Page 110 of Filthy Love

How was it a man as big as Hawk could move soundlessly on tiled floor wearing squeaky leather soled boots?

She’d barely turned, and her nose almost brushed his chest.

A startled gasp escaped.

“You have a nerve asking me that,” she fired, slamming her empty cup on the counter with force.

“I’m sensing you’re pissed about something.”

She huffed. “Give the man a gold fish.”

He rolled up a brow. “Gonna explain?”

“You ignored me for days and days and waltz in and expect me to be happy to see you?”

“Yeah, I do.” He had the damn nerve to reply. Gia’s eyes practically went nuclear in her head. “You were fine when I left you at your brother’s place.” Slipping out of his leather jacket he tossed it over a chair, followed by his cut, leaving Hawk in a long sleeve white Henley which he pushed up both forearms revealing thick wrists and vein porn for days.

She glared at him. “You don’t get how relationships work, do you? And if you dare say we’re not in a relationship to me right now I will hurt you so good, Colton.”

A palm cupped the side of her head. “Will you?”

Oh, boy. That rough note in his voice box did things to her and she felt herself wilting like day old lettuce.

Take me. Kiss me. Love me.

“I told ya I was going on a club run out of town.”

That was fair, he’d sent a text. A few measly words. And no emoji kisses.

She stuck her nose in the air, as far as his chest would allow. He smelled so good. Clean and earthy. He didn’t push her to say something back. He seemed content to stand holding the side of her face while her brain organized how she felt.

She was unadulterated emotion. Making them opposites on yet something else.

Not a lick of logic in what came out of her mouth next.

All she knew was he’d been gone for days and she’d been lost without him.

As though all the time they’d spent together in Austin meant nothing.

“You’re right by the way. Ignoring my existence has given me time to reassess.” She offered, tilting her head so his thumb stroked her cheek. “Sex between us probably wouldn’t be all that good anyway…I thought you should know I’m finally agreeing with you it’s a bad idea so let’s move on.”

Hawk dropped his hand, flashing his mean, scary scowl. Teaming it with a rumbled disagreeing sound.

Some of the tension trickled out of her limbs.

Biting the inside of her cheek, the timber of that growl reigniting her confidence that he did want her. “I bet the earth wouldn’t even move.” She gave a pithy huff. “Look on the bright side, all the club girls will be pleased to have you back now I’ve stopped chasing you. If you haven’t already…” she let the statement hang in the air because it’d been a nagging thought dragging through her mind late at night.

If he wasn’t in her bed, then was he in someone else’s?

Hawk’s eyes darkened to murderous pools. Rather than fear the strike of his anger Gia found them incredibly beautiful. Deep expressions of his wordless emotions.

“I would have used the time to write a mental grocery list or counted the marks on the ceiling. So, thank you, Colton, you saved us both from mundane fornication. Now we know we shouldn’t sleep together.”

The rumbled noise coming from Hawk’s chest was felt clear through her bones.

“Have you finished?” He grunted without anger.

The last of her anger and tension drifted away, leaving behind a soft wash of warmth every time he grunted between his clenched teeth. Getting Hawk to react was its own reward she’d found.

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