Fighting to Survive (Guarded Hearts Book 3) by Alexis Noelle Page A

top of her and bury myself deep inside, loving the gasp she lets out when I do.
    Christen wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me deeper into her. I can’t hold back any longer. I grab her hips, using them as leverage, and start slamming myself into her. She’s being really loud and I’m pretty sure no matter how big this house is, her parents can hear us. Her fingers scrape down my back, setting my skin on fire. I can tell by the way she’s acting she’s close, which works for me because I can barely hold back.  She screams my name as she lets go, and the sensation of feeling her muscles tighten around me is too much and I immediately follow.
    *  *  *
    Christen comes into the room just as I’m getting out of the shower. “Hey, babe, I was gonna come find you when I got dressed. What’s up?”
    “Nothing. My mom wants me to go with her to get a dress for the party at the club on Friday. Will you be good here for like an hour or so?”
    “Yeah, no big deal.”
    She leans up and gives me a kiss. “Okay, I’ll see you soon.”
    I hear the door shut and wander downstairs to try and find something for lunch. I’m just walking into the kitchen when Christen’s dad walks out of his office.
    “Did they leave already?”
    I look around, surprised he’s actually even speaking to me. “Um, yeah, they left a couple of minutes ago. I know Christen has her phone, though, if you need them.”
    “No, that’s fine. When you have a second can you come into my office?” He turns and walks back into the office before I can answer.
    I grab a bottle of water and then head to see what he wants. His office is just as nice as the rest of the house. The walls are lined with bookshelves and there is a large oak desk in the corner with two chairs in front of it. He’s sitting with his back to me, but must have noticed me coming in. “Have a seat.” He turns around to look at me, and I have a feeling this conversation isn’t going to be a pleasant one. “We need to talk about the relationship between you and my daughter.”
    “Okay. I just want you to know, Mr. Daniels, I really care about her.”
    “While I’m sure that may be true, this whole situation is not going to work. As I understand it, you are going to school as a pre-med major, and from what I have been able to find, you’re having a hard time paying for it. My wife and I are prepared to offer you an incentive if you agree to part ways with our daughter.”
    What? I’m completely blindsided by this and I honestly have no idea how to react. “Sir, I don’t want your money. I care about Christen and I’m not willing to walk away from her.”
    He seems unfazed by my reply. “That’s what I thought you might say. My wife thought you would jump at the offer for money. I, on the other hand, thought you may need a little more persuasion. That’s why I did my homework.”
    What the hell is he talking about, he did his homework? Does he know about the fighting? Is he gonna call the cops?
    “Your father owns Matthew’s Construction, right?”
    How does he know about that? “Yeah, but what does that have to do with anything?”
    “As you know, I have a lot of connections in this town. I know right now your father’s company isn’t doing very well, and he and your mother are barely getting by. Now, being the influential man I am, I can either decide to be a great help and encourage all of my contacts to hire your father, or I can tell them to never consider a bid from him again. You can either put your family in a great position or you can send them into poverty.”
    I can’t believe this is actually happening right now.  I know Christen’s parents don’t approve of me but I didn’t think they hated my existence this much. “Why are you doing this? You barely know me, and you know nothing about my family.”
    “I may not know you, but I know your type. My daughter is destined for much more than a middle-class lifestyle, and if she can’t make the