Page 32 of Hawk

I see Lee coming to meet us. “Any trouble?” I ask.

“Nothing. Although, I’m pretty sure Etain and Sasha are schnockered. They’ve polished off a bottle of wine,” Lee responds with a grin.

“Hawk’s here!” Sasha announces in a loud voice. Yeah, she’s tipsy! Sasha is extremely soft-spoken, but alcohol loosens inhibitions, and she’s smiling like a fool, an adorable one, and giggling.

“Did they eat?” I ask, coming farther inside. Etain rushes toward me.

“They ate pizza,” Declan tells me.

“Hi, honey!” Etain lifts her face, puckering her lips for a kiss. I drop a hard, swift kiss on her mouth. “Sasha and I made awesome pizzas, and we left you some.”

“Thanks, Ginger.” I hook my arm around her waist, and instinctively, she melts into my side, wrapping her arms around me. I turn to the guys. “Party’s started. Go have some fun.”

“We can stay and keep watch,” Lee offers. Declan nods in agreement. Lee and Declan have been solid prospects and have gone the extra mile. As days go by, I can see they’re shaping up to be solid members. It’s not often that the guys pass up a night of women and booze to stand watch and be bored out of their minds.

“Thanks for the offer. Tonight is a celebration, so go enjoy. I’ll appreciate you keeping your phones on,” I tell them.

“For sure,” Declan replies. “Later, Etain. Thanks for the food. Later, Sasha.”

“Yeah, thanks for everything,” Lee puts in.

“Hold up, I’m leaving too,” Sasha says. She seems fine, but I don’t want her walking back to her place alone.

“Make sure Sasha gets home,” I tell Lee.

“That’s sweet, but I don’t need help,” Sasha says.

“It’ll give me peace of mind,” I tell her.

“I’m just next door.” She flings her arm in the direction of her house.

“I insist.”

“Well, okay. It’s silly, though. I’ve been looking after myself since I was five,” she says, and quickly catches herself. “Um, well, got to go.” She’s out the door so fast that Lee and Declan are caught off guard and have to run out after her to make sure she gets back to her place safely.

I put that piece of information in the back of my mind. Sasha looking after herself from an early age has me thinking there’s more to this woman than she’s letting on. I lock the front door and follow Etain into the kitchen, where she places two huge slices of pizza on a plate and hands them to me.

“It’s the best I’ve made so far,” she says proudly. “And I have beer too.”

“Thanks, babe.” She grabs a bottle out of the fridge and hands it to me. I sit on the stool and take a bite of pizza. “Really good.” Etain smiles. She leans forward with her elbows on the counter, bracing herself, resting her cheeks in her palms. She watches me as I eat, her eyes landing on my mouth. Etain probably doesn’t even realize she’s doing this, but she pulls her bottom lip between her teeth.

“You’re very handsome,” she says, her voice breathy. I swallow and give her my sexiest smile, dropping the rest of my slice on the plate.

“Come here, Ginger,” I command. Slowly, Etain moves around the counter to my side. I hold out my hand and guide her between my legs. My fingers pull a tress of her hair over the curve of her ear, then I slide my hand across her cheek, my thumb gliding over her bottom lip. I soften my tone. “How much have you had to drink, babe?”

“Not that much,” she whispers, leaning closer, our lips so close, I can feel her breath.

“The first time I make love to you, I want you to remember it. Every second of it, every touch,” I tell her, kissing the corner of her mouth.

“I’m not drunk.” Her eyes meet mine. “I’ll remember.” I kiss the other side of her mouth. Her hands land on my thighs. Etain teasingly strokes her fingers in a circular motion over my jean-clan thighs. Still, it has an effect on me, so I want to plant her ass on the counter, tear her pants down her long, luscious legs, and taste my prize.

But not on our first time. I need this to go slow. I want her to feel it all. I want it etched in her memory forever.

“I want you to go to your bedroom. Get naked, baby, and wait for me in the middle of your bed,” I say. “Will you do that for me?”

“Yes,” she murmurs. Her eyes grow wide, and she places her hand on my chest as she raises herself to her tiptoes and kisses my jaw.

The scent of vanilla and strawberries is tantalizing, and the feel of her soft, full lips against my scruffy whiskers makes it hard to let her go, but I manage, then watch as she turns and heads toward the bedroom, sparing a glance over her shoulder before disappearing down the hall. I finish my pizza and check the locks on the windows and doors.

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