Chapter 14
Maia woke slowly, warm and rested after her best sleep in ages.
She yawned without opening her eyes and stretched.
When her arm collided with flesh, memories flooded back.
Henry. They’d made love last night and very early this morning.
She smiled and turned toward him, giving him a sleepy nuzzle and kissing his neck.
“Good morning. How do you feel?” His formal demeanor and tense muscles had her waking fast. Surely, he didn’t have regrets?
“I feel fantastic,” she said, speaking clearly and connecting with his gaze so he could see she was happy with the status quo. Ecstatically effervescent. “I hope we’ll have a repeat soon. Often.”
He didn’t reply, but he kissed her so she took that as a promising sign.
Maia slipped out of bed, gingerly testing her leg. It was much better, and her head wasn’t throbbing so far. “Do you want a mug of coffee and something to eat? I can do eggs and toast.”
“Thank you. May I use your shower?”
Still so polite. So formal. “We could shower together. You start the shower while I hunt up some towels. I won’t be long.”
Henry rose and wandered from the bedroom, giving her an excellent view of the beautiful, muscular buttocks she’d enjoyed touching last night.
She sighed in cheerful appreciation. On hearing a shower blast, she lurched into action.
She did not want to miss showering with Henry.
Her headache was minimal to her relief, and she navigated the passage with scarcely a limp.
Per the doctor’s instructions, the heat pad she’d applied had helped a lot.
Optimistic about her recovery time, she found a box of towels and lugged it to the bathroom.
A job for today. She’d line the shelves and get her bathroom organized.
Her carton of toiletries and shower gels was around somewhere.
The gels were her treat and the scents always helped her to wake in the mornings.
Maia pulled aside the curtain and stole a peek at Henry. So sexy. So tempting. He was washing himself with brisk and economical moves. She slipped under the steamy water and pressed against him. Instantly, his arms came around her, his erection prodding her stomach.
“I should do something about that,” she murmured.
“You don’t have to,” Henry replied, smoothing his hand down her back.
“I want to touch you this way,” she said, kneeling in front of him. Water poured over her head, but she ignored it. A quickie since the floor was hard on her knees. She grasped the base of his cock with her hands before she opened her mouth and sucked him inside.
“That feels amazing,” he whispered.
She grinned around his shaft and used her tongue and lips to drive him crazy.
He angled his body so the water wasn’t bombarding her while she teased him, taking him as deep into her mouth as she could.
His groan made her work harder, and soon he trembled.
He pulled back without warning, his seed striking her chest. Maia blinked since she’d happily swallow but seeing the satisfaction on Henry’s face clued her into the why of his actions.
She didn’t mind, feeling a little possessive herself.
It was why she’d bitten his neck, and he’d enjoyed it since he’d gone crazy.
Henry helped her to stand, his expression impassive.
“A mark of possession?”
“Yeah. Sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Maia said. “I understand. Besides, I bit you last night.” She peered at his neck and frowned. “I thought I’d bitten you hard enough to leave a mark.”
A smile flashed. Disappeared. “You can bite me anytime, but I don’t bruise easily.”
“Oh, that’s disappointing.”
Henry kissed her hard, passion instantly flaring between them.
He pressed her against the shower wall and parted her legs with a well-placed knee.
His teeth scraped the tendons of her neck, and the slight hint of pain had an equal slice of pleasure roaring directly to her core.
Wow! Just wow. There was something about this man that made their lovemaking magical.
She had no idea what it was, but it was clear the Middlemarch single ladies were blind.
They should’ve snapped up Henry while they’d had a chance.
It was too late because she had no intention of letting him go.
Cavewoman, much? Yeah, she’d own that.
The way Henry looked at her, touched her, sent an answering possessiveness through her.
She was his. He might be grumpy. He might be a loner, but the man had hidden depths.
Henry had a soft heart he kept carefully concealed and was loyal to his friends.
They were also steadfast to him. That was obvious in the close friendship he had with Gerard.
He’d mentioned another friend. Army buddies, so the strength of the friendship made sense.
And she needed to quieten her busy brain and focus on his touches.
Confidence shone in every firm stroke while the passion simmering between them flared into fiery pleasure.
He cupped her breasts, kneading and testing their weight, lighting bursts of excitement.
One of his hands moved then, sliding down to her hip and holding her firmly.
“I can’t wait to get inside you again,” he whispered, his breath hot against her neck.
“Do it. Do it now,” she encouraged, full of delicious anticipation. Oh, yeah. That eagerness bubbled in her belly and filled her with happiness.
Henry needed no further urging, and he guided his shaft, pushing smoothly into her.
A unified groan filled the air, and thankfully, Henry didn’t linger or tease.
He shunted in and out of her, his talented fingers caressing her clit and sending her over the edge faster than she could believe.
His thrusts became faster, a deep growl emerging from him before he stilled, planted balls-deep inside her.
They stood silent and still as the water poured over them, cooler now.
Maia yawned, and Henry nuzzled her neck. He slipped out of her and stood back. She wobbled slightly, and his arm snapped out to hold her upright.
“It’s still early. Why don’t you wash and go back to bed? I’ll take Juno outside and join you soon.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
The minute Maia hit the mattress, her eyes closed, and she drifted to sleep. She woke suddenly, panic flaring through her until she realized the gaze she felt belonged to Henry.
“Is something wrong?”
“Laura called,” he said, and she belatedly realized he’d partially dressed.
Maia frowned, not having to feign her confusion. “I didn’t hear the phone.”
“It was on vibrate.”
“Oh, there’s a problem?” The chill in his voice and the deadness in his brown eyes made her arms and legs prick with foreboding.
“After your attack, Laura and Charlie canvassed the local bed-and-breakfast places, the motels, and the Airbnbs.”
“Did they find something?”
Henry glowered at her. “Your fiancé.”
Maia jackknifed up and grabbed at the covers when she remembered she was naked.
She lifted them to her chest. “What are you talking about? I’m not engaged to anyone.
Men are too much damn trouble.” She sprang off the bed and stomped toward her shower.
She turned it on cold to scare away her lingering lethargy. Right now, she needed her A-game.
When she entered the kitchen fully dressed fifteen minutes later, Henry leaned against her counter, his hands cupping a mug. Damn, she needed to sort out more furniture. Maia stalked to her coffeemaker, grabbed the first coffee pod to hand, and shoved it into the machine.
“I don’t have a fiancé. What is this person’s name?”
“Samuel Rattray.”
“My ex-boyfriend. We broke up about two months before I left Auckland. I’m insulted that you’d think I’d cheat if I were in a relationship. I’m not a cheater!”
Henry grunted, but his posture relaxed during her haranguing speech.
“You don’t know me well, but you didn’t think to give me the benefit of the doubt or at least ask me before hurling insults against my good character?” Her coffee was ready, and she grabbed the mug. “Where is he? Is Samuel still in Middlemarch? I thought he had a rugby game in Auckland.”
“He’s telling everyone you’re getting married in three months.”
Maia held her temper with difficulty, telling herself that if she were in Henry’s shoes, she’d feel betrayed. That kept her from throwing her hands up in disappointment and stalking off.
“Where is he staying? I don’t know what game he’s playing, but I’ll enlighten him quick-smart.”
“He’s staying at the Middlemarch Bed-and-Breakfast.”
“Middlemarch is a small town. He could’ve asked around and found me easily. Why would he wait until Laura discovered him?”
“I wondered that.”
She snapped a glower in his direction. “It didn’t make you doubt his reasons for arriving in Middlemarch? He could’ve told me he wanted to speak to me in person.”
Henry grimaced but, as usual, didn’t give away much.
“Where is the Middlemarch Bed-and-Breakfast?” Maia grabbed her car keys off the hook near the door. She had things to say to Samuel and didn’t care if she created a scene.
“Laura says he’s at the cafe eating breakfast.”
“I bet he’s entertaining the locals, telling them about the horrid way I’ve treated him when all he wants is to love me and make me his wife.”
“Do you think he was the one who attacked you?” Henry asked.
“No idea, but I intend to find out.”
Juno and Henry followed her outside.
“Give me the keys,” Henry said. “I’ll drive.”
“Thank you, but I don’t require your help. I. Need. Space.”
Henry halted abruptly, and for an instant, she swore hurt flickered across his handsome face.
She cursed under her breath and stomped to her car.
It inclined at a weird angle. Good grief!
She stomped around the front of her car to the passenger side that still bore a tag.
Yep, her tire was as flat as her kitchen floor.
A twinge in her thigh suggested her clomping wasn’t helping her leg.
“What’s wrong?”
“I have a flat tire.”
“Please let me drive you to the cafe. We can fix your tire later.”
Maia heaved out a breath of frustration. He was right. Yes, Samuel had riled her, but there was no point in acting like a moron. The local gossip vine would light up at her expense, all because she’d injured Samuel’s pride and walked away.
“I’d appreciate a ride.”
Henry plucked his keys from his pocket. A suspicious thought slid into her mind. “Did you make my tire go flat?”
“No, I did not,” he said with a dignity that was the opposite of his expression.
Henry didn’t give the impression of a petty man, and really, why would he flatten her tire? He was strong enough to physically stop her if he objected to her leaving to harangue Samuel.
The drive to the cafe was silent since they’d left Juno.
Maia observed the cattle paddocks and the scattered sheep grazing on the far slopes.
She recalled the piles of stones littering the hills from her childhood.
They reminded her of a giant’s building blocks and scattered the region like discarded Lego pieces, strewn where they’d fallen in stacks or singly.
The grass on the hillside was tussock, while the fields nearer the river were green and heavily farmed.
“What made you choose Middlemarch for your business?”
“Gerard and I wanted a town with a community feel, and here, we’re close to Dunedin, but we’re also relatively close to the tourist hotspots in the south.
We figured we’d get business from wealthy owners of holiday homes in the area, which has turned out to be true.
” He shot her a curious look. “Why did you decide to purchase a property in Middlemarch?”
“I liked the idea of sticking it to my aunt and imagined her rolling in her grave yet unable to stop me from turning her house into my home,” Maia said.
She didn’t mention the other reason because she’d barely admitted it to herself—Henry had been a draw card.
If he’d been with another woman, she would’ve backed off.
Maybe.
The surge of jealousy that rippled through her told the truth.
She would’ve fought for Henry and was unsure what this said about her character.
Was she turning into a stalker? One of those obsessed women who did horrid things to get their way?
She shook her head in denial—a sharp jerk that had Henry turning to her with raised brows.
“Something wrong?”
“No.” Yes! She was subconsciously skulking after Henry, even though he’d rejected her.
She got the age thing, but she was an adult with a mind of her own.
And she was tipping over into the creepy, criminal side.
“Henry, despite your grumpiness, I like you. I don’t know what Samuel wants, but we’re no longer together.
I am interested in you. Surely, I can’t be plainer than that.
Playing games isn’t my way. Unless it’s rugby. Understand?”
While she’d been spilling her heart, they’d entered the business center of Middlemarch.
A grandiose term to describe the small country town, but it was busier than she remembered.
A group of six cyclists pedaled down the road and pulled up outside the supermarket.
Charlie drove past in his police vehicle and waved before turning into a side street.
Henry parked near Storm in a Teacup. He took her hand in his. “I’m sorry for acting like an idiot. I’ll try to curb my craziness in future.”
“And that, right there, is why I’m with you and not Samuel. You apologized, and your words show me you’re willing to meet halfway.”
Henry tightened his grip momentarily before releasing her hand. “Laura is waiting.”
“Is Samuel in trouble?”
Henry’s lips curved into a wry smile. “I suspect you’ll be his worst problem. Laura is monitoring him because she’s suspicious of his sudden appearance. I’d bet my mind has turned the same corner as Laura’s. We’re wondering if he had anything to do with the attack.”
“Samuel is vindictive when he doesn’t get his way.”
They walked past the rose bushes at the cafe’s entrance and stepped onto the wooden verandah.
Henry opened the door for her, and a bell tinkled.
Maia scanned the cafe and spotted Samuel sitting at a corner table, a half-eaten breakfast in front of him.
He half-stood on noticing her arrival and noticeably bristled when he registered Henry.
“Henry, could you order me a coffee, please? I want to deal with Samuel.”
Henry hesitated before giving a curt nod and detouring to the service counter.
Maia crossed the distance between the door and Samuel’s table on shaky legs. While this setting was safe, she hated to add extra fuel to the local gossip vine. Samuel was forcing this confrontation on her, and her temper strained at the leash.
“At last,” Samuel snapped. “I thought I’d have to send the police to retrieve you.”