Claimed By the Billionaire

11 Taking what belongs to him

When Ren arrived, he knocked and waited for her father to invite him into his house. He greeted her parents warmly and gave her mother a banquet of flowers. Ren turned to her and stared. His eyes pierced her where she stood. Okafu felt her knees wobbled slightly. He made her feel like she was the only creature alive in that moment, so focused he was on her.

“It’s good to see you again, Okafu.” He bowed slightly in greeting.

“I can’t say…” Okafu begun, but she was not allowed to finish as her mother interrupted her.

“Thank you!” her mother gashed, “I’ll put these in water.”

Okafu’s jaw literally dropped to the floor. Why was everyone acting like this was some normal meet-the-in-laws occasion?   

Fuck no!

Okafu turned and disappeared into the kitchen.

She couldn’t take this. He had to stop, they all had to stop. This was not normal. She was not going to marry him.

“Everyone is crazy! What was that?” she shouted as she watched her mother arrange the flowers in a vase.

“Keep your voice down,” she whispered. “He just being nice.”

“No.”

“Come now.” Her mother dragged back to the dining room.  “Let’s eat.”

They all sat down and her mother helped to serve the food. They talked about common place things, with her father bringing up his business here and there. Okafu bit her tongue not wanting to be part of anything.  

All through dinner Okafu tried to figure out a way to make him stop.

Her opportunity came when her father asked her to walk their guest of honour out to his car after the charade of a dinner done.

They walked in silence. Okafu breathing hard as she tried to come up with the words she needed to say.  She swallowed, it wasn’t an easy thing walking next to him, she felt like her whole body was on high alert. A frisson of sparks kept popping on her skin as his arm touched hers as they walked. He was intimidating.

Biting her lip, she turned to him. Ren came to a stop mere inches from her.

“You have something to say to me.” He said. It was more like a statement than a question. He looked at her with indulgence in his eyes. The house lights turned his eyes a dark brown that seemed to swallow her whole. He was a devour of innocents, Okafu thought feeling a nervous energy settle in her stomach.

“I…I…” Okafu begun, but the words wouldn’t come. Why couldn’t she just speak her mind?

She folded her arms protectively around her chest and turned away from him only to be faced by his men standing around his car. They looked rough and dangerous.

“Do you always have people with you wherever you go?” not the words she wanted to say but it was better than stuttering away like a fool.

“Yes.”

“Why?” she didn’t turn to him. Okafu asked the question even though she knew the answer. She just needed something to distract her from what she lacked the courage to do.

Do it! Get your life back Okafu! She counted to ten and turned to him. Her words ready on her lips.

Ren suddenly grabbed and pulled her to the back of the house, where her mother kept a lovely garden. There were lamps here and there lighting spaces and throwing others into shadow. Ren chose the shadowy parts to stop. Okafu’s back came against the wall of the house. He stood there leaving a few inches between them.

“What are you doing?” Okafu asked outraged. She held on to that anger, hoping it will fuel the courage she felt flagging at the prospect of facing Ren by herself.

“They bothered you,” he tilted his head in the direction they came, “now, you had something to tell me.”

“I…I think.” Okafu closed her eyes and breathed. He wasn’t the most dangerous man in town, she chanted in her mind to give herself courage. “I don’t want to marry you. Please stop following me or coming to my house or telling my father to command me to marry you. I don’t want to marry you.”

Ren stared at her for a full minute. The silence that followed made Okafu open her eyes. She stared at him seeing only half of his face. Ren took a step closer. His body became flush with hers. She was a tall girl, but she still came to his shoulders. So instead of looking him in the eye. She was facing his throat. He leaned closer, his lips coming to her throat. He rubbed them along the column of her neck to her ear. Okafu shuddered and she grabbed his arms to steady herself.  

“I want to make you mine.” He breathed into her ear sending tingles down her spine.  “It’s time, baby.”

Okafu bit her lip to stifle the groan that bubbled in her throat. Her whole body blazed, burning hot at his proximity. She could feel heat pool between her legs something she’s never felt before.

 How could he easily make her feel, want, and desire when she couldn’t?

Okafu shook her head.

She hated him. Hated everything he stood for. Everything he and his family were doing to innocent people. And what he was doing to her life.

Hated, hated him.

“No,” the word burst through her lips firm and with force.  

Ren quickly pulled away from him.  He stared at her his face hardening in a way Okafu has never seen before. He looked like the man every one spoke about. The one who could cut your throat without thinking. He smirked at her as though he knew better. He leaned close again. This time coming to her face. He ran his nose against hers humming in the back of his throat as though she was a skittish animal that needed calming. His lips hovered just inches from hers. Okafu felt herself learning closer dared, falling under his spell. 

“I’ve waited for too long. Please don’t fight me, because baby I always win.” He crushed his lips against her and all Okafu could do cling to him for dear life as he devoured her.