Page 16 of Hawk

A plush chaise, strategically placed mirrors, a table covered with props, and…shit.

My eyes landed on the fancy bed on the far wall that I’d avoided thinking about when I noticed it yesterday.

I couldn’t peel my gaze away from it today. Soft sheets were tangled up on the mattress, perfectly messy in a way that suggested they had been staged. Soft lighting bathed the bed in a hazy warmth that heated my blood.

And there she was, barefoot, her hair piled on top of her head and her clothes hugging every delicious curve. She was reaching up to fix a bulb, and her shirt lifted, exposing a smooth strip of skin above the waistband of her jeans.

My cock was instantly hard again, although it had never fully deflated, knowing her panties were in my pocket. The earlier temptations came roaring back with a vengeance, and I lowered the box in my arms to cover the enormous bulge in my leather pants.

“Fucking hell,” I whispered before I could stop myself.

Gemma turned when she heard me, a question in her eyes.

But I couldn't speak. My gaze was drawn to the bed again, as if it had a magnetic pull and my jaw clenched.

“You okay?” she asked softly.

My eyes flicked to hers. She was watching me carefully, cheeks pink and her lips slightly parted.

All I could do was nod, my mouth too dry to speak.

“It’s a prop,” she said, brushing her ponytail over her shoulder. “The bed, I mean. For shoots.”

I still didn’t answer. Just nodded again. Because I couldn’t trust myself to speak. Not without sounding like a fucking animal.

Then my phone buzzed again, breaking the spell so I didn’t do anything stupid like rip her clothes off and shove my face between her legs.

I glanced at the screen.

Deviant

Need to talk to her. Today.

I was frustrated at the reminder of the news I had to break to Gemma, but I still replied.

Me

Okay.

Then I slid my phone back into place. Wishing like hell that I didn’t have to wipe away her smile, I scrubbed my hands over my face. Then I dropped them to my sides and got it over with. “Ellen’s missing,” I said quietly.

Gemma’s entire body stilled. “What?”

“She hasn’t been seen in two days, and her phone’s off. Deviant’s trying to find a digital trail but wants to meet with you. See if you can remember anything that might help.”

Her eyes filled with horror, and her hands pressed to her stomach like she needed to physically hold herself together. “Oh no. No, no. She’s so sweet. And kind. Who would…why?”

“I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” I stepped forward to pull her into my embrace. She came willingly, burying her face against my chest like it was her safest place.

And itwas.

There was nowhere that Gemma belonged more than in my arms. I held her tighter than I meant to. But she didn’t protest or try to break away. My hands splayed across her lower back, fingertips brushing the top of her jeans.

She felt so fuckingright. Fitting perfectly against me. Another confirmation that she was made to be mine.

My woman. Old Lady. Wife.

I wanted to hold her like this every fucking day for the rest of my life.

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