by Megan Lowe
“Hey, sweetheart,” Mav says when I open the door. I love that he calls me that. Major swoon.
“Cutie,” I reply, winking, and get my favourite blush.
He chuckles and holds out his hand. “You ready to go?” He doesn’t come in that often anymore, not since that disastrous first meeting with Grandpa. Mostly all three of us hang out at his apartment now.
“Absolutely,” I reply, and take his hand. Immediately he pulls me to his chest. His manly scent invades my senses and makes me feel at home as he cups my face and kisses me. Mav’s kisses are like nothing I’ve ever known. Gentle, but strong at the same time, full of passion but not domineering, sweet, just a tiny bit possessive, and hinting of a rebel with the bite of his lip ring. A representation of my man, really. He rests his forehead against mine for a second after we break apart, before leading me to the car. Tonight we’re going to check out the open-air cinema on the beach. Somehow Mav always manages to make our dates interesting and special. He’s nothing like I assumed he was, and when I think about that, I’m ashamed of myself. Sure, he may look like your standard definition of a thug because of the ink decorating his skin, but the truth is so far from that it’s not funny. Do I see the looks he, and by extension I, get? Sure, but that’s their problem, and if they can’t see past someone’s appearance then why should it bother me? On the flip side, I also see the looks the girls at uni, the beach, the shopping centres, restaurants, cafes, and bars give him. You know the ones, but for some reason he only has eyes for me.
We make our way to the beach where a cinema has been set up, and pick through the crowd, managing to find a lone unoccupied beanbag.
“Oh,” I say, looking around for another.
“Don’t worry about it,” Mav says, plopping down before pulling me between his legs. His arms come around me and I rest my head on his shoulder.
“Very cosy,” I say, snuggling into his hard yet comfy body.
He kisses my neck, then tenses. “What is it?” I ask, looking up at him. He’s looking over my shoulder. I follow his gaze and find Connor and a group of his mates harassing what looks like a father on a family outing. Connor looks up and sees us straight away. He takes in our position and a smirk crosses his face.
“Josh is staying away from that guy, right?” Mav asks through gritted teeth, squeezing me tighter.
“I think so.” Connor nods at us, and I swear Mav growls.
“I hate that guy. He reminds me of this complete cockhead at home who had a problem with Reed.”
“What happened?” I ask.
“He couldn’t handle the competition with Reed on the track so he took it off it. Thankfully he’s in jail now, and will be for a long time to come, but yeah, same vibes.” His eyes never leave Connor the whole time he’s talking. Finally, just as the movie’s starting, he and his thugs move on.
I’m sure if anyone asked either Mav or me what the movie was like, we couldn’t tell you. Both of us were in our own bubbles, our minds whirring after seeing Connor again. On the way back to Mav’s apartment, we stop and grab a pizza. Once inside we’re both still quiet.
“Sorry, I had something else planned for dinner,” he says, breaking the silence, “but after seeing Connor I didn’t want to chance another run-in.”
I go to him and wrap my arms around his neck while his arms rest on the small of my back. “It’s fine. Any time I get to spend with you is amazing. I’m sorry, though, for getting involved with Connor in the first place.” I shake my head. “I can’t believe I was stupid enough to fall for his act.”
Releasing me and leading me to the couch, Mav asks, “Will you tell me about him? How you got together?”
“You sure you want to hear it?” Though I haven’t seen his temper since the day Connor came to collect Josh’s debt, I know it’s there, simmering just below the surface.
He nods. “I want to know just how big of a dick he is.”
I sigh. “He was in the grade above Josh and me in high school. It was the typical scenario. He was Mr Popular, the one every guy wanted to be and every girl wanted to be with. I was the quiet girl with the chubby twin who preferred to read books and spend her lunchtimes in the library.”
He nods. “Go on.”
“Somehow, I caught his attention. I don’t know how, but I did. He came on so nice and sweet. I remember pinching myself when he first approached me. I could almost hear dozens of hearts breaking. Anyway, we started to hang out, just as friends at first, and I thought he was legitimately interested in getting to know me.” Beside me, Mav balls his fists. I take them and thread my fingers through his instead. “From there we naturally transitioned to boyfriend and girlfriend. Suddenly, everyone knew my name and was trying to be my friend. I was a little uncomfortable with that, but Connor told me it was a part of being with him.
“About a month after we officially started dating, he started to change and demand that I change too. No longer was it acceptable for me to hang out at the library at lunch, now I had to hang around with him so that we could be ‘seen.’ My old friends were deemed ‘geeky,’ and Josh, well, it was only because we were twins that he was around at all.” I stop and take a breath. “It was coming to the end of the year, which of course meant formals. Connor told me he wanted to take me to his as his girlfriend, and that afterwards we’d celebrate alone. I knew I wasn’t ready to take that step, but I didn’t want to upset him. By then I’d seen what he was like when he was angry and I didn’t want that turned on me.”
“Did he hit you?” Mav asks, sitting up.
I push him back down and snuggle into his side. “No, nothing like that. It was more put downs than anything. He would tell me I was a loser before he came along, that sort of stuff. Even though it wasn’t strictly true, I didn’t mind. I like not being the centre of attention.”
“You’re the centre of my attention,” Mav says, hugging me tight and kissing my cheek.
I turn my head to face him. “You’re mine, too.” I lean forward to press my lips to his. “So do you want to hear the rest of the story, or just make out for a bit?” I ask when we break apart, wiggling my eyebrows.
Chuckling, he pushes my face away. “I know what you’re trying to do, but I want to hear this. I need to hear this.”
“Why? What will it change? You already hate him.”
“It’ll just give my hate context. Right now I hate him based on nothing more than his winning personality and dodgy business dealings. Plus, I want to know how it shaped you, how you were changed by everything that happened.”
“You’re too much, Mav Ryan,” I say, cupping his face and kissing him chastely.
“It’s still not enough for some people though, is it?” he asks quietly, and I know he’s referring to the fact Jax still isn’t talking to him.
“Mav,” I say, my heart breaking.
He shakes his head. “This isn’t about me, it’s about you, so finish your story, sweetheart.”
I blow out a breath. “Fine. We ended up going to his formal together. It was held at the Marriott, and of course he got a room. We did all the usual things, photos, ate, drank, danced, and then he suggested we go up to his room. I still wasn’t ready, but I’d had such a great night I didn’t want to ruin things by saying no and starting an argument. So yeah, that happened, and about a minute afterwards he’s getting dressed again. I thought that would be it for the evening so I asked him what he was doing. He told me he was going to the after-party, of course. I was surprised, especially because I only had the dress I had worn earlier, so I asked if he could take me home to change. He said no, and that I could leave anyway because he had gotten what he wanted and he was done with me. Naturally I was devastated. I ended up catching a taxi home and shutting myself in my room for the rest of the weekend. Come Monday at school, I reverted to my old habits and vowed no one would take advantage of me again.”
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” Mav says, hugging me tight.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“With you in my life, I barely even remember the time before.” His eyes get very dark, a smirk and a predatory look crossing his face. My breathing shallows, my nipples harden, and I know my panties are wet. I lick my lips in anticipation. Mav growls and leaps on top of me, forcing me to my back on the couch.
“You’re really testing my self-control, sweetheart,” he growls, nipping and kissing along my shoulder and neck. I spread my legs so that he’s in between them, hooking my ankles around his back.
“Good,” I say, taking his earlobe between my teeth and nipping gently. He grinds his hardness against me, and I can’t help but throw my head back and moan.
“Those sexy as fuck noises aren’t helping,” he says as he continues to grind.
“They’re not supposed to,” I say breathlessly.
His hand skims under my top and I arch into his touch, thrusting my breasts against his chest. When he gets to my bra he pulls down the cup and pinches my hard nipple. I cry out as the sensation goes straight to the point between my legs. “I’m trying to be a gentleman here,” he pants, “but you’re making it so goddamn hard.”
I chuckle. “I know, I can feel it,” I say as I lift my hips, earning me another groan. He continues to play with my breasts, first one then the other, all the while grinding against me. “Mav, please,” I beg, when I don’t think I can take any more.
He shakes his head. “I have a plan, and I’m going to stick to it even if it kills me.”
“What if it kills me?” I ask, exasperated.
He lifts his head, a wicked look in his eyes. “You won’t be dying, sweetheart, you’ll be going straight to heaven.” He plunges his hand, which I hadn’t noticed travelling down my body, straight under my skirt and into my panties, two fingers sliding inside me. I clench around them as I come hard.
“Mav!” I scream, sensation running from the top of my head to the tips of my toes.
“Fuck, you’re beautiful when you come,” he says above me, his fingers still gliding in and out, drawing out my orgasm. Eventually the shockwaves subside and I open my eyes. “You good?” he asks.
I nod. “More than good.”
“Good.” He sits up, bringing me with him so I end up straddling him.
“What about you?” I ask, his rather large and very hard erection nestled between us.
“I got to see you come, that’s enough for me.”
“Is it?” I ask, arching an eyebrow and rolling my hips so I rub against him. He throws his head back and groans.
“That’s… that’s not,” he stutters. I roll my hips again, my breasts brushing against his chest. “Fuck, that feels good,” he says.
“Yeah?” I ask. “Want me to keep going?”
“Uh-huh.” He nods eagerly.
I laugh and grind up against him some more. He lets out another moan. I lean down, my lips brushing against his ear. “Just imagine what this would feel like without our clothes on,” I whisper.
“Oh fuck, Aubrey,” he moans, and grabs my hips, directing the tempo. It doesn’t take long before both of us are on the brink. He shifts slightly, and I cry out as the change of angle hits my clit directly. “That’s it, sweetheart.”
“Mav,” I say, looking into his eyes.
“I gotcha, sweetheart.” A few seconds later we’re both exploding. I collapse on his heaving chest, his arms holding me tight.
“Holy shit,” I breathe when I get air back into my lungs.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything as hot as that,” he says. I raise an eyebrow. “Swear to God,” he adds, holding up a hand.
“So was that part of your plan?” I ask.
He laughs. “Not exactly. While I’m happy as fuck that those images are going to be in my head forever, the mess I’m left with in my pants right now isn’t great.”
“Oh.” I feel my cheeks heat and move to get off him.
He stops me and cups my face. “Worth every bit of extra washing I have to do, but I am gonna need a shower.”
“Want me to join?” I ask, in my most seductive voice.
He laughs and shakes his head. “Tempting, but I’ve already tested my self-control enough for one night.” I pout as he picks me up and moves me off him, while he continues to laugh. It still bothers me that Mav refuses to have sex with me, but I’ve come to realise that’s who he is: a guy with a deep respect for me, but who also doubts his own worthiness to be loved. In truth, it only makes me fall for him even harder. But it doesn’t mean I’m not frustrated as hell. I am determined that one day soon we will be going all the way. Until that happens, I’m going to have fun testing him at every opportunity.
Mav’s been in the shower for five minutes and his phone has rung three times. When it rings for a fourth, I give in and answer it. Whoever it is, is obviously desperate to talk to him. I tried to ignore it but after the third time, that wasn’t an option any more. I don’t pay attention to the name on the screen when I answer.
“Hello?” I say.
“Oh, hi,” a surprised female voice says. It sounds vaguely familiar, but I can’t place it. “I was looking for Mav.”
“I gathered that from the four calls in five minutes,” I say.
She just laughs. “Is he there?” she asks.
“He’s in the shower.”
“And you’re not with him?” Who the hell is this woman?
“Why are you talking as if you know my boyfriend intimately?” I ask, full of suspicion. Has Mav been with this woman? Is he still with her?
“Oh, you’re Aubrey?” she says excitedly.
“Who are you?” I ask, almost rudely.
“Oh, sorry.” She laughs. “It’s McKnley Matthews, I’m a friend of Mav’s.” I almost drop the phone. I’m talking to McKnley Rhodes? Holy shit! That’s why the voice was so familiar. I love Places! They’re my favourite band ever!
“You’re McKnley Rhodes?” I ask.
“I was.”
“Holy shit!” I squeal. “I’m like, your biggest fan!” I gush. “You’re amazing! No Place to Hide was incredible. I have like, ten copies of it. I even drove all the way to Brisbane to see you when you did the release tour.” She laughs at my enthusiasm.
“Mav said you were adorable.”
“He talked to you about me?” I can’t believe McKnley Rhodes knows who I am.
“Who do you think has been giving him romance tips?” she asks.
“Uh, him?”
She laughs. “Yeah, most of it is him. So why aren’t you in the shower with him?” she asks again. I’ve got to admit, it feels more than a little bit surreal to be discussing my love life with my rock idol.
“We, um, we haven’t, we’re not at that stage yet.”
“You’ve been dating how long?” she asks, her voice shrill.
“Uh, two months.”
“And you haven’t seen him naked?” she asks incredulously.
“No.”
“So does that mean you haven’t had sex yet?”
“Yes,” I mumble.
She lets out a raucous laugh. “Oh my God, I am so going to give him shit for that.”
“He says he’s trying to respect me,” I say, frustrated I’m even saying that.
“Well, I’ve got to give the kid credit, I don’t think I could hang out that long.”
“Tell me about it,” I say under my breath.
“So how is he?” she asks.
I sigh. “He’s okay, but it’s hard.”
“Jax,” she surmises.
“Yeah.”
She sighs. “I’ve been trying to work on him, even got my sister Quinn in on the act, but he’s stubborn.”
“Is there nothing anyone can do to get through to him?” It breaks my heart that these two brothers, these two best friends, are being kept apart.
McKnley’s silent for a while. “I don’t know if this will work, but there might be something….”
Chapter 16
&
nbsp; Mav
As I stand under the shower, the image of Aubrey above me and the expression on her face as she came apart runs through my mind over and over. It’s not helping me keep my dick under control either. I know my refusal to take things further is a little confusing to her right now, but I want to take things slow. Aubrey deserves to be treated like a queen, and I want to do that, even if I may not be the man she deserves. When I get out, I find her sprawled on my bed, talking on the phone.
“What about Michael Jackson?” she asks. “Did you ever meet him?”
I lie down on the bed next to her.
“Huh,” she says.
“Who is it?” I ask, wondering who the hell she could be talking about Michael Jackson to. She hands me the phone, which I realise is mine.
“When you mentioned McKnley, I didn’t realise it was the McKnley Rhodes from Places.”
I shrug. “To me she’s just Knley.”
“Well,” she says, “just Knley would like to talk to you.”
I lift the phone to my ear, dragging Aubrey to me so she’s resting on my bare chest.
“Hey,” I say.
“Well, well, well if it isn’t gentleman Mav.” I sigh. “I’ve got to give you credit,” she continues, “holding out for two months? Impressive, especially for a Ryan.”
“You know, once you pop those kids of yours out you’ll have to refrain from sex for almost the same length of time,” I tell her.
“I don’t even want to know how you know that,” she says.
“We all had to listen to Reed bitch about it after Bria had Avery.”
“You lot are entirely too close.”
“But still not nearly close enough.”
“Mav,” she says. Next to me, Aubrey begins tracing the Ryan Racing logo—two R’s flanked by tire tracks on one side and chequered tape on the other—that I have tattooed over my heart. “Is that why you haven’t slept with that hot piece of arse who’s probably lying on top of you right now?”