I reach out to touch his short hair and remember how good he felt under my touch. I dreamed that one day he’d be my home, but I knew deep down it wasn’t possible. My father would never allow it, and who knew what Hawk wanted? He never spoke of other women and he didn’t wear a ring. I never saw him with any of the random women who would come and go through the back door of our house.
I thought he was different from the rest of my father’s hired men. I swear I could feel it in my soul that he was good.
“Answer me, muñeca.” I think he means to speak harshly but I don’t miss the crack in his voice.
“It’s normal. I’m just low on iron,” I tell him. “Please don’t take me back there.” I move my hand away but Hawk catches it. He brings the palm to his mouth and kisses me there. It’s so soft and gentle my heart squeezes.
“I’m not taking you back to your father.” His hands grab the edge of my panties. The simple white cotton is no match for Hawk as he rips it and stares down at me. “Muñeca, are you bare?” he asks.
“I shaved it for you that time—” I cut myself off, knowing I shouldn’t give him all the power. “I like it this way.”
“Yes. It shows me all of you.” I try to close my legs, but his broad shoulders stop me. My clit is pulsing with a need I don’t want.
“Lift your shirt and show me my son.”
“How do you know the sex?” I glare at him. I only just found out at the hospital.
“I know everything about you.” He lifts my shirt himself, resting it on top of my bump so it won’t fall back down. “He’s big already.”
“His dad must be a big guy. That helps me narrow down who the father might be,” I spit out, and Hawk is on his feet in a second. He pushes me down into the bed, hovering over my body.
“That mouth of yours.”
“Maybe if I used my mouth more I wouldn’t be in this situation.”
Hawk’s face turns deadly but I feel no fear. We both know I’m running my mouth because I can’t help myself and it’s worse when I’m upset. My stupid eyes fill with tears and Hawk’s whole face changes in an instant.
“I deserved that. I’ll let that one go, muñeca, but don’t speak of other men touching you again. I don’t care if it’s made up or not.”
I nod as one of the tears escapes and he leans down, kissing it.
“How can you be so mean and sweet?” I whisper. I don’t know if I want to wrap my body around him or push him away.
“You bring out the sweet. You also have a way of bringing out other things.” He closes his eyes as he drops down more and buries his face in my neck. He’s careful not to put any weight on my belly and I hate how much I love that.
“I miss the smell of you,” he moans, running his nose along my neck.
I’ve missed everything about him. There wasn’t a second that went by that I haven’t wished things had been different.
“I don’t know why you're here if you’re not taking me back to my father.” He lifts his head to look down at me. “But please don’t hurt anyone here. They’ve taken care of me. They gave me a home.” Before he can respond, Hawk is on his feet and the door to my cabin is swinging open.
Ford and Van are standing there along with Moose.
I have no idea how this is going to go, but I know only I can defuse it. I get off the bed as fast as I can and try to step around Hawk. Hawk’s hand flies out to stop me and it’s then I remember I’m not wearing anything below the waist.
Chapter 2
Hawk
I glance down to see her oversized shirt covering her up, but I don’t like knowing she’s so exposed with these men in her cabin. Each one of them comes pretty close to matching me in size, and one on one I wouldn’t be so worried. But with all three of them against me, my odds aren’t looking too good.
“Nice to see you again,” I say to the one in the middle. He was the guy at the front desk, the one who told me he hadn’t seen my Piper.
“I’m Ford Cyprus, and this is my son Van.” He nods to his left. “And this is our camp ranger Moose.”
The man on his right crosses his arms over his chest, making him look bigger and my fingers itch to reach for the gun in my belt. I need to keep this situation calm so I take a step in front of Piper.
“She’s not dressed, so I think we should all step outside.” I use every ounce of self-control I have to talk smoothly and defuse the tension.
“Hawk,” Piper hisses at me, and I turn to glare at her. She presses her lips together and looks away. I’m hoping for once in her life she can listen to me.
“Fine,” Ford agrees as he and the two other guys back out of the cabin.
“Muñeca,” I say softly, and she looks up at me. “The scent of your naked pussy is the only thing I can smell right now. Put something on and come outside when you’re dressed.”
“I was dressed before you came in here and ripped things off of me,” she huffs, then stomps over to the dresser.
Now it’s my turn to keep quiet as I step out of the cabin and close the door behind me. So much for locks around here.
“We know who she is.” Moose’s voice is firm and Ford nods.
“Then you know why I’m here.” I decide to play my cards close to my chest because this is my fucking business and it’s between Piper and me.
“You’re not taking her.” Van is young, but he looks just like his father and I can see he’s just as stubborn.
“That’s not for you to decide.” I look between the three of them and hear the door to the cabin open behind me. “Get your things, Piper. We’re leaving.”
A silence passes and I turn around to see her shaking her head. “I’m not going with you.” She places a protective hand over her belly and I clench my fists at my side.
“That’s not for you to decide either.” The sound that comes from me is low and grumbling. “I’m not asking you, Piper, I’m telling you. Get your things or we’ll leave them here. It doesn't matter to me.”
“I think you heard her,” Ford says as he steps closer to me.
I hold my hand out and he stops his approach. “Come another step and you’ll regret it,” I warn, and he narrows his eyes at me.
“Hawk,” Piper pleads from behind me, and I don’t like that I can’t watch these men and her at the same time. “This is my home now. I’m eighteen, and I don’t have to do what my father tells me to.”
“We need to talk,” I tell her over my shoulder and I notice that the other two men moved a bit closer when I wasn’t looking. I chance a glance back at her and just as I do, I hear the sound of gravel crunching under boots and then I’m being tackled.
I feel my gun fall out of my belt as I roll on top of Ford and land a punch to his mouth. Just as I make contact, my arms are yanked back and Moose has me in a headlock. I kick out and make a direct hit into Van’s chest before he goes flying back. I’m fighting but Moose is strong and the hold he’s got me in is cutting off blood flow to my head.