10. Mav
TEN
MAV
My date with Mckenna is pure perfection.
An entire day together, lost in special moments, in paradise.
It feels good to be back in sync.
We’re joking and laughing together.
I’m holding her close, breathing in the scent of her hair, and getting lost in her smile.
It’s magic. It’s the honeymoon dreams are made of.
“Come here.” I take her hand as we wade deeper into the pool of crystal blue water.
As we near the waterfall, the rushing water fills my ears, creating ripples around us.
Mckenna tightens her hold, and I look back to smile at her.
God, she’s breathtaking.
Her navy eyes spark with that flicker of fire I love.
For too many days, I worried it had been snuffed out.
Seeing it now, along with her playful grin, calms me on a cellular level.
We can do this. I got her.
We’re together.
Married.
“What?” Mckenna asks, scrunching her nose adorably.
“You ready to go under the waterfall?”
“Under the waterfall? Mav?—”
“Worried about your hair?” I taunt.
She snorts and points to her dripping wet head.
“You’re such a child.”
I shrug because.
..it’s partly true. It’s the image I’ve cultivated in the band for years.
Plus, I like pushing everyone’s boundaries and searching for adventure.
“You’d be bored without me.”
She grins but doesn’t refute the statement.
Is that partly true, too?
“What do you think is on the other side of the waterfall?” she asks.
Salty spray from the falling water splashes us, and the bubbling foam wraps around our waists.
“Gotta dip underneath to find out.”
“All right,” she agrees.
“On three?”
“On three.”
“One...two...” we count in unison.
“Three!”
With Mckenna’s hand in mine, I dive beneath the streaming water.
The weight of the waterfall slams into my back as I swim underneath, dragging Mckenna along for the ride.
A moment later, we emerge on the other side.
We’re encapsulated in a cove, the waterfall distorting the view of the shoreline.
It’s a little darker, quieter, deserted.
It’s beautiful.
“We did it!” Mckenna glances around our secret spot.
“It’s so peaceful in here,” she muses, letting go of my hand to climb onto the rocks behind us.
“It is,” I agree, leaning against the rock wall, watching her.
I could watch her for hours and never get bored.
She glances around curiously, studying bits of rock and dragging her fingers through the water.
She turns to look at me.
“Thanks for taking me here, Maverick.”
I straighten when she uses my full name.
It’s as if she’s letting me know whatever she says next will be meaningful.
Significant.
She stares at me, her hands at her sides, her head held high.
“I don’t know if I would have made it through these past few days, this past week, without you.”
“You would have,” I say quietly.
“You’re stronger than you think.”
She smiles softly.
“Maybe. But you’ve helped me in ways you can’t understand. I don’t even understand,” she admits.
“I,” she sighs, “I’m happy I’m here with you, Mav. Thanks for sticking by me even when I made it difficult.”
“You didn’t,” I refute, stepping closer to her.
“You amaze me, Mckenna. At every single turn, you surprise me. I’m so proud of you and... I’m proud to be your husband.”
She laughs lightly before tilting her head questioningly.
“For now.”
I shake my head, more serious than I’ve ever been.
“For always.”
Mckenna stills, noting the severity of my voice.
“Mav.”
I close the space between us.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, my other hand lifts to cup her cheek.
I stare into her eyes, mesmerized by the flecks of lighter blue and gray in their depths.
I move slowly so she understands my intention.
I give her time to put an end to it.
She pulls in an inhale.
Her eyes are wide, hopeful, and darting between mine and my lips.
Her tongue swipes over the center of her bottom lip, and I nearly groan.
God, I’ve missed her.
I’ve missed this with her.
Slowly, I arch my mouth over hers and place the sweetest kiss on her lips.
Once, twice, three times, and then Mckenna’s hands clasp my back; I pull her closer and kiss her like our lives depend on it.
Maybe a part of our relationship does.
She parts her lips, and my tongue slips inside her mouth.
My fingers clench the ends of her wet hair as her nails dig into my shoulder blades.
I curl over her, and she bends beneath me, the two of us swaying in unison as our kiss makes us whole.
Joins us. Binds us. Reminds us that what we share is too fucking good to squander.
No matter how this thing between us started, it’s real.
We’re together.
She’s my everything.
My wife.
Mckenna takes control, and I surrender gladly.
She pins me against the rock as her hands cup my cheeks.
She slows our kiss, presses her body against mine, and sips from my mouth like it’s wine.
We get drunk on each other, and it’s perfect.
Deliriously languid and deliciously satisfying.
She pulls back and smiles sweetly.
“Happy honeymoon, Mav.”
Brushing her hair back from her face, I memorize her features.
Her easy smile, her bright eyes.
“Happy honeymoon, love.”
Mckenna kisses me again and I lose myself in the moment.
My hands trace her body, careful not to go beneath her swimsuit.
But even though I’m aware of the boundaries, I drown in her.
In everything she offers.
Hot mouths, gentle caresses, knowing smirks, and glinting eyes.
Mckenna and I make out like teenagers.
It’s a little bit innocent, a little bit needy, and fuck, does it turn me on.
It’s probably the best foreplay of my life but I don’t push her for more.
I want her to choose our pace, and I’ll slow down or speed up as necessary.
When Mckenna finally pulls away, she’s panting and her eyes are wild.
She smiles at me, and I love the happiness she exudes.
“You make me feel alive.”
That could be the greatest compliment I’ve ever received.
I reach for her hand and hold her fingers lightly.
“And you make me feel like I’m home.”
My wife grins and I press one final peck to her lips.
“Come on.” I give her a little tug.
“Let’s get lost on our adventure.”
We spend hours exploring the area.
Bubbling waterfalls, secret coves, and sweeping views.
We picnic with our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the top of a hill, with the stretch of sea and sky surrounding us, beckoning us to love harder.
I look at Mckenna and accept that I’ve already fallen.
Hard. Completely and totally.
I am so in love with my wife that I don’t want this moment to end.
And I’m terrified of what will happen when we leave this slice of paradise and return to Boston.
To our uncertain future.
To the shadow cast by Branson Burton.
After a day spent reveling in Mckenna, we return to our hotel.
We’re met with a swarm of paparazzi outside.
Cameras flash, our names are called, and I swear softly.
I glance at Mckenna, waiting for her to shut down and curl into herself.
Instead, my beauty grips my hand harder and straightens her shoulders.
“Are you sure? We can try to slip around back?” I murmur.
Mckenna shakes her head.
“I’m sure, Mav. You’re my husband and this is part of your— our lives.”
My life comes with an invasion of privacy that most people would despise.
I suck in a breath as the truth underlining her words hits me.
This is our new norm and she’s not shirking from it the way she should.
Instead, she’s meeting it, our reality, head on.
Still, I want to keep this as painless as possible.
“Please, just let us enjoy our honeymoon,” I say, keeping my voice easy and light with the paparazzi.
“Just one photo, Mav. Give us one!” a paparazzo bellows.
Mckenna beams next to me, wrapping an arm around my waist. “We can give them one shot, can’t we, Mav?” she teases.
A paparazzo laughs as he snaps a photo.
I smirk and wrap an arm around Mckenna’s shoulders.
I hold her close and watch as she grins at the camera.
But I never take my eyes off her.
Flash. Flash. Flash.
“Good to see you, Mckenna! Your fans miss you!” a man calls out.
“I miss them!” My wife grins.
“But I’ve been enjoying this time with my husband.”
“How’s your honeymoon?” another asks.
“Amazing. Have you gone on a hike yet? This place is gorgeous,” Mckenna answers, her voice easy.
“Is there a baby on the way yet?” a third inquires.
The group laughs.
“Guys—” I start, feeling my anger rise.
But Mckenna shrugs cheekily.
“Too soon to tell.”
I watch in awe as she navigates the paparazzi with ease.
A few months ago, Mckenna hated this part of our lives, now, under even more stressful circumstances, she’s managing it like it’s second nature.
“One last photo, guys. Then, I want to be alone with my husband,” Mckenna says, her voice firm.
And the paparazzi agree.
They don’t try to outmaneuver her.
There’s something akin to respect in their gazes as they raise their cameras.
I pull Mckenna closer, and we both smile for the cameras.
Flash. Flash. Flash.
“Have a great night, guys!” Mckenna announces before the group can make any more demands.
Then, we enter the hotel and retreat to our suite, with Mckenna laughing with the hotel staff as they shield our retreating backs from the paparazzi’s cameras.
When we’re safely inside our suite, I sigh.
“I’m sorry, babe. That was?—”
“To be expected,” Mckenna interrupts with a shrug.
I lift my eyebrows at the understanding in her tone.
Her eyes glitter as she pulls her wild hair back into a messy bun.
“I don’t even want to know where those photos are going to end up,” she says, glancing at herself in the mirror and wincing.
“I look like a mess.”
“You look beautiful,” I refute.
“Happy.”
“I feel happier. Lighter.” She turns toward me, and I’m reminded of the girl from the cove—Mckenna’s all dancing eyes and soulful lips.
Holding my gaze, she pulls off her tank top and wriggles out of her shorts.
Bending, she kicks off her sneakers.
When she’s clad in just a bikini once more, she bites her bottom lip.
“Do you still want me, Mav?” Her voice is strong, but I note the quiver that wavers at the end.
“More than anything in the world.” I tug off my T-shirt and drop it at my feet.
Mckenna takes the first step toward me, and I realize that she’s trying—hell, she’s going above and beyond—to fit into my life, to meet me where I’m at, to be my wife.
Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her against my chest. Her breasts press into my skin, and I nearly groan at the contact.
After our time at the waterfall, I’ve been fantasizing about Mckenna.
About being with her like this—intimate and alone.
Mckenna palms my cheek, and I dip down.
Our lips meet and I realize I was telling the truth.
Kissing her feels like a homecoming.