{"product_id":"2940013925472","title":"Staking His Claim","description":"Twenty-one-year-old Elaina Ruiz has only just begun college when she meets Raul Vega for the first time. Recognizing his ruthless intensity for what it is, she doesn’t correct him when he assumes she is an eighteen-year-old freshman.\u003cbr\u003eRaul Vega has never met a woman he couldn’t do without. Until he meets Elaina Ruiz and knows she has to belong to him--even if it means waiting for her to grow up.\u003cbr\u003eExcerpt:\u003cbr\u003eElaina stood in the circle of young people feeling so emotionally free and happy she was almost delirious with it. She had finally made up her mind to withdraw from nursing school, had gotten over the guilt, and had told her aunt what she planned to do. Much to her surprise, Janie had been one-hundred percent supportive. They had talked for nearly two hours, and Elaina was going to start looking for a job close to the ranch when the hustle and bustle of the holiday season was over.\u003cbr\u003eJanie had well and truly convinced her that she and Brian wanted her to stay with them, and for as long as she wanted.\u003cbr\u003eElaina now stood, leaning slightly against the wall, feeling completely free and easy and enjoying the conversation around her and the slight buzz that half a glass of champagne had induced.\u003cbr\u003eA small, happy smile on her face, she glanced across the room and her eyes tangled with the dark, intent stare of Raul Vega.\u003cbr\u003eButterflies hit her stomach, and she actually felt her knees get weak. Her smile slipped a bit, and she felt a full-blown blush spread across her cheeks and warm her face.\u003cbr\u003eHis gaze never left hers as he made his way across the room to where she was standing.\u003cbr\u003eShe was held enthralled as she watched him approach and briefly acknowledge the people around her, before he simply reached out a hand to her and said, \"Come.\"\u003cbr\u003eHer blush deepening, she didn't think to refuse him and put her hand in his, murmuring, \"Excuse me,\" to her circle of new friends.\u003cbr\u003eTurning back the way he came, he pulled her with him into the privacy of the study. He shut the door, leaned back against it and crossed his arms over his chest.\u003cbr\u003eShe turned in a half circle to face him, her heart beating triple time as he stood silently observing her. The beat of the music from the other room bled through the thick wooden door making the enclosed area of the study seem even smaller, shut away from the rest of the party. \u003cbr\u003eShe couldn't stop the trembling in her fingers, and the champagne glass wobbled precariously.\u003cbr\u003eHis eyes narrowed in on it. \"You think you should be drinking that?\"\u003cbr\u003eShe already had enough alcohol running through her system on an empty stomach, and the effort it was taking to hold the liquid still in the glass suddenly seemed more than her nerves could handle. She reached over and set it down on a side table. \"Probably not,\" she agreed mildly.\u003cbr\u003eAs she turned back, it occurred to her that he was suggesting she shouldn't drink because of her youth, and not because of her nervous state.\u003cbr\u003eOnce again, she chose not to enlighten him.\u003cbr\u003eHe spoke, his voice rough but controlled, \"You know sweetheart, I get that you're young. Too young for me. But I think you're old enough to know what you're doing to me.\" The look he gave her was speculative, thoughtful. \"Are you doing it on purpose?\"\u003cbr\u003eThe question caught her off guard and her breath snarled in her throat. \"No.\"\u003cbr\u003eHe continued as if she hadn't answered, his voice turning feral, \"I don't think it's escaped your notice that I'm jealous of Trevor. And I think you're using it against me.\"\u003cbr\u003eShe expelled a shallow pant of air. His disclosure sent an intoxicating blend of heady power and beguiling need through her veins. Her denial came quickly, \"No, I'm not. I--\"\u003cbr\u003e\"You need to have mercy on me, baby,\" his tone turned slightly threatening, \"before I snap.\"\u003cbr\u003eHer heart pounded in her ears and she swallowed with difficulty.\u003cbr\u003eHe took one step away from the door and her voice unfroze as she tried to explain. \"I've told you before, I'm not interested in him that way. I'm not going to start something with him, he kissed me, yeah, but--\"\u003cbr\u003eHe came to a jerky halt, his expression changing to lines of fury, steel inundating his spine.\u003cbr\u003e\"He kissed you?\"\u003cbr\u003eElaina slammed her eyes closed as she realized what she had inadvertently revealed. Stupid. She kept her eyes closed for a few heartbeats until she felt him move right up next to her.\u003cbr\u003eHer lashes came up slowly to find his eyes blazing down at her and his nostrils flaring.\u003cbr\u003eThe blood slammed through her veins and a lick of heat stroked through her body landing in a pool of vicious need between her thighs. What was it about this man?\u003cbr\u003e\"He touched your lips?\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Jesus Christ, Raul--\"\u003cbr\u003eHe interrupted her, his voice a snarl. \"Answer me.\"\u003cbr\u003e\"Yes,\" she puffed out.\u003cbr\u003eHis jaw hardened. \"That's not acceptable.\" His hands came up and gripped her forearms in a hold that restrained her.","brand":"Lynda Chance","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47147651137776,"sku":"2940013925472","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013925472_p0.jpg?v=1763597295","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013925472","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}