Chapter Twenty-Six

Laura

M y body hummed with pleasure as I went through my rounds the next morning. Even the soreness between my thighs didn't bother me as I went from room to room, checking in on my patients and chatting with each of them. I felt good, damn good in fact, and just like so many women, it had everything to do with a man.

Hawk wasn't just a beautiful man with an incredible body that he knew how to use. He was incredibly generous and kind and sweet. He'd protected me from bullets with his body . It was a lot to take in, and sleeping in his arms last night hadn't helped clear the fog of my mind. My wants and needs and desires warred with my brain, leaving me confused yet hopeful.

And I was still a little on edge about all the bullets I dodged last night before the four orgasms he'd given me. In fact, I was so not okay , that the residual pleasure which ran through my body was about the only damn thing keeping me going.

I went into the next room with a frown because the chart wasn't on the wall where it was supposed to be. I expected to find an empty room, but what I found instead was my best friend lying in bed, wearing a hospital gown. "Kristy, what the hell are you doing here besides trying to get fired?" I looked around the room to make sure we were alone and leaned against the door to prevent any nosy nurses from peeking inside.

She smiled, but it wasn't her usual Kristy special. In fact, the more I looked at her, the more there was too much wrong with her. She was too pale and so thin the hospital gown billowed around her small frame, which made her look even smaller. Her attempt at a smile never reached her eyes. "Come here, Laura. We need to talk."

My heart stopped beating for the fifteen seconds it took to cross the room and sit. I took her hand in my mine and gripped it tight. "What's wrong? Just tell me. Don't beat around the bush, just rip off the bandage. Please."

"I'm sick, Laura. Not fatally or anything like that, but it is serious, or rather, it might be serious." She sighed. "At least they think it's serious, some kind of autoimmune disease. My physician has been running tests, but last night I collapsed, and he told me to go to the ER. They're not sure what's up yet, hence all the tests and this fabulous pastel-colored gown." She smiled a little brighter this time as she motioned to her hospital gown. "So I get to have the full patient experience and a few days at the office without actually having to work. It's not all bad." I knew she was trying to diffuse my fear, but it wasn't working.

"You never said anything." It was the only four words I could think of, and the accusation in them was undeniable. "Why would you let me find out like this?"

"Come on, Laura, you have a lot on your plate right now and I didn't want to add to it."

My heart stuttered. "Am I that person now, too busy with her own crap to notice when her best friend needs her?"

"Honey," she patted my hand, "people trying to kill you is a big damn deal, and for my own selfish reasons, I want you to focus on that. And you know what I know now, which is not a whole lot."

"Still, I feel like I've failed you."

"You didn't," she insisted. "But if you don't catch me up on all the sexy goodness with you and the hot biker, you will have totally failed the best friend test. Talk. Now."

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, and then I told her everything that happened since I left her house when she was sick with what I thought was just a cold or the flu, which felt like a lifetime ago.

"Let me guess who told you Hawk was out here selling humans."

I looked away without waiting for a response. "Yeah, it was. I don't know why I listened to a known liar, but I did, and things haven't been the same. Until last night." I smiled as I told her some of the details of our night, bullets and orgasms included.

Kristy sat up with wide eyes and gripped my hands. "We'll circle back to all the orgasms in a minute. People were shooting at you?"

"Yeah, it was fucking crazy. But you know what? Hawk threw his body on top of mine to protect me from the bullets. A man who would do that can't be into human trafficking, I know that for sure." But I knew it before last night.

"He proved that when he stepped in and claimed you as his to save you from Los Ochos, but yeah, sure, this is the reason." Kristy shook her head. "You can't trust Eric. Don't listen to one fucking word he says because he is a liar . A fact I believe I told you right after you told me you agreed to a second date with him."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop my smile at her way of slipping in a ‘I told you so' without actually saying the words. "Yeah, I remember. Clearly."

"Good. Fuck him, but you know, don't actually fuck him." She laughed at her own joke just as the door opened and another nurse appeared. "Hey, Janet. More tests?"

She flashed a sad smile. "Afraid so. Ready?"

"As I'll ever be," she said, and slid me a half-smile.

"You'll be fine. Call me if you need anything, Kristy. I'm serious, anything. Okay?" I didn't wait for her to answer before I gathered her in a tight hug and squeezed, terrified for my best friend. "Just say okay."

"Okay," she whispered, and smacked a kiss on my cheek. "Let Hawk keep you safe, I need my best friend."

"Yeah, I promise."

***

The rest of my shift passed in a blur with my thoughts bouncing between Kristy and my near-death experience last night.

Kristy had to be all right. I didn't know what I'd do if she wasn't okay. Autoimmune diseases, while not curable, were usually treatable with modern meds, but they could cause lifelong problems, and it could have a devastating impact on her career. My heart ached for my best friend, and I wished I could be there for her more right now, but the truth was that my presence in her life could only make things worse.

I was in a daze when my shift ended, so much so that I couldn't say anything to Hawk when he met me in the parking lot or on the ride home, or even the hot shower I took at some point. My mind was so full that I sleepwalked through my life for more than an hour before Hawk's deep voice interrupted me.

"What's wrong?" His tone was worried.

"Try everything," I said flatly. Then added, "I'm sorry, this might just be another day at the office for you, but I'm not used to having people shoot at me, try to run me down, kidnap me for fuck's sake!"

As soon as the words left my mouth, I realized how accusatory I sounded. Sure, some of the bad shit that happened to me, happened when I was with Hawk, but the abduction attempt had nothing to do with him or his MC. However, it seemed like since I met him my life was on the line.

He continued to look at me, his eyes filled with concern, and I wondered why he wasn't talking, then it dawned on me that he was probably just waiting for me to finish my character assassination.

I suddenly felt like a horrible human being. "I'm sorry, that was uncalled for."

"No need to apologize for how you feel, but you've been out of it for a few hours, and since people are trying to kill you, or maybe just me, it's better for you to deal with it so you can be aware of your surroundings."

I stared at Hawk for a long time, and with each second that ticked by, I felt worse. I underestimated him from the moment he landed in my exam room. Sure, he was a biker and a criminal, but he was also a legitimate businessman who cared deeply about the people in his life. His heart was as big as his broad shoulders, and his sense of justice could rival that of a cop.

"Shit," I muttered, and crossed the living room to wrap my arms around him. "I am such an asshole."

He laughed, the sound deep and rumbly against my ear. "You're not an asshole."

"No, I am. You've shown me in tons of different ways what kind of man you are, and I overreacted. I can only blame the stress, I guess, and never having dealt with a man like you before."

"A man like me?"

I shrugged and smiled up at him. "A biker. A man who operates on both sides of the law."

"You're forgiven," he answered with a laugh before he dropped a kiss on top of my head. "But next time just ask what you want to know, instead of believing what someone says or getting too inside your head about it all, I'm an open book. I won't lie to you, ever, but I also won't tell you everything if I think you don't need to know it."

I opened my mouth to argue, but he put two fingers against my lips.

"I can't always tell you everything, Laura. But what I need is for you to trust me enough that when I tell you to do something, you do it, because my only goal is to keep you safe."

I swallowed and nodded. "Yeah, I can do that. Well, I'll work on it," I promised. "Following orders in my personal life isn't really my strong suit, but for you, I'll try."

"Good." He kissed me again, this time on my forehead. "Now tell me what's wrong." Hawk wrapped an arm around me and guided me to the kitchen, where a giant bag of takeout sat on the table.

"You got dinner?"

"Of course I did. A man has to eat something more than pussy every day, doesn't he?"

I rolled my eyes at his crass, but sexy words. "Does he?"

Hawk laughed and pulled out my chair before he took the seat across from me. "Yes. Now, talk."

"Kristy is sick. It's more than the flu, but they don't know what it is yet and I'm worried about her. She's my best friend, like a sister to me." Just saying the words out loud alleviated some of the weight I carried, and I smiled. "It's a lot on top of… a lot."

His mouth kicked up into a sexy grin. "I can handle a lot because I'm kind of a lot."

My brow arched. "Kind of?" The man was too much of everything. Too much hair. Too damn sexy. Too charming. Too good.

"Modesty is a virtue, or some shit like that." He was completely serious, yet also totally unserious.

I couldn't help but laugh. Hawk was a man so confident in his own skin that it was yet another layer to what I appreciated about him. What I liked about him. "Excuse me while I tackle this bacon chili cheeseburger without an ounce of virtue."

He leaned back in his chair and stared at me. "Excuse me while I watch. Make it extra sloppy for me, Laura."

Our gazes locked over his dirty words and my nipples hardened instantly and I felt that telltale ache building between my thighs. I wanted him. Again . "Dirty," I mumbled, and bit into the burger. The flavor exploded on my tastebuds. I moaned loudly and my eyes rolled back. I ignored the chili that slid down my chin and moaned again, smiling at the frustrated groan that came from Hawk. "Problem?"

"That depends. Have you ever had a man eat a bacon chili cheeseburger off your naked body?"

My lips curled into a grin. "Stop. And no, I haven't." I closed my eyes and took another bite before I groaned again. It was probably the most delicious burger I'd ever eaten, and suddenly I was feeling playful too. My gaze fluttered open to find Hawk's gaze focused intensely on me. His eyes were dark, and his nostrils flared. "But I might let you convince me it's a good idea. Later."