“Wait, wait,” she pleaded on a tremor, but he didn’t stop. He pressed his nose into her clit and wiggled it back and forth. A wave of ecstasy washed over her, and she arched her back. Just as she hit the very edge of a second orgasm, he stopped and shifted positions again. He stretched his full length between her thighs and nudged them higher. One small push had his cap past her entrance. She keened, and when her muscles gave, her pussy straining around his thickness, he stabbed farther.
Hawke seized her wrists and jerked them above her head. He gave another mighty push, and she knew he lay at the hilt. She whimpered, unable to do anything other than lie beneath him, the blindfold still in place. After a few moments, he began a slow rocking of his hips to get his dick moving in and out of her. Stephanie slid her feet over the bed to raise her knees. Her legs as wide as they could go, she accepted his invasion. He thrust hard. She cried out. He thrust again, and her orgasm took hold. While she rode wave after wave, Hawke pounded into her body. Her clit tingled, and her core muscles tightened. The sensations were too much, and she pleaded without intelligence. The sounds their bodies made, the slap of his skin on hers, all culminated to give her the most amazing climax she had ever had.
Hawke drew away and turned her so that her ass stuck up in the air and her legs rested together. He pressed a heavy hand on her hip, and she felt the tip of his cock against her pussy. He eased in, and she moaned, reaching out for him. Her hand struck his thigh, and she caressed the smooth skin, covered in a smattering of fine hair. He pushed deeper, and she caught her breath. Heat rose along her arms, her sides, and on her cheeks. She knew he had bent over her and began a slow grind. When a grunt sounded low in his throat, she writhed, encouraging his pleasure. He pumped faster, his body slamming against her.
He shouted her name and went still. Hot come filled her pussy as tears wet her cheeks. She waited, and then he fell down behind her, gathering her into his arms. Light stirred behind her eyelids when he removed the blindfold and kissed her cheek.
* * * *
The next morning, Stephanie opened her eyes to find Hawke gone. Her heart tightened in her chest, and she jumped from the bed to throw on her clothing. If Meechi woke and didn’t find her in her room or the rest of the house, she might go exploring outside. Stephanie might have allowed her daughter to be with Sienna the day before, but her fears hadn’t lessened.
She left Hawke’s room and hurried across the hall to her own. After checking Meechi’s room and finding it empty, she ran to the stairs. A misstep at the top sent her tumbling forward. She had seconds to realize Meechi simpered like the lovesick little girl she was at the bottom of the steps, and the person in front of her by the tone of his voice must be Karl, who leaned on the banister as if he had nothing better to do with his day. The next instant Karl’s arms were around her, stopping her fall. Stephanie marveled at the strength in a young man his age and him being so slender, but she struggled to get free when his nails dug into her arms.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” he said, backing down the steps.
Stephanie fell hard on her ass and gripped a rung in the railing. “Meechi, come here now!”
Her daughter scrambled up the steps. “Are you okay, Mom?”
Rapid heel clicks sounded on the hardwood floor below. “What’s going on? Are you all right, Stephanie? Did you fall?” Sienna asked.
Stephanie licked her lips.
“I’m sorry,” Karl said again. “I had to move fast to catch her. I forgot myself. My claws came out. You know this time of month… I’m sorry.”
“Go find something to do with yourself,” Sienna snapped. She jogged up the steps and examined Stephanie’s arm with a click of impatience on her tongue. “I told Toron he’s not good in the house, but what else was he going to do with him? Come on, sweetie, let me clean this up. It’s not that bad.”
“Not that bad?” Stephanie railed. “He turned into a beast and scratched me.”
“Okay, drama queen.” She chuckled, and Stephanie glared at her. “I apologize. His claws came out, not unheard of when we’re this close to a full moon. We don’t usually have humans here. We’ll get you right. Don’t worry.”
Stephanie suffered in silence until her arm was disinfected and bandaged. She couldn’t see the wound clearly, but after she’d calmed down some, she had to admit it wasn’t more than the scratch a house cat could have done. Karl did keep her from breaking her neck, and he’d moved with inhuman speed. The problem was his slip-up could have involved Meechi, and she would have thrown him down a flight of stairs if that had happened.
“I don’t want him near my daughter.” She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “Correction. It doesn’t even matter, because we’re leaving.”
Sienna clutched her hand while they sat in the bathroom, Stephanie on the toilet with the seat turned down, and Sienna on the edge of the bathtub. “But Hawke left to take care of your problem this morning. Please, give him more time, Stephanie. I know this is scary, and I would be out of my head. You’re actually doing well considering. I promise no one will come near you, and I will gut my husband if he doesn’t make Karl go somewhere else while the two of you are here. Don’t go. Let us look after you for a little while longer.”
“Look after us?” She seethed. Looking after them was not what had been happening. She hated the fear that stirred inside of her and the uncertainty. Having her eyes in the state they were made her feel like she lay open to whatever came, and to be here among these people didn’t bear thinking on. To her annoyance tears welled in her eyes. Lately, she cried at every opportunity, and it pissed her off. She swiped a hand over her nose, and Sienna tore off a bit of toilet paper to hand to her.
“My ex-boyfriend got excited during sex and bit me,” Sienna blurted. “I was terrified that this was a situation of abuse I didn’t see coming, but it turned out to be worse than that.”
Stephanie covered her mouth and found no words to comment. She sat in silence and listened.
“He informed me later that I was going to change. I’m like, change into what? I had all kinds of ideas, and none of them left me with the confidence that this wasn’t the end of my life. But then I met Toron, and he had an ability to set things right for me. He calmed my mind and helped me find peace, just like he does so often for his people. I tell you when I think of how much he loves them…well I guess I love him more each day.
“I know he can’t do the same for you because you’re human, but something tells me you have a strong connection with Hawke. I’ve never seen him more animated than when he’s with you or talking about you. I’m amazed. Usually, he’s silent and watching, but I don’t know. He’s with us more. And just mentioning him has brought an expression to your face.”
Stephanie turned her head frowning. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Sienna laughed. “Okay, have it your way. I’m asking you to stay. It’s a huge risk, and I get it that your daughter is the number one priority, but where would you go? Who will help you, and as much as you hate it, you do need somebody’s help right now.”
Stephanie gritted her teeth.
Her new friend placed a hand over Stephanie’s and squeezed lightly. “Get cleaned up, and let’s have breakfast together and gossip about the crazy folk in this town. Human or not, you know there’s always stupid people, right?”
Despite herself, Stephanie grinned. “Yeah.”
“Cool.” Sienna stood up. “You’ve got twenty minutes. I’m hungry.”
“I’ll be there.”
Chapter Seven
Hawke put the phone down and tapped fingers on the desktop. He surged from his chair and grabbed his jacket. A visit to Michael had given him the information he needed. He knew where to find the loan shark that had provided his loan. Hawke had expected a man, but it turned out the lender was a woman. He was not a fool as to think she had no protection. Her goons would surround her, but Hawke intended to find a perch and wait for the right opportunity.
The offices Jessica Wringer lay south of central park in Manhattan. Hawke first scoped out the area walking, hands in his pockets, eyes open to observe the comings and goings. When he was satisfied with the view at street level, he planned to find a rooftop. Concrete and tinted glass stretched as far as the eye could see. Cars raced down the streets, honking horns, slamming breaks, and squealing tires. Even those on foot seemed to be in a hurry—and pissed about it. He wondered how Michael found Jessica. Maybe she’d found him. That might be how she did business, preying on the desperate corporation owner.
Hawke’s research into Stephanie’s dead husband turned up that he’d owned several other businesses aside from his family’s joint venture. Upon the man’s death, the profit went to Meechi. What Stephanie had told him about the coming divorce from her husband had apparently been true. He refused to provide for her directly, but he seemed to have no problem with Stephanie caring for the girl and using her allowance. Maybe he knew Stephanie loved Meechi enough for the both of them.
A woman exited one of the buildings nearest to him and sashayed along the pavement. The red heels were a bit much for the dark-suited drones and the business casual wearers. Two bulky men shadowed her, keeping their distance. Hawke recognized the woman as Jessica Wringer from his sources. When she drew alongside him, her gaze roved him from top to bottom, and she made a noise of appreciation. He resisted a cringe in revulsion and walked on.
The noise and the many people began to crowd in on him like they never had before. He put it down to leaving Sutland too soon and wanting nothing more than to lie in bed next to Stephanie. Her creamy brown skin felt incredible beneath his hands. Hell, her body with its perfect curves and her full breasts gave him visions that hardened his cock every hour. He would get more of that if it killed him. All he needed to do was wrap this business up and get back to her. Then he could listen to her call out his name in that husky way she had when he brought her to the point of an orgasm. Oh yeah, he would do that again and again.
Hawke returned to his office and first opened the window. He peered out onto the street and made a quick judgment on wind conditions, which had come naturally from as far back as he could remember. He shed his clothing. Then he shifted into his bird form. He had no idea how it happened, whether it dealt with magic the way his bones shrank or some weird defiance of the laws of physics. He only knew he did it, and feathers sprouted to protect his skin and give him flight.
He hopped closer to the window and opened his wings. A small flap brought him to the ledge, and he stepped out onto it. Walking with wings folded, he waited until that surge of air rose in just the right way, and when it did, he took to the sky. Faster than he could have arrived by car, he found himself back at Jessica’s workplace and chose his spot. So high, the people would look like insects to a human, he watched. Still and quiet, he let the hours pass until night fell. One might think she’d gone for the day, but he knew different. At long last, a car drew up to the curb, and the driver ran around to open the back door. Jessica Wringer placed a delicate foot to the ground and unfolded from the car. Hawke flew across the street to the building opposite and made his way to the spot that would give him access to the interior.
* * * *
“I want her found. Do you understand me?” Jessica was saying to the man in front of her, in her office. Hawke had had no trouble locating her nor of procuring clothing for himself. “She’s a cash cow. Her daddy left her loaded, and if I can get those shares…oh, it gives me shivers. If the mother gets in the way, kill her. What do we know of the man she’d been seen with? Anything?”
Hawke hitched his shoulders and stepped into the doorway. He knew anger drove him at the way they spoke about Stephanie and Meechi, but he couldn’t hold himself back. “His name is Hawke Cooper,” Hawke said, “and he is the one that will bring you down.”
Jessica jumped to her feet and snapped her fingers to the men standing around her. “How the hell did you get in here?”
He picked up on the man drawing a weapon from his jacket and zipped over to him in the blink of an eye. Hawke raised him off his feet with one hand and tossed him backward. He hit the wall with an oomph and slid down it. “You will not touch her,” Hawke emphasized.
Another man came at him with a knife. He sidestepped the jab and caught the man’s wrist. A slight twist and crack of bone followed a bellow of pain. Hawke sent a punch to the man’s gut and had him on his knees shaking. Jessica lunged for the phone and stabbed a button on it. Hawke would have made it to her in time to stop her if the man he’d just taken down didn’t wrap himself around his legs. To the man’s credit, he managed to trip Hawke and drive a fist into his ribs. Hawke winced but elbowed the guy in the nose. Blood spurted everywhere.
“You realize this is futile?” Jessica shouted, a plaintive tone in her voice. “I have people everywhere.”
“No, you don’t,” he countered. “I know your type. You’re greedy and mean. You’d want all the money for yourself.”
Her face paled. “I can make it worth your while to walk away. We’ll say no more about this.” When he didn’t respond but shoved her bodyguard off him, her hands fluttered as if she searched for a solution. Whoever else was in the building wasn’t coming fast enough. “There are many more where those two came from.”
He grinned and stood in front of her desk, a mere reach to grab her. He could send her through the glass behind her desk and let her fall to her death. Too bad she didn’t know he did not murder women, but the temptation remained. After all, she threatened Stephanie. “I’m willing to bet you’ve got a lot of enemies. I just need to leave you vulnerable and let them take care of the rest.”
When her expression of fear turned to relief, he knew he was screwed. The shot went off before he could turn around, and a fire burned through his gut. He tried sucking in a breath, but even that created intense pain. With effort that felt like it drained him of all energy, he leaped to the side just as another shot was fired. When others followed, Jessica ducked as well. Hawke pressed a hand against his side and crawled to the back of a couch to assess the situation.
“Hawke, you okay?”
He frowned in surprise, recognizing his friend’s voice. “Jim, what are you doing here?”
“I thought you could use a little backup.”
“I didn’t want to drag you into any trouble. I had the situation in hand.”
His friend chuckled. “So I can see, but don’t worry, I made sure I had enough evidence against Ms. Jessica Wringer before moving in. You taking out her closest boys saved me some trouble. Jessica,” he shouted, “you’d do yourself a favor by giving up now. None of your lackies are standing on their feet. If you want to make this hard, by all means…”
Hawke stared down at the blood staining his shirtfront and the pants he borrowed from a guard. Since he hadn’t shown his face, there wasn’t a reason to tie up that loose end, but he couldn’t leave examinable blood at the scene either, and if he didn’t get out of there quick, more questions would need to be answered. He redirected his gaze to his fingers, which had already begun the change. When injured, he tended to shift. From his experience, all shifters were the same. Transformation made for faster healing, as long as the wound wasn’t fatal. Damn it, I fucked up.
Hawke peered over his shoulder in time to see Jessica standing with her hands raised. Officers rushed up to lead her out. He noticed Jim giving a status report in his phone. While no one watched, Hawke struggled to his feet. He staggered to the phone on the desk, which was still off its hook, and depressed the butt
on so he’d get a dial tone. He punched in a few numbers and then paused a couple beats before punching in a few more. That would do it.
“Hey, you need a ride anywhere? Hawke?”
Hawke made his way along the ventilation tubing in bird form, cursing himself all the way. At least he knew he’d called in another contact, this one a shifter who would mix in with the forensics team assigned to go over the office. Hawke’s blood and any evidence that someone nonhuman had ever been in the room would disappear forever. The only problem he saw now was that he didn’t have a medical connection in New York. He never got sick, and if he did have issues, he would fly to Sutland. In his current condition, he wouldn’t make it. In fact, it was looking like only a miracle could get him out of this building and to somewhere safe.
Chapter Eight
“Stephanie.”
She looked up at Toron’s voice. They didn’t have much need for chatting since she’d come several days ago. She spent time with Sienna and Meechi, and when she got a little bit braver, she joined her friend at her shop in town. Convinced she would not be here long, Stephanie had kept Meechi home from school. Her bravery didn’t extend to leaving her baby in a place where there was nothing but young lion shifters.
Toron stopped where she sat near the living room window to do some writing. Something in the way he spoke her name didn’t sit right with Stephanie. Butterflies stirred in her stomach, and she set her pad and pen aside. “What’s wrong?”
“Hawke.” He scratched his head and drove rough fingers through the blond locks. “He’s missing.”
Stephanie gasped, and her eyes widened. “B-but how do you know? Maybe he just hasn’t checked in because he’s busy—”
“He had been calling me every day. In the last thirty-six hours, I’ve heard nothing. I checked with a couple of his contacts that I know of, and they haven’t seen him either.”
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