Free Claimed by the Marine by Dez Burke

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.
     
    Chapter Seventeen
    Turned out Steve was quite different from what Ashanti had imagined.
    She’d figured he’d be the gentleman type but from the way he couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her, whispering the most unexpected stuff in her ear and making her laugh, she saw that he was going in for the kill.
    Ashanti had to admit she was tempted.
    He might be a year or two younger than she was, but she wasn’t going to hold that against him. She still hadn’t made up her mind if she should leave with him which was obviously what he’d been suggesting for the last five minutes. But she had to admit he was getting on her nerves with his deliberately roving hands. If he kept it up, she’d make sure he did drop her home, and then get sent off for his bad behavior.
    She sighed. No way he was getting lucky with her tonight. Ashanti didn’t really enjoy getting mauled by a guy she’d barely just met.
    “Ashanti.”
    Even over the music, the clear, deep voice wafted to her from just over her shoulder. Her head whipped round, her chest constricting with hope and not a little bit of fear thanks to the edge evident in that all too familiar voice.
    She turned in the circle of Steve’s arm and came smack into facing the last person she’d expected to see right then.
    “Hawk! You’re back!”
    “Yeah,” he said slowly, his eyes fastened on Steve’s hand resting on her hip. “You miss me?” he added on a soft note, looking back up at her with a narrowed glint in his eye.
    Ashanti squirmed beneath Hawk’s piercing gaze, not knowing what to say. She couldn’t stop staring at him dressed in his blue jeans and white tee topped with a close-fitting leather jacket. Damn he looked so fine in black leather. Just like that, she felt that long-missed pulsing between her thighs and bit her bottom lip, glancing quickly beside her at Steve. He was observing Hawk with a quizzical air.
    “Uh…Steve, meet Hawk,” she said abruptly, for want of something to say. Both men shook hands and nodded at each other. Ashanti couldn’t help seeing a slight wince cross Steve’s face as Hawk’s hand closed firmly around his for a moment. The handshake broke and Steve smiled mildly. Both men were about the same height; above six feet but Hawk’s frame was far bulkier than the lithe Steve.
    “Nice to meet you, ah…Hawk. Well, Ashanti, are we leaving now?” Steve asked, his hand running up and down her back warmly, his