Page 25 of Claimed By the Boss

With a deep breath, I pull the key from my pocket and jiggle it in the lock before pushing the door open, letting out the musky scent of water damage and mold. “Watch your step. And try not to touch anything.”

I avoid looking at Nolan as I kneel on the mattress on the floor and grab my pillow, dumping it out of the case to use as a bag. Shame fills me as I stuff my meager clothing inside, along with a couple of personal items from my makeshift dresser.

Setting it by the door, I shuffle around Nolan to the bathroom to collect my toiletries.

The light from the kitchen dims, and I peek at Nolan from the corner of my eye.

He leans against the bathroom entrance. “Put the toothbrush back in the cup, Leo. You already have a new one.”

I glance down at the broken bristles and drop it into the trash instead before gripping the edge of the sink. “You think I’m being stupid, don’t you?”

“If having your own possessions helps settle you faster, then I can have my people pack up the rest of your belongings and bring them to you.”

Surprised, my head jerks toward him. “Why would you do that?”

He reaches out to brush the bangs off my forehead. “Because you’re not coming back here again.”

“But…” Anxiety fills me, and I squeeze the bottle of watered-down shampoo in my hand. “What if I’m not pregnant? If there’s no obligation for you to keep me close… This apartment is rent-controlled.”

His eyes harden. “You doubt me when I say you’re mine.”

I swallow down my nerves. “We don’t know each other, Nolan. Even if there is a baby, you could lose interest in me. All I have is a high school degree. And I have nothing to bring to this relationship besides my body, which…”

Unable to hold his intense stare, I drop my eyes to his chin. “I worked with strippers. I know I’m nothing special.”

The muscle in his jaw ticks before he lets out a slow breath. “I won’t force you to give up your home right away.”

“It’s not that I doubt you.” I curl in on myself. “But I don’t understand why you’d choose me except for an unplanned pregnancy.”

His tone gentles, and his touch moves to the Mark on my nape. “Keep your apartment if it makes you feel better. But never question that I desire everything you are, Leo, with or without a baby.”

A fist pounds at my front door, making me flinch, and the shampoo bottle slips from my hand as fear spikes through me.

No, not Gino. Not while Nolen is here.

11

Ijump as a fist slams on the door again, and Nolan scowls, turning toward the sound. “What the hell?”

“No, it’s okay.” I push past him. “Just… Can you stay in the bathroom while I check?”

Without waiting for him to answer, I hop over the corner of the mattress and grasp the handle, cracking the door open.

Relief floods me when I find the property manager standing on the other side instead of my loan shark.

With a glance back at Nolan, I squeeze through the crack and step outside. “Hey, Mr. Bugrov, about the payment that was due yesterday?—”

“You’re late on rent again.” He scratches the stained, white tank top that stretches over his stomach. “This is your third time.”

“Yes, but I’ll pay the fine when I get paid?—”

“Three missed payments, and you’re out. Them’s the rules.” His gaze drops to my neck, where kiss marks stand out on my pale skin, and his tongue swipes over his bottom lip. “Are you finally taking on customers? We’re not supposed to allow that on the premise, but I could look the other way if?—”

The door yanks open, and Nolan steps out, a small gun pointed at the apartment manager’s head. “He’s not a sex worker.”

Alarm shoots through me, along with a rush of warmth at his protectiveness. I place a hand on Nolan’s tense arm. “It’s okay. He’s not going to touch me.”

Paling, Mr. Bugrov raises his hand. “Sorry for the misunderstanding. When someone like you comes to a place like this, it’s only for one reason.”

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