[B.S. #3] Claiming Laura (6 page)

A visit to a salon was done at Jane’s insistence, but Laura put her foot down at cutting her hair. She let them trim it and give it a curl, but that was all. She wanted to look nice for Clay but not have him thinking that she had done a complete redo for him. The clothing stores were next.

Two hours went by before they could both agree on an outfit for the night. They settled on a deep red blouse and black slacks. Underwear was next, Jane told her as she pulled her into a lingerie shop. Laura didn’t think she had to buy new ones, but Jane in all her wisdom mentioned that if she and Clay got that far, she would be glad for some frilly underthings, instead of her boring white bra and panties. Laura had to agree with her logic. What would it hurt to be prepared?

Arriving home late from the extra shopping, Laura only had time for a quick shower. Putting on her new pale blue lingerie that she couldn’t pass up, she donned her new blouse and slacks. Looking in the mirror, she quickly applied makeup and combed her new hairstyle that she had kept dry under a cap in the shower. She thought that she looked good and hoped that Clay would think so, too.

Chapter Five

With five minutes to spare, she went down to the living room. Her nerves were starting to make her second-guess herself again. Taking a big breath, she prayed she was doing the right thing. Opening the door, she almost lost the breath that she had just taken. Clay stood on the other side. Her memory from last night had been right. This man was gorgeous, all six two of him if she had to take a guess. Tonight he wore all black from his pants to his button-down shirt and leather jacket. Add in his slate-gray eyes and overly long brown hair with just a touch of silver, and she was ready to drool. God, she wanted to slam the door, drag him upstairs, and gorge herself on him.

Some of what she was thinking must have shown on her face, because Clay’s gray eyes twinkled back at her when she finally brought her eyes back up to his. Remembering her manners, a red-faced Laura stepped back and opened the door wider.

“Sorry. Please come in. I’ll just grab my coat and purse.”

Clay stepped into the house. He had seen her reaction to him and had taken it all in as she cruised his body up and down. What he’d hoped she missed was his reaction to her. He was glad when her eyes finally lifted to his. His damn cock, at first sight of her standing at the door, had risen and wanted to wave hello. He had to gather the two halves of his jacket together to cover the obvious budge in his pants.

“Thanks.” Clay couldn’t believe he was so nervous. All his sane thoughts and smoothness left him when she opened the door.

Laura looked like an angel and devil mixed together. Her expression and obvious embarrassment with him noticing her checking him out made her look like an angel. But with her dark black hair curled and falling down her back, and dressed in red and black, she also looked a little devilish and totally delicious to Clay. He wanted to drop her on her back right there and devour her. His cock was ready for action, but Clay had to bring himself under control. This woman, while looking like sin, deserved his respect. He had to put her at ease and hope the night ended with him having a little slice of her, if not the whole package. He couldn’t wait to find out.

As he stood inside the door lost in thought, Laura had picked up her jacket and purse and was looking up at him a little confused.

Gathering his thoughts out of the gutter,
he took her jacket and helped her put it on. Opening the door, he ushered her out locking the door behind them.

Holding her hand he helping her into his truck, and buckled her seat belt, making sure not to touch anything he shouldn’t.

Laura wondered why Clay had been so quiet inside the house. It unnerved her and made her second-guess everything again. Did he like how she looked? He hadn’t said anything, but his eyes seemed to say it was so. He had been the perfect gentlemen escorting her to the truck. Had she been too forward? She knew he noticed how her eyes had eaten him up at the door. God, this dating thing was hard, and she was so out of practice. She was just about to tell Clay to forget the evening when he spoke up.

“Italian OK?” Clay asked, as he started the truck and put it in gear.

“Sure.” She bit her lip. She was so out of her element with him. His deep voice just made her tingle all over every time he spoke to her.

On the drive to the restaurant, Clay asked her some more about her work and her hobbies and soon they were pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant. Clay got out and opened her door and held his hand out to help her out of the truck.

She felt precious and small, putting her hand in his large one as Clay led her into the restaurant, opening the doors with his other hand, so he didn’t have to let her go.

The hostess greeted Clay like she knew him and escorted them right in to a table by a roaring fireplace, even though there were people waiting in line. She would have to ask Clay how he managed to get such excellent service.

Clay put his hand on her shoulders and gently removed her coat and sat her down at the table, before he removed his coat and hung them both on a discreet hook behind the table. Taking his seat, he accepted the menus from the hostess before he turned to Laura.

Taking her napkin and placing it on her lap, Laura looked at Clay and inquired, “How do they know you here? Are you a regular client? You seem to get preferential treatment.” She knew she was being nosy, but not many people could walk into a five-star restaurant and not wait for service.

Clay looked up from his perusal of the menu. “Do you remember me mentioning a friend that was on his honeymoon? His name is James. Anyways, he owns this restaurant. So the staff are used to seeing us here, and always keep a table ready.” Clay went back to his menu, asking Laura what she would like for dinner.

Laura, who had been hanging on his words, didn’t want just the off-the-cuff explanation that Clay gave. Her senses told her he was leaving out part of the story and it probably was the best part. In her work, she always wanted to get to the bottom of things and didn’t always take the first explanation that clients gave. “Come on, Clay, tell me more. You just can’t leave me hanging. Why did they need a rest? Is James one of the partners with you in the security firm?”

Clay made a deal with her. “Tell you what. You tell me what you want for dinner. I’ll order then I will elaborate for you. But remember, it goes both ways. You’ll have to tell me more about your life and friends.”

She knew she couldn’t tell him the truth yet and didn’t really know what she would say, but fair was fair so she agreed after telling him her choice of a meal. Chicken salad and garlic bread. She didn’t want to eat too much. She was still nervous and excited at the same time. Being sick on him would not make a great impression.

Clay didn’t think it was enough for dinner, but with a glance at the stubborn look on her face, Clay ordered what she requested, and didn’t say anything.

In his mind she had great curves and he didn’t want her to lose them. He’d let her have her way tonight, but he was going to make sure she knew he loved her body, just the way it was.

After the waitress left, Clay decided to let her in on his life, and tell her as much as he could. He explained again about the army and the discharge. He also told her more details of the company that the five of them had started. James, Angel, Brad, and Grant, plus him. He told her about the case they had taken against the drug lord and Avery’s involvement. Then he detailed how James had claimed her. They had gotten married two weeks ago. All of this was why they needed rest.

He told her a little about each of his friends—the deep bond between them all—and how he was proud of all of the guys. He also explained that Chase, James’s brother, was an investment wiz, and had helped them all invest their profits. That was how James came to own this restaurant.

By the time Clay had explained everything to Laura’s satisfaction, peppered with her questions here and there, they were just about done with their meal.

Laura didn’t even remember eating, she was so wrapped up in Clay’s stories. What a life he had led! Taking a last sip of coffee, she put her napkin down.” I guess we should leave for the club now, it’s getting late.”

Clay knew what she was doing, wanting them to leave for the club right now. That would allow her to put off her telling her story. If she thought that she could get out of it that easy, and that he would forget, she was fooling herself.

Clay sighed. “Yes, I agree.” But he looked at Laura with his twinkling gray eyes. “You are going to tell me your story after we get settled at the club. I can’t wait to hear it.”

Clay rose and helped her from her seat, then helped her on with her coat. He could tell by the expression on her face that she had probably said “damn” in her head.

Her green eyes twinkled back at him. “Can’t stop a girl from trying. I guess your job’s somewhat like mine. We both go at it from different ways, but we like to get to the bottom of things. OK, after we’re settled at the club, I will tell you my story. But if you get bored and fall asleep, I’m leaving you there.” Laura turned her back and led the way out of the restaurant.

Clay grinned. He liked this aggressive side of Laura, and he wondered what else about her he could uncover. Following her out of the restaurant, he watched her long black hair sway back and forth, just touching the top of her ass, seemingly pointing it out to him. His hands itched. He wanted to grab it so bad.

Bringing his eyes back up from her ass, he noticed some guys doing the same thing. He gave them all a nasty look that said hands off. But it also made him proud, that he was the one walking out with her.

He told himself he had to make a claim on her before anyone else did. He knew he sounded like James in his head. Maybe James had it right.
Stake a claim and tie them up to you as quickly as possible.

Chapter Six

Arriving at the club, Clay gave Bob, the bear of a man guarding the front doors, his pass. The guy didn’t say anything as he waved them to the door to his left. Clay shook his head at the man and headed right and into the vanilla bar.

Laura took in the exchange between them but didn’t ask anything. The man behind the desk didn’t look like he would answer any questions if she asked any, anyway.

Clay just put his hand on her back and guided her into the bar. Like the night before, the music was a little too loud for Laura’s taste, but everyone in the bar seemed to be enjoying themselves. The dance floor was packed and most booths were taken.

Clay led her to a reserved booth that had a great view of the whole room. Making sure she was comfortably seated, he asked what she would like then made his way to the bar.

Laura sat back and watched Clay. He had a very tight ass and his muscles stood out, bulging beneath his black shirt. Laura was doing the thing she liked most, people watching, and she couldn’t help noticing that she wasn’t the only one checking out Clay as he moved through the room. Quite a few women admired him and a lot were younger than she was. That started her thinking about how a guy like him could be interested in her. But it made her smile also, because she was the one with him. She was finding she was very possessive. They could look at Clay, but no one else could touch. No one was getting a taste of him before she did. She smiled at her thoughts. Now she just had to get Clay on the same page.

Watching Laura, with her wide green eyes taking him in as he waked back to her, Clay felt ten feet tall. Those eyes of hers seemed to be eating him up and he had to get his body under control as his cock wanted to rise and greet her.
Down boy.
He tried to talk his cock down. He was half-successful as it didn’t rise to its full height, but he knew if she took a closer look, she would notice. The best way to get her attention was to talk as soon as he reached near enough for her to hear.

“Want to dance?” Clay put their drinks down on the table and put out a hand to Laura.

“I really don’t think I’m much of a dancer, but if you want to take a chance I’m game.” Laura took his hand and rose from the booth. Clay led her to the dance floor and put his arms around her. They were lucky it was a soft ballad as Laura didn’t know what she would have done if it had been one of the new beat sounds that the kids liked so much. It had been years since she had to dance fast. As Clay’s arms surrounded her, she calmed down and just let her body rest against his. She could smell his aftershave and Clay’s own scent as she got closer and laid her head on his chest over his heart.

Clay wanted to squeeze her and never let her go. She felt so good in his arms. Maybe dancing hadn’t been a great idea. Now she was even closer. His cock started to harden even more and bumped against the zipper of his pants. Clay moved his lower body away from her a bit. Clay didn’t want any space between them, but he wanted to show Laura the respect she deserved. His cock nudging her would not give a great impression on their first dance. He hoped he had a chance to introduce the two of them later.

Clay just savored having Laura close to him. He couldn’t stop himself from giving her a small kiss on the top of her head. He could smell her lemon scent from her shampoo and it just added to his whole picture of Laura. Clay could have stayed there with Laura in his arms all night, but he also had to remember he had a job to do. Letting his arms release Laura as the music came to an end, Clay escorted her back to their table.

After seating Laura he took the bench seat across from her. He would have liked to sit beside her but he had to have an unobstructed view of the whole bar. This seat halfway down the bar allowed him that and was better for people watching. Taking a scan of the people in the bar, he noticed quite a few of the Doms and their subs. Except for the leather, they were no different from other patrons.

The door to the bar suddenly opened and Angel walked in. He grabbed every one of the women in the bars’ attention right away. He stood at six five, dressed all in black leather with his chest bare and muscles bulging. Even Clay had to admit he made a very impressive Dom. Clay could tell that Angel didn’t like the attention he was gathering and lowered his eyes. Something he shouldn’t have done while acting as a Dom.