Claimed Read online

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Epilogue One

  Epilogue Two

  Newsletter

  CLAIMED

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Excerpt: Mine To Keep

  Chapter One

  A Real Man Series

  Want More?

  About the Author

  CLAIMED

  Jenika Snow

  CLAIMED

  By Jenika Snow

  www.JenikaSnow.com

  [email protected]

  Copyright © January 2018 by Jenika Snow

  First E-book Publication: January 2018

  Photographer: Wander Aguiar

  Cover Model: Jonny James and Emily Spencer Jones

  Image Provided By: Wander Book Club

  Editor: Kasi Alexander

  Line Editor: Lea Ann Schafer

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: The unauthorized reproduction, transmission, or distribution of any part of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

  This literary work is fiction. Any name, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.

  Please respect the author and do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials that would violate the author’s rights.

  Contents

  Newsletter

  CLAIMED

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Epilogue One

  Epilogue Two

  Excerpt: Mine To Keep

  1. Chapter One

  Newsletter

  A Real Man Series

  Want More?

  About the Author

  Newsletter

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  You can get all of that and more by following the link below!

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  The world that was once known is gone. In its place is a society where the rich rule, and the female population is auctioned off to the highest bidder.

  Claire

  Xavier saved me, purchasing me off the auction block and making me feel human again. Although I knew he wanted me, could see it in the way he watched me, he never touched me.

  But I wanted him to.

  I wanted to feel what it would be like to have his big body over mine, his strong hands running over my bare flesh. I shouldn’t want a man like him: rich, dangerous … one of the elite.

  But I did.

  Maybe it was time to break free from my shell and give myself something I deserved … him.

  Xavier

  I had money and power, and I used those to my advantage, to purchase women from the auction under the guise that they were for me. But they weren’t. I purchased them to set them free. I’d been doing it for years without romantic attachment to any of them … until Claire came into my life.

  And once I saw her, I knew she’d be the one I couldn’t let go. She’d be my downfall, but I was more than ready to fall to my knees and worship the ground she walked on.

  Warning: Set in the same world as Mine To Keep, but a total standalone, this story is a safe read with a happily ever after. It might be short, but it promises to make you blush and reach for a fan. There is no OW/OM drama, just one alpha hero who knows what he wants … the heroine.

  Prologue

  Claire

  I shivered, the thin gown I was wearing barely keeping the chill off my body. I couldn’t see much aside from the bright lights that illuminated the stage. There were several other women behind me, some of them crying, others so emotionless I wondered if they were already broken.

  All of us were property.

  This was the world I lived in, where being a fertile female made me someone else’s property.

  I knew out there, in the crowd hidden behind shadows, were wealthy men of all ages. They’d purchase us, do whatever they wanted with us. We’d be nothing but chattel to them, a shiny new toy for them to use … to abuse. The society I lived in was barbaric, where humans could be taken against their will and sold off to someone who had the right amount of coin.

  That thought had fear freezing my body.

  How I wished I lived in a time where this was only read about in fiction, where it wasn’t a reality. How I wished I could go to the past, where society wasn’t fucked-up and people weren’t starving.

  Would the person who purchased me use me as a sex slave, strictly to get them off? Or maybe they’d use me as a breeder, a vessel to carry their heir and pass on their lineage. Either way, all I wanted to do was run off the stage and escape, but I knew I wouldn’t make it. I knew I would be captured before I even got to the front doors.

  I felt my hands shaking, and soon my entire body followed suit. It was a silent auction, one where I wouldn’t know who purchased me until it was far too late.

  It was already too late.

  And so I closed my eyes, focusing on something else, somewhere else. I thought about the small camp of “runaways” I’d been staying with, men and women who were against how the world was, how the government could sell humans as if they were nothing more than a new toy.

  I stood there, my eyes closed, my thoughts on being free, on being alone in the woods where I could pretend that where I was, wasn’t the end of the line for me. I didn’t know how long I stood there, not focused on anything but myself, but I finally felt someone take hold of my arm and cart me offstage.

  I was led into the back hallways, pushed into a room where I was changed into a thicker gown, my feet shoved into flats, my hair haphazardly put into a messy bun. I had a bracelet snapped around my wrist, a number etched all around it … my new owner’s purchase number.

  And so it is. I am a piece of property.

  Once I was dressed and ready for my hell-on-earth future, I was again led toward the back. There I saw two double doors wide open, the breeze washing over me and almost making me cry. I could see the woods just behind, so close yet so far away. I wanted to run, but I didn’t want to make this harder on myself. I didn’t want to make my life even more miserable than I knew it already would be.

  It can’t get any worse. Death would be far more humane.

  And then, once I was outside, I tugged on the two men leading me. They tightened their holds until the pain lanced up my arms. There, waiting no more than a few feet from me, was a dark car, shiny, reeking of money. The back door was opened by what I could only assume was a servant of the man awaiting me inside. God, would he be old? Would he be gentle or cruel and violent to me?

  Nothing was said, no words spoken. I was, after all, nothing more than chattel to them.

  Once in the car, my eyes adjusted to the darkness. I could see his big body across from me, the shadows partially hiding his face. My heart was beating so fast, and I felt sweat start to cover my body in fearful beads of emotion.

  The vehicle started moving, and I curled my hands into tight fists, afraid to breathe, let alone say anything. And then he leaned forward, the light finally making a swatch across his face. He was brutally handsome, with dark hair and even darker eyes. I saw the tattoos that covered his body, not something that was practiced much anymore, but seeming to make my heart beat harder, painfully fast.

  He was older, maybe in his thirties, still much older than my mere twenty
years. But he appeared wiser, as if he’d seen more than he should have, experienced more than he’d wanted to.

  And then he leaned forward, grabbed my hand in his much bigger one, and I swear I felt fire kick across my skin. The cuff of his jacket rode up slightly, and I saw the tattoos painting his wrist and creeping up his forearm.

  I was frozen in place, my muscles tensed, not knowing what he was going to do. He stared into my eyes, his so dark, so deep. Who was this man? Why was he making me feel like I was on edge? Why was he making me feel aroused with just a touch? I should be disgusted by him, frightened because I had no idea what he would do to me.

  But he said nothing, his big body making me feel so small, so vulnerable. And then, before I could realize what he was doing, he tore the property bracelet from my wrist. I felt my eyes widen as I realized what he’d just done. That simple act was one of rebellion. I was not his property, and he’d made that clear without saying one word.

  Without saying anything, he leaned back, swallowed by the shadows of the interior of the car once more.

  My heart thundered so hard and fast, worse than when I’d stood on that auction block not knowing what my future held. The car ride seemed endless. But eventually we were slowing and I glanced out the tinted window to see a massive estate coming into view. Although I wasn’t looking at the man, I could feel his gaze on me, like tendrils of fire moving along my skin. It was as if he was reaching out and stroking my arms with his fingertips. But I refused to look at him. He might have taken off the bracelet, but that didn’t mean I knew what was going to happen or if he would let me go. I could’ve laughed at my thoughts.

  Let me go? No doubt he paid an exorbitant amount of money for me.

  The vehicle came to a stop, and I sat there, my breathing increasing as I thought about all the horrible things that might happen once I stepped inside that house.

  “You’re safe,” the man finally said, his voice so deep, so masculine I felt it race up my spine.

  I looked at him then. He leaned forward so the light moved along his face once more.

  “No one will ever hurt you again. I’ll make sure you’re protected and healed properly; then after that, you’re free to go.”

  I felt my eyes widen. “Free to go?” I whispered. Although I wanted to escape, I also knew I didn’t have anywhere safe to run to. The chances of being caught again played through my head like a horror movie.

  “Yes. I can set you up in a safe house once I know you’ll be protected and they can’t find you again.”

  I couldn’t believe what was happening right now. “I don’t understand.” I could have cried, and in fact I felt a single tear slip out of the corner of my eye.

  “We can talk about this more once you’re inside, a change of clothes covering you, and a warm meal in your belly.”

  I felt dizzy, like if I stood right now, I might faint. He helped me out of the vehicle and all I could do was lean on him for support, not sure if I was dreaming or if this was reality. I looked up at him, his body so much bigger than mine. Could this be real? Could I actually be … free?

  Xavier

  She’s mine.

  Those words slammed into my head over and over again, a derailed train about to crash and destroy anything and everything in its path. I couldn’t control it, couldn’t stop the deep rumble that came from me. I could see her eyes widen farther, the blues so startling they made my heart slam harder in my chest. The long fall of her blonde hair had my hands twitching, my fingers tingling. I wanted to touch the locks, wanted to see if they felt as soft as they looked.

  Get yourself under fucking control.

  I exhaled slowly, reining in my control. I wasn’t about to lose my shit. I couldn’t, not in front of her.

  My words had shocked her. It was unbelievable to her, I was sure. I had purchased her just to set her free. But as I stared at her, something in me shifted. I didn’t want to set her free, not because I was a sadistic bastard, but because for the first time in my life I finally felt something come alive in me.

  It had taken one look, one sound of her voice, and this possessive side in me came forth like a dangerous beast. I was doing everything in my power to be calm, to keep collected and be stoic. No need to frighten her further. She needed to earn my trust, know that I wouldn’t hurt her.

  But despite all of that, I could only think about was how I wanted.

  She is mine. She will be mine.

  And as those words beat in my head like a war drum, a song before a battle, I knew she was different. She was so very different from any woman I’d ever seen, ever known.

  Mine.

  “What’s your name?” My voice was thick, scratchy. I’d kept in the shadows of the car, watching her, seeing her reaction play across her face. She licked her lips, and I lowered my gaze to watch the act.

  “Claire,” she said in the sweetest, softest voice I’d ever heard, a song from the very heavens above.

  My body became tense, my blood rushing through my veins. I wanted to protect her, to kill anyone who ever hurt her, who dared to even think about doing so. I wanted blood on my hands, bodies at my feet. It would all be in the name of Claire. I’d always been protective of the women I saved, but this was different. Where I felt an almost parental connection to those woman, a part of me wanting to care for them because they’d had such a rough go at life, with Claire I felt something much more personal. I was protective of her, territorial of her, not only because I wanted to make sure she was safe, but because I wanted her as my own.

  I watched her, not saying anything for long seconds. When I finally felt in control and knew I could say anything without sounding like a ravished animal, I spoke. “I’m Xavier…”

  And you’re mine.

  1

  Xavier

  One month later

  In the last month I’d been watching her like a fiend. Never had I desired a woman as much as I did her.

  There hadn’t been a woman in years.

  Claire was sweet and gentle, innocent and vulnerable.

  The world we lived in was cruel, stripping away at females until there was nothing left but skin and bones. I was thirty-five years old, and for the last decade I’d used my wealth and power to help countless women find a life outside of servitude.

  After seeing my mother used and abused, I’d made it my mission to help women so they didn’t turn out just like she had. And when my father died ten years ago and I inherited his estate and fortune, I’d begun helping every woman I could. Didn’t matter that I’d purchased dozens of women over the years. In fact, our society didn’t care if I owned a fucking harem as long as I could pay.

  And I could pay until I died of old age. Hell, my descendants could keep paying until they died of old age, and so on and so forth.

  I had work to do, a lot of fucking work, but I couldn’t help but think about Claire. I stood and walked over to the window. Although the weather was chilly, a frost settling over everything, she still went out every day. I had a feeling she did so despite the weather because of her fear of imprisonment, because for so long she hadn’t been able to be free in any way that counted.

  But it didn’t matter how many times I told her she was not a prisoner, that the only reason she was here was because I had to make sure it was safe for her to be on her own. I could still see that fear and uncertainty in her eyes.

  And I hated seeing that look on her face, even when I told her that I had to get affairs in order first, but then, after that, she should be safe, free to live her life the way she wanted to.

  But a part of me, a very strong one, didn’t want her to go. I would not keep her as a prisoner, wouldn’t do it against her will, but I wanted her here with me. I wanted her by my side, in my bed. I wanted her as mine.

  I leaned against the wall and stared out the window at the gardens. I couldn’t help but watch her all the time, fascinated by every aspect of her. Claire was unlike any woman I’d ever met. She was intelligent, and I knew
she was fearless, even though she kept to herself. I could see her taking everything in, storing it, memorizing.

  She was intuitive, her natural instinct telling her to be wary. It was that survival instinct that had allowed her to last as long as she had on her own.

  And then she looked over at me and my heart froze, my body stilling. Everything inside of me told me to go claim her right then and there, to pull her close to my body so no one could touch her, hurt her. I wanted to wrap her up and make sure she was safe, that she never saw the horrors of this fucked-up world again.

  Her eyes were so big, her look so vulnerable. She seemed so unsure of what was happening. God, the things she’d probably seen and experienced, the life she’d led. I wished I could turn back time so she never had to experience that.

  I’d already fallen for Claire.

  I’d already decided she was mine.

  There was no going back.

  Claire

  I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Just the thought of Xavier had chills racing up my arm and legs. I wrapped the blanket around me tighter and stared at the fire. I was in an office, or maybe it was a library. There was a desk off to the side and built-in bookshelves all around me. The fireplace was lit, the flames dancing over the logs as if they were alive and trying to seduce them.

  I thought about him watching me earlier today, how I’d felt. Xavier was a big, strong man, but he kept to himself. He didn’t speak much, but I could see that he was always taking in his surroundings. I thought about the way he made me feel, how just a look from him could light my body on fire. Even now I was aroused, so wet between my legs I was growing uncomfortable.