by L A Cotton
“There are some things a big brother never needs to hear, Sum, and that is one of them.”
“Maverick,” she sighed, letting Nick pull her to her feet. “We’ve been together almost two-and-a-half years.”
“And it’ll be at least five more before I’m ready to ever imagine the two of you...” I couldn’t say the words. She was my sister.
My baby sister.
“Don’t get any ideas tonight, Sum. Or you.” I side-eyed Nick who blanched.
“Yes, Dad.” She came over to me and Lo, and leaned down, hugging me. “I love you. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Night, guys,” Lo covered for me since I was too choked, and surprised, to reply. When they disappeared inside, she maneuvered herself between my legs, pulling the blanket tighter around us and said, “And then there were two.”
“I have waited all day for this,” I confessed, nuzzling her neck, earning me the sound of her soft laughter.
“Today has been... interesting.”
“Interesting?” My eyes widened. “It’s been my worst nightmare, cooped up with everyone all day.” The snow had fallen heavily until the late afternoon. They’d finally started to clear the roads, but we’d decided to stay put at the cabin. After surviving yet another family meal, we started a fire on the deck and gathered out here, away from the adults and Beth. It was nice. Chilled.
But this—me and Lo alone at last—was better.
“Do you think the roads will be clear enough to drive home tomorrow?”
“Gentry seemed to think they would be, assuming there’s no more snow.”
“I love it here. Maybe we can come back one day?”
“We can come back every year for all I care. But just the two of us. No more family vacations for at least ten years.”
“Maverick.” She pinched my arm. “They’re not that bad.”
“It could be worse, I guess. Nick and Devon could be as bad as Kyle and Jack. I don’t think I could handle four of them.”
“Everyone survived. I’d say that was a success. And we’re going home with not one, but two weddings to look forward to.” There was a hint of bitterness in Lo’s voice.
“You’re not jealous, are you?”
Lo glanced back at me. “Jealous, no. Scared, definitely. Can you imagine Laurie as a bride?”
“It never really occurred to me.”
“That’s because you’ll have to deal with Kyle.”
Fuck. She was right.
“It’s a long way off yet. They both said it’ll be a long engagement. Anyway, I finally have you all to myself, can we talk about something else?”
“Can you believe we’re here?” Lo said sinking back against me. “Two years ago, we were sneaking around behind everyone’s backs, and I still didn’t know if you hated or loved me.” She smirked up at me, and it was my turn to dig my fingers into her sides.
“You knew exactly how I felt.”
“You didn’t always make it easy, Maverick.”
Brushing my lips over her head, I said, “I wish things could have been different back then.”
“We’re here now, that’s all that matters.”
“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Lo. You know that, right?”
“Nothing?” Lo’s lip curved playfully as mischief danced in her eyes.
“London,” I groaned, knowing she was about to rip the rug out from under my feet.
She pouted, leaning up to brush her nose along my jaw. “I’ll make it worth your while, I promise.”
“What is it you want me to do first?”
“Have you ever seen Chalet Girl?”
“Chalet Girl? The film with the British chick and that guy from Gossip Girl? The one with the weird face?”
She gasped. “Ed Westwick is a beautiful man.”
My face screwed up. “He has a permanent ‘smell the fart’ face.”
“Oh my god, you did not just say that.”
I shrugged. “All those re-runs of Friends you made me watch have clearly paid off.”
Lo smiled proudly. “Anyway, as I was saying. You know that scene in Chalet Girl where they’re in the hot tub and then he dares her to get out and jump in the snow...” Lo grinned, stifling the laughter building in her throat.
“You want me to get butt naked, get in the hot tub and then throw myself into the snow? Did Kyle put you up to this?” I glanced round, half-expecting to see him hiding behind one of the trees.
“No one’s out here expect me and you.” Lo said seductively. “And I’m not bothered about the hot tub part.” Her brow quirked up.
“Oh, because that’s the most disturbing part of this challenge.”
“You mean you’ll do it?” Excitement burned brightly in her eyes.
“You really want me to get naked and go snow diving?” I couldn’t believe I was considering it. “What’s my reward?”
“You said there isn’t anything you won’t do for me, well, that works both ways.”
“Anything?” My mind shot off in a hundred different directions.
“I’m not letting you put your dick there, so don’t get any ideas.”
“But you just said—”
Lo slammed her lips to mine, kissing me deeply before whispering, “Anything but anal.”
“Spoilsport.”
“I’m saving it for our wedding night.”
Fuck. Did she really just say that?
“I’m not sure you want to see me naked right now.” I shifted behind her.
“Oh, I do. I most definitely do.”
“You are a strange strange girl, Eloise Stone.” She scooted forward, letting me stand up, and I started unzipping my jacket “I must be crazy,” I murmured to myself
“Crazy for me.”
“Something like that.” I shot her a bemused smile as I began stripping out of my clothes. The winter chill bit at my skin, stinging in places that should have been covered up with layers. Lots and lots of layers.
“Fuck, it’s freezing,” I grumbled.
Nothing about this was going to be nice. In fact, something told me it was going to be downright painful. But I was Maverick Prince. I didn’t back down from a challenge. Even if it meant getting buck naked and diving into a huge pile of snow.
“I promise I’ll warm you up.” Lo rose to her feet and gathered up my clothes.
“Prepare to scream, Lo.” The things I was going to do to her tonight.
She gave me a little smirk before flicking her head over to the pile of snow. “I’m waiting.”
Yanking down my boxer briefs, I cupped my junk, wondering how the fuck I’d gone from wanting to propose to her, to standing here in sub-zero temperatures, naked as the day I was born. But when I looked at her, really looked at her, and saw the complete love and acceptance in her expression, I knew exactly how it had happened.
This girl owned me.
She always would.
And there really wasn’t a single thing I wouldn’t do for her.
I hope you enjoyed catching up with the gang. Kiera and Trey’s book, Wicked Hearts, is coming March 2019, you can pre-order your copy here
Author’s Note
I’m going to keep this brief. I never planned to write this story but so many of you enjoyed Macey and Devon’s story and wanted more that I couldn’t resist revisiting the whole gang again ... as for that proposal, a couple of readers in the spoiler group hinted they would like a Lo / Maverick proposal, but in true Kyle fashion, he had other (thunder-stealing) plans. I’m sure they’ll get their HEA soon though!
Thank you to every single person who has picked up these books. It’s because of you, I keep writing.
Until next time,
L A xo
Excerpt from Loyalty and Lies
Available free on all platforms
The locker next to me slammed shut, and I jumped. "Everything okay?" a deep voice asked.
I looked up and my breath caught. The green eyes staring back at me were the
most beautiful things I had ever laid eyes on, sending a pang of guilt through me. I was so entranced that I didn't notice the rest of his face at first, which, as I pulled my eyes back, I realized was equally as gorgeous.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I managed to choke out, "Hmm, yeah. My toggle's caught."
I tried to shuffle closer to the locker in an attempt to hide, wishing the ground would just swallow me up. It was bad enough that he was talking to me, but I was attached to the locker looking all flustered. Just perfect.
"Let me have a look." He dropped his bag to the floor and reached for the black elastic tethered to my jacket on one end and the plastic toggle on the other. His fingers worked the toggle and with a small tug, I sprang free. "There." He looked down at me and smiled, sending my heart into overdrive. His eyes...wow, they really were something else.
"Thanks. Hopefully, the rest of my day will go better." My eyes fluttered down as I acknowledged the moment. I hadn't interacted with—let alone talked to—a guy in sixteen months. To anyone watching us, it would have looked totally normal, but for me, it was huge. Dr. Simmonds would be so proud.
"Well, my work here is done. I have to get to class. See ya." He brushed past me, and I watched him walk away.
In their usual fashion, my eyes noticed the little things. The way that his shirt clung to his well-defined arms and broad shoulders. His short brown hair, sticking up in different directions. How his jeans hung low off his slim hips. The small, indecipherable tattoo hidden under the shaved hair at the base of his neck. It looked like wings or some kind of leaf, but I couldn’t be sure. Okay, so my eyes noticed everything, but it wasn't until he disappeared out of sight that my world crashed down around me.
What in the hell are you doing? my mind scolded. Shaking the thoughts from my head, I hurried to class and hopefully, my salvation.
I was late. The door opened with a loud creak, and the whole room turned to see who was making all the noise. Sinking into a free seat at the back of the room, I hoped nobody would notice my beet red cheeks.
"As I was saying before we were interrupted, do not expect this class to be easy. Each and every one of you will earn your grade." The tall slim man down on the stage stalked from one end to the other, his stern gaze eyeing the audience.
"Name your price, sir," an unidentified voice called out and a low rumble of snickers broke out around me.
"Who said that? Identify yourself."
Silence fell over the room, and the man pinched the bridge of his nose and heaved a sigh. "I will not be bought, young man. Anyone who thinks as much should transfer out of this class."
At first, I thought it was a joke, but there was a note of sadness in his voice and look of defeat etched into his expression that suggested it wasn't a joke at all. What is it with this place?
The man walked to a small desk at the side of the stage and pressed a button, causing an interactive board to flicker to life. "We start with the classics. Irving, Poe, Twain, Hemingway. You should have all seen a copy of the reading list, purchased, and read said books, but for those of you who did none of the above, catch up. You've got a month before we start comparing works by Poe and Hemingway."
For the next hour, the professor introduced us to the course with a series of slides and a monosyllabic explanation. After a while, his voice became a robotic beat and I was no longer hearing definitive words, only a jumble of sounds and grunts.
My eyes wandered from my position at the back of the room. It was a first-year course, so I figured most, if not all, of the students were freshmen. Some yawned, doodling on their notebooks, while others were holding their own whispered conversations. I even spotted one guy, sitting two rows in front of me, asleep. As I chuckled under my breath, my pen started to roll and before I could catch it, it dropped off the end of the table, clattering to the floor.
A couple of heads turned in my direction, but I ignored their stares and leaned down to pick up the pen. My fingers fumbled around until I grasped it and straightened in my seat. Someone on the end of the row in front of me was turned in my direction, watching me. Except it wasn't just anyone—it was toggle guy. His greens sparkled, widening slightly in recognition as a slow smile spread over his face. We stayed that way for a few seconds, staring at each other, before the redhead sitting next to him placed her hand on his arm and commanded his attention. She glanced behind her, locking eyes with mine. They spoke volumes as they narrowed at me, and I received her message loud and clear: Back off, he's mine.
The professor’s voice cut through our stare off. "...I want a two-thousand word paper on your favorite classic author, due next week. Class dismissed."
The room erupted into chaos as students packed up and hurried out of the room. I hung back, preferring to avoid the crush. Besides, I was in no great hurry to get to the cafeteria and endure Elena trying to talk me into yet another party.
I couldn't help but watch toggle guy and the redhead. She seemed to hang off his every word as they headed up the stairs toward the exit. Toward me. She stood close to him, mirroring his stride, but he seemed less interested in her. When they reached me, she let out a snort of disapproval, but the guy smiled right at me, and my stomach fluttered. It was only subtle, and if I had been moving, I probably wouldn't have noticed, but it happened...I had felt it. The feeling was strange—alien, something I had only ever experienced with one other person, and not in a very long time. The torrent of emotion left me a little winded. The sadness, the memories, the regret...the excitement. It wasn't right, though, to be feeling a rush of excitement after everything. I didn't deserve it.
About the Author
Edgy. Angsty. Addictive Romance
Author of mature young adult and new adult novels, L A is happiest writing the kind of books she loves to read: addictive stories full of teenage angst, tension, twists and turns.
Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time writer with being a mother/referee to two little people. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find L A immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.
L A loves connecting with readers. The best places to find her are:
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM
Official Website
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Also by L. A. Cotton
Chastity Falls
Loyalty and Lies
Salvation and Secrets
Tribulation and Truths
Affliction
Redemption and Regrets
Penance and Promises
Absolution
Fate's Love
Fate's Love
Love's Spark
Love Collides
Liar Liar
Liar Liar
Truth or Dare
The Maverick Defense Series
Deliverance
Wicked Bay
Wicked Beginnings
Wicked Rules
Wicked Lies
Wicked Games
Wicked Needs
Wicked Surprise
Wicked Hearts (Coming Soon)
Standalone
Lucky Penny
Chastity Falls: Box Set
Chastity Falls: Limited Edition Box Set
Watch for more at L. A. Cotton’s site.
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