Page 123 of Damaged Protector

I leaned back into him, swirling one foot in the water. “Let’s see. I’ve been to all fifty states except for South Dakota, North Carolina, and Alaska. Mostly for dance competitions.” Squeezing his knee, I asked, “You’re from North Carolina. What’s it like?”

“I don’t know. It’s nice, I guess. A good place for an outdoorsy kid like me to grow up. We lived near Camp Lejeune, which is in the southeastern part of the state.”

I giggled, and he tickled his fingers against my ribs. “What’s so funny?”

“I’m just imagining a little nine-year-old Hawk with a full beard running around in the woods.”

His lips curled into a smile against my temple. “You’re crazy. I only had a mustache when I was nine,” I teased. “But I did spend a lot of time outside.”

“Jennifer too?”

“Lord no. She might have gotten dirt under her fingernails,” he said in mock horror. “When my dad was home, we always did things outdoors. He’s the one who taught me about plants and stuff.”

That’s why he loves working in the yard.

“You miss him.”

I felt his exhale against the side of my face. “I do. He was gone a lot, but when he was home, he was a great dad. Spent all his free time with us. A lot of family stuff, but he made time to do things with us individually too.” Hawk’s voice went quiet. “He was so fucking strong… until he wasn’t.”

Kissing his chin, I nuzzled my nose against his jaw. “I’m sorry, baby.”

His eyes were trained on the water. “I guess that’s why I’m so closed off. I don’t want to allow myself to be vulnerable to any other person like he did.”

“I don’t think you’re closed off. You talk to me.”

He was silent for a long moment. “I do, but mostly it’s to shut you up, Little Bee.”

“Well, that was rude,” I said with faux outrage, smacking the side of his head with my wet hand.

He laughed his deep, rumbly laugh and kissed my neck. “I’m teasing. I like hearing you talk. Speaking of that, we got off topic. What’s your number two?”

“I don’t know. I can’t think of anything interesting.”

“Hmm, what’s your favorite childhood memory?”

Images flashed through my mind, and I smiled. “Not one specific one, but I’d have to say when my family went on vacations with my dad’s brothers and their families.”

“So Cam’s family?”

“Yes, and our Cousin Collin too. Cam’s brother, Graham, liked spending time inside reading, and Collin’s brothers didn’t hang out with us much, so it was just us three. I was a lot younger than them, but they let me tag along. We fished a lot.”

“You like fishing?”

“I do. It’s so relaxing.”

Hawk linked his fingers with mine on his thigh. “Are we going to tell Cam?”

He didn’t have to specify; I knew what he was asking.

“It’s none of his business, and I can’t think of any reason he needs to know. It would only piss him off, and I don’t want to affect his friendship with you.”

Nodding, he said, “Agreed. Now what’s your third thing?”

“I’m afraid of snakes. They freak me the hell out.”

Hawk lifted his hips and dug his penis into my back. “You didn’t seem too freaked out by this one earlier.”

“I said snakes, not worms,” I told him airily, earning me a pinch to my side. “Ow! You brute!” I squirmed away and turned around in the tub to find him scowling at me.

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