Sinful Rewards 11 by Cynthia Sax Read Free Book Online Page B

home.”
    “They weren’t hostiles.” He sounds certain.
    But how could he be? “How do you know they weren’t hostiles?” I demand. Hawke’s lips part. “You don’t.” I glare at him. “You weren’t here. They—”
    He places his right index finger over my lips, stopping my flow of words. “I know.” His confidence eases some of my panic. “You’ll always be safe here. No one enters our condo unless we want him to. Every inch of our home is monitored.”
    “But someone did enter our condo.” I didn’t imagine the gravel on the floor.
    “Those someones were friendlies,” he explains.
    I gaze at him, confused. “But you’re Friendly.” He’s my mysterious texter.
    “Friendly is a military term for an ally, someone on your side.” Hawke brushes my hair away from my face, his touch gentle, careful, soothing. “A person who would never ever harm you.” He smiles. “The team was here, setting up Gisele’s things. They wanted to surprise you.”
    His team had entered the condo. “We’re not in danger.” I sag against him, trusting my former marine to keep me upright.
    “We’re not in danger.” Hawke straps his arms around me, catching me as I fall. “But I want you to pay as close attention to your surroundings tonight,” he commands. “If you see anything unusual or are at all uneasy, leave immediately. Don’t try to save Nicolas.”
    I won’t abandon my friend. I open my mouth to protest.
    “Our team will protect him.” Hawke’s tone is firm, allowing no refusal. “You protect yourself and get the hell out of there, understand?” His gaze holds mine, his jaw jutted, his face set in stone. He’s serious about these instructions.
    I swallow hard and nod.
    “Good girl.” He crushes me to his chest, pressing my face against his black cotton T-shirt. I inhale his distinct scent, savoring the way his body curves protectively around mine. He strokes my hair, skimming his palms along the straight tendrils, grazing my ass.
    “I could save Nicolas if that was required.” I force my light tone. “Ellen told me how to kill a man with my heels.”
    “Keep your shoes on your feet and leave the killing to her.” Hawke straightens to his full impressive height. He’s a brute, my man, a giant wall of muscle.
    I want him again, still, forever. My nipples tighten, passions I thought sated resurfacing. “Hawke?” I lower my hands, navigating his abs with my fingertips.
    He groans. “Gisele will arrive soon, love.”
    Right. We’re pet parents now. We can’t merely think about our own desires. “We should inventory our new cat supplies.”
    The water and food bowls are set on the kitchen floor, both filled, ready for her arrival. We find the kitty litter in a closet, and dry and wet food in the kitchen cabinets. A box with her grooming supplies and more cat toys than any pet ever needs is positioned on the counter. Catnip growing in a ceramic planter is placed near the window.
    “Where’s the litter box?” I turn, surveying the main room. “Mack couldn’t have forgotten it.”
    “He didn’t.” Hawke grins. He lifts the photos off the metallic trunk serving as his table and opens the lid. “Look.”
    I gaze into the trunk. A litter box is placed inside, a hole large enough for a cat carved in the exterior. “That’s clever.” The litter box is completely concealed.
    “She won’t track litter all over the condo.”
    “She’d never do that,” I defend Gisele. “She’s a good cat.”
    “She’s still a cat.” Hawke laughs, his joy filling the space, as large and unfettered as he is. “You can’t expect cats to be neat, love.” He closes the lid, replacing his photos. “They’re animals.”
    “You’d still love her if she tracked litter all over the place?” If she isn’t worthy? I chew on the inside of my cheek.
    His rugged face softens. “Yes, I’d still love her.” Hawke’s voice is husky. “Come here.” He draws me against him, surrounding me with his