Chapter 24

Hawke

I burst into River City Ink—formerly Black Debs—seeing Aura wiping down the table as two guys pass me, comparing their new tats. They leave, and I whip off my jacket and T-shirt, climbing onto the table. “I need a tattoo.”

She stares at me, the same blonde dreads she’s had my entire life turning gray, and her full sleeves faded with time. But she still looks cool as shit.

She rolls her eyes, mumbling, “Your father sucks at making appointments too.”

This place gave my dad and uncles their first tattoos. All of their tattoos, actually.

I see headlights pull up outside, blurting out, “The Green Street brand?” I tell her. “I need it.”

“No.”

“Aura…”

“Hawke.” She looks at me, a sternness in her eyes that I’ve never seen. “I don’t know what’s going on, but there is no way I’m putting that tattoo on you without speaking to your dad.”

Hugo and his guys make their way across the street, and I catch a glimpse of Aro trailing behind.

“If you don’t do it, they will.” I gesture to the crowd making their way in. “And at least I know your shit is clean.”

She shakes her head. “Hawke…”

“Just please,” I beg. “I’ll make sure my dad understands. I have to have it. You can call him after, if you’re that worried.”

She knows the tattoo isn’t just a tattoo, and I’d be concerned too, if I were her, but she has to trust me. I’m of legal age, and if she doesn’t do it, someone else will. She’s already inked me once.

And she tattooed my mother’s bite marks on my father, for Christ’s sake. Now that was a dumb tattoo.

Hugo and his two sidekicks drift in, the bell above the door ringing, and Aro follows, her eyes barely raising enough to meet mine. She doesn’t seem to be confused about what’s happening, though, so I’m guessing Hugo filled her in.

She just shakes her head and mouths to me, “Don’t.”

I lock my jaw, simply leaning back on my hands and staring at her as Aura gets the shit ready. The Green Street tat is old, its history reaching further back than when it was just a gang affiliation. The old-timers and river rats all have it from back in the day when steam and coal ruled the waterways. She’ll have a template on hand, I’m sure.

Kade and Dylan burst in, and I immediately shake my head. Every muscle in Kade’s face flexes, and I’m not sure if he wants to kill me or them. This ink on me will make him spit knives.

“I assume you called Reeves,” I say to Hugo as Aura places the design on my neck. “Get Aro out of here. I know you care about her.”

I don’t look at her because I’m not inviting her into this conversation. I can handle Reeves. She can’t on her own.

But Hugo shakes his head as he cleans his nails with a key on his chain. “Reeves isn’t coming. I haven’t called him.”

Why? I don’t ask, though. I’m not going to let him indulge in the pleasure of doing us any favors.

But why wouldn’t he call him?

Aura peels the template away and holds up a mirror, but I wave her off. “Just do it.”

I hear a sigh, and then she starts the pen, a second later, she’s cutting the skin.

It’s not a big tattoo. The word River etched down the side of my neck vertically and a dark green line drawn down through the middle of it.

She’s done in about seven minutes, and I finally meet Aro’s eyes, feeling stronger as the slight pain goes on. Funny how their world works. One tattoo and they’ll let me have a whole human. As if she has no say.

At least this will get them off our backs for a bit.

Aura wipes the blood away and tapes on a clear bandage. She hands me instructions for care and says, “You know the drill. Wash with antimicrobial soap and—”

But I’m not listening. I hop up and pull on my shirt and jacket.

“She’s yours now,” Hugo tells me and then announces to the others. “No one touches her.”

I put some cash on the table for Aura and head over to the Rebels. “Why didn’t you call Reeves?” I ask Hugo.

He just smiles. “Seeing that tattoo on a Trent and a Pirate is such payment. My honor is restored. For now.”

Yeah, I’ll bet. My friends are going to have fun with this, and he knows it.

But he leans in, lowering his voice. “The drugs and money weren’t mine anyway. Consider our beef settled,” he tells me. “And if you want to get me a few more of those cameras you snuck into the garage…”

I rear back a little.

“I can help you with him,” he says. “It’s time for Green Street Emancipation. We’ll talk soon.”

Oh, fucking great. You’ve got to be kidding me.

He leaves, the others following, and I take Aro, pulling her to my side. I do not want to be in bed with Green Street any more than I am. Goddammit.

I tell Kade, “Make sure Dylan gets home.”

And I pull Aro with me out the door.

“Why did you do that?” she finally chokes out.

I lead her to my car, hitting the locks as a light sprinkle starts to fall.

“If you ever go against him, he removes the tattoo, Hawke,” she says. “You know how he does it?”

Yes, I know.

She pulls away. “Let me go.”

“Where?” I back her into my car, glaring down. “He’ll just send you back to me, because you’re mine. I feed you. I clothe you. I protect you. Isn’t that what you wanted in a man like those losers?” Isn’t that what she was after? What only Green Street could give her? “Well, you’ve got it.”

“I don’t belong to anyone!”

I rip the bandage off my neck, growling, “Say it again.”

I press her into the car. I dare you.

Her eyes flit between mine and the tattoo, her chest rising and falling hard.

I did this for her. I fucking did this for her!

Her eyes fill with tears, and all she can do is close them, but I want her to look. At my neck. My face. My cut lip and my bloody eye—all because of her!

I notice headlights moving down the street and look, seeing the ones on top of the roof too. Police.

“Get in the car,” I tell her.

She looks like she’s going to argue until she sees what I see, and we both climb in.

I start the engine, not waiting to see if they pass or don’t, and take off. My face hurts, my neck aches, and I’m so fucking pissed right now, this isn’t the time. Please don’t pull me over.

Maybe Hugo called Reeves, after all.

I sweep around the corner, look in my rearview mirror, and see the police car follow. My chest caves. “Fuck.”

I shift into a higher gear and wince, hesitating for a second. “This night can’t get any worse.”

Screw it.

I speed off, my heart still pounding from the race. From the fight. From losing her to getting her back, and from the new ink on my neck. I’m losing control.

I used to be calm.

I barrel down the street, flipping on the windshield wipers as I make a left, and see the sirens turn on, because I just made it obvious that I’m evading. I hit the gas, speeding ahead.

I make some lefts and rights, quick turns and immediate slips onto various streets before coming back to JT Racing and quickly parking the car. Running out, I take Aro’s hand and pull her to the other side of the building, seeing the cop car pull into the lot and block in Madoc’s car from the back. Carrying my keys, I unlock Jared’s old Boss, and we climb in. I start up the engine, and she looks out the back window, seeing that they’re coming around the side of the building because his fucking car is so loud.

I pull onto the street, drive, and make a few turns before we’re safely on the highway, no one on our tail.

I can’t believe I did that. What the hell am I doing? I glance over at her, see those brown eyes looking over at me with her braids, and she looks so…

Perfect.

Pure.

She doesn’t say anything that’s not true, and I always know that everything I get from her—every word, every kiss—is real. She wouldn’t waste her time otherwise.

I drive for a while, slowing to the speed limit, and rain starts hitting the windshield again as the black sky looms overhead. I see the turn for my parents’ summer camp and veer left, hitting the gravel, because I need some air. I need to stop, close my eyes.

I need to get my heart to stop pounding.

I pull deep into the woods, the empty cabins and mess hall and the dark lake and boathouse hiding in the shadows of the trees. I park under the canopy of branches and leaves, drops pounding the roof and hood.

Turning off the car, I stare at the wheel, my mind racing like it does when I’m on a girl. So many things.

I need to get back on track.

I want to go home.

I miss my parents.

I want her there too.

I need to take care of Reeves.

Because none of this feels like it’s about him anymore.

I wish I could go back to not wanting anyone.

Wanting someone is worse.

But I don’t want anyone else to touch me.

She’s the only one allowed to lay a hand on me.

I love her…looking at me.

Realization hits. None of this is about Green Street or Reeves anymore. She’s everything.

I need some air. I just need to breathe, and then I’ll get my goddamn life back, and I’ll get ready for school like I should be doing.

Opening the door, I climb out of the car, taking off my jacket and tossing it inside. I slam the door and fall back against it, closing my eyes and letting the rain cool me off.

I don’t know why I came here. I just didn’t want the cops to catch us, and I’m afraid of what will happen if we go back to the hideout. I want to fight, and I know I’ll instigate one if we’re alone down there.

How easy it was for her to choose them, like she’s theirs and not mine, and I just need to cool down, because I’m fucking crazy angry, and I’ll make it worse if I look at her anymore.

Water trails down my neck, the new tattoo stinging, and I feel my T-shirt start to melt to my skin.

I inhale and exhale. She chose them.

But deep down I know. She chose her family. Her brother and her sister, as she should.

Her life is the opposite of mine. All she’s learned is that she’s the only one she can count on. Asking anyone for help is too much of a gamble, and asking me would hurt. She believes she’s a burden. She’ll never ask me for anything.

My arms hang like weights at my side, my body tired now that the anger is gone.

I climb back into the car, water dripping off my face and arms, and she still sits there, quiet. I don’t think she’s moved at all.

“My mom and dad have the kids,” I tell her.

I look down, but I see her turn toward me out of the corner of my eye. “What?” she says.

I don’t want to argue. I just want her to know they’re safe.

“I talked to them on my way to the tattoo shop,” I mumble. “They went with an officer. Your mom wasn’t there, so they’re staying at my house until she can be found.”

Aro might get mad law enforcement is aware of their situation, but if she’s smart, she’ll know it’s better to have them with my family than taking a chance on a neighbor calling CPS and the kids disappearing into the system.

“My parents told them you’ll be coming to see them in the morning,” I say.

She doesn’t say anything, and last night seems like forever ago. The way she wanted me. How good it felt to see her jealous when she thought another woman had me.

She doesn’t need me, though. The last thing she needs is me. She needs security and a home, and I’m being selfish. “I’ll take you to them.” I start the car. “My parents will help you.”

But she stops me. She puts her hand on mine as I fist the stick shift, and I pause, too tired to fight anymore.

Rising up, she holds my eyes and slowly climbs over the center console to straddle my lap.

My chest caves, and I drop my eyes, wanting to touch her so bad, but it feels so good, just like this too.

She takes my face in her hands, turning my head and inspecting the bruises and cuts. Her warm fingers graze over the small wounds, and my eyelids flutter closed, feeling no pain anywhere now.

She blocks out everything else, and while I’m not sure if that’s a good thing, I honestly don’t give a shit.

My voice is almost a whisper, “I saw the video yesterday, but I didn’t want to use it. I just…” I struggle to find my voice. “I wanted another day or two with you. I didn’t want it to be over.” I take her face in my hands and pull her forehead down to meet mine. “You are fucking up my life, girl.” I breathe her in. “And I like it.”

I like you.

She kisses my eyelids, soft and gentle, caressing my cheekbones with her thumbs as “Dark In My Imagination” drifts through the speakers.

“Are you hurt?” she says in a small voice, kissing my face everywhere. Little pecks, and it feels better than anything.

She pulls up my T-shirt. “Take this off.”

I lift my arms and let her pull the wet shirt off of me. She drops it into the back, and her eyes roam, following the trail of her hands as she checks my body in the dark car.

Her nails graze the brush burn on my ribs, and I draw in a sharp breath. Shit. I didn’t feel that till just now.

She jerks her eyes to me, yanking her hands away. “Baby.” She kisses my mouth, its corners, my jaw… “Where else does it hurt?” she asks.

Everywhere. Nowhere. My head. My nerves. My heart. My fucking gut.

She kisses the scratches on my collarbone. Flicks her tongue out and licks the cut on my lip and leaves the softest touches of her mouth on my neck.

My cock swells, and I groan, grabbing her ass and pulling her closer.

“Aro…” I whisper, the heat of her body seeping through my wet jeans.

“Does that help?” She kisses my forehead.

But we start grinding, and I can’t feel anything past her on top of me. I grip her hips, mesmerized as I watch her body move. I don’t want to ever look at anything else.

She rolls her body into me, holding the back of my neck as her forehead touches mine again, and I can almost taste her mouth.

She kisses my face, my cheeks, my temples, and I tip my head back, pushing her mouth to my neck. “Hurts there,” I tell her.

Kiss me everywhere.

She nibbles and sucks, trailing the tip of her hot tongue up my neck to my earlobe. I slip my hands under her shirt, touching her smooth stomach.

“You like me?” She bites my ear so soft, chills crawl my arms.

I nod.

“You trust me?” she asks. “You trust that if I hurt you, I didn’t mean to?”

Again, I nod. I know she wasn’t trying to hurt me at the track when she chose them.

“Look at me.” She tugs my bottom lip through her teeth. “Open your jeans.”

I open my eyes, staring into hers, and heat floods my chest as my pulse kicks up a notch.

“Open your jeans,” she tells me again.

This is the part where I always start to freeze up. Does she want sex? Does she want to get me off? I shouldn’t take something when I’m not sure how much I can give back.

She presses her lips to my forehead, brushing them across my skin as she caresses my chest. “Open your jeans, baby.”

Baby…

And I’m hers. I unbutton them at the waist, breathing hard as I pull down the zipper and watch her hand slip down inside.

She inches up off my lap and moves her hand up and down, stroking my cock. I grab the back of her neck as blood rushes to my groin.

“Look at me,” she says.

I open my eyes and look up into hers as she wraps her fist around me. I grunt, straining to grow in the tight space.

“Friends?” she whispers.

“Friends.”

She strokes me faster, harder. “And friends do this.”

Fuck yes. I push my jeans down as I cover her mouth with mine.

“You ate me so good last night.” Her lips move over mine. “I want to make you come too.”

She brings her hand up, dragging her tongue over it, and then dives back down into my jeans and keeps going.

I blow out a breath, the heat of her mouth on my cock excruciating and amazing at the same time.

“You’re so hard,” she whispers, pulling me out of my jeans and letting me rise.

“Fuck,” I groan.

“Say ‘that’s good, Rebel.’”

I smile, my muscles flexing. “That’s good, Rebel.”

“You like your Weston girl, don’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“’Cuz you like wild girls,” she pants, moving her hand up and down my dick faster as she licks my lips. “The good boy and his wild girl…”

I squeeze her ass, pulling her into me and feeling it. My wild girl. The one who sets fires everywhere she goes. I was dead before her.

“And you like me. Say it,” I growl, thrusting into her hand.

But she shakes her head.

Such a brat.

I pull the hoodie off of her, and I unhook her bra, throwing everything onto the floor.

Pushing her back against the steering wheel, I come down on her with my mouth, sucking her breasts. She arches her back, pressing herself into me, and I drag her nipple out between my teeth, biting, kissing, and licking. I move from one breast to the other, coming in again and again. The horn goes off as I press her into the wheel, but I don’t give a fuck. My groin is on fire, I’m rock hard, and I want more. I don’t know…I need to taste her again.

“God, Weston, you taste good,” I tease.

I flick her nipples with my tongue, and she moans, letting her head fall back and the horn blares in the rainy night again.

“Don’t stop,” she whimpers.

She reaches down and presses my dick between her legs, stroking it against her jeans.

“It’s too rough,” I tell her, taking my cock in my hand. “Take ‘em off.”

She presses down on my shoulders, raising herself up, and I help her push down her jean shorts until she’s just in her underwear. She settles back on top of me, and I yank her in, both of us going for it.

With just her panties between us, she rolls her hips, grinding into me and I help, moving with her and bringing her back in again and again.

Her breasts sit pretty as she arches her back and gives me something to watch as she moves, but everything is too tight. My jeans. The seat. I have no leg room.

“Get in the fuckin’ back,” I growl in a whisper, kissing her hard. “Fuck...”

She pants, and I didn’t realize how close she was. Shit.

“Now,” I bark, pushing her.

She crawls over the console and into the back seat, and I throw open the door. Climbing out, I push the seat forward and dive into the back, coming right for her.

She scoots, but I grab her legs and yank her down. “Hawke,” she yelps, shock in her eyes.

But I need to move. I just need room to move. I close the door behind me, and come down on top of her, loving how she spreads her legs for me.

I thrust against her, looking down at that body, and she reaches down, pushing my jeans and boxers down over my ass.

She holds me, digging in her nails as she thrusts up, and I get as fucking close as I can without being inside of her. A wetness seeps through her panties, and I kiss her as I reach between us, feeling her through the damp fabric. I feel every fold, every nub of flesh. I want my fingers inside of her.

“I need more,” I groan. “Closer. I need to feel you on me, okay?”

She nods quickly, a whimper escaping.

I need to feel her tender skin down there on me. Against me. Just that. Nothing more.

She squirms underneath me as I yank down her panties, but I can’t wait for them to be off.

I thrust myself against her, no shield between our bodies, and she moans so loud I almost come. “Ah, Hawke!” she moans, stiffening.

She breathes hard, and I fall to her body, skin sticking to skin, and I hold her face, staring into her eyes.

What the fuck? My head spins, everything is so warm, and something is squeezing my cock, but my hands are on her and her hands are on my shoulders and…

Oh my God. I shake, my head floating and something wracking my body that feels so fucking good.

“Hawke…” She squeezes her eyes shut, arching into me. “Oh, God, Hawke. What? I…”

She squirms, biting her bottom lip and looking in pain, but it’s not that. It’s…

My head floats back down to my body, and I feel her legs spread wide, her panties still hanging off one thigh.

And I know. Without looking, I know.

I’m inside of her.

Jesus Christ. “Aro…”

I didn’t mean to do that. Did I hurt her?

But she’s gasping, her mouth hanging open, and she looks like she’s feeling something amazing, and I can’t stop. I kiss her, diving into her mouth, feeling her moan drift down my throat.

I gaze down, pull out, and then… I thrust back inside of her, feeling her knees come up more.

“Ah,” she moans. “Oh, God. Yeah. Don’t stop. Please.”

She throws her head back but grabs my hips as I come in again and again. Holy fuck, Aro. I look down at her body as it moves, her breasts sway up and down, and the sweat on her back makes her stick to the leather, grinding every time I enter her.

“Hawke,” she pants as I go faster. “You’re fucking me.”

I kiss her. “Hold on. It’s my first time.”

She sticks her tongue into my mouth, and I grab her breast. Goddamn, the wet heat… It’s so tight. I squeeze her hip, holding her there as I pump between her legs, the need getting heavier. My body about to burst.

“Ah, fuck.” She whimpers over and over. “Hawke, don’t stop.”

Her pussy contracts around me, and I can’t breathe for a second, shuddering. What the fuck?

“Harder,” she moans. “You can go harder, if you want.”

Hell yes.

I grab hold of the safety bar and stare down at the little Rebel, watching her come and hearing her fill the car with her moans as she explodes around me. Her hair sticks to her face and neck and her thighs spread even more, because she wants it all.

My orgasm crests, she grabs my hips, and I pump inside of her, harder and faster, our moans and grunts filling the car as she takes it, waiting for me to come.

“Hawke, you have to pull out,” she tells me. “I don’t want you to, but I’m not on anything.”

I groan. It’s coming. Fuck.

“Baby,” I say, every muscle tensing, and I know I’m there.

“Fuck!” I yell and rip myself away from her body, spilling onto her stomach.

Pain and pleasure sweep across me at once, her scent and warmth covering me in waves, and I’ve never felt anything this good, but…

Shit…

The orgasm spreads like liquid heat across my body, and I can’t see straight.

Dazed, I slowly pull away, take my T-shirt and clean her, and I can feel her eyes on me, but I don’t know, I…

I just had sex. In a car.

“Hawke?” I hear her call my name. “Are you okay?”

I sit back, taking the shirt and cleaning myself off too. I stare down at her all over me. “In a car…” I murmur.

I did it in a car my first time.

When I don’t respond, she sits up, bending her knees up to her chest.

“Hawke, I...” I see her shake her head out of the corner of my eye. “It shouldn’t have happened. I just couldn’t stop. I’m sorry.”

She’s sorry…

“I’m sorry if you don’t feel good about it.” She touches my arm. “I just…I know things happened kind of…”

In a car. I always thought I’d care where it happened. How it happened.

But right now, I just didn’t give a fuck. All that mattered was how I felt, and I was feeling everything.

And I want more.

She starts to tear up. “I know it shouldn’t have been with me. It just happened so fast. It—”

I look up at her. “Can we do it again?”

She goes still, gaping at me. I want more of her. It wasn’t the car. It wasn’t necessarily the right time, while we’re both on the run.

It’s just her. I’ve never felt anything more right. I’m supposed to be here.

“I mean, can you?” I ask. “Can you go again?”

I wasn’t sure if women got sore after a while or anything.

Her worried face turns disbelieving and she breathes out a little laugh.

“Can I?” she mocks. “Can you?”

And her eyes fall to my dick in my hand, hard again already. “Oh.”

I want to feel her on top. Or from behind or backwards or in any of the empty cabins over by the lake or any one of all the ways we can still do it together.

I sit back against the seat and pull her into my lap, holding her as I kiss her. I lift her up and position myself underneath, ready to go slower this time.

But she laughs, looking down at me with stern eyes. “Hawke, you need to wear a condom this time.”

Oh, right.

I dive behind her, holding her so she doesn’t fall as I dig in the center console.

But of course, Jared hasn’t needed to use a condom in the over twenty-plus years that he’s been married, and I come up empty.

I let my head fall into her chest, about to fucking cry. “We have to go to the store.”

She just shakes with a laugh and plants a kiss on my forehead.