She tried to catch up with her, to grab her arm, but just as she got close the man on the motorcycle came roaring between them. Back and forth, back and forth, zipping first one way then the other. She couldn’t get past him no matter how hard she tried, and she could hear him laughing at her.
Then suddenly that dream was over and another one started. She was alone, in an open field. There was nothing but grass and weeds—no trees or buildings. And it was quiet, deadly quiet. Not a sound to be heard.
Then a raucous screech split the air, resonating from overhead. A huge bird soared there, its magnificent wings spread wide, circling above. A hawk. And hawks could kill robins and eat them for lunch.
The bird descended closer, closer, its sharp talons reaching for her. Robyn threw herself on the ground, heart thundering as she waited to be snatched up and consumed. Just as she felt the bird’s feet wrapping around her body, pulling her off the earth, she jerked awake, sitting straight up in bed, her breath coming in gasps.
Wow. It had seemed so real. She buried her head in her hands. Especially the hawk coming to devour her. Talk about symbolism.
Robyn climbed wearily from bed and headed to the shower. She knew there would be no more sleep for her today.
Robyn had traded shifts with one of the daytime bartenders. Rocky’s son was turning two today, and she’d agreed to work for him so he could go to the birthday party. All was quiet when she arrived, and Hawk was nowhere in sight, thank goodness. Business was still fairly slow so Robyn busied herself cleaning shelves and restocking the bar.
She noticed they needed more napkins, so when Brady came on board she headed to the storeroom to get another box. They could use another bottle of triple sec, a bottle of top shelf vodka, and some Crown Royal, too.
Robyn repeated the list to herself as she headed to the storeroom. She pulled the door open and walked straight into a rock-hard chest. Hawk.
Robyn bounced back and almost fell on her ass, but Hawk grabbed her before she could topple over, his hands grasping her bare upper arms. The unexpected feel of his skin seemed to sear her, branding her with his touch.
“I… I’m sorry,” she finally managed to squawk out. “I didn’t know you were in here.”
“Are you sure, Robyn?” His voice held a teasing note. “Maybe you came in here to be alone with me.”
“No, I didn’t.” She gasped and pulled away from him. “I came to get supplies for the bar.”
“Ah, a likely story. Tell me the truth. You can’t resist me, can you? You have to have me.” His mouth quirked slightly at the corner, making his dimple dance in his cheek. He reached out and pulled the door shut behind her. “Go ahead, do with me what you will.”
“What? Tell you to get out of the way so I can get what I came for and get back to the bar?”
She knew he was teasing but his nearness made her feel short of breath. They were too close together, too alone in the isolated room. And suddenly a vision of the predatory hawk in her dreams flashed before her eyes. A cloud of uneasiness settled over her and she knew she had to get away from him.
“Never mind. I’ll come back later.” She swung around and grasped the door knob but it wouldn’t turn no matter how hard she twisted it. Darn! What the hell was wrong with the thing? She needed out of here—now. She shook the knob desperately, feeling like her throat was closing off.
“Hey, Robyn, hey. It’s okay.” Hawk stepped up behind her and dropped his hands on her shoulders. “Slow down, I’ll get the door.” He reached around her and twisted the knob.
Nothing happened.
He tried again. Still nothing.
They were locked in.
Chapter 14
“Darn. I knew this door had been acting up. I just hadn’t gotten around to fixing it yet.”
Robyn whirled to face him. “Do you mean we’re stuck in here?”
“Only for a little while. Somebody’s bound to come along sooner or later.”
“Oh, no. We don’t have to wait that long. I’ve got my phone. I’ll just call Brady to come and let us out.” She fumbled for her cell but caught it on the corner of her pocket, and it crashed to the floor between them.
She and Hawk both bent over to retrieve it at the same time, bonking their heads together on the way down.
“Ow,” they cried in unison, both of them raising up simultaneously, each rubbing their foreheads.
And then their eyes met. His like rich caramel, hers like melted chocolate. Their gazes melded together with a magnetic force.
“Why do I scare you so much?” His soft question came out of the blue, taking Robyn by surprise. She didn’t really know how to answer him.
“You don’t scare me.” She tried to fill her voice with scorn and bravado.
“You’re terrified. Now tell me why.” She knew from his tone she wasn’t fooling him a bit.
“I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because you’re so big, so powerful.” She turned her eyes down and looked at her feet. “Maybe because my mom had a tendency to like big men like you and all of them turned out to be meaner than rattlesnakes. Maybe because you’re rich and I’m not. I don’t know. I just know you petrify me.”
Her voice choked on the last of her words, making them come out sounding strangled. She nervously chewed her lower lip, unable to look at him.
Hawk reached a hand out and tucked a fiery curl behind her ear. “Robyn. I would never hurt you. Ever. I don’t know how I can convince you of that.”
She turned her back to him and pulled her arms tight around her midsection. “It’s not just that, Hawk. We’re… so different. You’ve got your life here and I have a job in Indianapolis.” It wasn’t a job she loved. She taught at a tough inner-city school and was already burnt out, sick of the violence, the attitudes she had to deal with every day. But it’s what she did. Who she was. “I can’t let myself fall for you. Oh, I know, you probably don’t have anything long-term in mind. Just a summer romance. I know you’re a player. I’ve been warned. But I’m scared. What if I… fell in love with you?”
His hands slid down her shoulders, pulling her tense body back against him. He could feel her trembling, hear the raggedness of her breath.
“And what if I fell in love with you?” He brushed his chin across the top of her head. “Love’s a two way street, you know. You’re not the only one who’d be risking their heart.”
“Like that’s likely to happen. You’ve got all kinds of women after you… and from what I understand you’ve taken advantage of that fact. Your reputation proceeds you, Hawk.”
“Any women I’ve been with in the past were perfectly aware that I wasn’t in it for the long run. I always made sure they knew that up front. And heck, most of them weren’t after anything permanent, either, just a roll in the hay.” He paused, drawing her closer, his voice dropping to an intimate level. “But you’re different, Robyn. I don’t know why, I don’t know what it is, but I know I want to be with you. I have to be with you. I know once will not be enough.”
Robyn drew in a deep, shuddering breath. God, her whole body was quivering, alive with desire. She wanted this man enough that she was just about willing to throw her doubts and fears to the side. But something held her back.
“I can’t.”
She heard him draw in his breath, felt him slide his arms around her waist, simply holding her for a long moment.
“Maybe not yet, darlin’.” He sighed the words against her hair. “But someday, we will be together. I promise you that.”
His voice throbbed with passion and his lips moved to caress her temple. Just for a moment she allowed herself to indulge in feeling his body pressing against her backside, his arms snug around her waist. For just a minute she wanted to believe him, to imagine what it would be like to be his woman. Groaning, she twisted in his arms and raised her lips to his, drinking in the rich taste of him. Oh, God, help her.
Hawk moaned, his mouth moving in to claim hers. He drew her closer, tighter, his arms wrapping he
r in his embrace. Lord, if this moment could last forever she would be one happy woman.
She slid her hands down his back, clutching his ass in her hands. Damn, it was firm, steely. She caressed the hard muscles, sliding her hands up and down, moving from his lower back to his upper thighs. Mmm, those powerful thighs. Powerful enough to crush her between them.
“God, you taste so good, so special.” His molten voice whispered in her ear. “I can’t get enough of you.”
And she couldn’t get enough of him. His lips, his hands, his torso. She wanted to feel them against her skin.
“Damn you, Hawk. Damn you,” she cried as she gave up her resistance. This was one battle she wasn’t strong enough to fight, one war she couldn’t win. The lure was too strong, the prize too great. She turned and clung to him, shaking with emotion. God, she wanted him. Surely the pleasure would be worth the pain that would inevitably follow.
Hawk gathered her to him, kissing her forehead, her eyelids, brushing across the bridge of her nose with those sensitive lips. Robyn stopped fighting, melting against him, her senses reeling.
Hawk slid the strap of her tank top down her shoulder, the thin strap of her bra following it. His thumb stroked across the exposed skin, sending butterflies winging to her abdomen. When his lips replaced his thumb, she felt warm liquid flowing between her legs. She couldn’t stop the moan that escaped her lips.
Now his other hand roamed up her side, exploring, discovering little spots that made her gasp and groan. She felt his fingers sliding up to cup her breast, gently grazing across her hardened nipple.
Robyn’s head spun, her mind rocking with emotions. Hunger, desire, need: all fought for her attention. Yet all she seemed to be able to focus on was her body, the vibrations traveling through it, the melting spot in the center of her crotch.
Hawk’s lips voyaged along the length of her neck, tickling softly at her sensitive skin. She let her head fall backwards, giving in to the whirlwind of sensations sweeping her away.
His lips moved lower, covering her nipple, dampening her pale pink shirt, drawing a groan from her lips. He drew the swollen bud into his mouth, suckling her breast as one hand slid lower, following her spine. His fingers played beneath the waistband of her shorts, teasing, toying with the crack of her ass.
Then he let his hand slide around to the front of her shorts, deftly undoing the snap and sliding the zipper down. When he slipped his hand into the heart of her femininity, past the thin strip of satin between her legs and targeting her clit, she couldn’t stop the groans erupting from her throat.
Dear God, how was she supposed to survive this tidal wave of sensations? A kaleidoscope of colors swirled before her eyes, growing more vivid with every stroke of his finger. She clenched her arms around him as a climatic wave swept over her, flooding her with soul quaking vibrations, sweeping her away on a sea of stimuli. She lost her mind for a while, all her senses gone in this moment, this amazing moment. It seemed she could actually feel her body floating back to earth, effervescent, limp, completely satisfied and content.
Chapter 15
Robyn nestled into Hawk’s shoulder, her breathing still rattling her body. She was trying to comprehend the fact that he had created those sensations with just the touch of his finger. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like having him inside her.
And she couldn’t wait to find out. She’d come this far. There was no backing out now. She had to know, had to experience making love to this man.
Her face wore a look of awe. Her eyes glazed over with overwhelming passion one moment, and then the next flew open with shock. The door suddenly flew open and light from the hallway lit up the storage room.
Brady stood framed in the storeroom door, a bright blush staining his cheeks.
“Holy crap. Damn.” He stepped backwards and slammed the door.
Geez. The passion drained away as quickly as if someone had tossed a bucket of cold water in her face. The truth of the situation slammed into her brain. Damn. She’d been about to make love with this man right here on the storeroom floor.
A gentle rap sounded on the door—her signal to detach herself from Hawk’s tempting body. Fuck, just fuck.
“Come in, Brady,” Hawk called out, adjusting his jeans over his bulging erection.
“Um, sorry to disturb you, boss, but you’ve got a phone call. Somebody from the excise department.”
Robyn watched Hawk battle his temper. He wanted to say the hell with excise. All he wanted was to make love to this woman. He could care less about a phone call. And if it had been anyone else calling he might have told Brady to take a message, he’d call them back later. But when excise called…
“I’ll be there in a minute.” He ground the words about between clenched teeth. Damn. Sometimes he wondered why he bothered to keep this business open. It was almost more trouble than it was worth.
He shook his head. That wasn’t true. He loved the Hawk’s Nest. It just wasn’t convenient right now.
“I have to go.” His words came out in a quiet tone, meant just for her ears. “But I want to see you tonight. You get off at six, right?” He studied her face, watching her reactions.
Robyn couldn’t speak, just nodded.
“I’ll see you then.” He looked into her eyes for a long moment, piercing her with his golden gaze.
She simply nodded her head.
With that he pulled her near him for one last kiss then turned and walked away without looking back.
All Robyn could do was watch his sweet ass as it left the room.
It was six o’clock. Robyn gathered up her tips and stuffed them in her pockets. She hadn’t seen Hawk since he’d left her in the store room. She couldn’t decide if she was glad or sad.
On the one hand, she didn’t want to become involved with him. He was definitely aware of the physical attraction she felt for him, of the hypnotic trance he wove around her. He knew he had the upper hand. But there was still a small part of her that rebelled against the idea.
On the other hand, she craved his touch. She wanted him, no disclaiming that fact. And she was tired of denying herself all the simple pleasures of life. She’d given up her social life, her interests, and her hobbies, all because of Crystal. Should she sacrifice any chance at a love life, too?
Anyway, it was time to go. Hawk hadn’t bothered to show up and she wasn’t going to wait around. He knew what time she got off. If he’d wanted to be with her so badly he would have been there.
Robyn forced herself to smile warmly at her coworkers as she prepared to leave. She retrieved her purse and strode across the bar room, stopping to chat with a customer here and there. She finally reached the porch and made her way out the door.
The sun was still high in the sky, shining brightly as she headed across the lot. She’d almost reached her car when Hawk suddenly appeared at her side.
“Why don’t you take your car home and I’ll follow you on the bike? Then we’ll take a ride together.” She couldn’t help but observe the sparkle in his eye.
Well, if she was going to follow her instincts, now was the time to say so. She needed to tell him no, she didn’t want to ride behind him on his motorcycle, pressed up against his body. Hugging his torso between her legs. But suddenly that image was irresistible. She wanted to know what it felt like. And she was going to find out.
“Okay.” She regretted it the moment the agreement fell from her lips, even though a secret thrill ran up her spine. She needed to run the other way from this man, the one man in the world who tempted her, the only man it seemed she couldn’t resist. “See you there.”
The trip to the motel had never seemed to go so fast. Suddenly they were there, and Hawk straddled his big hog next to her in the parking lot. God, he looked so fierce, so masculine with his close-cut beard and sleek black ponytail.
“You might want to grab a jacket. It can get chilly on the back of a bike.”
She nodded and headed off to do his bidding, trying to ignore t
he chunk of fear in her stomach. She hated to admit it, but she’d never ridden on a motorcycle before. What if she fell off?
Her panic must have shown on her face when she returned because he eyed her curiously. “How much experience do you have with riding?”
“Well, um… none.”
“That’s okay, darlin’. All you have to do is sit back and hold on.” He grinned and scooted a bit forward on the seat. “Climb aboard.”
Raising her leg high enough to get it over the seat and between Hawk and the backrest for the passenger felt a bit awkward, but she finally managed to get on the rumbling motorcycle. As soon as she did she clutched him around his waist, squeezing tightly.
“Relax, Robyn, just hold on. I still need to breathe, honey. Now when I go around corners I’m going to lean into the turn but you don’t need to. Okay?”
She chewed her lips, nodding determinedly. She wasn’t going to make a fool of herself. She wouldn’t allow it.
Hawk rolled the bike backwards then began to accelerate forward. As they began to pick up speed she couldn’t help seizing his waist again and burying her head in his back, her heart midway up her throat. Before long, though, as the bike purred along the road, Robyn relaxed enough to open her eyes and peek around.
The scenery was zipping past, but Robyn realized she could see it more clearly than she ever had from within the confines of a car. Here nothing obscured her view: no glass, no frame, nothing. The wind whipped past her face and the big machine vibrated between her legs.
She became aware of how closely she and Hawk were pressed together, her legs outlining his ass, her breasts pressed against his back. It almost felt as if they were one unit, melded together on the bike, flying across the land.
Hawk guided the bike off the highway and onto a secondary road that headed into the hills. The trees grew thicker, creating an emerald arch overhead.
“How do you like it?” Hawk hollered over his shoulder.
Bad Boy Series: Hawk's Call (Bad Boy Romance Book 1) Page 6
