The Taking of Clara 2: Taken by the Boss by Sam Crescent Page B

world. Her innocence called to his protective
side.
    Her
father looked desperate.
    Then
the casino owner folded.
    Matthew
stared at the man opposite him.
    “Do
you love your daughter, Baines?” he asked.
    Edward
licked his lips as he put down his hands.
    Victory.
    Matthew
shook his head and Baines moved to grab the winnings.
    “I
wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Matthew put down his hand on top of Baines. “I
win, and now I want a word with you.”

 
     
     
    Chapter One
     
    Clara
stared at him across the desk. He sat in the big leather chair, gazing down at
the contract binding her to him. He looked every part the powerful man. His
questions caught her off guard. Why should she know something about him?
    What
could she know about the contract or about his actions?
    Tears
filled her eyes as she thought about everything happening around her.
    “I
don’t understand what is going on? I’ve never done anything like this.” She
turned away to glance around his room.
    Books
filled every available shelf.
    “This
contract doesn’t change anything,” he said.
    Turning
back Clara glared at him. “How doesn’t it change anything? I’m not here of my
own free will. I’m here because you paid for that right.”
    “I
saved you in a fucking card game, Clara. Do you really think your father cared
about you?” he asked.
    “He’s
my father. Of course he cared.”
    Matthew
opened a drawer then slammed down a photograph of her. “That’s what he gave us
all. His stake became you for the night. He told all of us you’d do anything
for him. Would you have slept with any man who won?”
    She
picked up the image, shocked by what Matthew said.
    Had
her father really used her in such a callous, manipulative way?
    “Why
did you do it?” she asked. “There were other men who could have won. Why did
you pick me? You can have any woman you want. What’s so special about me?”
    Pressing
a finger to her chest she glared at him, hating the sight of him for what he’d
done to her.
    What had he really done? He’d saved you from
another man.
    He
stood, moved around to her side and captured her face against his palm. Matthew
rested his head against hers. His sigh brushed along her face like a loving
caress. The tears she’d kept at bay for so long spilled over. The emotions of
the past few weeks were too much for her to bear.
    She
needed to regain control of her senses.
    “Don’t
fight me.”
    “Tell
me why?” she asked. The sob escaped from her lips before she contained it.
    His
other hand cupped her face, trapping her against him.
    “My sweet, Clara. You really have no idea how amazing you
are. You’re a rare find in this hard world.”
    She
closed her eyes and listened to him speak.
    “Everything
I did, I did because I needed to. You’re a submissive woman, Clara. You’d never
survive in this cutthroat world without a protector.”
    She
wanted to hear words of love and friendship. His words only helped to confuse
her.
    “You
don’t love me?” she asked. Clara waited for his answer. The desperation inside
her to be loved startled her.
    She’d
never known how much she craved such emotion.
    “I
do, Clara.” Matthew grabbed her hand, placing her palm over his heart. “I love
you with my whole heart and with every part of my being. I know you feel the
same. You love me even though right at this moment a part of you hates me for
what I’ve done. I can accept that. I will do everything in my power to keep you
safe.”
    Taking
a deep breath she opened her eyes to look at him. His intense brown gaze stared
back at her. From his gaze alone she felt her body weaken under his sexuality.
    Moving
her hand up from his heart she cupped his cheek.
    For
the first time in her life Clara didn’t want an explanation anymore. Her body
awakened with a new hunger. A hunger that would remove all hurt from her.
Pulling on the back of his neck she pressed her lips to his.
    “Kiss
me, Matthew. Make it all go away.” She licked