I’ve known Hawk for a while now, but this is the first time I’ve been on his motorcycle. Or any motorcycle, for that matter. I don’t really have time to get nervous, though, because before I even say a word, he’s slung one monstrous leg over the seat and is nodding at the empty spot behind him.

“Come on,” he says. “Let’s go.”

I open the hatch of my car and stow my camera equipment, taking a quick look around to make sure no one’s watching, but the lot’s deserted except for us.

I climb on behind Hawk and put my feet on the pegs he points to. He starts up the bike and I jump a little at the sudden, loud roar. Instinctively, I wrap my arms around his waist to steady me as he puts the machine into gear. I feel the naked, raw power underneath me, between my legs. It’s as though the bike is an extension of the man. Hard. Powerful. Dangerous.

We don’t speak at all, we just ride. I watch as the town of Tanner Springs unfolds in front of us, close and immediate without the barrier of a car windshield. It’s exhilarating. The cooling air chills my skin, and I snuggle tighter into Hawk’s back and marvel at how I can feel the movement of his abs, even under his leather.

I have no idea how long we ride. He drives, and I lose myself in the sheer pleasure of the moment and of being with him. Eventually, he turns off onto a residential street, and pulls up at a house that I instinctively know must be his. A little thrill goes up my spine: he’s never brought me here before. I tell myself not to read anything into it, but heat pools between my legs at the realization he probably hasn’t brought me here to play Monopoly.

We’re inside and his hands are lifting off my shirt and unhooking my bra before he even gets the door closed. Dimly, I notice a bandage on his left arm, but he’s doing this thing with his teeth nipping at my earlobe, so any thought of asking him what it is flies out the window.

“Haven’t seen you in two days,” he growls against my ear. “Too fucking long.” He rips his shirt off over his head with one hand, then thumbs open his jeans and drops them to the ground. His lips are on my breasts, teasing and biting at first one nipple and then the other, so ravenous it’s almost painful. Hawk is like a man possessed, and I’m the possession. My body is for him, and I’m already soaking wet as I realize I’ll do whatever he says.

Except first, there’s something I want. My mouth is already watering at the thought.

Wordlessly, I slip out of his grasp and down onto my knees.

Looking up, I lock my eyes on Hawk’s dark and stormy ones. He looks almost angry, but I know that’s not what it is. He grabs a fistful of my hair as my hand closes over his huge pulsing shaft, my lips and tongue engulfing the velvety head. I moan softly, loving the way he feels in my mouth.

“Fuck,” Hawk hisses.

I run my tongue along the sensitive ridge underneath, sucking softly as I take more of him in. There’s no way I could ever take all of him in my mouth, but I compensate with my hand, giving him long strokes as I pull him in deeper, as deep as I can. His thighs are rigid, his hips thrusting just slightly as I stroke and suck him. For a few minutes he lets me do what I want, and I close my eyes, loving what I can do to him, wanting to bring him closer to the threshold, to the point of no return.

“Stop.” The low command freezes me instantly. I look back up into his hooded eyes, so dark I can barely see the whites. He reaches down and pulls me up until I’m standing, and then my jeans are on the floor as well. “Take off your panties,” he orders. I bite my lip and stare at him as I hook one thumb into the waistband, then tug just a little. I tease him, giving him just a glimpse of what’s underneath, and his lips curl into a leer.

“You better get those off quick if you don’t want to lose them,” he growls. My nipples tauten as I realize he’s about to rip them off me, and I hook my other thumb into them and pull them down, exposing myself to his lusting gaze.

“Bring yourself over here, Sam.” It’s not a request.

I take a step toward him. He grips me by the arms and suddenly I’m on the couch, lying prone with my legs spread. Hawk kneels and slides a teasing finger along my slick and aching lower lips. I moan loudly, my eyes half-closing at how good it feels. I’m already so close.

“Goddamn it, I love how wet you get for me,” he snarls. Then he’s between my legs, his tongue sliding between my lower lips.

“Hawk,” I whisper. Already, I’m writhing uncontrollably at how good it feels. His tongue dips inside me, then emerges and begins to swirl patterns around my sensitive nub, just light enough to drive me crazy. I whimper and try desperately to move closer so he’ll give me the relief I need. He holds me fast, though, so I can’t move. I have to let him take his time, and just hope and pray he won’t make me wait too long. The throb between my legs only increases as he teases and taunts me, so good and yet not enough, not nearly enough. I hear my low moans begin to grow higher, sharper, as I buck against his mouth and silently beg him for more. Then I realize I’m not begging silently at all. “Hawk, please,” I moan, “please let me come.”

He chuckles low in his throat, the vibrations teasing me as he continues to lick and lave. Finally, just as I think I’m going to lose my mind, he draws my tender bud softly between his lips and suckles me, sending a jolt of shockwaves through my entire body. I’m aware that I’m shouting but I can’t do anything to stop it it, all I can do is just clutch at the cushions as I shudder and climax against his tongue.

I’m still shaking from the release when Hawk picks me up and pulls me onto his lap so I’m straddling him. He lowers me onto his hot shaft, filling me. I’m still contracting inside, and now my muscles pulse around him as he begins to thrust upward to meet me. We find our rhythm, Hawk kissing me deeply as he drives deep inside me, and it’s so good, so good that everything else falls away and we ride the wave together, higher, higher, and suddenly he grabs my hips and slams himself into me hard, then empties himself inside me as we cry out together.

I’m quivering still as my mind starts to come out of the fog. My face is buried in his neck and Hawk is stroking my hair with one hand, his other arm clutched tight around me. Without a word, he gets to his feet and I wrap my legs around him. Hawk carries me to his bedroom and slips me under the covers with him. We lie there for a while, just kissing, Hawk still stroking my hair.

“How was your class?” he asks finally.

I burst out laughing.

“Very good, thank you,” I say with mock formality.

“Glad to hear it,” he smirks.

“So, what’s this?” I ask, fingering the bandage on his forearm.

Hawk shrugs. “A new tattoo.” He reaches over and pulls at the tape. “Actually, it’s about time for me to take this off.” He leans over and kisses me again. “I’ll be right back.”

I take advantage of his retreating form to stare at his gorgeous ass and muscled back. When he comes back a couple minutes later the bandage is off, revealing the art work beneath. It’s a guitar like the one he was playing the day of the wedding, with a pair of wings behind it and a word written underneath.

Liam, I read silently.

I hesitate, wanting to ask him about the tattoo but knowing he might not want to talk about it. I remember the last time he mentioned having a brother. (“Had,” I correct myself.) I wonder if that’s who Liam is. I know he’s gone — though whether that means he’s dead or just disappeared, I don’t know. I swallow, nervous about doing the wrong thing and upsetting Hawk.

“It’s beautiful,” I say honestly.

“Liam was my brother.” His voice is expressionless. Almost like he’s reciting something from memory. I don’t say anything, hoping he’ll continue.

“He died ten years ago. When I was seventeen.” Hawk nods at the tattoo. “The guitar I was playing at the wedding is his. Was his.”

I wait for more.

Nothing comes.

“You must… miss him,” I murmur softly, my heart breaking for him.

A beat.

“Yeah.”

Hawk pulls me close to him, and I snuggle against his chest and listen as his breathing slows. This is the first time he’s ever volunteered anything about his past. I swallow around the lump in my throat as I try to imagine how hard it must have been for him to lose his brother at such a young age. Being an only child, I don’t really understand what it’s like to have a sibling, much less to lose one. All I know is that Hawk wouldn’t have gotten this tattoo if he didn’t miss him.

Hawk is asleep now, his breath deep and even beside me. I turn and plant a soft kiss on his chest, then close my eyes.