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Chapter 46
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Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 47
Xavier stepped out of the SUV into darkness.It was easy to forget, sometimes, how dark real darkness was, away from light pollution. It made you feel so alone, so small - but not in an intimidating way. It was a reminder that you were only a tiny speck in the universe. And to Xavier, it had also been a reminder of how many mysteries and adventures still existed out there, just waiting for him.He let himself gaze up at the sky for a moment, staring at the heavy dusting of stars. The night view in the Caribbean last month had been stunning, but this was different. The cool, crisp air made the stars seem brighter. Closer, even.He didn't know enough about astronomy to say if Equuleus was up there. He'd never really cared about learning the constellations. For him, it was enough to just look and feel that wonder.After a moment, though, he reminded himself that he had work to do. He flicked on the headlamp and pulled Rinaldi's clue out of his pocket, quickly scanning the words once m
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 48
It felt like it took an agonizingly long time for Penny to free the can of bear spray from the holster at her waist, but in reality, it was probably only two or three seconds.They were still the two or three most terrifying, heart-pounding seconds of her life. And that included that brief moment earlier in the day when she thought she might plummet to her death. The thought of getting eaten alive by a grizzly was a lot more horrific.Finally, though, she managed to get the canister free. And she didn't even wait to point it in the right direction before pressing down on the nozzle.The spray shot out of the can with a sharp hissssssssssssssss. Penny squeezed her eyes shut - in part to protect herself from the cloud of spray and in part because, if it didn't work, she didn't want to watch those claws and teeth coming at her. Or Xavier. He was on top of her, blocking most of her body, and she couldn't bear the thought of his death being the last thing she saw on this earth.Xavier p
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 49
Xavier's blood was hot.He no longer noticed the chill of the wind. No longer felt anything but a wild, ravenous thrill in his bones and a laser-sharp focus on what had to be done.Everything he cared about was at stake. And he was willing to do whatever it took to protect it.His finger was on the trigger. His eyes on the dark figures in front of him. They'd been careless. Much too noisy. And neither of them were prepared for an attack.Or so he thought.Their flashlight swung up, shining right into his eyes. He kept his gun arm steady, but the beam blinded him. Temporarily gave them the advantage.One of the figures moved. Grabbed his wrist. The gun went off, shooting up into the air, and the second man grabbed his other arm, trying to pin him.This wasn't Xavier's first fight. He'd been in a handful of bar brawls back in his extreme sports days, at least before his manager had convinced him he was sabotaging his own success. But he still remembered a few moves.He swung his
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 50
Whether he denied it or not, Xavier was cruel. How could he just blurt out something like that and expect her to believe it? What was she supposed to do with that information?Penny closed her eyes, fighting the tears that threatened to fall. She'd managed to hold herself together so far - she refused to cry in front of him now.Even though she knew better than to believe him, his words had brought a whole swell of emotions up inside her - hope, anger, fear, joy, regret...and all of them were inconvenient.It doesn't matter what you feel, she told herself. Your actions will be the same. He lied to you once about this very thing, and you're not falling for it again. The minute this is over, you tell him to walk away. He already promised to do so.They rode in silence the rest of the way to Artist Point. She didn't trust herself to open her mouth, and Xavier wisely decided not to test her further.By the time they reached the canyon, she'd more or less composed herself. The other tw
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 51
Penny dreamed she was falling.The canyon floor was below her, moving ever nearer, but she never seemed to reach it. Her stomach was in her throat, and she was certain she was going to die, but everything seemed to be taking its sweet time. She was falling to her death, and there was nothing she could do about it, and all she could do was wait.And think.Her head and heart were full of all the things she was leaving behind. Her work. A whole, wide world of things to explore. All the adventures she'd never had. And Xavier, the man who'd twisted her up in so many knots she knew she'd never be fully untangled.She'd risked so much, letting him walk back into her life. But as she watched the canyon floor rush up to meet her, she thought the risk had been well worth it. She was glad she'd opened her heart, even a sliver. She wished she'd opened it more.Funny, how easy big dilemmas seemed when you were about to die.She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for the impact that woul
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 52
At the sound of the gunshot, Xavier broke into a run.He hadn't known what he would find when he arrived at Old Faithful, but he knew one thing - if Penny was hurt in any way, he wouldn't rest until he'd had his revenge. Until he'd made Nash and every one of his men pay for what they'd done.He'd only taken a quick look at the map Rinaldi had drawn on the last clue. But he remembered that it indicated the treasure was hidden somewhere on one of the trails on the geyser's far side, away from the buildings and shops. That's where he and Cruz were heading when they heard the gun. It was just the two of them - they hadn't stopped to hunt down Jackson and Alexei after seeing that car speed away.He sprinted up the trail, Cruz right on his heels. If anything happens to her... If she's hurt because of my carelessness... He'd never forgive himself. He never should have left her alone.He ran like he'd never run before. The muscles in his legs burned. His chest ached with the strain. But he
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 53
Xavier sighed, but honestly, he couldn't refuse her. He was just so happy to see her alive.Moments later, Cruz was helping Tav back down the trail, while he and Penny were headed in the opposite direction. She had her head bent over the clue, rereading it once again, and even though Xavier knew time was short, he couldn't keep from taking a moment just to drink her in - her curtain of auburn hair, her freckle-dusted skin, her stubborn nose. She was still the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen, even more so for the fact that he'd nearly lost her, and every moment he spent by her side was more precious than any damn treasure.He hadn't forgotten the promise he'd made her - that, at the end of all this, he'd walk away if she asked. He meant to commit every bit of her to memory before that moment, just in case."It can't be far from here," she said without looking up. "But this map doesn't have many landmarks. The treasure could be anywhere.""Read the poem again," he said. "Just in
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 54
BOOK FOUR: DEFENDING HIS HEARTMalaga, Spain - Five Months AgoThe air smelled like oranges. That's what Sloane Dillon would remember most about this place - how every breath tasted of that sweet, citrus tang, how it filled her up with that bright flavor of pure life.She stood on a small balcony only just wide enough for a single person, her hands clasped gently around the wrought iron rail as she looked down at the street below. This wasn't her first time in Spain, but it was her first time here in the port city of Malaga, and part of her felt like she'd come home. She'd always had restless feet, but something in this place whispered for her to stay."Stay."The deep voice behind her filled her with so many twisted feelings - hope and sorrow, regret and longing. But it was that last emotion that swelled through her now, bolstered by that bright-sweet scent of life carried on the Mediterranean breeze. She felt so light, so buoyant, that her very skin tingled with it. And so she t
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Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 70
Sloane wanted to die of humiliation.She'd been willing to let Donovan tell the Set about them, but this was not the way she'd expected this news to come out.Donovan climbed off the bed, grabbing her bra and bringing it over to her."Thanks," she said, cheeks blazing. At least he looked as embarrassed as she felt. Whatever happened, at least they were in this together - in this and everything.There was something amazingly beautiful about that realization.She released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. She still felt shaken, and physically weak, and she knew the gaping, gnawing pit in her stomach - with two holes, one for each of the children she'd never meet - would never truly go away. But there was something else there now, too. Something that made her feel stronger. She was no longer alone.Still trying to make sense of this strange new feeling, she finished dressing. Then Donovan held his hand out to her. "Shall we?"She would have much rather have hidden he
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 69
When they reached the hotel, Donovan took Sloane to her room."I need to check your back," he told her as he laid her gently on her side on the bed.The moment she touched the mattress, a gray-and-white hairball bounced up out of nowhere, and Donovan bit back a curse of surprise. He'd forgotten all about the little furry demon.The cat hardly spared Donovan a glance. Instead, it went straight to Sloane and rubbed itself against her arm, then curled up against her belly, snuggling in as if the only reason she was here at all was to provide the little beast with a warm place to sleep.Donovan shook his head, chasing away the insults he wanted to hurl at the little beast."If the wound isn't deep, we can treat it here," he told her. "Otherwise, I'm taking you to a hospital.""Wouldn't it look suspicious, walking into the hospital with a knife wound?" Sloane asked, gently stroking her cat's fur.He frowned. "You think I care about that when your wellbeing is on the line?"That sile
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 68
It all happened so fast that Sloane didn't have time to think. Just react.She was still reeling from her emotional confession to Donovan when she saw the glint of metal behind him. Her mind had only had a split second to scream, "Blade!" before she saw the knife arcing down toward Donovan's shoulder. She cried out, giving Donovan a hard shove out of the weapon's path.If she'd been a little stronger - or Donovan a little smaller - he might have avoided the knife completely. Instead, it caught the edge of his sleeve, slicing down his arm as he twisted out of the way.But despite the injury, Donovan was fast. His instincts took over quickly, and he sent his fist flying back toward his attacker.It was the tourist Donovan had nearly attacked earlier. But no ordinary tourist would carry a knife like that, let alone swing it at a stranger.But apparently he hadn't expected Donovan to fight back. Or maybe he'd thought that if he'd hit his mark Donovan would not have been able to defend
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 67
"This is it," Toshi said, rubbing his hands together as they stood in front of the Alcazaba. "The final stretch, you guys!"Donovan wished he felt as enthusiastic as his teammate. Instead, he found himself fighting a lump of unease.It's this damn city, he thought. Malaga was a beautiful place, but it twisted his judgment around until he could no longer tell up from down.He hadn't slept at all last night. He'd just kept thinking of Sloane in the next room. Even Toshi's snoring on the other side hadn't been able to drown out the heat of his desire. And it certainly hadn't eased the fire in his loins.But that wasn't the only thing bothering him. He'd been on edge ever since their near-miss with the suspected arms dealer back in Ponta Delgada. They'd escaped, but something about that scenario still niggled at him. Why hadn't Alyssa warned them? For that matter, why would Vincent Rinaldi hide a clue on the property of a man like that? Had he truly been as naive as Alyssa claimed? Or
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 66
Malaga, Spain - The Next DayIs this some sort of punishment? Sloane wondered, stepping out onto the balcony of her hotel room. A reminder of my past sins? Yesterday had shaken her in more ways than one, but returning here, to Malaga, was unsettling in a different way. This couldn't be simply a bad coincidence - the universe had to be testing her. Why else would it bring her back here? Now?She hummed a reassuring song to herself as she stepped out onto the balcony of her room, trying to ease the wild restlessness that had taken up residence in her heart ever since they'd arrived here last night. This balcony was larger than the one where she'd stood the last time she was here. Below her, the mid-morning sun cast the street in bright light, and the buzz of voices floated up as locals and tourists went about their day.She held Valiant in her arms, and the cat purred and snuggled closer to her chest, clearly enjoying the cuddles and the soft singing. He was becoming quite the wandere
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 65
Donovan held Sloane tightly against his chest, trying to keep her from making too much noise as she wriggled and twisted in his arms."Sloane," he rumbled in a low voice, "it's just me."She stopped struggling, and he released her mouth, then her arms. She twisted around, looking up at him in surprise."Way to give a girl a heart attack," she whispered back."I didn't want you to scream and draw attention to us.""Have you ever heard me scream?" she asked. She didn't look angry, though - just concerned. "What's going on? You guys didn't give me very much of a warning.""A man came out of the house," Donovan told her in a low voice. "Carrying a rifle. I think you were spotted." Beneath the surface, he was fuming. He knew they shouldn't have let her take this risk on her own. When that man had come stalking out with that big gun...something inside him had snapped. He still wasn't entirely sure how he'd managed to keep himself from attacking the man on sight.He angled himself to t
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 64
Sloane dropped into a crouch behind one of the large, manicured shrubs. Then she wiped the raindrops off her glasses, taking stock of her surroundings.The coast was clear, and her path was straightforward enough. If she hugged the wall, the shrubs would cover her nearly all the way to the pohutukawa tree. Then she could hide herself among the tree's large, twisted branches until she'd found her prize.She could still feel the imprint of Donovan's fingers on her sides, as if his touch had burned her through her T-shirt. But she couldn't think about that right now, just as she couldn't think about that intense look in his eyes as he'd watched her slip away. Or the fact that, not two hours ago, he'd kissed her. And she'd kissed him back.She had a mission.It should be easy, she told herself, creeping along through the mulch and damp soil along the wall, humming under her breath. She kept one eye on the house, just in case. It still didn't look like this Mr. Beaufort was even home, a
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 63
Donovan watched Sloane flee, rubbing his bottom lip.He'd told himself he'd heed Cruz's advice and control himself around her. This was not the time to indulge his carnal urges, not when the fate of the Set was at stake. Not when it might push Sloane away again. And yet when she'd looked at him, when she'd caressed his cheek with such tenderness, he'd been unable to stop himself from tasting her again.He didn't drink. He'd never been interested in alcohol, not after what had happened to his parents and sister. He'd often bitterly prided himself on his sobriety; how anyone could willingly partake of something that destroyed so many lives was beyond him. But he'd heard people speak of addiction - of that incessant, agonizing yearning, of that craving that was impossible to deny, no matter how much you knew you'd regret it in the end.That's what he felt around Sloane. He'd spent his entire life avoiding addiction, and he'd stumbled into it anyway. Thrown himself into it, consequences
Claiming His Treasure series Chapter 62
If Sloane was being honest, she'd always been a little intimidated by women like Alyssa Berry - beautiful women who never seemed to have a hair out of place or a wrinkle in their clothes. Women who knew how to command men with the flash of a smile or a practiced giggle. It was some sort of sorcery that Sloane had never understood, and there was a time in her life she would have given anything to know its secrets. Women like Alyssa felt like an entirely different species.Which is why, when Alyssa declared that she was tired of waiting and marched toward the doors of the hotel - not even wobbling the slightest bit on her tall heels - Sloane had no idea what to do.Toshi had tried to stop her. But Alyssa had simply batted him away. So Sloane had gone after her, catching her right as the woman had managed to hail a taxi."You can't go," Sloane said."I can and I will. I'm a free woman, aren't I?" Alyssa paused with her hand on the taxi door. "I don't wait around for men, love, and nei
