Page 179 of Filthy Love

Gia sighed and burrowed into him. “I’ll cook anytime you want me to, baby.”

“Sleep, little bit.”

“You’ve got me wrapped up like a burrito, I’m never going to be able to sleep like this.”

She did, minutes after he slid back into her bed and fixed himself to her spine. Gia slept soundly clasping his hand under her breast, short, even breaths that he counted to help him relax.

Hope began in the dark holding his tiny woman close to his beating heart. Hope that his darkness didn’t extinguish her beautiful light. Because as Hawk understood now, he was as intricately fucking attached to Gia Marinos as he’d ever been, and he’d rip out his guts before he let her go free.

His past would knock again. That much he knew.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

“A brand-new page has to start somewhere.” - Gia

Gia wasn’t surprised to see Hawk in the kitchen making breakfast. Tall and attractive in a black pair of adidas track pants and white sabbath T-shirt with the sleeves ripped off to showcase the epic muscled guns, he swerved his blond head when she stumbled in, rubbing her eyes sleepily. Monday had been his confession and today was Saturday and though he was standing in that same spot every morning making her coffee and food she’d felt the distance waging between them.

His voice continued to drip with potent hunger but the reserve he’d put between them this week was unmistakable and deliberate because according to her brother it was his VP who had volunteered to ride through to Denver on an overnight trip several days ago. Why would he do that if not to avoid her?

“Morning, little bit. Coffee’s on the way.”

He didn’t come to kiss her. Gia scowled, shuffled her sock feet to the table, scooping up Khaleesi, letting the pup snuggle into her chest.

He looked good enough to eat, her mouth watered watching his back tighten under the shirt as he reached up to grab her favorite mug.

“I took Killer out for her run. She’s almost as bad at exercising as you are. She cried to be carried after she’d taken a piss.” Despite her sour mood Gia smiled and gave her fur-baby an extra ear scratch which Khaleesi Stormborn loved.

Hawk cooking food. Again. Taking care of the dog. Again. Her heart pinged for the domesticity of their scene.

“How is it you know how to cook?” She asked as she made a plate of bacon fried potatoes and sage sausage with peppers disappear in big bites.

“I worked in a couple of diners growing up.”

She hmmed but otherwise stayed quiet.

She’d given him space. Plenty of it. But too much was going to drive him away. Which was stupid since he was right there in her kitchen. Emotional distance seemed worse.

When they parted for the day it was without a kiss.

“Hey, dad. How are—”

“You’re dating the VP?” Ajax’s tone didn’t hide how irritated her father was as she connected his call even before she’d walked into her office building.

“I’m good, thanks for asking. How’s mom?”

“Gia!”

She sighed and tossed her bag on to the passenger seat. She could be a while. “Yeah, I’m dating Hawk. And if you’d waited until you visited with mom I would have told you myself instead of you listening to biker gossip.”

She heard him make a disgruntled noise. “After everything I said!”

“What? You mean you warned me to stay away from him? I can date who I want to, dad, please respect that. Hawk is a great man. One I’m lucky to have in my life.”

“You got no idea what he is, Gia. How the fuck is your brother allowing this?”

Okay. So, that pissed her off.

“Ehhh… maybe because as I told Ambrosio I can make my own decisions. And what do you mean I have no idea what Hawk is?”

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