by Eliza Park
His eyes were hard, and I could see the quiet war raging behind his gaze. I reached for him, pulling his face down to mine and shoving my tongue into his mouth.
“I’m yours, claim me.” I wasn’t sure where the words came from, but they did the trick. My body erupted in an explosion of heat and fire, and Maverick let out an agonizing groan, pumping his own release inside of me. I felt myself clench around him, the natural cadence of my body milking every last drop of what he had to give.
My legs were trembling, and I felt so full, so satisfied, and so suddenly emotionally overwhelmed. His cock twitched once more before he pulled out and rested his head next to mine on the pillow, his breathing ragged.
I wasn’t sure what I needed, or how I felt, and I tried to steady my breathing and remain calm. This was the first time I’d had consensual sex in…four years. Consensual, amazing, mind-blowing sex with a guy who wanted to spend his life with me. But I couldn’t tell if the overwhelming emotion digging at the forefront of my brain was happiness or something else.
“Holy fuck,” Mav said then, his voice gravelly. He rolled to his side, a long arm draping over my stomach. “I mean, I’ve had better, but you’re definitely like…top ten.”
I laughed, happiness bubbling out of me like a shaken champagne bottle, and smacked him gently on the thigh.
He chuckled, kissing me on the cheek, “I’ll have to get you the morning after pill.”
I inhaled slowly, “Yeah I guess so.”
He lifted his head to look up at me, his expression full of concern, “Are you alright?”
I nodded, “Yeah.”
Maverick leaned up onto his elbow, pushing the hair out of his face before letting his arm fall back down over my abdomen. I smiled up at him, knowing it didn’t quite reach my eyes. He brushed a thumb over the apple of my cheek, “Talk to me,” he said, voice low.
I wanted to cry, but I wasn’t quite sure why. “I don’t know what to say,” I admitted, my voice trembling.
He bent down, grabbing the heavy comforter, and pulling it back over our bodies. “Are you regretting what we just did?”
I shook my head, “No, it was amazing.”
“Celeste,” the pads of his fingers traced across my forehead, pushing wild strands of blonde into my periphery. “Tell me what’s going on.”
Taking a deep, shaky breath, I searched for the words. “I-I don’t know, I just feel so…”
“Confused?”
I nodded.
His gaze wandered down my body, his hand following the motion in gentle strokes. It wasn’t a sexual caress, but a soothing one, “Can I make an assumption?”
My eyes searched his and I tilted my chin down in assent.
“I read quite a few of the details about your case,” he admitted, clearing his throat, “I know he tried to get you pregnant.”
My heart seized in my chest, the air around me becoming thick.
“I’m guessing what you feel right now, it isn’t regret or guilt, or even fear. Celeste, it’s liberation.” His blue eyes met mine, studying my reaction, “You’ve taken your body back, it fully belongs to you and you’ve willingly given it to me, let me do something through a choice that was taken away from you.”
Hot tears pricked at my eyes, the realization of just how incredibly right he was made me want to laugh and scream and cry.
Liberation.
“When you asked me to cum in you, it felt like the biggest compliment in the world. I know you’re trying to replace what he did, and to be given the opportunity,” he smiled, “Fuck, it’s a good feeling.”
A grin broke out over my face as one warm tear slid down the side of my head and into the pillow. I laughed, the sound natural and maybe a little manic. “Can we do it again?” I asked, wiping the tear away with a quick swipe of my fingers.
Maverick chuckled, looking down at me with a gaze so full of admiration and love, it caused my heart to swell. “Yeah, Ace, we can do that so, so many more times.” He bent to kiss me chastely on the lips, “But I’m going to need some water or a snack or something first because holy shit, that was a workout.”
He lifted the comforter and slid out, pulling on a pair of boxers and shorts, and glancing back at me as he waited by the door. “Do you need anything?” His long body was relaxed, broad shoulders perceptively more hunched, eyes clear and calm.
“Water?” I stretched my arms above my head, feeling the muscles tighten and relax. Maverick’s eyes followed the curve of my breasts and I bit my lip to hide my smile.
“Fuck,” he said, opening the door and walking out.
I giggled into the darkness, closing my eyes, and absorbing the feeling soaking through my body.
Liberation.
Chapter 40
Maverick
Celeste went back to her apartment on Sunday morning. After a few more rounds that night, after which I was left completely and utterly exhausted, she spent the night wrapped up in my arms, with one of my hands palming her incredible breasts. I was walking on fucking air the rest of the day, daydreaming about her lips, her torso, her ass, those long-toned legs. She texted me as soon as she got home, and I had to resist the urge to ask her to send me a few naked pictures. Long distance was going to be so much rougher now that I’d been all the way inside her.
An hour or so later she sent me a picture of the package containing the plan B pill, and said she was going to go on birth control to avoid future incidents. I nearly groaned at the idea of getting to cum inside her every time we fucked. I knew I should have pulled out the first time, I wasn’t ready to be a dad, but the way she begged me with her eyes, I couldn’t resist. It was my first time fucking a girl raw, and she felt so incredible, so tight and wet.
I shivered, yanking my brain out of the gutter and back into the pile of homework on my desk. My dick was sore from our encounter and thinking about her only made it worse.
We had three very long weeks until the winter dance and I was already imagining a number of things to do with her after the occasion. We’d agreed to stay parted during this time to focus on finals and schoolwork. After the dance break would begin, and we’d be on our way to the Hamptons.
I was halfway through the day, focused almost completely on homework when the doorbell rang. I had left my door open and assumed Brody had ordered pizza or invited someone over, so I didn’t bother paying attention to the sounds coming from the living room until a familiar pair of brown eyes burst through my doorway.
I honestly didn’t think I’d be seeing Mia again after what Celeste had said to her a couple of days ago, but here she was, tears streaming down her face in another classic attempt to manipulate me. She looked cold and hungry; her coat pulled tightly over her small shoulders.
Frowning, I didn’t even stand up to greet her. Brody’s face appeared behind her, his arms crossed in front of his chest. “Mia?” I said, bored, “Can I help you?”
“We need to talk,” she stated, voice high and whining.
I shook my head, “No, I don’t think we do.”
“Mia, normally I would never treat a girl this way, but you really need to leave,” Brody said from behind her.
She walked into my room and sat on my bed, fidgeting with her fingers. Brody stood in the doorway and I turned in my chair, tapping a pen against my thigh.
“We need to talk,” she said again, sounding a little firmer.
I glanced up at Brody. He lifted an eyebrow and shrugged.
“Alright, Mia, talk.”
“Alone.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, mimicking Brody’s stance. “No, I would prefer there was always a witness present when you’re around.”
She let out an annoyed huff, “Fine, I’m pregnant.”
Brody coughed through a laugh.
“Congratulations, whoever is unlucky enough to be the father should be thrilled.”
“It’s yours, Maverick.” She spat.
It was my turn to laugh then. “We haven’t had sex in
months, Mia.”
“18 weeks, if you want a number.”
“Where’s the bump?” Brody asked, his stance still defensive. “I got a lotta sisters, Mia, and a few nephews. Your skinny ass should be showing.”
She stood then, parting her coat with satisfaction. I stared with growing disbelief and horror at the small bump protruding from her abdomen.
“Oh, shit,” Brody said then.
“You’re almost halfway through and you’re telling me now? What the fuck, Mia. I’ve seen you drinking since then. Heavily.” My mind ran through all of the instances I’d seen Mia in the last few months, remembering every beer bottle and mixed drink.
She shrugged, “I just confirmed it last month and you,” She tuck out a finger at me, “wouldn’t talk to me. What was I supposed to do?”
I fell forward, my head in my hands.
No, no, no.
“Where’s your ultrasound pictures? Doctor confirmed tests? Blood work?” Brody railed off a list of things at her, sounding angrier by the minute.
“It’s too early for any of that, Brody,” Mia seethed at him.
“You should have had your first appointment at the twelve-week mark. You got any proof from that? You best believe Lockwood’s going to get a paternity test.” Brody’s large hand fell on my shoulder, “You don’t give that girl an ounce of your pity or money until that baby’s been confirmed yours, you hear me?”
“Whatever, Brody, Maverick knows it’s his. We didn’t use a condom that night.”
I shook my head, my eyes on the ground. Anxiety and fear shoved into my throat, making it hard to breathe or swallow.
Brody and Mia continued arguing about the validity of her claim. He said she wasn’t there, she claimed she was. I couldn’t think.
What the fuck was I going to tell Celeste? I gripped my hair with my fingers. I wouldn’t be seeing her for a few more weeks at least, which would put Mia over the halfway point. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, forcing my gaze to rest on Mia’s protruding abdomen. Memories from that night, with her came slowly back to me. Her too big eyes rimmed in smeared black, tiny pointy tits bouncing above me. Had it been that night? I’d kept my eyes closed through most of our encounters. I couldn’t remember if I’d used a condom, why couldn’t I remember if I used a fucking condom.
“When’s your next appointment?” I asked then, interrupting the growing loudness between the two former friends.
Mia looked surprised and her voice stuttered as she answered, “In a couple of weeks.”
“I want to be there.”
Her mouth pursed together, “You don’t believe me, do you?”
Brody scoffed, but I spoke before he could answer, “Of course not, Mia. When have you ever been honest with me?”
She crossed her arms over her chest, making the bump stand out a little more and I winced at the image. “Fine, you can come with. But you have to end things with that girl.”
“That girl?” I said in disbelief, “Fuck you, Mia, I’m not doing shit until I know for a fact that kid is mine.”
“Then you can’t come to the appointment.”
I stood then, getting a little too aggressively in her face, “I’m not fucking around here. I’m coming to that appointment, we’re getting a paternity test, and I swear to fucking god Mia if you breathe a word of this to anyone I will shut your ass up with a nondisclosure agreement so fast—.”
“Fine, whatever,” She huffed, “It’s yours though, Maverick, you know it is, and you have to marry me—.”
“No, I don’t have to do shit.” I looked down at her, wondering how I ever managed to bring myself to fuck her in the first place. Speaking to her in that first class had been a fatal mistake. “Even if the baby is mine, Mia, I want you to understand something. I’m not marrying you, I’m not giving you any money beyond what’s necessary for our child,” I almost threw up as the words left my mouth. Our child. “I’ll take you to court, sue for sole custody, and use all of the fucking information I have on you to keep you as far away from me as legally possible.”
“You don’t have anything on me,” she spat out, cheeks reddening.
I laughed maniacally, “Oh I do. I have so much, but I think the judge would be most interested to hear about that little habit you’ve been hiding from everyone since freshman year.”
Her eyes widened, and although I was pulling that information straight out of my ass based on what Celeste had said just a couple of days ago, I could tell it hit a mark.
“You don’t know anything,” She hissed.
I raised my eyebrows at her, tilting my head to the side, “You sure about that?”
Her face went pale, eyes jumping from Brody to me and then back again, “Fuck you, Maverick,” she screamed, causing both of us to jump.
Then she ran, shoving Brody aside as her shoes clacked against the hardwood floor. The front door slammed behind her.
Brody’s expression was full of disbelief, “What habit are you talking about?”
“Celeste said she thinks Mia has a coke habit. Something she saw at rehab.”
He blinked a few times before his mouth fell open, “Oh shit, that makes so much sense.”
I shrugged, “Explains a lot, I know.”
“What’s your plan of action, Captain?”
I sat back down in my chair with a huff, “I don’t know,” I answered honestly.
“You gonna tell Celeste?”
I frowned, “No, not yet.”
“I don’t remember seeing that bump on Friday, do you?”
“Honestly, B, I don’t think I’ve even looked at Mia in months.”
He chuckled lowly, “Yeah, well no one can blame you for that.”
“My kid could,” I admitted darkly.
Brody sighed, “Let’s make sure it’s yours first.” He patted me on the shoulder and left my room.
I sat there, staring at the wall for an inconceivable amount of time, thinking.
Trying to piece together my memory from that night was a lost cause. I’d had way too much to drink, and it was no use anyway. Whether I wore a condom or not, it could have broken, could have failed in some way, and resulted in this pregnancy. It was much too late for Mia to get an abortion, which was probably what her plan had been and why she’d waited so long to tell me. I couldn’t bring myself to even consider it. Despite the baby being Mia’s, it was also potentially mine.
I almost laughed then, realizing that if Celeste didn’t take the Plan B pill today I could have two kids within the year to two different moms. But Celeste wasn’t Mia. She was sane, smart, beautiful. She wouldn’t put our futures on the line like that. I needed a plan if the paternity test came back positive. I needed a way to tell Celeste that would hopefully result in her wanting to remain with me. I needed a way to tell my parents that wouldn’t result in their extreme and utter disappointment.
I grabbed my phone off the desk and scrolled through my list of contacts, stopping at the one lawyer’s name I knew I probably needed right now.
Winter
Chapter 41
Celeste
Maverick was waiting on the doorstep wearing a simple black suit. He stood when I pulled up, brushing off his suit pants and walking to the door of the cab. It had been three very long weeks since I’d seen him, and with his hair pushed away from his face, looking like a collegiate James Bond, my mouth started to water. I could sense his impatience as he tugged the door open, blue eyes hooded and I bit my lip. His expression was unreadable, hand held out to keep me steady while I stepped from the vehicle, but I could see the hard line of his clenched jaw and knew something was wrong. Sky blue eyes raked up my body from pointed toe to the hair framing my face and I quietly thanked Gage for encouraging the Full Throttle hair and makeup experience for tonight.
His cheeks were reddened from the cold. I’d texted him when we’d left and we hadn’t experienced any traffic delays, so I couldn’t imagine why he would be irritated with me. Still, I felt it. The
last time we’d seen each other had been the first time we’d had sex, and aside from offering instructions for our trip to the Hamptons on Sunday, he’d been distant the last few weeks. I’d started to wonder if he regretted what we did, but couldn’t bring myself to ask.
“You’re stunning,” Maverick murmured, kissing me on the cheek.
“You don’t look so bad yourself,” I replied, feeling awkward and unsure.
He held my hand, staring down at me with a calculating gaze. I turned away from him to pay the driver and we walked up to the house.
Brody and Logan were inside, sitting on the couch and drinking beer, wearing suit jackets with the ties draped loosely around their necks. Brody stood when we silently entered the house and whistled, “Damn girl,” he said, walking over to me, “You let me know the second this asshole starts acting up, I will be happy to take his place.”
I chanced a quick glance at Maverick who released my hand and went to stand in the kitchen by himself.
“You would be the first to know,” I grinned at him, my heart not quite in on the joke, and set my purse down on the counter, “Do you need help with that tie?”
Brody’s warm eyes widened, “Oh absolutely, if you’re offering.”
I held my hands up, making quick work of the simple knot, remembering all the times I’d tied them for Maverick back in our academy days.
“You clean up nice,” I winked at him, feeling Mav glowering from the kitchen.
Brody held a hand to his heart, his eyes rolling back into his head dramatically, “I could die today a happy man.”
Logan stood then and walked over to us, eyes glitter, “Me too, please.”
“You know we may as well let the whole team know she’s here. We’re all just so helpless when it comes to tying ties.” Brody said loudly, offering me a smile.
“Are you going with Ashley?” I asked Logan quietly.
He sighed, nodded, and lifted a large pink drink to his lips..