Maggie almost spit her water onto the floor. "No, we're not, I told you—"
Julie waved her hand, cutting off Maggie. "Brian just grabbed Maggie and kissed her senseless."
"Oh," Ava sagged against the plywood. "Now that's an interesting twist. I didn't think the man would ever get up the nerve."
Anxiety stewed in Maggie's stomach. "What have I done?" She leaning forward and rested her head in her hands. Old fears raced through her.
Nick had a way of making her feel in control. She knew all she had to say was no and he would stop and walk away. Brian tipped her world sideways. He wouldn't take no for an answer. That scared the living shit out of her and excited her all at the same time.
Julie nudged Maggie. "Ava's a professional. Tell her what happened all those years ago."
Sadness settled in Maggie's heart. "I don't know if I can."
Sympathy covered Julie's face. "Okay, I'll go first."
Ava dragged over a sawhorse and sat. "What's going on?"
Julie pushed out a heavy breath. "Maggie and I met at a date rape survivors group."
Ava stood slowly. "What?" Her eyes filled with tears. "You two were raped? What happened?"
"I'll tell you my story over some drinks sometime." Julie squeezed Maggie's shoulder. "Go ahead, and remember, you didn't do anything wrong."
Tears clogged in her throat. "I know." Maggie looked into Ava's shimmering eyes and rubbed the goose bumps from her arms. "I was a freshman in college and I went out on a date with the captain of the lacrosse team. He was everything I thought I wanted in a guy. You know, popular, funny, good-looking—the guy of every nineteen-year-old girl's dreams. And best of all, he asked me out."
Ava gripped her hand and squeezed. "What happened?"
Maggie closed her eyes, took a deep breath. She told herself to recite the events of the night with none of the emotions that came with them.
"We went to a frat party and had too much to drink." She opened her eyes. "We started fooling around and when I put the brakes on, he tried to rape me."
"Tried?" Ava asked
"Yes," Maggie swallowed. "He'd had too much to drink. His dick didn't work."
"What happened?"
"He beat me up instead."
"How bad."
Maggie gazed down at the floor. "He broke my nose, right cheek, and blackened both my eyes."
Ava folded Maggie into a hug. "Oh, honey, that's awful."
She leaned into Ava and soaked in the comfort. For the first time in years, Maggie didn't feel shame when she told the story.
Ava leaned away. "Something like that affects every romantic relationship you have. How do you deal with it with the men you date?"
"I don't." At Ava's perplexed look, Maggie went on. "I don't date and subsequently I have never had sex."
"Holy shit," Brian exclaimed.
Maggie spun and gasped. The three hulking men standing in the doorway wore expression ranging from horrified to pissed off.
"Who was the bastard who hurt you?" Brian demanded.
"Oh, God." The look of horror on his face had every emotion Maggie ever felt about that night rushing back. She needed to get out of there. Maggie pushed herself off the makeshift table and hurried out the door.
"Maggie, wait," the chorus of voices called from behind her.
She ran out the front door and stumbled outside. Her foot caught again on the broken concrete. "Shit."
Heavy footsteps rushed up behind her when she tumbled to her knees. Strong hands gripped Maggie's elbows and lifted her to her feet, turning her.
Nick's sullen expression undid her. Tears scratched at her throat and burned her eyes. Maggie couldn't speak.
Nick smiled gently. "I could use a ride back to your place. Cabs in Miami aren't cheap."
The lump in her throat released on a chuckle and tears streamed down her face.
He pulled her into a hug. "Shh, Maggie, don't cry over being a virgin. I can take care of that for you."
She snorted. "I'm not crying over that, you asshole." Just like that, her tears dried up. She wiped her face against his T-shirt and gazed up at him "What do you say about deflowering me?"
The teasing glint in his eyes vanished. "When you're ready, let me know. I'll be there with bells on."
The hot and needy look on his face told her this wasn't bullshit. "I need to think," she said.
Nick stepped away. "I'll get a ride from someone inside later."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged. "Thanks," she whispered. Maggie pressed her mouth to his.
She loved that he didn't push for more and let her take what she needed. Why didn't he spin her world off its axis?
* * * *
Brian stood at the window looking out at Maggie. The need to punch something or someone clawed at his self-control. Some asshole tried to rape and hurt her. Men who do things like that to a woman should have their balls cut off with a dull, rusty razor blade.
He squeezed his eyes shut when Maggie pressed her sweet lips to Nick's mouth. A virgin. A fucking virgin. The one thing he didn't do with a woman was take her virginity. Brian willed his eyes open and watched Nick saunter up the walkway with a shit-eating grin plastered on his face.
"The opportunistic son of a bitch."
A soft hand curled around Brian's balled fist. "Take a step back."
He shook with what he told himself was anger. "That prick is going to take advantage of her."
Julie tugged his hands, so he would face her. "No, he's not. Nick and Maggie have become good friends over the last year. He sees how she looks at you. He knows where he stands."
"What the hell does that mean?"
Julie's eye flashed with annoyance.
"It means you, dickhead. I know she wants you," Nick said from the doorway.
Brian turned to face the other man. "That's great. I don't fuck virgins."
Nick chuckled. "Well, I haven't deflowered a virgin in about ten years but if Maggie asks, I would be willing."
Julie grabbed Brian's arm keeping him from advancing on Nick.
Logan walked into the room with Ava by his side. "Hey, you two," he said. "If you're going to fight, do it outside."
Ava pushed Logan with her elbow. "Knock it off."
"Listen, you two.” She moved to stand next to Julie. “We're not talking about a sixteen-year-old virgin. We're talking about a thirty-year-old woman who knows her own mind."
Ava's sharp gaze landed on Brian. "She's seen you with other women and knows the score."
The hair on the back of his neck stood. For the first time since he joined Paradise, unease skittered down his spine. "This is between Maggie and me.” Brian fished his keys out of his pocked and looked at Logan. “I’ll be back Monday to finish the roof,” he said and stormed out to his car.
Chapter Four
Maggie scooped ice cream into a bowl. She considered spooning the cookies and cream right into her mouth, skipping the bowl all together. After the morning she'd had, she deserved it.
How much mortification could one person take? She should just tattoo oldest living virgin on her forehead.
Her cell chirped, signaling a text. Maggie put the ice cream away, stepped into the tiny room her landlord called a living room, and grabbed her cell from the coffee table.
NICK: Hanging with Ava and Logan.
“Good.” Maggie needed some time to herself. Stepping back to the kitchen, she lifted the over-filled bowl off the counter, sat in her grandmother's old-flowered-tapestry couch, and switched on the TV.
Jon Bon Jovi sang about being a cowboy and the opening to Deadliest Catch filled the small screen. Maggie shoveled the tablespoon into the yummy goodness and slid it between her lips. Creamy, cold sweetness exploded on her tongue. She moaned and settled back to watch the marathon.
Halfway through the ice cream, a knock sounded at the door. Maggie jumped. "Hold on, Nick."
She set down the bowl, made her way to the door, and checked the peephole.
"Shit, crap, shit."
Brian, in all his sexiness, stood on the other side.
"I know you're in there, Maggie. Open the door."
She looked down at her mismatched pajamas. "Crap."
"I heard that."
"I don't want to see you," she called.
"Either you open this damn door or I will."
His tone had her unbolting the dead bolt. "You're such an asshole," she said.
Brian stepped in, filling the tiny space. "I know."
His gaze roamed over her. Heat flared in her belly, which pissed her off even more. She wrapped her arms over her chest. "What do you want?"
"We need to talk."
"We don't have anything to talk about."
"Oh, yeah." Brian gripped both her elbows and lifted like he'd done earlier.
The wimpy girly part of her melted, but the victim in her straightened her spine and kicked out.
Her foot connected with Brian's shin.
"Shit, Maggie." He lifted her higher and pulled her tight to his hard chest.
Victim girl wilted away and hid in the corner. When he'd done this before, there were people around. She'd felt safe and bold, but now she was alone with this man and her body wanted him. Unease filled her. She started to shake.
Brian's face turned the color of an old sheet. He set her down and stepped back. "I'm sorry."
She flushed—embarrassed—and sighed. "It's me." Maggie turned, defeated. She really needed to take her life back. "Come in. Have a seat."
Maggie sat on the couch and grabbed the quilt her grandmother gave to her on her tenth birthday. She wrapped the comforting material over her shoulders and took strength from its softness.
Brian took a seat in the extra dining room chair against the wall. "Up until last night I thought of you like a sister." He sighed and shoved his hands through his hair. "Not a sister." Brian threw his arm up. "Oh, I don't know how I felt about you. If I'm honest with myself, you have always gotten under my skin and warmed my blood."
A pull deep in her belly sent heat to her face. Maggie tugged the blanket tighter around her. She should've taken Nick up on his offer of sex this afternoon when he'd suggested it. Maybe she would be more prepared for this.
"I never thought you were interested in me. You always looked at me like I was gum on the bottom of your shoe," he said.
Maggie gazed at Brian. In all the years she'd known him, she'd never seen him look so uncertain. The fear that lived deep in her soul fluttered away and a new sense of peace filled her. She smiled. "I've been attracted to you ever since I handed you the membership paperwork four years ago."
A cocky grin spread over his handsome face. "What are we going to do about this?"
Fuck me like you do the women at the club and make the ache that blooms between my legs every time I see you go away. Anticipation and anxiety skittered up her spine. "What do you mean?" she asked instead.
"Honey, I don't do virgins."
Pain all but stole her breath away. Maggie should've known she wasn't his type. Doesn't do virgins, my ass. You would fuck anything with a pussy. She stood and tossed the quilt on the sofa. "Well maybe I'll let you know when I'm not a virgin anymore." She moved toward the door. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have plans tonight."
He rose. His eye tracked to the bowl of melted ice cream. "I can see that."
Maggie pointed at the door. "If you don't want to fuck me, then get the out. I have no use for you."
"Wait a fucking minute." Brian stalked to her and pinned Maggie to the door. His mouth overtook hers in a blistering kiss.
* * * *
Brian lost all of his senses in her heat. He traced his tongue over her sweet lips. When Maggie opened her mouth to suck in air, he delved in to take a better taste. Her seductive flavor filled the deep well of need inside him. Maybe if he felt his body in hers just once, he could get her out of his system.
He pulled back. Her stunned expression had guilt needling at his conscious. "Shit," he said, setting her down.
Maggie held up her hand. "Don't tell me you're sorry again."
He stumbled back to the chair and sunk down. "I don't know what to do with you."
She stiffened. Her don't mess with me look was back on her beautiful face. "Why don't we forget today ever happened?"
Who is she kidding? Pandora's box has been smashed open. "What's option number two?" he asked.
Her pretty face pinked and her sparkling green eyes shot fire at him. "I'll take Nick up on his offer."
Jealousy, lava hot, poured over him. "What the fuck does that mean?"
If looks could kill, he would be a chalk outline on the floor.
"You don't do virgins and Nick does."
He willed himself to not grab her and shake some sense into her. "That is not something you should throw away."
"I'm not throwing anything away." She shrugged. "Maybe I don't want to be the oldest living virgin anymore."
Brian stood and shoved his hands into his jean pockets. What was he going to do with her? "Fuck me," he said, annoyed.
She gazed down at the floor. "We could get it over with and just do it."
Just shoot me now. The woman goes years afraid of men and now she wants to throw it away. He eyed her. "Why now?"
She shrugged and Brian's gut clenched. "It's time. I need to stop letting one bad experience rule my life."
"Why with Nick?"
Her hands balled into tight fists. "That's none of your business."
Like hell it isn't. "Why with me then?"
She planted her hands on her hips. "Why don't you do virgins?"
He sent her his coldest smile. "Virgins don't understand my lifestyle."
The pretty, little wench laughed.
"I work at a sex club for fuck sake. I've seen your lifestyle. I can tell you that's not what I want in a relationship, but I've seen you screw. I think you would make it worth my while.
Is she kidding me? He reined in his temper. "What do you want in a relationship?
Maggie shoved her hair behind her ear. "I want what Ava and Logan have."
"Logan had to all but give up his lifestyle for Ava."
"That's not true."
"Yes, it is. He's never in the public room anymore. The two of us haven't banged a woman together since Ava walked into the club."
"It's called monogamy, you jackass."
Her words stung like a slap. "Is that what you want?"
Her chin lifted. "Yes."
"Even if Nick wanted to fuck you with me."
She blushed and turned away.
"Well, well, Maggie. This I can work with," Brian said as he beat back the ugly, green monster that roared to life inside his gut.
"I'll make a deal with you."
She spun and scowled at him.
At that moment Brian knew he needed to be straight with her. "I can only promise you a good time tonight." He took the few steps to her and traced his fingers over her cheek. "But, if you want hearts, flowers, and commitment from me, look someplace else. I don't do that."
Brian shut off the little voice in his head telling him he might like romancing Maggie.
"You don't have to worry. I don't think I can handle hearts and flowers," she said.
His chest started to ache. An odd mix of tenderness and lust collided inside him. Brian's cock took that moment to beg for attention.
His gaze roamed over Maggie's small body. Brian smiled. The skimpy, mismatched outfit fit her personality perfectly. The small, blonde, spunky fairy on her tank top fit her to a tee and the curvy boo-boo-bee-doop brunette on her shorts matched her too.
Brian leaned in and kissed Maggie softly. He hadn't kissed anyone like this in a long time. Memories of his Amy drifted into his mind. Maggie moaned, gripped his shirt, and nipped at his bottom lip, pushing all thoughts of his wife back into the dark place in his head. He nipped Maggie back and soothed his assault with his tongue.
She whimpered. The soft sound brought memories of Amy back t
o the forefront of his mind and carried with them the horrible images of the accident that took his wife away from him. He pulled way and stared down at a rosy-cheeked Maggie.
She swiped at her swollen lips. "What's the matter?"
Brian raked his fingers through his hair. "Nothing."
Maggie's eyebrows shot up. "Brian, you're at a disadvantage with me. I've watched you fuck and know all your moves. I know something's wrong."
Yearning, regret, and tenderness swelled and rolled in his gut. "Shit." Brian shoved his hands in his pockets. "It's been a long time since I had to take care with a woman."
Her cheeks glowed red. "I'm done playing this game. I'm going to take a shower. If you're still here when I'm done then I'll assume you have your shit together." She turned to stomp away.
He owed her an explanation. "Wait."
Maggie stopped and glanced over her shoulder. She took his breath away. She was nothing like Amy. His wife was tall, very curvy, and mild mannered. The woman glaring at him might just be the woman to open his dead heart. God, help us both.
Chapter Five
Maggie let cold water rain down on her overheated skin. Blowing out a breath, she willed thoughts of Brian out of her mind. If he was gone when she got out of the shower, Maggie knew once and for all where she stood. Anxiety settled in her chest and made her heart trip.
"Fuck this." She tuned off the water and grabbed a towel. If he didn't want her, there were many guys that did. It wasn't like she didn't get offers on a daily basses. Maggie scrubbed the water from her body and hair. Wrapping the terrycloth around her dainty frame, she whipped open the door and marched to her room.
Relief swamped Maggie. Brian sat on her full-size bed with his back against the headboard and his ankles crossed. He glanced up from the book he had to have picked up off the bedspread and grinned his shit-eating smile that melted hearts and made her insides turn into liquid.
"This shit's hot," he said.
She tugged on her towel, suddenly unsure of herself. She'd love to do page sixty-nine with him and maybe page eighty-five with him and Nick. OMG, is it possible to be a slut if you are still a virgin?
She marched over to him, not wanting to show how much he affected her and snatched the erotic romance out of his hands. "Give me that."
Maggie's Desire Page 4