“That night, I went with him to the Insurgents’ clubhouse. I’ve been with the club ever since. I decided to go to Colorado and patch in with the national club, the one I’m with now. They’re the best damn family I’ve ever had. We’re blood brothers, and we have each other’s backs, always. It’s the best decision I ever made.”
Hawk finished his coffee, his eyes dark and brooding. He was back, and the ghosts of his past retreated to the dark corners of his mind. Cara stroked his forearm. “I’m so sorry you had to go through all this.”
Hawk heard the tears in her voice. He looked at her; her green eyes glistened. Shit, I didn’t mean to make her cry. He could handle smart-ass, know-it-all Cara, or angry Cara, but he couldn’t handle crying Cara.
He jerked his arm away from her touch as if his skin were on fire and, pushing back from the table, he hissed, “I don’t need your pity, babe.”
“I’m not giving you any pity,” she said, “just friendship.”
“I don’t need your friendship, either. I have enough friends. I don’t need any more.”
“What’s the matter with you?”
“Nothing. Not a goddamn thing. You wanted to know my life history, now you got it. I didn’t tell it to you to get a reaction outta you. I told you because you needed it to impress some black-robed asshole. I hope I didn’t disappoint you.” Hawk got up from the table and threw twenty dollars on it.
“All I did was offer you kindness.”
Hawk, bending down, spat in her ear, “I don’t fuckin’ want your kindness, your pity, or your friendship. I want your pussy. If you’re ready to let my cock in, we’re good. If not, then fuck off, counselor.”
Cara leapt from her chair, slammed her head into Hawk’s chin, and pushed him back with all her strength. Grabbing the edge of the table, he fought to maintain his balance.
“You arrogant prick! You talk about me being afraid? Look at yourself. You’re so damn scared to let anyone in that you’ve made your life nothing but a big escape: booze to numb the pain, women to forget, anger to mask what you’re feeling.”
Hawk clapped his hands. “Congratulations, Dr. Freud! You’ve solved everything in three sentences. Now you can feel good and go back to your pampered life in your high tower to protect that precious pussy of yours.”
“You’re a total asshole!”
“I call it the way it is, baby.” He smiled and winked at her.
The loud crack across his face stunned him, and Cara looked surprised, as well, even though she was the one who’d slapped him. He brought his hand up to his face’s left side. Fuck, that hurt.
Cara, recovering from the shock, calmly said, “Fuck you.” All eyes were on her as she turned on her high heels, opened the door, and left the coffee house.
Hawk stood there in disbelief. He rubbed his face. Damn, she has a strong swing. A smile crept around his lips. Fuck, my woman is fiery. His cock was ready to explode. He knew he was getting to her, but the problem was she was getting to him, too. I spilled my guts to her. What the fuck was up with that? He never told anyone all that shit, not even Banger. Rubbing his face again, he thought about how she’d pay for slapping him. Her sweet ass had a lot of spankings coming.
He swaggered out of the coffee house, hopped on his Harley, and sped down the street, his cheek still stinging. Breathing in the fresh mountain air, he rode toward the clubhouse.
Chapter Fourteen
It was Saturday night and Cara hadn’t spoken to Hawk since Wednesday. She still couldn’t believe she’d smacked him across the face. In fact, she had never hit anyone in her life, but there was something about Hawk which caused her to act irrationally. The man infuriated her and turned her on at the same time, which was a bit unnerving, to say the least. When Trevor had cheated on her and broke her heart, she had been crushed and disappointed, but she’d never felt the urge to physically attack him.
Hawk brought out the best and the worst in her, and he turned her life into an out-of-control roller coaster. She couldn’t wait until she finished his case. She never felt such a strong draw to anyone before, and it seemed surreal to her at times. Reminding herself that they belonged to different worlds had become her new norm: his universe was dangerous, rough, and demanded raw emotion while hers was safe, refined, and expected gentle feelings. Surviving in each other’s worlds didn’t seem possible.
Cara looked at her phone and saw it was five o’clock. Crap, I have to meet Sherrie in thirty minutes. As she put the last touches of gloss on her berry-stained lips, the doorbell rang. Before opening the door, she peered through the peephole and saw Hawk standing on her porch.