Page 16 of Find Me
Hawke chuckled and gestured out the hallway. “I left you something to wear in Rhys’s office. To go any further, you’ll need to change.”
She glanced down at her dress. “I thought you said this was suitable attire?”
“It is, for the bar,” he explained. “Not for the show.” He hesitated, cocking his head. “It’s up to you. Stay or go. But if you want to see more of Julia, I suggest you get changed.”
Penny shoved away her thoughts. I mean, how hard could it be to watch the show? And she did want to see how Julia interacted with the people there.
“Okay, I’ll get changed,” she told him.
Without putting more thought into it, she left Hawke in the bar area and headed for Rhys’s office. When she shut the door, she turned to find high heels, a black metal mask and a black lace something resting on the chair.
In quick work, she shed her dress and panties, and slid into the lingerie and heels. She stared down at herself, realizing Hawke had picked the best option. The sheer tulle teddy was sexy with its plunging halter neckline and satin-tie ribbon around her waist, showing ample cleavage, but with the cheeky bottom, she felt covered, less exposed.
Before she lost her confidence, and once she tied on the mask, she headed back out of Rhys’s office and then stopped dead.
Hawke leaned a shoulder against the wall, waiting for her, one hand in his pocket. He wore black slacks and nothing else, and his body was not a body, it was a damn piece of art. He was built to perfection. He wasn’t too big to be showy, but his muscles were toned and defined. Every line of his body spoke of his training, his dedication to his job, and his work ethic.
Fucking hell.
But then she wasn’t looking at his body, she was looking at his face covered in a dark gray mask, and as he pushed off the wall, his jaw muscles flexed. Once. Then again.
He closed the distance and offered his hand. When she stared at it, he smiled, “Let’s make sure everyone knows you’re not an option for tonight.”
She knew she liked the sound of that too much, but the warning alarm that she should not get closer to him began to quiet.
He chuckled at how quickly she grasped his hand, then lead her back into the bar and then through the double doors at the end of the room, revealing a circular room, which was now filled with people. All of the women wore lingerie and a mask, and men were wearing the same attire as Hawke, no shirt, dress slacks and a mask.
At the far end of the slightly raised stage, a muscular man stood against the stone wall, naked, wearing a silver mask. His head was tipped back, his lips parted, and he was stroking his cock.
The dimly lit room pulsed with the rhythm of the sensual music, each beat echoing through Penny’s heated veins as her gaze remained fixed on the erotic display. She could feel Hawke’s eyes on her, searing into her like a brand, their unspoken desires entwining in the charged air between them.
“Jesus,” she breathed, her voice barely audible over the sounds of pleasure filling the space.
“Finally, a break in that ironclad resolve,” Hawke murmured, his voice husky and low, betraying his own arousal. He leaned closer to her, his breath warm against her ear, sending shivers down her spine. “I was beginning to think it was impenetrable.”
Penny tore her eyes away from the scene, meeting Hawke’s intense gaze. The desire that smoldered within them threatened to ignite her very soul, and yet she fought against it, struggling to maintain her professionalism in the face of such raw temptation.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she replied, her voice wavering slightly as she tried to regain her composure. “We’re here to gather information, that’s all.” Her eyes flicked back to the stage.
Hawke’s hand brushed against hers, a seemingly accidental touch that sent an electric jolt through her body. His fingers lingered, grazing her knuckles as their eyes locked once more.
“We can leave if you want,” he said quietly. “Or do you want to stay?”
She could feel the heat of his body, the magnetic pull drawing her closer to him.
Penny swallowed hard, as she attempted to tear her thoughts away from the overwhelming desire that threatened to consume her. Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts. The stolen glances and subtle touches between her and Hawke only served to stoke the fire burning within her, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to feel his strong arms wrapped around her.
But no—she couldn’t afford to let her guard down, not when she had a job to do, and not when Hawke wanted more than a wild night. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t enjoy the moment. “I’ll stay.”
* * *
Hawke slidhis hands into his pockets, in order to not touch Penny next to him. He scanned the shadowed faces around him, each one obscured by a mask that allowed them to indulge in watching their desires without revealing their true selves. The scent of musk and expensive perfume hung heavy, clinging to the sensual lingerie on every feminine body there.
He glanced back at Penny. Her warm eyes were shining with a wild intensity, even in the low light. He swallowed deeply, controlling the need coursing through him. Little did he know how much more challenging it would be seeing Penny in this atmosphere.
Lust oozed from her, and he stepped closer, inhaling it.
The spotlight shifted, casting a golden glow on the stage as Julia emerged from the darkness. Her long, curly brown hair cascaded down her back, framing her voluptuous form in a way that captivated everyone’s attention. She was a vision of sensuality and confidence as she moved with fluid grace, her hips swaying to the rhythm of the music. The seductive gaze in her eyes held the audience captive, whispering promises of pleasures beyond their wildest dreams.
