“So why did he give in to you then?”
“Because I’m not the only one who has the urge to settle down. A couple of the guys are feeling the lonely nights and want more than a quick roll in bed.”
“So, how many have you…you know…”
Hawk dropped a kiss on her earlobe, noting the shiver that ran over her skin. “No idea.”
We don’t keep track. Why do civilians think it’s like the movies where we carve out notches on our guns or get tattoos for each kill?
Cass lifted her hand to his shoulder and spread her palm flat. “So why do you have a tattoo then?”
“We all got them after the last mission when we lost Pedro. Enough questions for now, let’s walk.”
The beach was deserted this far from the main resort of Fraser Island. They hurried over the hot white sand to the low tide line and dropped their beach towels in a pile on the beach. Cass walked down to the water’s edge and dipped her toes into the foam pushing up the beach. She held her arms over her head and stretched in the sunshine, rolling her body from side to side. It was too much to see her standing in front of him and not be touching her. Hawk walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her stomach. He wasn’t expecting the wiggle as she pushed her butt against his groin.
Cass turned in his arms and gazed into his eyes. She bit her bottom lip and Hawk almost groaned out loud. Wishing he’d ignored the little voice in his head about convincing her to be with him before he raced her into his bed, he stepped back slightly, breaking the body contact between them.
“Sorry. Did I do something wrong?”
“I’m having trouble being this close and not making love to you.”
A small smile curled the edges of her lips, a blush of color tingeing her cheeks. “Can I see your tattoo?”
Hawk nodded his head before lifting his t-shirt and pulling it over his head.
* * *
His body was an artwork of ripped muscles and glistening skin. Concentrating on her request, Cass ran her fingertips up his bicep, tracing the inked design over and along his shoulder. A large hawk in flight gripped a curved dagger in its claws, encircled with the words Vive in libertate aut morere.
“What does it mean?”
“Live in freedom or die. The reason we do what we do.”
He gripped her hand, dropped a kiss on her head and slung his t-shirt over his shoulder. Together they walked along the beach, comfortable in each other’s company. Cass glanced at the man beside her.
Am I going to be able to let him go and place himself in danger without warning? It’s been bad enough knowing he was fighting overseas as it is without finding out he does top secret missions that surely have to be more dangerous. Loving Hawk came with dangers anyway and he’d just ramped that up several notches.
“I can hear your mind ticking over. Care to share what’s giving you those frown lines?”
“I’m arguing with myself.” She stopped and picked up a shell, running her fingertips over the grooves in the pattern. “I’ve always wanted you, I made no secret of that last time you were home but to know what you do - that kind of puts on a whole new level of stress. It was easier when you teased me about keeping it a secret.”
“I know this is hard, Cass, I do but I want you more than anything.”
“But not more than your job.”
“No. I need that as much as I need to breath. It’s who I am, or at least an integral part of who I am. You’re the other part I need to make me whole.” He grinned, his gorgeous smile making her stomach flip and her girly parts sing with anticipation. “Give me these two weeks to prove to you how good we can be together, please?”
She lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck. Her body pressed against his naked chest, Cass kissed his lips, flicking her tongue along the seam of his mouth until he opened his lips to her.
Hawk gripped her around the waist and lifted her up. She wound her legs around his hips and sunk into the kiss. His arms held her tight against his body, letting her know exactly how she affected him. He tasted of mint toothpaste, summer and sunshine. A shot of desire burned through her. There was no way she would be able to turn him away at the end of the two weeks. She needed Hawk in her life, she always had. Even when they were little, a sense of loss followed her when he wasn’t around. Cass needed to come to terms with his job if they had any chance of being happy and she wasn’t sure she could do that. Sure it was a risk every time he started a mission. There was always the chance he would get hurt or worse still - killed. But it came with the territory, something he’d obviously come to terms with years ago. If the truth be told, Cass knew the thrill of achieving something only he and his team could pull off far outweighed any of the negatives anyone could throw at him. It was how Hawk worked. Always trying to achieve the extraordinary.
“I think we should take this back to the house. What do you say?” His dark brown eyes burned with need, a need that mirrored hers.
“Yes.” He let her go and she slid down his hard body to the sand. They reached for their towels and laughed
