Page 46 of Songbird: Black Kite
I tried to stand, feeling like I should put some distance between us, but Hawk hauled me against him, and I gasped when I felt the hardness of his erection pressed against my lower back.
“I’m gonna need you to stay right there for me, Bird.”
Chapter twenty-eight
Hawk
Fifteen Years Ago
Shewassofuckingsexy.
The intriguing mix of innocence and hard edges was mesmerizing, and after that brief taste, I wanted to consume every part of her. Having her in my arms was a revelation, like she was made to fit there, all her pieces meshing perfectly with mine. I couldn’t wait to see how well we’d fit in other ways.
I probably would have gotten her there, too, if it wasn’t for the fucking line of people now making their way onto the bus.
“Where the fuck you been, bro?” Alex called, his arm around one of the groupies from earlier. “It’s not like you to leave a party early.”
“Had something I needed to take care of,” was all I said.
“I can see that,” he replied, his voice laced with innuendo. And, yeah, he wasn’t wrong, but he wasn’t entirelyright, either. “Hello there, beautiful.”
I felt Bird stiffen in my arms at his words, the girl currently clinging to Alex throwing her a death glare as though Bird somehow threatened her claim. Stupid chick needed to realize she was already on borrowed time; Alex would be on to the next girl in the next town before this one could even wash all her makeup off.
I frowned, knowing that my time with Bird was just as limited, and for some reason, I hated that idea.
Reaching to the floor, I grabbed up my bottle of vodka, taking another healthy swallow. The idea of discarding Bird before sunrise wasn’t sitting well with me, but I didn’t know why the fuck that would be.
I always let them go. Why would this girl be any different?
Glancing at her again, seeing her sitting primly between my legs, I smiled. She was such a contradiction. Dressed the way she was, anyone would assume this was not her first rodeo. Most of the girls Charlie acquired for us for the VIP were seasoned veterans of backstage, some of them bagging rock stars like trophies, lining them up for display.
But not my Bird. She was as fresh as a spring rain, and the guys around her could smell that like blood in the water.
Eyeing up the room, I watched as the rest of the guys in our inner circle made themselves comfortable, splaying out in the living and dining areas of the bus, with other girls perched on their laps when the seats ran short.
I noticed Gavin standing awkwardly next to a chair, staring down at the girl I remembered was Bird’s friend, a puzzled look on his face. For her part, she was completely ignoring him, instead talking animatedly to the girl next to her, who was sitting on the lap of one of the roadies.
Last to enter the bus was Charlie, scowling at Victoria as she sauntered up the aisle before him. If I disliked Tori, Charlie fucking hated her.
I could feel her glaring at me, but I didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of knowing I had even noticed her; the woman thrived on that shit, and I was in no way wanting to indulge her bullshit tonight.
And to be honest, she was ruining my fuckin’ buzz.
The atmosphere of the small crowd was raucous, with drinks and joints making the rounds as everyone tried to wind down after the show. One girl, a skinny brunette in a pair of tight jeans, was proudly showing off a tattoo she’d recently gotten.
“Isn’t it just so awesome?” she said, holding up her arm and displaying the design inked on her inner wrist. “I got it in honor of my favorite band,Black Kite.”
Bird snorted lightly, and when I caught a glimpse of the tattoo, I could see why, adding my louder laughter to the mix.
“What’s your problem?” the brunette asked snottily, her glare aimed at Bird.
“Nothing,” she replied, shaking her head. “It’s just that you do know that a black kite is...a bird, right? Like, it’s a species of hawk.”
The woman gaped at her, her mouth and eyes going wide as her gaze darted back and forth between Bird and her brand-new tattoo.
A tattoo of an actual kite. A black diamond shape with the string and tail with little bows and everything.
I could see the moment it clicked for her, when she realized the connection. That my name was Hawk, and a black kite was a hawk, and her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink.
