AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Then why won’t you let me do what needs to be done?”
“Because it’ll land you in jail or with a lawsuit.”
He shrugged. “So?”
“I don’t want that.”
“Why not?” he asked casually as he walked further into my office, past the chaise lounge, until he reached my cherry wood desk. He cocked his head while looking at the Newton’s cradle in the corner. He pinched one of the metal balls and gave it a tiny swing. The five-ball clicker toy began its oscillating pendulum action, the clicking accentuating the atmosphere.
“Are you seriously asking that?” I planted my hands on my hips. “Because those are terrible things to happen to a person, so yeah, I’m trying to help you avoid them.”
When he turned to face me I thought I saw the slightest of curves to his lips as if he wanted to smile, but it disappeared so quickly I couldn’t be sure. “Do you have a thing for…me?”
Hell yeah. “What? No, of course not.”
“Then why do you want to…protect me?” The way he said the word…as if it was a foreign concept to him. Something unfathomable.
“Because…because…” The click-click clicking of the pendulum felt like it was getting louder, but that was just my imagination as I scrambled to find an answer. Why did I want to protect him? Oh yeah, because he had dominated my every thought since the moment he hugged me—damn it—grabbed me so I wouldn’t fall in the kennel. “You’re a fellow volunteer at the shelter, and we need to stick together.”
He took one slow, controlled step toward me, his muscles coiling under the snug T-shirt. His eyes grew molten as desire blazed in them, barely contained by his rigid control.
My clit throbbed, and I resisted the overwhelming need to fan myself.
He prowled toward me, slow and tense, like a predator closing in on his prey. “Na-nah, Kitten. I don’t buy it.” His tone held a promise that he could prove me wrong.
I needed a better excuse, but I couldn’t think of one. My brain was hazy from lust. He was getting too close. I couldn’t even string together the words to tell him to stay back.
I should put my hand out to stop him.
My arm wouldn’t move.
The closer he got, the wetter I got, until…
He reached up and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear, his fingertips grazing my sensitive skin.
I gulped to suppress a moan and blurted out the first thing that came to my mind. “Fine. Call it a guilty conscience then. Last time you almost got arrested or sued because of me. You thought Dr. Rothwell was hurting me, so you jumped in and twisted his arm…” My voice faded away as I struggled to come up with more words. I took a deep breath to calm my overactive libido.
Big mistake. His earthy masculine scent flooded my senses, making me reel as if I was in a whirlwind. “Um…And I can tell you wanted to hurt Dr. Creep again, so—”
“What?” Hawk bellowed.
I nearly jumped out of my skin. At least his outburst chased away the scorching lust coursing through me. I shook my head, getting back to normal.
“Dr. Creep?” The heat in Hawk’s eyes quickly transformed into an icy storm. It was a look far more perilous, more powerful than any I’d ever seen. “That’s your nickname for him? Has this prick touched you before?” His tone turned menacing.
Why was he so worried about me? My heart skipped a dozen beats at the thought he might actually have a thing for me. “I-I-I can handle him.”
“That doesn’t answer my question, Lila.” His voice came out in a growl.
A warning.
Like a command that forced someone into submission.
Even though Hawk looked like the type of man people would be petrified of, the only thing I saw was a guy who had looked so lost and sad and vulnerable when he had stared into Rambo’s empty cage. And then seeing his face light up with joy and relief when Rambo bounded toward him.
No matter how angry the storm raged in his eyes or how deep he growled when I didn’t answer his questions, my body and mind never registered the threats as real. I wasn’t an idiot when it came to my safety, but something had me convinced this man would never hurt me. No matter how big the bark and the muscles.
So, I ignored the warning in his voice. “It’s none of your business. Anyway, as I was saying, I’d feel really responsible if anything were to happen to you…because of me.”
