Page 16 of Claimed By the Hitchhiker

Tears well in her eyes, but she lifts the corners of her mouth and touches my cheek. “I told you not to stop, didn’t I?”

My god. This girl.

With her legs wrapped around my waist and her heels digging into my back, I take her slowly at first, but she drags her nails along my biceps and snaps, “I won’t break, Damien. Please!”

My hands grab the sides of her face, and I slide my tongue into her mouth, swallowing every moan and whimper as I drive into her with hard, merciless strokes.

“This what you want, baby? Take it. Take it all like a good girl.”

She meets me thrust for thrust, and my climax begins to crest. No. Not before her. Wrapping one hand around her waist and the other behind her neck, I stuff myself deeper, her fingers gripping my hair.

Her whole body trembles and she bites my shoulder to stifle her scream. That does it. I hit release as my whole world rips apart, pulse after pulse of warmth filling and coating her inner walls.

Dani sobs my name. Her limbs turn to melted wax, and she’s boneless in my arms.

I kiss the side of her mouth. “This is forever, baby girl. You’re never getting away from me.”

6

DANI

Inever believed I’d ever be happy.

I wasn’t exactly miserable at the compound before Elise found out everything, but I wasn’t looking forward to waking up every day either.

I existed. And that was it.

One day bled into the next, and it was wake up, function, eat, sleep, repeat.

The most joy I felt was whenever Elise regaled me with funny stories, which were few and far between, especially when the women realized how close we were. Friendships were discouraged. I never understood why before but now I do.

Lying in his arms, I’m sated and happy. More importantly, I’m safe. Even if they come—and they will—I’m 100% sure Damien won’t let them take me. With the way he fought three men his size, I have no doubt all the guys Father brings are no match for him. They don’t have half of his strength, and Damien will just pulverize them to dust.

And I’ll watch as he does so.

I wonder if fate actually exists because it’s like the universe wanted me to meet him. He’s the only one who can help me and make sure Father will be brought to justice. Out of everyone I could have met, I met him.

I knew how crazy my story sounded, but not once did he question me or doubt my words. He believed me. That was the biggest thing. He believed me and took my side.

* * *

The gentle,golden hue starts seeping through the curtains, the first rays of sunlight filtering in. Back at the compound, I liked to wake up early because I had those first few hours to myself. I used to get up and walk around, enjoying having the whole place to myself, and pick up flowers to put on my bed stand. It was before I lost my freedom and got told what to do for the rest of the day.

I stretch my arms, Damien’s warmth still clinging to me. I want to stay here but it’s also nice to explore the woods around. I won’t take long, just a couple of minutes to walk and enjoy my surroundings. The calm before the storm. Before Damien’s Chief and other law enforcement attack the compound.

With a smile, I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and sit up, sucking in a sharp breath at the way the cold wooden floor feels under my feet. Turning to him, I marvel at how he looks like a naked warrior god sleeping on a small bed.

The sheets bunch around his waist, leaving his wide chest and muscular arms bare, and I curb the urge to run a finger along those hard planes. He’s packed with muscle. I know because we spent last night exploring each other’s bodies.

I’m still wearing his shirt, so I grab a pair of boxer shorts, slides, and his jacket before heading out the door. It closes behind me with a soft click, and I breathe in the refreshingly cool air outside mixed with the smell of damp earth. Lovely. I feel a slight chill in the air but far but it’s tolerable.

I step into the woods, and the trees close in around me, the leaves rustling and the birds chirping up ahead. It makes me smile. Something inside me loosens.

Is this how it feels to be free?

Both Elise and Damien helped set me free, and I’m about to do the same to her. No one deserves to be in that compound. We were free to roam inside, but we were locked up from the rest of the world. Not to mention we were sentenced to death at 18.

I kneel and touch the dew-kissed petals, picking only the most vibrant wildflowers. When I’ve picked enough, I gather them in a small bouquet and bring them to my nose, inhaling the scent and smiling.

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