Finding Paige: (The Paige Diaries #1)

by D. K Lake

  "Now." I reply.

  "You don't have to ask twice."

  He closes the distance between us and cups the back of my head as he claims my mouth.

  This time there's no one to stop us.

  The kiss is unexpected. He kisses with meaning. Slow and thorough. He tastes like beer and exotic fruits. I reach up and wrap my arms around his neck still holding my bottle in one hand, and he holds me close and doesn't let go.

  When we eventually break apart we’re both smiling.

  "Wow." he says softly, brushing the strands of hair away from my face. "I wasn't expecting that."

  "I wanted to do that before I had any more to drink so I can remember it." I tell him.

  "In that case, I think we can do better and give you something to really remember." He lifts my drink out of my hand and sets it down along with his beer on the table behind us.

  He has this mischievous smile on his face as he returns to me and hooks an arm around my waist and reels me in again, and I go willingly. The alcohol has loosened me up and I want a distraction to forget about Dario, and Maverick makes one hell of a distraction.

  He takes my face in his hands and kisses me again. This time it's a little hungrier. A little more forceful. A little more of everything. His tongue searches mine and we get lost in the kiss until a loud bang makes us both jump. A sudden burst of fireworks explodes in the sky and we break apart, breathing heard.

  "Now, that was a kiss." Maverick murmurs against my lips.

  I look away with a smile on my face to watch the fireworks. I didn't even know there was going to be fireworks. A waterfall of pinks and blues fill the night sky and creates a soft glow over the party below. I turn back to Maverick and find him watching my face as I watch the fireworks.

  "You didn't tell me there would be fireworks." I say with a smile.

  "It must have slipped my mind." he says, watching me closely.

  Another explosion of colors in the sky draws my attention. Maverick hands me back my drink and we stay on the decking and watch the fireworks. We spend the rest of the night with each other, only separating to use the bathroom.

  I don't see Dario again.

  I remember Maverick guiding me into a bedroom and helping me to get into bed, and even giving me a goodnight kiss.

  But everything else is a little hazy after that.

  Time seems to blur.

  I'm not sure if it's been ten minutes or two hours, but I am vaguely aware of Maverick in the bedroom with me. The bed dips and I feel Maverick's hands on my back, sliding over my hip and down my thigh, bunching up my dress.

  I'm too drunk to care, to be honest.

  What's wrong with wanting a little carefree fun anyway?

  I'm in a relaxed sleepy state but I'm also hungry.

  But not for food.

  He presses up against my body as his hand snakes its way between my legs. I let out a soft moan as he gently strokes the outside of my panties. He presses a delicate kiss to the back of my shoulder, and I press up against him, letting him know I want more. He lets out what sounds like a growl but could have been a groan and disappears under the bedsheets. He maneuvers himself on top of me, staying hidden under the sheets. It's dark anyway and the curtains are closed and there's not much light in here to see anything. His hands glide down my sides and push my dress up, wanting it off. I wiggle my body out of my dress and he drags it away from my arms and it gets lost in the darkness.

  I could back out anytime, but I don't want to. I want this. One night of fun. Why not?

  He kisses my stomach as one hand reaches underneath me and unclasps my bra. He slides my bra down my arms and continues to kiss me all over, taking his time to kiss and tease my nipples, sucking and swirling his tongue around my hardened peaks.

  I'm so turned on. Sleepy, but turned on.

  I relax on the bed and let Maverick do as he pleases with me and he takes his time, kissing every inch of my body. His fingers hook under the waistband of my panties and when I don't tell him no, he slides them down my legs and I kick them away. I can’t see his face but I can feel his warm breath on my skin.

  He kisses my hip.

  Then lower.

  Lower.

  Oh, my...

  His hot mouth kisses a place I have never been kissed before. A small gasp escapes my lips and I swear I hear him chuckle under the covers. He lifts my knees up and I feel like putty in his hands. He hooks his arms around my legs and returns his mouth to me. Pressing another kiss to my intimate area and then he glides his tongue over my delicate flesh. I nearly buck off the bed.

  Whoa.

  I try to control my breathing as he continues to lick my soft bud. I need to grab something and quickly fist the bedsheets.

  No one has ever done this for me. I've only ever been with Dario and we never did this.

  Wow.

  My heart is beating so fast and there are butterflies in my stomach. He teases my opening with his tongue, and I let out a little noise in surprise, but I like it. He then slides a finger inside of me and I let out another soft moan and let my head fall back onto the pillow. He picks up his pace and adds another finger. I haven't been this stretched since the last time I had sex, but it feels good.

  So good.

  He licks and sucks on my bud and I know it won't be long.

  "Oh, Gawwd..." I cry out. "That feels so good...Ahhhh..." My orgasm claims me and washes over me in violent waves. I cry out, whimpering loudly, and my toes curl in pure pleasure.

  I take a moment to recover. I can’t even speak. My body feels like jelly and my tummy feels like there are butterflies inside. I feel so light and fluffy. Like I'm floating on cloud nine. Maybe I am. This feels like heaven. Only now I'm even sleepier than before.

  "That was amazing." I murmur as I curl into the pillow.

  I hear a soft chuckle from under the covers.

  "You're really good at that." I tell him, trying to keep my eyes open. "Just give me a minute..." I trail off, forgetting what I was going to say. I feel so relaxed, sedated almost, and I give in and let my eyelids flutter shut.

  "Sweet dreams," he whispers, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips.

  I want to say something. Maybe a thank you, or something, but I'm already lost in the land of dreams.

  Chapter 13

  Voices stir me awake and I hear banging coming from downstairs. I open my eyes and see a slither of light coming through the curtains.

  Memories of last night come rushing back to me and my cheeks warm at the memory of what happened in this bed. I feel around on the other side but it's empty.

  Huh.

  I hear a girl talking out in the hallway and then I hear Maverick asking for eggs and bacon. I sit up and check my phone and see it's still early, not even 9 o'clock yet. The door suddenly swings open and Maverick leans against the doorframe with his arms crossed, and a big grin on his face. His hair looks damp as though he's just showered and he's wearing a clean t-shirt.

  "Morning," I smile, stretching, suddenly realizing I'm not wearing any clothes on my top half. I just catch the bedsheets before I flash him.

  "Morning to you, too." His eyes travel the length of my body as I reposition the covers around myself.

  "I didn't know you liked to sleep naked. Another thing I know about you. And you said you were boring." He crosses the room and sits on the edge of the bed next to me.

  I just smile and tuck my hair behind my ear. It's probably sticking up all over the place.

  "Did you sleep well?" he asks.

  "Uh-huh." I match his smile.

  "Did you have fun last night?"

  "I did. I especially liked the part where we came up here."

  "When I kissed you and you passed out?" He chuckles.

  "Noooo...the other part." I lightly smack his arm.

  "What other part? Have you been dreaming about me?" he teases playfully.

  What? He has no idea what I'm talking about.

  My blood runs cold.

&
nbsp; Did I imagine last night?

  I shift around and feel under the covers and realize I'm not wearing any panties either.

  Fuck.

  I squeeze my legs together as Maverick moves closer along the edge of the bed. I'm not sore as though I've had sex, so I'm not worried about that, but I feel dirty not knowing who came in here last night…and licked my…Oh, gawd. Did I imagine the whole thing? Was I that drunk?

  "I must have drunk more than I realized," I say, feeling uneasy.

  If Maverick didn't come into the bedroom last night then who did?

  "Well, I hope I thrilled you enough in your dreams to come back for seconds." he jokes.

  "It was pretty intense," I say honestly, remembering how I came undone with some stranger's mouth licking my clit.

  Gawwwd.

  What have I done?

  I was so out of it last night. They could have done anything to me, but they chose to go down on me and then they left. Who does that?

  "So, breakfast?" he asks.

  "Breakfast sounds great." I force a smile, but my stomach is churning. I don't think it's the alcohol from last night making me feel queasy.

  Maverick pulls the door shut again and the darkness swallows me up. I fall back on the pillow, trying to remember anything from last night. I replay it over and over in my head.

  And that's when I hear the stranger laughing under the bedsheets...but it sounds familiar.

  Ohmigawd!

  I quickly pull on my clothes but soon realize I have put my dress on inside out. I open the curtains to let the light in and finish getting dressed. I hurry into the en-suite bathroom, cringing when I see my face for the first time this morning. Streaky mascara. Smudged eyeliner. I look like a drunk clown. I'm horrified that Maverick got to witness this earlier. I smooth my hair down and wash my face and thankfully the makeup washes off easily enough. I borrow some mouthwash and swish it around my mouth and spit in the sink.

  I take one last look in the mirror before leaving the bathroom. I collect my bag and phone and wander downstairs. A few walking zombies are ambling around, and a few are still sprawled across the couches. I find the kitchen and see Maverick sitting on a barstool chatting with some girl. She's pretty with honey blond hair and blue eyes, she's wearing a pair of pajama shorts and a baggy tee. She's clearing the counters and filling a trash bag, at the same time she's got something cooking on the stove.

  "Here she is," the girl says, looking up at me with a smile.

  "Hi," I greet them.

  "How's the head?" the girl asks.

  Uh...who is she?

  "I wouldn't say no to some aspirin," I say, sliding onto the stool next to Maverick.

  Maverick hops up and searches in an overhead cupboard and a moment later, a glass of water and two tablets are placed in front of me.

  "Thanks."

  The girl is still smiling at me.

  "How do you two know each other?" I ask.

  "This is Addie," Maverick informs me. "You met her last night." he adds.

  "Oh..."

  I did?

  Addie chuckles. "I didn't think you'd remember me. You were rather drunk last night. I'm friends with Ethan." she explains and then it clicks. I remember she was attached at the hip with Ethan last night.

  "Are you two dating?"

  "No." she laughs. "Well…I'm still hoping he'll want more but at the minute he doesn't see me as anything more than a friend." she says and goes back to clearing the countertop.

  "Do you need any help?"

  "You could turn the bacon," she says, nodding her head at the skillet. "And you can get on with the eggs." she orders Maverick.

  "Yes, ma'am." He jumps up and joins me, cracking the eggs as I check the bacon.

  "Addie always makes breakfast when she's here." Maverick tells me.

  "I don't know how I get roped into cooking you breakfast and cleaning up every time you guys throw a party." she says.

  "It's because you love us." Maverick teases.

  "Well, I love one of you." she says quietly as we hear Ethan's voice somewhere behind us.

  "I can help you with cleaning up?" I offer.

  "Oh, no. You're Maverick's guest. There's no way I'm letting you clean up. Anyway, I talked those two idiots into helping if I cook them breakfast," she gestures out the window at where two boys are wandering around picking up trash.

  Maverick and I help cook breakfast and then we each fill up a plate with eggs and bacon and sit at the center island, while Addie gets another lot of bacon and eggs going while she eats her own. Ethan wanders into the kitchen and Addie hands him a plate and he disappears again.

  "Where did you sleep last night?" I ask Maverick, sipping my water.

  "In the den." Maverick replies.

  "You didn't have to give up your room for me."

  "I wouldn't have felt comfortable leaving you to sleep anywhere else with all these strangers hanging around. And I didn't think it was right that we shared a bed because...well..." he trails off.

  "Because Mav's a gentleman." Addie throws over her shoulder.

  "I wouldn't have minded."

  I really wouldn't have minded. Maverick is a nice guy. Not some creepy perv. Not like the guy that snuck into the room last night and took it upon himself to go down on me.

  "You looked tired and I didn't want to keep you awake. I move around a lot in my sleep." Maverick says quickly, and his cheeks glow with a pink flush.

  Awwww.

  I go back to my food and suddenly remember I came here with Em.

  "Where's Em?" I ask, looking around.

  "She left with Spencer last night." Maverick informs me.

  "What? That druggie?" I whisper.

  "You don't remember saying goodbye to her?" Maverick laughs. "You practically stuck your tongue down her throat."

  "What?!"

  "Don't worry. I pulled you off before you asked her out for dinner." Maverick teases.

  "Gawwwd. No." I cover my face.

  "It's okay. No one cared. It was just drunk fun. You get feisty when you're drunk. Em said she'd call you."

  I check my phone but don't see any missed calls.

  "Where did they go?"

  Maverick shrugs. "I wouldn't worry too much. Spencer's not the kinda guy to just ditch her somewhere. He'll make sure she gets home safely."

  I finish my food and help Maverick load the dishwasher and then he offers me a ride back which works out well because we both live in the same dorm.

  Maverick parks his red Range Rover in front of the dorms. Em had commented on the Range Rover before, saying that whoever it belonged to had money, but at the time we didn't know it belonged to Maverick. The inside is clean and shiny, and it still has that brand new smell.

  "Thanks for the ride."

  "I told you it's no problem, we both live here." He opens his door and jogs around to my side and holds the door open for me and offers me his hand to climb out.

  "What are you doing for the rest of the day?" he asks, walking beside me along the path.

  "Um…just some reading. I want to take a shower. I think Em said something about heading over to her parents’ house to collect a few things she forgot." I scan the parking lot for her car but it’s not here. It wasn't at Maverick's when we left so I'm guessing Spencer must have driven it somewhere with her. Em had been drinking a lot last night but I remembered I had seen Spencer drink one bottle of beer and then I saw him switch to water after that. I'm not sure how I feel about my best friend disappearing with some stranger that we hardly know. He could be anyone.

  So could the guy that went down on you.

  "I have football practice." Maverick says.

  "On a Saturday?"

  "It's any day really."

  "Even a Sunday?"

  "Even a Sunday." he repeats.

  "Thanks for inviting me last night, I had a lot of fun."

  He steps in front of me and holds the door to the dorms open.

  "I'm glad you decided
to come. I was already thinking up ways to get you to talk to me in English if you didn't come to the party."

  "Like what?"

  "Uh, so far all I have is, I was going to chuck notes on your desk in hopes you'd pass them back."

  "You really are a big dork." I tease.

  "So um...do you think we could do something tomorrow?" he asks as I hop up a few steps and he catches my hand and spins me around. He stops on the bottom and I drop back down a step and at this height, we're nearly the same level. Nearly. "There's this great Mexican place that's new in town. I'd love to take you."

  I smile and think about it for a moment.

  "Really?" he laughs as I make him wait for my answer.

  "All right. You can take me out, but only if you let me pay for myself."

  "That's not gonna fly with me I'm afraid. If I take you out, I'm paying. End of story." Maverick says firmly.

  "Hmm. I can tell you're gonna be trouble."

  "Me, trouble? I wasn't the one offering Em a lap dance last night."

  I cover my mouth with my hand as a gasp escapes my lips.

  "Just kidding." He chuckles and I smack him playfully.

  "Not funny. I can hardly remember anything."

  "Aww." he teases.

  "Right. I'm going." I turn to leave but he grabs me from behind and spins me around again and I let out a playful squeal.

  "You forgot something," he says.

  "Forgot what?" I rest my elbows on his shoulders.

  "Goodbye kiss."

  "I didn't sign up for that." I smile.

  "I'm not letting you go until I get one." He offers me his cheek.

  "I think I can do one better than that,"

  I take his face in my hands and kiss him on the lips. He closes his eyes and kisses me back, his hands tightening on my hips. He tastes like toothpaste and he must have brushed his teeth after breakfast when he disappeared to use the bathroom. I pull away and he follows my lips with his.

  "I need more." he whines.

  "No, I have to go and take a shower. You’ll get another one tomorrow if you behave."

  He lets go of me and I jog up the steps.

  "Be ready at seven!" he calls.

  I glance back at him and he blows me a kiss and it makes me laugh, and I wave goodbye to him and head back to my room.