by Tarah Scott
He released her nipple and buried his face near her ear. “You like this, sweetheart?”
She nodded into his chest.
“Good, because I want to touch you all over…suck you all over.” She shuddered and he felt the tightening of her channel walls around his fingers. He gritted his teeth against the need to shove his cock inside her pussy. “I don’t have a condom with me, Liz. But I’ll make you come every way you can imagine, my cock inside your ass while my fingers are inside you.”
She ground the cleft of her ass against his cock. His balls tightened. She wanted everything he had to give, and she could damn well take it, even if she didn’t know it yet.
Her walls fluttered, then she spasmed around his fingers. “That’s it, baby. Take all you want.”
The pulse that beat in her neck thundered against his jaw. He stroked and her legs clamped tight around his hand as another orgasm shook her. Before the shudder had passed, she was reaching for his belt.
Hawk thought he would go out of his mind. She undid the belt and pulled the buttons free. His strangled laugh cut off when she pulled back his boxer briefs and fisted his cock in a tight grip that seared him to the core.
“Liz.” He yanked his fingers from inside her.
Her head jerked up. He seized the sleeves of the coveralls and tugged them from her arms. She tumbled from his lap when he dragged the coveralls down her hips. He yanked them free of her legs, then tossed the jacket on the ground beside them and pulled her up to kneel on the fabric. Hawk turned her back to him and undid her bra. The elastic sprang forward, and she tossed it aside, then started to face him.
“Don’t move,” he ordered.
She twisted her head in his direction. He leaned forward and placed a hard kiss on her mouth. “Don’t. Move.”
She didn’t but stared at him from over her shoulder as he shucked his boots, jeans, underwear, and shirt. When he sidled up behind her on his knees, she froze.
“Remember what I said,” he whispered into her hair.
She didn’t reply, and he pressed closer, his dick aligned with the crevice of her ass. She sucked in a breath, and Hawk feared he wouldn’t be able to keep it together long enough to make good on his promise.
Chapter Nine
Liz’s stomach was in free fall. She’d never had a man do to her what Hawk promised to do…what he was about to do. He pressed closer. She was acutely aware of his large hands on her hips and the taut control behind the deceptively light grasp. He flattened his palms on the curve of her ass and slid downward.
She drew a sharp breath when his fingers dipped between her soaked folds. Liz held her breath, expecting him to enter her channel again. Instead, he dragged her cream back. She shivered when he gently inserted a lubricated finger into her anus, carefully stretching her. He inserted two fingers, widening the tight ring of muscle in delicious pleasure.
By the time he flattened his palms on her ass and gently spread her butt cheeks, she was trembling. He fitted the thick shaft in the crevice and slowly released her buttocks around him.
A thrill raced through her. Hawk pressed his chest against her back, warm and reassuring, then grasped her waist and slowly slid his erection forward through the slickened crevice. Liz leaned into him, and his fingers tightened on her flesh. She reached around and grasped his butt. Muscled flesh tensed beneath her fingers. He thrust upward, then down, then up again. When he moved downward, this time he leaned back and she felt the bulbous head at the entrance to her anus.
Hawk again opened her wide and this time gently pushed his cock in a fraction. She sucked in a breath, startled by the feel of the tight opening stretched beyond capacity. He’d felt huge while inside her channel, but now he felt mammoth. Liz swallowed, suddenly uncertain, but when his hand slid around her hips and dipped into the moist heat of her slick pussy, she melted against him. He pushed his finger deeper as his cock moved a fraction deeper.
He inserted a second finger and gently thrust inside. Liz gasped at the unexpected, pleasurable burn of his cock inching inward. She dug her fingers into his ass and shoved hard to meet the fingers working their wicked magic a second time. Hawk wrapped his free arm around her waist, holding her steady as he pushed into her rectum. She gulped air.
“You all right?” he asked.
She nodded. He gave a low laugh that told her he was well aware of her pleasure, then slowly pulled back until she thought the tip was going to pop out. He thrust in, faster this time, and she flushed when his balls brushed the spot beneath her anus. He began a faster rhythm, his cock in her ass, his fingers keeping pace inside her pussy, and her pulse accelerated. She nestled closer to his groin, angling her hips so that his balls slapped harder.
His arm tightened around her waist, and she realized he understood she wanted all of him. He angled her hips slightly more upward, and his balls hit with more force as he rammed his cock against the outer wall of her womb. She cried out, and his finger began a faster motion inside her slippery channel.
“I never break a promise.”
His hoarse words were strained, and she knew he teetered on the edge of orgasm. Feminine pride swelled. Who could make who come first? She rocked harder against his finger, slamming back against his rod as he thrust.
“Liz,” he growled.
She kept pace with his rhythm, determined to give as good as she got. His arm clamped iron-like around her in a breath-stealing hold. Her pussy tightened and clenched around his fingers. A whimper escaped her lips, then she moaned.
“You’re not playing fair,” he ground out.
Unexpected pressure to her clit sent pleasure spiraling through her. She gasped and seized his arm, as much to keep from losing her balance as in an effort to stop him from bringing her to another hard climax. Wet friction turned hot between her legs. Her clit clenched, and an orgasm fractured through her. She cried out.
He pistoned into her, the rhythm so hard and fast that the spasm took her breath. Liz cried out his name. He growled and thickened inside her ass.
Then exploded.
****
Hawk didn’t want to travel any more tonight if he could help it. Hell, he didn’t want to move from on top of Liz. But he slid from her nonetheless, pulling her close. Their sweat-slicked bodies would cool off all too quickly in the tiny breeze, but he was going to hold her naked body for a final few moments before he insisted they get dressed. He detected a tremble in her, but knew it wasn’t from the cool night air. Chances were the gravity of what they’d just done was crashing in on her…or what she thought of what they’d just done, to be more accurate.
“I don’t regret a thing.” Except getting her into this mess to begin with. But he’d deal with Reid tomorrow.
“We’re in an unusual situation,” she said.
Hawk jerked from his thoughts. “What?”
“The circumstances are tense. I’m scared—”
“You sure as hell weren’t scared this afternoon when you showed up at the dig or earlier, when we were in the Land Cruiser. And,” he added before she could reply, “things didn’t have to go down the way they just did. Unless you’re going to tell me you expected everything I gave you.”
She muttered something into his chest.
“What?” he demanded.
“Young whippersnapper.”
He laughed, then rolled on top of her again. “Could a young whippersnapper do all the things I just did to you?” He couldn’t discern a blush but knew by the way her lashes dropped that she was flaming. “Look at me, Liz.”
She hesitated, then shifted her eyes back to his face.
“You’re beautiful and smart, and you’ve got guts.”
“I’ll take that,” she replied, and he laughed again.
He stared at her for a long moment, seriously considering making love to her a second time, when she said, “They’ve amped things up, haven’t they?”
He released a breath and shifted back to her side. “I should have known last night when the
y pulled that stunt in the parking lot, but I still had it figured that they were trying to scare me.”
“You acted like they really were going to mow me down with that SUV.”
That’s what he’d thought at the time, but then the light of day had him thinking even Reid wasn’t that stupid. Hawk nodded.
“Last night,” she murmured.
“What?”
“They saw you risk your life for me, and you knew what they would think. That’s why they slashed my tires. They were telling you they would hurt me if you didn’t comply.” Liz traced a finger along his jaw. “I’m so sorry.”
He grasped her hand and pressed a kiss to her fingers. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“No, but, like you said, I have lousy timing.” She released a breath. “But if they intended to use me against you, why the direct attack tonight?” Before he could answer, she added, “Because something happened after they sabotaged the cars.”
“I said you were smart. Let’s get dressed.” Hawk pulled her into a sitting position and scanned the ground for her bra and panties. They lay a few feet to the right. He scooped them up and handed them to her. “This is as good a place as any to catch some sleep. I want to head back by first light.”
“First light?” she burst out.
“It’s not safe tonight. They’re sure to have someone watching the cars.” He put on his boxer briefs.
“Shouldn’t we try to get to the road?”
“We’re fifteen miles off Highway 87, as the crow flies. Travelling all night through these hills isn’t a great idea.”
“Staying here is?”
He grabbed his jeans. “It’s our best choice.”
Liz examined her panties and turned them around before sticking one foot then the other into the legs. “You don’t think there’s a chance they’re still looking for us?”
“They’re not the type to rough it in the mountains.” Hawk paused in pulling on his jeans to watch her shimmy her lace panties over her hips.
“Damn it, Liz. Do that a second time, and I’ll take off those panties and kiss you all over.”
Her head snapped up.
“Don’t doubt I can do it.”
“We just finished,” she said in an incredulous voice.
“That wouldn’t stop me.”
She hesitated, and he realized she was considering testing him. He waited, wondering how long it would take her to decide. When she reached for the bra, he figured embarrassment had won out. That was all right. He wouldn’t wait too long to prove he didn’t make idle statements. He grabbed his shirt and, a minute later, they were dressed.
Hawk picked up the jacket, then settled against the incline of the hill alongside the rifle and cooler, and extended a hand. “Come here.”
She took two steps and lowered herself beside him. He pulled her against his chest, then laid the jacket over her shoulders.
“We can’t be sure they won’t still be watching the cars early morning. I don’t want another run-in with The Beanstalk.”
“The Beanstalk.” She grinned against his chest. “You mentioned him last night in the parking lot. Why do you call him that?”
“Did you get a look at the guy? He’s tall and skinny.”
“But dangerous,” she murmured.
Yeah. More dangerous than he’d realized.
Chapter Ten
Liz halted and jerked her gaze to Hawk, who already had the rifle pointed in the direction of the sound to their right. Sunlight seeped across the early morning sky, casting enough light into the wide saddle they were crossing to make them easy targets. A murmur of voices floated to them from around the hill.
Hawk motioned her to go to the left toward the hillside. She quietly followed his lead as he sidestepped in that direction. Her heart pounded. There were no trees or rocks to use as cover. If Hawk shot one of the men, would the other shoot him before he could shoot back? They were so close to the dig—fifteen minutes, Hawk had estimated. Reid must be desperate to have sent his men into the mountains after them again.
A man appeared around the bend. “Whoa!” he called, his eyes glued to Hawk’s rifle.
He lifted his hands to show he held no weapon, but Liz saw the revolver strapped to his waist. She gave a small cry at recognizing the grey uniform of law enforcement and the mounted unit patch on his arm.
Hawk lowered the rifle. “You almost got yourself shot.”
“I see that.” The man glanced from him to Liz. “Professor Hawkins? Ms. Williams?”
Hawk nodded.
“You two all right?” he asked.
“Yes,” Hawk replied.
The man pulled the radio from his belt. “Joe, I found them fifteen minutes to the north. They’re alive and well. We’ll meet you back at the cars.”
The radio clicked, then, “Roger that,” Joe replied. “Over.”
Liz startled at the feel of Hawk’s hand on her shoulder and leaned into him as he pulled her close.
The man clipped the radio back to his belt. “You’ve got some worried friends and relatives.”
“Who alerted you?” Hawk asked.
“Ms. Williams’ daughter reported her missing. We would have had no idea to look for her out here, but the sergeant who questioned her remembered a call from a Ms. Gloria Alameda who said you didn’t come home last night, Professor Hawkins. When Ms. Williams’ daughter mentioned your name, he put two and two together.” The officer gave them a penetrating look. “The officer who drove out here found your two vehicles and realized something was wrong. What happened out here last night?”
“We had a couple of men shooting at us,” Hawk said.
The officer’s gaze sharpened. “You know who they were?”
“I do, and we can give a full statement.”
He nodded. “Let’s get back.” He looked at Liz. “Your daughter is very worried.”
Liz’s stomach clenched. Emma would be worried sick. Once her concern passed, she would know something had happened between her mother and her professor.
****
Detectives Lyons looked at Hawk from across the small table in the interview room. The police had separated him and Liz when they’d arrived at the precinct an hour ago.
“You’re absolutely positive the men were Harry Jones and Jack Phillips?” Lyons asked.
“I’ve seen them half a dozen times,” Hawk said. “The Beanstalk—Harry Jones—drives that SUV that tried to run us down the other night.”
“You recognized him that night?”
Hawk shook his head.
“What about a license plate number?” the detective asked.
“I didn’t have time to take notes. You have a witness who saw the whole thing. Didn’t they get it?”
Lyons’ leaned back in his chair. “Ms. Williams told you we had a witness?”
“Yes.”
“Then you know that witness saw you get rough with her.”
Hawk had wondered when the detective would get around to what happened between him and Liz. The detective’s attitude had been subtle but aggressive. “We had a disagreement. I thought Reid sent her.”
“You think it’s okay to get rough with the women Mr. Reid sends your way?”
“No,” Hawk answered honestly. Saying more would only play into the detective’s hands.
Lyons stared for a long moment, then glanced down at the small notebook sitting on the table in front of him. “You were carrying a falling-block rifle when the rangers found you.” Lyons looked up at Hawk. “Do you carry a rifle with you everywhere you go?”
“The rifle stays in my truck. When Liz and I found her slashed tires and my cut brake line, I kept it close. Good thing I did.”
“Yeah?” Lyons said.
“Yeah. Reid’s thugs came back—and shot at us.”
The door opened and another detective entered with a woman. “Professor Hawkins, I’m Detective Marlow, and this is Assistant DA Brenda O’Malley.”
Hawk stood and shook
hands with them.
“We’ve been trying to find solid evidence against Vance Reid for five years,” Brenda said. “Could you identify the men who shot at you in a line-up?”
“Yes,” Hawk said.
“Good. Come on.”
Lyons stood, and Hawk followed the three of them from the room. They reached a small room with a one way glass. Liz was there with a female detective. She gave him a tremulous smile. He crossed to her, and she nearly fell into his arms.
Hawk hugged her tight for a moment, then pulled back. “You ready for this?”
She nodded. “It’s gotta be done.”
“Okay,” Hawk told Brenda.
The men were filed out, and Hawk and Liz each picked out their two attackers. He saw the fear that flickered in Liz’s eyes before she was able to hide it, and he knew what he had to do.
****
“This is ridiculous.” Liz looked from Emma to Hawk. They sat across from her at the kitchen table.
“You’re the one being ridiculous,” Emma said. “Professor Hawkins is right. You can’t stay here alone tonight.”
“Emma,” Liz began, but Hawk cut her off.
“Liz, if you’re not going to think of yourself, think of Emma. What happens if Reid sends someone to your place while Emma’s here?”
That stopped Liz cold. “Em, you have to go away until this is over.”
“What? No way. You’re staying. I’m staying.”
“This isn’t a game.” Liz looked at Hawk. “I’m right. You know it. Tell her.”
“Maybe,” he said.
“No way,” Emma exploded.
“Hold on,” Hawk said before Emma could go ballistic. “Let’s start with tonight, shall we?” He looked at Liz. “We’ve had a rough day. How about we hunker down for the night, the three of us, get some rest, then see what the police come up with tomorrow?”
