Kiki visited Jazz every day in the hospital, even after she was released. Hawk would take her in his old pickup truck so she could spend some time with her. Once Jazz was released, her parents took her home to their place in Buffalo to finish healing and get some help.

Kiki hadn’t been home to her condo yet. Hawk had insisted she come back to his place, even though it was the originating point of the kidnapping. She felt empty as she stared at the spot where she had parked her Vette for the last time. Hawk had ushered her inside quickly and right up to his bed to rest.

She’d had enough of “resting” in the hospital. But his concern for her made her feel warm and fuzzy all over.

Hard to believe such a tough, badass biker had such a soft center. Not that she said that out loud. Saying something like that would definitely invoke a scowl from Hawk, since he would never admit he was a big ol’ softy.

Jazz had spent five days in the hospital since, besides the nasty head wounds, she had shattered wrists, a snapped humerus, four broken fingers, cracked ribs, and countless bruises. The worst of it, besides the torn soft tissue from the sexual assault, was that they carved “SWMC” into the skin of her stomach. Kiki didn’t see it, nor did Jazz volunteer to show it, and Kiki couldn’t imagine having to look at those scars for the rest of her life. A constant reminder of what she went through. Hopefully, Jazz’s family could find a good plastic surgeon to help minimize the scarring.

What killed Kiki the most was seeing the vibrancy and life that Jazz had extinguished in her eyes. She was now lifeless and spoke in a flat monotone, only answering questions when she was forced to, otherwise remaining quiet no matter who attempted to talk to her.

Kiki would still sit with her, hold her hand, and try to encourage conversation. Hawk would hover outside the door until Kiki had enough for the day and would leave before she started sobbing.

Seeing Jazz that way broke her heart.

Seeing Jazz that way made her not care what Diesel, Hawk and all of the club brothers had planned for those Shadow Warriors. They deserved everything that was coming to them.

The cops hadn’t found them yet, and she imagined their goal was to do that before any DAMC member did.

Pierce, the club president, had even met with the president of the Dark Knights and they, too, were on the hunt.

Hawk hardly left her side. He fetched anything she needed. He changed out her bandages. If he couldn’t be at the house because he had to head to the bar to handle business, he’d have one of the DAMC women there. He even had Ivy and Jewel run to her condo to pick up stuff that she had jotted down on a piece of paper, including clothes, and personal items she couldn’t live without, like her brand of deodorant. She wasn’t fond of her pits smelling like Old Spice.

Unfortunately, as caring as everybody acted, she was never left alone and, not being used to that, she was about to scream.

She needed alone time.

She also needed to hop back on the horse, get back to work, and, more importantly, have intimate time with Hawk. He’d hardly touched her since she’d come to his place from the hospital. He would only offer a hand to help her up or down, kiss the top of her head or change a bandage.

That was it.

She didn’t need a nurse. She needed her man back.

Now, two weeks later she needed him to stop pussyfooting around and act like Hawk. Bossy, demanding, alpha and a total badass.

A sexual powerhouse.

Not to mention, she had a nagging itch that needed a good scratching.

Being that it was only seven on a Saturday morning, Hawk was still asleep. His chest rising and falling softly, one massive arm thrown over his head, the other laying across his bare, tattooed stomach. And yes, sir! She was hungry and it wasn’t for food.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t crawled into bed until around four in the morning, and had kept to his side of the mattress after pressing his lips to her forehead thinking she was asleep.

She hadn’t been. She had a hard time sleeping unless he was beside her. He worried about her, but she worried about him, too. The Warriors could show up anytime, anywhere and they could ambush him on his way home while riding his Harley.

However, she kept those fears to herself since he was supposed to be a big, bad motherfucker—his words—and he could take care of himself.

Right.

She still worried.

She still sighed in relief when he crawled into bed in the middle of the night or early morning in one piece.

She rolled his direction and studied his profile. His face was relaxed and he was more handsome than ever when it was. No grumbling, grunting, scowling or being a bossy biker.

Just Hawk.

She scooted down the bed, her ribs only giving a slight twinge of pain. Something she could live with in order to get what she wanted.

He wasn’t going to be happy that she woke him up, but he’d get over it. She was sure of that.

She slowly pulled down the sheet that was pulled half-assed over his hips, exposing all that was Hawk. Her mouth watered at the sight.

Carefully crawling between his spread thighs, she cupped him and, being soft, took all of him into her mouth.

She worked her tongue around and around the head and down his now semi-soft length. She kissed the tip, then sucked his sac deep into her mouth, working it with her tongue.

“Fuckin’ Christ,” came the sleepy grumble from the head of the bed.

Her eyes tipped that direction and she could see his head raised enough for him to get a bead on her actions.

“Babe.”

She released him only long enough to command, “Quiet.” See how he liked it.

His body shook with what she could guess was a chuckle and his fingers dug deep into her hair as she slipped the tip of his now fully erect cock in between her lips. Hollowing out her cheeks, she sucked him hard.

“Fuckin’ Christ,” he growled again, his hips rising off the mattress.

Circling the root with a couple of fingers, she squeezed hard, making the large veins pop even more. She lifted her head long enough to shoot him a naughty smile and then went to town.

His fingers dug into her scalp and she tried not to wince as he got close to one of her nearly-healed head wounds. Any pain she felt was worth it. She circled the tip of his cock with her tongue, tasting the saltiness of his precum and inhaling his musky maleness.

Her pussy clenched hard and warm wetness gathered between her thighs. She needed his mouth there, his cock there, or even his fingers. She needed to let go, but also needed to hold on at the same time.

“Babe.”

Kiki smiled around his cock at his strangled voice. She didn’t stop, though.

“Babe,” he said again, this time it sounded like a warning. “Babe, gonna blow if you don’t stop.”

His cock slipped from her mouth, shiny and wet, and she smiled up at him. “That’s the point.”

He shook his head. “You’re not ready, babe.”

She knew what he meant, he’d been indicating that for the last few days. Not in so many words, but by his actions. He was worried she hadn’t healed enough, mentally and physically.

“I’m ready, honey.”

His eyes held hers. “No.”

“Yes. Don’t you want me?”

His eyes narrowed. “That ain’t even a question.”

“Then give it to me.”

“Babe.”

“Hawk, I asked the doctor, we can do this.”

“You did what?”

She nodded as she slowly slid up his body, making sure her nipples brushed along his skin. She straddled one of his thick thighs and pressed her pussy to him. Hard.

He tensed.

“He said it was fine.”

“For fuck’s sake,” he muttered.

She lowered her voice and pretended to sound like a biker, “Gotta break the seal sometime.”

Hawk snorted, shook his head, hooked her under her arms and hauled her up over him. She settled her knees on both sides of his waist, and planted her palms on his chest.

“So fuckin’ hot, babe.”

“Yes, even with my beautiful green and yellow bruises?” Her face, her ribs, her arms still showed signs of discoloration.

“Don’t care ‘bout that.”

She tilted her hips, rubbing her damp folds on his lower belly. “Then let’s do it.”

“Babe, you’re killin’ me. Don’t wanna hurt you.”

“You’re not. Just don’t squeeze my ribs, that’s all. I’ll be on top and ride you.”

His eyes darkened. He wanted it badly, too. But she could see the worry mixed in with his desire. “Fuck,” he muttered.

She lifted a wait-a-minute finger and then leaned over to the nightstand, snagging her reading glasses. As she slipped them on, she pouted and tossed her head until her long hair settled over her shoulders and breasts.

“Fuckin’ goddamn,” he muttered again. “Ain’t playin’ fair, babe.”

She smiled. “Nothing’s fair in love and war.”

His eyes flashed at her words. “Want you underneath me so bad. But will take you on top if I gotta.”

She chuckled at what sounded like him “suffering” because he wouldn’t be the one in control. “You’re going to stop resisting?”

“Fuck, babe. Can’t fight you. So, gonna lay back an’ let you ride me like a rodeo queen.”

“Yee haw,” she whispered.

He slapped her ass and shouted, “Yee fuckin’ haw!”

With a laugh, she rose up, grabbed his shaft and sank down on him. Then both of them were no longer laughing. She sighed and he grunted, his fingers digging into her hips as she rose and fell on him at a slow pace.

“Been too long,” he grumbled.

“Yes,” she hissed.

“So fuckin’ tight.”

“Yes,” she hissed again, arching her back, grinding her hips, grabbing both of her nipples between her fingers to twist and pull them. She cried out, throwing her head back.

“Eyes to me,” he grunted.

Kiki dropped her chin and held his gaze, still tweaking her nipples. Her mouth parted and little puffs of breath escaped as she slid up and down his long length.

“Belong right where you are, babe.”

“Yes.”

“On my dick, in my bed, in my house.”

“Yes, honey,” she breathed.

He slid his arms around her and grabbed two handfuls of her ass, trying to control the pace. He wanted her to speed up.

She was in no rush. She’d waited too long to get him back inside her. She wasn’t going to have it end too soon.

“Gotta go faster, babe.”

“No, Hawk. I’m good.” She could tell by the expression on his face he wasn’t. She rocked her hips back and forth and he ground his teeth hard enough she could see it.

“Faster, babe.”

“Uh-uh.”

“Fuckin’ Christ,” he barked, squeezing his eyes closed and blowing out a breath.

“Eyes on me, honey,” Kiki echoed.

He rocked his head back and forth. “Ain’t gonna last.”

“Eyes on me,” she repeated. And when his eyes popped open, she released one of her nipples and found her clit with her fingers. She pressed, circled and tweaked until her walls closed in around him, squeezing tight.

“Babe,” he said like a warning.

“Yes, honey?” she asked, as his hips rose and she lowered. He was hitting the perfect spot deep inside her.

“Drippin’ down my balls.”

“Do you like that?”

“Fuckin’ love it.”

“How much do you love it?”

“Not as much as you.”

Kiki stilled, she planted her hands on his chest again and leaned forward. “Say again?”

“Get so wet, love you drippin’ down my balls.”

Kiki’s breath rushed out of her. She must have misheard him. That was all. She pushed it out of her mind and began to move again. “Make me come, Hawk.”

His thumb pressed to her clit and with his words, “Babe, gonna make you come then gonna blow my load deep inside you,” she came, her walls contracting around him.

“Fuck,” he grunted, his hips shooting off the bed and as he pulsated, spilling himself deep inside her, she came once again, the ripples more intense this time. She cried out his name and he threw his head back, watching her ride the last wave.

“Fuckin’ beautiful, babe.”

“Me or the sex?”

“Both.”

“Good answer.” She leaned over and pressed her mouth to his. He took her gently, sweeping his tongue over her lips and into her mouth. He deepened the kiss, cupping her cheek.

Finally, she broke it off and pressed her forehead to his. “Next time I’m going to be under you.”

“Yeah.”

She smiled. “Now that proves I’m almost completely healed, I need to go home and get back to work, too.”

Hawk was silent for a moment, then said, “You’re home.”

She pushed up to a seated position, his cock still planted deep inside her. “My condo.”

He frowned. “Break your lease.”

She pulled off her glasses, folded them carefully and handed them to him to set aside on the nightstand. Which he did. “I don’t have a lease. I own it.”

“Outright?”

“Well, the mortgage company and I own it.”

He reached up and grabbed a lock of her hair, winding it around his finger. “Okay, then. Sell or rent it.”

“Why?”

He tugged on the lock. “You’re not leavin’.”

“Hawk.”

“Babe.”

It was a stand-off. One Hawk clearly thought he was going to win. “I’m not commuting into the office every day from here.”

He softened enough to slip out of her, but when she went to shift off him he held her in place with his hands. “Quit your job.”

“What?” Was he serious?

“Quit your fuckin’ job.”

Oh good lord, he was serious. “And do what? That’s just crazy!”

His powerful shoulders lifted and fell as he shrugged. “Start your own practice.”

“Where? Here? In Shadow Valley?”

“Yeah, babe. Twenty minutes to the ‘burgh if you need to get there.”

“On a good day. Starting a new practice isn’t so easy, you know.”

“Will help you get clients.”

Her brows shot up her forehead. “Oh great.”

His lips twitched. “You can defend all the people asshole Axel arrests. Be a thorn in his side.”

“That’s not nice.”

“Family fucked Z over, so don’t give a shit.”

“Yes, I got that, but this has nothing to do with Z or Axel or their family... Honey, I make good money where I’m at.”

“Bar makes good money.”

She sighed impatiently. “I make really good money. A local practice isn’t going to bring that kind of money home. And, don’t forget, I need a new car.”

“With your kind of scratch, Jag’ll make you a really sweet custom ride.”

She made a noise. “I don’t need an old Impala that has a suspension lift and hydraulics with switches on the dashboard. Decked out with fuzzy dice and spinners.”

Hawk’s eyes crinkled at the corners and his lips twitched. “We’re bikers, babe, not gangbangers. This is Shadow Valley, not the barrio.”

“I know,” she huffed, unable to hide her smile.

“You ain’t gettin’ any of that shit.”

“Good.”

“Jag got good taste.”

“Like Ivy.”

“Like Ivy,” Hawk agreed. “Fuckin’ master at customs.” As an afterthought, he added, “And redheads.”

“It’ll be easier for me to head to the dealer and pick out something new. With a warranty. And no shag carpet on the dash.”

Hawk snorted. “Gonna return that Jesus bobble head, then.”

“Well, hold off on that. I could see that glued to the dashboard of my new Vette.”

“Even I would spank your ass for shit like that.”

“Hmm. That sounds like a challenge.”

“Still healin’ those cracked ribs. No spankin’ yet.”

“I’ll have to just get off on the anticipation.”

He grunted. “Yeah, do that.” He wiggled his fingers. “My palm’s itchin’ right now.”

“But seriously, Hawk. I need to get back...” Her words faded off.

“Back to what? Your life?”

“Yes. To work, to my place. I need to get back on track.”

“That track include me?”

She leaned over and brushed her lips over his. “Yes, honey, it does.”

He grinned. “Then you’re gettin’ rid of your place an’ movin’ in here.”

She arched a brow at him. “Just like that?”

“Yep. Just like that.”

“Are you going to make me your ol’ lady?”

He blinked. Then something crossed his face. She had no idea what. “Want that?”

“What does it all entail?”

Hawk barked out a laugh. “Jesus.”

“I have to know what I’m getting into.”

“Right,” he muttered.

“If it means you plan on being a dictator and bossing me around... let me clarify that, trying to boss me around, I’m not sure I’m agreeable to that.”

“The only dick you’re getting is mine deep inside your cunt.”

“Sweet and so romantic.”

He shrugged again while pushing to sit up, Kiki still straddling his lap. He shifted until he was leaning against the headboard.

Kiki had a feeling he was starting to take this conversation much more seriously. She curled her hand around the back of his neck as he spread his fingers along her hips. “Tell me what you want from me,” she whispered.

“Just you, babe.”

She shook her head. “It’s not that simple. I know that. You know that.”

His nostrils flared. “Right. Want you to be my ol’ lady.”

“Then tell me what that entails.”

Hawk regarded the woman sitting naked in his lap. She had a freshly fucked look, one that showed she was satisfied, her hair long and wild as it fell over her shoulders and tits, her eyes soft but curious with their line of conversation.

He was stepping into dangerous territory because he truly did want Kiki to become his ol’ lady. Though, as much as he wanted that, as much as he tried to imagine it the last couple of weeks, he wasn’t sure, once again, if it would work. Whether her tying herself down with someone like him, a biker, would be enough for her.

As much as he wished it would be, truth was that he couldn’t be sure that it would.

And that scared the fuck out of him. Not as much as what happened a couple weeks ago scared the fuck out of him. But it was a close second.

He thought he lost her then. He didn’t want to lose her now.

But he couldn’t get out of his head any of the words her ex-husband said. That night in the restaurant and again that day in Kiki’s hospital room.

He hated to admit it, but the guy had a clue.

“We’ll make it what you wanna make it.”

Kiki drew a finger over his chest. “Now I know and you know that’s not how it works. You belong to a club with some rules. Some ancient, misogynistic rules, albeit. But, no matter what, you follow those rules, you live that life. And, honey, you’re the VP, for crissakes. You aren’t going to give that up nor would I ask you to. So,” she leaned forward, her lips a hair’s breadth from his, “tell me what being your ol’ lady entails.”

“You’d be mine,” he answered simply.

“I’m already yours,” she answered back, which made something in his chest tighten.

“Yeah, but like mine.”

“Okay, got that part. I’m okay with that.”

She wasn’t getting it. Then suddenly she was. Her mouth became an O. “You mean I’d be your property.”

Jesus fuck, he didn’t want to admit that to her.

“You’d own me.”

Goddamn.

“Or at least, according to your brothers you would.”

Where was she going with this?

“Does Ace own your mom?”

He blinked.

“Does Jag own Ivy?”

He opened his mouth, but she wasn’t done.

“Does Zak own Sophie?”

He shut his mouth.

“Because what I’ve witnessed with them has been nothing but deep love and respect.”

Jesus.

“Now, Grizz can be a bit grumpy with his wife.”

“Yeah,” he finally grunted.

“But it’s easy to see that he loves her to death, too.”

That was true. Both Grizz and Mama Bear griped at each other, but they’d been together forever and would be until the day they died. And Grizz would continue to be the thorn in Mama Bear’s side even in the afterlife, if there was one.

Hawk grinned.

“So, if that’s what being an ol’ lady entails, then it doesn’t look horrible to me.”

Hawk’s grin widened. “Babe,” he started.

Apparently, she still wasn’t finished.

“I love you, Hawk.”

Jesus. His chest squeezed and he struggled to breathe. As much as he wanted to accept those words from her, to take them just as they were, he was still worried that she had no idea what she was getting into. He didn’t want her to decide she made a mistake down the road. When he was so far gone, he’d never recover if she decided his life wasn’t for her. He needed her to be sure. So he needed to make sure that she was sure. That her decisions were solid. As much as he wanted her to move in and become his ol’ lady, he also didn’t want her to make a mistake by falling too fast and too hard. Because he’d already done that.

“You sure, babe?”

“Sure about what?”

“Loving me.”

“Why wouldn’t I be sure?”

“Not good enough for you. You deserve better.”

“Oh, okay. Well, that settles that.”

“Babe, seriously, know you got a good life. Wanna give you a good life, too, but it ain’t gonna be what you had with that... that... Landon.” He hated that name. Just like he hated the fact that that douchebag had been there before him.

“Thank fuck!”

His jaw dropped at her exclamation. He wasn’t sure he liked her cursing like that. He must be rubbing off on her. Which might not be a good thing. He liked having a classy piece of ass in his bed...

As long as that ass was attached to Kiki.

“If you start nailing our teenage neighbor we’re going to have a problem.” She lowered her voice. “Hawk, honestly, my life felt empty. It’s now full because of you. Because you are in it. Your family is in it. And by family, I don’t just mean your blood relatives.”

He shook his head. “Afraid you’re gonna wake up one day an’ realize your mistake.”

“I didn’t know you had a crystal ball.”

“Ain’t stupid.”

She sighed and cupped his cheek, brushing a thumb over his jaw that needed a shave. “No, you aren’t. Not at all. So, let’s try this again, big man... I love you.”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah?” she squeaked.

“Fuck yeah.”

“Oh good lord,” she whispered and rolled her eyes to the ceiling. “Hawk...”

“Yeah, babe?”

She sighed dramatically. He laughed and then twisted until he had her on her back and he was above her on his hands and knees, face to face.

“Say it again,” he demanded, pinning her gaze with his.

“What?” she teased, a small smile pulling at her lips.

“Know what,” he grumbled.

“I love you?”

“Without the question mark.”

“Ah. Let me try it again.” She cupped his cheek. “I love you.”

“Babe.”

“Yeah?”

He curled his fingers around the back of her neck and pressed his lips to hers, whispering, “Me, too.”