LOGIN***~CLAIRE~***I didn't know exactly how to feel. I felt numb. I looked at Christian, searching his face for something, anything. But he just stared blankly at me, his face devoid of emotion. My gaze strayed over to Sloane who started to walk down the stairs. I swayed slightly, my legs trembling, tears prickling my eyes. "What are you doing here?" Sloane asked again as she stopped beside Christian. She slipped her arm around his waist, but to my surprise, he pushed her away. "Go back inside, Sloane." He repeated, still keeping his eyes on me. "What is my stylist doing here?" Sloane snapped. "Who is she to you?"I still couldn't speak. I expected Christian to give me an explanation, a valid reason why his ex-girlfriend was here, why he left me to go and pick her up from wherever she was. But he didn't. It was as if he was waiting for me to speak, to make a move. And honestly, I didn't even know what to do. As the silence lengthened, I heard Sloane suck in a sharp breath, like
***~CLAIRE~***I smoothened the front of my dress and smiled at Tyler as he held out the chair for me. "Thank you." I murmured, trying not to flinch as his hand brushed the middle of my back. The back of the emerald-green gown was extremely low cut, while the front shimmered with emerald stones. Tyler had picked that particular one. Fortunately, the woman who welcomed us into the dress shop offered to style my hair and apply a little bit of make up on me. While the waiter took our orders, guilt began to gnaw into me. I was engaged, yet here I was, on a date with another man. Christian wouldn't like this. He would be livid. But then I remembered how he had abandoned me in the hospital. He never called. He didn't even send someone to pick me up. I wasn't going to let myself feel guilty. Besides, I wasn't doing anything bad. This was just a harmless dinner date with Tyler.Tyler reached across the table and took my hands in his. "Are you okay?" He asked worriedly. "You look distu
***~CLAIRE~***I had never felt so frustrated. I shut my eyes, hot tears burning hot as the situation threatened to overwhelm me. I had to calm down, else I would go into a full blown panic attack. I hated times like this. When I felt a little bit of calm, I opened my eyes and exhaled softly. I lifted my phone and stared at it, willing it to turn on as I pressed hard on the power button. The screen remained black. It didn't turn on. I could see the tiny drops of water squishing behind the screen, and it added to my despair. "Okay, Claire, think." I murmured to myself. "Panicking won't help you. We just have to find a way to get home."The little pep talk did little to calm my frayed nerves. I thought of going back into the hospital to ask for help. Doctor Connor would help me out. He could even call Christian for me. But I hesitated. All my life, I hated bothering others for my problems. It always made me feel like a burden. Besides, even if I wanted to go back, I couldn't. I
***~CLAIRE~***Christian returned with a bloody knuckle and a deep scowl on his face. I didn't need to ask what had happened. I knew. He had beaten up whoever came to see him. He didn't say a word to me. He just took my hand and led me out of the club. Seeing him in this murderous mood made me realize there was a lot to him I didn't know about. The limo was deathly silent all the way home. When we got back to the mansion, I silently took him to my room and straight to the bathroom. I washed the blood off and tended to his wound. I still didn't speak, and neither did he. But I could feel his gaze on me all through. We didn't talk much that night. He just kissed me goodnight and fell asleep in my arms. ... I was alone in bed when I woke up the next morning. My head throbbed with an unforgiving headache as I pulled myself up. I didn't have work, but I had an appointment with Doctor Connor. Where was Christian? I slipped on my robe, stepped out of my room and moved around the e
***~CLAIRE~***There was no way in hell I would let Christian know about my fantasies. No way I would tell him what went on in my imagination. "I read a lot of books." I giggled as he pulled me towards the black, velvet couch in the corner. He lowered into it and gave me a flirty look. "Is that so? Books?""Romance novels." I shrugged. I tried not to fidget as his gaze roamed my body. I was standing before him, clad in just my lace panties. I watched his eyes heat up completely, the way he swallowed and clenched his jaws, the way he appeared breathless. As he reached out to pull me close, his phone vibrated with an incoming call. He glared at it, and when he saw the caller, he shoved it aside and turned back to me. "Aren't you going to answer that?" I asked softly. "Tonight is for you." He pulled me swiftly and I landed above him. "Straddle me."I adjusted, opening my thighs and lowering onto his laps. He was rock hard again, pulsing against my stomach. I placed my hands on h
***~CLAIRE***"Take off your dress, Claire."Those words, spoken in that deep, husky voice of his, made my core clench instantly. Goosebumps rose from my skin as he kissed up my neck, lightly, nibbling softly. I could feel my nipples straining through my gown, rubbing against the smooth surface of his shirt. Before I could pull down the straps of my gown, Christian grabbed the zipper and slowly lowered it down my back. As the cool air from the air conditioner hit my skin, I shivered. But not from the cold. I actually felt hot. Hot and needy. The dress slipped off, catching around my hips. I thought he would push it down, but he didn't. He let it sit there. "You've been a very innocent girl." He continued in that same deep voice. "But it's time I teach you how to be naughty. You want to be naughty for me, don't you?"I didn't understand what he meant, but I found myself nodding. I loved this part of him, this seductive part I'd never seen. Other times we made love, he was always







