Page 15 of Pretty Lethal
“Asking him to get that information. What if they knew you and Hadley were the closest thing Wilder has to family?”
“I think they just knew he’d have the highest chance of success,” Hawk counters.
“But don’t you think it’s all strange timing? As soon as Emilia comes back and Wilder is thrown off-kilter, questioning where he belongs. Here comes this family who suddenly wants to meet him? Robbie’s known him forfouryears, why hasn’t he gotten the family to meet Wilder before now?”
Hawk throws his hands up in exasperation, and when he turns to face me, I can tell he’s close to losing his shit. “I dunno, man. I don’t know what to make of any of it. All I know is that Wilder betrayed my trust for a society and a family he knows nothing about.”
Sensing there’s more, I patiently wait him out.
“The worst part is, I fucking get it. I understand him wanting that opportunity and doing whatever it takes to meet them, because if I was in his shoes, I’d probably have done the exact same thing. I can’t even be mad at him, but I am. I’m pissed and hurt and there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it since I would have done what he did.”
“If it helps, he seems pretty remorseful over the whole thing.” And surprisingly, he does. I’ve caught him looking at Hawk with sad puppy-dog eyes more than a couple of times this last week. The only thing that seems to override his guilt is Emilia. When she’s around, he’ll happily stop playing nice with Hawk in order to steal a moment of her time.
“I know.” Hawk sighs, turning back to the fire.
“It might help if the two of you talk it out instead of dancing around one another and acting like there’s nothing wrong.”
“Yeah.”
I can tell Hawk’s done with the conversation, and we lapse into silence, both of us losing ourselves to our thoughts as we stare into the flames.
“Is it done?” Emilia asks as soon as we step into the kitchen several hours later. I’m not completely surprised to find her up and awake, and I watch as Hawk crosses the room and pulls her into his arms.
“It’s done, Little Sparrow. Even if West doesn’t uncover any new information and we never find out who she actually was, it’s done. We can put all of this behind us and move on.”
I sense he’s talking about himself just as much as he’s talking about Emilia and the rest of us.
“He’s right,” I say, placing a kiss on the top of Emilia’s head before wrapping my arms around her from behind. Encased between us, Emilia keeps Hawk close as she rests her head on my chest. “Focus on teaching and your classes and having some fun for a change.”
I’ve watched Emilia come into her own since moving here, and while I know a part of that is to do with being reunited with Hawk and Wilder, I know it’s also because she loves her job. What I want is for Emilia to forget about everything else and enjoy her life. Immerse herself in her work, re-discover that girl who lost her way after Pacific Prep, and knows we will always be here for her.
I feel the vibration of Emilia’s chuckle reverberate through my chest. “That does sound nice. It will be great to teach this semester without worrying about what gifts might have been left for me.”
“Exactly. This is your chance to live a normal life. One you’ve been missing out on for the last several months.”
Another of Emilia’s chuckles resonates through me, warming me from the inside out. “I don’t know hownormalmy life will be, dating three guys. Two of whom are students at the same college I teach at.”
“Mmm, that just sounds hot to me,” Hawk purrs. “Maybe I’ll have to take an English class next semester so we can make that roleplay a reality.”
Hawk smirks devilishly down at her while Emilia gapes at him. “Hawk, do not do that! I mean it.”
“Worried you’ll spend the entire time undressing me with your eyes?”
“Yes!” Emilia retorts unabashedly, making me laugh. “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of.”
Still smirking, Hawk leans down until his breath fans over her face. “You’re only making me want to do it more.”
Emilia opens her mouth to argue, but Hawk silences her by covering her lips with his as his tongue infiltrates her mouth. My hands grip Emilia’s hips as she melts against me, losing herself in their kiss.
I’m still getting used to watching Hawk so freely give himself over to her, even with me standing here. I don’t quite understand how he can be having issues sharing her time with Wilder and me, when he has no qualms about sharing her sexually. Not that I’m complaining. The last time the three of us did this was the first time I’d ever done anything like that before, and with Hawk barking orders and watching Emilia succumb to her pleasure, it was hot as hell.
Not as confident as Hawk with this sort of thing, I settle for kissing along the column of Emilia’s throat and relishing how she squirms between us. I flick my tongue over her pulse point, feeling the rapid beat of her heart, and eliciting a groan from her when I scrape my teeth along the sensitive spot behind her ear.
By the time she breaks off their kiss, she’s breathing heavily and relying on me fully to support her.
I meet Hawk’s gaze over her head, seeing the same lust burning in his eyes that is undoubtedly reflected in mine. When he drops his gaze to her face, his eyes flare with wanton possession. “Go lie down on the table, Little Sparrow.”
Emilia hesitates for only a second, her throat working when she swallows nervously as she stares up at him, before flicking her attention to me. I can tell she wants this as badly as we do, and I give her hips an encouraging squeeze before gently nudging her toward the table.
