His face storms, nostrils flaring. Air escapes my lips, his eyes filled with a hungry desire I haven’t seen since his return. “Wait six hours before posting, at a bare minimum.”
“Tomorrow, then. After I sleep on everything.”
Silence stretches long between us; no need to speak. Touching with our eyes. Somehow it feels more intimate than flesh ever could.
“Want to take your tea outside? Sit beneath the stars?” he asks, and it feels like starting over. Something I’d given up hoping would happen between us.
“Only if you hold me,” I whisper.
His mouth twitches. “That what you need?”
“Yes, it’s what I need.” The words make me feel naked in front of him.
“Alright then,” he says, offering his hand.
Chapter
Fifteen
MAVERICK
“This porch needs a swing,” I say, seated on the top step, a swirl of plum-and-rose-scented hair veiling my shoulders as we search the night sky. Mia sits in my lap, clinging to me like this is more than the moral support I keep trying to convince myself I’m giving.
My eyes scan the dusky horizon toward the compound for a moment. All it would take is one surprise visitor. One observant teammate scanning the perimeter, and I’m toast.
But Mia needs this, and I swore to myself I wouldn’t let her down twice.
“You look worried, Maverick,” she says softly, mint eyes dancing over my face.
“Not the most professional thing I’ve done in my life,” I grumble, and she giggles.
“Sorry for making you step over the line. But—” Her voice quivers, and I don’t regret any of this. “But I can’t remember the last time I felt this safe.”
I clear my throat, shifting uneasily. “Not even backstage … the night we met?”
“Not even. After all, I was still reeling from getting tackled by you. You’re no small man.”
“No, ma’am.”
“Ma’am. You make me sound old when you say that. Or like you’re trying to put distance between us.”
“That would be the smart thing to do,” I counter.
“But for me? You’ll make a sacrifice.”
“Just this once.”
“Thank you.” Her hand comes up, stroking my bearded cheek, and I freeze, knowing in every inch of my body how dangerous this is.
“Your beard is softer than I thought it would be. Downright silky.”
God, I love the feel of her fingers sliding through it, nails running lightly over my cheek. “Not every part of me’s rough,” I answer, not sure what else to say.
“You know everything about me now, Cowboy, but I know next to nothing about you.”
“Cowboy?” I arch a brow.
“Figure if you can call me princess, it’s only fair.”
