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26
Lila
IshovedatHawk’shard chest, but he didn’t move an inch. I stupidly looked around the ballroom as if someone could help me.
“You’re so adorable when you try to resist me.” Hawk shifted his mask to reveal his lips. Taking one of my hands in his, he brought it to his lips and kissed the back of my hand. “I will…”
He kissed my knuckles. “Kiss every…”
He turned my hand over and kissed the inside of my wrist. “Part of…”
His lips trailed up over my palm. “Your body.” He took my thumb into his mouth, gave it a quick suck, then released it with a pop.
I was already on fire. I wanted to jump on and ride him until sunrise. But I took a step back. “No.” It took every ounce of my willpower to walk away.
But it wouldn’t be that easy. I knew…felt Hawk following me.
I scanned the room for Simone and spotted her chatting with some tall guy in a red bowtie. I’d tell her I was leaving and head for the exit. When I approached them, the guy with Simone looked past me and said, “Hawk! Buddy, come and meet the lovely Simone.”
“Oh,” Simone said. “We already know each other.”
Red-bowtie guy frowned. “You do?” He was really good-looking but too perfect for my taste. And well built, but not as muscly as Hawk. The man oozed charisma. And money. He flashed a dazzling smile at Simone. “How do you know Hawk?”
She shrugged. “We volunteer at the same shelter.”
“Volunteer? Shelter? Hawk? Are you sure?”
Hawk marched up to the guy and made a fist, pretending to throw a punch. The other guy flinched and laughed merrily. “I can’t wait to tell Stephen that the fierce Hawk cuddles up with kittens in his spare time.”
Hawk’s gaze darted to me at the mention of kittens. “Shut up, John.”
John followed Hawk’s gaze and smirked. “Ahhh, so this is why you planned this entire event.”
What? I must have heard it wrong because that didn’t make any sense. Hawk never said anything. Plus, he received an invitation at the shelter. He was a guest, like Simone and me.
“Shut the fuck up, John,” Hawk said through gritted teeth.
John put his hand out to me. “Hi, I’m John Whitby. Officially speaking, I’m the host extraordinaire of this soiree. Are you a volunteer at the shelter too?”
Now this made more sense. I shook his hand. “Yes, I am. My name’s Lila. Thank you so much for this fundraiser. The money is going to a really good cause. The animals—”
“Yeah, yeah, I don’t care about that. I just love to throw a party people will talk about for months. Hawk here is the one who decides who the money goes to. He did, after all, pay for the whole shebang. It was his idea, but he has no clue how to throw a party. So, of course, I stepped in so he could stay in the shadows.” He winked at me. “And now I know why.”
My eyes probably bulged out.
Hawk kicked John in the shin. John hopped on one foot while clutching his injured leg. “Ow! Seriously? I’m helping you out, man. What is it with you and Stephen always being so fucking grumpy? Best way to relieve all that pent-up frustration is with a woman to—”
“Enough!” Hawk said in a low threatening voice.
John turned to Simone. “Would you not agree that sex is the best form of stress relief?”
Simone’s gaze flitted over John’s body in a way that told everyone watching that she enjoyed what she was looking at. “I concur.”
“You see, Hawk,” John said, “it’s the universal truth.”
Hawk wrapped his arm around my waist. “We’re leaving.”
John’s face lit up. “Alright, buddy, way to go!”
