Page 9 of Claim

“Well, he’s—” he stopped talking as his attention shifted behind me. “I believe you’ve caught his attention.”

“Me?”

“Yep.”

Hmm. Why hadn’t Clark introduced us?

I turned on my stool, and my breath froze in my lungs.

Green eyes, unlike anything I’d ever seen before, seared into mine. A pulsing heat and a tingling awareness spread between my legs and over every inch of my skin.

Dear God. What was happening to me?

The most beautiful faces and charismatic personalities surrounded me in my day-to-day life. And yet none of them ever made me want to this level—as if this stranger held a secret knowledge to all I searched for deep within him.

His gaze held me captive, and I couldn’t look away.

My pulse thundered in my ears as if his sheer presence had triggered the urge to kneel deep inside me that I couldn’t contain. I licked my lips nervously, but before I could reach for my drink to soothe my parched throat, he shook his head slightly, sending yet another electric jolt through my veins. He held me transfixed and prisoner to his intense emerald irises.

This spell he’d cast over me made no sense. I had no idea why I listened, but I turned away from my cocktail and wanted more of his commands. Was this the thrilling freedom I desired so badly? But how was this freedom when I couldn’t move and felt transfixed by his will?

He could be dangerous. The warning blared in the back of my mind.

But when had I ever played it safe or followed the rules? As long as I kept things within the confines of the club, I could remain safe, or so I hoped.

Clark approached him, saying something, but Damon ignored him. His focus trained entirely on me.

Logic screamed at me to run from the predator who’d set his sights on me.

The throbbing deep in my core begged me to let him catch me and experience being his prey. Then maybe for once in my existence, I’d know what it was to live.

Holding the spell over me, he mouthed, “Stay right there.”

He shifted past Clark and maneuvered around groups of people as he set his path toward me.

My breath grew more and more unsteady with every step he took, and my nipples pebbled to hard points.

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” Tate whispered from behind the counter and then added. “But something tells me you’ve already decided to play on the wild side.”

Before I could respond, Damon approached, taking in everything about me from my face down to my toes and back again.

He offered me his hand. “Damon Pierce.”

“Sophia.” I slid my palm over his large one, the contact sending a surge of heat into my core.

His lips curved. “Just Sophia?”

“Yes.” I matched his smile. “Tonight, I am only Sophia. No one else.”

“May I have the privilege of your company this evening, Only Sophia?” He traced his thumb around the skin on the top of my hand, sending shivers up my spine.

“You wouldn’t have come over here if you didn’t believe I’d say yes.”

“A real gentleman always asks.” His eyes were intent on mine as he pulled me closer. “So, do I pass the test, Only Sophia?”

I stood and gazed up at him, feeling my pulse quickening. “Are you truly a gentleman, Mr. Pierce?”

“Only if you want me to be.” The corner of his mouth quirked up as his emerald eyes sparkled. “May I have your answer?”

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