I love my job as a cop but after being passed up for another promotion, I Iet it rip…ending in my suspension. I’m ready to drown my anger in coffee and donuts when I see her . I don’t know where she came from or why she’s here, but I sure as hell know where she’s going and why. My bed, to give me babies. I want her thoroughly marked as mine. Her entire body proof of the claim I laid on her. I sound like a complete and utter maniac, but it’s what she does to me. I like that she’s a bit feisty, that she’s trying to make it in this world alone. I can relate. I recognize and respect it. And want to help her. And help myself to her. She will be mine and any man who even thinks they have a chance with her will meet the end of my boot and my fists. She will. Never. Escape. Me.

I didn’t come out of retirement because I needed the money. I came out of retirement because I need her. One look and I was gone. But he has what I want. Her. This fight is for her. To take her from him. They say the bigger they are, the harder they fall. And he will fall, as will anyone who steps in my way. I’m here for the one thing that money can’t buy…my future wife, whether he or she knows it or not. I’m a beast. An animal when it comes to her. And I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Never. Because she’s mine. Forever. This is going to be a problem. A big problem with no solution, because the only solution for everything in my life is more of her. But will she see me as a romantic, or send me to the nuthouse?

I’m a firefighter, a protector through and through. And up until this point, I’ve been exactly that, for other people. Randoms. Strangers. Anonymous faces. That changes right here and now. Tonight. I wasn’t just put on this world to protect others. I was born for this moment and this moment alone. To save her, and myself in the process and take on the role I was destined for…protector…of my family. Our family. Because of her. Because the moment I lay eyes on her everything changes. Everything. This girl, my girl, will never feel scared, threatened or alone ever again. She’ll only know happiness once I wipe my boots with the scumbag’s face that put this terror in her heart. She makes me feel real, whole, and complete. Now she will be mine. Because I won’t take no for an answer.

I’m drawn in like a magnet toward the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen in my life. She is female perfection personified, nothing more beautiful in this world could ever exist. But as my eyes rake over her porcelain skin, the high I’m feeling at finding her turns on a dime, I’ve never been angrier in my life. Someone has tried to hurt her. It’s apparent from the mark on the side of her face. Who? I have no clue, but I do know one thing. Whoever it is is a dead man walking. I will see to it. I make a promise to myself at that moment, and a silent promise to her at the same time. She is the light to my dark, but my darkness is only beginning. I will find whoever did this, and I will end them. Permanently. Because from the moment I laid eyes on her she became mine and no touches or even looks at what is mine without consequences.

Where did she come from? How has she been on Earth for eighteen years and I’ve never seen her, met her, before? And why, upon seeing her for the first time, does she have such an effect on me? No one, no one, has ever come into my world like this, flipped it completely upside down, and made me rethink everything I thought I knew to be true. All these years I’ve focused exclusively on my business, getting pleasure from expanding into new markets, creating new products, and growing. Now all I can think about is creating babies, and a growing family, with her. I have to know where she lives, to keep her safe at all times. To keep watch over her. She’s entered my life and turned me into a different person. One who cares about others, or should I say her. Specifically her. Her shyness tells me she’s a good girl too, almost for sure untouched by another man. Ever. Clearly, this is just the beginning. Of this journey. Of…forever. Because she will be mine.

Need is a word I use a lot. I need to put this criminal away for life. We need more evidence so the jury convicts. I need to work eighty hours a week minimum, harder and harder, so my community is safe. But I’ve never needed anything like I need her . Looking at her there is a new certainty. Something that can and will happen. I know this without a shadow of a doubt in my mind. She will be mine. Mine and mine alone. My dream girl, the only one that’s ever made me feel this way, ever caught my attention with such tenacity simply by existing, will be mine. Why is she there? What could someone so innocent have done to land them in an interrogation room? And more importantly, how can I get her out…how can I take that pain in her face away? Now.

I’m a man who knows what he wants and makes things happen. I have ambition in spades. Taking my family to the next level is my goal. As crazy as it sounds women have never interested me. No woman ever excited me the way the underworld, making money, racing cars, beating the living daylights out of men as big or bigger than me, and most importantly learning the ropes so I can take over the family business, has. Not until her . She may not be Italian but she fits perfectly into our culture…and my life. She lives with passion, takes risks, and isn’t afraid to fight. My kind of woman and one that I’ve never encountered before because I didn’t know she existed. She belongs to me. And I’m not taking no for an answer. No other man will have her but me. Mine.

I had nothing to live for other than awards, accolades, and being the face of good policing in my city, despite my picture never being made public even when I did win Officer of the Year. I thought it was the end all be all, the thing that drove me and completed me, made me whole as a person. How sorely misguided, ignorant, and mistaken I was. Because it was her all along. I just didn’t know she was out there until somehow our worlds collided like two speeding meteorites. I don’t believe in fate or any of that Hallmark b.s. At least I didn’t until today. Now it all makes sense. All of it. Because of her. My woman. The one who will never show her body to another man, except me in our home. She’ll never have to offer herself in order to pay the rent or feed herself. She was made for me and me for her. I never second-guess my instincts. So why start now? Once in a lifetime, in so many ways. That’s the best way to describe her. And mine. Because that’s what she will be, mine.

The shadows. The darkness. The underworld has always been my home. But I don’t tolerate any male giving any woman any kind of grief which is why I offer my services discreetly. I’m curious, and can’t resist seeing who requests my help, although I have no interest in interacting with some college kid. Until I see her. And everything changes. But then she flips around and does something foolish. Women are special, and this one, this Sapphire, is a cut above all the others…willing to search for a very alternative solution to her problem. Me. I will swiftly and resolutely put an end to her troubles then I will show her what happens when you try to pull a fast one on me. I can’t, and I won’t, hurt her but I will show her who's boss. Show her that with a little pain there can be a whole lot of pleasure. For her, I will close one chapter of my life forever, so I can start an entirely new book with her. She is meant for me and she will be mine. Mine to care for and mine to protect. Always.

Control. It’s my favorite word because I always keep it at the top of my mind, striving to maintain it in all aspects of life. But she’s taken that from me. Not with a word or an action. Just from the sight of her. She’s gorgeous, with a magnetic pull that tries to guide me right to her. I want to own her, possess her, lie in bed with her on top of me so as much of her skin as humanly possible is touching mine. Keep her in my home and never let her go. But as much of a sick man as I am, something inside me pumps the breaks. I would never hurt her. Never. She is an angel sent from heaven, a gift. And she will be mine. But will I put our budding relationship in danger by continuing my path of destruction? I stalk the night looking for the dregs of society, anyone who would hurt a woman deserves the punishment I dole out. But can I keep her in the dark while I let my dark side roam free?

Before I even put a face to the voice, I know it’s her. My new stepsister and instant sworn enemy. The unexpected stepsister I’ve inherited thanks to my father remarrying. A poor person no less. A barely legal teen with a breeding set of tits and ass that catch more than just my professional curiosity. And her all alone with me on my stud farm for the next few days? This revenge is gonna be the swiftest and most brutal. The f\cking easiest. The theory is sound. The plan is perfect. Become a stud myself…but only for her. And in the process, leave my disrespecting widow of a father to reconsider his betrayal of my mother while he rocks the baby born to his stepdaughter by her own stepbrother. I’m already laughing maniacally in my mind. Breeding my little stepsister will be the ultimate revenge before I leave my treacherous father penniless as well as humiliated. This jealous stepbrother is already playing hard to get for this little city girl who wants to tease a mature stallion…me. And she’s falling for every one of my cruel looks and dismissive comments. Perfect! Only problem? No. No. Don't even f\cking think like that… Don't even think it once! I mean. She is kinda f\*cking cute, especially when she’s acting all bratty. And those tits… That fine breeding ass… But if I do fall for her, I mean, if I ever did develop feelings maybe a stepbrother should never have… Well… That’s just never gonna happen. It’s impossible. … or is it?

Sol Shulton just went from millionaire to billionaire overnight. The kind of headache most people would kill for. But with money like that, you get more enemies than friends, so it’s no surprise when I get the call. Someone’s made a credible threat and billionaires aren’t in the habit of calling just anyone when they want to protect their most valuable assets. I’m Steve Slade. The security you call when you can’t call anyone else, and at first glance, it’s a run-of-the-mill kidnap threat. As far as I can tell from the note, despite the feeling I can’t shake. It’s a little spicy, but threats to breed from the wives and daughters of enemies aren’t enough to make me raise an eyebrow. That is, until Shulton tries to tell me it’s his dog they’re after. His prize bitch, Angel. But once I see her . Once I lay eyes on Shulton’s greatest treasure, his daughter? I know who’s really at risk here. I also know I have to claim her before anyone else does. She’s what I’ve waited my whole life for, everything I've worked so hard to get is to share it with someone like Stacey. Her dad wants me on dog duty, but I’m already picturing his daughter on all fours instead. Needing way more than just my protection, I have her father read the note again. Only this time thinking about his daughter instead of his dog. Someone means to breed your daughter, Mr. Shulton. And I intend to do everything in my power to stop them. The biggest reason being that I can claim her for myself first. And after that? Well. We’re gonna have the rest of our lives together to work that part out. And I will have what’s mine. Whatever it takes.