Claimed by the Marine Read Free

won’t deny it. But wanting and then letting myself have it are two different things. I’m sorry…but I can’t.”
    Ashanti tried to read his expression but there was nothing there. Was he disappointed, irritated? She couldn’t tell. But he merely nodded. “Believe me, I understand,” was all he said.
    The dance was over. Ashanti almost stumbled as he took her hand and led her off the dance floor filled with swaying couples entwined closely. He drew her close to his side in support and she strained into him, almost as if she wanted to steal this last bit of proximity from him before he walked out of her life for good. Ashanti looked ahead and could see the faces of her three friends.
    She could almost swear that she could read their minds as they turned to see her approach with Hawk in tow. Was it pity she saw on their faces, in their bright smiles? Maybe not. It didn’t matter, because she wasn’t thinking about them. She was thinking of the many lonely nights she’d had almost since her adulthood began. Staying in the same, dull relationship because she didn’t believe she could find better. But now, Ashanti decided she’d stopped seeking, needing. She didn’t want to be the predictably upright woman who’d deprived herself of real passion because she’d been afraid. Tonight, that particular side of her had to go, for good.
    “Wait.”
    Her hand tugged on Hawk’s, managing to pull him to a stop just as they were yards away from the table holding her friends. He turned to her with a lifted brow, and her chin squared as she held his quizzical gaze.
    “I’ve changed my mind. Let’s go,” she said calmly, and had to keep herself from quivering at the dark, almost feral look of pleasure that crossed his lean, handsome face. His eyes held such tempestuous promise she melted inside.
    He didn’t say another word, but was instantly steering her in the other direction – to the exit. Ashanti was just in time to catch the shocked looks on the faces of her three friends before she was practically yanked out of the crowded venue by the long-striding Hawk.
     
    Chapter Three
    This might be the single most reckless thing Ashanti had ever done in her life.
    But there was something about Hawk Malone that intrigued her in ways she couldn’t even begin to fathom. She’d always thought she preferred African American men like her ex, Aaron. Gorgeous blonde men like Hawk only existed in her fantasies and she’d never dreamed she’d have one to herself for real, even for one night.
    She could still remember the incredulous look on the faces of Bertha, Janice and Rebecca as they’d watched her get herded out by Hawk. She almost couldn’t stop chuckling to herself.
    But right now, this was no laughing matter.
    He hadn’t even kissed her. Had barely touched her, and yet here she was, acting on impulse and following a stranger back to his place. He drove so fast he was barely within the speed limits, almost as if he wanted to get them there before she changed her mind. It looked like Hawk wasn’t much for small talk while he handled his powerful truck with ease through the night-swept roads.
    Ashanti didn’t allow herself think much until they were finally at their destination. He stopped in front of the house and it was only then that he turned to her. She faced him with a somewhat nervous smile and had to whip in a breath at the look in his eyes. How could eyes so blue hold such heat, such flames? The confines of the truck suddenly felt stifling and her clothes felt like they were choking her. What was it about Hawk Malone that made her want to jump straight out of the truck and into his bed?
    “You can still say no, babe,” he said softly, his hand lifting to sift through her long, wavy black hair. She closed her eyes at his touch, telling herself he was right and she could still make that call. But then she felt the tremor of arousal course through her body and she realized her treacherous hormones weren’t about