Burning Bridges

by Mayra Statham

Grabbing a bottle of water and my purse, I opened the door and frowned. Like a mirage, he stood in the driveway, shirtless, in olive-green gym shorts.

  “What are you doing?” I cocked my hip as I worked on directing my death glare right at him, wishing I had worn sunglasses. If I had, I could have soaked in the view.

  “You haven’t left,” he pointed out easily, and I rolled my eyes.

  “Thank you, Captain Obvious, for the update.”

  “Sof, look—”

  “No.” I shook my head. “Just no.” I tilted my head at him. “I have things to do, and I really don’t want to have front seat tickets to whatever woe-is-me-I-regret-everything-we-did-last-night show you are going to go on a rant about.”

  “Princess—“

  “Do you want to know why I don’t wanna hear it?” I asked, and he silently nodded, something like appreciation shining in his eyes, but I wasn’t going to think about it. “Because I don’t regret it,” I informed him. “I enjoyed it. Every single moment and touch and kiss.” He stepped forward, but I stuck my hand out to stop him. “I got off on it, and hearing you say you regret—” I couldn’t finish my rant because he closed the space between us and pulled me into his arms.

  “I regret nothing,” he growled.

  “Yeah, right.” I sighed, not believing him.

  “I don’t,” he repeated confidently. Everything in me wanted to believe him.

  “I’m not in the mood. Somehow, your little rant is going to be all about poor Gabe and how I’m his innocent baby sister, even though I’m twenty-freaking-five.”

  “We’ll figure it out,” he said, again in that sexy, confident tone of his that made me want to believe in him. Is he saying what I think he’s saying?

  “What?”

  “We will tell him,” he laid out, and I stood there gaping at him.

  Maverick Bridges was saying he wanted more?

  With me?

  And we would tell my big brother?

  “I’ll tell him. Just not yet,” he added, and I pressed my lips together. Was he serious? Would he tell Gabe, or would it all implode in our faces?

  “Mav—”

  “Hop up, Princess,” he demanded, bringing my hand to his shoulder as I looked around the quiet neighborhood.

  “But the car—”

  “Hop. Up. Princess,” he demanded again, bringing his lips to mine.

  I hopped up, and he carried me like I weighed nothing right back into the house, closing the door behind us.

  “One night wasn’t enough,” he murmured against my cheek, taking swift steps toward his room.

  “Not even close to enough,” I panted.

  “My greedy, naughty girl. I need more of you.”

  “Ditto.”

  “I’m going to fuck you on all fours,” he shared, and I shivered at his dirty promise. “And then I am going to eat you until you come in my mouth in the shower.”

  “Okay.” I smiled, not noticing the stupid hope of something more happening between us slipping into my hopelessly romantic heart.

  How could I have noticed something like that when Mav made good and delivered on his naughty promises?

  And then some.

  Chapter Ten

  Maverick

  “He needs a pillow,” Mav told her and didn’t miss the way her shoulders tensed. Tell her, and she frowns.

  “He needs a blanket,” she argued. Of course, she did. She is fucking fantastic at it, he thought to himself as he rolled his tongue over his teeth.

  “He really doesn’t. It’s too fucking hot for a blanket, kid. He just needs a pillow to elevate—”

  “Guys, I’m fine,” Gabe cut in, and Mav crossed his arms over his broad chest.

  “You two, get out,” Mrs. Blanco ordered, carrying a glass of water and a sandwich into Gabe’s bedroom.

  “Mom!” Sofia cried out.

  “Sofia, your brother’s fine. Now, Mav, you have been a gem, honey, but do you think I can bug you for something else?”

  “Anything, Jill,” he answered, prepared to do whatever the woman needed.

  “Take this girl out, will you?” His body stilled. He wanted to but didn’t glance over at his princess. “You two have been in and out of the hospital this past week. On top of that, she is going to move her things into her new place tomorrow. You two need to take a break.”

  “Mom,” Sofi tried to argue. He found it cute.

  “That’s actually a good idea. I need some sleep, anyhow,” Gabe chimed in, and Mav felt his brows draw together. Gabe was sending him out with his little sister?

  “Whatever,” she muttered under her breath, stepping out of Gabe’s bedroom. Mav fought from grinning like a fool. It would be a dead giveaway if he did.

  “I got her,” Mav promised. In more ways than one. “I’ll see you later. Mrs. Bridges, if you need anything, give me a call.”

  “Jill,” she reminded him like she had the last five years. “And we will be fine.” Mav nodded.

  “Jill, would you like us to bring something for you to eat?”

  “I’m good, honey. You guys go have fun. I am going to sit on the couch and rest,” she informed him. Mav simply nodded.

  “If you change your mind, give us a call.”

  “Sure, sweetheart.” She winked and stepped out of the room, leaving him alone with his best friend.

  “Hey, Bridges,” Gabe called out, and he turned to look at him, masking the guilt he felt.

  “Yeah, man?”

  “Thanks for watching over her.” Maverick was officially a complete asshole.

  “Gabe—”

  “No, man. I know she isn’t a walk on the beach, you know?” Gabe said. He had no idea how wrong he was. Sofia was one of the easiest people to be around.

  “She’s not that bad,” Maverick defended her, his tone a little brusque. He tried to shrug it off, but Gabe watched him with curiosity. “I better get going.”

  “Cool.” He nodded and closed his eyes.

  With a sigh, he stepped out of the room and waved good-bye at Jill, who was now sitting on the couch.

  When he stepped outside, the sight of her standing next to his car had him fighting the urge to rush toward her and grab her, or stop and watch her, soak in the beautiful sight she made.

  “Hey,” she muttered softly, slightly nervous, and he gave her the first genuine smile of his day.

  Sofia

  His smiles killed me.

  He was devastatingly handsome when he was all somber and serious. But when he smiled, my legs went weak at the knees and the world around me faded away.

  “You ready, Princess?” he asked, and as annoying as his nickname was, it had grown on me. Though it might have been the fact he’d called me princess in highly intimate moments.

  “Whatever. You wanna open this thing?” I asked, faking attitude in waves, never taking my eyes off him as he approached, closing the space between us. He was looking at me like I was a big juicy steak and he’d been on a three-week juice cleanse.

  When he caged my body against his truck, I never felt so alive. “I’m going to spank that pretty ass of yours if you aren’t a good girl, Princess,” he promised. I couldn’t help the need to clench my thighs together. The man turned me on like nothing ever had before.

  “We shouldn’t do this here,” I reminded the both of us in a quiet tone, getting lost in everything that was Mav.

  “I need you,” he admitted honestly, and my cheeks flamed.

  “How about we go to my place?” His navy eyes narrowed.

  “I thought you didn’t get your keys until tomorrow,” he bristled. I could tell he wasn’t happy about me leaving yet, and as much as I’d liked being with him this last week, having my own space that wasn’t owned by my brother sounded like heaven.

  “I got them yesterday,” I confessed just as he caressed my face. The puzzled expression on his warmed me up from the inside out.

  He was such a contradiction.

  Rough and alpha one moment, an
d tender and so damn caring the next.

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “Does it matter?” I tried to deflect, not wanting to admit the truth. But by the way he was staring at me, I knew he wouldn’t give in until I told him, and we were still semi-embracing right in front of my brother’s house.

  “Fine,” I sighed. “Gabe was getting out of the hospital this morning. I didn’t want to add to everything. I don’t want to be more in the way—”

  “You are never in the way,” he pointed out. I wanted to believe him, but old habits die hard.

  “Anyhow, want to go see my place?” I tried to change the subject. He studied me for a quiet moment before he nodded slightly.

  “I would love to, Princess, but first we need to get some provisions.” He winked, and I half wondered if he was talking about condoms.

  ***

  I looked around the space that would be my living room. There was no hiding the smile on my face.

  I was back home and had my own place. Not only that; the sight in front of me was better than enjoying a freshly baked chocolate croissant at sunrise in front of the Eiffel Tower.

  Provisions to Maverick had meant more than condoms.

  A lot more.

  Staring at him, knowing what he’d done, I kept falling deeper into whatever it was we were doing.

  “We needed these many pillows?” I teased, getting comfortable on the makeshift bed he had created for us.

  “Why not?” He popped a grape into his mouth.

  After we’d left the house, we drove to Super Target a town away, where he insisted I wait for him before he ran in. Not even fifteen minutes later, he was out with bags of all the things he said we needed.

  The second we stepped into my apartment, he dropped the bags, kicked the door shut, and we were going at one another.

  Clothes flew off, and in a blur, I was pressed against the door, his bare skin against mine as he thrusted balls deep inside of me.

  It had been rough. And hard. And so damn brilliant I almost thought I was going to pass out mid-fuck session. Luckily, I didn’t.

  I enjoyed every fast and furious moment.

  I cleaned up and stepped back into the living room. His head popped up, and I swallowed. A soft down comforter covered my light wooden floors, six pillows were thrown about, and a bright blue sheet was thrown over it. He’d grabbed my hand and led me to where we still were now.

  We were on the floor, snacking on a fruit platter he’d bought, surrounded by soft pillows and each other. There wasn’t anywhere else I would rather be.

  “I’ll pay you back for the provisions.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” He kissed my forehead. I sighed.

  “Mav, this was a lot. I know this down comforter wasn’t cheap.”

  “Consider it a house warming gift.”

  “But it’s too much—”

  “Plus, I’ll be using the stuff, too,” he slipped in with a shrug. I looked at him, afraid to let myself believe in him. To hope for more.

  “Planning on coming over a lot, huh?” I tried to recover, holding back the hope fluttering in my heart.

  With a wicked smile, he pushed the fruit tray away and pulled my body down so that my head was in on the pillows and his body was looming over me.

  “I plan on both of us coming a lot.” Mav grinned wolfishly, his voice like gravel, and just like that, my body was humming again.

  “Maverick…” I whispered against his lips.

  “Love when you say my name, Princess.” He held my face, the heat his naked body radiated making me shiver.

  “What are we doing?” I asked, holding his face, getting lost in his beautiful eyes. I opened my legs, and he slipped in closer. I felt him. My eyes fluttered shut at the sensation. He was hard and ready at my center.

  “You know what we’re doing.” His thick tip nudged against my clit as he gently rocked back and forth against my nether lips.

  “Mav…” I whimpered. I wanted to know the real answer to my question, but I was afraid. Afraid he wouldn’t say what my heart was yearning for.

  “Could I make you come like this, Sofia?”

  “I… I’m not…su-sure,” I stuttered.

  “I bet I could.” His voice went thick, like he was trying to hold on to control.

  I willed my eyes to stay open, the need to watch him intense. God, he was a sight to behold. The muscles at his neck strained, his veins popped here and there around his body, making me want to run my tongue over each one. The sight and need he brought out of me left me feeling brazen.

  Bold.

  Powerful.

  His navy-blue gaze stared back at me as if he could somehow read my thoughts. “Hold on to me, Sof,” he whispered hoarsely, and my hands held tight to his shoulders. He was hot to the touch. My eyes grazed over his freckled skin.

  His hips started to move. His beautiful cock slid back and forth perfectly, making me hotter for him.

  “Mav…” Moans and whimpers escaped from me.

  “You feel so good like this, Princess.”

  “More… Keep moving, Bridges…”

  “Fuck.” His face fell into the crook of my neck, where his breathing tickled my too-warm flesh. I arched up, aching to have him slide inside. I wanted us to be connected. To be one, as deep and close as humanly possible.

  “More, please,” I begged throatily. My fingertips dug into his shoulder. He shifted, his body nudging my entrance, rubbing against my clit.

  “I need you inside of me, baby.” I whimpered.

  “I’m not wearing a—”

  “It’s okay… Please, just—“

  “I shouldn’t…” The tightness in his voice showed how close he was to losing control.

  “I’m safe,” I gasped, raising my right thigh up to his, all to get a better angle.

  “Princess…”

  “I’m on the pill. I take it religiously. I’ve never done it without.” I was playing with fire. I knew that. What I was doing, the intimacy it would create, would be more than casual fun. I could easily lose my heart to him. But even, knowing that, I couldn’t seem to care at that moment.

  His eyes were like ink. One of my hands moved from his shoulder to cup his face. “Baby…”

  “I’m clean,” he shared and swallowed hard. “I get checked regularly, and I don’t fuck without one.”

  “It’s okay.” My cheeks flushed, embarrassed. Was I pushing him to do something he didn’t want? “I shouldn’t have pushed.”

  “I wanna feel you,” he groaned, his tip nudging my entrance. “Fuck, Sofi, baby… I don’t want anything between us,” he growled but still didn’t slide to where we both wanted him.

  “Hey, look at me.” I grabbed his face with both hands. “I shouldn’t have pushed. We can grab a condom—” I didn’t say another word. He slid in. Achingly slowly. Inch by beautiful inch.

  It was the sweetest torture.

  “Shit,” he hissed between his teeth. His eyes never wavered from mine.

  “Oh, my God!” I moaned, a stuttered breath escaping my body.

  “You feel too damn good bare,” he growled. I begged to differ. He felt fucking great.

  He slid all the way in and held his body still over mine. “Mav.” I searched his eyes.

  “I’m not going to last like this,” he panted and swallowed so hard his Adam’s apple bobbed.

  “It’s okay,” I panted, swiveling my hips. “I’m close, too.”

  “I know. Fuck…” His nostrils flared.

  I loved watching as he tried to rein in his control. I loved knowing I did that. To him. This strong, handsome, wonderful man was losing control with me.

  “You undo me, Princess.” His blue eyes shined with something I was too afraid to name.

  “Please, don’t stop,” I pleaded, worried he was going to.

  “I’m just getting started,” he promised only to deliver a second later.

  He started to work his body in and out of me. Over and ove
r. My legs wrapped around him tightly. He was relentless, and my whole body clenched into his. I was so close. My body started to spark more and more to life, and I knew exactly where it was going.

  A fire down below my belly started to brighten. Every nerve ending in my body started to tingle just as an orgasm pulled me under like a riptide. The roar of his release was muffled by the blood surging through me.

  He played my body perfectly.

  Like he’d had me countless times instead of this being only our second time together. Well, second real time. The past week, all we had been able to do was sneak in heavy petting and make-out sessions at the hospital. Somehow, those few sneaky moments had given him more knowledge of my body than I had myself.

  It should have terrified me that he knew me that well. Make me push him away. We hadn’t said anything to Gabe, and even though the timing was off and bad, I was deathly afraid of being Mav’s dirty little secret. Of being one of his many.

  Instead, I did the opposite. I held him closer, pulling him in toward me. His hands wrapped me up tightly, and I let myself hope and fall just that much more before closing my eyes and falling asleep on his chest.

  Chapter Eleven

  Maverick

  No matter how hard he tried to get his ass out of the makeshift bed he had had created for them, he couldn’t. His princess had been more than greedy all night long and into the early morning. He was almost positive he had seen the sun start to peek out and rise before they had both finally fallen asleep tangled up with one another.

  As he looked at her lying on her side, facing him, his breath caught in his throat. Her sweet lips were slightly parted, her dark lashes fanned over her silky skin. She looked like a fucking angel.

  His greedy, sexy, sassy princess took his breath away even in her sleep. She had no idea what she did to him. He kissed the top of her head and snuggled in closer. His lips touched her forehead.

  “Mmm, you should be careful, Max,” she whispered, snuggling her head in closer. He rolled his eyes at her little joke.

  “Mav,” he grumbled, feeling his own lips tip up. “And careful about what?”

  “Staying overnight. Might give a girl the wrong idea,” her voice rasped, her eyes still shut, and he simply held her tighter.