Under His Claim (Rules of Engagement #2)

Chapter 1

Peace. Preparation. Soothe the nerves before the work begins.

Cheryl

I was being escorted downstairs and into the club by an enforcer. Well, doorman, I suppose, but, I knew body language, and this six-foot-five mass was no doorman. I admired the dress shirt that stretched across his broad back, barely containing the rippling muscles.

Swoon.

The music, “Like a Virgin”, was pounding out, and I squealed with excitement as I hit the last stair separating me from the exciting hub of retro 80s fans. I loved Madonna’s early hits, and the dedication nights the club had just started hosting helped to make Club Chaos a roaring success.

I was surprised when Captain Hunky led me away from the pounding music and down a hallway in the wrong direction.

“Wait, I think you’re going the wrong way, big man. I’m sure the action is that way,” I said, pointing back the way we’d come.

Big man turned and gave me a hungry look. “I think you’re wrong, naughty girl. I’m sure the best action is this way.” Fine, I’d bite and followed him into a small office.

My host filled the space with his bulk and height and sat down behind a small desk.

I took a seat in the only other chair the room offered.

I casually pulled a can of mace out of my purse.

“This room is way too small for anything I find interesting to happen.” I held up my can with my finger on the trigger.

“Now you have five seconds to tell me what the hell is going on before I zap your eyes, pervert.”

He regarded me with a piercing gaze that shot to the junction at my thighs. He was dangerous, dark, and oh so tantalizing. And just when I was about to spray, he laughed, great guffawing laughter. I was so shocked, my finger froze on the can’s trigger.

“I love your sass, naughty girl. You’re something special, and you’re also underage.”

That’s it, not a question, just a statement? I turned on the attitude that I usually reserved for servers who didn’t follow my instructions. “Clearly, you misread my ID.” I stood up and made to leave.

“Sit down, naughty girl.” Oh god. The fact that he’d caught me fled my mind. All I could think about was how his soft command did all kinds of crazy things to my libido. But I wouldn’t let him know that.

“Why the hell should I? Who are you?”

His eyes shifted from hard, glittering obsidian to something like regret. “I can’t tell you that... but I can say you need to sit and listen.”

“Fine!” I flung myself dramatically back onto the rickety chair and prayed it wouldn’t break.

“As I was saying, you are underage. Your fake ID is of good quality, but if I can tell it’s fake, so can others. My boss asked me to escort you out the back door.”

I blew my blonde bangs out of my eyes. “So why didn’t you?”

He looked slightly sheepish. “Because you have the finest ass I’ve ever seen, you’re beautiful, and I didn’t want to miss telling you that.”

This was so weird; he couldn’t be serious. “I’ll tell you what, big guy, you let me in the club, and I’ll let you see this fine ass naked. What do you say?”

His eyes glittered dangerously. “Is that all you’re worth?

You’re willing to show a complete stranger, who has at least a hundred pounds on you, your naked ass, and you think you’re safe?

I think you need a lesson.” He tapped his earpiece.

“George, I have an underage girl in my office. I caught her trying to sneak in the back.”

“You bastard!” I rose from my chair to flee as fast as my heels would allow.

“No, don’t call the cops.” He continued talking while staring at me. “I’ll deal with her.” His dark eyes, an unidentifiable color in the dim lighting, regarded me like a wolf would his dinner.

“Oh, I assure you, I am not a bastard.” He rose from behind the desk, and my eyes followed his great height until I was craning my neck to see his face. I gulped as an overwhelming feeling of intimidation washed over me. And heat. He was so smoking hot, in a primal kinda way.

“But you are a very naughty brat, aren’t you, Cheryl.” He repeated it like a statement, leaving me speechless for a moment as I questioned the wisdom of using my real name on my fake ID.

“Yeah, I am, and I like who I am, so goodbye.” I moved toward the door, but before I could yank it open, he’d stepped around his desk and grabbed my arm.

“Cheryl,” he growled. “You have a mouth on you. Do you ever use it for anything but lashing out?” Finally, a question I could answer.

“Yes, I—” His lips closed over mine. Holy hell, his kiss was better than I could have imagined. His tongue pushed past the seam of my lips, delving into my mouth, nipping and sucking. An image of him doing the same to my clit soaked my G-string, and an involuntary moan escaped into his mouth.

His grip on my hair tightened as he continued to plunder my mouth.

I relaxed, letting go of all resistance and allowing him to mold my body to his.

His free hand gripped my ass. I had missed out on retro night, and Maddie and I were separated, but his kiss was the best I’d ever had and made losing out on the rest worth it.

His hardened length pressed into my belly, giving me a pretty good idea of his cock’s size. It was definitely as large as the rest of him. Another moan escaped me, and I knew I was moments away from complete surrender.

“Mmm, take me, Daddy.”

Wait, what? Did I just say that?

In response, the big man—as I’d been referring to him because he was the size of a grizzly—let out a low growl that vibrated through my mouth and down to my core.

“That’s right, baby girl, I’m your daddy, and I’m going to take you, but our first time will not be in this shitty little office.”

He released me then, taking a firm hold of my hand as my knees wobbled and my legs almost gave out from the pleasure.

“Come on, I will wait with you until your car arrives.” I was happy to just be silent and rest in his power. Not my usual modus operandi, but what can I say? He’d rendered me speechless, something no one else had accomplished.

When the Uber pulled up, I remembered Maddie. “What about my friend, Maddie? She was upstairs with your boss.”

“No need to fret. I received a text that Langden is sending her home shortly, so you can relax.”

That made me feel better, and I wondered if her time had been as interesting as mine. As I stepped toward the car, I realized I didn’t know his name.

“What’s your name? When will I see you again?”

“My name is Gabriel, but for you, it’s Daddy. As for your second question, you will see me when you least expect it.” He closed the Uber door and stood back as the driver pulled away. I craned my neck to see Gabriel watching the car, his face unreadable.

I turned and faced the front, thinking about his cryptic message: when I least expect it.

What the hell did that mean? Whatever. It probably meant never, and he was too gutless to say so. Fine with me. I didn’t really want a daddy anyway, right?

I tried to shut off my internal voice and forget Gabriel, but he haunted my thoughts on the ride home. The dampness between my thighs and my swollen lips were constant reminders of how hot he’d made me.

When I arrived, I locked my door, tossed my clothes on the floor, and jumped into the shower, desperate for release.

I grabbed my waterproof vibrator and depressed the button to bring it to life.

Usually, I picked the highest setting, but my senses were already so heightened, and the water on my skin felt like a lover’s touch.

Supersonic speed wasn’t required for the swollen nub peeking from between its swollen folds.

I imagined Gabriel’s hands on my body as I ran my vibrator over my throbbing clit.

I hissed with pleasure, a bloom of heat spreading through my core, and pressed harder.

With my other hand, I gripped a nipple and worked it roughly, as I imagined he would.

If only my fingers were as thick and coarse as his.

My eyes closed, and I sank the vibrator to the hilt, my breaths coming in rapid pants.

The first tingles ignited in my neck and moved down my spine.

I was close to an orgasm of epic proportions.

My hand moved from the hardened peak as I opted to slide a finger into my ass.

With my chest pressed against the shower tiles, my nipples found friction from the tile grout, adding more stimulation.

A powerful orgasm ripped through me, and I came undone in a shower of water and heat, screaming out my release.

I collapsed on the shower floor, exhausted and satisfied. Who needed a daddy when I could take care of myself?

But do you want to?

Ugh, damn inner voice. Fine, the truth is a man like Gabriel was a huge fantasy, but I’d never sought it out, having preferred a safe facade that no one, until now, could penetrate.

To most people, I appeared smart and dominant, a woman who always got her way.

I liked that cover; it kept my heart safe.

Did I really want to make myself vulnerable with a man like Gabriel?

Allowing him to be my daddy meant opening myself to the potential destruction of my well-constructed walls.

Scratch that—a definite destruction, and then, when it was all said and done.

.. No! I firmed my resolve. I would not be his baby girl, not ever.

I repeated the mantra until I tucked myself safely into bed and fell asleep.