"Lucky guess." He winked. "And I only had a fifty-percent chance of being wrong."
"Wait, wait, let's do another one. Black or with milk and sugar?"
"Oh, milk and sugar for sure," Maverick said confidently. "You strike me as the type who couldn't drink a single gulp of black coffee."
I pouted, though it entertained me that he was getting all the answers right. "I could drink it black if I wanted to... Maybe."
We both laughed. Maverick used his inherent knowledge of my coffee taste to order us drinks, then I took a peek at the menu and picked out what I wanted, a nice veggie omelet. As our meals arrived—a nice veggie omelet for me and Moroccan baked eggs for Maverick, plus some caramel apple rolls to share—I indulged in every part of it, no longer letting my doubts about my stay hold me back.
"Ugh, this is amazing," I said, stuffing another bite of fluffy egg into my mouth. "Not just the food, but the view, the atmosphere, andyou, obviously."
Maverick smiled, his eyes glowing. "I feel the same way. The missing piece of my life's puzzle has finally fallen into place."
"Me?" I asked in a squeak.
He chuckled. "Who else would I be talking about?"
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, still blushing. Even though I'd accepted the fact that we were fated mates, I would never get over the warm bliss that being Maverick's partner made me feel.
Then I remembered last night and my cheeks heated up even more. Maverick on top of me, our fingers linked together, the warmth between our bodies, the pure wave of passion that exploded...
I shivered pleasurably at the memory. As nice as it was, I did not want to get a boner during breakfast on the restaurant deck, thank you very much.
(Though my mind stubbornly showed me a brief fantasy in which Maverick discreetly took me under the table—)
I cleared my throat, smothering it with a laugh. "Well, youcould'vebeen talking about our baby."
Maverick's eyes softened to the color of melted amber. "Ah, that is true. Make thattwomissing pieces of the puzzle, then."
I giggled, not even caring that I was giggling like a schoolgirl. There was no point of being ashamed of being in love and showing it openly. Maverick made me happy and that was the important part.
I lowered my voice like I was keeping a big secret. "Do you think I could be pregnant already?" I asked.
"It's possible," Maverick said, sounding hopeful. "Alpha gryphon seed is quite potent."
I let out a mix of a laugh and a groan. The way he phrased things sometimes really amused me. "You sound like an advertisement for a plant nursery. But seriously, I hope it works out. I'm so excited to have a baby with you, Mav."
"I am, too, Leo. And if it doesn't work out this time, we can always..." The suggestive lilt in his voice made his meaning crystal clear.
"Oh, trust me, I'm penciling in plenty ofthatin the near future."
A primal glint flickered in Maverick's eyes. It almost looked like he might pounce across the breakfast table and take me right then and there. Hell, maybe my fantasy wasn't so farfetched after all.
But my indecent sex vision was interrupted as the server returned to collect our plates.
"How was everything, Mr. Gryphon? Mr. Evans?" she asked brightly.
"Wonderful, thank you," Maverick said.
I nodded. "It was awesome."
"If you would, could you reserve us a table for dinner as well?" Maverick asked.
"Of course, Mr. Gryphon."
As the server walked off, I grinned at my mate. "Another fancy dinner? You're spoiling me."
"As is well within my right." Maverick shot back a grin of his own. "I've waited a long time for my fated mate, so I may as well indulge him in everything I have to offer."
