Chapter 22
22
MAVERICK
I groan as I roll over in bed, my stomach uncomfortably full from the excess of cookies and pizza I consumed earlier. What the hell was I thinking? I know better than to overindulge like this. The cookies were so damned good, of course I ate more than I should. And it wasn't my idea to order the pizza. That was all Ransom's fault.
Everything was too good tonight. The food, yeah, but also the company. I've never made cookies with a grandma before, and I have really been missing out. People lose their patience with us all the time. As a group, we're a lot. Hell, one on one, we're a lot. But Nan didn't get frustrated. Every time we spilled something, or got in a fight, she just laughed, and helped us settle down. I've never had that.
So yeah, I have feelings for Cadence, but I'm falling in love with her Nan too, but not in weird cougar love kind of way. Just…I want her to be my grandma too. I want both of them.
My stomach twists again, making me groan. I need to find something to settle my stomach. Gingerly, I climb out of bed, wearing only my athletic shorts. Another new addition since the women moved in. No more bare ass-ing it, or wearing underwear to bed. More coverage is better.
In the kitchen, I start opening cupboards, searching for anything that might provide relief. I know I had some antacids around here somewhere. With the way we eat, it was a necessity. But my cupboards were a hell of a lot emptier a month ago. Now, they're so full I don't even recognize half the stuff in them. Not that I'm complaining. I actually like them full. Full cupboards and a full fridge meets a need I didn't even know I had. Plus, I love the company.
But I really need those antacids.
A soft sound behind me makes me turn. Cadence stands there in a long sleep shirt, her curvy legs bare beneath the hem. Her hair is sleep-tousled, her eyes soft in the dim light.
"Hey," she whispers, her voice husky with sleep. "You okay?"
I nod, not trusting my voice. She's been looking at me with these soft eyes all night, and I don't think I can handle much more of it. I'm too weak, too close to the edge.
She moves closer, her bare feet silent on the tile floor. "What do you need?"
"Stomach," I manage to grunt, and she smiles, a little laughter in her eyes. She knows damn well why my stomach hurts. Together, we search the cupboards until she holds up a bottle with a little cry of success.
I take it from her, and take a handful. The relief is almost immediate, but now I have another problem. Keeping my mouth clamped shut, I eye my bedroom door, but Cadence's laughter draws my eyes right back to her.
"Just let it out, man. It's okay. I've seen you slide head first down a stripper pole in your underwear."
"Aw fuck," I mutter, having conveniently blocked that shit out. "I'm s—" And there it is. The mother fucking monster of all burps. I cover my mouth, I'm not a complete savage, but it's still loud as fuck.
Bubbling laughter spilling from her lips, Cadence drops her head to my shoulder. My bare shoulder.
Burp forgotten, all I can focus on is the tickling feel of her hair on my skin, and the way my dick jumps in my shorts. Carefully shifting my hips back, I try and ignore how fucking good she smells, and how amazing she feels.
"Oh my God," she says with a sigh that brushes over me, "how am I supposed to keep resisting you?"
"Um…you're not." Who am I to judge? If it takes me burping while standing in my shorts in the middle of the kitchen, then count me the fuck in.
She tilts her head back to look at me, face serious. "I really did try, you know. I'm still not sure this is a good idea. Or even if you still want?—"
"I do!"
The corner of her mouth curves up. "I talked with Ransom tonight. And Janey and Bree earlier. And they had a lot to say."
"Yeah, like what?"
"Like the fact that you guys had an empty apartment here, and you wouldn't let anyone tell us that."
"Traitors. I should have known they couldn't keep their mouths shut."
"I'm glad they didn't. I've been thinking we're a burden to you this whole time." I open my mouth but she presses her fingers against my lips. "No. It didn't matter that you said we weren't a burden. I didn't believe it. But all this time, you could have helped us, and still had your space. But you didn't put us in that apartment."
Wrapping my hand around her wrist, I press a kiss to her fingers, loving the way her eyes flash, then move them to my chest. They immediately flex, pressing her short nails into my skin. All I want to do is drag her to the floor, but this conversation matters a fuck of a lot. I won't risk her backtracking and losing all this progress she's apparently made.
"I wanted you with me. At first, it was about you. But I like Nan. She lets me call her Nan by the way. We all get to, which I think is pretty fucking great. But I wanted you in my space. I figured that with enough time, I could show you the kind of man that I am. Putting you down in that apartment wouldn't have accomplished that."
She nods, putting her other hand on my chest. "I do see the kind of man you are, Maverick. And I like everything I've learned."
"Despite the burp?"
"Yes, despite that," she says with a grin.
"Does this mean…"
She looks down, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "It means that if you still want it, then I'd very much like that date."
"Thank fuck," I mutter, dropping my forehead to hers.
My heart pounds in my chest as I look down at Cadence, her eyes shining with a mix of hope and uncertainty. I can feel the emotions swirling inside me, a heady mix of excitement and fear. I've wanted this for so long, but now that it's within reach, I’m worried about messing it up.
"Cadence," I murmur, cupping her face in my hands. "I want you to know that I would never take advantage of you. We can take this as slow as you want, okay? I'm not going anywhere."
She nods, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "I know, Mav. I trust you."
Those three little words send a jolt of pure joy through me. She trusts me. After everything we've been through, all the misunderstandings and missed opportunities, she's willing to take a chance on me.
I lean in, my lips hovering just above hers. "I'm going to make sure you never regret this," I whisper, before closing the distance between us.
The moment our lips touch, it's like a dam breaks inside me. All the pent-up desire and longing I've been holding back comes rushing to the surface, and I pour it all into the kiss. Cadence responds with equal fervor, her hands sliding up my chest to tangle in my hair.
We're both breathless when we finally pull apart, our chests heaving. Cadence's eyes are dark with desire, and I can feel the heat radiating off her body. I want her so badly it hurts, and I don't want to go slow. I want it all. Now.
Sliding my hands down her back, I'm just about to grab a handful of her sinful ass, when a loud burp echoes down the hallway, followed by Nan's grumpy voice. "Fucking pizza."
Cadence and I both freeze, our eyes wide with surprise. Then, slowly, we both start to laugh, the tension between us dissolving into something lighter, more playful.
"I guess that's our cue to call it a night," I chuckle, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Cadence nods, a rueful smile on her face. "Probably for the best. I don't think I could handle any more interruptions."
I grin, pulling her in for one last kiss. "Just wait until our first real date. I promise, there won't be any interruptions then."