Claimed by the Marine (7 page)

Even now, safely back home, Hawk could still remember the crunch of sand fighting its way into every part of him just as the enemy attack fought hard against their platoon. But he and his fellow men fought harder.

Strategic pursuit of their goal ensured that when it got down to it, any means necessary was used. From hand guns to hand to hand combat, every opposition was tackled till each team member could be air-lifted safely from the area. None of their platoon had been lost and in fact the whole team plus the other Marines all made it. The same couldn’t be said about the opposition though. It had taken several days but it was mission accomplished and the enemy leveled.

Until the next time
, thought Hawk with a small chuckle.

Making his way inside his house and walking into the hallway, he ran smack into the memory of taking Ashanti hard just against that right wall.
Damn!
He was tired as hell, his whole body still aching from exhaustion and lack of sleep. But right then, all he could think of was seeing Ashanti again, hearing her sweet voice, inhaling that delicious scent she gave off that drove him insane.

He didn’t let those words of hers get to him. He’d pushed their last meeting to the back of his mind like a good military man and had focused on the grueling task at hand: infiltrating enemy domain.

And now that he was back something told him he might have to exercise unconventional warfare to get Ashanti to at least give him a chance. Let her know that the last thing the sex had been was a pity fuck. It had hurt him when she’d said that. Why did she have such little faith in her own feminine powers?

One kiss from her and he didn’t need any help getting hard and staying hard even long after he’d cum inside her. From the second he’d met her, he’d felt a pull that no other woman had been able to evoke within him. Thinking that some fool out there had ever hurt her and then let her go, made Hawk want to find the idiot and skin him alive for doing that to Ashanti.

As he looked around the empty house, he couldn’t help the strange twinge that hit him. He wondered how it would feel like having someone waiting when he got back home. Someone who would truly miss him while he was away – and if he never came back, to grieve him. In short, someone who cared about him and deeply loved him.

Hawk shook his head, forcing those wishful thoughts back. But he kept wishing, and kept seeing Ashanti’s face along with it all. Her bright, eager smile, her stirringly soft voice, her lovely face. The way her body fitted perfectly against his, like two pieces of a jigsaw.

Don’t, Hawk. Don’t do this to yourself. You’ve never needed anyone or anything since you were fifteen. Don’t start now.

The inner voice in his head was very firm. His body aching, he eased into the bath tub minutes later. He was badly bruised but everything would heal along just fine. His heart, however, still couldn’t seem to take a beating without the pain almost tearing him apart.

After so many years as a Marine, he still got those times when he felt overwhelmed by the pressure of standing alone. Sure, he had the team, and good friends. But even with all the psychological and mental conditioning he got, Hawk still had his humanity; his frail side.

When he’d first joined, he’d soon learned that being a Marine was more than just causing explosions or shooting the bad guys. It was about maintaining a solid state of mind to never give in to anything; to keep an indomitable spirit at all times. So no matter how many terrorists he downed whether in close-quarters combat, strategic assault or with a shot from his handgun, he may never feel truly fulfilled.

It was going to take more than a hundred successful missions to give him the true self-fulfillment. Maybe being the tough guy and saving the day was not all there was to life. What happened when he retired? Would he be ready to seek true happiness then?

Perhaps true happiness didn’t really exist, mused Hawk. But heck, he felt like he’d better start trying to find that out for himself. Starting with a certain starry-eyed, sweet-voiced woman who made his heart leap whenever he saw her. Whose one smile made him feel like he could lift the world on his shoulders.

Ashanti
.

Suddenly, all the soreness in his body seemed to fade away at the thought of her being in his life.
Dared he hope
? Was he even sure he was prepared?

It didn’t matter. This wasn’t some tactical ambush that needed an elaborate plan of action. Damn, if he thought about it too much, he might even change his mind. The woman had pretty much spelled out for him that it was just sex she’d needed from him. Maybe it was time to show her he could offer much, much more than just steamy satisfaction…

Chapter Sixteen

The music still got to her the way it had the night she’d met Hawk. But the magic wasn’t there.

Ashanti let herself get pulled into dance after dance with different partners. She felt bent on having fun tonight. She didn’t care that it seemed she was acting wild.

She was certainly wearing her wildest outfit to date. A short, form-fitting dress that left little to the imagination. Her curvy body seemed to draw eyes like a magnet. Even her dance partners couldn’t keep up with her adrenalin. She was a girl on fire.

Ashanti had been coming out with her friends every other night in the past week. She’d long shed her aversion for attention. Now, she craved it.

And yet, no matter how many handsome faces approached her, or how many twirls on the dance floor…nothing felt the same. Some really enchanting guy could be buying her drinks all night, and whispering sweet things in her ear – but for some reason, she never felt
that spark
.

That unique sensation she’d had only with Hawk when it had felt like she was balancing on thin ice. When he’d held her in his arms and moved just the right way to get her heart pounding in feminine awareness.

Wanting more. Needing more.

These guys left her cold. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t imagine having any impulsive urges where they were concerned. Blond, dark-haired, geeky or muscle-bound cowboy…no one she’d met so far measured up to her one fantasy that had come alive that night one week ago.

Hawk
.

Calling herself all kinds of fool for even thinking about him right then, she leaned in and laughed up at her handsome companion Steve, who looked ultra preppy from his artfully blown out blonde hair to his up-to-the-second fashion sense. His tie was loose at the waist, and he probably came across as really beddable especially to many of the other girls at the club.

So why wasn’t Ashanti feeling him?

Because he’s not my red-hot, hard bodied Marine lover whose one look could make my heart melt, Ashanti realized with a sigh. Just what was the point of these nightly past-times of hers anyway? What was she trying to prove?

Smiling apologetically at Steve, whose young, boyish face creased in an appreciative grin as she rose to her feet, she said, “I hope you’ll excuse me; I just need to powder my nose.”

“I’ll be waiting, beautiful,” Steve said, his brown eyes following her movements as she turned to walk through the crowd to the ladies room.

For some reason, his blatantly appraising look smarted. She couldn’t help thinking about Hawk and how he called her “babe” in that sexy voice he had. And then she wanted to kick herself for comparing him to everyone and everything. Wishing she could find an exact carbon copy of him and the way he’d made her feel and yet knowing it was impossible.

Ashanti was starting to really loathe herself for her actions in the past week. Coming to the club almost every other night, looking for a good time.

But then, standing in front of the mirror in the deserted rest room, she suddenly realized the truth. Going out to clubs, dressing in all the right clothes to get attention, was her way of telling herself the things her heart wanted to hear. That she didn’t need a pretend admirer – she could get her own. That she was actually hot enough to get any man she wanted.

Sure, she hadn’t managed to catch the attention of another sexy Marine yet, but she had enough offers from very eligible sorts. She’d almost –
almost
been tempted to let one or two follow her back home. But at the last minute, she’d turn to the handsome stranger with a regretful smile and a “goodnight” before letting herself into her apartment – alone.

Bertha and her other friends had apologized long ago about that little stunt with Hawk Malone. But Ashanti knew she wasn’t really mad at them. They’d certainly had good intentions and had meant no harm. No; she put the whole blame on Hawk.

He’d told her he’d been real from the start – but he just didn’t seem to get it. Didn’t understand that she knew that if not for Bertha, a man like Hawk would probably never even look at someone like her.

That impression really hurt, no matter how many times she told herself she had to be wrong. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and saw the wide, dark brown eyes, the full-bottomed lips, the long, wavy black hair tumbling around her oval face. The dress her body was wearing certainly gave her the look of temptress she sought. But she wondered…if Hawk saw her now, would he find her desirable still?

You’re a fool, Ashanti, she told herself disgustedly. Get over yourself – and get over Hawk. Because he’s certainly forgotten all about you by now.

And that meant there was only one thing to do.

Sighing resolutely, she drew her coral lip-gloss lightly over her lips and thought about handsome preppy Steve waiting patiently for her return. She knew exactly what was on his mind and she was totally thinking of
one
way she could probably free herself from thoughts of a certain broad-chested man.

Ashanti wasn’t the bed-hopping type, but damn it she’d had a nasty break up
and
had let the hottest guy ever slip from her fingers. Maybe it was time she tried again.

And yet, deep down Ashanti was sure nothing could ever come close to the earth-moving passion she’d known with the sexy Hawk Malone…

Chapter Seventeen

Hawk saw the unmistakable figure emerge from the side door across the room and felt a huge grin split his face. He’d recognize that sexy sway anywhere. His hungry eyes drank in her lush beauty evident in the skin-tight dress she was squeezed in.

Any other woman couldn’t have pulled off such a look the way Ashanti did: with class and poise. And those shoes…
fuck him
. He could just imagine bending her over with nothing but those killer heels on, and giving it to her just the way she liked. But not before he sank his face deep into the globes of her juicy ass and buried his tongue in her sweet-tasty pussy.

“Whoa, Ashanti certainly looks different,” Marcus commented from beside him.

Hawk blinked, but didn’t tear his eyes from Ashanti who was far across the crowded bar. Many male eyes followed her with unhidden interest as she started walking over to the corner table where a young-looking guy in a suit turned and smiled admiringly when he noticed Ashanti’s appearance.

“She looks
hot,
” Marcus added, unaware of the furious scowl that now settled over Hawk’s brow at the sight of Ashanti sitting next to that pompous-looking savvy type guy who promptly moved in to whisper something in Ashanti’s ear that made her throw her head back and laugh out loud.

“I mean, I don’t mean to sound surprised – I’ve always thought she was beautiful, but damn – she’s really started to bring her sexy back. Now I can see why you’re so crazy about her,” teased Marcus, who sobered when he glanced at the silent Hawk and saw his thunderous expression.

Returning to his perusal of Ashanti, Marcus noticed that now, her blonde-haired companion was putting an arm around her waist so that each time he bent to say something in her ear, their bodies touched at the sides. By the time he was making his last comment, the guy didn’t even bother to move away but stayed pressed up against her.

“Damn!” Hawk growled, the music starting to pound distantly in his ears.

He came here tonight with the full intention of seeing Ashanti – Marcus had to wring his sister’s arm to find out where the girls would be hanging out tonight. At that moment Bertha could be seen dancing gaily with her own boyfriend on the dance floor while Janice and her heavily tattooed beau sat at another table.

They waved to them when they noticed Marcus and Hawk standing just inside the entrance of the club. They’d arrived just ten minute ago and Hawk had been busy seeking Ashanti out before she’d returned and headed straight for her companion.

“What the hell does she think she’s doing?” Hawk snapped more to himself, watching as Ashanti’s companion lifted her to her feet along with him and tugged her against his body. She threw her head back and laughed as her touchy-feely pal bent to nuzzle the back of her ear as if to inhale her scent.

“Having fun, bro,” Marcus said in reply to Hawk’s last question, holding back a chuckle as he saw Hawk’s face grow darker with fury.

“Aw, hell no,” Hawk snarled, unable to tear his eyes from that suit-wearing fool wrapping an arm around
his
woman’s waist. Funny how Hawk would consider Ashanti as his but damn it, she was. He just hadn’t been good at showing her that yet. But he swore he was about to change that.

“I’ve got to go over there before he does something stupid,” Hawk said with anger, and felt Marcus’s restraining hand on his arm.

“Like what, man? It’s obvious they’re together. Or at least, together right now. Look, we came here to relax,” Marcus said sensibly, managing to hide the fact that he was enjoying Hawk’s evident anger. “Ashanti hasn’t heard from you in more than a week – are you really just going to just go over there and get in between her and her date?”

“Yes, I am,” Hawk said in a voice that was no more than a growl, shoving the beer in his hand into Marcus’s chest as Marcus grabbed it, a worried look mixed in with a humorous smile.

But he didn’t try to stop Hawk this time as his friend moved in between the crowd of other revelers and headed straight for the couple standing close across the room.