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HAWK

Oh, the little shit.

“You want to play a game of fuck-around-and-find-out? Then that’s what we’ll do, but remember you asked for this, baby.”

Sadie wants to go toe-to-toe—to fight me—cause me pain for hurting her. I don’t blame her. “I deserve your wrath, but I have a better way to settle this thing between us. One that will settle us both down and bring us hours of euphoric pleasure.”

Her eyes heat. Her pulse is thrumming in her neck. Her breathing has picked up. She may be mad as fuck at me, but Sadie wants this as badly as I do. We need this.

“I don’t want to fight with you. I don’t want to do anything with you. All I want is for you to leave this room and let me finish what I’ve started with Matteo. Let me find Shea so you can take her home and then I’ll figure out my life from here. Without you ,” she hisses.

“Not going to happen, Sapphire.”

Her nostrils flare. She doesn’t like my answer. Too bad . “I’m not leaving you and Matteo to do anything alone together. That bullshit stops now. You want to help us find Shea? That’s fine. But from this moment on, you won’t be doing a damn thing without me. You won’t be walking into danger. You won’t be following Matteo’s orders. You’re not his to protect. And you, for damn sure, won’t be going to any kink clubs with anyone but me.” Her cheeks turn red, and if I’m honest, I’m not sure if it’s from embarrassment or anger.

“Now, come on. Fight me. Let’s go. Come at me, and when we’re done, I’ll make you come for me.” I wiggle my eyebrows. My cocky, shit-eating grin is firmly back in place because I know it pisses her off even more.

I want her anger. She needs to get the rage and frustration out. If I have to provoke her to spar with me and settle this shit between us, so be it. Then I’ll get her naked and give her some major release while she’s writhing underneath me. It’s a win-win situation. Or it will be.

“I don’t want to fight. I want you to stop trying to make me feel things I don’t want to feel. Stop trying to force something that isn’t going to happen. You said it yourself. We made a mistake the first time. Why repeat history when it will only disappoint us both? Just chalk it up as another one of your hopeless one-night stands, and we can both move on with our lives.”

Hell no.

The more she fights me on this, the more I want to prove to her I own her. The same way she owns me.

“We were never going to be a one-night stand, Sadie. Once was never going to be enough with you. I had already decided before I got to your house that this thing between us was happening. You’re mine and I’m yours . Stop fucking fighting it.”

“You can’t just decide to make someone yours, Nathaniel!” she shouts. “Especially when you’re only going to take it back the next day.” Her voice cracks. Sadie turns away to hide the chinks I’ve caused in her armor. But it’s too late. I’ve seen them.

Now we’re getting somewhere.

She thinks I’m going to push her away again. Not a fucking chance in hell.

While her guard is momentarily down, I decide it’s time to make a move and lunge for her. Fuck if she doesn’t pivot quickly, putting herself behind me. She makes a move for the door, and something primal snaps inside of me. I need to catch her and subdue her, make her see reason one orgasm at a time.

A low rumble vibrates up my chest, and just as she reaches the door, I’m on her. My body pinning hers against the hardwood of the door, my feet keeping hers apart far enough she can’t kick me. “You want to run? I’ll chase you, baby. But once I catch you, I’m going to remind you how good we are together.”

Sadie’s lip quivers. She bites it, but it’s too late. I saw it. She’s scared. She’s trying like hell to hide the truth, but I know my Sapphire. There’s more going on here, and the only way I can get her to completely open up to me is to get her naked and vulnerable before me—physically and emotionally.

Is it a prick move to use sex to get her to talk to me? Maybe. Does it change my plan? Not in the slightest.

I grab Sadie’s hair, pulling her head back. Not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make her gasp and gain her attention. I can see her pulse racing in the vein on her neck. “Are you afraid of me, Sapphire?”

“I’m not afraid of you . I’m afraid of what you might do to my heart. You can’t claim me, Nathaniel.” My name is a whispered plea. “This is a disaster waiting to happen.”

“I can and I have . And I’m not changing my mind or taking it back. I was an asshole of epic proportions, but the facts remain the same. You. Are. Mine. I know it and so do you. And when I have your ass pinned to the bed, stripped and soaking wet for me, there will be no denying it anymore.”

Placing my hand across her torso, my palm spreading across her stomach, I can feel the heat of her skin through the thin material of her cotton shirt. Her body stills. “You’re trembling, Sapphire. Your body already knows who you belong to. But you want to know a secret?” I push my hard, throbbing cock against her tight little ass and grind against her, eliciting a whimper. “My body knows it’s yours, too.”

She snorts. “You get a hard on when the wind changes direction. You can hardly expect me to take that as an indication that you belong to me. Especially after all the whores you’ve been hard for. I’m not one of them .” Her last words are whispered, but I hear the sadness in them.

Sadie begins to struggle, wiggling her hips to twist free. I spin her around to face me, then push her wrists together above her head with one hand so they land against the door. My other hand settling on her hip with my thigh still holding her legs apart so she can’t kick me.

Holding eye contact with her, I want Sadie to see the truth when I tell her, “They were the next fun thing and nothing more, something to distract me from the guilt I carry every day for everything Nate did to our family . I never felt anything for any of them. Maybe that makes me an asshole, but it’s the truth and I never lead anyone on. But the truth is, I didn’t know what I wanted. But I do now,” I admit. “I wanted you, baby. For a long time, I’ve wanted you. I’ve fought myself against my desires to have you, to make you mine. My reasons—like yours—were bullshit. I thought Pres would be mad and Mack would slit my throat, but the truth is they both gave their blessing.” She gasps, a single tear slips down her cheek and her eyes close. “But I’m done playing with all the others. I don’t want them. I want you. Only you.”

Sadie shakes her head violently from side to side. “Please. Please stop. Nathaniel. I can’t. You can’t … You don’t …”

Pressing a finger to her lips to silence her disbelief, I kiss her forehead and watch as her shoulders drop, and her breathing deepens. My free hand comes up from her hip to caress her cheek, my thumb slowly rolling over her bottom lip. “I can, and I do. I mean every word. I want you. Every inch of you. Your heart. Your sexy little body. Your sassy-as-fuck attitude. This too-smart-for-your-own-good brain of yours. All of it, Sapphire . Will you let me have you?” It’s my turn to plead with her.

I can feel my heart racing with the anticipation. If she denies me, I’ll just keep pushing, proving to her we belong together. I won’t give up.

“Yes.” Her words come out in a whisper, but I hear her. My lips come down on hers, and I take my time exploring her mouth. Her body slowly melts into mine and I release her wrists to grip her hair, but before I can get a good grip, she bites my lip hard . When I pull away, stunned at her actions, she takes advantage, slamming both hands into my chest and forcing me back a step, giving her just enough room to get loose and move away from me. She doesn’t go far, only a few steps, putting the bed between us.

“What the hell? I thought you didn’t want to fight?” I wipe away the blood from my lip and stand with my hands on my hips, watching her.

“If we do this, you can’t change your mind,” she says, quietly.

Is she serious?

I take a step forward, and she steps back. “Have you not been listening to a word I’ve said?” I want to scream at her, but continue in a firm, controlled voice instead. “You are mine. I’m not changing my mind. I claimed you. That makes you my ol’ lady. You know what that means, Sadie. I’m fucking serious. I’m not giving you up. It’s you and me, Sapphire.”

Another lone tear tracks down her cheek. Seeing her like this, so vulnerable and scared, is killing me. “When you told me to leave, you hurt me, Nathaniel. No one else has that kind of power over me. You can’t do it again. You can’t abandon me too. Not you.”

Matteo’s words from our earlier conversation come strolling back to my mind. “A man can claim anything to be his, but if he claims a woman, but doesn’t truly possess her heart, his words mean shit.”

I move closer, wiping her tears with my hand. Cupping her chin, I force her eyes to meet mine. “I’m so sorry, baby. I was angry, but it won’t happen again. If you give yourself to me, all of you, I’ll never push you away like that again. You have my word as a King.” I kiss her forehead, then her right cheek and her left. “I’m going to ask you one more time. Will you let me have all of you? Will trust me with your heart again?” When my lips brush hers, she closes her eyes and nods ever so slightly. “Good girl. Now, let me apologize properly.”

I take her hand, leading her to the bed, taking my time to strip her out of her clothes. I run my hands over her breasts, slowly, methodically, circling, kneading. Sadie’s eyes close and I smile to myself.

Moving my hands over her shoulders, I squeeze and rub my way down her arms, watching as the tension leaves her body. One hand moves up around her neck, gripping her tight as my lips kiss the soft place behind her ear. With my tongue, I lick my way across her jaw. Her mouth falls open, and I take the offering before me, plunging my tongue into her mouth. With my hand in her hair, I tilt her head, deepening the kiss. A growl of satisfaction rumbles out of me when she bites my tongue.

“Brat,” I grumble. Sadie smiles, and my heart flips in my chest.

There’s my girl.

Her hands rest on my chest, making their way to the hem of my shirt, rolling it up and over my abdomen. I lift my arms and allow her to strip it away, tossing it to the floor behind me. Her hands roam over every inch of my chest, up my neck, and then she’s pulling my mouth down to meet hers. I let her kiss me, her tongue dueling with mine. She wants control, or at least that’s what she wants me to think. But I know what she needs .

Gripping her hair tightly, I pull her mouth away from mine, shaking my head. “You know you’re not in charge here, baby.” Her eyes narrow. The fire and defiance I love flaring to life. “Climb up on the bed. All the way to the headboard and lay down. I want your legs spread open for me. Let me see that pretty little cunt dripping for me.”

She looks like she’s about to argue, so I press my forehead to hers and whisper, “Stop fighting me, baby. Trust me to take care of you. Let me give you what you need. What we both need, Sapphire.”

Sadie sighs, then pulls out of my hold, crawling up to the center of the bed, giving me a glorious view of her ass. She turns, laying down as instructed. Her cheeks are flushed. She’s so fucking gorgeous.

I climb up on the bed, laying between her spread legs. Running the tips of two fingers through her wetness, swirling it around her clit and back down. Sadie’s breath stutters. My cock aches, but he can wait.

Sadie opens her legs wider, offering herself to me as she moans deep in the back of her throat. She’s soft and swollen, dripping wet for me. I can’t wait anymore. I bury my face between her legs and feast on her pussy.

Her hips gyrate against my face as she chases her release. I fuck her with my tongue, changing my pace from fast to slow, and back again.

“Please,” Sadie begs, her hips bucking. When her hands reach my head, she grips my hair hard. I latch onto her clit and suck, watching in amazement as she cries out my name in pleasure.

Climbing off the bed, I slide off my sweats and fist my cock, giving it a few strokes. Sadie’s eyes widen and follow the movement of my hand. She licks her lips, and I smile.

“Not this time, Sapphire.” She glares. I climb on the bed, settling my knees between her legs. Sadie leans up on her elbows, watching as I line up my cock with her entrance. “You ready for me, baby?”

“Please, Nathaniel. I need to feel you inside me. Show me this is real. That you meant what you said. Make me yours,” she pleads.

I hoist her ass up in my hands and, in one deep stroke, I bury myself to the hilt. Sadie gasps. I groan.

Christ, she feels fucking amazing. Like coming home.

I pull out and drive back in, my pace hard and fast. The room fills with the sounds of her wetness and my thighs hitting the back of her as I lift her ass, giving me a deeper angle. I lean forward, bracing myself with hands on either side of her face. A light sheen of sweat coats her brow. Her eyes meet mine. Leaning in, I take her mouth with mine, kissing her. Claiming her. Punishing her.

“I love you, Sapphire,” I tell her honestly. Tears fall down her cheeks as she closes her eyes, hiding herself from me.

This won’t do.

I slow my pace and grip her chin with my hand.

“Look at me.” She opens her eyes. Beautiful sapphire blues staring back at me. “Why are you crying? Am I hurting you?”

“No.” she whispers, shaking her head.

“Then what is it, Sapphire? What’s wrong?” Panic wells up inside me at the thought she might have regrets. She wasn’t ready, and I pushed her to accept us anyway. To give herself to me. Just as I begin to think the worst, Sadie’s hand rests against my cheek. I lean in, closing my eyes at the warmth of her touch.

“I love you too, Nathaniel.” I open my eyes, inhaling deeply at her admission. Watching as a soft, sweet smile spreads across her face. One that matches my own. “Now, will you please fuck me? I think I’ve waited long enough to truly be yours.”

I pull out, surprising her with the abrupt move, and flip her onto her belly. Lifting her hips, I slam back into her tight heat. Sadie lets out a scream, turning her head into the pillows.

“No. Don’t hide your face, baby. Let me hear you,” I demand. Sadie turns her head, granting me the side view of her pleasure-filled face. I continue to pound into her at a relentless pace. Her wetness spilling down over my balls with each thrust. Sadie tilts her hips, pushing back and meeting me thrust for thrust, taking me deeper inside. Her walls squeeze around me. I reach around and pinch her clit, sending Sadie soaring. She screams my name, and I follow her climax with my own.

I pull out of her and drop to the bed beside her. I pull her over so she lays with her head on my chest as I hold her closer to me. We’re both panting, sweat coating our skin. Her hair sticks to her forehead, and I wipe it away as she leans her chin on her arm, looking up at me with concern in her eyes.

“What is it?” I ask, caressing her face with the back of my hand.

Her face turns serious, her eyes locked on mine, and with a sternness I’ve never heard from her before, she says, “I’m trusting you, Nathaniel. Don’t hurt me.”

I lift up, kissing her forehead and promise right then and there, “I won’t, baby. You gave me you . Heart, mind, body, and soul. I promise I’ll cherish every bit of the gifts you’ve given for the rest of our lives.”

She rests her head against my chest, and I stroke her arm. I feel a slight bump near her shoulder, just under her skin. She must find peace in my words because it’s not very long before she falls asleep while I lay staring at the ceiling, making a mental note to ask her about the bump later. I then contemplate how I’m going to convince her she will not be walking into Cusenza’s trap. We’ll find Shea another way, and not at the expense of my woman.