The night was unusually still.
A quiet fog clung to the garden outside Hawk’s Mansion. Everywhere around was silent, the air humming faintly with leftover mana from portals that had opened around the place. Most hunters had gone to sleep. Anyone awake either had some training to do or some other stuff of their own.
Kira stood outside the side entrance, one hand pressed against the door handle. She’d used this path many times before, it wasn’t her first time visiting Hawk this late, but tonight was different.
Tonight, she wasn’t here to blow off steam. She was here for the damn gem. She was nervous as hell, because she wasn’t sure if Hawk would be willing to help her. If he didn’t, she was as good as dead in the hands of the Master. Hawk was her last hope, she just had to satisfy him well tonight and he might actually help her.
With a soft sigh, she knocked on the door. Her knock was light, almost playful. She didn’t wait for permission. The door was unlocked, just as she expected.
Inside, Hawk stood in the lounge shirtless, rubbing a cloth over his dagger with slow precision. His muscles flexed with each motion, scarred, hard, Manly in every way. His damp hair stuck slightly to his temple.
He glanced over his shoulder. "Didn’t expect you."
Kira closed the door behind her, unhooking her cloak and letting it slide off her shoulders. She was dressed lighter than usual, tight black sleeveless top, figure-hugging combat pants, no visible weapons. Her cleavage were slightly visible in a way that instantly caught Hawk’s eye.
"You never expect me," she said softly, walking toward him with a sway in her hips that wasn’t there earlier.
He narrowed his eyes. "You don’t show up without a reason."
"I have one." She reached up, slowly untying her ponytail, letting her hair fall loosely across her shoulders. "But it can wait till we’re done."
She was in front of him now, one hand resting against his chest, fingers tracing a scar near his collarbone.
Hawk didn’t move. "Kira—"
She leaned in and kissed him, slow, confident, familiar. Her lips moved like she knew exactly what buttons to push.
He grabbed her wrist. "What are you doing?"
"Shutting you up," she whispered, her breath heavy and warm against his skin.
He hesitated for just a second, but only a second before pulling her in.
The kiss turned rough, all tension and pure lust. Her hands moved over his chest while his found her waist, gripping tight as he lifted her effortlessly, letting her legs wrap around his waist and letting her feel how hard he already was.
Hawk wasn’t a man who often let go, but with her, he didn’t resist. She straddled him, tugging at his shirt, dragging her nails across his chest as their kisses deepened, messier and hotter.
His breath hitched when her hips began to move against him, slow and teasing. Her mouth trailed down his neck, then lower. She was methodical. Calculated. She knew exactly what he liked, when to bite, when to grind, when to slow down just enough to make him curse beneath his breath.
"You’re playing dirty tonight," he muttered.
"Maybe I’m just desperate," she whispered into his ear before sinking lower.
What followed was a slow, drawn-out blur of sweat and tangled sheets. Her movements were fluid, taking control and giving it back in waves. Hawk’s hands gripped her hips hard, thrusting up to meet her, over and over, until their bodies finally collapsed in breathless satisfaction.
Later after the tension had melted from his muscles and the afterglow still shimmered between them, she curled against him, head resting on his shoulder.
"Draen...." She called him by his real name, she new how much he loved hearing his name from her.
She played with the edge of his chest scar, tracing it lightly. "That gem... the red one from that glitchy beast, What did Wraith say about it?"
He glanced down at her lazily, though his brow furrowed in surprise...was that the reason she came here tonight? "Not much yet. It’s under observation. They’re probably running a thorough scan. Why?"
Kira paused like she was hesitant. She turned slightly, propping her chin on his chest. "I have a cousin. He’s not a hunter, but he’s a researcher. A really good one. His specialty is energy remnants, especially ones from cursed or fractured origins. He’s... eccentric, but smart. He might be able to figure out something the guilds researchers can’t, he’s really good. "
Hawk blinked, thoughtful. "Why didn’t you say anything earlier? Then I wouldn’t have submitted it to wraith."
"I wasn’t sure if you’ll agree," she said honestly. "And now that it’s with Wraith... I doubt he’ll let someone like my cousin near it. But... if you got it for me... just for a day or two, I promise I’d return it intact, I’m sure ny cousin can figure out the mystery behind it."
Hawk was quiet for a moment, contemplating...he knew well that there’ll be no result if he left the gem with Crimson Dusk’s researchers, Wraith didn’t seem interested in knowing exactly what was wrong, and he was hell bent on hiding the fact that hunters have been disappearing at random in the beast realm during raids. Maybe the best choice would be to let this cousin of her’s check it out.
She touched his face gently. "Please. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. And I trust you more than anyone else in Crimson Dusk."
He exhaled slowly, rubbing his thumb over her hand. "I’ll retrieve it from the researchers, it might take a while but don’t worry, I’ll get it for you."
"Thank you," she whispered, leaning in to kiss his neck again. She would have danced for joy if she could, because at the moment, her heart could actually burst from excitement.
"But..." He cut in, and Kira instantly held her breath, waiting for what be was about to say next...
"But I’ll hand it to your cousin directly. No third party."