“Yeah?” Attitude echoed in her tone.
“Do you have a bag of goodies for me?” He lifted his head, fascinated when red burst across her sassy face. “Dawn?”
She coughed. “Um. No.”
He glanced back down at the phone. “Mrs. Hudson just texted me, emoticons and all, saying to make sure you give me my bag of goodies.” He was hungry, but not for cookies. “Did she bake?”
Dawn’s head lifted. “Yep. She baked. Definitely baked. But Melanie’s knocked up, and we, ah, ate all the brownies. I’m sorry.”
His phone buzzed again, and he read the text out loud. “She said there’s a brown bag on the other side of the bed.” What in the world?
Dawn backed away until her butt hit the windowsill, pure panic trembling her lips. “Nope. No bag. Sorry.” Her eyebrows lifted and she jumped for the bed, landing on her knees. “Why don’t we continue the fight naked?”
His interest was piqued right along with his cock. “You first,” he murmured. What the hell was in the bag?
Dawn patted the bed, apparently having forgotten about their fight, although she was fucking gorgeous. “Why don’t you come help me?”
He crossed the room and put a knee to the bed, reaching out and flicking her bra open. Front-clasp bras were the best invention in the last century. She gasped and glanced down. “Not your first rodeo.”
Amusement and desire warmed him throughout. “No.” Grasping her waist, he lifted her until she stood and quickly tore down her pants before settling her on her back.
She chuckled. “Man, you can move.”
“Just wait.” He straddled her, the need to possess trying to silence him. “What’s in the bag, Dawnie?” he whispered.
“Nothing.” Her face flamed again.
Interesting. He leaned to the side, and bright red straps spilling out of a grocery bag caught his eye. “Are those…”
She gasped and covered her face with her hands. “Restraints. Yes. Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Poppins thought I could catch you if I got kinky.”
He stilled, his mind spinning and then discarding all thoughts of the elderly women and sex toys. “I kinda wish I didn’t know that.”
Dawn nodded and lowered her hands. “Me, too.”
Her breasts were high and full, her nipples already hard. The back of his hand swept across them, and fire licked down his spine to his balls. “I wouldn’t use ties like that.”
She smiled, confidence beginning to shine in her eyes. “I figured.”
He reached for her discarded scarf, enjoying the feel of silk across his hand. “I’d use something much softer for your sweet skin.”
…
Dawn stopped breathing. His hands, large and formidable, caressed the flowered scarf. Dark eyes, green and fathomless, studied her. His jean-clad thighs trapped her hips on either side, and warmth from his body swelled toward her. “You’re joking,” she managed to croak.
He smiled then.
It was not a sweet smile. Nor an amused one. The curve of his lips promised something…new. “Joking? I am.” He reached for her wrists. “Not.”
Hunger snaked through her with a sharpness that stopped her breath. She struggled, and he easily wrapped the silk around her wrists, drawing up. He had to lean over, his chest brushing hers, in order to tie the material to the iron headboard.
He levered back. “Interesting. I’ve stayed in here a million times, and I never really studied that headboard.”
Dawn tugged and her hands remained in place, her arms over her head, her back arched. Warmth heated between her legs. She couldn’t move. Captured. The red restraints on the floor seemed silly, harmless compared to unrelenting band of silk constraining her.
He ran his hands over her chest, rolling both nipples.
Electricity jarred her, and she moaned.
“What else is in the bag?” he asked.
She blinked. “You don’t want to know.”
“I do.”
She shook her head, her hair flying against the pillow. “Hell, no.”
He gave her a look and then leaned over to grab the bag, dumping it on the bed. A myriad of sex toys bounced out. “Whoa.” He fingered the butt plug. “Hell, no.” He tossed it over his shoulder and then shoved the restraints to the floor. Eyes gleaming, he grabbed the paddle.
She shifted against him. “You’re kidding.”
He swished it through the air. “Believe me, baby. I’d much rather go skin to skin with your ass.” He threw the paddle aside and it fell to clatter on the floor. “When you feel a sting, it’s gonna be my hand.” His eyebrows arched, and he tugged the plastic package to him and ripped it open. “You ever use one of these?”
Heat filled her chest and rose to her face. “No.” She’d heard of a pocket rocket, but hadn’t used one. “Sorry.”
Squinting, he read the plastic. “Better than anything.” He bent his head and flipped a button, and a narrow cylinder started to hum. “Let’s test that theory.” Moving slowly, he ran the toy along her thigh.
She arched into him, her legs trembling. The ache between her legs intensified. He pressed the tip against her clit, and the vibrations dug in. She cried out.
He left it there, lightly, driving her crazy. More pressure. She needed more pressure. When he moved away, she actually whimpered.
“I can think of something better.” Moving down, he sucked her clit into his mouth.
She exploded, biting her lip to keep from screaming, nails digging into her palms. He licked her, humming in pleasure. Waves bombarded her, crackled through her, forcing her to ride into a white-hot light.
Finally, she came down. Yet she somehow wanted more.
He rolled to the side of the bed, shucked his jeans, and rolled on a condom in such a smooth motion she could only gape.
“Let me free,” she murmured, wanting nothing more than to flatten her hands over his ripped chest.
“No.” He knelt between her legs, positioned himself, and rammed home with one hard push.
Pain and pleasure flared inside her, and she lifted her legs. Her thighs clasped his hips, and she breathed out. “Jesus.”
He reached up and planted a hand over her wrists, holding them even tighter to the bed. Then his other arm hooked around her thigh, holding her open.
She. Couldn’t. Move.
The vulnerability rippled through her on the heels of a craving that tightened her around his cock. He dropped his forehead to hers and started to thrust. She was soft and wet and primed, and she could feel him everywhere. Inside her. Around her. Controlling her.
She shouldn’t like it—she knew she shouldn’t like it.
She fucking loved it. “Harder,” she whispered.
He lifted up and took her mouth, driving her head back. His hips hammered him so deep inside her, she’d feel him forever. It was hard and fast and way rough. She couldn’t move and could only take more. More everything.
He slammed hard, and the room sheeted white. She closed her eyes, arching up into him, cascading pleasure tearing her apart. Her orgasm lasted forever, until he finally shoved home and jerked against her.
She blinked, panting against him.
Lifting his head, he pressed a soft kiss to her lips. A quick movement had her hands free. With a soft sigh of pure pleasure, she slid her palms over his shoulders, enjoying the warm play of muscle.
He grinned.
A rumble echoed.
Fire flashed and the window crashed open.
Chapter Eighteen
Life takes unexpected turns. Ladies roll with them. Women up and fight.
~ The Lady Elks Secret Archives
Hawk jumped up, reaching for Dawn and all but carrying her through the door to the living room.
“What the fuck?” Colton was already running down the stairs, Glock in hand, his wife behind him.
Another explosion destroyed the night, and Hawk turned to grab a blanket to wrap around Dawn. Setting her behind the couch, he ducked back into the guest room an
d grasped his jeans, tugging them on and reaching for his gun. He stalked into the living room, where Colt already was glancing out at a burning barn.
Melanie clutched her stomach, her eyes wide. “Hawk? You’re cut.”
“Glass from the explosion,” he muttered, taking a spot next to Colton. “The force blew our window in.”
Colton leaned to the side, back to a wall. “You see anything?”
“No.” Hawk took several deep breaths, his instincts humming. “This isn’t like Meyer, a full on assault.” He’d thought they’d be safe and had fully expected Meyer to flee like the coward he was.
Melanie held her phone out. “I’m on the line with 911. Help’s on the way.”
A pattering of gunfire lit across the house. Hawk jumped over the couch, taking Dawn down, landing square and covering her. He glanced to see Colton sprawled over a struggling Melanie. Without missing a beat, he tugged Dawn up, keeping low. Smoke filtered in through the holes in the walls. “Follow me.”
Colton did so, and they ran through the kitchen to the cellar doors.
Hawk nudged Dawn toward the top step. “Get down and stay there until I come for you.”
She was pale but steady. “I can shoot.”
“I know.” He ran a knuckle down the side of her face. The woman was smart and strong, and he needed her to protect Melanie, who could barely move. Yeah. Dawn could handle things. “The gun safe is down there. Arm yourself and wait for a signal.” He eyed Melanie and her huge belly. “Take care of Mel.”
Dawn gave him a short nod before reaching to help Melanie down the stairs. Melanie shrugged her off and reached for the wall. “I can shoot, too,” she muttered, determination in her tone.
Colton shut the door, fury darkening his face.
“Fire out the front, Colton.” Hawk breathed out of his nose and drew on his training, gun in hand. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
Colton opened his mouth to argue, glanced at the closed door to the cellar, and then nodded.
Hawk released a breath. No matter what, Colton wouldn’t let anybody past him to that door and Dawn. Hawk reached the back door and jumped into a pair of Colton’s boots before drawing on one of Colt’s jackets. Good thing they were about the same size.
The front door burst open, and gunfire ripped through the wall. “Duck.” He pivoted and ducked, lungs heating as Colt took aim and fired, dropping one guy.
Hawk dove and rolled, taking the guy’s gun and coming up firing. A second man fell, landing face first.
“Rain? You there, buddy?” a voice called out through the crackling fire.
Hawk’s lids lowered, and he mouthed Meyer to Colton.
Colt nodded.
Hawk gestured, waited for another nod, and then inched around the sofa toward the kitchen. He waited until Colt had kicked shut the damaged door and taken position at the busted window. Colton fired out, just for measure.
Good move. Hawk muscled through the kitchen and out the back door, catching his breath at the freezing rain. Ducking his head, he kept against the house and angled toward the front. A guy stood guard, one of Meyer’s, and Hawk cracked him on the back of the head. He went down without a sound.
An explosion ripped from the front of the house, and Hawk stopped breathing.
Grenade? The bastard had grenades? So much for being in Canada and then fleeing. This was well planned.
Forgetting all training, Hawk ran around the front just in time to see Meyer step over the demolished boards of the front porch and into the house. All Hawk could see was Colton’s prone legs.
Oh God.
He lunged into a full run behind Meyer, who’d just cleared the couch.
Dawn stood in the kitchen doorway, shotgun in hand. Her face beyond pale, her eyes wide, she pulled the trigger.
Meyer ducked to the side, and Hawk hit him in a full-on tackle, sending them both sprawling across sharp embers.
Dawn screamed. Thank God she hadn’t just shot him.
Grunting and throwing punches, they rolled around, fires lighting on their jackets. They were evenly matched in muscle and training, but Hawk was home. This was his home, and Meyer had breached it.
He fought like he held the devil, finally ending up on top and hitting Meyer so hard under the jaw, his head snapped back, and he went lax. Hawk breathed heavily, his gaze searching Dawn.
She remained standing, gun in hand. “Colton,” she whispered, running toward the downed man.
Colton groaned and shoved himself up, blood dripping down his head. “Ouch.” He blinked. “That Meyer?”
Sirens trilled outside, and several trucks lurched to a stop. Hawk nodded. Too bad the bastard was out and not dead. Yeah, Hawk would consider just cutting his throat, but not with Dawn watching, and probably not on Melanie’s floor. Even though it was destroyed.
Quinn ran inside, gun out, gaze taking in the destroyed room. “Our two guards are unconscious in the barn—knocked totally out cold. What in the world?”
Hawk shoved off Meyer. “My fault. Never saw him coming right at us. Too much to risk.” He’d believed Zonas in the hospital, damn it. Perhaps the guy hadn’t known the truth about Meyer. Perhaps the guy had purposely misled him. It really didn’t matter, considering Meyer had attacked directly, apparently figuring it was the only way. Two strides forward and Hawk gently secured the rifle from Dawn before drawing her up and into his arms. “You did good.”
She blinked and slowly turned as Melanie crossed into the room, hands on her stomach. “Mel’s water broke.” At the words, Melanie Freeze doubled over with a soft cry.
Oh shit.
…
Dawn sat in the backseat of the truck, Melanie’s legs over hers while Hawk drove hell-bent for the hospital. Colton sat in the passenger seat, half conscious, a bag of ice to his head. Even so, he was half turned around, his fingers entangled with Melanie’s. With the freezing rain and terrible storm, there had been several accidents, and though Quinn and the fire department had showed up, the ambulances were all out on calls.
There wasn’t time to wait for an ambulance.
Melanie’s body stiffened, and she cried out. Colton almost climbed over the seat, and Dawn shoved him back. Blood poured from his head. Hawk had looked him over and decided he’d been hit by flying debris and not shot, so that was something.
Dawn patted Melanie’s arm and smoothed down the blanket covering her friend. “You’re okay, Mel. We’ll be there soon.” But they were in a rural area, with icy roads, and by the tightening of Mel’s stomach, soon wouldn’t be good. They needed now.
“Quinn should’ve come with us,” Melanie moaned. “He knows how to deliver a baby, right?”
Dawn bit her lip. “Probably. But the barn was still on fire and there were men to arrest. Quinn had to stay there.” She gulped down air. “I can deliver the baby. I’ve been reading up on it.” Not. Not at all.
Melanie snorted. “You are such a terrible liar.” Her body clenched, and her legs extended. “Oh. I need to push. Right now. I need to.”
Colton convulsed and went limp in the front seat.
Hawk grabbed his shoulder. “Colt?”
Dawn’s brother didn’t move. Her eyes met Hawk’s worried ones in the rearview mirror.
Melanie arched and screamed. Shit.
“Hawk, we need to stop,” Dawn whispered, her gaze caught on Melanie’s morphing tummy.
“No.” Mel punched the back of Hawk’s seat. “Colton is out cold, and he needs a doctor now. Just go faster.”
Hawk pressed on the gas, his knuckles turning white on the wheel.
“Um, Mel?” Dawn asked, her gut roiling. “Should I, ah, take a look or something?” The woman was still in her nightgown, so it wouldn’t be a big deal, right? “It’s not like we haven’t seen each other naked before.” Hell. They’d been shopping together their whole lives. “Just a peek?”
“Erg.” Melanie nodded. “Go ahead.”
Dawn took a deep breath and lifted Mel’s skirt before dropp
ing it quickly. Her stomach plunged to her feet, and probably farther. “Um. So. I can see a head. Is that bad?”
Hawk half turned. “You can see a head?”
“Yeah.” Dawn bit her lip. “Definite baby head.”
Hawk pulled to the side of the road and quickly dialed a number. “We’re at mile marker seventeen on Burnes Road. Send an ambulance. Now.” He reached over and felt Colton’s neck. Then he jumped out of the truck and yanked open Melanie’s door, quickly climbing inside and behind her.
Melanie struggled, tears filling her eyes. “We have to get Colton to the hospital.”
“He’s breathing and his heartbeat is strong.” Hawk shut the door, half-lifted Mel, and sat on the seat, bracketing her. “Lean back against me, Mel, girl.” Then he nodded to Dawn. “You up for this?”
No way in hell. Dawn nodded. “Not a problem. We’ve been birthing foals and calves for years.”
Melanie snorted. “I’m not a barnyard animal.” Then she moaned, her stomach rolling visibly. “Don’t do this. Don’t ever, ever, ever do this.”
Dawn shook her head, eyes wide. “I won’t. God. Never.” After seeing the head, she truly, truly, truly meant the words. A part of her, the sensible part, figured she’d change her mind. Not at the moment, however. “But right now, you have to push. I’ll catch him in the blanket, and by then, the ambulance will be here?” She looked hopefully at Hawk, who grimaced. Lines had cut into the sides of his mouth, and blood from the fight still littered his neck. But his gaze stayed strong and sure.
“We can do this,” he said, tightening his hold on Melanie. “We’ve been together our whole lives, and we can handle this.” He’d left the truck running, the heat pouring out of the vents. “All the time in the world. Let’s get moving, Mel. If the head’s there, I think the baby needs to come out.”
Melanie stiffened, the veins in her neck standing out. She screamed, and the sound echoed through the truck. Then she grunted and pushed.
Colton jerked and turned. “What the hell?”
Melanie reached out and grabbed his hand. “Baby. Now.”
Colton shifted and half came over the seat, holding her hand. “Okay. You can do this.”
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