Savage Desires (1st in Savage Series)

Chapter Eleven

Hawke's eyes narrowed as Lily ran from the cabin and he heard her footsteps heading for the outhouse. He rose from the table, where he had been sharpening his knives and walked over to the stove. He sat the pan of eggs on the counter to keep them from burning and grabbed two plates from the counter.

He wondered if maybe he should have doctor Mason come back out and give Lily another check up. The last three days she had been getting sick every morning.

The last three days had been the most trying of Hawke's life. He had gotten to know Lily even more and everything he learned about her just made him want her more. She had an innocence and vulnerability about her that made him want to shelter and protect her but at the same time she had an inner strength and spirit that made him respect her.

She made him smile and that in itself was not easy and having her here with him made him realize just how lonely his life had been the last fourteen years alone.

The hard part of the last three days was keeping a handle on his desire for her. He had never wanted anything more than he wanted to take her into his arms and touch her, taste her, feel her soft skin against his own. Memories of her naked body haunted him and filled him with a nearly out of control desire for her. He knew that soon he would have to deal with his feelings for her but right now he wanted to give her body time to heal.

He heard her coming back toward the door as he was setting the plates of eggs and fresh baked biscuits on the table.

"Sorry I burnt the eggs! I'll make more." Lily said quickly and then she stopped short and stared when she saw the plates of food on the table.

"They did not burn." Hawke replied. He pulled back a chair and motioned for her to sit down.

"Thank you for saving breakfast." Lily said as Hawke sat down across from her.

"You act surprised." Hawke said raising a brow. Lily shrugged and picked at her eggs with her fork.

"Nathan would have let them burn…" Lily stopped talking when she felt Hawke's eyes on her. She looked over at him and he shook his head.

"I am not Nathan."

"No you are not." she replied. They ate in silence and Lily thought about the last three days. She was confused by Hawke. He was always asking her if she needed anything and doing his best to make her comfortable. He pulled out chairs for her and he held her hand gently when they took evening walks. There were times when the look in his eyes as he gazed at her caused her heart to stop beating…. She had never had a man look at her that way before and she was smart enough to know what it meant.

Hawke wanted her… He looked for any excuse for their hands to brush together or to gently touch her shoulders and hair and his touch would always linger. She wanted him just as much but she was scared. She was a married woman, even though her husband was a monster, and she was pregnant with Nathan's child. Would Hawke still look at her the same if he knew that Nathan's baby grew inside her belly?

"You seem to be getting stronger. We will go to town today and send word to you sister." Hawke said as he finished eating and pushed his plate away. Lily snapped out of her thoughts and nodded.

"That would be good. Though I'm not sure where to send her to keep her safe."

"Tell her to come here." Hawke replied as he stood and grabbed both of their plates.

"Here?" Lily asked.

"Yes. I told you I would protect her."

"Hawke, I cannot stay here with you much longer. Now that I am feeling better I must return home and Allie will not be safe at my home once Nathan returns."