Maverick (Carter Brothers Book 5)

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Maverick (Carter Brothers Book 5) Page 9

by Lisa Helen Gray


  Shit! I need to get a grip.

  She ignores me, turning to Denny, looking almost shy. “I’m so rude. I’ve come to your wedding when you don’t even know me, and I don’t even introduce myself. I’m Teagan, and my daughter’s name is Faith. Thank you for having us,” she says, her cheeks turning pink. “But you already knew that.”

  I’m starting to find her behaviour and personality really fucking hot. Maybe if I fuck her I’ll be able to get her out of my system. Yeah… not likely to happen.

  But something tells me I’ll need more than one night to get her out of my system. She’s not the type of girl you move on from. She’s a forever kind of girl.

  “It’s fine. I was going to introduce myself to you earlier, but everyone got sidetracked,” Denny muses. “It seems you already know Nan and Joan, so I’ll just introduce us. I’m Denny, obviously, and this is my husband, Mason. The pregnant one is Harlow, and the moody one who looks like he’s ready to commit murder is Malik. You already know Max and Lake, and then there’s Myles and Kayla.”

  “Hey, everyone.” Teagan waves as if she really is just meeting them for the first time instead of acknowledging the fact that she’s been speaking to them for a while. I chuckle, finding the whole thing adorable. When she glares up at me, I want to kiss her pouty lips and soothe those frown lines away, but I stop myself before I do something stupid.

  “Thanks for coming too,” Denny adds quickly. “We’ll have to all meet up soon, fill you in on what these get up to.”

  “I know.” Teagan laughs looking at Joan and Mary. “I feel like I’ve been played. I never knew they had someone else picking them up. Nan made me believe they only let loose once every so often and that I needed to give them a break.”

  “Trust me, that is not the case.” Harlow giggles. “They have everyone on speed dial, I swear.”

  “Can the bride and groom make their way to the dance floor?” the DJ announces, and Denny starts grinning and jumping on the balls of her feet in excitement.

  “Our first dance,” she gushes before dragging Mason away to the makeshift dance floor.

  My lips twitch, happy for my brother, and for Denny. I follow them into the tent, guiding Teagan with my hand at her back. “A Thousand Years” starts playing and Mason spins Denny into his arms, which has her throwing her head back laughing.

  I watch as the cameraman steps out onto the dance floor and gets into their personal space. When he starts snapping photo after photo, I narrow my eyes. Something about him being there pisses me off and I grind my teeth together, wanting to pull the little bastard away so I can give them back their intimate moment.

  “Why do you look like you’re about to murder someone?” Teagan whispers, rising on her tiptoes to reach my ear. Her head only reaches my shoulder.

  “What?” I ask, shaking the violent thoughts away as I concentrate on Teagan.

  “You look like you want to murder someone,” she repeats, her lips twitching. My gaze seems to zoom in on her perfect, plump lips, and I focus on them for a moment too long.

  I laugh, the sound awkward and gruff. “Sorry. It’s just… I thought this was meant to be a big thing,” I blurt out, gesturing to the dance floor, where Denny is laughing at whatever rude comment my brother is no doubt whispering in her ear.

  “It is,” she says, her eyebrows scrunching in confusion.

  “Yeah, I know,” I grumble, feeling like a total dickhead for not explaining myself better. “I just think the photo guy is rude. He’s walked out there like he owns the place. This is their moment,” I explain, and she laughs. Her laughter rings beautifully in my ears and I can’t help but stare down at her, fixating on her slender neck and the way her smile pulls in her tiny dimples, which you can’t see unless she’s smiling. She’s fucking stunning and I don’t even think she knows it.

  “Maverick.” She laughs, softly this time as her eyes lock on mine. “He’s capturing their special moment so Denny and Mason can frame it, keep it, and cherish it. He’s not doing anything wrong.”

  “I just don’t like him.” I shrug, feeling like an idiot. Why didn’t I think about that? No, instead, my thoughts turned dark, as always. It’s just another reminder as to why I could never be with Teagan. She deserves light, good, and a bright, happy future.

  Listen to me, getting all sentimental and shit.

  “Okay.” She giggles, leaning in closer. Her feminine scent, sweet like lilacs surrounds my senses, the aroma intoxicating.

  When Joan pulls Mark onto the dance floor, leaving the kids with one of Denny’s cousins and Mary, my face must look irritable again, or confused because Teagan starts giggling. My lips twitch into a small smirk, knowing I’m being irrational.

  “What now?” I ask, trying to sound scolding, but failing.

  “You look like you want to rip your own Granddad away from the dance floor.” Her giggles turn into full-on laughter and I shake my head in amusement. “They’re supposed to move in for the last part of the dance. All couples are,” she explains. That part doesn’t make sense, but I nod like I understand. When I turn back to the crowd, I notice more couples getting up to dance. Even the people who turned up on their own are grabbing someone, sharing their moment.

  I turn back to Teagan, wondering if this is something she wants to do. My question is answered when I find her eyes sparkling with happiness as she watches everyone dance with their partners, a wistful expression flashing across her face as her body sways side to side with the music.

  Before I can chicken out, I clear my throat. “Do you… do you want to dance?” I ask, holding my hand out while trying to hide how vulnerable I am of her answer.

  “I would love to.” Taking my hand, her smile is so wide that my chest begins to burn. I swear that smile could make the hardest of men fall for her.

  I frown at my trail of thoughts. I don’t know where all this is coming from. I’ve had woman after woman sharing my bed, my desk, or the sofa in my office, but not one has ever made me think of a future or of more. It surprises me how someone so small could affect me so much.

  Pulling her into my arms, I wrap them around her slender waist, sighing contently when she puts hers around my neck. We both step closer, our bodies flush together as we sway back and forth to the music, my pulse skyrocketing at the sensation.

  My dick stirs, twitching, and it shocks the fucking hell out of me. So much so that I nearly trip over my own feet. I haven’t lost control over my own body’s reactions since I was younger. Since I was made to….

  Shaking away my thoughts, I scold myself for even thinking about the past on a day like this. It never does me any good and only puts me in a mood for days, if not weeks. Denny and Mason don’t deserve to have a cloud like that over them on their wedding day.

  I inwardly groan at the feel of her body under my fingertips. The top of her waist is narrow, her body flaring out at the hips and curving in all the right places. I can’t help but enjoy the touch. I only wish I could control my body’s reaction to her, hating that she’s making me lose control. But mostly I hate it because a part of me is enjoying it.

  A little too much.

  Shivers race down my spine and I pull her closer.

  My breath catches as I look down at her. I don’t know if it’s the soft song playing, the way her eyes seem to stare up at me longingly or the feel of her body pressed against mine that makes me lean forward.

  My eyes focus in on her lips, my pulse spiking in my chest as I debate on whether or not to take a chance. I lean in a little more, gauging her reaction. When she freezes, I pause, waiting to see if she’ll push me away. When she doesn’t, I grip her hips tightly. No longer swaying to the music, I press my lips to hers, the thread holding me together snapping.

  The second our lips connect, everything around me melts away. I can no longer hear the music or the people around me. All I can feel is her, the way my body hums to life at her touch.

  Fucking hell.

  Deepening the kiss, I cup her j
aw, the taste of her intoxicating as well as addicting. A kiss has never felt this good, and never has a kiss made me hard as rock.

  Pulling away, I keep my eyes on her, watching her chest rise and fall heavily as she struggles to catch her breath. It’s nice to know she’s just as affected by the kiss as I am, her cheeks flushed and her lips swollen.

  I’ve never wanted a girl like this before, and never has one made me feel anywhere as close to how Teagan makes me feel when I’m around her.

  And now that I know what she tastes like, sounds like when she mewls in pleasure, it’s going to be hard as hell not to pull her away to a quiet place and fuck her senseless.

  I’m so fucking screwed.

  It’s going to be one helluva long night.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  TEAGAN

  Holy crap! I’m drunk, but not drunk enough to not know what I’m doing. I guess I just have more confidence since I’m buzzed. And after the scorching kiss Maverick and I shared earlier this evening, who could blame me for wanting a drink.

  I can still feel his lips on mine, so soft, so tender, yet demanding at the same time. I don’t even know how it happened. One minute we were swaying to the beautiful melody of Christina Perri and the next I couldn’t look away from his dark predatory gaze, my eyes only once flickering to his luscious lips. It was so intense, my heart going crazy, and before I could blink, he was kissing me.

  And it was by far the best kiss I’ve ever had―not that I have a lot to go on.

  “What is this drink?” I giggle, holding the cocktail glass up. I’d talk about anything right now if it would distract my wondrous thoughts away from Maverick.

  “Gavin’s speciality,” everyone says simultaneously.

  I arch my eyebrow when everyone looks horrified at the jug sitting in the middle of the table. There has to be a story there. It can’t be that bad; everyone seems to be drinking it.

  “What? What’s wrong with it?” I ask, looking into the glass―for what, I’m not sure. Bugs? Pills? Sugar? Who the hell knows?

  Maverick boldly pulls me down onto his lap, laughing at my hesitation to take another sip. I’m not even surprised at his open affection; he’s been touchy-feely since our dance, although he hasn’t tried to kiss me again. I don’t know whether to be disappointed by that or not. The jury’s still out.

  Spending the day with him has been really amazing. I’ve gotten to know the real him. He’s more relaxed around his family, the lines around his eyes gone. The one thing that hasn’t changed is his lack of conversation. Don’t get me wrong, he’s spoken to me just fine, but when someone else has walked up to him, he resorts to a one-word vocabulary. I actually find it endearing, and kinda hot.

  “Don’t have more than one glass. One will be enough to give you a hangover,” he warns, smiling up at me.

  “I don’t really get hangovers,” I admit. I always stop drinking once I’ve reached my limit, unless it’s a special occasion; then I go crazy.

  “Trust me, you will,” Lake says, a faraway look in her eyes.

  “Yeah, listen to Mav. You’ll end up stripping, or worse,” Max shudders.

  “What am I missing?” I giggle, looking between everyone. “It can’t be that bad if you’re all drinking it.”

  “Trust me, it’s bad,” Lake groans, taking a sip. “I’ve learnt my lesson and now know never to drink more than one glass.”

  “Why?”

  “Denny got on stage in a hooker outfit the night of her hen party when she drank it. She wanted to strip for Mason,” Harlow tells me matter-of-factly.

  Harlow and Malik are the only sober ones here. She’s done nothing but eat all day and the poor girl is still eating.

  I actually really like her. She’s bubbly, fun, and a lovely woman. Earlier she had me in tears from making me laugh so hard. She was moaning and whining for some salmon sandwiches, practically begging anyone and everyone to make her one. She even went as far as promising to name her first-born after them. But when we looked, there wasn’t any salmon left. Then, like she could sniff him out, she found Max sitting under the table scoffing down the rest of the sandwiches. Thankfully, Malik moved quickly and snatched the last sandwich off him. Harlow looked ten seconds away from losing it, and I felt so sorry for her. Max took it pretty hard, which surprised me, especially when he seems like the type to move heaven and earth for the young woman.

  “She what?” I laugh, remembering what Harlow said. I look to Denny, who smiles. “What else happened?”

  “We got tattoos,” Kayla adds, grinning.

  “No way,” I gasp. I’ve always wanted a tattoo, but I’m too much of a chicken-shit. I had to be pinned down when the doctors took my bloods during my pregnancy, so there’s no way I’d willingly walk into a tattoo parlour and let them stick a needle in me.

  “And Max got arrested for indecent exposure. He also slept on a farm,” Lake giggles.

  “And don’t forget you passed out,” Maverick reminds Lake, causing her to stop giggling.

  “Maybe I’ll just stick to Malibu,” she adds slowly, putting her cocktail down.

  I laugh at her expression, loving the easy conversation flowing between us. There aren’t many guests remaining, leaving us and a few others in the garden.

  Faith and Hope are now inside the house. They both fell asleep around ten, tuckered out from all the dancing and fun they were having. I’m grateful Joan offered to take Faith inside so I could stay with Maverick and his family a little longer. I’m enjoying myself far too much.

  I’ve gotten to know more about the group, falling in love with all of them. I wish I had brothers and sisters, or even a best friend who was like a sister growing up. I didn’t have anyone, not until I ran away. I had no friends, no family, no one who cared about me.

  My nan was ill when my mom died so I was made to move in with my uncle, who was a total stranger to me. He refused to take me to see her, so I had no one.

  My uncle was a violent man and had already made a name for himself in the small town we lived in. No one would talk or look at me, not unless it was to call me names.

  At first I thought it was because I was new, but once my uncle showed me his true colours, I realised all of the hostile behaviour and vile name-calling was because of him. So when I started school, I was pretty much ignored. I kept to myself after that, didn’t even try to make friends.

  The only time I ever interacted with my classmates was the night I got pregnant with Faith.

  Watching Maverick with his family, listening to how close they are and how long they’ve known each other, has me longing for more. I have Tish and my nan now, but seeing these guys as a unit, as a family who would die for each other… I wish I had that.

  Harlow yawns loudly, food halfway to her mouth when Malik gets up, pulling her to her feet. “Come on. It’s late, and you need to rest. Everyone’s leaving anyway,” he tells her when she goes to protest.

  I turn, glancing around the garden to find the last of the guests packing their stuff away. I hadn’t even noticed. Time has flown right by.

  Yawning, I take my phone off the table, gasping when I see it’s one in the morning.

  “Crap! I need to go home and get Faith to bed,” I splutter loudly, jumping off Maverick. I sway slightly at the sudden movement and reach out for the back of the chair to keep myself steady.

  “Calm down.” Maverick chuckles, getting up and standing behind me. “We’ll see you all tomorrow,” he tells the group. They all wave before getting pulled back into whatever topic of conversation they were on.

  “Where’s Faith?” I ask as we step inside Joan’s house. The place is quiet, so my voice echoes in the hallway. Joan startles me when she steps out from the living room, holding her finger across her mouth.

  “Shush, the kids are asleep upstairs.”

  “I need to get Faith home to bed,” I tell her, feeling the effects of the alcohol.

  “Nonsense. She’s asleep with Hope in Lake’s old bedroom. She’s perfect
ly fine, and I have the baby monitor on. You two get going, and you can come pick her up tomorrow. Mark and I are going to bed. It’s been a long day.”

  “No, I can’t leave her,” I rush out, never having left her with anyone other than Tish or my nan.

  “She’s safe here, my darling, and you’ll only be a few doors down.”

  “Huh?” I ask, wondering if I heard her right.

  “Night. See you tomorrow.” She waves, ignoring me as she walks upstairs without looking back.

  What the hell just happened?

  “Did she just kidnap my daughter?” I ask Maverick, kind of awestruck at how easily she manipulated the entire conversation.

  “She has a way of getting her own way,” he tells me, wincing.

  I giggle but then remember the kids are in bed and snap my mouth shut. “Whoops. We should go before I wake them up. I’ll get a taxi back to mine and come pick her up in the morning.”

  “You’re not going home,” he rumbles, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine. My body heats from the sound of the promise in his voice, the night’s cool air soothing my heated skin when we step outside.

  “W-what?” I ask, turning to him.

  “You’re staying with me.” He takes my hand, pulling me against him, and I gasp in surprise. I melt against him, and the feel of his hard body pressed against mine has my thighs clenching together.

  Suddenly, before my brain can comprehend what’s happening or process what he’s doing, his soft, full lips press forcefully against mine, his tongue demanding access. I give it to him.

  The kiss is by far the most intense I’ve ever experienced. I fall into it with as much passion as I can muster, feeling light-headed from my heart beating rapidly in my chest. His tongue caresses mine, the strokes firm and slow, and I moan into his mouth.

  He totally held back earlier.

 

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