Page 23 of Hawk

“Hannah must have sent something with Knuckles.”I nodded toward a small pile on the bed that hadn’t been there when we got up.

Carrie’s cheeks flushed again as she picked through the clothes.Simple jeans, a black T-shirt, and underwear.And her property vest.“Are you sure?”

“You ain’t backin’ out on me now, woman.I’ll still honor your decision if you don’t want to put this on, but I will do everything in my power to change your mind.Even if I have to crawl on my knees through broken glass.”

Her smile softened and she looked up at me.“That was beautiful.”Then that same, gorgeous, intoxicating smile turned positively wicked.“I can’t wait to tell Pippa and Hannah how poetic you are.”She leaned in on her tiptoes and kissed me once more before rushing to get dressed.

“I ain’t fuckin’ poetic.What the fuck, woman?”

I dressed quickly in clean jeans and a fresh T-shirt, pulling on my cut over it to the sound of Carrie’s laughter.The familiar weight of the leather vest with Kiss of Death MC patches settled on my shoulders, grounding me.As I watched Carrie dress, a sense of possessiveness washed over me.I needed everyone to know she was mine.

I picked up the cut Knuckles had brought for her.I’m not sure how he’d got it made this fast, but I was grateful.“Turn around, honey.”She did and I helped her into the vest.“This will let everyone in the compound know you belong to me.It’ll also clue the club girls into the fact I’m taken.

“So this is what Kat was talking about.”

“Yes.This is the property thingie.”

“Revenge for the whole poetic comment?”

I just grinned.

Chapter Eight

Carrie

I’d spent the majority of my life hiding behind baggy clothes and an invisible persona, so the idea of wearing something that so blatantly proclaimed my connection to Hawk made my stomach flutter with equal parts excitement and terror.The vest was black leather with “PROPERTY OF HAWK” emblazoned across the back in bold white lettering above the Kiss of Death MC patch.The front had my name on one side with “OLD LADY” on the other.

“How does it feel?”he asked, his voice rough with emotion.

“Like armor,” I replied honestly.And it did.Despite the possessive wording, wearing this vest made me feel protected rather than owned.It was a declaration to the world that I belonged somewhere, to someone, and that I wasn’t alone anymore.

“That’s my girl.”Hawk beamed at me like he was the proudest man in the world.And he was looking straight at me.

“When this is over, remind me to thank you.”

“For what, honey?”

“For that look.”I reached up and stroked his beard.

“Not sure what look you’re referrin’ to, but I’ll do my best to give it to you all the time if I figure out what it is.”

I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips, but it faded slowly.“Hawk.”

“What is it, baby?”

“Please tell me you’re real?That this shit between us is real?”I hated how small I sounded.I wasn’t as good as my brothers or as smart as my father, but I wasn’t weak.I could hold my own in a fight, I could think on my feet, and I was generally a decent person.

“Honey, what’s this?”He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip.“We take a property cut seriously.You don’t get one unless a brother’s serious.I’m dead fuckin’ serious, Killer.You’re my woman.I will protect you with every fuckin’ thing in me.”Hawk framed my face with his hands, his eyes dark and intense.“You’re mine, Carrie.Ain’t lettin’ your father or your brothers take you away from me.”

“It’s just gonna suck really hard if you decide this is more trouble than I’m worth and kick me out.”I tried to smile and be flippant about it, but the thought really hurt.

“Never, baby.And I see it now.”

“See what?”

“The false humor.How you keep your face blank when you’re facing someone you’re unsure about.”He shook his head.“You don’t do it with me, though.”

“I don’t?”

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