Eagle

“You owe me,” I say as I close the distance between us. “I’ll take a kiss as payment.” Serafina looks lost, but she doesn’t resist when I reach her and cup her face between my hands, pulling her closer, lowering my mouth over hers.

I pause for a brief moment, looking her deep in the eyes, waiting for that spark to ignite into the inferno I know is already burning strong between us.

“D-don’t,” she half pleads.

But I do. Her lips part and my tongue strokes against hers. The fire is immediate and all-consuming. I tangle my fingers in the length of her hair, angling her head for better penetration, my tongue embedded so deep I can feel the back of her throat. The way she tastes only inspires me to want to kiss and lick that hot wet pussy I saw earlier. There’s nothing ordinary about her. I swallow her moans, running my hand up and down her arm.

Kissing her long and deep only reinforces the attraction—makes my cock throb and ache like I haven’t had a piece of ass in months.

“No.” She pushes me away, wide-eyed and frazzled.

“Serafina,” I chant her name like a holy vow. “You can’t deny what we’re feeling.”

“I can. And will.”

“Listen, baby . . .”

“Don’t call me that! There’s no way in hell you’ve earned that right.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I don’t want you to touch me again.”

Why? Chemistry like this doesn’t happen too often. Almost never. And I’m not prepared to let it slip through my fingers without a fight, or at least a plausible explanation. “Are you married?”

I never thought to ask before.

“No.”

“In a committed relationship?”

“You’re way off, Eagle.” She hugs her center, laying more bricks in that defensive wall.

“Enlighten me, then. I have all night.”

“I don’t.” She fakes a yawn. “Some of us work for a living.”

I smirk at her judgmental tone. “Do you think I sit around on my ass all day?”

“That prez patch says you don’t have to work hard to get what you want.”

“For a girl who claims not to know me, you’re pretty free with your opinions.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been around enough to understand the inner workings of an MC. Not much difference between your rules and a regular company, now is there?”

I rub my chin, liking the hotness of her smartass mouth. The more she talks the more intrigued I get. “Maybe not, pretty girl, but I guarantee my ideas are a lot more innovative than something some asshole in a suit will think up in his corner office.”

She laughs. “I doubt it. We’re standing in a bedroom inside the home of one of the most notorious cartel lords in the United States. I’ll bet on the guy in the suit.”

“Come here.” I grip her shoulders and yank her close again. Our lips meet for a more desperate and demanding kiss. This time, her tongue wrestles mine for control. Bad. And for a girl who didn’t want anything to do with me ten minutes ago, she sure changed her mind.

I break the kiss and tip her chin upward. “I want to fuck you, Serafina.”

“No.” She gives me a defiant pout, but I can see through her denial. Her eyes are filled with hunger. “I need a drink.”

I need a goddamned bottle of tequila—and a cold shower. “What do you want?”

“Whiskey and coke.”

Unable to deny that beautiful face anything, I’ll get it for her. But first . . . I move quickly, gathering her clothes and shoes, and stuff them in the suitcase she opened earlier. Then I zip it up and carry it to the door.

“Hey!”

“What?” I ask.

“You can’t leave me here with nothing to wear. What if Diaz or Lazaro comes back while you’re gone?”

“Don’t worry, Serafina, you look great in a towel.” I open the door and step into the hallway.

Serafina

The moment the door clicks shut, I start shaking. His scent is all over me. That same cologne I remember. What do I do now? I met Eagle when I was fifteen and in danger from my maniacal brothers. Caleb took me in without question and protected me. Though we shared everything—our secrets and dreams—the one thing he held sacred was my age and innocence. We fooled around plenty, kissing and petting, but never sex. He told me to save myself for a man worthy of my love.

Eagle is worthy. I’m twenty-one now. He’s only five years older than me. If I sleep with him tonight, what are the chances I’ll ever see him again? I live in a different state. And as far as ever working in Holly Beach again . . . Ben is in for a big surprise on Monday.

I start pacing, weighing the pros and cons. Loving him will give me something I didn’t have before. A tangible memory. I’ll sleep better. Dream better. Breathe easier. Because all I’ve fantasized about is returning home and claiming what I never had before—Eagle as my lover. My body reacted instantly. My nipples are hard and I’m wet for him. Our kisses were like molten lava.

Someone knocks on the door.

“Yes?”

“It’s Diaz.”

“Come in.”

He takes one look at me and doesn’t say anything about my lack of proper clothing. “Mr. Mendoza asked me to deliver this to you.” He offers me a thick envelope.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know.”

“All right.” I take it and tear the top open. There’s a stack of money inside and a note card. I pull the paper out and read it.

Please accept this as restitution for your pain and suffering. Go on an extended vacation or take some time off from work.

LM

Hush money. That’s the first thing that comes to mind. I keep the negative thought to myself and count the bills. There’s five thousand dollars in crisp hundreds. A ridiculous amount of money. I stuff it back inside the envelope and stare at Diaz like he has two heads.

“I can’t take this.”

“I’m just a messenger,” he says. “But I’ll offer some friendly advice, Ms. Scala. You strike me as a bright girl. Consider where you are. Remember what happened tonight, and let it serve as a reminder that not all men are without honor.”

I don’t even know what to say.

Diaz turns around and leaves me standing there with the envelope of money in my hand. It’s cash I desperately need, but not like this. Not from a man I loathe. Drugs destroyed my eldest brother and his MC. Lazaro Mendoza represents everything I hate. I walk across the room and drop the envelope on the top of the dresser. Let the next person who stays in this suite benefit from his dirty money.

Wait a second . . . I start opening drawers and find some men’s clothes. Several pairs of boxers, plenty of T-shirts. I grab one of each and get dressed.

Eagle returns ten minutes later with a bottle of Jack Daniels, two sodas, and a plate piled high with cold cuts, cheese, bread, and chips.

“What’s this?” I ask, ambling over to the table where he set it down.

“A peace offering,” he says.

More like a distraction, I think while I shove a generous portion of smoked turkey in my mouth. I’m ravenous and so tired. Eagle pops one of the soda can tabs, takes a swig, then dumps the rest in a glass, adding an obscene amount of alcohol. “Here.”

There’s nothing better than liquid courage when you’re faced with the toughest decision in your life. I take a couple deep sips and shove the can back at him. “More.”

He raises an eyebrow, looking surprised. “Seriously?”

“Just give it to me, please.”

He shrugs and pours another shot in my glass.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet, sweetheart. We have a long night ahead of us.”