Page 88 of Witness Protection

“It brought the two of you together. I like the sound of that.”

“Why?”

She shrugged, keeping her mouth shut. Sophia had to remind herself her feelings were abnormal. Good women fell in love with one man, not two.

Hawk pulled down his sleeve, just a Band-Aid on his arm. He stood up and approached her. There was fire in his eyes.

“You should rest. The doctor said you could get dizzy if you do too much too soon.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

She wanted to back away from him, but she was already pinned against the wall. “What are you doing?” she asked, her voice barely forming a whisper.

Hawk tilted her chin up. “You love him. The man who killed your father.”

Sophia kept quiet. Her body tensed, her fears seeping to the surface. Loving two meant losing both.

“Never lie to me, Sophia. Do you love him?”

She shrugged. “Maybe I don’t know what love is.”

“Do you love me?”

This time she looked him in the eyes.

“I don’t want to hurt either of you, Hawk. I’m broken. Messed up in the head. I wish I was normal, but my life has always been far from it.”

He inhaled, his chest expanding, his features set. Hawk began to pace in front of her, one hand squeezing behind his neck. “I’m ready to commit to you for the rest of my life. You have no idea how much I love you.”

“Please don’t hate me.”

“I just want to understand,” he said.

She shook her head. There was nothing to explain. He already knew the truth. It made her stomach knot, nausea washing over her in waves. She felt like a monster.

“Tell me what to do,” she said.

Sophia held his shirt, needing to feel his affection, and desperate for a voice of reason.

He said nothing but leaned down to kiss her. She closed her eyes and savored the feel of his lips. The domination. His acceptance settled her nerves, her entire body feeling spineless and wanton.

“First things first. We need ice.”

Hawk grabbed the ice bucket from the top of the bar and then took her hand as they left the suite. Cayden was still passed out on the couch, his color already improving.

They walked down the hall, and Hawk held a door open for her to enter. The tiles were cool on her bare feet compared to the carpet in the hall. The large ice machine took up the corner, but rather than filling the bucket, Hawk set it on the ground, his eyes focused on her. He pulled a wooden wedge from his pocket and shoved it under the door, sealing them in the small room.

Her heart began to race in anticipation.

“I’ve been holding back since your birthday. All I’ve been thinking about is fucking you again. Especially after losing you again. I think you’ve had enough time to recover, no?”

She nodded.

“Good girl.” Sophia loved when he said that to her. It made her want to please him even more.

“Take off your clothes for me. I want to see you naked.”

Sophia wasn’t ashamed of her body. And she wanted Hawk, all of him, forever. She removed her shirt and pants, then unfastened her bra, and wiggled out of her panties. The room was chilly, and her nipples pebbled into tight little buds. Gooseflesh broke out on her arms. The exhilaration of standing there in the nude heated her from the inside out.

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