He was every woman’s wet dream.
“Feel better?” he asked with a knowing smirk.
Leaning back against the wall, I said, “Much. You?”
“Yes. I’ve pretty much only thought of you the last three weeks,” he admitted, his smile turning sheepish as he tucked himself back into his pants.
My face warmed. “I tried not to think of you, but truthfully, I failed every day.” He opened his mouth to respond but I added, “Your hair looks really good this way.”
That made him still. He tugged a hand through his hair, almost self-consciously, before saying, “Really? I have anappointment to get it trimmed in a few days. It’s a little too long.”
I twisted my lips. “I disagree. Don’t get me wrong, you’re hot either way, but this? I don’t know, babe, but I think I like it better?”
The blue in his eyes was a little brighter as he tilted his head to the side. “Okay. I’ll wait a little longer, then maintain this length?”
He was asking me what I wanted. Like my opinion mattered.Be still, my heart.
I stepped forward and pressed a soft kiss to the side of his throat. “Yeah. Do that.” This conversation was so…normal,despite the sex we’d just had, despite us not being in a relationship of any kind.
Or maybe we would be in a relationship after this.
I had no idea what was in store.
“Why do you sound so surprised?” I wondered as I meandered into the kitchen to grab a glass of water.
He chuckled. “I don’t normally get complimented, I guess.”
“You don’t? Mav, you’re the most attractive person I’ve ever seen. Women probably throw themselves at you.” I opened his refrigerator to find it full of healthy foods—no surprise, I mean, the man was built like a freaking god—and spotted a glass container filled with grapes and another filled with strawberries. I pulled both out and set them on the counter, the quiet clink breaking the silence. As I reached for the knife, I caught the slow drag of his fingers along the marble countertop—unhurried, thoughtful. When I looked up, he was leaning against the island, watching me. Or rather, watching my hands, like he was trying to decipher something in the way I moved.
“Normally, sure, but I haven’t really paid much attention to them the last few months. And they don’t throw compliments around.”
“Hmmm,” I responded thoughtfully and busied myself with slicing the fruit and filling our glasses with water, all while ignoring the feeling of his cum dripping down my thighs. “You mean they don’t scream,oh my God, Maverick, you have such a big dick, please don’t stop?” I fake moaned at the end to really sell the joke, and he laughed freely and shook his head.
I loved being able to tear his guarded walls down.
“Just you, baby.”
Jesus, don’t say that to me unless you want me to fall for you.The thought had my heart pounding in my chest.Nope, not thinking about that.
“Well, Mav, I think that’s a shame, because I have no problem complimenting you. Like how I think you’re incredibly handsome andfantasticat fucking.”
He chuckled again, and there was something about making this man, full of darkness and secrets I couldn’t begin to comprehend, lighten up and laugh that made me want to know everything about him. Made my heart do a stupid little pitter-patter in my chest.
“Now relax and eat something,” I said as I patted his shoulder.
But the look on his face as I placed the fruit and water in front of two bar stools, as I unbuttoned another button on his shirt and guided him to sit, I realized that this man didn’t seem to have anyone in his life offeringhimpraise of any kind. Everyone needs a little praise every once and a while. Whether or not he’d ever admit it, it was clear that he craved it as much as I did.
22
Maverick
Sophie held a strawberry slice up, looking at me expectantly. There was an excited gleam in her dark brown eyes that captivated me. I leaned forward and took the fruit with my teeth, sucking on her small fingers as I pulled back. She laughed—light, unguarded, as though she belonged here. Like this wasn’t the first time she’d been in my kitchen, teasing me with fresh fruit and that damn effortless charm. And fuck, that did something to me. Not just the moment, but the idea of it happening again. Of her in my space, slipping into my life like she’d always been meant to.
Everything she’d done so far had taken my fucking breath away.
Starting with her decision to join me tonight, then taking her punishments in stride. Even her attitude about it and letting me fuck her in my entryway—a place I’d never see the same way again—all the way to sitting me down to eat something.
Even as she took a moment to compliment me over something trivial; I wasn’t used to this kind of treatment, or being taken care of. Not from anyone.
