Listen.
He said that like it was easy. I wasn’t very good at doing that, and I was certain he knew it. I also knew that if he were into some kinky punishment shit in bed, that he would enjoy doing that to me. And fuck, there was that deranged part of me again, rearing its head and making me squeeze my thighs together. I didn’t even know this man, and my body was acting like it had never been touched before.
I swallowed thickly as he walked to one of the desks, lifting a file off its smooth surface.
“Sit.” His voice was a seductive purr. I could feel the heat building between my legs. My body responded to his dominance, and I couldn’t help but obey. Maverick’s strong jawline feathered as he dropped the file on the coffee table in front of me, his eyesburning into mine. “Good girl,” he purred again, sending shivers down my spine.
I tried to fight it, the feminist inside me screaming against the objectification. But as I sat there, feeling his intense gaze on me, all coherent thoughts fled my mind. I was under his spell, a willing participant in this forbidden game.
As if sensing my surrender, Maverick’s grinned wickedly. His cock was visible through the fabric of his pants, enticing and unapologetic. He stood before me, confident and powerful with his hands resting on his hips as though daring me to deny him.
This meeting was no longer just business. It was pleasure too, and oh how I craved it.
“Jesus fucking Christ, woman, stop looking at me like that or I’ll fuck your mouth before I send you back out to your friends. Understand? Contrary to what you think, Idohave a reason for bringing you in here.”
A soft whimper escaped me before I rolled my lips together and nodded. He gave me a pained look. “Yes. I understand,” I told him before facetiously adding, “sir.”Just because I could, and it would get a reaction out of him, like it did last time.
Oh God.
I came in here prepared to be an angry bitch, and that version of me was nowhere to be seen. In fact, I was pretty sure she was locked away in a cage while the submissive, horny me ran the show.
Maverick’s thumb brushed against his lower lip, a deliberate and contemplative gesture that hinted at a deeper, primal need. His eyes briefly closed, as if silently praying for patience, before he settled at the far end of the couch. Despite the short distance between us, a rich blend of cedar and cloves that encircled me like a seductive mist. This scent wasn’t just a fragrance—it was a heady combination that awakened primal instincts within me. I shifted in a desperate attempt for friction.
“Just look in the goddamn folder.Please,” he pleaded, and I was quite pleased with myself for unraveling this cold-hearted, attractive near-stranger.
I relented, grabbing the folder. I flicked it open and froze, instantly recognizing the man in the pictures inside. “Maverick, what the hell is this?”
“Victor Chavez. He’s a suspect in your dad’s case, right?” Sucking in a breath, I forced a nod. “I know him, and let’s just say he’s… crossed me recently.”
“Okay…” my voice trailed off, not knowing where he was going with this.
Maverick leaned forward until our faces were a few inches apart. And damn, I really wanted to kiss him. “Do you know why I’m telling you this?” I shook my head. “Because I see something in you, Detective. Something I possess myself. Like calls to like and all that shit.”
“And what would that be?” I breathed.
“A certain kind of darkness that allows us to exact revenge on those who’ve wronged us.”
I went still as we stared at each other, letting his words settle between us.A certain kind of darkness.The kind that turned me murderous at times, that made me feel no remorse when I killed people in the field because they deserved it. The same darkness that Dean could never love because I never loved that part of myself—and he was too good, too innocent to be into that.
This was the first time I felt… seen.
“Let’s say I know what you’re referring to,” I said, voice hoarse. “What would happen?”
He sat back, settling into his side of the couch and draping one arm over the back. In this position, he looked more intense than usual. Cool, calm. Collected. “Your profession prevents you from taking unconventional methods of interrogating suspects, plusQueens is outside your jurisdiction. My methods… well, let’s just say I go with a more off-the-book tactic.”
I stared at him expectantly, still not certain where he was going with this.
“Seeing as I have a working relationship with Chavez, I can extract information for you.”
I scowled. “And why would you do that?”
“If I found out he killed your dad and if anyone else was involved, would that make you want to take matters into your own hands?”
I lifted my chin. “Probably. I almost did the night we met.”
Maverick chuckled, his eyes flashing with amusement. Oh Jesus, how did I get here from one late-night, near-death interaction with this man? At least he wasn’t holding a gun to my head this time. “Yes, I’m aware. I’m saying I can get you answers, if you’ll take care of him for me when I’m done. I’m offering you a deal.”
My eyebrows raised. It was tempting, but… “Couldn’t you take care of him yourself?”
