CHAPTER FOUR

Hawk

I settled Lily in the playroom and nodded to Ellie who was watching the kids along with another young club whore… I didn’t know her name. Didn’t really care to. All I knew was she was good with kids. I stepped out and almost ran into Booker. “What?”

“She’s not a whore.”

I scowled. “I know she’s not a whore.”

Booker crossed his arms. “Probably isn’t into your warped kind of sex either.”

“Fuck off, Booker.”

“Her brother’s FBI, her best friend’s husband is FBI.” He raised an eyebrow. “She’s protected.”

“Fuck. Off.”

Booker smirked. “Just so we’re clear.”

I scowled again. “Fuck you.”

Booker nodded. “We’re clear.”

He walked away, and I stood in the hallway for a few minutes in an effort to stamp down my irritation. The truth was, Booker had picked up on something I wasn’t ready to admit just yet. This woman… Payton… fuck, gorgeous name to go right along with the gorgeous woman… she was under my skin. Two encounters and the woman was already under my fuckin’ skin.

Fuck!

I dragged my hands through my hair and walked back toward the common room. As I passed through the kitchen, one of the newer hangers on, Laurel I believed, gave me an open smile. “Hey, Hawk.”

“Hey, babe,” I said.

“You wanna have a little fun?” she purred, laying her hand on my arm.

I forced my irritation down again. For the first time in years, I wasn’t interested in a little fun. At least, in a little fun with anyone but Payton. Fuck!

I smiled and pulled my arm away. “Not tonight, babe, yeah?”

Laurel appeared crestfallen. “You let me know if you change your mind.”

I nodded and joined the rest of the group.

* * *

Payton

I stood with Macey, Dani, and a couple of other women, and surreptitiously watched Alex out of the corner of my eye. Good lord, the man was pretty… and popular. A particularly skanky woman was draped all over him and it was all I could do not to punch her in the throat. I bit my lip. What the hell was wrong with me? I didn’t know this man. Didn’t have any rights to him.

“Pay?” Macey squeezed my arm. “You okay?”

“Hmm?”

“You okay?”

“Oh… ah, yep.” I nodded. “I’m good.”

She studied me before giving me her ‘we’ll talk later’ look. I formed what I hoped was a sincere smile and focused back on the conversation at hand. I couldn’t focus for long, as Alex walked toward us, his face impassive, but his eyes alit with something I couldn’t pinpoint. But it was sexy as hell, possessive beyond comprehension, and I felt it all the way through me.

I licked my lips and Alex gave me a slow smile.

Damn it! I must look away. I must look away.

I didn’t look away.

As he walked past us, he gently took my arm and, like a rat to the Pied Piper, I followed him. Macey watched us leave, but thankfully, she didn’t object.

Alex led me outside, his hand still grasping my arm, before pushing me up against the brick of the building and covering my mouth with his. I was so unprepared for the gentleness of the assault, I dropped my wine in an effort to grab his waist to stay upright.

As his tongue slipped inside my mouth, I sighed, leaning against his hand on my cheek. God the man could kiss!

His other hand was at my waist and holding me against him, but when it slid up to my breast, it brought me to my senses and I pushed against his chest and broke the kiss. “Alex. Don’t.”

“Fuck me,” he whispered, and dropped his forehead to mine. “I thought this would work.”

“What?”

“Kissing you.”

I frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“I know,” he said, his arm wrapping around my back. “I thought I’d get you out of my head, but I just want more.”

He kissed me again, but this time I was prepared and forced my mouth away from his. “We can’t do this.”

“Why the fuck not?” he challenged, his face inches from mine.

“Um, gee, I don’t know. Maybe because we don’t know each other.”

“Babe, you’re fuckin’ hot and I know you think I am, so what the hell’s stopping you?”

I took a deep breath and fought back a few choice swear words. “Please let me go.”

“What the fuck?”