Page 35 of Hawk

“Besides that radioactive glow you’ve been sporting since you walked in? The blush was a dead giveaway.”

“Fine. It’s the best sex I’ve ever had. Earth shatteringly amazing and I didn’t know that sex could be like this, so intense and fun at the same time.”

Kristy smiled big and fanned her face. “Hot damn, girl, I am so happy for you!” She clapped her hands and listened as I gave her some—not all—of the details she requested. “So, is this still fake?”

That was the question, wasn’t it? I shrugged since that was the most definitive answer I could give. “I mean, the sex is real, but the rest of it is confusing as hell. We live together and we sleep together, but we’re not together.”

Kristy nodded sagely. “The good news is you’re in the perfect position to figure it out.”

Kristy’s words stuck with me the whole drive back to Hawk’s place, and even though the very thought of him brought a smile to my face, I knew that whatever was going on between us couldn’t last. Our lives were too different, we were too different, and this pull between us was just chemistry. Lust. Combustible, nuclear level lust.

But I fully intended to enjoy it for however long it lasted.

I was too tired to cook again, so I stopped for takeout. Hawk said he had a lot of MC stuff to do today so I wasn’t sure if I would see him tonight. I liked spending time with Hawk even though I shouldn’t. He was overprotective and crass, and his mouth was so dirty. Deliciously so. My mind was all over the place and I reached into the bag to shove a handful of steak-cut fries into my mouth, hopeful the salt and the carbs would curb my dirty thoughts.

***

The drive home felt off. At first, I chalked it up to the visit from the guy from Los Ochos, but the feeling intensified and I looked around, checking my mirrors for anything that seemed off. I spotted a red car that, for some reason, put me on edge. I knew it was stress that had me feeling so paranoid, so I jumped off the freeway and decided to take the longer route back to Hawk’s place.

I looked up again to change lanes and the red car was still there. A minivan idled between us, but it was the same car. I made random turns that were completely unnecessary and each glance into the rearview mirror showed that damn red car. I felt confused and angry, and scared as hell. I had believed the guy earlier when he said we were good as long I didn’t talk, but now I felt foolish.

Time to beat myself up later, I thought, and pulled over on a residential street not far from Hawk’s place. The red car rolled right past me as if he wasn’t following me, but he parked near the corner while I grabbed my phone. “Hawk, I think someone is following me.”

“I’ll be right there,” he said after a long beat of silence.

“No, that’s not necessary. I pulled over because I didn’t want them to know where I was going.” I’d realized if Hawk was out, then leading whoever was following me straight to his house where I’d be home alone, was a bad idea.

“I’m home now,” Hawk said.

I breathed out a sigh of relief, “Can you, um, just talk to me while I drive to your place?”

“Smart.”

I rolled my eyes, feeling anything but smart in that moment. “Yeah, thanks. Oh shit, he’s driving past again.” I turned my head just enough to look at the red car without being obvious. “The tint is too dark to see inside,” I whispered as if the driver could hear me. I rattled off his plate number and put my own car in drive.

“You’re not following him, are you?”

I laughed. “Hell no, I’m not crazy. Just making sure he’s lost interest.” I was a nervous wreck as I drove the last few blocks to Hawk’s place, taking the circuitous route, eyes darting all around in search of the red car as I climbed out of the car and headed for the front steps. “Hawk?”

“I’m here.”

His deep voice stole a scream from the depths of my diaphragm. “You scared the crap out of me!” I spun and jumped back at the same time and smacked my back against the car. “Ow.”

He pulled his lips into his mouth, to stifle a laugh no doubt, and reached for me. “Sorry.”

“You said you had stuff to do with the MC.” He looked at me oddly in that moment and I wasn’t sure why. “What?”

“Nothing.” He grinned. “You sounded like an old lady for a second.”

I smiled, ignoring the tingles that made my limbs sizzle at his tone and that heart-stopping look in his eyes. “That’s because I am one. Remember?”

“Right.” He rolled his eyes and took the bags from my arms. “Come on.”

I followed him up the stairs with my eyes glued to his ass the entire time. It was better to focus on that beautiful backside than the potential of someone following me. My shoulders relaxed a little as I stepped inside the house, and with every step I took, I felt more relaxed. More calm. I felt at ease.

I kicked my shoes off and followed Hawk into the kitchen. When I made it, all the bags of groceries were piled on the countertop, and he was looking at me like I was his favorite flavor of ice cream on a hot summer’s day. “What?”

He took one step forward and then another. And another until he stood right in front of me, his green eyes dark and hot. “I’m so fucking glad you’re okay.” That was it, just those six words and then his mouth was on me, hot and demanding, unrelenting as our tongues danced together. His big hands cupped my face and tilted my head back before he deepened the kiss.

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