Page 44 of The Harder They Ride

She went inside. Avery’s car was nowhere to be seen, which meant Clover was alone. Probably armed, but I wasn’t worried. Disarming her? Piece of cake. Let the fun begin.

I’d had more lead aimed at me than any man had a right to survive. Yet, here I was. I savored the fight, the struggle, and especially the win.

The night fell heavier, the shadows lengthening, and the world hushed down. I slipped from my hideout, heartbeat quickening as I stalked closer to her place. I was a shadow, unseen, unheard.

A window left open.

The drone of an air conditioning unit covered any noise I might make. The joke was on her. Quiet as a cat, I was inside, all smooth moves and practice. Her place was cast in a moonlit haze. My boots, silent, moved me closer. The thrill of the hunt was everything, every damn time.

I prowled through her home, pausing at each door to listen for her breath. When I finally heard it, a thrill shot through me. There she was, lying in her bed, a picture of peace.

I was about to unleash a storm.

Every step was measured, noiseless, not wanting to wake her just yet. I was so close. Her body, barely concealed under the thin blanket, fueled me further. Ignorance is bliss, they say. For her, ignorance was about to end.

I could feel my cock hardening, and I ran my palm over it, twitching at the pleasure I felt. I yearned to feel the warmth of her body as it melted against my own.

Need boiling in my veins, I quickly pulled out my cock and grasped my shaft with both hands before pumping it feverishly. My muscles clenched as pleasure surged through me, shaking my core. The desire to feel her soft skin against mine burned within me, filling the air around us with an undeniable potency.

Her eyes were closed, blissfully unaware of the lustful thoughts rushing through my mind. I wanted so badly to wake her up, to make her witness this moment between us. To feel the heat radiating off my body and experience a mutual surge of passion like we’d never felt before. Ecstasy erupted from every cell in my body, flooding all my senses with raging satisfaction until I shot my load, coating my hands. Panting, I allowed myself to sink back into reality, feeling blissfully content.

I cleaned off with her yoga pants that were sitting on the floor, hating that I couldn’t shove every drop inside her pretty pussy.

Inhaling deeply, I approached her bed, checking if she was still asleep. As I watched her sleep, it hit me. She was perfect for me, in ways she didn’t understand yet. I’d studied her, knew her better than she knew herself. I knew she was mine, even if she didn’t.

The curve of her hip, the arch of her neck, her rhythmic breathing, it was all too much. My fingers longed to feel her, to claim her. She shifted in her sleep, moaning softly. My pulse pounded. I couldn’t hold back.

My hand found her shoulder, and the shock of contact sparked something in me. I whispered, “You’re mine, Clover. You just don’t know it yet.”

Some might say it’s fucked up, showing up so soon after . . . When she was tied up in my bed, I hadn’t planned on taking her. Claiming her. But we both needed to get rid of that fucker’s stain on her body.

But I was here to protect, to care. I wasn’t a saint, but my obsession with her? That was real. I wanted her thoughts, her flesh, her future.

Her body tensed at my touch, even in sleep. The thrill of it, of knowing I affected her, was addictive. There was a pull, a connection, I could feel it. She was meant for me, and me for her.

The night wrapped around us, the sound of her breath filling the space. We were destined, I knew it. I’d show her, make her see that we were meant to be. She was mine, no question about it.

With the confidence of a cat, I stripped and slid into bed with her. She stirred, snuggling against me, not even awake. Her arms held me close, her body warm and soft. A smile on her lips.

I pulled her to me, her body fitting against mine like it was made for me. And the reality of it hit me, right in the gut. For tonight, she was mine. The woman I’d been chasing, the woman I’d claimed in my mind, was here, in my arms. The thought sent a jolt of satisfaction through me.

Her hair fanned across my chest, tickling my skin. Her soft snores filled the silence of the room. I closed my eyes, relishing the feel of her against me. I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her closer, letting her warmth seep into me.

It wasn’t enough. It would never be enough. I craved her, needed her. The mere thought of her with anyone else was unbearable. She was mine, and soon, she’d know it too.

CLOVER

Iawoke to a strange sensation; it felt like a thousand tiny butterflies dancing along my inner thigh. The room was dimly lit, but I could see the gentle curve of a shoulder and feel the tender touch of fingertips tracing my skin.

As consciousness slowly crept over me, I realized the sensation came from soft, warm lips pressing tender kisses along my skin. I struggled to process this sudden intimacy. My body was alive with tingling sensations, and I could feel a warmth pooling deep within me.

“Wha. . . ?” I murmured, my voice barely audible. The kisses paused momentarily, and I heard a chuckle that made my heart race.

“Good morning, Wildflower,” a familiar voice whispered, and I suddenly recognized the person responsible for my early morning surprise.

I stiffened immediately, shocked that Declan was in my house.

In my bedroom.

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