Birds of Prey

by Dahlia Rose

  “Oh, God, Hawke, what do you do to me?” she gasped.

  “You do this to me,” he said huskily.

  “Oh, Hawke,” she whispered.

  He moved over her and sank inside of her slowly and she felt her heart ache in her chest. This was more than sex, more than just passion. His heart reached out and met hers. He showed her his vulnerability, told her and showed her his life. She was falling for the elusive grouchy artist with a second nature.

  His thrusts and his lips against hers soon drove all thoughts from her mind. He pumped into her, and she ground against him as he built the fire within her. She wanted him to touch her everywhere, to make her burn during every second of pleasure he offered. Hawke gave her what she needed and sucked deeply on the chocolate-colored mounds of her breasts.

  “More, more, yes,” Tiana cried out.

  “I can’t get enough of you,” he muttered.

  They moved together in unison, thrust meeting thrust, her hips undulating towards his rigid cock. She looked up at him and saw that he was watching her intently.

  “It’s for you, all for you,” she said as if sensing his need to know that she belonged to him.

  “And I’m for you, always,” he replied.

  His voice barely registered through the fog of pleasure that began to cloud her thinking. Tiana had never felt this close with any other man and knew that she never would again. She wanted to give him all of her, body mind and soul. Her body began its climb to release and she felt her level of need increase with his every thrust.

  “Now,” she whispered. “Oh, baby, I’m coming.”

  As the words left her lips, Tiana felt her body begin to shudder and her pussy clenched around his throbbing cock, pulling him deeper with her muscles.

  “Tiana, my Tiana.” He whispered the words, and with his lips pressed against hers in a fierce kiss, she felt his release and his hot come fill the cavern of her sex. He kissed the soft skin of her stomach and she ran her hands over his shoulders and slid her fingers through the hair at his nape. His sexy noises of satisfaction made her smile. Her heart ached and she felt a surge of sadness. They’d be apart too soon, way too soon.

  “I’m hoping tomorrow never comes, that we can stay here like this forever,” Tiana whispered suddenly.

  He pulled her close until she was snuggled against his side. “Trust me when I say I don’t plan to be sleeping away from you too many nights in a row. I’d ache for you in every way.”

  “That’s the sweetest thing any guy has ever said to me,” she said and her heart warmed in her chest.

  Was this the start of love, something long lasting? She’d tell him the truth tomorrow before she had to leave. They would talk about everything and work it out. She wasn’t willing to give up what they created. She closed her eyes and traced lazy patterns on his chest with her finger while she listened to his heart beat in a relaxing rhythm. She fell asleep thinking of all the possibilities this life with him had to offer. For the first time in her life she found a good guy who felt like the right guy.

  Chapter Five

  The day started out with overcast skies and clouds that hung so low they seemed to blanket the tops of the trees, but there was no rain. If it had rained, she would have gotten to stay and the event that unfolded would never have happened and she wouldn’t feel the heart crushing sadness that took her all the way back to Charlotte—alone. The trek to her car started easily enough. Hawke said it would take most of the day to get to her car and then the drive home would take her about six hours since she was so close to the Tennessee line. He would shift and fly back to his home and then later in the week he’d make his way to Charlotte to see her. It wasn’t the most comfortable thing for him to do—leave his home and go out to be around people—but he wanted to take her out to dinner and on an actual date. She had to admit the girlish anticipation she felt and even started running through her mind what sexy outfit she could wear.

  It would have to be one of her own designs, of course, and she would wear her hair completely different. It excited her, considering he’d only ever seen her in the few items of clothing that had been in her backpack. Tiana was looking forward to every detail. She wanted to show him that she was the kind of woman who could relax and watch movies with him or she could be a temptress that would drive him wild in bed. He brought that out in her, and she wasn’t shy about how he made her feel.

  He held her hand through the hike and helped her over fallen tree trunks, rocks and exposed roots in the ground. He brought energy bars, water and sandwiches for lunch since they’d be hiking quite a while. They talked and laughed and he pointed out things in nature that she had never noticed before. Seeing the wilderness through his eyes was magical and all too soon a chill begun to creep in, signaling that evening was closing in, which meant that this night she would not be sleeping in his bed.

  After finally clearing the trees, she saw her car. The light blue Toyota Corolla was her chariot. It took her to small fashion shows and got her to her temp jobs when she needed the extra cash. Right now, it sat covered in droplets of water and almost looked forlorn and lonely as if upset that she had abandoned it. She ran her hand along the hood and watched the water run down the shiny metal.

  “Poor girl, I thought I’d never find you,” Tiana crooned as if she were talking to a pet.

  “I’m sure it will start, but you should get in and try anyway and let it run for a bit,” Hawke said. “I don’t want you to get stranded on your way home.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I have a hawk to look out for me. I wish you had a cell phone so we could talk until we see each other again.”

  “I do have one.” Hawke grinned.

  She slapped his chest playfully. “You never mentioned it.”

  “You never asked.” Hawke kissed her. “Can I have your number, Ms. Swan?”

  “Yes, you may,” she answered huskily. “Gosh, I’m going to miss you.”

  “I will be feeling the same way,” he answered.

  “Okay, let me start the car and then I’ll give you my number.”

  “First, tie your shoe laces before you trip,” he said gently as she moved away.

  “Oh, I didn’t even notice that.”

  She bent to tie her shoe laces and the SAT phone that was given to her by Joslyn slipped out. She must have left her pocket unzipped after she stuck the wrapper from the energy bar in there. Her untruths had finally caught up with her.

  “Is that your cell? You should’ve let me know you had it. I may have had a charger you could use to charge it,” Hawke said as he bent to pick it up. “I’m sure your friends and family must be frantic by now.”

  “No!” She stood up quickly but it was already too late.

  “A satellite phone…and it has about a quarter of battery life,” he commented.

  “I was going to tell you,” she said quickly.

  “Tell me what, Tiana? Why would you need a SAT phone?” The look in his eyes became wary. “It says you have unread messages. What would I see if I opened those messages right now?”

  “They are messages from my friend Joslyn, a reporter for the Charlotte Scope Magazine,” Tiana admitted and added quickly, “Let me explain, please.”

  But he was already scanning the texts, reading them aloud and with each word his voice became more clipped, angry and hurt. “I’m in. I don’t think I can do this, Jos. Tiana, did you get the scoop? Does he trust you?” He looked up from the phone and into her eyes. “So this is what you wanted all along—the big scoop? You purposely get lost and let your friend use you and almost get you killed in the damn Appalachians for a story? What if I hadn’t come along?”

  “Hawke, it started out that way, but once you took me to your home it changed,” Tiana pleaded and she felt tears begin to fall. “I even called her and told her I was no longer going to help her. I was going to tell you.”

  “Then why didn’t you? From Goddamn day one you could’ve opened your mouth and said something
,” Hawke snarled.

  “Because I never expected to find you so amazing. I thought I’d be there a day at the most and then I’d go home and you’d forget I even existed,” she answered honestly. “But then we talked and you never watched Friday the 13th and, God, you kissed me and I just wanted to be close to you.”

  “Why, for more juicy gossip about how I was in bed?” He sneered. “The poor little fashion shop girl who got some action from the mysterious artist in his secret home? Oh, you’re good, Tiana. I thought you were so sweet and innocent, but you are even worse than some of the vipers I’ve met.”

  “Don’t say that.” She shook her head and whispered, “It wasn’t like that.”

  He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Wasn’t it? Damn you, I told you about and showed you my secret. I trusted you, I fell for you and you turn out to be this…this… You whored yourself out for a couple of sentences in a magazine and it wasn’t even for you. You let your friend pimp you out.”

  “Hawke, I fell for you too. I can’t fake these feelings. Anyone who knows me can tell you—”

  He laughed, a harsh grating sound, cutting her off. “Who are your references? Anyone who knows you can’t possibly be anyone I want to meet. How did you find out where to stage this little I’m-lost-save-me act?” When she didn’t answer, he gave her a little shake. “Answer me, damn you, because I can see a lawsuit coming out of this and don’t think I wouldn’t do it.”

  “Your friend’s assistant or contractor or whatever stole the information for Joslyn,” she whispered brokenly. “I said no so many times, and when I called her and told her I wasn’t going to do it, Jos told me you’d use me to warm your bed and then toss me away.”

  “She’s right about that,” he said coldly. “I never want to see or hear your name again. I hope it was good, baby, because you performed really well. Maybe I should write you a check for your services.”

  She reared back like he’d struck her. “I-I fell in love with you, Hawke. It’s not about money or the damn story or even Joslyn. It’s about us and what happened while I was with you.”

  His eyes shone with anger and hurt, and she felt her heart break knowing that she caused it.

  “The thing is, I fell for you too.” He laughed softly, a defeated sound. “Second time I share myself only to be betrayed again. There won’t be a third.”

  “Please forgive me. You can say you’re mad, but we can work through this,” Tiana said urgently. “If you love me and I love you, we can fix this.”

  “I plan to forget you even exist. You think we could fix this? Are you serious?” Hawke asked, incredulous.

  “Yes, I do. Love can conquer anything,” Tiana said stubbornly.

  “God, you can’t be this naive!” He turned from her and then turned back and yelled, “I can’t trust you. That won’t change. You betrayed me, Tiana. Get in your car and go back to your little fake world and the fake friends who you let use you and forget about me. And I swear if I hear anything of what I told you about my spirit guide and being able to become a hawk I will make you look crazy and expose what you and your friend tried to do.”

  “I wasn’t planning on saying anything,” Tiana said quietly.

  The pain in her heart couldn’t even be eased by the numbness that had settled in her body. She ruined one of the best things that had ever happened to her. She killed a new love, one that could’ve lasted a lifetime.

  “Yeah, see that you don’t,” he muttered. “Get in your car and start it up. Since you have your lifeline to civilization, you can call someone if you get into trouble.”

  “There’s nothing I can say to fix this?” Tiana tried once more to salvage what she’d had with someone she treasured.

  “It’s done,” was his simple and firm reply.

  “I hope you find freedom and peace as you soar through the sky. When you touch the mountaintops and follow the colors of the sunset until they turn to twilight, be happy. Hawke, please be happy.”

  With those words, she turned and went to her car. He didn’t so much as glance her way again but waited to make sure her car started. She sent up a thanks to the heavens when the engine turned over and purred to life. He was walking the other way even before she pulled away and soon the forest swallowed him up and she couldn’t see him anymore. She drove for about an hour before pulling over to the side of the road and turned off the engine. She leaned against the steering wheel and cried. Her gut-wrenching sobs filled the silence in the car until they sounded agonized and hysterical to even her ears. A tap on the driver’s side window caused her to shriek and she looked over to see a highway patrolman standing by her door. She had been so engrossed in her tears that she hadn’t seen the flashing lights pull up behind her.

  “Ma’am, is everything okay?” She could see her reflection in his sunglasses. She looked a mess.

  She wiped her face on her sleeve and tried to smile as she rolled down the window. “Yes, officer, I’m fine.”

  “You’re crying,” he pointed out. “Bad break up?”

  She nodded and felt her lips tremble as more tears threatened. “The worst. I’ll be on my way. Thank you for checking on me.”

  She heard the cry of a hawk and they both automatically looked up.

  “Well, ma’am, look at that. If you see a hawk, it means good luck.” He smiled at her. “Things will get better. You have a good evening and drive safe.”

  She didn’t feel real lucky at that point. Her head was now pounding from all the crying she had done and she still had a long drive to Charlotte. The hawk that they had seen, was it her Hawke looking over her, making sure she was okay? She doubted it. The look of betrayal on his face was still very fresh in her mind, so, no, he wouldn’t be looking for her. The finality of his words was very clear. Hawke was gone and because of her deception she was alone. There was no one to blame but herself and that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

  * * * *

  A month later, Hawke sat across from Jensen in a condo in Uptown Charlotte. His friend had homes from New York to Florida. Jensen hated hotels as much as Hawke hated the city so when he came into town, it was a given that he stayed with his friend—the only person he could trust. Right now, though, Jensen wasn’t being a commiserating friend, which was not what he needed. In fact, everything his friend was saying was opposite of what he wanted to hear. His assistant, who had leaked Hawke’s information, had been fired with the knowledge that because of the non-disclosure agreement if he even dared to open his mouth to the press again he’d be sued within an inch of his life. The assistant didn’t have a leg to stand on legally so he went away quietly.

  Right now, Jensen was sipping his Johnnie Walker over ice and calling him a fool.

  “I’m telling you, Hawke, I ran a background check on her after you called me. If she was any cleaner, she’d squeak when she walked,” Jensen said.

  “She came to me under a false guise,” Hawke defended.

  “She admitted it and, hell, since that time she could’ve said anything to anyone. You could’ve read an article in any magazine or seen her in interviews on the news, but there’s been nothing,” Jensen pointed out.

  “Yeah, because I threatened her,” Hawke said.

  “No, it’s because she’s sad. I went into her store two days ago,” Jensen explained. “Said I was looking for something for my fiancée. First, her designs are really good. So good, in fact, I’m thinking her clothes are going to start flying off the rack when enough people find out about her designs.”

  “Okay, you said first. What’s the second part?” Hawk groused.

  “The second part is that she took me around the shop and all the while she is helping me pick the perfect dress and smiling, but that smile never traveled to her eyes.” Jensen took a sip of his drink. “The sadness she felt was rolling off her in waves. Hell, I don’t even have a person to buy a dress for and I felt so bad I bought two.”

  “You fell for that innocent thing and those big brown eyes.” Hawke
tapped his hand against the edge of the chair.

  “I can spot a con artist a mile away and she isn’t it,” Jensen said.

  “You don’t think it’s tearing me up too? Last night I sat outside her window on a branch most of the night watching her sleep through lace curtains she has up on those balcony doors,” Hawke said gutturally. “She needs better drapes. People can see in her place easily.”

  “You’re a bird stalker peeping Tom,” Jensen chuckled. “She lives on the fifth floor. Only the birds can see her. Oh, wait that’s you.”

  “I just wanted to see her face, okay? She had her hair down and I could almost smell it if I closed my eyes.” Hawke sighed. “She tossed and turned all night and I wanted to hold her, just hold her.”

  “You’re an idiot if you give up on something this good in your life, and you live a solitary life,” Jensen said. “Isn’t it time for the hawk to take a mate and no longer be alone?”

  Just then, the security buzzer to his condo rang. He got up and pressed the button that would open the door to the building without asking who it was. “I think that may be the sushi since you refused to go out and eat. I swear I don’t know how I deal with you and this hermit lifestyle you live. It’s Wednesday night which means it is neon night at Septre.”