by L. Wilder
“I’ll call him,” Goliath told her as he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close to his chest. “We’ll figure this thing out.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to get the hell out of there. I needed to get this shit sorted in my head before I talked to Gavin. Right now, I couldn’t think about it. I needed an escape.
“I’m taking Henley over to Paris Landing. Call me if you need me,” I told them, taking hold of Henley’s hand, and without either of us saying goodbye, I led her over to the car. I knew it was a shitty thing to do, leaving them alone to sort out this mess with Gavin, but I couldn’t stay. I wasn’t ready to deal with my brother.
I started the engine and neither of us spoke as I pulled out of the parking lot. I’d been driving for almost an hour when Henley cleared her throat and asked, “Hey… are you okay?”
“No, but I will be,” I told her.
“Maverick, I’m really sorry,” she told me.
“Nothing for you to be sorry about, Henley. This had nothing to do with you.”
“Maybe not, but I’m still sorry all the same.” She tried to brush her long bangs behind her ear and looked out the window. She let out a deep sigh before she said, “I’m just going to say it. I’m pissed at Gavin. Totally, absolutely pissed! Like chop off his balls kind of pissed. He’s such an asshole for not telling you,” she snapped. “I know it wouldn’t have been easy, but he should have said something! Like, ‘Hey, Maverick, I screwed your girlfriend. Sorry about that!’”
“He saw the hell I was going through. How could he not say something?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I can’t imagine keeping something like that from Cassidy, but I’m sure Gavin had his reasons.”
“I don’t give a fuck what his reasons were, he should’ve talked to me about it.”
“You’re right. So what now?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I just don’t know.”
“You’ll sort it out. He’s your brother, and he’s about to find out that he’s a father. It isn’t going to be easy for him.”
“You know what’s crazy? I’m actually relieved that Gavin’s the father. Totally, profoundly… relieved. How fucked up is that?” I confessed. “Don’t get me wrong. I love John Warren, always have. But when I held him in my arms, it just didn’t feel like he was mine. It’s hard to explain. Something didn’t feel right. I cared for him. Loved him and wanted to protect him, but I felt this emptiness in the pit of my stomach. I thought I was fucked up, that something was wrong with me, and I honestly felt like he was better off with Lily and Goliath.”
“There was never anything wrong with you, Maverick. Your instincts were right, and in the end, you were doing what you thought was best for John Warren. That’s all that really matters.”
“I really did want him to be happy, to be safe. I knew Lily would be a good mother to him,” I told her.
“Of course, you did. Lily and Goliath adore that child. You made them all very happy.”
“Gavin…” I started, but his name got stuck in my throat.
“Is an asshole,” she said, laughing under her breath.
When I looked over to her and saw that sexy, little grin spreading across her face, I couldn’t help but smile back at her. Damn. My world had just been turned upside down, and Henley was here making me fucking smile. What was it about this girl? She had me thinking I might just have a future worth fighting for – a future with her.
Chapter 18
Henley
‡
THE MINUTE MAVERICK parked the car, I jumped out and headed for the dock. It was such a beautiful day, and I wanted to get a better view of all the boats. As I walked along the wooded walkway, the warmth of the afternoon sun was comforting. The waves rocked back and forth beneath my feet, and the cool water seemed to call out my name, begging me to jump in. I continued to walk along the narrow wooded path, completely enthralled with the luxury house boats that lined the dock, and I desperately wanted to look inside one of them. A large, white yacht with a golden trim caught my attention, and I just had to look inside. Leaning over to peek in one of the windows, I heard Maverick’s footsteps coming up behind me. When I looked over at him, there was a mischievous gleam in his eyes. He grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the back of the yacht.
“Whoa! What are you doing?” I asked as my feet stumbled behind him.
“Watch your step,” he warned, stepping over the ledge and onto the massive boat.
As I followed him up on the railing, I read the name, The Emma Lou that was written on the side. I’d never heard him talk about anyone named Emma, so I asked, “Wait… do you actually know the people who own this boat?”
“No,” he answered nonchalantly. Still holding my hand, he gently tugged me towards the back door of the boat.
“What do you mean, no? Doesn’t that mean we’re trespassing?” I questioned. I quickly looked around to see if anyone was watching us. I’d never done anything like this, and I couldn’t imagine being any more excited than I was at that moment.
“Technically, yes,” he laughed. He reached for his wallet and pulled out one of his credit cards, carefully nudging it between the door and the lock. When the door popped open, he gave me a devilish grin and motioned for me to step inside.
“What if someone saw us?” I asked, looking out the large, glass window still paranoid that someone might have seen us.
“Then, we’ll probably get arrested,” he snickered.
“Maverick!”
“Henley, look around. No one has been on this boat in weeks. There are no swimsuits, no food or drinks. Besides, it’s not like we’re going to steal their boat. We’re just looking around,” he explained as he leaned against the kitchen sink.
“I’ve never been on one of these before. Have you?” I asked, running my hand over the smooth marble countertop.
“First time,” he said, following me into the living room.
When I looked around, I was amazed at how luxurious the yacht really was. Every corner and crevice sparkled with elegance. The sunlight bounced off the large crystal chandelier, casting an orange glow, making it feel more like a home than just a boat. Each piece of furniture looked like it was picked out by their own personal designer. I’d never seen anything like it. The floor-to-ceiling windows basked the entire interior with the warm light of the sun. The master bedroom was perfect, with its oversized sleigh bed facing the river. I could imagine myself watching a gorgeous sunset every single night through the beautiful bay windows.
Maverick’s spirit seemed to improve as we walked through the enormous boat, each room just as impressive as the last. When we came to the last one, Maverick stopped at the doorway and stared at me while I looked at the large painting of sunflowers hanging on the wall.
“Thank you,” I whispered as I walked over to him. “Not for the breaking and entering exactly, but the rest of it. Thanks for bringing me here. Showing me this place. It’s really amazing.”
“Come here,” he demanded, his voice was low and filled with a hint of mischief. A thrill shot through me as I stepped closer to him, feeling the heat of his stare burn against my flesh. When I was face-to-face with him, I placed my palms flat against his chest, trying to steady myself from my shaky knees. His hands dropped to my waist, pulling me closer to him. He leaned over me, his lips trailing kisses down my neck.
He reached for the hem of my t-shirt, quickly pulling it over my head. As soon as my favorite, pink bra hit the floor, he kissed me – an aggressive, bruising, mind-blowing kiss. I wasn’t patient. I needed to feel him against my body to ease the growing desire that was building in my stomach. My fingers slid up under his shirt, feeling the muscles of his stomach grow taut against the touch of my fingertips. I eased the soft fabric t-shirt over his head and tossed it towards the bed.
He was reaching for the button of my shorts when I said, “We’re going to be in so much trouble if these people come home and find us here screwing around in their bed.” It was a wa
rning, but I didn’t want to stop, stopping was the last thing I wanted to do. There was something about the thought of getting caught that actually enticed me even more.
“You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Thinking about getting caught, turns you on, doesn’t it?” he teased.
“Maybe,” I confessed. The sound of his zipper sliding down sent a jolt of excitement through me. This man had me imagining all sorts of things – very naughty, wicked things. Unable to hide the thoughts that were going through my head, a devious smile crept across my face. I slowly dropped to my knees, reaching out for the waistband of his jeans. His eyes widened when I started to inch his jeans down his hips.
A torturous groan vibrated through his chest when I took him in my hand and began to stroke my hand up and down his hard, rigid shaft. His fingers clamped around the edge of the dresser, and his eyes shut when I brushed my tongue across the head of his dick.
“Fuck,” he mumbled as I took him deep in my mouth. I continued to stroke him slowly, with my fingers wound tightly around his cock, feeling him throb against my tongue. His fingers tangled in my hair as his hips thrust forward, guiding me to take him deeper. I wasn’t exactly confident that I was doing it right, but seeing how his body responded to my touch, gave me such a sense of power. The thought of making this man lose control with just my mouth exhilarated me, fueled my desire, and made me want him even more. With just the twist of my hand, a guttural moan echoed through the room and a pained expression crossed his face.
I loved seeing him fall apart by my touch, and I was shocked when I was suddenly yanked up from the floor and carried over to the bed. He dropped me, with my back lying flat against the mattress. I propped up on my elbows and watched him slowly lower my shorts down my legs.
“Hey!” I protested.
He whispered, “I love your mouth, Henley, but I want to be inside you when I cum.”
I anxiously waited as he tore the condom wrapper with his teeth, and slowly slid the latex down his long, hard shaft. He hovered between my legs, and goosebumps rose from my flesh, while I watched his eyes roam over every inch of my bare skin.
“You’re so fucking beautiful, Henley,” he whispered, the heat of his breath caressing my neck.
His calloused thumb circled around my nipple, and my hips bucked towards him, needing to feel him inside me. “Please,” I begged.
His warm, wet tongue pressed against my breast as he said, “Please what, Henley? Tell me what you want.” He was teasing me with his words, driving me wild with anticipation.
“You, Logan. I want you,” I purred. When I looked at him, his eyes were filled with hunger, hunger for me. It gave me a thrill to see him looking at me like that. My body shuddered beneath him, unable to withstand the intensity of his gaze. My heart pounded furiously in my chest, and, in that moment, I knew. Logan had stolen my heart, and there was nothing I could do about it. I loved him, body and soul. His eyes were still locked on mine, when he drove deep inside me… harder and faster than I expected. A strangled cry of relief got caught in my throat when he pulled out to the tip and then pushed back inside me. My nails dug into his back as I tilted my hips forward, welcoming his invasion. His eyes were locked on mine while he thrust inside of me, again and again. I slowly raised my knees up to his hips, pulling him deeper inside me. A low groan of pleasure vibrated through his chest as he steadied his stride, easing his rhythm to a slow, demanding pace.
I couldn’t take it. I need more. All of his restraint began to vanish as my body started to tremble and writhe beneath him. With one hand on my hip and the other on my shoulder, he ground his hips against mine. A jolt of pleasure shot through me when he deepened the angle, making my body clamp down around him. The muscles in my body grew tight as my release began to build, burning deep in my stomach. I lifted my hips, trying to match his unrelenting rhythm, but it was too much. The warmth of his body, the consuming burn of his touch, sent me over the edge. My hands reached for the sheets at my side, fisting them tightly when my body began to tremble uncontrollably as my orgasm took hold.
“That’s it, baby. I want to feel you cum. Your pussy is so fucking tight,” he groaned, and just the sound of his voice sent me spiraling out of control. With a look of pure ecstasy on his face, he quickened his pace. I arched my back as my orgasm seized against my spine. He leaned over me, pressing his lips against mine, smothering my moans of ecstasy. Sweat trickled down his back while his body continued to pound into mine. I wound my legs around his hips, pulling him deeper inside me. With one last, powerful thrust, he found his own release. He held us there, motionless, until his body collapsed against mine.
Minutes passed and I was still trying to catch my breath. Finally, I whispered, “As much as I like having your hot, sweaty body on top of me, I… can’t… breathe,” I gasped. Smiling, he quickly rolled to the side and he pulled me over to him.
“Is that better?” he chuckled.
“Much,” I laughed. The rumbles of voices outside the window stole my laughter and replaced it with panic. “Shit! They’re here!”
Maverick jumped off the bed, revealing his perfectly round ass and long, muscular legs. He peered through the curtains, looking to see who was coming. “It’s not them. It’s just their neighbors, but we better get moving. It wouldn’t be good for them to see us in here.”
After putting on our clothes, we quickly made the bed, making sure not to leave any evidence of our little visit behind. When we finished, Maverick took my hand and led me down the hall. My nerves were on full alert, when he looked through the window one last time to make sure we were clear to leave. Thankfully, the neighbors were busy unloading groceries from their car and didn’t see us slip out the back door.
When we stepped outside, it was almost noon, and the sun was barreling down on us as we walked down the dock. I wanted to jump into the lake and let the water cool my burning skin, but Maverick was still holding my hand, tugging me towards the car. I wasn’t ready to go back to the clubhouse yet, so as soon as his car door slammed shut, I turned to him and asked, “How about something to eat? I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving. My girl and her snacks,” he snickered. The sound of ‘my girl’ rolling off of his lips made my heart flip inside of my chest. “We’ll grab a burger at Hidden Creek on the way back to the club.”
“Great,” I told him smiling. I didn’t care where we went. I just wanted to keep him to myself, as long as I could.
After a few turns down a long, curvy road, we pulled up to a quaint little store with a small patio-styled bar attached on the side. There was a flashing sign out front announcing that there would be a band playing this weekend, and golf carts lined the front parking lot. When we opened the door, the smell of bacon whipped around me, making my stomach growl with hunger. We’d only been standing there for a few seconds when a young girl in her twenties came up and greeted us.
“I’ll be with y’all in just a second. Make yourself comfortable,” she said, forcing a smile as she motioned her hand towards the tables in the back corner of the room. Several older men were sitting around drinking coffee. Each one of them was leaned back in his chairs, reading the morning paper. I had no doubt that they came here every morning to start the day.
“They’ve got pretty good cheeseburgers, or bacon and eggs if you’re still in the mood for breakfast,” Maverick told me when we sat down at one of the empty tables.
“A cheeseburger sounds perfect. I want mine with the works,” I told him. “I’m going to run to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.”
“It’s down the hall on the right,” Maverick told me, pointing down a long, dark hall. I was just about to open the bathroom door when I heard the waitress’s voice coming through the wall. She was obviously upset, her voice getting higher and higher. No one was responding to her, so I assumed that she was talking on her cell phone.
“I told you months ago that I was done with your shit, Drew. Now, let it go! Stop calling me! Stop texting me. And for fuck
’s sake, stop coming by the house. If you haven’t freaking noticed, I do not want to see you!” she barked. There was a brief pause before she started up again, “I don’t give a shit! You’re the one who decided to screw that whore from next door. That’s all on you. I don’t want to hear anything else you have to say. If you come around here again, I’m calling Bishop. Period.” There was a little commotion coming from the restroom, and then, suddenly the door flew open.
Her face flushed red with embarrassment when she saw me standing there, and before I could tell her not to worry about it, she said, “Uh… sorry about that. I have the ex from hell, and he just doesn’t know how to take no for an answer.”
“No need to apologize. There’s nothing worse than a guy like that, but it sounded like you handled him pretty well,” I told her, smiling. She seemed like a really cool girl, and I hated that this guy was giving her such a hard time. She was a least a foot shorter than me, making her seem a little younger than she really was. Her hair was pulled back in a fishtail braid, and she was wearing a pair of shorts with a hot tank top that said, ‘I’m actually not funny. I’m just mean and people think I’m joking’. I wanted one, and if she hadn’t been in the middle of an angry rant, I would have ask her where she’d gotten it.
“I’d really like to throat punch the asshole, but I doubt that it’d make much difference. We’d been dating for over a year when I found out he was screwing the slut-bag next door. I broke it off, but he just can’t get it through his thick skull that I’m done with his dumbass,” she explained as she let out a flustered sigh. “I’m sorry. I got carried away. It’s just one of those days.”
“No problem. We all have them,” I said laughing.
“By the way, my name is Sunny.”
“Nice to meet you, Sunny. I’m Henley. I’m here with Maverick,” I told her as I looked back to our table. When I saw that Maverick was distracted with his phone, I asked her, “So, I heard you mention Bishop’s name earlier. Do you know him?” I brought my hand up to my face, covering my eyes with my fingers while I shook my head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked… that’s none of my business.”