Chapter 23
DOVE
It’s possible I am about to pass out.
My stomach quivers. My hips lift off the bed, and I’ve never felt so much pleasure surging through my core. Whimpers slip from my lips, and both of my hands twist in the sides of Maverick’s hair.
True to his word, he’s devouring me like a peach. His head is between my legs, which are bent and shaking, and his delicious beard and mustache scratch and taunt my most sensitive skin.
Electric shocks shoot all the way to the arches of my feet, to my toes, and he holds me still by the two thick fingers sliding deeper, in and out of my core.
My stomach muscles jerk, and I cry out, riding another wave of orgasm gripping my body. “Oh my god, Maverick.” I gasp, rolling to my side. “That’s four!”
“I knew you could do it.” His chin shines from the wetness he’s drawing from my body, and he nips the inside of my thigh, making me yelp.
I’m riding his hand, but I want his cock. Even if it looks like a dare, I want it. I ache for it.
“I want your dick inside me now.”
“And you call me a dirty talker.” He grins up at me. “Shit, I just got harder.”
“Fill me.” I gasp, unable to wait any longer. “I want my come on you.”
He kisses the crease of my inner thigh, driving me wild. His head moves higher, to my lower belly, and his soft hair falls over his broad shoulder.
As he straightens, I’m able to slide around his hard body like a cat.
“Good I love your tits.” He lifts my breasts in both hands, kneading and kissing and sucking my nipples.
“Maverick,” I gasp. “You’re taking my breath away.”
He moves higher, sliding his palm up my forehead and looking straight into my eyes a moment. His are so deep and dark and hooded. Then he smiles, pulling my lips with his, sliding his tongue against mine.
He’s soap and leather and mint and the flavors of the sea… salt and musk and all of my orgasms. Peaches…
My nose wrinkles and I start to laugh, breaking our kiss, and he smile-frowns down at me. “What is it?”
“You won the peach-eating contest.”
He breaks into a laugh, his handsome face lighting up, and he leans down to plant another fiery kiss behind my ear. “You have the best peaches, so soft and juicy and warm.”
“Fuck me, Maverick,” I groan.
His smile disappears, and he kisses me again before standing straight, allowing me to see his gorgeous body. He takes his cock in his hand, fisting it up and down.
“You’re so beautiful.” His voice is hushed. “I want to kill anyone who would take your beautiful body and not leave you satisfied. Lazy assholes.”
Holding out my hands, I reach for him. “If you don’t get in me right now…”
He slides his tip up and down my dripping core before pressing it inside me. His jaw clenches, and my eyes flinch as he continues.
“That’s right,” he whispers. “You’re so sexy. So perfect.”
I moan and quiver at his invasion. He stretches me past what I’m used to, and I hiss as my body opens to accommodate his size. His fingers tickle my inner thighs, and I moan.
“Such a good girl.” His voice is low, soothing, encouraging. “Such a sweet pussy. I’m gonna come so hard inside you.”
“God, Mav,” I gasp. “The way you talk to me.”
He plants his large hand on the bed above my shoulder, his elbow bends and he leans down to capture my lips, pulling them and stroking me with his tongue before rising up to watch.
“You like that?”
“Yes.”
“More?”
“Yes!” I’m desperate.
My ass lifts off the mattress, and he groans as his hips begin to move, thrusting into me.
Oh, God, it’s so much. I’m overwhelmed. My gasps mix with his deep moans. He holds my breasts in both hands, kneading and squeezing them. He leans down to kiss and suck my hard nipples.
It’s electricity to my insides, and with another low groan, I feel him start to come.
His muscles stiffen like in the shower. His stomach quivers and jerks. My pussy flutters and breaks into renewed spasms.
“Are you coming for me?” he whispers, sliding his cheek along mine, his voice as desperate as mine.
“Yes,” I cry. “It’s happening. It’s so good…”
He breaks, coming with a loud moan inside me. I’m filled completely, and I can feel every pulse, every jet. We climax, but we’re still so needy, so hungry for each other’s bodies.
It’s like a hunger that has lain dormant inside me for so long, yet just this fast, it turns into a blazing inferno. We’re a wildfire out of control. We’re the tornado.
We fuck hard, driving and chasing, needing more, needing it again. Our orgasms leak onto my inner thighs. My legs tighten around him and I reach for his shoulders.
His muscled arms go around me, gathering me up, sitting back on the bed and holding me to his chest. I’m on my knees in a straddle. He’s still inside me, and we hold each other so close, chests flush, panting and pulsing and kissing, melting into one.
I can’t believe it. My eyes are squeezed shut, but I’m shaking my head. How long has this been building between us? How long has this been going on? More importantly, how can we possibly keep it going?
Boo’s wedding is beautiful.
The blooming trees are all wrapped in twinkle lights, and the sunset is golden over my favorite hill. I stand in the line of bridesmaids fanning out from the center as the minister leads my best friend and her fiancé through their vows.
It’s gorgeous and romantic and sentimental, and I can’t keep my eyes off Maverick.
We literally did pass out sometime in the early morning after nearly fucking our brains out. It was already late when we got home last night, and I had to crawl out of bed to meet up for the bridesmaids’ breakfast and a marathon day of hair and makeup leading up to the big event.
I was exhausted, but I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. Maverick wouldn’t stop lighting up my phone.
Maverick
Would it be rude if I didn’t shower before the wedding? I like your scent on me.
Dove
Are you being gross?
Maverick
Only if coconut, roses, and peaches are gross.
Dove
I think you should shower. I can scent you again.
Maverick
Yes, you will.
My lips press together, and I quickly put my phone away when I feel Gina watching me. She’s been teasing me all day about how I seem to be walking funny.
I don’t care. An ache is in my core, and I can feel everywhere he took me whenever I move. I love it.
My eyes drift again to his, and he gives me the fastest wink. It’s a bolt of lightning from my head to my shoes, and I clear my throat, hoping my face isn’t tomato red. My entire body is ablaze, and I don’t know how I’ll keep my hands off him going forward.
Talk about a mess. A delicious, fiery mess that’s only going to end in heartbreak.
He said we’re not going to think about the end, so I put it out of my head.
Gina clears her throat beside me, and when our eyes meet, she gives me a wry look, grinning and shaking her head. The minister continues leading Boo and Ricky through their vows, and she makes some comment about afterglow.
I’m sure I’m glowing. I feel like a firefly.
My eyes drift to the audience again, and he’s looking down as his mother speaks in his ear. Gina’s mom is on her other side, and they’re all watching, smiling, supporting. I’m the only one having impure thoughts.
We finish with a prayer… or we’re supposed to be praying. I’m thinking about Mav’s massive body quivering as he held me in his arms. I’m thinking about the huff of his breath in my ear, the whispered words… such dirty words.
Finally, the man holds out his hands to present Mr. and Mrs. Ricky Kouns. We all clap and file out quickly to the exit music. The reception is under the massive oak tree behind the house.
Everyone departs the area, and we’re held up taking wedding pictures for what feels like forever. Finally, I’m in Mav’s arms again.
He hands me a glass of champagne, and I hold his shoulder. We sway in time, slow dancing to a song about magnolia breezes and never wanting to be apart. My cheek rests against him. His large hand engulfs mine, and it’s all so perfect.
Small round tables draped in long, peach-colored tablecloths form a perimeter. They’re all set with gold-trimmed fine china and matching peach napkins. In the center of each table, a bouquet of ivory and peach roses is held in a crystal vase.
The ancient live-oak trees dotted throughout the yard are wrapped in twinkle lights, making their thick black trunks appear even darker. Curtains of lights hang from the heavy branches, forming a magical glow.
Lifting my chin, I look up at him. A soft, yellow glow surrounds us, and I’m sure stars are in my eyes.
“Hey, there.” He smiles, looking down at me. “Have I told you how beautiful you are today?”
“I think you told me repeatedly… very early this morning.”
He leans down to brush his lips over mine. “I especially like this dress.”
I’m wearing the beige wrap-skirt with the silky top Darcy sent me a photo of last month. As I suspected, it barely contains the girls.
I give him a coy smile. “I had a feeling you might appreciate it.”
“I’m thinking about later, when I slide these straps down your arms and…”
My skin heats as I follow his words, until an evil voice breaks the spell.
“May I cut in?” Corey Hayes stands right beside us on the dance floor, scowling down at me like he has some business interrupting Mav’s sexy talk.
I’d like to flip him the bird. Instead, I start to pull away.
Mav’s hand on my back tightens, holding me to him, and he takes one look at Corey before sweeping me away with a single word.
“No.”
Corey is left behind with his mouth hanging open, and I snort, leaning forward.
“That’s not how it works,” he calls after us like a big baby.
Mav shakes his head, rolling his eyes. “That guy is the worst. I can’t believe you actually went out with him.”
“I never went out with him!” My voice rises. “What in the world gave you that idea?”
“Just checking.” A naughty smile curls his lips, and he looks down his nose at me.
I slap his arm. “You are so wrong.”
“So you didn’t date that guy, but you dated somebody.” His chin lifts, and his gaze scans the outdoor area. “Are there any ex-boyfriends here, silently murdering me in their minds?”
“Why Maverick Murphy, whatever could you mean?”
“I mean, I’ll never get over being with you. I’m ready to get you naked again.” His voice is low. “So who in here wants to shank me?”
“I could say as much.” Lifting my chin, I shake my hair back. “Every time we go out in LA there’s at least ten women who want to murder me, and they just think we’re friends.”
“We are, aren’t we?” That smile curls his lips. “Friends with benefits?”
“Benefits…” I turn the word over in my mind. “I would definitely say there are benefits.”
He presses his chin to my temple exhaling a laugh, and my eyes slide closed. A constant refrain repeats in my head, What are we doing? This is impossible.
“We’ll have to keep it off the gossip sites,” he says softly. “That’s when things really go sideways.”
My throat tightens, and I remember Aunt Dylan talking about how awful they were to her when she and Uncle Logan got together.
I think about all the things we’re not saying right now, all the facts we’re ignoring. We came here only pretending to be a couple… Right? I have no idea when the line got so blurred.
Oh, yeah, when I helped him finish in the shower.
“May I cut in?” Dylan walks up beside me, putting her hands on my waist.
Her sudden appearance makes me blush, considering what I was remembering.
“Of course.” Unlike how he treated Corey, I will step aside for his mother.
I relinquish his hand to hers, and she smiles at me before hugging her tall son. His hazel eyes hold me, and I’m hot all over thinking about all of it.
“It’s about time.” Corey moves in like a vulture, putting his hand on my arm and pulling me aside. “I’ve been trying to talk to you.”
My shoulder tenses, and I pull my arm away.
Dylan is talking to Maverick, but I catch his eyes on us. His brow is lowered, and his jaw is set. I shake my head slowly before returning my eyes to Corey’s flat brown ones.
“What do you want?” I ask impatiently.
The last thing I’m interested in is his haughty opinion or his presumptions about our future.
His eyebrow arches, but he ignores my tone. “I see you’ve given up.”
Frowning, I meet his eyes. “On what?”
“The orchard.”
“I have not. I’ll never give up.”
“Yet you’re here with this fellow… this player… whose life and career are on the other side of the country. How does that work?”
Chewing my lip, my eyes flicker down. “We’re still figuring out the details.”
“You’re running out of time, Dove.” He has the nerve to exhale pitifully. “And your uncles are running out of money. We will own this property, and I’d hoped to give you what you wanted. I know how much you love it here. I wanted to keep your land in your family.”
My jaw is tight, and I step closer, locking eyes. “You don’t give a shit about my family. You only want what every Hayes has always wanted since your grandfather moved to Harristown—to own it all.”
His lips curl into an amused grin. “Own is such an ugly word. I merely want to possess. If you think about the future and be realistic, you’ll see we want the same thing.
I also want to be sure your property remains for future generations.
Why don’t you stop fighting and take your place at my side? ”
My fist clenches, but sadly, I don’t have a peach I can throw at him. Exhaling slowly through my nose, I improvise, adopting a fake, sweet smile.
“I tell you what, Corey, why don’t you walk out there and help yourself to a peach—on the house.” I point my finger hard against his chest. “That’s all of LaGrange Orchard you’ll ever possess.”
He puts his hand on top of mine, smiling right back. “We shall see.”