Read Claiming Lauren (eXclave) for Free Online Page A

me ."
    "We live on different continents," she whispered.
    "We'll address that."
    "We..."
    "What?" He stroked his thumb across her bottom lip.
    "Don't love each other."
    His eyes darkened. "Don't presume my emotions, little mermaid."
    The switch from their distant marriage to their very close anonymous
relationship should have been enough to settle her but her uncertainty grew.
She tugged against his hold on her wrists. "I'm not presuming anything. I
have years of evidence. I understand. You didn't want a wife--didn't want me as a wife. I didn't expect you to love me. I don't expect it now. But I want it. Love. I want love. Please let me go so I can find it."
    While she watched, the emotion vanished from his face, replaced by a
blankness that was painful for her to see. She immediately wanted to retract
the words, tell him she didn't mean them, but Jacob didn't give her the chance.
He released her wrists and lowered his arms to his sides. "You know I
would never stop you from pursuing happiness."
    "I'm...thank you." She forced herself to turn away. Walking
away from him felt like climbing a mountain with thick mud sucking at her feet.
But she did it. She walked away. She made it to the door, her hand on the knob,
when he stopped her.
    "Where are you going to look?"
    She closed her eyes. "I don't know. I thought I had a plan but you
were waiting for me when I got home and I haven't been able to think straight
since. I can't decide anything right now. I can't trust myself to make good
decisions."
    Jacob didn't move but the pressure in the room shifted. The change
manifested as heat along her spine and tightness at the nape of her neck.
    "Take a breath, Lauren." His soft voice hummed with command.
"Stop thinking."
    Her entire body responded to his tone. Exhaling slowly, she blew out all
the fear and uncertainty and objections and allowed him to take over.
    "Have you been practicing your positions?"
    She slid into the role easily, without conscious thought. Abandoning the
door, she turned to face him--hands clasped at the small of her back, shoulders
straight and loose, knees soft. "Yes, Sir."
    Jacob gave her an approving nod. "Show me how you kneel."
    As Master, Jacob had introduced her to the submissive positions. She'd
studied diagrams and photographs and online videos, and practiced, until she
knew the motions by heart. She could perform them in her sleep, and sometimes
relied upon the meditative exercise to help her defeat insomnia. High heels, a
cocktail dress, and the weight of his gaze added up to an imperfect execution
but as she sank to the floor, tucked her calves beneath her bottom and pointed
her toes, the sense of peace and security gained strength.
    Jacob crossed to stand in front and above her. "Is your mind calm
now?"
    "Yes, Sir."
    Crouching, he touched her face and tipped her chin until her gaze met
his. "I want you. I know you. I love you. I came after you not to return
your ring but to place it back on your finger. To claim you as mine. Do you
want me to rescind my claim?"
    Throat tight, she shook her head. "No, Sir."
    "I'm going to kiss you," he said. "Face to face, full
disclosure of identity, full declaration of intent. Don't close your
eyes."
    Heart pounding loudly in her ears, she parted her lips and watched him
and waited. There was nothing neutral about Jacob when he leaned in and took
her mouth. Nothing flat in his expression, nothing cold in his eyes. Nothing
but her reflection in his pupils and, behind that, desire.
    This was where she wanted to be.
    His was who she wanted to be.
     
     
    About the Author
     
    Emily Ryan-Davis is a lifelong East Coaster whose passion for the written
word saw her through jobs writing obituaries, press releases and grants before
she decided "I'm going to do this" and sat down to write a book. She
made that decision in 2005 and has since published several short stories and
novellas with digital publishers including Ellora's Cave. On May 24, 2012,
Emily left supervisors