Page 74 of Mischievous Lies

A small smile blooms on my lips, and his eyes widen in shock. “You don’t hate me?”

I place my hand on his jaw, stroking the shadow of his scruff. I probably should be mad, but I feel so much of that is wasted on Hawke. He has a good heart. And I know Hawke is doing this to protect me. He would never have told them my secret in a casual conversation, so if he felt it was necessary to share it, I have to trust his reasoning.

“I’m not mad,” I tell him, thinking about the world of difference from weeks ago and how I reacted when I overheard him speaking with Eli. Or maybe it’s because I’ve had the time to process it myself, open up to Billie, and to be free of its shameful weight. And Hawke has told me secrets that I feel far more scarring. Not that I intend to tell anyone those, but we’re in a completely different place now. “Thank you for doing all of this. I know you have to because of your work, but thank you for including me in this.”

He grabs my hand. “I’m doing this for you, lover. No one gets to touch you. They’re nothing but rats that I’ll get rid of. Even if it wasn’t their hand directly that touched you, I’ll follow this to the end so it never troubles you again.”

I smile. “You’ll chase away all of my monsters, huh?” I purr, quite enticed by Hawke’s protective nature. It’s fucking hot.He’shot.

“Your fight is my fight. Always.”

My heart skips a beat at that declaration. I don’t even know if Hawke understands what those words and the intentions behind them mean to me. I knew he was smooth, but my God. This man knows how to put a woman at ease. He waggles his brows. “Now, how about a really quick visit to the bathroom?”

I throw my head back and laugh, and as quickly as he puts me at ease, he puts me on my back to fuck me.

“Really quick?” I ask as he stands. His hand slides from my face and down my arm until he grips my hand. He pulls me off the stool and then leads me straight back to where the bathrooms are, shutting us inside one. He locks the door behind us and then immediately pulls his stiff cock out. He reaches for me, sliding his hand up my dress and straight into my panties. He pulls his hand back out, licks his fingers, then goes back again. I keep eye contact with him the whole time. He leans in and bites my lip before he drags his teeth down my neck. I tilt my head, giving him better access.

“Fuck me,” I whisper. I want him inside me, not playing with me. He nods his head and removes his fingers from between my legs. Then he lifts me effortlessly and then lowers me straight onto his cock. A gasp leaves me, and I wonder if I will ever get sick of him, sick of the way he makes me feel or the way he touches me. I doubt it. I think he will be my favorite chapter yet.

CHAPTER 45

Ivy

When you get a message from the one and only Anya Ivanov inviting you to her husband’s restaurant, you can’t turn it down. So I do what any good woman would do—I put on my best dress. It’s gray with rhinestones all over it, and the bottom hem sits just above my knees. One thing I admire about Anya is her style. She’s as fashionable as they come, and she puts her money where her mouth is with all the jewels she wears.

So even if I don’t know what type of function it is, I know to wear my best since that woman always dresses like she’s walking off a runway. Strangely, I find some nerves skittering in my lower stomach. I wonder if they know about me and Hawke yet. Gossip circulates quickly amongst our families, and I certainly know that Hawke hasn’t been able to keep his mouth shut. So perhaps displaying her son like this isn’t the best for first impressions, but also, a bet is a bet.

I lead Hawke through the room by a leash attached to a collar fastened around his throat. He proudly walks as if there isn’t anything peculiar to see.

“You didn’t even get me off, so I don’t know why I still have to wear this,” he grumbles under his breath as everyone staresat us. However, I quite enjoy the dynamic play in front of our family and friends.

“I was still an active participant. It’s not my fault you thought takingthreeViagra pills was smart,” I chastise.

The restaurant is closed to the public for tonight’s party. I don’t recognize everyone here, but many of our family and friends are in attendance.

The moment Anya spots us, she pauses her conversation, glaring at her son, and makes her way over to us. Suddenly, I’m not so sure about walking him around with a collar and leash.

I’m surprised when she places a kiss on either side of my cheek and then stares at Hawke. “What bet did you lose?” she asks him in her Russian accent. A wave of relief washes over me. Of course, she knows her son well enough.

He mumbles something, and all either of us can catch is the word “Viagra.”

She shakes her head as she looks me up and down approvingly. “I’m glad you came. I’ve recently heard you two are athing.”

I glance at Hawke, who’s wearing a shit-eating grin. His arm wraps around my waist, and he pulls me in close, proud as shit. Anya doesn’t miss a thing, and I can never read what she’s thinking. But finally, she says. “Keep him in check. He often likes to be reckless.”

“You make it sound like she’s not as reckless as me,” Hawke scoffs, and I elbow him in the ribs.

The corner of Anya’s lips curve as she notices a waitress walk by and she’s clearly furious about something the girl is doing wrong. “Enjoy your evening. Congratulate your father on his new restaurant opening.”

I always find it ironic that although these powerful men and women run deadly underground businesses, they also use legitimate businesses to mask their true fortune. Her husband,River Bently, owns most of the high-end restaurants in Manhattan.

I spot Billie, who’s sitting down, waving at me. She’s wearing a beautiful honey-colored dress, and Ford can’t peel his gaze from her as he sits beside her.

We wind our way through the crowd to get to their table, and she pulls out the chair next to her, indicating I take it. Ford is staring at his brother, but it’s Billie who speaks on both of their behalf.

“I don’t even think I want to ask what the collar and leash are about.” She takes my hand and squeezes it. “I’ll settle for, ‘I’m glad you came.’”

“That’s what she said,” Hawke jokes, and I nudge him in the ribs again. He chuckles and then notices Eli and Jewel standing across the room. “Be right back,” he says and goes into business mode, which is rather comical when he’s wearing a collar and leash. But I’ll be fucked if I’m removing them anytime soon. I quite like everyone knowing whose bitch he is.

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