“Oh, okay.” For as long as he lived, he’d never figure out women.
She wiped away her tears, kissed him, and said, “I’ve never shared anything this intense with any man. You make me feel things I’ve never felt before. It’s good, honey. It’s all good.”
Hearing her call him honey pleased him, and he wanted to tell her she was his everything, but fear of rejection stopped him. Even though the magic of the moment shrouded her, she didn’t tell him she wanted him, and he wasn’t ready to open his heart all the way. Embracing her, their bodies meshed together as one, and they fell asleep as the first snowflakes of the season whirled outside their window in the frosty wind.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The next morning, snow blanketed the ground, and the late-morning sun strained to break through the clouds as thin shards of ice hung precariously on tree branches. Not wanting to leave the warmth of Hawk’s bed, Cara pulled the covers over her head. Rolling to her side, she watched Hawk as he slept, the usual scowl gone from his face. Smiling, she brushed his cheek.
I adore you. I want to tell you I can’t imagine my life without you, but I’m afraid you’ll push me away. We have great sex together, but for me, it’s so much more. Do you feel anything for me besides the physical pleasure we share? Cara yearned to bare her soul to him but, fearing rejection, she buried her feelings.
Her phone’s beep interrupted her thoughts and, not wanting to wake Hawk up, she picked up her phone and changed the profile to “vibrate.”
Josh: Found out something interesting. Can u get to a computer? I’ll email u what I have.
Cara: Send it to me.
Josh: K Share this with CBI. Don’t do anything alone. B careful!
Cara: I will. Thx will call u.
Glancing at Hawk’s sleeping form as she crept out of bed, her stomach fluttered. He would be mad at her for asking Josh to give her information about the murders, but she had a hunch there was a conspiracy which would rock the whole county, if uncovered. Problem was she didn’t know who was involved, or how to prove it. She hoped Josh gave her a credible lead, and if necessary, she’d enlist Eric’s help; he was in thick with many of the court personnel, since he was a judge.
Of course, anything she found out, she’d turn over to her friend, Jim, and let CBI do the heavy stuff. Hawk wanted her to stay out of it, but she couldn’t. Ever since Nadyia’s sister came to see her, she couldn’t let go of the killings, and Nadyia’s lifeless eyes haunted her. Hawk didn’t understand, and knowing he’d thwart her efforts, she decided not to tell him anything until later.
Sitting at the computer, she focused on the attachment Josh sent her as goosebumps covered her arms. She read the document several times hoping she missed or misunderstood something.
“What are you doing?” Hawk’s voice broke her concentration.
Closing out the screen, she snapped down the cover of her laptop. “Nothing much, just checking e-mails. Sorry if I woke you up.”
“You haven’t told anyone you’re here, right?”
“I haven’t. Everyone thinks I went away for a few days to decompress.”
Hawk narrowed his eyes, and she avoided his look.
“You sure? You’re acting funny.” He set his jaw and lowered his head, studying her face.
Swallowing hard, Cara said, “I’m sure, no one knows. Are you working today?”
A couple of minutes passed before Hawk answered. “Yeah, I’m going to check out my dispensary, then I have some club business to do. I’ll be back later tonight. You look worried.”
“Do I? I guess I’m nervous about all the work I have piling up with all the different cases.”
“I want you to stay inside the clubhouse, got it? I know you’re getting antsy, but for now, you have to listen to me on this. Viper is in Pinewood Springs.”
Cara’s eyes widened. “How do you know that?” The memory of Viper’s thin lips on hers made her tremble.
“I just do. Stay put.”
“Yeah, okay. I got it.”
Going over to her, he hugged her and kissed the top of her forehead. “Be a good girl, okay? Stay here ’til I get back. Should be around eight or so.”
Cara wrapped her arms around Hawk’s waist and kissed his bare chest. “I’ll be here when you get back.”
A tinge of nausea rolled around in Cara’s stomach as Hawk went into the bathroom. She hated deceiving him, but she had to meet with Eric, because the document Josh sent opened up new concerns and questions. Deciding to wait about an hour after Hawk left, she’d zip into town and meet up with Eric. Figuring she’d be back way before Hawk ever returned, he’d be none the wiser.
Her phone vibrated and she viewed the text message:
Eric: Where r u now? I thought u were out of town? What’s going on?
Cara: Can’t explain now. Need to meet u. Got info re killings. Can meet u in hr?
Eric: Can’t. In court—trial. What about later?
Cara: Not too late. What about 6?
Eric: 6:45 is earliest I can do.
Crap, that won’t give me much time before Hawk comes back. If he comes home early, I’m screwed. Maybe I should just wait for tomorrow. Who am I kidding? I can’t stand waiting. I have to meet with Eric to figure out what’s going on. She chewed her bottom lip while pondering the pros and cons of meeting Eric so late, finally deciding that she’d limit her meeting to thirty minutes, max.
Cara: K but let’s meet closer to Ridge View. Downtown too far.
Eric: What about Prospect’s Mine? Close to Ridge View.
Cara: K see u 6:45 at the mine. Later.
She put her phone down as Hawk came out of the bathroom, a blue towel snug around his waist, his hair hung loosely down his back. He winked at her as he took out a clean t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. Watching him as he grabbed another towel and dried his hair, his biceps flexing with each movement, she ran her eyes up and down his body. Damn, he’s sexy in his towel and tats.
Turning around, he caught her checking him out and chuckled. “Babe, you’re gonna give me a hard-on looking at me like that. Fuck, my cock’s already twitching.”
She turned away, her cheeks bright at being caught.
“Don’t have to turn away, baby. If you like what you see, feast your eyes on it, but be ready to fuck me.”
Instead of responding, Cara opened her laptop and pulled up a game of Spider Solitaire. She couldn’t make love to him right then. She was too anxious about meeting Eric and Hawk finding out. Although she hated to admit it, she wanted him to be on his way.
Hawk slipped his jeans on over his bulging cock, smoothed down his black t-shirt, put on his cut, and his boots, then grabbed his leather jacket. He came over to Cara and cupped her chin, dipped his head, and kissed her. Grasping one of her tits, he tweaked her nipple as she moaned and squirmed in the desk chair. “That’s to hold you over until I get back,” he said.
She hugged his waist. “Come home soon,” she said. But not before eight o’clock.
Hawk left the room. When she heard his motorcycle’s engine, she watched him from the window until he and his Harley were mere specks on the desolate road.
* * *
As he exhaled, Viper’s breath came out in puffs of smoke. Where’s the fuckin’ whore? He stood on her porch and tried to look through the closed shutters. He’d been waiting for the slut to come home since the night before, but she hadn’t shown up yet. No doubt fucking that piece of shit’s balls off. What a fuckin’ cunt.
Lighting a cigarette, he inhaled the nicotine deeply. It calmed him. He itched to fuck the big-titted slut, mark her soft flesh, and make her his own sex slave. She had become more than a nuisance to the Nomads with all her prying. He’d teach her a lesson, and he’d throw it in Hawk’s face. That motherfucker needed his ass knocked down several rungs on his high-and-mighty ladder. Hawk was into this slut, and Viper didn’t blame him; she was a hot one. She had a fire in her, and he’d felt it when he’d held her in her office as she’d fought him. He was going to love taming the bitch. Of course, when he tired of her, he’d slit her pretty throat.
Fuck, it’s cold out here. Viper breathed into his ice-cold hands, trying to give them some warmth. The more he stood there waiting, the madder he got. The slut kept causing him trouble, and he couldn’t wait to fuck every one of her holes. He planned to ram his cock so hard in each one that she would beg him to kill her. His cock strained against his jeans as he thought of the fun he’d have with Cara. Fuckin’ slut, she’s gonna get everything she deserves. He mashed his cigarette out on the pristine snow.
His phone vibrated, and as he looked at the text message, an evil sneer spread across his face. By the end of the night, he’d have the bitch fucked, trussed, and on the back of his bike. He’d show her how to behave, and if she gave him lip, well, he’d just have to punish her.
* * *
The day dragged on, and Cara was so nervous she practically jumped out of her skin. She noticed every place she went, Ruben followed and, convinced Hawk made him her bodyguard, she worked on devising a plan to ditch the biker. Knowing Hawk meant well didn’t take away her indignation—sometimes he treated her like a child.
The heat from her ire rose from her neck to her forehead. She was a grown woman who could take care of herself. Cara knew he fancied himself her protector, but even though she liked the way he made her feel safe, sometimes he was too much. Whenever she was with Hawk and men looked at her, he’d throw them one of his menacing scowls, making them turn away. Of course they didn’t want a confrontation with the tall, muscular man wearing his leather jacket with the Insurgents colors. She liked that; she felt protected and cared for. She enjoyed having someone other than herself taking care of things, and that surprised the hell out of her. That day, however, she wished Hawk would have left his he-man attitude in the bedroom, since she needed to get out of the compound without Ruben following her. Damn.