Chapter 26 – Vanessa
Chapter Twenty-Six
Vanessa
Hawk climbs onto the bed, and the mattress shakes. It’s a little unreal how big he is, but I love it. He makes me feel dainty, which isn’t easily accomplished. He points a remote at the footboard of the bed, and a damn television panel pops up.
“No way,” I say, blinking. “Why didn’t you teach me how to use that?”
He chuckles, stretching out his arm. “I forgot about it. Sorry. I’m an awful tour guide.”
I scoot over and get situated. He’s thick, meaning I have to stretch to easily rest my cheek on top of him, but turning more into him makes it work, plus I kinda hold myself up with my arm under my side.
I’d rather snuggle with him than a pillow, even if this is a bit more work. If I were feeling extra cheeky, I’d roll right on top of him.
“What are we going to watch?” I ask, checking out the TV.
My arm and my boob make it impossible to see the bottom half of the screen, but I’m fine with that. What I really want is the chance to soak up his campfire scent and get to know him.
“I’m not picky. I like everything. How about you?” he asks. “Have you got a preference?”
“No history or documentaries, but I’m down for anything else,” I tell him, fighting the urge to ask how he feels about chick-flicks. Laughing, I blurt out the question.
“You mean rom-coms?” he asks. “I’ll watch whatever makes you happy.”
My heart thunders.
Hawk is going to make a great husband someday. I just need to figure out how to make him want to be with me.
I enjoy an incredible nap where I miss ninety percent of the romantic comedy that I picked. He’s a good sport about it, even though there’s definitely a puddle of drool on his shirt.
“I’m hungry. You up for some lunch?” he asks, running his hand over my hip.
I’d kind of like to lounge in bed all day, but omegas are meant to stockpile calories in the days and weeks before a heat.
My stomach is feeling better, so I nod. “Yeah, I could eat.”
Hawk climbs off the bed and holds his arms out.
I blink, trying to figure out what’s happening.
“Want me to carry you?” he asks. “You just woke up.”
I toss back the blanket, crawling to the edge embarrassingly fast.
Hawk scoops me up, chuckling. “You’re cute as hell.”
I wrap my legs around his back, nuzzling my face to his chest. He’s so warm, and he smells delicious. It was also really nice of him to keep me company so I wouldn’t stress about why Moretti disappeared for an entire day without a word.
That asshole really should have woken me up to say goodbye, and I still have no idea if Magnum is mad at me about not sleeping with him last night. I can’t fix any of that right now, so I focus on enjoying the moment with Hawk.
When we make it downstairs, he doesn’t head directly into the kitchen. We end up in the living room, and he puts me down on the couch.
“Anything we bring in with us isn’t searched, but when we get things shipped in or delivered by courier, the gate guards search and scan the packages before bringing them up to the house.
” Hawk grabs several open boxes off the coffee table and comes to take a seat next to me.
“It’s not much, but I got you a few things. ”
I pull my legs up, sitting cross-legged, facing him. “You got me goodies?” My hands fly together, and I excitedly clap as I rock in my seat.
He chuckles. “It’s not exactly comparable to the gifts Moretti likes to give, but yeah. I got you a few things.” He offers me the first box, and it’s conveniently already cut open.
I pop the sides, digging in with no shame.
Omegas are coded to love sweets and gifts.
It’s a universal fact.
Pulling the material out of the box, I give it a shake. It’s a hoodie, but super long—like it’ll go all the way down to my feet. It’s black and the outer material is soft like a hoodie while the inside is fuzzy.
“I love it,” I say, dropping it onto the couch next to me. “Thank you. It’ll be perfect for days I’m lounging around in the nest.”
“There’s more.” He holds out another large box.
I reach inside and pull out a package. This one is easy to tell what’s inside. It’s a heating pad. The next item in the box is a heated blanket, and my eyes get misty.
“Did you buy all of this specifically because I was cold?”
“I’ve been meaning to get you a few things.” He shrugs. “And I wanted your courting gifts to be meaningful or at the very least something useful.” It’s hard to tell with the full beard, but the apples of his cheeks turn red.
“D-Did you say you want to court me?” I choke out.
His head bobs. “If you’re open to that…”
I’m about as graceful as a wallowing walrus as I struggle to climb over the boxes and onto Hawk’s lap, but the smile that crosses his face takes away any self-conscious thoughts.
His hands land under my thighs as I kneel over him, cradling his jaw in my hands. His beard is wicked fluffy—soft and crunchy all at once.
Hawk is handsome.
Maybe not in the traditional way, like Magnum or Moretti, but I’m just as attracted to Hawk as I am to either of them. He’s steady and comforting, and I love the way he makes me feel safe. There’s something about him that sets me at ease in a way I haven’t felt with another human being.
“You’re the first person to ever ask me that,” I say, running my fingers through his beard. “And yes, I want that so much.”
I crash my lips to his, marveling at how his beard feels brushing my face.
My hands fall to his shoulders, and he weaves his fingers into my hair. His lips are plush and soft against mine.
He’s commanding without being controlling, but that sums up Hawk in general. He’s not bossy like Moretti, and he still manages to signal to my instincts that I can give in and enjoy the experience because he’s got everything under control.
He grips my ass and hair, holding me in place as he devours my mouth. His smoky campfire scent is everywhere, and each gasping breath makes me needier.
I’m just about to beg him to stretch me out over the couch when he pulls back, nuzzling his nose to mine.
“All right, sweetheart. Let’s get you some lunch.” He stands, bringing me with him before I can offer alternate arrangements.
I could worry I did something wrong, but I don’t.
This is Hawk.
He’s always serious and focused.
I don’t think he’ll be able to relax until he knows he’s fed me.
Hawk feeds me lunch, and we lounge around until dinnertime.
I’m quite annoyed when Moretti joins us, but Magnum is nowhere to be seen.
My husband tries to play it off like nothing is out of the ordinary. As if missing an entire human isn’t worthy of at least a few quick words to set my mind at ease.
He rambles on about making arrangements for our claiming ceremony. The top of my head might explode before he gets the hint to shut up.
I’ll do the damn ceremony.
I couldn’t care less about that.
I’ve known it was coming in some form since I was sixteen or seventeen. I didn’t expect it would be with him, but if all goes according to plan, it’s less than an hour to ensure none of the other families can ever hurt me.
It’s a no-brainer.
Moretti doesn’t shut up, and eventually, I get mad enough to interrupt him.
“Where is Magnum?” I ask, my eyes narrowing. “He was gone before I woke up, and I haven’t heard from him all day. Tonight is supposed to be my night with him, and he’s nowhere to be seen.”
I swear to God, if he tries to tell me Magnum ran off and abandoned me, I will stab him with my butter knife.
And probably my fork.
It’ll be a double utensil attack.
“Concerned your boyfriend abandoned you, darling?” Moretti asks, his stupid blue eyes sparkling.
He’s a sadist.
He enjoys tormenting people.
“More like afraid you went back on your word and did something to him,” I snap, pointing at him with my knife. “Need I remind you, you assured me he would be safe as long as I was amenable.”
“Which definition are we going with for that word? I don’t wish to control you—”
“I swear to fuck, Moretti. I’m about to stab you with my fork,” I say, cutting him off.
“Magnum is handling a few things for me. He will be home at some point tonight. Although, I can’t give you an exact estimate,” my husband says coolly. “He’s surveilling Grigoryan’s office. If he finds a window of time when he can safely enter, he’s supposed to take it.”
My heart thumps, and my stomach wobbles. “Does he have backup?”
He’s talented at breaking and entering, but that still makes me nervous.
Security systems are an entirely different monster when compared to sneaking around and avoiding guards.
Although, I’m sure, much like my family home, this house also has a security system.
We rarely set ours simply because my father’s men were in and out all hours of the day.
“He assured me that he prefers to work alone, but there is a team of two watching the other side of the building,” Moretti says. “They’re in communication. If anything goes wrong, he’ll have assistance less than three minutes away.”
“And what if he can’t get into the building tonight?” I ask.
“Then he’ll try again tomorrow.” He shrugs. “Everyone around here is required to earn their keep, but I don’t purposely risk the lives of anyone who works for me.”
“He works for me. He’s supposed to be my bodyguard,” I say, wishing I had asked about Magnum hours ago.
Would Hawk have told me?
Ehh, probably not.
“He can transition to that when we have Grigoryan under control,” Moretti offers. “Now, relax and eat with me. I have to head out after dinner, and I want to enjoy our time together.”
“Where are you going?” I ask before I can stop myself.
“I have a meeting at one of my clubs that I can’t get out of,” he says, cutting a bite of the pork chop on his plate.
If he were going back to Luminescence, wouldn’t he just refer to it as the club?
“Which club?” I ask, not caring if I sound like a naggy wife.
He’s being weird.
I also think it’s good to set expectations from the beginning.
“Luxe,” he says simply.
Hawk snorts, reminding me that he’s here. That man is ninja-level quiet sometimes.
Ahh, so my husband has an after-dinner meeting at one of his strip clubs.
“Perfect,” I purr, setting down my cutlery and pushing back my chair. “I’ve been trapped inside all day, and I’m dying for some fresh air.”