Saving Serena (Hawk Security #1)

Chapter 30

CHAPTER 30

Serena

I woke Tuesday morning with Duke’s arm around me, as I had for several days now. He breathed the steady rhythm of sleep into my hair.

This morning, with the hint of sunshine coming from behind the blinds, I felt completely renewed. Today was the first day of the rest of my life. I’d unloaded most of my troubled past on Duke, and he was still here.

He’d been right that facing my fear was the only way to conquer it. He hadn’t seen me as the murderer I’d feared he would when he heard my story. Instead, he comforted me and understood as completely as anyone could.

His gentle lovemaking last night had confirmed the connection I craved. Yesterday, I wouldn’t have believed it possible to fall completely for a man in a week’s time. This morning I knew it was true. I loved Duke Hawk, bossiness, scars, and all.

Last night, he hadn’t wanted to share about his past with Dad, and after all I’d put us through with my horrid truth, I’d agreed.

It didn’t matter when we got to it. Duke had completely replaced my father as the man central to my well-being, central to my future.

Future . That was a concept we hadn’t explored, but in my bones, I felt we had one, and it would be marvelous. How could it not be with this man?

Feeling his morning wood against me, I made a decision and turned over. “Morning, sleepyhead.”

His eyes blinked open as he stretched. “Good morning, Snuggles. How are you feeling?”

There was my compassionate man. I answered by grabbing hold of Rex. “I need something.”

“Really?” He rolled us, landing on top of me. And there was my caveman, always taking control.

I pushed at him with no effect. “I want to be on top.” It was important that I have some control, and it was the one position in the whole book we hadn’t done yet. “And I want something else.”

“Gimme this, gimme that,” he mimicked in falsetto.

“It’s not like that, and you know it.”

“Okay, baby.” He rolled us so I was on top.

I got my knees under me and straddled him.

He groaned when I rubbed myself along his length. “What else is it you want?”

“It’s a negative want,” I said as I slid my folds over his tip.

“You’re killing me here.”

I leaned over and whispered in his ear. “No condom.”

He jerked under me. “Are you sure? I mean, I’m clean, but…are you absofuckinglutely sure?”

“After George, I got tested. I haven’t been with anyone since, and I get a contraceptive shot.”

He watched me, his eyes asking what his lips wouldn’t.

I lifted up and positioned his head at my entrance. “I’m sure.” I lowered myself slowly down his length, taking every glorious inch of him. He was so hard for me and gloriously thick as he filled me completely.

His jaw clenched as his hips lifted into me. “Oh, baby. You have no idea how good you feel.”

I lifted up and plunged down, rolling my hips. I was in control, complete control.

I let his hands guide me up and down, again and again, each of us groaning with the pleasure of skin-to-skin sensations. I reached behind me to grab his balls. He grunted, pleasure or pain, I didn’t know, but he didn’t tell me to let go. We were in it together, stroke for stroke, but I was driving this bus. Letting go of his balls, I leaned over to offer my breasts, to tease him with access to my nipples.

As I neared the precipice and pleasure radiated to every cell of my body, I took his hand and guided him to where we were joined. He found my clit, and with his talented fingers, took me up and over the edge, bliss ripping through me with amazing force. Powering up into me, he found his own release. With a roar, his entire body shook. I felt the repeated throbs of his cock as he poured into me.

When the waves receded, I collapsed forward on him and panted out the words that I knew were a risk. “I’m falling for you, Duke Hawk.” I didn’t dare say what I really meant.

I waited several long seconds and worried I’d blown up my chance with him. It had been less than ten days since I’d re-met Duke and learned his last name. Things had moved lightning fast. Had I made the biggest mistake of my life with a proclamation he wasn’t ready for?

But then he smiled. “I’m falling for you too, Snuggles.”

I didn’t need any words beyond those. Still panting, I pulled his chin to face me and kissed my man. It was a new day, and yes, I was officially his and he was officially mine. Bold had paid off.

I wasn’t bold enough to use the L-word, though.

Serena

It wasn’t quite lunchtime when my phone buzzed.

DUKE: I’m bored. Tell me something interesting.

It took me only a nanosecond to decide to fry his brain.

ME: I’m not wearing panties.

DUKE: Are you trying to kill me?

ME: If I go into the conference room, maybe we could discuss what to do about it?

DUKE: Another time, Lucas is calling.

I leaned back in my chair, fantasizing about phone sex with a big former SEAL. Would he whip it out and start pumping himself? I’d bet on it. The conference room had a partial glass wall. The question was, what could I get away with under the table?

The loud noise jolted me almost into heart-attack territory. The fire alarm’s wail was annoying in the extreme.

“Everybody evacuate.” Powell’s voice boomed through the space. “This is not a drill.”

Katelyn appeared at the door. “Come on.”

Grabbing my purse, I joined her and Remy on the long trek down the stairs. The stairwell was crowded, and if someone tripped, it would probably take out a hundred of us.

“I’m thirsty,” Katelyn said when we reached the door to the fresh air outside. “This is going to take a while, and there’s a cold Frappuccino with my name on it at Starbucks.”

“I’ve got to find Jacques and see what he wants,” Remy said.

“True love,” Katelyn noted as he strode off. “Leo and I used to be like that.” Her eyes were already wet.

I changed the subject to avoid another crying session. “Starbucks sounds good, but it’ll be crowded.”

Katelyn began walking. “Not if we get there before they release everyone to go back inside.”

Remy reappeared. “Jacques called and gave me his order.”

We crossed the street, and my phone rang. I didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”

“What’s going on?” Duke asked. I recognized his strong voice.

“Fire alarm. We’re evacuating.”

“I’m on the way. Where are you?” Heavy breathing and footsteps pegged him as running, not walking.

“Katelyn, Remy, and I are walking to Starbucks.”

“Which direction?”

“Toward Ohio Avenue.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Keep your eyes peeled.” He hung up.

“Who’s that?” Katelyn asked.

“Love you too,” I said into the dead phone line and put the phone away. “My boyfriend.” It felt good to say that and have it be real.

We crossed the street to the uncrowded side. The coffee shop beckoned two blocks away.

Suddenly, a hand came from behind and shoved Katelyn.

“What the fuck?” She toppled to the ground.

“That hurt,” Remy complained as he ended up next to her.

Big, beefy arms wrapped around me, and I screamed. “Hey.” I kicked behind me and connected with someone’s shin—hard.

“Fuck.” With a groan, his grip loosened, and I wriggled free.

He was big and built, in a black tee and black cargo pants. “No, you don’t.” Moving faster than I thought possible, he grabbed my wrist and yanked me toward him. He’d grabbed my bad arm, still tender from being run off the road, and it hurt like hell when he pulled. Lifting me off my feet, he carried me like a football, with my arms pinned against him and the cut on my side screaming painfully.

“Help,” I yelled, but there was nobody else around.

“Let her go,” Katelyn screamed.

“Yeah, let her go,” Remy chimed in.

The brute ignored them and carried me toward a nearby SUV.

No. No. No . It was black, with tinted windows and no front license plate. If he got me in there, I was dead—or worse. I kicked and tried to get loose, but it was no good. I bit him through his shirt.

“Bitch.” He stopped and punched my skull, then slapped me hard.

My vision blurred for a moment as pain exploded across my head. Nothing I did worked. He was too big.

But I had to get free. I’d seen the movies. If he got me in the car, I’d be raped and sex trafficked, or worse. I didn’t have Liam Neeson looking over me. I saw an opening and punched his crotch.

His grip on me loosened, and I fell to my hands and knees.

“You’ll pay for that,” he roared as he grabbed my hair.

God, that hurt . He pulled me along, stumbling. This couldn’t be the end. I was too young to die.

Then I heard an oof , and my attacker let go of my hair. I fell to my knees and turned to see Duke dodge the big guy’s fist. Then my Duke delivered a series of rapid-fire punches to the guy’s face and body. Duke was clearly skilled and almost elegant in his delivery.

The monster roared and charged. Duke dodged and kicked the monster’s knee. The guy dented the parked car he landed against, but got up and hobbled toward us. The monster swung again and missed. He was no match for the former SEAL. Duke landed two more punches and a wicked kick. The big guy landed in a heap.

I didn’t have Liam Neeson looking after me, but I had someone better—a SEAL, a true badass.

People were finally running this way, and I heard a siren in the distance.

“Time to go,” Duke said as he extended a hand to help me up.

I took the offered hand and once again felt that zing from his touch.

Suddenly, Duke groaned and shook uncontrollably. The zing of excitement instantly became an electric shock that jerked my hand away.

Duke slumped to his knees next to me. “Gun. Waist,” he mumbled through gritted teeth as he fell to the ground.

I saw two wires coming from his back and leading to… Holy fuck. Black Jacket Guy had appeared, and he held a yellow Taser in his hand, grinning maniacally.

“You’re coming with me.” He dropped the Taser and advanced.

I grabbed Duke’s gun from his waist and swiveled. Mentally, I thanked Dad for making me take lessons from the master chief on handling a gun.

Black Jacket Guy glanced at the approaching crowd, then sneered and changed course to help the monster goon up off the sidewalk. “You won’t shoot an unarmed man.” He helped his man toward the SUV.

Flicking off the safety, I aimed and fired twice.