☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼ ☼
It felt like I was on a date. If I pretended for a moment that he wasn’t actually the president of a biker club that was holding me against my will, it was as if he were courting me. His secluded house, the wine he poured me after I declined his offer of beer, the perfectly grilled steaks served under a gorgeous open sky - all combined with the fact that they were being provided by a dangerously seductive drop-dead handsome man with flowing, long blonde hair - were all things that would have seduced me whether I was getting an envelope full of cash afterward or was being held for ransom.
Either way, it was a classic seduction that was working damn well, no matter how much I wanted to resist it. If he had shown any smidgen of an intention to hurt me, I wouldn’t have felt like this. But he had been nothing but respectful, starting with apologizing before he put that rag over my face and continuing when he didn’t do any number of things he could have while I laid naked and unconscious in front of him for hours.
I couldn’t help but respect that. And the fact that he smelled like heaven didn’t help. If heaven was filled with leather and whiskey loving men, that is.
Once again, I wondered how I ended up in this place. I desperately wished he would answer some of my questions, and I hoped that if I played my cards right, I could get him to open up to me. Sure, he was charming, but I was the one who got paid to be charming. I was sure I could out-charm him if I tried.
I had to give it my best effort.
I concentrated on him all night, not asking questions about why I was there, but instead asking about him, and I listened intently to every answer, every boyhood story, every description of his dad, the former president of the Devil’s Horsemen, of what goes on behind the closed door of the clubhouse. He didn’t go into detail regarding their business, but he told me he traveled around California a lot, and talked at length about his love for the desert.
The darkness that fell over his eyes when he briefly touched on the dirty part of club business almost made me sad. I understood what it meant when you were born into a life you didn’t want to be in. He never went into details, but it left me wondering what duties he had to perform as a president of an MC club. Being born into it, he said, was not something easily escaped.
“I guess you could say I’m wearing chains, too, Princess,” he said quietly, his voice trailing up into the big, open sky above us.
He leaned over, and quickly pressed his lips to mine again before going into the house and returning with a pair of black harnessed boots and two pairs of socks. The boots were still a little big, even with both pairs on, but they fit pretty well. I had never been more thankful for comfortable footwear.
We took Pearl for a walk around his property, and when we returned, he built a roaring fire in the large firepit behind his cabin. He left his back door open, brought out a bottle of whiskey and we sat there, watching the fire and the sunset behind his home.
I had my glass of wine that I had slowly been sipping on, but I had always loved the warmth of a good bourbon. When I asked for some of his, he looked surprised, but began to rise to get a glass.
“I don’t need a glass, Hawk. Just give me the bottle.”
He smiled that eye-crinkling, disarming smile at me, and I looked away quickly. Charming him to get more information and resisting his charms at the same time was proving to be a thin line and I took a deep breath, hoping the whiskey would give me a little courage to keep my walls up around him.
Putting the bottle up to my bare lips, I shuddered as I remembered the feel of Hawk’s lips on mine earlier.
As the whiskey hit the back of my throat, I groaned as I felt that first inviting heat. I turned back to see Hawk staring at me, his eyes looking right through me.
“You’re not as uptight as I expected you to be.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I replied, taking another sip.
“I wish I had met you under different circumstances, Vanessa.”
“Do you?” I asked, lowering my eyelids as I watched his lips move.
“Yes. This…situation…presents all sorts of problems.”
I laughed out loud as his wording.
“That’s one way to put it.”
“It’s just business, Vanessa. Obviously you’re an…interesting…lady.”
“Interesting…” I repeated quietly.
“Well, yeah. Tell me about your art. You’re really good.”
“Oh, yeah, I guess you saw all that.” I cringed thinking about him in my apartment, trying to remember what I had left lying around.
“I did. You’re very talented. You must be very successful.”
The last thing I wanted to do was talk about my art. I loved it, but it made me think about my father, and his disdain for it, and when I thought about my father, I couldn’t help but be angry that he had put me in this situation with his shady dealings. I wanted to just enjoy the night with Hawk and pretend I wasn’t being held captive by him.
“Not really. It’s a long story. But maybe some day.”
“I would think a woman like you would have all the resources you need to be successful.”
“Well, I did. Before my father cut me off.”
“What do you mean cut you off?”
“My father is filthy rich, and has been since before I was born. You said you knew who he is, so I’m assuming you know he’s running for mayor, and I’m also assuming that’s why we are both here right now. Don’t worry, you don’t have to confirm,” I watched him intently to see if his face gave anything away as I talked, but he sat stone faced, listening quietly. “Anyway, I grew up having everything I wanted handed to me. I don’t think I abused it, but I didn’t really learn how to take care of myself either. When I expressed a desire to be an artist, instead of becoming a lawyer or doctor or anything more respectful in my father’s eyes than a sculptor, he decided to cut me off financially.”
I paused, wondering how much I should say and also wondering how much he already knew.
“Luckily, I met a woman - Genevieve - and she gave me a job six months ago, so I’ve been totally self-sufficient the last few months.”
“Yes, your job.”
For the first time, I felt uncomfortable with him. I couldn’t quite read his tone. He knew I was a call-girl, he had said so earlier, and he had caught me right in the middle of sex with a client, after all.
I decided not to go into it, and he didn’t say anymore about it, either.
“I’m planning on having a show soon, though.”
“Oh, yeah? I’d like to see that.”
I started to say I would invite him, but would I? I had no idea what was going to unfold in the next few days, or where he would be after.
“It should be sometime in the next few months, hopefully.”
I left it vague, and he didn’t press. We sat in peaceful silence, watching the fire and the moon, passing the whiskey bottle back and forth, with Pearl sleeping at our feet.
I snuck a glance at Hawk and saw him deep in thought, staring into the flames. His eyes were intense and he had drifted far away. The awkwardness of the situation couldn’t be avoided, and while I had started the evening with every intention of attempting to milk him for information, looking at him now, there was no way I could even try. He had obviously been straight with me from the very beginning, and he had been nothing but respectful.
I had to cut him a break.
He turned and caught me watching him, his face breaking into a huge smile as he met my eyes.
“Are you cold? It gets chilly out here at night.”
“No, I’m fine,” I replied, smiling back at him.
He was like nobody I had ever met before - rough and rugged in a way I wasn’t used to - but his kindness and sincerity was charming. He calmed me, and soothed my nerves. The irony of the situation was not lost on me.
“I bet you’re tired.”
“Actually, yes I’m exhausted.”
It hit me as soon as he said it. My mind had been swirling with questions for hours, and mentally, I was completely spent.
“I’m not surprised.” He smiled again, those gorgeous eyes sparkling at me.
“Yeah, well. I guess it’s all your fault,” I said jokingly.
He laughed, stood up and began dumping sand on the quickly fading fire.
“Well, let’s go to bed then.”
“Um…”
He saw the look of uncertainty on my face and laughed at me again.
“Don’t worry, Princess. I’ll take the couch.”
“Oh. I didn’t mean…well, I - um…” I blushed bright red, torn between being grateful for the reassurance and disappointment that we wouldn’t be sharing the same bed.
He turned to walk inside, and I stood up to follow him. Forgetting that I had consumed half a bottle of whiskey, I stumbled into his back. He turned quickly, grabbing my elbows and steadying me. His fingers were hot against my skin.
Hawk looked down at me, his eyes soft and smiling.
“Watch out, darlin’. I didn’t realize you were a light weight.”
“I’m not!” I protested. “Really!”
“Well, your legs are arguing with you.”
I stood up straight, determined to prove my point.
“Really, I’m fine.” I said, jutting my chin out defiantly. The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was weak or scared.
“I can handle myself,” I said, pulling my arm away, and looking up at him. He looked at me curiously.
“Nobody said you couldn’t, Vanessa.”
He smiled at me gently, and then leaned down, kissing my lips, and once again throwing me completely off-guard. He had the weirdest timing.
His lips were warm and soft, lingering on mine a little longer this time, but not nearly long enough. Before I could command myself to kiss him back, he was pulling away again, and I stood staring at him dumbfounded, my lips slightly parted and wet, wanting so much more than his brief kiss.
“I’ll lock up. Sweet dreams,” he said, as his warm hand caressed my cheek softly. He leaned down and patted Pearl on the head, and then turned and walked into the house, leaving us standing alone in the desert behind his house and watching him walk away yet again.
I was getting used to the view, but beginning to like it a lot less.