After a week Hawk was climbing the walls. He hadn’t been able to patrol, and while he’d been kept in the loop it wasn’t the same as being an active participant. Finally the doc was lifting his ban. He could move about freely and ride in a cage. The last words made him sneer. Ariel had been a freaking saint. She’d change his bandages, brought him food, kept him entertained and dealt with his chronic grumpiness. I have to make it up to her. He studied himself in the mirror. He looked paler than usual, but his shoulder-length hair was pulled back into a fresh braid, the bags had faded from under his eyes, and he was virtually pain free. His arm would be stiff for a minute. But he forced himself to exercise it regardless of the discomfort. He couldn’t afford to lose dexterity. It’s bad enough being in my early forties.
He walked out of the bathroom and leaned against the doorframe to watch Ariel finish dressing. She shimmed into the formfitting black dress that grazed her thighs and stepped into black high heels that glittered. She glanced over her shoulder and smiled.
“What?”
“Just admiring the way you look before I get you hot and bothered.”
She threw her head back and laughed. The rich, full-bodied tone sounded like bells.
“You think you’re up for it?”
“Oh, I been up for it. But Doc finally gave me the go-ahead. So you might want to watch what you say tonight.”
She bit her bottom lip and gave him a slow once-over. “Never.”
His cock stirred to life. Yeah she missed me as much as I missed her. Another time he would’ve taken her fast and hard on the dresser. Tonight, however, he had other plans. “Well see if you change your tune later tonight. Come on, let’s get out there.”
“It’s your party; you can be late if you want to.”
“Girl it’s been a week since I had a beer and got out of this damn room for something fun. I’m about to wreck shit or explode.”
“Inside my pussy?”
Her words made him do a double take. “What did you say?”
“What? I’m learning from the best.” She winked and sashayed out of the room with him trailing behind her.
“I see what you’re doing, siren. You better make sure you’re ready for the wrath you’re about to bring down on that ass.”
She wiggled the object mentioned. He rushed up behind her and delivered a sound smack. She cried out and covered her cheeks with both hands.
“Again?”
She purred.
His dick twitched in his pants. Maybe I’m not the only one with an agenda tonight.
“When I decide,” he said. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her flush to his side before he continued down the hall. He could see her puckered pout out of his peripheral vision. She wanted more of a reaction. The though amused him. He’d give her plenty to respond to soon enough. They walked down the hallway into the main room where the party was being a held. The room was packed, music was playing, and the alcohol was flowing.
“Here’s the man of the hour!” Moose barked.
The crowd cheered and Hawk laughed. This was what he needed. A busty blonde walked over with two beers.
“Let me be the first to welcome you back,” she purred.
Ariel snatched them from her hands. “He says thanks,” she said with a voice full of acid. The blonde blinked and took a step back. Laughter echoed through the room.
“Appreciate it,” Hawk said taking a bottle from Ariel. “Showing your claws?”
“Yes, is that a problem?” Ariel asked. Her voice shook. He saw the worry in her eyes. It gutted him.
He squeezed her hip. “I like it.”
She smiled. “You would.”
He nipped her earlobe, took a long swig and headed toward Tiny.
“Look what the cat dragged in,” Tiny said.