by K. D Clark
I pick out a white halter top, blue capris, and a pair of cute sandals before walking through the closet to the luxurious bathroom. It’s well into the evening now so that I could have changed into pajamas, but I want to feel at least like I hadn't wasted the entire day sleeping.
As I finish getting ready, I emerge from the bathroom to enter the living room of my guest quarters. I’m met with a panoramic view of the ocean. I savor the moment, breathing deeply. I’m safe for now.
I have no idea what waits for me in the future. No idea if I can really trust Maverick, but right now, I have no choice. My mind is too exhausted to think about what my next steps are. I just need to be still for a moment.
I leave the room and make my descent down two flights of spiral stairs to the kitchen. The home is well-decorated with rare paintings, state-of-the-art technology, and Italian furnishings. The dining room table is made of solid wood. It’s a hand-carved masterpiece sporting fifteen seats. Maverick stands by the stove, placing something onto a plate. My surroundings tell me I should be grateful. In a state of joy, even. The reality is that my heart is still broken. The man I married has been lying to me all along. My whole marriage is a sham. I’d fallen out of love with Miles long before yesterday, but it still hurts.
Maverick wipes the sweat from his brow. He’s dressed down in dark jeans and a button-up shirt. He looks more casual than when I’d seen him yesterday.
“Oh, hey,” he says, turning around to see me standing in the middle of the kitchen, staring at him like an idiot. “I take it you slept well?”
“Yes, I did. I guess I don't realize how tired I was. What are you doing in the kitchen? Don’t you have a staff to prepare meals for you?” I question as I slid into one of the chairs at the island.
“I do. I just warmed up the food Isabella made yesterday. I don’t like to waste food.”
His concern about food waste surprises me. Most people with money couldn’t give a damn about wasted resources. I remind myself that this guy has been doing business with my husband. He isn’t a saint by any means.
“I hope you like shrimp fettuccine?” His deep, rich voice soothes my ears. A strange sense of calm exists with him. Something I haven’t been able to put my finger on. I don’t want to get too close to him, but I can’t deny how I feel.
“That’s actually one of my favorites.”
Maverick sits a plate of pasta in front of me before sitting down with his plate.
“This is amazing,” I say, my mouth full of pasta.
His lips twitch as if he wants to smile. “Isabella is a great cook.”
I swallow my bite before speaking again. “Thank you… For the clothes.”
He nods. “We kind of took the liberty of guessing your style and size.”
“Yes, they fit fine. Thank you so much. This is all a bit much, don’t you think? We barely know each other, and after all, we met under the worst possible circumstances.”
It’s not that I wasn’t grateful because I was. Maverick is putting a lot on the line to help me, but I’m curious about what his plan is.
Maverick gets up from the stool and saunters back into the kitchen area.
“Yes, I know, but I figure since I’m in, I might as well go all the way in.”
He grabs a bottle of whiskey from the shelf and pours himself three fingers. He raises an eyebrow at me as if asking if I want some.
“Do you have wine?” I ask.
He puts the whiskey back on the shelf before pouring me a glass of white wine. He guessed right because I can’t stand the taste of red wine. He comes back and joins me at the island.
“I don’t usually sleep that long,” I say, feeling like I need to give him an explanation. “I think with the stress and everything…”
He nods and continues to eat his food. “You don’t have to always explain yourself.”
“Okay.”
He peeks at me from the corner of his eye but doesn't say anything.
I take another sip of wine, enjoying how it makes my body relax.
“So, do you have to, like, work…or something tonight?”
I’m not sure how to ask the question. Did he have to leave and sell more guns to people like my husband?
He smirks at my question. “I do more than just arms trafficking.”
“Oh, I know… I don't mean-”
“It’s fine. I’m also an investor. I’m a shareholder in quite a few large US companies. My energy company will be the first business I have that’s owned completely by me. Everything I own I buy in cash, so I don’t have many expenses that way I can invest my profits and dividends back into my businesses.”
So he plays both sides of the fence. He brings his drink up to his lips, and I don’t miss the way his shirt stretches across his muscular arm with the movement. I squeeze my thighs together to get some kind of relief. I have no idea where the attraction is coming from. It’s the last thing my body should be feeling.
“But, to answer your question, no. I’m done with work for the day.”
I don’t ask any more questions after that. Instead, I focus on eating my food and sipping my wine.
“Do you wanna take a walk with me? I want to show you some more of the estate.”
“Sure. We can do that.” I gulp down the last of my wine. This will give me a chance to get a feel for the place.
Maverick has this confident yet gentle swagger about him. He demonstrates a uniquely calm and pleasant personality, particularly for a person who can turn cold and hostile in one second.
His charm isn’t lost on me. We leave our dishes on the island. Maverick assures me that the staff will take care of them. I follow him outside to the well-lit pier. A huge luminous moon shines through the midnight sky. The only sound is the water as it gently kisses the shore before retreating out to the ocean. I can practically taste the seawater. The air is warm, but the humidity’s low, so I don’t sweat from the heat.
I let out a breath. The weight that has been there since Miles caught Ares and me together starts to lift a little bit.
“This is so peaceful.”
Maverick slowly maneuvers behind me. His six-feet-two frame brushes up against my back, and he places his large hands lightly around my waist, his silky voice rings in my ear.
“This is better than peaceful.”
The strange thing is, I don’t try to move away from him. I need some comfort, a place to rest. What is coming for both of us would require immense strength.
The smell of his aftershave sends me into overdrive. We both stand silently, breathing deeply. Intuiting the passionate undercurrents between us. I feel his dick straining against his pants as he presses against my body. A warm tingle circles my inner thighs. I have to break it. This isn’t the time or place. Things are escalating way too fast.
“What’s that over there?” I point to a tower near the east end of the property.
“That’s the lighthouse. Legend has it that mermaids used to surface there, coming ashore to mate with humans.” When Maverick says the word “mate,” I grow dangerously wet. His husky voice is close to my ear. How was this possible given my situation?
He carries on, “Now it’s just used to guide my boat in during the night.”
I notice a small boat off to the side of the pier.
“Nice.” A lump holds firm in my throat. “Can we walk over there?” I ask, the tension becoming too much for me.
“Yeah.” He untangles his arms from around my waist, and I can breathe again.
We walk side by side along the pier. As our hands swing naturally, they bump together. Maverick takes the opportunity to link his pinky finger with mine. Just enough to keep us connected. I let him. Need to. We walk in silence until we reach the bottom of the lighthouse.
“Wow, this is so beautiful.” I admire the structure and its towering strength.
The ocean breeze blows as we make our way inside. It’s dark. The only light is from small dim lamps attached to the walls. The stairs are b
lack and metal; they echo through the building with each step. Maverick lets me lead the way, following behind me. We wound our way to the top and stand overlooking the turbulent sea.
“This view is amazing.”
“It certainly is. This is my first time coming up here,” he says. His eyes trained on me. I shift my stance, feeling exposed and vulnerable as if he can see everything I’m thinking.
He places his hand on my waist again and pulls me close to him. Those strong masculine hands feel like magic. I can’t help but arch into him. It’s stupid for me to be so attracted to Maverick. I pride myself on following my heart, but following my heart is what’s gotten me into this situation in the first place. Maybe just a kiss, then I can prove to myself that there’s nothing between us and I can move on. I turn in his arms, his dark blues eyes, watching my every move. I lift on to my tip-toes and plant a soft kiss to his lips. He hesitates, surprised by the action. I taste the saltiness of his lips. After a moment, Maverick kisses me back. Our lips meld together. He teases my reluctant lips open. I comply. Our tongues dance in unison as a small moan forms in my throat. My body starts to heat up as the kiss deepens. Maverick’s other hand rest on the small of my back. I can feel the raw power of his kiss.
Taking a step back, I gently push Maverick away. “This feels more than great, but I’m just not ready for this right now.”
His eyes have darkened with lust, and as my eyes flicker to his pants, I can see the outline of his bulge.
“You’re right,” he grits out like it’s painful for him to say the words.
His ferocity makes me feel safe. It makes me want him more.
He clears his throat. “We should probably head back to the house.”
I follow behind him back to the stormy pier. We don’t say anything on the walk back to the house. Strong feelings we have no control over are brewing. We’re like two magnets drawn together.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” he says. “If you need anything, let me know.”
I retire to the guest room, close the door, and lean my head against it. Fuck, I want his rough hands all over my body. Everything with him just feels so right, I can’t put it into words but its almost like I’ve known him for a lifetime. Never had I felt so drawn to a man like this. But, I have to slow down. I always let my emotions take control, and I can’t continue that pattern. I peel my top off, making my way to the walk-in shower.
I strip off the rest of my clothes, leaving them on the marble floor before getting in the large shower. The warm water cascades down over my body out of the rainfall shower-head. The shower is equipped with mood sensing lights, spa music, and a wall-length, retractable curtain. It covers an awe-inspiring view of the ocean. I like the finer things in life, but this house is on a whole different level. The mansion encompasses everything you could imagine. A gymnasium, Olympic-sized swimming pool, sauna, wet bar, tennis and basketball courts, wine cellar, and even a cigar room. He has everything at his disposal. Should I go to him? I try to remind myself that Maverick is a dangerous man, but obviously, that seems to be my type. I don't want to make the same mistake again, but who knows how long we have before Miles would attack. If things ended badly, I would regret not taking my chance with Maverick. Argh! My emotions have retaken control.
I get out of the shower and dry myself off. If we don't have much time, then this might be it. Miles could be coming any day now. I at least need to feel that passion between Maverick and me. To see the flame of Maverick. To feel it. To taste it. Just one time. One sweet time.
Maybe then, I can put all these obsession thoughts to bed. Maybe he’ll be terrible at sex, and I can realize that I just need to focus on myself and not get tangled up with another man.
I go to him.
I knock on the big wooden door that leads to his bedroom. My nipples poke through the cotton shirt that I'd found in the bottom drawer. I didn't bother with putting pants on. Instead, I’d chosen a pair of red panties. Butterflies erupt in my stomach. I’m putting myself completely out there, and he could turn me down.
The door opens, and Maverick appears. He’s changed into a pair of black sweatpants that hangs low on his hips, and a t-shirt with some football logo on it. His black hair has a few water droplets in it as if he’s just come out of the shower as well. His dark, sexy eyes fall on my chest.
“What are you doing?” Maverick coughs. He wants me, too; I see the fire contained in him.
“Can I come in?” I ask.
He hesitates for a moment but opening the door wider and stepping to the side. My bare feet sink into his carpeted floors. His room is decorated similarly to his office with dark blues and grays, but there are also elements of black. The black curtains are drawn shut, hiding what I’m sure is a perfect view. The door closes behind me, and I turn to look at him. He walks toward me with a confident stride until I have to look up to see his face.
“Why are you here, Pumpkin?” he asks. Pumpkin. He’s called me that a few times now. I like the way the nickname rolls off his tongue as if we’ve known each for years and not a couple of days.
Instead of answering, I wrap my arms around his neck and press my lips onto his. My nipples harden at the contact. A low groan escapes from somewhere deep in his chest. He grabs the back of my thighs, and I wrap my legs around his massive frame. Through my panties, I can feel his bulge pressing into me. My body’s on fire. He walks us to the bed and lays me down on the plush mattress.
He looks down at my body, sprawled out in front of him. His jaw clenches like he’s deep in thought. He’s going to turn me down. I can feel it.
“Don’t fight it. Just one night. Please, Maverick.”
That’s all the encouragement he needs. I watch as he pulls his shirt over his head, exposing his ripped body underneath. Even Ares, as an athletic trainer, has nothing on Maverick. He drops his sweatpants next, revealing his thick, veiny cock. Fuck, he’s big. He has to be at least nine inches. Wetness pools between my legs, soaking my panties. I’ve never been so aroused in my life.
The mattress shifts as he joins me on the bed. I spread my legs, making room for his hips to fit perfectly in between them. I pull my shirt over my head, letting him see all of me. I press my hands against his defined chest and feel out the landscape. He groans as if my touch alone is enough. He bends down to hover over my body. Gaining access to my neck, he sucks his way across my throat. The electricity of his touch almost causes me to short circuit. His lips turn into a grin against my neck, knowing that he has me in the palm of his hand.
I push my hips up, trying to get some sort of friction. I’m desperate for him. I need his hands all over my body. I want to hear him groan again. As if understanding my needs, he grabs the side of my panties and rips them from my body, leaving me completely exposed. He rubs circles around my clit, but I’m already so wet for him, the foreplay is unnecessary.
“I need to feel you inside me,” I beg.
His response is a low grunt before he lines the head of his cock up with my entrance. I stretch to accommodate his size as he slowly pushes inside me, every inch making me feel fuller.
I wrap my legs tight around his waist, and he starts to thrust. A tingling sensation takes hold of my body, and I dig my nails into his back, trying to gain some control.
“Let go,” he commands, his voice deep and husky in my ear. He’s referring to the orgasm he knows I’m holding back. I do as he says, relaxing my body enough to let the orgasm take hold. My legs shake, and I forgot to breathe for a minute.
“Oh...fuck,” I manage to get out as I throb around his length.
He increases his speed, the headboard slamming into the wall behind us. His chest is now slick with a coating of sweat. I want him to feel as good as I had. I tighten my legs around him.
“Fuck, you feel so good,” he breathes into my ear.
“Then show me,” I challenge. A moment later, he hits me deep, a groan escaping from his lips as he empties himself inside me.
Our sexcapade
leaves both of us intertwined in rapid breaths of satisfaction. And just like that, a sexual bond was fostered. Sweat cloaks the bed. The room smells of lust.
“Amazing. Mmmm.” Words fail to describe what just took place. The risk was worth it in my mind.
“You’re telling me.” Maverick’s laying beside me, sweat glistening. He looks so yummy that I want to jump on him again. I hold off and run my finger down his chest instead. I take my time before getting up. I rise naked, slipping out into the hallway and walking back to my room.
Chapter Four: Operation Kidnap
Maverick
I hadn’t wanted to fuck her, but she’d come to me. I want to believe that it was just sex. But it wasn’t. We shared something deeper. Something I don't want to touch on. Something my heart has no business feeling. The sexy dark-haired woman has gotten under my skin. She’s a strong woman, but I can tell that Miles has broken her down. She’s confident and ambitious, but she’s scared to show it. Such a powerful woman probably threatened Miles, and that was why he treated her like shit. Only a weak man feels threatened by a powerful woman.
I lay in bed, the darkness of the bedroom surrounding me. I didn't stop her when she got up and left. It was probably for the best that we put some distance between us. My phone rang on the bedside table. I grab it and turn it over before realizing that it’s not the phone that was ringing.
Shit, shit, shit. I jumped out of bed and grabbed the flip phone I keep hidden in my drawer. Only my security team has this number. It’s for emergencies only as it can’t be tracked.
“What’s going on?” I snap, grabbing my sweatpants off the ground and pulling them on.
“We got incoming air traffic,” Mike tells me.
“Fuck! I’m coming. Prepare to go to war.” I hang up the phone and slide it into my pants pocket. My t-shirt still lay on the bed, and I quickly put it on.
I open my bedroom door to see chaos has already erupted. Isabella rushes past me, but I grab her arm to stop her. “Get Hazel and go down to the safe house.”