Page 83 of Hawk
Chapter 27
Hawk
Her soft lips feltlike heaven as we sat on the couch, kissing like a couple of teenagers. To have such a simple act cause my heart to beat almost out of my chest told me this meant more than anything I’d ever experienced. Stella always had an aura around her, showing her beautiful heart and kind soul. Even when she was trapped in hell with a monster, there was always something about her that called to me.
The sound of laughter outside the cabin brought the kiss to its conclusion, and when she pulled back from me, I saw her lips were red and a little swollen from our embrace. Gently, I pecked her lips again and smiled at her.
“Are you okay?” I asked, needing to make sure I hadn’t pushed her past her comfort level.
One day, I would ravage her until she passed out from pleasure, but only after she showed me, both with words and actions, that’s what she wanted. Until then, my needy cock and I would have to be patient.
“I’m wonderful,” she stated, and I could see the wheels in her head spinning. Cautiously, she asked, “Was . . . was I doing it right?”
Fighting hard to not show her the anger inside me, I leaned over and whispered into her ear, “That was the best kiss I’ve ever had.”
“You don’t have to say that,” she whispered, and I could sense her uncertainty.
I knew I needed to nip her self-deprecation in the bud, so I slid off the couch and kneeled in front of her. Slowly, I took her cheek into one hand while the other rested on her knee. “I don’t say things I don’t mean, so when I say you’re the best kisser I’ve ever had, I mean it.” Her cheeks grew red, and I continued, wanting her to know exactly how much I wanted her. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met, both inside and out. You’re kind, fierce, loving, and absolutely one of a kind.”
“I’m none of those things, Colton. I’m . . . damaged.”
“We’re all damaged in one way or another. But you’ve taken what you lived through and made a good life for yourself. You’ve been a protector to Hailey, even when she wasn’t aware, you’ve found a way to put the pain in the past, and I just wish I’d found you sooner.” Leaning over, I kissed her softly and said, “You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met.”
“I don’t feel strong,” she replied.
“I won’t discuss anything from . . . back then, but I will tell you this. You could have shrunk in on yourself and let the monsters drag you under. Instead, you took control of your destiny and rose above it all. Never doubt yourself, Stella. And if it takes until the last days of our lives, I will tell you how wonderful you are.”
I felt like a sap, but she needed to know how I felt without me blurting out that I loved her. And I did love her, unlike any kind of love I’d ever experienced, and I would wait until the end of time to be with her. If we never had more than what happened tonight, I could die a happy man.
She brought her hands to my cheeks and kissed me softly before pulling back and looking deeply into my eyes. “How did I not see how amazing you are?”
“You were dealing with a lot, and I wasn’t in a good place back then. Now, we have a lifetime to learn, explore, and if I have my way, one day, you’ll be wearing my cut.” Lowering my voice, I said, “And nothing else.”
Her legs began to open, and I pressed closer to her without actually touching her and waited for her to make a move. Sex was off the table tonight, but I would take her to heaven if she gave me the words.
“You really want that?” she asked, sounding unsure.
Now was the time to tell her how much I wanted her and to let her decide how far she was comfortable going. “More than anything. If you give me the chance, I’ll take you to heaven and back again.”
Her eyes closed slightly and her chest rose and fell as she took in my words. Something must have shifted in her mind because she whispered, “I want that too.”
