Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
NEVAEH
Warmth spreads through me, consuming my entire body and I know it’s coming from the man holding me. Never in my life have I ever felt this secure. This safe. It’s absolute wonderful bliss, but it’s also not real. Nor should I be in his arms.
Last night after my weak protest I caved into my desire to lay in the same bed with Maverick. I did this mostly because I knew I wanted to be close to him, but I shouldn’t have. Laying with him is supposed to be like eating a forbidden fruit, knowing I shouldn’t.
It took me forever to fall asleep and we were on complete opposite ends of the bed.
Not that it was much space between us, and Gizmo had climbed his way up and started purring while laying between us.
So, I’m not sure how I ended up with Maverick’s arms wrapped around me, my back tucked to his front.
No matter how good it feels, I have to move. Get up and get out of this bed before he wakes up.
I should have protested further last night when I tried to go sleep on the couch. On top of that, I shouldn’t have worn his tee to sleep in.
Damnit, I’m all kinds of foolish. He now knows I stole one of his shirts to sleep in. In fact, it’s my favorite sleep shirt and wear it more often than I should.
Slowly, I inch out of his arms and breathe a sigh of relief when I’m out of bed.
I glance back to see Maverick still sound asleep.
Needing the bathroom, I tiptoe to it and close the door.
I do my business, brush my teeth, and brush my hair out.
Once I feel refreshed, I step back into the bedroom, my eyes going straight to Maverick.
Before I can think to do something stupid, I shake my head and head out of the room in search of the kitchen with the hopes of there being coffee, sugar, and milk. I need my caffeine. I always do first thing in the morning. If I don’t get it my brain stays in a fog for hours on end.
It’s not hard to find the kitchen since it’s on the same floor as the room we stayed and it’s huge as well as connected to the living area making the space so open. Thankfully, even more, the first cabinet I open, I find the coffee and sugar. Glancing in the fridge, I see it’s fully stocked.
Yes.
I prep and start the coffee immediately and find myself a mug to put it in once ready.
In no time at all, I have my coffee in hand as I make my way over to the sliding glass door and out onto the balcony. At first glance, the sight in front of me takes my breath. It’s beautiful the way waves roll onto the beach. Complete serene, that’s what this is.
I barely get my cup set down on the railing when arms circle me.
“Morning, Sweets,” Maverick says, voice husky, still filled with sleep.
My heart putters in my chest, and my breath catches at his touch. “What are you doing?” I blurt because my brain is definitely still in a fog with only the one sip so far.
“I’m tellin’ you good morning,” he answers, his lips right there at my ear, close enough they brush against the shell of it.
Tendrils of desire race through me, and I fear what could come of that feeling. It scares me because I want it so much, yet I shouldn’t.
“Maverick,” I whisper and turn slightly in his arms to see his face. What I see nearly has me losing my breath altogether. Those eyes of his are gorgeous with the way the light hits them. “What are you doing?” I ask again.
Maverick smirks, keep one arm around my waist, the other hand coming up to cup the side of my face. “I’m tellin’ you good morning.” Leaning in, he brushes his lips against mine, surprising me with how soft they are.
I don’t have experience with men. Not really, before my world was tipped upside down, I’d never had a boyfriend.
Any guy who talked to me, I knew it was to use me to get in good with my brothers.
Those who did want to date me, my brothers intervened.
They’d been protective, and in doing so, I never had a real first kiss.
The ‘Master’ thankfully didn’t put his lips to mine or any of ours.
This means Maverick just gave me my first kiss. How sad is that.
I jerk away slightly and stare at him with wide eyes. “You kissed me,” I murmur dumbfoundly.
“Yeah,” he murmurs and brushes his lips against mine once more. This time lingering.
I sigh and lean into Maverick allowing the moment to continue.
Maverick slips his tongue in my mouth and my world teeters with how amazingly beautiful the kiss turns into.
I spin fully into his arms, wrapping mine around his neck while he pulls me flush to him, taking his time exploring my mouth.
It feels amazing, and I become consumed with the moment, so much so I forget everything else.
Everything except for Maverick and how he’s kissing me.
Maverick slides a hand down to palm my ass and that touch alone draws a moan from my lips.
It’s better than I’ve dreamed about and I long for more of his touch.
I need it. How he can make me want something so desperately is beyond me, but I love it and want to feel more of him. I need to feel every bit of it.
Just as the kiss starts to turn even more, catcalls from behind us interrupt the moment, and Maverick rips his lips from mine, holding me closer as he turns us to face not only Sabotage but also Pirate and Wrath.
My face heats with embarrassment.
“Thought you fuckers weren’t coming until later.” Maverick growls, and I mean actually growls, nearly sounding like a wild animal, the way he says those words as if he were pissed at being interrupted.
I’m not sure how I feel about the interruption, well beside being embarrassed. If they hadn’t stopped us what would have happened between Maverick and me? It was a beautiful kiss. The best. I loved it and want to do more of it, though I’m scared.
What would have happened if we’d . . .
“You know I’m not a fan of fuckin’ traffic.
” Sabotage snorts and shakes his head, grinning.
For an older guy, he’s hot. Ryann has told me several times about how she thought he was drop-dead gorgeous and would jump his bones, but he’s got at least seventeen years on us. More than that, he’s Fawn’s dad.
Fawn said he and her mom were young when she was born and when she split, he took being her dad serious and was always there for her. I found this interesting and awesome all at the same time.
“Know that, but you could have fuckin’ came later in the day.” Maverick grunts, relaxing a bit, his arms still around me, holding me to him.
“True.” Pirate chuckles. “But then we wouldn’t have the day to enjoy the beach.”
“Exactly.” Wrath laughs. “You can’t be the only ones to enjoy the water.”
I stiffen slightly remembering that we’re at the beach and . . . there’s a chance Maverick could see . . . I close my eyes and try to push the thought from my head.
“Sweets,” Maverick calls, getting my attention as he turns me to face him. He grips my chin and forces me to look up at him. Those dark green eyes of his assessing, looking deep in mine. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head because there’s no way in hell I’m about to fill him in on what’s wrong.
“Come on, you two,” Sabotage says, cutting through the moment. “There’s coffee, and I fuckin’ need a cup.”
“Same, brother, fuckin’ same.” Pirate huffs. “I need caffeine if I intend to be able to stay up. I worked through the night before packing my shit to come down here.”
“Fucker, you never sleep,” Wrath remarks.
I try to focus on their conversation as they walk back into the house, but my attention is captured by Maverick, who cups my cheek in one hand and palms my ass in the other.
“Talk to me, Nevaeh.”
I lick my lips, entranced by his eyes and that gruffness in his voice. “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because . . . I just can’t.”
“You can, Sweets,” he utters, leaning forward to press his forehead to mine. “You gotta know you can trust me with anything and everything, Nevaeh. I’m here for you. Not just as your friend, but your man.”
My eyes widen at the declaration, and I lean back to take him in fully. “My man?” I barely manage to get out on a breath.
“Yeah, your man. And you’re my fuckin’ woman.”
“How do you figure?” This is too much—more like too good to be true.
“Nevaeh, you’ve been mine since the day we saved you, Ryann, Peyton, and Fawn.
I was giving you time. Honestly, too much time has gone by.
I was even willing to let you go so you can heal, but that’s something I’m not about to do anymore.
I’m not letting you go. Nor am I letting you think of yourself as anything other than mine. ”
Whoa.
Um.
Wow.
“But . . . I’m dirty.”
The words barely leave my lips before he plants his on mine, kissing the daylights out of me. When he lifts his mouth from mine, I’m left breathless all over again.
“You’re not dirty, Sweets. You give me the chance, I’ll prove to you how clean you are,” he says huskily.
I open my mouth to say something when from in the house, I hear Pirate yell, “Hey, cool cat.” Then he shouts. “Fuck, the fucker just bit me.”