by S. K. Hardy
“How the fuck did you...” Hawk gritted his teeth and slanted his eyes away from his brother. Of course he knew. Lucas was worse than the elders at times.
“Do you really think it was something you could hide?”
Hawk finally exploded. “I don’t answer to you, Luke! I don’t have to tell you a got damn thing, a’ight? I’m warnin’ you now, get off my back with all that bullshit!”
“Or what?” Lucas asked, taking a step closer. “I’m not our uncle. You’re lucky he didn’t knock you flat on your ass for that little stunt you pulled at the restaurant.”
The muscles in Hawk’s jaw jumped furiously. The fuse to his temper was extremely short these days. For some reason Lucas kept striking a match to try and light it. They both knew they wouldn’t like the results if it caught on fire and blew up.
“Okay. Which question do you want me to address first? Uncle Isaac putting his hands on Raven? Why I chose to put some distance between myself and the rest of the family? Or do you want me to just come right out and–”
“Yo yo yo!” A voice behind them suddenly called out and interrupted Hawk’s tirade. “What in the entire fuck is goin’ on here, Pattels? You two still arguing like you used to back in the day?”
Hawk held Lucas’ glare for several moments more before forcing his anger to retreat for now. They both knew this wasn’t the end of the conversation. Turning to see who interrupted them, Hawk’s features relaxed into a more natural state when he saw who it was. Kruz Patterson. He and Kruz had known each other since they were kids. Kruz now ran a nonprofit organization in the same neighborhood he grew up in. The two men didn’t see each other as often as they liked but it was all love whenever they did.
“Hey, man.” Hawk greeted, shaking his hand. “What’s up?”
“I could ask you the same thing, bro,” Kruz commented after greeting Lorenzo and Lucas. “Everything alright over here?”
“It’s all good. Same shit, different day.” Hawk gave Lucas another look of irritation before turning back to Kruz. “So what you been up to? It’s been a while.”
“That it has. Just busy as hell. You know how it is. Where you been hiding?”
“Workin’ my ass off mostly and tryin’ to stay out of trouble. I saw King when I arrived a little while ago. He told me you were here.”
“Yeah, we’ve been here for a minute. Matter of fact, I’m looking for my date now.” Kruz’s eyes darted around the room. “I left her speaking to her old boss and we got separated.”
“Date?” Hawk grinned. “Somebody special or just another one of your ‘hit it and quit its’.”
Kruz laughed and shook his head. “Nah, man, nothin’ like that. She’s just a good friend.”
“Yeah, we both know your meaning of the word ‘friend’ when it comes to women, Puerto Rican Papi,” Hawk teased, using the nickname he’d given him years ago.
“Look who’s talkin’. For a while there, I could barely go a day without seein’ your ugly mug in the papers or on the ‘net. Each time you had a different woman hanging on your arm looking up at you like you’re some kind of god or somethin’.” Pausing, his smile remained in place. But when he asked his next question it was slightly strained. “So, how’s the rest of your family? Everybody good?”
Hawk wasn’t fooled by the seemingly casual question. “I don’t know. Are you askin’ about anybody in particular?” When Kruz looked at him in irritation, Hawk burst out laughing and relented. “Leah’s fine, man. Doin’ her thing.”
Back in the day, his sister, had a huge crush on Kruz. Everyone knew it. At the time, Leah had been entirely too young and immature to deal with a street cat like Kruz. Although he was feeling her as well, he kept his distance because of her age–and because of her brothers.
Kruz nodded slowly. “Good. Tell her I said hello next time you talk to her.”
“Hey, uh, I don’t mean to interrupt, but...” Lucas dragged his eyes away from something that seemed to have caught his attention in the crowd and cut into their conversation. “I need to talk to Hawk for minute. Outside,” he added.
Hawk’s eyes bore into Lucas like he’d lost his got damn mind. “Look, if you tryin’ to continue the conversation we were just having–”
“Uh, no, he’s right Hawk.” Without waiting for an answer Lorenzo grabbed Hawk’s arm and tried to pull him to the exit. “There’s something you need to know. Now.”
Hawk gave him the same look he leveled at Lucas, but he knew his family. Something was up so he didn’t argue. Turning back to tell Kruz he’d catch up with him, Hawk froze when he saw the woman walking towards them. At first Hawk thought he was mistaken, but there was no way that could happen when it came to her. He could pick her out in the dark by sight, touch, taste, and smell if need be.
“Raven?”
CHAPTER 9
Raven saw Hawk at almost the exact moment he spotted her. He could tell by the look on her face that she was just as shocked as he was. She slowed down a few steps away from them before coming to a complete stop.
“Rae, what are you...when did...” He stared at her, trying to formulate a coherent sentence and failing miserably. He pulled away from Lorenzo and started towards her.
Seeing his intention, the shock in Raven’s wide eyes gradually gave way to fear. No, not exactly fear. That was too mild a term to describe what he saw. More like terror at the possibility of confronting him face to face. She pivoted around and headed in the opposite direction.
“Hey, you two know each other?” Kruz asked in confusion.
But Hawk was already in pursuit. “Raven!” He growled in frustration as he literally pushed people out of his way in his haste to get to her. However, Raven easily navigated through the crowd much better than he did and was quickly putting a good bit of distance between them.
“Got dammit, Rae wait!”
He kept his eyes peeled to the back of her head and saw her slip into the ladies restroom. Did she really think that would stop him from coming after her? His jaw hardened in determination. With each step he took his anger mounted. The questions that kept ticking off inside his head didn’t help. What was she doing at the gala? Hell, when had she gotten back to New York? Why hadn’t she called him? As he slammed the door of the bathroom open and went barreling inside, he promised himself he’d get the answer to each and every one of them.
Horrified gasps filled the elegant interior of the ladies room as he stood in the doorway trying to find Raven. Frightened women screamed and clutched their pearls in alarm. Looking around, Hawk caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
It was bad enough that a man came bursting into the women’s bathroom. It was even more frightening when he looked like he was there to commit bloody murder. With his dark brows bunched low over his eyes, square jaw locked into place, and his lips set tight, Hawk understood their fear. He attempted to smooth out his expression in order to appear a little less intimidating. That is, until his eyes met Raven’s.
He crooked his finger at her and ordered in a low voice, “Come here.”
“Screw you!” Raven hissed. For added emphasis, she flipped her middle finger at him, eliciting more shocked gasps from the well to do women.
Hawk’s brows shot up in surprise. Oh really...
Rushing forward, his long legs covered the distance with fierce determination. His intention was crystal clear to everyone present. They quickly scurried out of his way.
Raven’s large eyes dominated her face. An elderly woman beside her tried to get to the safety of a bathroom stall but Raven practically elbowed her aside in order to make it there first. “E-Excuse me, ma’am,” she stuttered before half stumbling inside. “Sorry.”
“Raven!” Hawk bellowed. Dashing towards the door he managed to grab it and yank it open just before it closed.
Raven stared at him in horror as he stepped inside the stall and locked it behind him. Scrambling backwards, she put as much distance between them as the small space afforded. “What are you do
ing?” She hissed. “You can’t come in here! Are you crazy?”
Hawk ignored the questions and asked the first of many that kept repeating itself in his head. “When did you get back?”
Cutting her eyes hard, Raven remained stubbornly silent. Folding her arms, she chucked her chin high in defiance.
Hawk let out a soft snort. Fine. If that’s the way she wanted to play it, he was game. His gaze never wavered. Resting his weight on one leg, he reached up and untied his bowtie. Sliding it free from his collar, he stuffed it in his pocket then unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt.
“Know what, baby? It don’t matter whether you answer me now or two hours from now. We’ll stay in here all night if we have to, but either way I will get an answer from you. So why don’t we try this again.” His voice deepening, Hawk stared at her with narrow eyed alertness and repeated the question. “When did you get back to the states?”
Her lashes fluttered in reaction to his authoritative tone. Chin still tilted high she peeked at him from the corner of her eye. Her gaze darted away before it inevitably found his again. Something in his expression made her swallow hard before reluctantly relenting.
“A week ago,” she muttered.
“A week...” Hawk’s features hardened. Clearing his throat, he glanced down at the floor to try and keep his composure. He had been in hell ever since she left and to find out that she’d been in New York for seven damn days and hadn’t called him...
He lifted his eyes to ensnare her in their depths. The other question gutted him to ask, but he had to know. “And Kruz. You’re here with him tonight?”
“It’s none of your business who I’m here with.”
“Answer me.” This time it wasn’t a question–it was a demand.
Raven let out an irritated sigh. “Yes. I’m here with Kruz.”
Okay...
“So you’re his date.” When she didn’t answer, Hawk asked the next question. “How do you and Kruz know each other?”
“Again, none of your–”
“Answer the question, Raven!” He hadn’t meant to snap at her, but fuck! She had to be the most infuriating woman he’d ever met. As hard as he tried to remain calm, he was fast losing patience. Now wasn’t the time for her to get cute with him.
“For God’s sake,” Raven shrieked. “If you must know we’ve been friends for years. We first connected over our shared interest of bettering the lives of inner city youths. Satisfied?”
“When you say ‘connected’...” That was the one word Hawk heard out of everything else. “Does that mean you’re sleeping with him?”
Raven’s arms dropped to her side. “Are you serious right now? You’re seriously grilling me over this?”
“What do you think?” Unable to help himself, his cool eyes dropped to the natural cupid’s bow of her beautifully shaped lips. As frustrating as she could be, he couldn’t help but think how sexy she looked right now.
“You’re unbelievable, you know that? You’ve probably slept with half the women in New York, including a woman I considered my best friend, and you have the nerve to question me about who I may or may not be sleeping with?”
Hawk took one slow purposeful step, then another before repeating himself. “My question was clear. Are you sleeping with him? And I’m warning you, do not say it’s none of my business.”
Raven looked around as if trying to find a means of escape. She moved further back but there was nowhere to go. Hawk placed his hands flat against the wall to box her in. “I don’t want to fight with you. I know you’re upset with me, but– ”
“Upset?” For some reason his wording set her off. “How about furious! You made a fool of me and ruined my life! You do realize that don’t you?”
Her words hit him right in the chest. There was anger in the depth of her eyes but he also saw pain. He couldn’t even begin to explain how much he hated the fact that he was the cause of it. “I never meant to hurt you, Rae. All I ever wanted to do was protect you.”
“Well, guess what, you failed miserably! You took away everything.” Her voice caught on a sob. “I’ll never forgive you for that.”
“I know I fucked up. I admit that. We can get past this, but I need you to want that. I need you to try, just a little bit.” Hawk closed his eyes and rested his forehead briefly on hers before turning his head and softly kissing her temple. “You’re gonna have to forgive me, Rae.”
“I don’t have to do anything!” Raven brought her hands up to his chest to push him away but Hawk wouldn’t budge. When he leaned down and tried to kiss her, she twisted her face away. “Don’t! Just leave me alone!”
“Leave you alone?” Hawk repeated. “In other words you want me to stop breathin’, right? You might as well ask me to die right here.”
She rolled her eyes at what she considered his dramatics. “You know what, you are so full of shit. I can’t think of anyone who has a bigger ego than–”
Hawk crushed his mouth over hers before she could finish the insult. Raven released a surprised squeal. Her hands, which still rested on his chest, started pushing him away with renewed intent but Hawk refused to let her go. He was never letting her go. He let her slip away once. That wouldn’t happen again.
The deep groan that rumbled from his chest was a combination of lust, desire, and need. He missed this. Missed the connection they shared. He missed her. Hawk met a lot of women in his life, but no one compared to Raven. They didn’t even come close. She got under his skin like no one ever had. She felt the same way about him, but would never acknowledge it. Even now, Hawk knew she was fighting valiantly not to give in to the powerful energy exchange around them in that moment. He felt it too.
As much as he wanted to devour her, instinct told him that would be the wrong move. Instead, he relied on skill to coax her until she felt safe enough to kiss him back. His lips gentled, brushing back and forth over hers while still remaining insistent. His heartbeat thumped erratically in his chest, as did hers. As difficult as it was to stop himself from further exploring the sweetness of her taste, Hawk kept the kiss as chaste as he was able to.
It didn’t take long for her lips to soften and open wider beneath his, but Hawk didn’t accept the invitation. Frustration grated in Raven’s throat. Her hands, which seconds ago pushed him away, crushed the material of his shirt in her fists. She pressed closer. Finally, she reached up and grabbed the back of his neck. Pulling his head down, Raven kissed him with all of the hunger she’d been trying to hold back.
Her capitulation triggered the floodgates of Hawk’s willpower. He paused for the briefest of seconds to savor his victory before unleashing the passion he’d kept buried inside for the last few months. His hands slid down Raven’s body, reacquainting himself with every dip and rounded curve. Hawk’s fingers fisted in her hair as he deepened the kiss while his tongue plundered every corner of her mouth. He needed more and didn’t intend to wait a second longer.
“Tell me you missed me, Raven.” Hawk uttered the words against her lips while dragging the body hugging dress she wore up her thighs.
He growled in appreciation when his fingers came in contact with skin so soft it felt like satin. Pulling her close to his body, he tilted his hips forward and rolled them against the juncture of her legs. Raven gasped as if struck by a jolt of lightning. Her back arched, seeking to get closer.
“That’s it. Now tell me you missed me,” he demanded again. Lifting his head to gaze down at her, he waited patiently. For reasons he couldn’t explain he needed to hear the words.
Raven swallowed hard. Unable to look away from the intensity of his eyes, her lips trembled. She was on the verge of telling him what he wanted to hear when someone pounded on the door of the stall hard enough for the walls to rattle.
“This is security! Open up!”
Hawk continued to look at her, ignoring everything else but Raven. He refused to let anything or anyone ruin this moment. “Say it, Rae. Tell me.”
“I said open th
e door! Now!” This time the interruption acted like a bucket of cold water dousing the fire Hawk started.
Raven pushed him away and hurriedly yanked her dress down. “What am I doing?” She uttered the rhetorical question in a voice that trembled. “I can’t believe I fell for this...again.”
“Raven...” Hawk tried to pull her back to him but she slapped his hands and moved out of his reach.
“No!” She said in a hushed whisper. A shaky hand came up and swiped her hair away from her face. “What part of ‘leave me alone’ don’t you understand?”
“That’s not what it looked like a moment ago.” Hawk wanted to bite off his tongue as soon as he said those words.
Raven’s eyes flashed in anger, but before she could let loose with a blistering tirade, another knock pounded at the door.
“You have five seconds before we call the police!” The gruff voice commanded from the other side.
Her expression stricken with embarrassment, Raven stared at Hawk with huge eyes. Shaking her head, she pushed past him and fumbled with the latch a few times before managing to slide it open.
“Raven, wait.”
But she wouldn’t even look at him. Swinging the door open, she pushed past the security guards and the crowd that gathered. Hawk swallowed his impatience and stepped out of the stall. His eyes followed Raven as she hurried out of the bathroom.
One of the security guards immediately recognized Hawk. “Mr. Pattel. Uh, is everything all right, sir? We got reports of a man entering the women’s powder room and, uh, well–”
“Don’t worry about. Sorry to put you through the trouble.” Hawk barely spared them a glance before hurrying after Raven.
His eyes stayed on her as she slipped through the crowd headed towards the exit. Lucas turned and saw Raven first. Knowing Hawk wouldn’t be far behind he glanced back with a frown slashing across his face.
Kruz stepped in front of her with eyes full of concern. He grasped her arms to steady her and dipped his head to get her attention. “Hey. You okay? What’s wrong?”
