Sinful Rewards 11 (8 page)
Authors: Cynthia Sax
“Was the team surprised about Hawke’s decision not to lead assignments?” I venture into the quiet.
“The team might have been surprised, but I wasn’t.” Ellen climbs back on her bar stool. “I knew I could count on you, short stack. You can’t fight worth shit, but you complete missions. That’s one of the reasons I haven’t duct-taped your damn mouth tonight.”
Her comments don’t bother me. I hear the affection in her voice. “You like me.” I turn my yawn into a smile. “You consider me a sister.”
“An irritating little sister who constantly steals my best knives.” Ellen’s view of the world frightens me. “You—”
“Wait.” I hold up my cleaning cloth. The air around us changes, snapping with electricity. “Hawke is here,” I sing, happiness filling my soul.
“Shit,” Mack cusses, not as thrilled with his boss’s arrival. “Help me free her.” Knives slice through the duct tape.
I squeak a protest, alarmed by the sharp steel slashing too damn close to my skin. Ellen and Mack ignore me, peeling the tape from my designer dress, leaving a sticky trail across the cloth.
I start to slide across my seat. Mack presses against me, keeping my ass in place.
“Why are you touching my girl?” Hawke booms. Mack steps away from me, I topple off the bar stool, and strong arms scoop me up before I hit the hard floor.
“Hi.” I gaze into my military man’s beloved face, his features blurry.
All three of his mouths frown. “How much did you have to drink, sweetheart?” He walks through the crowded bar, carrying me, his long stride eating up the hardwood floor. I link my fingers behind his neck, clinging to him. I don’t know where we’re going, and I don’t care. I’m with him. That’s enough for me.
“I belong, Hawke.” I beam at him, glad to be sharing this magical evening with him. “They care about me, and they’re happy we’re together.” I rest my heavy head against his no-longer-crisp white shirt. “Don’t be angry with them.”
“With them.” His cleanly shaven jaw juts.
I made a mistake, but I don’t know what it is. “Mack found some champagne.” I lower my voice. “I discovered that I really don’t like champagne, but don’t tell him that, okay?” I yawn, waves of exhaustion sweeping over me. “He looked everywhere, searching for a bottle, trying to make our night special.”
“I won’t tell him.” Hawke’s shoulders lower, the tension easing from his big form. “I wish Mack hadn’t made our night quite so special, love.”
A door opens and cold air rushes over me. This drop in temperature should have revived me. It doesn’t. Nothing can pierce my sleepiness. I snuggle closer to Hawke’s body, seeking his heat, my eyelids heavy.
“My plans will have to wait until you’re sober,” he shares. “I want you to remember every moment.”
“I won’t ever forget tonight.” I close my eyes. I’ll rest for a couple of minutes and then I’ll be fresh for Hawke’s mysterious plans. “Walking into the Road Gator with you at my side was the best moment of my life.”
He presses his firm lips against my forehead. “It was the first of many best moments, Belinda.”
I don’t know how any moment can equal tonight’s, but if it’s possible, my former marine will accomplish it. Hawke keeps his promises. I touch the dog tags. He always returns to me.
“Hawke?” The blackness pulls at me. I resist its lure, needing to talk to my man.
“Yeah?” He shifts me in his arms. A vehicle beeps.
I think I’ve told him this, but I can’t remember and I really want him to know. “Tonight was the best night of my life.”
“I’m glad, love.” His voice is soft.
“I’m glad too.” I smile against his neck. “I love you so much.” I allow sleep to claim me, knowing Hawke will keep me safe.
Want to know what happens next for Bee, Nicolas, and Hawke?
The very last installment in the Billionaires and Bikers novellas,
is available June 16.
CYNTHIA SAX
lives in a world filled with magic and romance. Although her heroes may not always say “I love you,” they will do anything for the women they adore. They live passionately. They play hard. They love the same women forever.
Cynthia has loved the same wonderful man forever. Her supportive hubby offers himself up to the joys and pains of research, while they travel the world together, meeting fascinating people and finding inspiration in exotic places such as Istanbul, Bali, and Chicago.
Please visit her on the web at
www.CynthiaSax.com
.
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The Seen Trilogy
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
SINFUL REWARDS 11
. Copyright © 2015 by Cynthia Sax. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition MAY 2015 ISBN: 9780062354303
Print Edition ISBN: 9780062354310
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