Chapter Twenty-Five

Hawk

"W hat is the purpose of us going out on a date when you hate me?" Laura stood in the middle of my living room with her arms folded over her chest and a scowl on her face. Her eyes burned with dozens of questions. "It just doesn't make sense."

I bit back a smile. She was a stubborn little thing, and I couldn't blame her. "First off, I don't hate you. Second, we have to keep up appearances if you want to stay safe." Every fiber of my being wanted to burn Los Ochos and everything they loved to the ground, but Diesel said the time wasn't right.

"Yeah, but if you can't stop scowling at me, what is the point?"

"I'm not scowling," I argued, and stepped into my boots. "Just look like you might trust me to take out your trash and we'll be good."

"Asshole."

"Maybe just hang on to me tight and look up at me like you adore me once in a while and we'll be good." I must be crazy to attempt this after nearly a week of icy silence, but it needed to be done. I couldn't—wouldn't—let Los Ochos think they'd gotten to me. To us. They were irrelevant as far as I was concerned, and all that mattered was that they thought we were madly in love.

Her gaze narrowed to slits. "And being an asshole is going to help sell it?"

I shrugged. "We're adults. We can do what needs to be done, right?" Being around Laura and not being able to touch her was pure torture, but we needed to get out into the world and be seen by our enemies. Everyone was operating under the assumption that the club was in trouble, and my brothers insisted that we go out and be seen to end the rumors. "There's a juicy steak with your name on it if you can."

"I can buy my own damn steak," she said, and stomped to her room. Fifteen minutes later, she returned wearing all black that hugged her curves and made my mouth water. I wanted to touch and taste her all over. The damned temptress knew what she was doing.

Torturing me. "Perfect. Let's go."

Without a word, Laura followed me out to my bike, casting a quick glance at her car that was now fixed, and hopped on the back of my bike. She held on tight on the way to the steakhouse, enjoying the scenic, peaceful ride.

"This seems like a lot for a fake date," she leaned across the table to whisper when the waitress left us with menus.

I looked up from the menu. "It's not a fake date. We're here and we're having dinner together. It's a date."

She blinked, her long lashes brushing her cheeks slowly as she processed my words. "Okay, then."

Dammit, I missed her. I saw her every damn day but the distance between us was so great we might as well be on opposite sides of the planet. I took her to work and picked her up, but we hadn't truly spent any time together. I hadn't tasted her lips in far too fucking long, or the rest of her for that matter, and the signs of withdrawal were kicking in.

"What's going on, Hawk?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," she pointed at my face, "what are you thinking right now?"

I debated for about half a second whether or not to be honest or brush off the question. Her earnest expression urged honesty. "I'm thinking that it's been too fucking long since I've had your pussy on my tongue. Too long since I've felt you clamping down around my cock as you come with my name falling from your lips."

Her breath hitched and she shook her head. "That was your choice, not mine."

My lips pulled into a tight smile. "That's revisionist history."

Laura shook her head and fell back against the booth. "I don't recall having much choice in the matter, when I think about it."

"Same," I shot back. "Your lack of trust brought us to this point."

Her response was to lick her lips, a move she had to know would drive me fucking insane. "We can agree to disagree."

"Or," I said over the top of the menu, "you can tell me that you fucking trust me. That you don't think I'm a slimy piece of shit."

"I don't think that, Hawk. Not ever."

There was some relief in that reply, I supposed, and we managed to relax over steak and potatoes for me, and surf and turf for her. "I've missed you, Laura."

Her lips parted beautifully, and her eyes lit up. "I've missed you too, Hawk. Not just your cock, but also your friendship."

My heart caught in my chest at her words. "Good to know."

Her satisfied smile sat with me for a long while as I browsed the drinks menu and made my choice.

"Have you figured out who it is screwing with you?" Her question came out of the blue since I hadn't talked to her about any of my personal troubles.

My brows dipped low, and my mouth tightened in surprise.

"Ellie and Peyton told me that you've been having some troubles in the MC. Is it because of me?" Her guileless gaze bore through me, and I wasn't sure how to respond.

I shrugged and sat back, taking a pull from my beer. "I don't know whether it's because of you or not. My guess is Los Ochos, but I can't be sure." I refused to lie to her, but I didn't want her to shoulder all the blame.

"Is there anything I can do?"

I nodded. "Just trust me to keep you safe. Or, you know, just trust me. Both would be good."

Laura's gray gaze lit up, and she nodded. "Yeah, I can do that."

By the time the food arrived, we were more relaxed and comfortable with one another. Things almost felt like they were before, but not quite. We managed a few laughs and smiles, and conversation never waned.

"How about a late-night ride, Laura?"

Her lips stretched into a pleased smile. "I can't think of anything better."

That was music to my ears.

***

After paying the bill, we headed out into the starry night. The air was warmer than usual, which made it perfect weather for a nice long ride. Feeling the low thrum of my engine as my Harley ate up miles of open road was my happy place, especially with Laura's arms wrapped around me, tight enough to be safe but not clinging for dear life.

We rode for a few miles before I felt her relax her head against my back. I smiled at the sign of trust and gunned the engine, eating up the smooth paved road while the wind whipped against our skin. Tonight revealed glimpses of her when she let her guard down, when she opened up to me. Let me see her vulnerable side.

Laura wrapped her fingers tightly around the fabric of my t-shirt and I glanced over my shoulder to look at her, but the sight of headlights in the distance stole my focus.

There were multiple headlights, but not from multiple cars. "Shit." They were single—at least five—headlights and they gained on us with each passing mile. Motorcycle headlights, which almost certainly meant trouble.

"Hang on," I shouted to Laura, unsure if she heard me until her grip tightened.

I sped up as much as I could, but they gained on us quickly. Too quickly. I turned down the first dirt road I could find, knowing what we would have to do next, and turned off my headlights.

Laura jumped off the bike and flipped up her helmet visor. "What the hell is going on, Hawk?"

"We've got company." I nodded towards the highway where the persistent roar of the engines grew louder and louder. "We can't outrun them on the bike. There are too many of them." We would be easy targets with five against one.

"Okay." She nodded and looked over her shoulder quickly. "What do we do?"

I took one beat to appreciate the trust she had in me now. "We need to find someplace to lay low for a bit." I sent a quick text to Slate and then grabbed her hand just as the bikes circled back to the dirt road. "Let's go!"

She tightened her grip on my hand. "I'm right behind you."

We took off like hell just as bullets started flying. "Keep your head down," I shouted, and pulled her in front of me. "Run!"

My woman didn't hesitate, she took off towards a small shed about half a mile away. "Hurry," she shouted, and then screamed louder as bullets flew at her.

I stood and turned, pulling out both of my guns and shooting back to divert attention away from Laura. Those bastards were shooting at her instead of me, which pissed me off. Calm down , I told myself, and took aim at the first head I saw, squeezing the trigger and sending a bullet flying into the side of his skull. I smiled when his legs collapsed underneath him, but I kept shooting until I wounded three more, but two of them were closer to Laura and still shooting.

I took off in her direction, still shooting until both guns were empty. "Laura, stay down," I shouted, crouching beside her to reload while bullets flew around us. "You okay?"

"I'm okay. Uninjured." She screamed again as bullets whizzed by her head.

I pushed her head down and jumped on top of her to protect her while I shot back at whoever the fuck that was. I pressed my weight into Laura's body, determined to protect her from the bullets while I tried to kill all of those who threatened her safety. In that moment, with bullets flying all around us, kicking up dirt that got everywhere, I realized the truth of my own feelings. I was falling for the pretty nurse. Falling hard for her, moving heaven and hell to keep her safe, and she thought I was a piece of shit.

My breath caught in my throat as I squeezed out my final bullet, a direct hit in the chest of one of the bikers. It didn't kill him—yet—but it was just enough to get them to back the fuck off. Minutes later, those who could rode off in the moonlight, and we were alone.

Aside from the dying grunts of the other bikers, there was complete silence all around us.

"Come on." We passed the bikers, who I noticed weren't wearing any club vests, but they also weren't Los Ochos.

"Aren't we going to—"

"Nope," I replied, and tugged her closer to me as we moved closer to the bike. "We're going home. Right now." I fired off a text to my club brothers with a location pin. Under normal circumstances I'd stay and help with the cleanup, but I needed Laura to be safe right now, so I rode like hell until my house came into view, slipping into the garage after I made sure we weren't being followed.

Laura's legs shook when she got off the bike and I reached out to catch her. "I'm good," she said, and gripped my forearm. "Just fine."

A laugh escaped. "Yep, you will be as soon as the adrenaline fades." I scooped her into my arms and carried her inside, where I sat her on the kitchen counter. "It'll take a few minutes."

She stared at her shaking hands. "Yep. A few minutes," she repeated. "Thank you."

"Of course, Laura. I told you I would keep you safe."

She shook her head. "No, this was beyond keeping me safe. You covered my body with yours. You could have been shot." Laura reached for me frantically as if she needed to touch me, to make sure I wasn't hurt. "Thank you."

"I would do anything for you."

She cupped my face and brushed her lips gently against mine. "Thank you." Her hands shook against my face, and I gripped her wrists. "There are other ways we can work through this adrenaline, right?"

My lips curled into a smile, and even though nothing was settled between us, I couldn't deny myself another minute from tasting her sweet mouth. My lips crashed down on hers and I held her face in my hands, savoring every swipe of my tongue across her lips while she whimpered with pleasure. She gasped and my tongue slipped between her soft lips. I moaned when our tongues touched, and her mouth opened wider. I deepened the kiss, intensified this blistering connection that arced between us like a live wire.

I devoured her mouth because I had to, because I couldn't go slow, not where this woman was concerned and not after the night we'd had. It was fun and exciting. It was thrilling. And kissing her right now, the way she clung to me and moaned into my mouth? Fantastic.

My hands roamed her body, hungry to find bare skin, but she was covered all the way up. "Fuck." I began tearing at her clothes, eager to get her naked. Eventually, she was blissfully bared to my gaze. "Fucking beautiful."

She let out a shuddery breath and smiled. "Right back at you, Hawk." She gripped my hair in one hand and pulled me close, using her other to tear off my clothes until we were both in the kitchen, naked and hungry and panting.

"Lay back," I told her, and put her feet on the counter so her slick pussy was open to me. I slid a finger down her slit and slipped it inside. "So fucking wet for me." I pumped one finger in and out of her while she moaned and writhed, begged for release.

"Hawk, please." She moaned those two words over and over while I extended her pleasure, pumping in and out of her body while her arousal coated my finger. "Yes!"

"You're so close and I need to be inside you to feel that sweet cunt squeezing and dripping all over my cock." I couldn't wait another minute.

"God yes," she cried out as I entered her in one long, slow stroke.

"Fuck, you feel so good." My hips pounded into her hard and fast, the focus solely on her pleasure, which would trigger my own. "Laura," I shouted, and fucked her with everything I had, changing the pace and the intensity to push us closer and closer to the edge.

"Hawk, yes! Please!" Her nails raked down my arms and her legs locked around my waist while her hips met me stroke for stroke. "Oh fuck." Her walls fluttered around my cock as her pussy flooded with desire.

She was close. "Come for me, Laura. Drench my cock in your orgasm."

"Dirty," she groaned as her lips curled into a sultry grin. "I like it."

"That's ‘cause you're a dirty girl." I gripped her tits in my hands, kneading them while I fucked her deeper and deeper. "Now give me what I want."

Seconds later she had my cock in a vise grip, clamping down hard until she milked my cock completely dry. "Hawk, oh my fuck, yes!"

"Laura," I roared as my cock exploded inside her, coating her insides until it ran between us. "Fuck." My cock continued to spill into her until my legs trembled and my vision blurred.

"That. Was. Fantastic." She was smiling and breathless as she stroked my hair with one hand and my jaw with the other. "Wow."

"Feel better?"

She nodded and then froze. "If I say no, will you work really hard to make me feel better?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief, and it was so fucking good to see her smiling instead of looking afraid that I knew I'd fuck her all night if it kept that smile on her face.

"I'll fuck you anyway, but I need to know the truth." My gaze searched hers and she nodded.

"Yeah, better about the whole guys with guns shooting at us thing." Her smile was shaky, but the longer she held it, the stronger it became. "I'm getting there," she amended.

"Good enough." I picked her up. "Round two in the bedroom." Nothing was solved, not with Los Ochos and whoever else was fucking with me, and definitely not with Laura.

But for now, it was enough.

It was more than enough.