Chapter 9 #2
I rose higher and higher, my breath catching and heart racing as I chased my release.
The need to come took over my rational thought as I moaned, not caring that the space I currently resided in had abnormally thin walls.
Or perhaps my need to take some measure of control over my life meant I didn’t care who heard.
My lungs screamed for air and my head swam as my body reached the cliff’s edge, ready to tumble over into oblivion.
The faceless man whose shoulders I imagined scraping my nails against looked up from where he rested between my legs.
The features morphed into a striking man with black hair and blue eyes.
Strands of dark fringe fell into his eyes as he buried his face into my neck and kissed along my collarbone.
“Such a good fucking girl for me. Taking everything I have to give and begging for more. Would you like that, pet? To take my cock so deep you feel it with every step you take tomorrow.”
My eyes popped open and I sucked in a sharp inhale, determined to draw breath back into my oxygen-starved brain.
The vision of Maverick came into sharp focus just as my index and middle finger tapped my clit, overstimulating the sensitive bud as my footing slipped, and I fell over the edge, letting the intense orgasm rip through my body.
The scalding water continued to beat against my back as my hips bucked and my knees locked.
The nails of my left hand scrambled along the wet, slick tile, desperate for something to hold on to as wave after wave of pleasure ensnared my body.
My lips parted and I moaned, the noise obscenely loud in the small space, before the sound turned into a strangled yelp, and I threw myself forward, almost slipping and falling through the glass door.
Icy cold water poured from the shower spout, drenching my overly hot and sensitive skin. Scrambling backward, I shut my eyes as the droplets splashed against my face. I groaned again, this time louder and in anger as I blindly reached for the faucet to turn the water off.
Just as my hand grasped the metal handle, someone threw open the bathroom door. It hit the opposite wall with a sharp bang, and I opened my eyes and cowered against the shower wall.
The object of my fantasy stood in the doorway, all six-foot-whatever of him, as his eyes darted from me to the shower and then to the ceiling.
I’d rather face a firing squad than have this man see me in all my unshaven glory, but I braced myself for the onslaught of goose bumps and chattering teeth and stepped fully under the cold spray to turn it off.
I whimpered as the water sputtered and stopped, wishing a sink hole would open and swallow me whole.
“What in the hell are you doing in here?” I seethed while trying to cover myself.
The glass door did little to hide my nakedness, and my arms could only do so much to hide my boobs.
I crossed my legs and used one hand to cover my pussy, clenching my teeth as a throb echoed through my stomach, reminding me of the orgasm that had racked through my body before this ridiculous interruption.
“I heard screaming! What did you expect? For no one to make sure you were okay?”
The insult I’d prepared to hurl at him fell flat as a realization hit me square in the jaw. That was exactly what I had expected—for no one to investigate the source of my screams.
Remnants of a memory surfaced and I swallowed, refusing to give any more thought to the time I tripped and fell down our porch steps. My ex hadn’t bothered to check on me until he’d gotten tired of listening to me yell for him.
“Yes!” I cried, trying unsuccessfully to remove a strand of hair that was plastered to the side of my face. “Now get out of here. As you can plainly see, I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not,” Maverick replied, tossing me my robe from where it laid over the sink.
He at least had the decency to stare at the ceiling as I pulled the flimsy material around my freezing body.
“Your skin is red and covered with goose bumps, and your teeth are chattering even though your cheeks are scarlet.”
“Then, obviously, I was in mortal danger instead of simply surprised by the sudden change in water temperature.” My body shook and my arms trembled as I wrapped them around myself.
“Shit,” Maverick grumbled, grabbing a fluffy blue towel from the rack and stepping forward to wrap it around me. His hands rubbed my arms then moved to my back as I breathed deeply, closing my eyes and taking in the pleasant scent of fresh cotton.
My head drooped as the adrenaline from having that blasted man running into the bathroom faded, replaced with the groggy need to have a large mug of hot chocolate and wrap myself in a warm blanket.
“I was concerned something was wrong and neglected to notice how cold you are.”
“Um. I’m fine. All good. Wait a sec… What are you doing here? It’s nighttime, right?”
“It’s barely past six, actually.” He chuckled, removing one arm from my shoulder to pull a lock of hair from my forehead and tuck it behind my ear. I flinched as his hand came closer, then leaned into his touch as I felt the gentle tips of his fingers caress my cheek.
“I came over to help Mom with the pups and your dad was outside on the porch. He had a question about the kitchen upgrades, and we were fairly involved in a heated chess game before your shrieks of terror started.”
“Wait, you’re playing chess with my dad?” I asked, getting whiplash from how fast my mood was shifting.
“Yeah, and he’s teaching me a thing or two. I used to play chess with my dad.”
A wave of sadness washed over me as his head dropped and I heard him swallow before he continued to rub my shoulders and back.
Losing a parent was something no one could understand—until they could.
It was an ever-present mixture of sadness and guilt intermingled with memories and happiness.
There was no point in spouting empty platitudes, and I didn’t ask any follow-up questions, recognizing from his look that part of our conversation was over.
Instead, I focused on how good his hands felt on my body and imagined how they would feel on my bare skin. Mental images of our bodies entwined flashed before my eyes, and I squeezed them shut until it disappeared. My cheeks heated as I realized how close we were and how exposed I was.
The closeness I felt toward him went from comforting to unnerving and completely baffled me. But the peace I felt with him could not be denied. How long had it been since someone cared enough to simply check on me and then provide comfort?
Too long.
“I’m rather warm now,” I whispered, opening my eyes and looking up, then up some more to meet his gaze. They were bluer than the clearest ocean on a summer day, and the longer we stayed connected, the deeper I fell.
No. No. No, I chanted in my head. There was no way I could be feeling things for this grump of a man. Nada. Nope. It had simply been too long since I’d had any form of intimacy, and I’d mistakenly assumed Maverick’s penchant for making sure I was not dying was something it was definitely not.
Still, those baby blues held a depth I hadn’t seen before, and a pathetic part of me wanted to tease apart each thought that swirled behind them until everything was bared to me.
“Yes,” he agreed, voice raspy and deep, like crunching ice on a hot day. “Hot, I’d say. Especially if the color of your neck is anything to go by.”
Maverick stepped back and so did I, feeling my wet skin press against the cool glass of the shower door.
“I suppose,” he continued, “since you weren’t actually in mortal danger, I should go so you can finish your shower.”
“I’m good, thanks,” I said, pulling the towel from around my chest and wrapping it around my shoulders to sop up some of the water from my hair. “And I suppose I should say thank you for rushing to my aid, even if it was only to save me from the threat of cold water.”
“Don’t mention it. I’ll give the bathroom a once over to make sure any faulty parts are replaced.”
“Oh. That’s unnecessary. I’m perfectly capable of fixing this.” I waved behind me, then dropped my head to my chest and closed my eyes.
“Yeah, right. If that was the case, you’d be able to take a shower without screaming. It sounded like a banshee got stuffed into a garbage disposal up here.”
“Perhaps I was screaming for another reason,” I said with clenched teeth, pressing one hand to my heated cheek.
Damn. That was not what I meant to say. Sarcastic comments and witty replies were my forte—not baseless flirting with a man who sees me as some helpless girl who can’t care for her father properly.
“Oh?” he said as his voice took on a teasing tone. “I’d love to know what exactly made you sound like that. Enlighten me, Summer.”
Teasing? What? Nothing this man did suggested he had a teasing bone in his body, let alone the capacity for more than one-word answers.
But here we were, having a normal conversation like two civilized people, even if one was only wearing a soggy, silk bathrobe and the other took up the entire door frame with his bulk.
“Well, if that was a scream from a single-handed moment of passion, I’d humbly suggest you were doing something wrong in there.” Maverick winked, and I scrunched my eyebrows before feeling my cheeks redden further—the feeling having nothing to do with the rising temperature in the small room.
“I’m perfectly aware of how to do that, thank you very much.” I huffed, crossing my arms and wiggling my toes on the fluffy mat.
“You know, if your douche of an ex couldn’t get the job done, I’ll be glad to lend my expertise.
” Maverick crossed his arms and leaned closer, arching one eyebrow like he spent his thirties studying the Kama Sutra and was eager to spread his knowledge to the hapless female standing practically naked in the bathroom.
“I’m sorry. What now?” I asked, taking a step closer to him, somehow managing to drag the soaking wet robe off me while keeping the towel—and my modesty—firmly in place.
“You barge into my bathroom. Dry me off. Tell me I’m no good at fixing things.
Make nice with my dad. Insult my relationship choices.
Then…flirt? My brain was already at its maximum capacity for the day, and now you’re trying to push me over my limit.
” I rubbed my left temple, willing the ache to disappear.
“I wasn’t trying to push you. Just trying to diffuse the tension.
You’re sopping wet in a towel and I’m, well, not.
I wasn’t trying to insult your intelligence or your ex.
” Maverick rubbed the back of his neck and stepped back until he got to the doorway.
The cool breeze from the hallway had me shivering as I grabbed another towel from the rack and twisted it into my hair.
“Oh, insult that idiot all you want. He’s the primary source of my heartburn these days. But maybe another time. Right now, I’d like to get by you and go to bed. I’ll leave you to your chess game,” I said, moving to stand in front of him.
He stepped back—not enough for me to pass beside him, but far enough away that only our shoulders touched. I leaned into him again, this time realizing how much I missed basic human touch.
Maverick turned, leaning on the frame as I stood in the hallway, making sure the towel was secured.
“I don’t want to talk about my ex, other than stating if given the choice, I’d unplug his life support to make a cup of coffee.”
“Damn. Remind me not to get on your bad side.”
“Yes, well. I’ve reached the age where my brain goes from ‘Wow, you shouldn’t have said that’ to ‘What the hell? Let’s see what happens.’”
His laughter filled the small space, and I quickly looked away after catching myself glancing between his blue eyes and watching the way his broad shoulders shook as he laughed.
Get a grip on your hormones, woman.
“Right. Off to bed. Thanks again for saving me from the threat of cold water.” I lifted my hand in a halfhearted wave and turned, barely hearing his next words.
“I’ll take care of everything, Summer. You just sleep, pretty girl.”