Maverick (Carter Brothers Book 5)

by Lisa Helen Gray

He pulls me between his legs, his hands making their way down to my lower back, grabbing my ass, and squeezing the soft flesh.

  I moan louder from the demanding, possessive touch and try to step back, needing to take a breath. He only lets me take one, watching me closely before kissing me again with ferocity.

  His hands move from my ass to grip my hips, his hold firm before he lifts me off my feet. I wrap my legs around his toned waist, knowing if I don’t let myself experience this kind of need, this kind of desire at least once in my life, I’ll forever regret it. I’m fed up of living with regrets and ‘what-ifs.’ Now is the time for doing, for living. I don’t know whether it’s the drink talking or not, and I don’t really care; I just know I’ll never regret giving myself to this man. I’ve only really known him for a day but I’m that sure of him, I’m willingly giving myself to him. It might make me a slut, but I don’t care, because at the end of the day I want this. I want this more than anything. The connection between us is blinding, intense, passionate, and I know he feels it too.

  I hadn’t even realised we had moved until he sets me down outside what appears to be an abandoned house. The wind blows, whipping my hair into my face. A cloud of doubt hits me for a second, but it’s gone the minute his eyes land on mine. His gaze is filled with desire, lust and a primal need. I’ve never been on the receiving end of a look that intense before. I feel special, sexy and wanted.

  “I’ve wanted to do that again all day.” His voice is raspy, and the look he gives me sends tingles all the way down to my toes. I melt against him, my eyes softening at his declaration.

  “W-where are we?”

  “Mine,” he growls, pushing the door open before pulling me back into his arms.

  We’re all mouths, tongues and hands as he carries me up the stairs, neither of us willing to let go. The minute we hit what feels like the tenth floor, I’m back on my feet and slammed against the closed door in seconds. His hands run up my bare leg beneath the dress’s split and my skin burns at the touch. I throw my head back against the door, moaning.

  “Oh God,” I cry when he licks the inside of my thigh. “Please.”

  A deep guttural sound comes from Maverick as he lifts the dress higher, bunching it up around my waist. His hot breath brushes against my soaked knickers and I want to die right there, knowing he can not only feel how wet I am but see it too. His teeth scrape across my sex, his tongue rough against the sensitive spot. I reach out, grabbing his hair to keep my balance as he continues to drive me wild. I’ve never felt anything like this before.

  I never knew anything could feel like this.

  The sound of fabric ripping gains my attention and I look down, finding him tucking the scrap of my lace knickers into his pocket. His eyes reach mine, dark from what I can see in the dimly lit room. My breath hitches when he kneels before me. Without taking his eyes off me, he pulls my lips apart, opening the most private part of my body, making me feel vulnerable. I’ve never done this before and if I’m honest, I’m nervous as hell. But as soon as I see his tongue snake out, all thoughts are lost. Pleasure consumes me as he licks my slit, the pad of his tongue sending delicious sparks through my sex and all the way to my toes.

  “Yes,” I sigh, then again when his finger circles my entrance, making me gasp in surprise.

  Yes, I could definitely get used to this.

  My hips buck towards him of their own accord and my cheeks heat, more so when Maverick growls against me, lifting my leg and placing it over his shoulder, giving him better access. Puffs of air leave me in pants as I try to control what I’m feeling, but it’s no use; he’s manipulating my body with that talented tongue of his, driving me closer and closer to what I can only describe as heaven.

  “Oh, God, yes,” I scream. My hips move faster, my movements jerky, but I don’t care. I just need a little―Maverick’s fingers curl inside me and another scream bubbles out of my mouth. My whole body coils so tightly that my back arches away from the door as my lower half continues to spasm. The sensations are overwhelming, becoming too much and yet not enough at the same time.

  All too soon the pleasure starts to ease, leaving a low ache in my core and my clit sensitive. Maverick takes one last lick before rising, his mouth glistening with my juices, and I find myself thinking how hot he looks and wondering how I taste all at the same time.

  Without thinking, I step forward, grabbing his tie. I balance on my tiptoes, licking the corner of his mouth before reaching his lips. It doesn’t take long for him to take control of the kiss, an animalistic growl rumbling from his chest.

  “Fuck, I need you so badly,” he grunts, picking me up. His free hand comes between us, and then a deafening cry tears from my throat as he enters me in one punishing thrust. I should be disappointed that he’s still mostly clothed, his trousers only pulled down enough to free himself, but nothing matters apart from the feel of him sliding inside me.

  Nothing could ever compare to this―to him.

  “Kiss me,” I whisper.

  His dark eyes catch mine in a heated stare, his thrusts slower, hesitant. When I bite my lip, waiting patiently to see what he’ll do, he groans, closing his eyes like he’s in pain. His kiss is hard, forceful, and the minute I have his tongue on me again, I moan. This kiss is nothing compared to the intensity of our earlier one. This time it’s more powerful and I cling to him, devouring him as he claims me.

  He lifts me higher up the door, the new angle making my eyes roll and my toes curl. He’s been rough, something I never thought I’d like, but I do and with Maverick, I want more. My hands go to move down his back, wanting to feel him, but he startles me when he roughly grabs my wrists and pushes them against the wall. He holds them there in one hand while the other slides down to my hips, gripping me there tightly as he continues to thrust. I feel completely and utterly fucked. The pleasure begins to build again, this time more intense, and a garbled sound escapes me.

  “No touching,” he rasps. A part of me knows I should be asking why, but his mouth is on my neck, nipping and biting, and I lose all sense of thought.

  “Please,” I beg, feeling closer to the edge.

  “Fuck,” he curses and starts slamming inside me, his thrusts becoming painful but nevertheless pleasurable.

  This is what I’ve been missing out on all these years. Good to know.

  My first time wasn’t exactly memorable or even pleasurable, and something tells me this isn’t something I can experience with just anybody.

  This is all Maverick.

  He’s incredible.

  He feels incredible.

  I’ve never felt anything like this and I want more―need more.

  The pleasure keeps building and when my orgasm tears through me without any warning, I slam my head back against the door, screaming out my release.

  Maverick keeps thrusting, his body slick with sweat before he stills. Groaning out his own release, his eyes never leave mine, the intensity filling them nearly blinding me.

  He lets go of my wrists to hold onto my hips, keeping me upright. Our breathing is heavy, his breaths blowing against my ear when he drops his head into the crook of my neck. My eyes close as sparks of pleasure continue shooting through my body, my sex twitching.

  I can’t believe I’ve just been fucked against a door. Seriously, could I be any more of a slut?

  I wince when Maverick pulls out and am thankful he keeps a hold of me as he carries me to the huge bed in the middle of the room and lays me down. My legs are the consistency of jelly and I’m pretty sure I’ve lost all feeling in them, but I feel awkward just lying here.

  Do I talk? Thank him? Give him a thumbs up? What the hell am I supposed to do?

  “Um…,” I mumble as I climb under the blanket, covering myself up.

  Maverick chuckles, looking down at me with eyes filled with lust and desire. From the time it took him to carry me to the bed, he’s tucked himself back in, leaving his button and zip undone. He unbuttons his shirt and my eyes widen.


  “We’re not finished, and covering yourself isn’t going to stop me from consuming you, fucking you until you can’t remember your own name,” he warns huskily.

  Okay. “I’m pretty sure I’ve already forgotten my name,” I gulp and he chuckles again, shaking his head.

  When he lifts the blanket off me, I shiver, watching his eyes skim slowly over my body. His tongue snakes out, wetting his bottom lip, and my heart stops, my body already primed and ready for him.

  Paralysed by the look he gives me, I don’t argue when he sits me up and lifts my dress over my head, never once taking his eyes off me. I’m only wearing a strapless bra and I want to cover up, hide my stretch marks and Buddha belly, but something in his gaze has me pausing, shifting slightly.

  A primal look flashes across his face as he continues to strip out of his tux. He kicks off his trousers and I’m left staring at the magnificent body in front of me. Tattoos cover his chest―a dragon on his ribs, breathing fire, and a tribal tattoo which reaches from his neck down his bicep. He has many others, but it’s the scripted quote below his heart that has me pausing.

  I’ve always known there was more to Maverick, more than he let on, and seeing his tattoo proves my theory.

  ‘You did not break me for I am not what happened to me.’

  My eyes sting from seeing the tender, heartbreaking words on a strong, dominant man. It just adds to his allure, his mystery, which is something he has in bucketloads.

  He sees where I’m looking and a dark expression passes over his face. Instead of staring and questioning, I further inspect his tattoos, smiling when I see ‘My brothers’ keeper,’ scrolled into his bicep.

  “You really are your brothers’ keeper.”

  A sad smile forms on his lips.

  “No more talking. You’re mine,” he growls before kissing me.

  He keeps his promise, making me forget about his tattoos, my own name and everything else in my life.

  This has without a doubt been the best night of my life.

  CHAPTER NINE

  TEAGAN

  Stretching, I can’t help but groan out loud at the delicious ache running through me. Last night, after round two, I passed out, but then was woken up in the early hours of the morning to Maverick entering me. It was different, slower, but dynamic nonetheless.

  I’ve never felt so connected to anyone in all my life. The moment he entered me, time stopped, and it felt magical. There’s no other way to explain the feeling or rush that passed through us in that moment; it was everything I dreamt my first time to be―perfect.

  He was perfect.

  I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want him―and boy, do I want him.

  Now my body craves him.

  I turn to his side of the bed, frowning when I find it empty. The bed is cold where he slept, and disappointment rings through me. I had hoped he would be here when I woke up so we could maybe have a shower together or whatever two people do after a night of hot, sweaty sex.

  Sitting up, I find a pile of clothes at the end of the bed with a note on them. Picking it up with a smile, I read over the simple words, my smile slipping.

  Meet me downstairs.

  His cold words send a shiver down my spine as tears gather behind my eyelids. Why he’s acting this way, I have no idea, but I’m determined to find out. He can’t deny we had a connection last night. Even when he fucked me against the wall, I felt it, but when he woke me up, making love to me, something I’ve never felt before blossomed in the very pit of my stomach and a magnetic force pulled us together. It was too powerful to ignore.

  Grabbing my phone, I see it’s nine and decide to hurry up and catch him before everyone else wakes up―if they’re not already awake, that is. Plus, I really need to get Faith since she’ll be waking up in a strange place, wondering where the hell I am.

  The clothes are my size and thankfully, he managed to get me some new underwear, the tags still attached to them. This has me adding more questions to the list I want to ask him. I mean, does he have a stash of girl’s clothes somewhere in different sizes for all his conquests, or am I special?

  The sarcasm isn’t lost on me and I groan, walking over to the en-suite bathroom to take a shower.

  *** *** ***

  The simple pair of black leggings and loose, baggy T-shirt left for me fit perfectly. Even the trainers I didn’t see before because they were left on the floor fit well. I don’t know whether to find the whole act sweet or disturbing. Either way, I’m going to get some answers out of him.

  Walking down the stairs, I hear voices and immediately want to run back upstairs and hide. There’s no way I can confront Maverick with his whole family around, especially when I’m doing the walk of shame. I’m just glad I’m not in yesterday’s clothes.

  “Go and wake her,” Max snaps, sounding grouchy. “Harlow will have eaten all the food by now.”

  “Will you shut up,” Maverick growls as I round the corner and step into the room. Everyone pauses what they’re doing to look at me. Max is the first to speak, a small smirk playing on his lips.

  “Well, don’t you look like you just got fucked.”

  My face heats and I look away, embarrassed. Hearing a yelp, I snap my eyes up as Maverick steps away from Max, who is rubbing the back of his head, his eyes narrowed warily on Maverick.

  “Can we go eat now?” Max whines.

  “Yes.” Lake smiles, jumping up.

  Max moves so quickly he knocks his chair back. I chuckle, earning a look from him that says ‘shut up.’ I do, but I find it hard to hide my smirk.

  “Come on, we should go with them. Joan is waiting to feed us,” Maverick says, startling me. It’s the first time he’s looked at me since I walked into the room, and the blank look in his eyes has my hands shaking and my cheeks burning.

  “Can we talk first?” I ask, my voice small and hesitant, which I hate. I’m usually more confident with myself to be able to speak my mind, but as per usual, Maverick has me in a jumbled mess.

  “Look… last night was really fun, but I have a lot going on….” He trails off and it feels like he’s kicked me in the stomach.

  Embarrassed I even asked, or thought someone like him would be interested in more than one night with me, I nod, fighting tears. How could I have been so stupid? The thought of him blowing me off never even crossed my mind.

  “I need to go and get Faith anyway,” I tell him, my voice hoarse from talking past the lump in my throat.

  “Yeah,” he says, then clears his throat, gesturing me to follow him. I fold up my dress, holding it to my chest as I follow him out.

  The walk to Joan’s house is awkward and silent. I shouldn’t have expected anything less, but he could have at least said something. “I’m sorry” would’ve been sufficient.

  When we walk in, I’m surprised to find everyone in the living area. All the furniture has been moved to the sides of the room to make space for the large table they have in the middle.

  I find my way over to Faith, smiling down at her. “Hey, beautiful. Did you sleep okay?”

  She beams, jumping off her chair and lifting her arms up to me. I groan when I pick her up. She’s getting too old for this, and a lot heavier than she used to be, but I don’t care. I love our cuddles and she’ll always be my baby girl.

  “I had the best night ever! I went to bed really late. All my friends are going to be so jealous at school. I’m going to tell them all about Hope and Imogen. They’ll be so jealous, Mummy. Joan said I can come back and sleep over all the time. Even tonight. And she said I could go out with her and Nanny together,” she rushes out so fast I’m pretty sure I missed half of it.

  I smile, but then it registers what she said. “I think day trips with Nanny and Joan should be supervised,” I tell her. Denny and Harlow giggle, covering their mouths, and I shake my head at their antics.

  “It’s been so cool,” Faith gushes, ignoring what I said since she pretty much knows she rules me.

  “I’
m glad you’ve had a good time, baby, but we have to go. Why don’t you go say goodbye to your friends?”

  Everyone in the room goes silent and I close my eyes, wishing I was invisible.

  “Go?” Faith asks, her bottom lip trembling. I want to groan, but with everyone watching I act neutral.

  “Sweetie, we have to go back.”

  “No! I promised Hope I’d stay, and Nanny Joan said I could have as much bacon as I wanted.” Her eyes begin to water. I hate upsetting her.

  I’d rather cut off my own arm than ever hurt her.

  “Come on, dear. Take a seat and eat some breakfast. I’m sure you can spare twenty minutes,” Joan says and I look up, finding everyone staring at me. The only one who isn’t is Maverick, but that doesn’t surprise me.

  He really regrets last night. He might not have said it, but he’s sure as hell thinking it if he can’t even stomach looking at me now.

  Defeated, I sigh. Faith, knowing what the sigh means, starts jumping in my arms, squealing, “You’re the best mum ever!”

  I chuckle, putting her down. “Glad you think so,” I mutter.

  “Did you sleep okay?” Joan asks, looking at me with concern. Max sniggers, earning everyone’s attention.

  “Hmm, it was all right. Just a little uncomfortable,” I say, my words having a different meaning to the one she’s thinking of.

  “I thought you bought a new mattress,” Joan says, looking over to Maverick. I could die right here, hating that she knows where I slept and just announced it to the whole room―including my daughter.

  Maverick’s eyes have hardened a touch, narrowed on me, but I straighten and take a seat next to Faith.

  “It is new. There’s nothing wrong with the mattress,” he states.

  “I don’t know what it was, then. It just wasn’t the best night’s sleep. I’ve had better. The bed seemed a little hard and springy,” I lie, smiling tightly at Maverick, hoping he gets my meaning.

  “We’ll have to look into that,” Joan says worriedly. “I’ll get the breakfast now that everyone’s here.”

  Faith squeals, setting Hope off, who is sitting on the other side of her in a high chair. I smile, watching as Faith hands Hope a napkin, laying it on her lap. It doesn’t stay there long as the little girl picks it up and shoves it in her mouth.