Saving Serena (Hawk Security #1)

Epilogue

EPILOGUE

THE BEST THING TO HOLD ONTO IN LIFE IS EACH OTHER. –AUDREY HEPBURN

Serena

The hint of morning light filtered into the room as I woke with my man’s morning wood pressed against me. Today would be my day to give back to the Hawk Security team that had done so much for me when I was in danger.

But first, I intended to personally thank my man, my protector, my fiancé.

He groaned sleepily when I rolled him over onto his back and straddled him. “Morning, Tiger.”

I slid my wet folds along his length. “Cobra, are you ready to make it a very good morning?”

He grinned as he cupped my breasts. “A frogman is ready for anything.”

Rising, I positioned him and got started making it a very good morning for us both. I started slow, but quickly ramped up, moaning as I rode Duke hard. I relished the times I got to be in charge.

He caressed my breasts, occasionally tweaking my nipples as I bounced on him. Each downstroke filled the room with the sounds of flesh meeting flesh. “You’re so fucking beautiful, baby. That’s it. Ride me. Take what you want.”

I ground down on him, throwing my head back, lost in the pleasure that radiated to every cell in my body as he filled me.

He held off for a while, letting me drive on our combined trip to Nirvana, but he started thrusting up into me now, unwilling to wait any longer.

My release built to the shimmering white-hot heat of a climax that would destroy me. Right on the edge, I slowed down to prolong the journey and hold off the plunge over the edge a little longer.

“That’s it, baby,” he grunted. “Come for me.” He brought his thumb to my clit and strummed.

My restraint dissolved, and suddenly, I was in freefall over that edge and into the shudders of my release. My pussy convulsed on his cock as the waves flowed over me.

A second later, he rolled us and started thrusting into me from above, hard and rapidly. Perched on locked elbows above me, he was magnificent—straining muscles under glorious tattoos. I dug my nails into his ass, urging him deeper.

With a groan bordering on a roar, he came, pulsing inside me. Instead of collapsing on top of me or off to the side, he rolled us again.

Lying on him, with Rex still inside me, I listened to the rapid beat of his heart. “I love you, Cobra.”

He ran his hand over my back. “Love you back, Tiger.”

“Are you looking forward to tonight?”

“Not my cup of tea, but I’ll go for you.”

There it was. My frogman would sacrifice himself for me. This was a small thing, but he’d already proved he’d go anywhere and do anything for me.

I really had hit the jackpot.

Duke

The delicious aromas hit us as soon as we walked into Cardinelli’s in Westwood. Even Serena agreed this was the best Italian food in town.

“Why do we have to do this?” I complained again as we made our way to the private dining room.

“Because it’s important to me,” my fiancée said. “And I bet your team’s looking forward to it.”

“I doubt it.” I checked my watch. It was too early for the surprise Bill Covington had helped me arrange.

Serena punched my shoulder.

I rubbed my arm. She was getting stronger, or I was getting more sensitive. “What was that for?”

“I can hear the grumpy in that statement, and no, you can’t leave early and go to the range.”

“But—”

“Are you scared of a little applause?”

I grunted

“Put up with it for me?” She patted my arm. “Please.”

“Sure.” As we walked up to Lucas, Terry, and Constance, I pinched her ass.

She jumped. She had no idea what was coming her way in a little while.

Constance raised a brow, most likely having noticed Serena flinch. “Looking forward to this?”

“Sure,” I answered. “Like going to the dentist.”

When a few of Serena’s coworkers joined us, the conversation devolved into small talk until Serena’s friend Grace walked into the room.

Serena had been afraid she might not come.

I’d made it clear to the feisty redhead that it wasn’t optional. I waved her over. She had to be here for Serena’s special day.

Grace balked, probably due to Terry’s presence in our group, until my glare and hand motions wore her down.

“What is Catwoman doing here?” Terry mumbled when he saw her coming our way.

“I get to invite who I want,” Serena said.

I watched Terry. His eyes skated up and down Grace—twice.

“Oh, look, you invited even the B team,” Grace said, giving Terry a sneer.

“At least I’m on the team, Wildcat. Maybe I’ll call you when I need my sock drawer organized.”

“Can’t find fresh ones?” She sniffed the air. “Is that why you don’t ever change them?” She turned her hand inward and admired her nails. Which resulted in her missing Terry checking out her cleavage.

“Kitty, you must be smelling the rat fur caught in your teeth.”

Serena’s coworker, Nick, hid a snicker.

Serena inserted herself by taking Grace’s hand. “Gray, these nails are gorgeous.”

She smiled and turned her hand over for an inspection. Her nails were all a shiny white today, an unusual twist for her. I’d most often seen her with several different colors on a hand. Each nail today had a different cat picture on it.

Constance ohh ed and ahh ed. “What do you think, Terry?”

Grace turned and Terry took her hand, tracing lightly down one finger. “Yeah, nice claws, Kitty.”

Even I saw the tiny jolt Terry’s touch caused Grace. When he excused himself, Grace tried to hide her glance at his ass as he walked away.

Constance arrived in her disguise. “I may have to leave early.”

I smirked. “That’s a shame, Gertrude.”

“Very funny.” Constance pointed at her prosthetic nose. “This thing itches. I feel sorry for those Star Trek actors who have to wear this stuff day in and day out.”

Serena

Naturally, choosing Cardinelli’s resulted in much better food for dinner than using a standard banquet service with the kind of rubber chicken served at weddings.

When the meal had finished and it was time for the awards, my new boss, Remy Laurent, went to the small podium and introduced Director Pacheco, the head of the entire EPA.

Work had become so much nicer since Powell’s reassignment. He was now the sole occupant of the EPA’s new Minot, North Dakota field office, overseeing the Superfund site there. I chuckled. That transfer couldn’t have happened to a more deserving guy.

“What’s so funny?” Duke asked.

“Nothing. Do trailers have good insulation?”

“I don’t know, but I sort of doubt it.”

I smiled. Winter would come soon enough, and the small trailer the EPA had placed in Minot would be quite chilly when the winter wind blew. None of us knew how Powell had gotten reassigned there. Dad hadn’t mentioned anything, but we might have him to thank for Powell’s departure.

The ceremony started, and one by one, the entire Hawk team, except Constance and the new guy, Zane March, went up to receive their EPA gold medals for exceptional service.

Fake Gertrude accepted the final one for C. Collier, thanking them on behalf of her sister. My coworkers all fell for the disguise and still had no idea Constance’s real last name was Collier or that she had worked for Hawk the whole time, not CID.

After the awards, Constance left, as she’d warned us she would do.

Duke and I were chatting with Lucas and Jordy when Remy sought us out. He had the director with him, and Bill and Lauren Covington, of all people.

I hadn’t even noticed the Covingtons arrive.

Duke smiled like the Cheshire Cat as Remy introduced the director to everyone.

“Miss Benson.” Director Pacheco offered me a leather folder. “Instead of a simple ribbon, I thought it more appropriate to present you with this letter of appreciation for your fine work in shutting down the hazardous waste dumping scheme you uncovered.”

I opened the folder and gasped. The letter was signed by both the director and the president—the president of these freaking United States. My cheeks flamed hot. “Why, thank you, sir.”

After the letter was passed around, the Hawk boys, the director, and Remy wandered off, I confronted Duke about his grin. “You knew about this.”

Bill laughed. “Knew? He convinced Uncle Garth to arrange it.”

I grabbed my hot, thoughtful badass and kissed the hell out of him. Then I hauled off and punched his shoulder.

“What’s that for?”

“For not warning me so I could get dressed up for the occasion.”

“Princess, this is how surprises work.”

Later, Grace, Winston, and I were mingling with the EPA side of the room when Grace’s phone rang.

“Please don’t hurt him,” she said as she walked to the corner of the room behind the ficus.

Concerned, I discreetly followed to listen, like the nosy, concerned friend I was.

“I understand… Just don’t hurt him. Okay, Langley and…”

I couldn’t hear the next words clearly except for Starbucks.

“But I can’t make it in a half hour… Hello?… Hello?”

It sounded bad, so I rounded the plants.

She looked blankly at her phone.

I grabbed her shoulder. “What’s going on?”

Her wet eyes darted left and right. “Nothing.”

“Who was that?”

She tried to go around me, but I blocked her. “You have to let me go.”

“Gray, what’s wrong? Talk to me.”

She sniffled. “It’s Elliot.”

“Who’s Elliot?”

Her eyes shifted to the other side of the room and back again. “I need to go.”

“Who’s Elliot?” I repeated.

“Uh…my newest cat, Elliot Ness. I have to go.” I thought she only had two cats, Bonnie and Clyde. It finally made sense that she was upset if one of her cats was in trouble.

“Did he get loose or something?”

She nodded. “I’ve gotta go.”

“Do you need help?” I tried.

She shook her head violently. “No, no. You stay and enjoy yourself.”

I located my man across the room with Lucas, Jordy, the new guy Zane, and Terry. I’d spent too much time away from my man.

As Grace headed out, Remy surprised me. “Serena, thank you for arranging this.”

Duke

We were standing around, making the required post-award small talk when Terry found me, Lucas, Jordy, and Zane. He searched the room for a moment. “Have you seen Grace?”

“Which one? Kitty, Wildcat, Bobcat, or Catwoman?” I teased.

Terry’s eyes were wild. “I’ve gotta find her.”

Lucas grabbed his arm. “What’s wrong?”

“I just got a call saying she’s in danger.”

Lucas’s face turned turbulent. “In danger from whom?”

Terry shook his head. “No idea. First, her cousin called asking if I knew where she was. Then, he called again and told me to look out for her because she was in danger. He was scared shitless.”

I scanned the room but didn’t see her.

“Last I saw, she was talking with the Serena,” Zane noted.

I swiveled to find Serena in the far corner with her new boss, Remy.

Terry took off toward her. After a few words with Serena, he hustled out the door.

Zane grabbed my attention. “Cobra, what do you think the Lakers’ chances are this season?”

I shrugged. “They could go all the way, but I wouldn’t put it past them to blow it.”

Zane started in on his dissection of the team’s weaknesses.

“What’s going on with Grace and Terry?” I asked Serena when she arrived.

“Ya got me.” She shrugged. “Grace got a call. She had to leave… Some problem with her new cat, and Terry went tearing out after her. I have no idea what set him off.”

Lucas scowled. “He thinks she’s in danger is what he told us.”

Serena shook her head. “Over a cat?”

That didn’t sound right to me. Terry was levelheaded. He didn’t even like cats. “Maybe I should go check it out.”

“No.” Lucas shook his head. “Duke, it’s your woman’s evening. Zane, you go see if Terry needs help.”

I hugged my woman to my side. Life was good. Serena had my ring on her finger and had moved in with me. Her dad and I had a deep-sea-fishing day planned, and work had slowed down to minor celebrity-protection jobs.

She looked up at me, flashing those green eyes that did me in every time. “I don’t know how to thank you for this.”

Bill wandered off when I chuckled. “I can think of a few ways.”

“I think we should start a family.”

It came out of the blue, but didn’t scare me the way it could have. “That could be fun.”

“Very,” she purred.

“When is your dad supposed to be here?” I whispered. We couldn’t leave before he got a chance to appreciate her presidential letter.

“Anytime now. He warned me he’d be late.”

I turned when there was a commotion at the door.

“Call 9-1-1,” Terry yelled yelled. He carried a limp body in his arms. “She was attacked.”

Lucas ran for the door, and I yanked out my phone.

Terry gently laid an unconscious Grace on the settee.