Chapter 30
Lexi
I woke to the sound of Maverick’s husky breathing as he counted off each sit-up with quiet determination. My eyelids fluttered and I stretched, letting out a soft moan. The thin mattress of his clubhouse bed squeaked under me. I’d slept deeper than I had in days, comforted by his presence, yet still half-worried the world might collapse again.
My movement must’ve caught his attention because, in the next instant, Maverick’s voice rumbled through the small space. “Morning, princess,” he said, breath coming fast from the exertion. “About time you woke up.”
I blinked, propping myself up on an elbow. He was on the floor, shirtless, sweat slicking his chest and arms. He’d been doing sit-ups with an intensity that made my stomach clench. There was something mesmerizing about the way his muscles moved. “You’re up early,” I murmured.
He gave a wolfish grin, finishing one more sit-up before turning to me. “Did you forget I made a promise? That once I got back, I'd claim you properly?”
I felt a flush creep over my cheeks. “I… I thought maybe you changed your mind. Yesterday you didn’t… you know.”
He pushed himself up, crossing the room in a few strides. His eyes flared with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. “Did you really think I’d changed my mind?” He leaned over the bed, bracing a hand on either side of me. “You’re owed a special night, Lexi. And I’m not about to do it here in this dingy-ass clubhouse. You deserve better. We’ll make a reservation.”
A nervous laugh tumbled from my lips. “You’re telling me you want us to go to a fancy hotel to… make the property patch real?” My voice wavered, half with excitement, half with nerves.
He smirked, leaning closer. “Hell yes. I’m no gentleman, but I’m not some animal, either. I want to do this right. And if I gotta prove it to you, I can manage that. Besides…” His grin turned crooked. “I gotta put out. Otherwise, how’s that patch gonna mean anything?”
A bubble of laughter escaped me. “You’re ridiculous.”
He grazed the tip of his nose against mine, his breath warm. “Damn right. But I’m your ridiculous now.” Then he pulled back, standing upright. “I’ll go grab us some breakfast. When I get back, we’ll find a place to hole up for a night. Someplace nicer than this clubhouse.”
I sat up, swinging my legs over the side of the bed. “That sounds… amazing, actually.”
“Good. Be ready.” He grabbed his cut from the back of a chair and shrugged it on. “I’ll be back soon.”
Once Maverick slipped out, I realized how quiet the room felt without him. I stretched again, then grabbed my phone from the nightstand. A text from Nova sat unread:
Nova: Where are you, girl? You haven’t updated me in ages. I’m worried. Chigger took off on some job. Haven’t heard from him in a day.
My heart twisted with guilt at her concern. I typed back:
Me: I’m safe, promise. Can’t tell you where, but I’m fine. Sorry for not texting sooner.
Me: You okay?
The little dots popped up, then her response came:
Nova: I guess. Bored. Missing Chigger. He said it’s club business. I know better than to ask questions. Anyway, I did what you asked with your mom’s remains…
Grief pinched my chest. “Thanks for dealing with Mom,” I whispered, remembering the day she died in that tent. My thumb hovered over the keys.
Finally, I typed:
Me: Thank you for handling everything. Did you pick out an urn?
She answered fast:
Nova: Yes, a really pretty one with some sort of sparkly design. Not too gaudy. She’d like it.
Nova: How are you holding up? You better be back soon. Don’t you have work on Monday?
I almost laughed at the reminder. Work. The normal world.
I typed:
Me: Yep, I might have to call in. But at least I’m alive, right?
Nova’s reply came with the speed of a best friend who always had the perfect comeback:
Nova: Haha, yeah. Could be worse… you could be dead.
Nova: How’s that tat, by the way?
I reflexively touched the tender area on my lower stomach. It still stung, but not as intensely. It’s more the emotional impact that throbs.
I wrote back:
Me: Still hurts, but I’m dealing. Kinda worried about… something else hurting soon.
Nova’s next text was immediate:
Nova: Where are you going?!
I rolled my eyes. Of course, she’d interpret it that way. I’d already told her he said he wanted some privacy.
I typed a quick, mischievous response:
Me: Nowhere special. Just some alone time with… him.
Me: I’ll give you details after the deed is done, promise.
She shot back a barrage of laughing emojis:
Nova: You better. Good luck, Smutty. I’m sure you’ll do just fine in bed, you big nerd.
I smiled, shutting off the phone as footsteps approached outside.
The door creaked open, and Maverick stepped back in, carrying two coffee cups and a paper bag. The rich aroma of fresh brew made my stomach growl.
“Hope you like greasy bacon or sausage.” He handed me a coffee. “They were out of eggs, so I got whatever was left. Just in time, I guess, the prospect in the kitchen was about to toss the last batch to the dogs.”
I laughed, taking the bag and peeking inside. A couple of breakfast sandwiches, one bacon, one sausage. I raised an eyebrow, smirking. “Better than starving. Thanks.”
We settled on the bed, cross-legged, devouring the sandwiches and sipping coffee. Damn, it tasted good. The coffee was cheap and bitter, but after days of stress, it felt like a luxury to share a simple meal with Maverick. My stomach fluttered at how domestic it all seemed.
“So,” he said around a mouthful of bacon, “any ideas where you wanna go for our little getaway? Gotta be somewhere not too far from Lebanon, but nicer than a roadside motel. Possibly one with actual water pressure.”
I pulled out my phone, opening a search. “Let’s see… I’m sure there’s a decent hotel within an hour or so. Hang on.” As I scrolled, Maverick watched with mild interest. “Okay, there’s some bed-and-breakfast type places, some chain hotels with decent reviews… or…oh, there’s this fancy resort-spa type place about thirty miles from here. Might be pricey, but they have big tubs, a sauna, the works.”
Maverick shrugged, swallowing the last of his sandwich. “I don’t mind pricey if it means you’ll finally relax. The MC can foot the bill.”
I eyed him skeptically. “A spa resort? Kinda out of your comfort zone, isn’t it?”
He leaned over, pressing a short, possessive kiss to my temple. “Princess, I’d sit in a fluffy pink robe and let them paint my nails if it meant I get you in a hot tub afterwards.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “So we’re going all out?”
He grinned. “Damn straight. Let’s do it.”
After scarfing down breakfast, we stuffed our minimal belongings into Maverick’s saddlebag. I was glad to leave the dank, moldy smell of the clubhouse behind. The idea of a proper shower in a nice hotel room was downright thrilling. My stomach fluttered again, though, with a mix of anticipation and nerves. Tonight could be the night, the real claiming, that I’d only read about.
We walked through the clubhouse, ignoring the curious stares of a few bikers. Taz gave us a lazy wave, and Ruby, perched on a barstool, winked at me. I nodded back, oddly proud that I was stepping out with Maverick, my supposed “property patch” hidden under my shirt.
Maverick started his Harley, and I hopped on. We screeched out of there, dust flying everywhere in the heat. The wind blew my hair all over, and I could feel the engine vibrating in my legs. After all that craziness, I felt surprisingly alive. Free.
The ride wasn’t long, maybe an hour. We drove past fields, farms, and tiny towns. Eventually, we spotted the turnoff for the resort, a tree-lined drive that led to a grand structure overlooking a man-made lake. It was bigger than I expected, complete with a nice-looking spa building to one side.
“Holy shit,” I muttered as Maverick parked the Harley near the main entrance. “Did we just land in luxury?”
He smirked, cutting the engine. “Not exactly the Ritz, but it’s nice enough.”
We headed inside, the lobby gleaming with polished floors and large windows. A friendly receptionist greeted us, eyebrows hiking at Maverick’s leather vest. He wandered around the lobby as I went to the counter. I handled check-in, using Maverick’s cash, but she asked for a credit card. Maverick was out of earshot, so I handed her my card. My mind flashed to criminal cases I’d studied, so I knew my card was traceable. But being claimed by Maverick was worth the risk.
“It’s only for incidentals.” She handed over key cards with a professional smile.
The elevator whisked us to a third-floor suite that overlooked the lake. The moment we stepped into the room, I felt my jaw drop. A plush king-sized bed with crisp white linens, an oversized bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower and a whirlpool tub, and a big window framing the shimmering water outside.
I set my small bag down, turning to Maverick with a grin. “This might be the nicest place I’ve ever stayed.”
He gave a low whistle, sliding a hand around my waist from behind. “Told you. I wanted you to feel special.”
Every ounce of me fluttered. “You’re spoiling me.”
“About damn time somebody did,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the side of my neck. “Now, how about you grab a shower? Then we’ll see how we're doing.”
I laughed softly, leaning back against him. “Yeah… The shower here beats the mushrooms in the tub at the clubhouse. So, I’m definitely doing that.”
He patted my hip. “Go for it, princess.”
I took my sweet time in the bathroom, letting the hot water cascade over me, washing away the sweat and grime. The tile was spotless, the water pressure blissful. I even used the complimentary, fancy shampoo that smelled like lavender. God, I needed this.
Tonight would be the night. A good chunk of me was excited. I’d yearned for Maverick’s touch since the day he rescued me from that creep who exposed me at the rally. But a bit of me trembled with fear. I was a virgin, and this was going to be intense. The property patch still stung on my lower stomach, reminding me of his claim. I belong to him now, in the eyes of the MC. That’s no small thing.
Eventually, I stepped out, wrapping myself in a plush robe. Steam hung in the air, the mirror fogged up. My heart pounded at the thought of what might happen next. Deep breaths, Lexi. You’ve read a million romance novels, dirty ones. But those were stories. This was real.