Chills drift up my spine when he touches the base of my back where my shirt has ridden up a little.
“Do you have any kids?” I ask, curious about his life.
He shifts on the couch, scooting farther down, pressing his chin to the top of my head so easily, like this happens every day.
“I don’t. I was a Navy SEAL for many years of my life. Once I got out, me and Konrad just rode our bikes for months, traveled the land we worked hard to protect.” I reach forward and take his hand, settling on the couch next to us.
I put my palm in his, looking at the difference in our hands. Those hands could hurt me, kill me in a second, but he’s holding me, touching me gently.
I peek up at Maverick, who’s grinning ear to ear at me. “You’re tiny, sweetheart.” He closes his hand around mine easily, his southern drawl sending goosebumps down my back.
I slide out of his lap. One part of me wants me to stay there forever, but I want to look into his eyes as he speaks to me.
I curl my legs under. He positions the blanket over my legs without a second thought as he continues talking. “I met Smiley; he was the president at the time. He threw his idea to me, we pooled our cash together and now we own hundreds of businesses all over Texas and other states. The Devil Souls MC are very similar to us, but they are newer.”
“Wow, I’m proud of you. It seems your hard work has paid off.”
He gives me the softest look yet. “You’re way too sweet for your own good, do you know that?”
I look down at my hands, smiling. My face burns at the compliment. His finger touches my cheek gently, rubbing. “Ahh, there’s that blush again,” he teases, and chuckles.
I laugh and push his hand away, taking it in mine. “Teasing isn’t very nice, Maverick.”
He laughs. “Can’t say I’m sorry. I love your blushing.” My face is burning by this point, so I pull the blanket up over my face.
He laughs even louder and pulls me into his chest, hugging me. “You’re beautiful, darlin’.”
I giggle and snuggle close, and both of us focus on the TV.
Hours later, around nine o’clock p.m., I hear the beep in the house letting me know that someone is coming through the gate.
Maverick and I have been lying on the couch for hours watching movies. Now we’re snacking on popcorn.
We have done absolutely nothing, but it’s been the best time. We’ve laughed, joked and cuddled.
The door opens and Chase walks in holding Hunter. Jessica eyes both of sitting on the couch.
“How is Lani?” I ask, sitting up slightly.
“She’s doing great, trying to get some sleep.”
Jessica looks unsure what to do, she keeps looking at the both of us. “Well, goodnight, guys. I’m going to bathe Hunter and put him to bed.”
“Goodnight, honey,” I tell her and they head up the stairs.
“I never did ask how old you are,” Maverick asks, twirling the ends of my hair between his fingers.
“I’m thirty-eight.”
I can see him counting in his head. “You had Jessica when you were really young.” He says carefully.
“I was married young. I was fourteen,” I say the last bit carefully, awaiting his reaction.
Then it hits me. Technically I’m still married. Will that be a deal breaker? How does someone even bring up something like that?
He sits up, confused. “Darlin’, how is that even possible? Fourteen?”
I turn in my seat. “I practically grew up in a cult, Maverick. Things like that were normal in our life, sadly.” I smile, playing it off like it wasn’t a big deal. “We have no rights, we belong to our parents until we are married and then we belong to our husband.”
Maverick
A fucking cult? She looks so unsure telling me this, like I’m going to run for the fucking hills.
I can’t stand the thought of some kind of fucked up shit happening in her head like that.
I smile. “Come here, darlin’, let’s finish this movie?” I ask her and she smiles, showing me her beautiful dimples.
I pull her to me, holding her, trying not to think about what kind of shit put that look in her eyes or who the fuck marries a fourteen-year-old.
Or what kind of parent allows that shit.
I run my hand down her arm, my finger circling her wrist, when I feel small ridges like scars.
I look down and see a ring around her wrist like she has been tied up.
I turn my head away before she can catch me looking. I will not fucking embarrass her.
An hour later the movie ends and she’s asleep on my chest. The front door opens. River walks inside and looks at the both of us.
“Which room is hers?” I ask softly so I don’t wake her up.
“I’ll show you,” River whispers.
I lift her higher in my arms, standing with her. She snuggles deeper into my chest and my fucking heart does a little skip.
River leads me up the stairs and pushes open a door. I walk over to the bed, laying her down gently, pushing her hair out of her face.
Her beautiful eyes flutter open, looking at me. She smiles sleepily. “Did you carry me to bed?”
“I did, darlin’. Get some sleep and I’ll see you in the morning,” I whisper.
She nods. I take the blanket and cover her, tucking her in.
How could someone hurt someone as angelic as her? I will never fucking understand.
Evil is the only thing they can be, but good news for them is I’m the Grim fucking Reaper and I’m coming for them.
4
I walk downstairs already dressed for the day. My mind hasn’t stopped racing with thoughts of Maverick since the second I woke up. The other side of my mind is on Ronny.
Jessica is in the kitchen feeding Hunter his breakfast. “Good morning, sweetheart.” I kiss the side of her head and then Hunter’s cheek.
I walk over to Chase and give him a quick side hug, taking over breakfast for him. “Good morning, Chase.”
Chase helps me set the food on the table. We eat our breakfast and I start to clean when there is a knock at the door, “That’s probably River; she must have smelt the food from the guesthouse,” Jessica jokes as Chase walks to the door.
“Hey, man, come on in,” Chase says, and I peek around the corner. Maverick is standing there.
I look at Jessica in panic, my face heating, my stomach in instant knots at the thought of seeing him.
They come around the corner, and Maverick immediately comes to me. I smile. “Want some breakfast?” I ask.
“I already ate.” He smiles back.
I try not to close my eyes at the beautiful sound of his voice. I walk over to him. “You ready to go see Ronny?” I ask, excited.
He nods, smiling at my excitement. “Bye guys, see you later!” I yell over my shoulder and walk out with Maverick.
“Do you want me to drive or ride with you?” I hope he chooses the latter since I loved being on the back of his bike.
“Ride with me, darlin’.”
“Okay, let me get something out of my car.” I walk over and take out the next book in the series in case he finishes the other.
“He loves to read; he’s obsessed with these books so I make sure he has the next one whenever he finishes.” Maverick takes the book from me, putting it in the saddle bag.