Page 18 of Hawke

“I tell her all the time she should be a model. Oddly enough, she told me her mother used to be one.” Ryder stopped there and I couldn’t disagree even though I shot my friend a look in an attempt to. “Is she not beautiful?”

This time, I did growl out in warning. Charlotte Maxwell was off-limits in more ways than one. She was not only off-limits to touch, but also to talk about with anyone.

“Of course she is. Miss Maxwell is also a pain in the ass, and I’m looking forward to this party so I can be finished with her services completely. I can’t wait for the day to arrive when I won’t have to lay eyes on her ever again.” Ryder didn’t seem to buy what I was selling, but I gave no fucks about that. Looking back at the system, I rose from my seat. “So what else does this expensive-ass system do?”

Thankfully, the next hour was spent looking over the various features. By the time Ryder was done with the entire demonstration, Charlotte had gone and most of the workers had too. The only one still there was Vivian, and remembering the final walkthroughs, I scowled, but showed my friend out of the office while I went to meet the designer to get this last task finished.

12 – CHARLOTTE

Istood in front of my mirror with nothing more than a towel wrapped around my body. Behind me on the bed, three dresses, all in different shades, lay. I hadn’t been able to decide which one to go with for the grand opening of Syn. The dresses were exactly the same, the only differences being that one was red, one was white, and the other was black.

My jeweled masquerade mask lay atop my pillows. It was red, black, and white so that it would match either of the dresses. I hated feeling so indecisive, but my attempts to get Hawke’s hands on me again had all but failed over the last several weeks. Since this might be the last opportunity I had, I knew I needed to make it count. Tonight, I would find him, and I would make sure I was so alluring he wouldn’t be able to resist me.

I smiled at the imagined reaction of his. He would be so awe-struck with my appearance that I’d have him on his knees begging for what he kept tossing aside. I knew it would probably be the exact opposite considering my recent luck. He’d likely see me, then throw me out one more final time for shits and giggles. A frown now marred my face. I had to stop thinking about all the what-ifs or else I’d drive myself crazy.

“Tonight’s got to be perfect,” I reminded myself.

After the conclusion of the party, there’d be no reason to hang around Syn, especially since I hadn’t even applied for a membership yet. That’d simply been an oversight on my part, and I’d rectify it as soon as I could. This evening, there was a far more important task at hand.

The doorbell chimed and I knew exactly who it was. I had asked Emery to stop by so we could get ready together. I glanced at the three selections I had, nervously biting my bottom lip.

Yeah, Em’ll be able to help me.

The door chimed again, so I hurried out of my bedroom. As expected, my best friend was on the other side of the door with her arms full of bags. I shook my head, helped Emery inside, then gave her a tight squeeze.

“It looks like you’ve brought the entire store with you, Em.”

My dark-haired friend grinned. “This is the grand opening of a sex club, and a masquerade ball, at that. I’ve brought my own dress and stuff over, but also a few selections for you.”

I should’ve known Emery would think of everything. While she often laughed at my conservative wardrobe, I had truly taken this event and what I hoped would happen into account when I had been dress shopping. Grinning at my friend, I was sure that I might actually surprise her with the ones I had chosen. Excited to show her them, I tugged at her hand, pulling her toward the bedroom. Once inside, I made a sweeping motion toward the bed.

“Ta-da!”

Emery paled before frowning. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Char.”

I looked stricken. Narrowing my eyes, I picked up the red one I’d been favoring. “What’s wrong with this?”

The deadpan expression I received in response might’ve been comical if I hadn’t been so worried about it. I knew this was my final chance to make any impression on Hawke. Knowing how critical this night was for us both, I had truly put a lot of effort into my selections. Now, my friend’s voice told me exactly how she felt about them. Ignoring the tears threatening to spill from my eyes, I tried to remain positive. Whether it was one of these dresses, or something Em brought over, I would not fail this time. Nathaniel “Hawke” Hawkins would finally see me tonight.

If I couldn’t manage to get his attention tonight, I stood no chance of seeing how much further things could go between us. I shouldn’t have even wanted his attention. In fact, I should’ve declined helping him at all, but I hadn’t.

Every single time he touched me, something stirred within me even though I had no idea what it was. I had read all the hottest books about BDSM, and even watched a few movies. Hawke didn’t act like the romantic heroes in them. Still, I wanted him with every fiber of my being.

“You’re never going to attract him, or anyone else in one of these, Char,” my friend interjected. “This is a masquerade ball, which means you cover your face, not your entire body.”

Emery then mumbled a few things under her breath, which had me shaking my head. “I don’t think they’re that terrible, but desperate times call for desperate measures. What have you brought that’s any better?”

Emery smirked before reaching for the first bag. “For one, something that’ll highlight those killer legs of yours. You’re going to work them so well, he’ll be able to picture nothing but them wrapped around his neck.”

I sighed. Memories of that one night came flooding back. I had been in that very pose, and since our reunion, I constantly wondered what would have happened if I had kept my big mouth shut that night. I had known to do so, but when his mouth was on me like it had been, all I could do was react. Even now, I could feel his head moving between my legs when I had been bound to his St. Andrew’s cross.

I’d been at the mercy of a man I’d never met in a place so unfamiliar to me. I had frequented that club for an entire two weeks, but I’d been there, mainly experimenting with different toys and partners. There’d been no intercourse with any of them, but I knew by the end of that particular night that I wouldn’t be able to say the same again.

Or so I thought.

Everyone there had heard the whispers of a Dominant so elusive that he had never been called by name, and only discussed via hushed whispers. Everyone wanted a chance with him, and I had been no different. As others talked, I would close my eyes and picture this faceless, nameless beast of a man, even fantasizing about him during my spankings with others.

Women naturally talked, and the more they did, the less I started to believe in his existence. Although I had searched the club far and wide, I hadn’t been able to find anyone who had ever seen him in the flesh. I started to wonder if he hadn’t just been a myth. By the time I had convinced myself of that, fate stepped in. Everything had happened in a blur and to this day, I couldn’t even remember how I had managed to get invited to his lair.

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