Page 34 of Hawke

Simon eyed me up and down, shoving his hands in his pocket. “I’m glad you came in that day. It was a real blessing. Keep up the good work.” He nodded and turned his back to leave.

As he did, a hand covered my mouth, and a shockwave of warmth settled over my body. I felt a scorching heat within me, a fire that seemed to reach down to the depths of my being and spread out between my legs. I’d fallen into a lust filled fog, my body settling up against the one man I would almost do anything for.

“I’m here to take you home.” Hawke let me go, and I turned to give him a scowl.

“No.” I walked away from him to finish the dishes, which were almost done anyway. He waited silently in the corner, leaning against a rack filled with dry goods.

“A home is where the heart is; ever heard of that? My heart has no home,” I spat.

I continued washing the dishes, waiting for Hawke to say something more, but he was always a man of few words. I was the one that kept the conversation going, doing silly things to make him laugh or make him talk.

I let out the water, drying my hands with my apron, and reached for my bag in the corner.

“You’re still here?” I eyed him and stepped past him to grab my tips at the front.

He raised an eyebrow, amused at my careless attitude toward him. It wasn’t my style to ignore him. I usually gave him a pretty little smile and told him everything was ok when it wasn’t.

But nothing was okay anymore.

“I’m so sorry.” Hawke reached for my hand, but I pulled away, walking to the front to grab my tips.

Once I grabbed my tips, Simon gave a silent wave, and I went out the front door. Usually I went out the back, but Hawke was still there, and I wasn’t about to deal with him in the back alley. I’d been pinned too many times in the dark corners of alleyways, closets, and lampposts with his secret kisses, and I wouldn’t let that happen again.

No sir, he ain’t gettin’ any of this.

Because I’m worth it.

I pulled my bag over my shoulder, tightening my grip.

How in the heck did he find me? Sure, I dreamed he would come and look for me, but that was beside the point.

He shouldn’t be here.

I knew the Iron Fang had connections. They could find anyone if they wanted, but I was careful. It took three different buses to get here over two days to get to this town. Yet, here he is.

I could feel my teeth clench involuntarily as the sound of his engine grew louder and closer. I swear I could hear him chuckling, being a complete butthole and smiling like nothing was wrong.

“Get on the bike, Delilah,” he barked.

I shook my head and kept walking. We had an audience now, all the rich fancy people staring at the tattooed biker and the waitress walking down the middle of Main Street. They were pointing, gasping at his appearance like he was a freak show. Then, of course, one of them had to pull out a cell phone to take pictures.

“Leave, Hawke, you’re making a scene,” I said, keeping my back straight. “They’ll call the cops on you, and you don’t have any jurisdiction down here.” Because we both knew the Iron Fang had the cops in their back pocket because they took care of criminals in unconventional ways.

He revved the engine again, the loud noise echoing off the buildings. I stopped, stomping my foot.

“Leave, isn’t that what you wanted? You wanted to die alone and miserable? You got it! I left. I have released myself from the protection of the Iron Fang and from you. Now get out of here!” I waved my hand for him to go, but he pushed his kickstand out and killed the engine.

He trotted up beside me, grabbing my arm, but I pulled it away.

“I know I hurt you,” Hawke began, “and I can’t tell you how sorry–”

“No, you can’t tell me how sorry you are because you always say you’re sorry. Then you try to act best buds, maybe a little more. Kiss me, make me fall deeper–” I bit my tongue. “It will not work out between us. I should have cut you off a long time ago for my sanity.”

I turned away from him, but the grip on my arm was too great. He ripped me around, placing his lips on mine. At first, I fought him, pushing against his chest. Hawke deepened the kiss, his lips massaging me until he slipped his tongue in.

I tried to understand why his kiss felt so intense, stronger, and more passionate, but I could not explain why it felt so good.

I can’t let this happen.

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