Free Hawk by Patricia A. Rasey Page B

throat, lifting the tall man off the floor by a good four inches. Kaleb growled as his eyes blackened and his canines elongated. “Speak to me like that again and you’ll be spitting blood.”
    “What the hell?” Draven wheezed, trying to catch a breath. The hand holding the glass of wine loosened, the glass crashed to their booted feet as he clawed the hand gripping his throat.
    Kaleb sneered. “My reasons for wanting the little bitch is none of your concern.”
    “Point taken. Now,” he croaked, “please let me down.”
    “Jesus, Hawk!”
    Kaleb stifled a groan. Of course she would pick that moment to appear. How the hell had she slipped into the club without either of their notice? Kaleb released Draven, who dropped to his booted feet with a thump and staggered back against the bar, his hand going to his injured throat. The bar owner would likely sport a raspy voice for the next few days. Not that Kaleb cared.
    “It’s about time you decided to show up.”
    Lightning shot through Suzi’s blue gaze in her anger. “I knew if I didn’t show that you’d come looking for me.”
    “Why should that bother you, piccolo diavolo ?”
    “Because it does.” Her gaze narrowed. A lesser man would’ve cowered from her piercing gaze. “What did you just call me?”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 7
     
    “I called you little devil .”
    And why should that surprise her? Of course he did. “You manhandle Draven and you call me little devil? Seriously? That’s like the pot calling the kettle black.”
    “Overused analogy.”
    “Bite me—” She stopped herself at the rise of his lips. “Strike that.”
    “If you would have been here, piccolo diavolo , then I wouldn’t have had to manhandle Draven. That is on your conscience.”
    “Apologize to Draven. He isn’t my keeper, nor does he know my whereabouts.”
    Draven shook his head, obviously not wanting to get involved in the middle of their pissing match. “There’s no need.”
    She raised a brow. “Really? Hawk damn near crushed your windpipe for no reason.” She turned her glare back on the object of her scorn. “I say he needs to apologize for acting like an ass.”
    A muscle ticked in Kaleb’s cheek. “Be careful, piccolo diavolo . You need to know your place.”
    “And just what is my place, Hawk?”
    Wisely, he kept his mouth shut for once. Instead he stood there looking all hot and sexy and way more delectable than any man had a right to. Damn him for kick-starting her libido in the middle of an argument. There certainly would be no hiding the truth from him, that much was apparent in the slight flaring of his nostrils and the knowing grin now full-blown on his lush lips. Men didn’t have lush lips, did they? And yet there was no other way to describe them. She remembered all too well what those lips had felt like against hers, not to mention the many other places he had used them. Her memories of a young, innocent girl came to mind. Hell, she had been a virgin then. No wonder he hadn’t ever wanted a round two. Now, she’d like to show him a thing or two.
    But of course, she wouldn’t.
    A pair of worn Levi’s hung low on his lean hips, hugging his muscular thighs before flaring slightly at the knees. A black Henley completed the top half, sleeves pushed to his elbows, showing off his one tattooed sleeve that alone made her heart trip over itself. She had a weakness for tattooed men, thanks to meeting Hawk in her impressionable years. A few buttons at his neck were left open, showing a spattering of hair that Suzi longed to run her fingers through, to feel the softness against her palms.
    Yeah, she had it bad.
    All the more reason to give him what she came for and get the hell out of Dodge. Yep, another overused analogy, but this time one he wouldn’t hear.
    “So where’re we doing this? The ladies’ room? Dark corner?”
    “Draven’s office.” Kaleb glanced back at the bar owner, no doubt checking to see if it was available