust me.”

“I do.”

The instant words seemed to slam into him. Noah forced a smile. “Then you have nothing to fear.”

***

The packed hotel ballroom had Claire’s knees knocking together. Energy filled the air. Laughter and drinks were flowing freely.

And it sure seemed like reporters were everywhere.

Claire and Noah had barely gotten past the gleaming, marble steps in the ballroom when the first set of reporters closed in.