Chapter 21
DOVE
“Iwish you’d told me you were bringing Maverick!” Boo sits beside me in the chair, her feet propped on a small stool as a lady paints her toenails. “I could’ve asked Ricky to make him one of his groomsmen.”
“You could not!” I laugh, pushing her arm. “Ricky doesn’t even know Mav. It would’ve been too weird.”
“Besides, now she doesn’t have to lose him to all the bachelor activities,” Darcy teases from Boo’s other side, where she’s having her nails dipped in polish.
My mani-pedi is all done, and I’m sitting in cutoffs and a tank top waiting for my toenails to dry under a small fan. “What are they doing?”
“Sitting out in the woods, drinking beer, and playing Xbox?” Boo laughs. “Ricky keeps texting asking why they can’t come with us to karaoke tonight.”
“Doesn’t he know it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?” Darcy argues.
“That man is not superstitious.” My friend shakes her head. “What about Maverick? Is he superstitious, Dove?”
“Let’s see…” I hold out my hand, counting on my fingers. “He won’t cut his hair until they win the Cup… Before every game he eats exactly five red M&Ms and drinks a red Mountain Dew.”
“Why so much red?” Boo asks.
“It was when he scored his first hat trick in high school,” Gina explains from where she’s soaking her feet, waiting for her turn. “He had done all that before the game, and now he has to do it before every game.”
“Now I see why your toes are painted red,” Darcy says, inspecting her nails and arching a brow at me.
“It’s a neutral color,” I argue, but she got me.
“Neutral is not how I’d describe it.” She does a little shiver. “Put those toes to work.”
“I don’t even know what that means!” I laugh, shaking my head.
She stretches in her chair, purring like a cat. “Use your imagination.”
“Naughty!” Boo laughs.
“I’m not sure I want to hear about this…” Gina teases, putting her hands over her ears.
The truth is, now I’m thinking of Mav standing at the foot of my bed sporting a massive erection—and by massive, I mean how have I lived with him this long and never gotten a hint of the anaconda he’s hiding in his jeans?
“Did you know they make hard Mountain Dew?” Boo calls from where she’s looking at her phone.
Darcy laughs then smacks her head. “Oh my gosh, we should be having champagne right now! How could I forget?”
“Don’t panic!” I hop out of my chair. “Mom put a bottle in the mini fridge in the cottage. I’ll run get it.”
I take off out the back door, scampering down the hill. Mom and Dad drove into town to get more groceries and pick up Mav’s and Gina’s moms from the airport. Maddie is back at the house watching Angelina Ballerina nonstop in the living room with Kelani.
I guess Maverick is still with Uncle Leon, and I’m glad the two of them are back to normal. That threat last night was completely out of the blue and so unexpected.
Flying into the cottage, I head straight for the small refrigerator when I hear the sound of water.
I quickly dash to the back bathroom to be sure the toilet isn’t running, bursting through the door before I realize the noise is coming from the new walk-in shower Mom had installed when she renovated the place.
It’s a recessed space without a door. Only a glass barrier keeps the water from escaping, and I freeze in place when I take in the glorious sight of Maverick’s fully naked backside.
My eyes consume him in a flash. One large hand is braced on the stone wall in front of him, fingers slightly curled as if he’s gripping the surface. His head is bowed under the spray, and water rivulets follow the lines of definition in his broad shoulders.
His waist is tapered with muscles wrapping over his hips, and his ass is perfectly square with two indentations on the side of each muscular cheek.
His legs are hip distance apart, and all at once I realize what he’s doing. His other hand is in front, moving quickly and his torso seems to quiver as his breathing quickens.
He moans deeply, and heat floods my panties. My core clenches, and a needy sigh slips from my lips.
He’s jerking off, and I can’t stop my mind from going to the thick erection I saw pressing against his pants this morning.
I don’t want to leave, but I don’t know how to stay.
I want him to turn around. I want to put my hand on his back, trace my fingers over every sexy line, reach around and feel it. I want to step in there with him…
But everyone is waiting on me back at the house.
“Maverick?” His name escapes on a breath as quickly as the thought appears in my brain. Would he let me watch?
His head lifts, and he looks over his shoulder at me, hazel eyes dark and hooded.
“Dove…” It’s a strangled lament, and his hand stops. “I’m sorry—”
“No.” I quickly step forward, just inside the stall. “Don’t stop. I… I want to see you.”
My neck is hot. My cheeks burn, and I can’t believe I said it out loud. I’ve never been so bold, but I want this.
He holds my gaze for a burning second, then he turns slowly, causing my eyes to widen as I take him in fully. He’s gorgeous from behind, but from the front…
“Oh my god,” I whisper, taking another careful step closer. “You’re perfect.”
His broad shoulders are rounded. His long hair hangs wet to his shoulders, and a thin patch of dark hair covers his defined chest. Lines stripe the muscles in his stomach—I knew there were eight—and in his hand… His cock is so smooth and big, filling his large hand.
He takes a step closer, a grin curling his lips, and my heart beats so hard, I can barely breathe. “Touch me.”
My tongue slips out, wetting my bottom lip, as I stare at his erection. He releases it, and it points right at me, hard and strong.
He steps closer, and I reach out a trembling hand, allowing my fingers to softly touch him, to curl around him. It’s soft yet hard and dark pink, and it has a thick vein on the side.
I glide my fingers along the shaft, and his head drops back. He exhales heavily as my fingers curl around him.
“Yes…” he whispers and his hips start to rock, moving it back and forth in my hand. “Just like that.”
His deep inhale tremors, and he exhales a low noise, a groan. My entire body is on fire. I look up, and his eyes are closed. His throat moves in his muscled neck, and he’s pure sex. He’s gorgeous, luxuriating, and I’m holding him in my hand… or trying to.
“It’s so big,” I whisper. “Show me how you like it.”
His chin lowers, and our eyes meet again. A lusty smile curls his lips, and his hand covers mine. My fingers don’t meet around his thickness, but his over mine do.
He threads our fingers, and he moves our hands up and down his cock in time. It’s slippery-smooth from some kind of lotion, and I put my other hand on his broad shoulder, bracing myself as he picks up speed.
Another quivering inhale passes his lips, another deep groan rumbles from his throat, and wetness floods my core. He moves our hands higher, to the tip, rapidly sliding them up and down as his jaw flexes.
“Dove,” he murmurs. “Feels so good.”
My knees are liquid, and I swallow the thickness in my throat. I want to kiss him. I want to put my open mouth on his skin and taste him. I want to take off my clothes and put my naked body all over his. I don’t care if the girls are waiting for me.
Just then his mouth opens, and he lets out a higher, slightly strangled grunt. His entire body flexes, and he turns to the side, pointing away from me. My hold slips, and I watch as he jerks, huffing moans as jets of white come spurt from the tip.
It continues a bit longer, and he tugs a few more times. I reach out to put my hand on his waist, sliding my fingers forward to touch a bit just below his navel. I trace my finger in it, and our eyes meet again.
He reaches up and puts his hand on the side of my neck, pulling my face to his and parting my lips. My eyes close as he walks me backwards, pressing my body against the dry wall behind us.
His thumb is on my chin, and he opens my mouth. His tongue finds mine, curling and stroking. His mouth moves mine, pulling my lips with his. My hands are on his elbows, holding his arms, doing my best to keep up as little whimpers scrape from my throat.
“Fuck,” he whispers, resting his forehead to mine. “What are you doing here? I thought you had some wedding shit to do…”
“I do,” I’m nodding, my eyes closed. “I-I was supposed to be getting champagne…”
He kisses my lips again, and I reach up to touch his square jaw. I don’t want to stop this. It’s all so delicious and perfect and sexy. It’s our first kiss.
Lifting his head, he looks down at my eyes. “You’d better head on back, then. They’ll wonder where you are.”
“I’ll tell them you were here, and I had to help you with something.”
He huffs a laugh. “Every man likes to be spoiled, Tara Dove.”
“God, don’t mention my mother at a time like this.”
“She put us here.”
My eyes roll, and I remember her telling my dad grandkids last night.
“I’ve got to get back.” Hurrying to the front of the cottage, I quickly stop and grab the bottle of wine out of the mini fridge.
Running up the hill, my skin is so sensitive, every tall grass that brushes my legs is a shock of electricity. I’m dripping wet, and I wish I’d had a chance to change my underwear.
“What took you so long?” Gina’s voice is loud from where she sits having her nails done.
Darcy sits with her feet under the dryer, and Boo is taking wine glasses out of the cabinet.
“Maverick was at the cottage, and he… needed some help,” I say, popping the cork.
“Yay! I love the sound of that.” Boo gives me a wink, bumping my hip with hers as I quickly pour the wine.
I put a glass by Gina, and I’m handing Darcy hers when she stops me. “What’s that on your leg?”
My eyes widen when I look down and see a drop of creamy white just below the leg of my cutoffs. Dashing to the sink before she can touch it, I swipe it away with my finger.
“Ice cream. Mav had ice cream.”
“Sounds yummy.” Darcy cuts her eyes at me, and I’m not sure she believes me.
It doesn’t matter, because I do know one thing. Maverick Murphy is not sleeping on that flatbed trailer tonight.