“I like you, Maverick.” He choked out the words, as if it was hard for him to admit to his feelings.
“Can you just call me Mav?”
“Mav. Yeah, okay.” He couldn’t know how much it meant to hear him use the shortened version of my name that I was getting used to. He turned to face me and took both of my hands in his. “I mean that,Mav. No matter what happens, I don’t want you to think any of this is because I don’t want you. I do. Fuck, I want you so bad, I can’t even sleep at night anymore because you’re not there next to me. I hope that doesn’t scare you off.”
“It doesn’t,” I promised him. My hand shook as I lifted it to his face. He closed his eyes and sighed as I pressed my palm to his cheek. “But I’m confused. You’re saying all the right words, but your actions say otherwise.”
“My life is…complicated, to say the least,” he admitted, his voice hoarse and raspy. “That sounds like a cop out, but it’s the damned truth. Sleeping next to you felt more right than anything has in a long time, but then I went home and it was like a slap in the face. I’ve spent all week trying to figure out if I could subject you to all of that.”
“Why don’t you tell me whatall of thatis, and let me decide for myself?” I scooted closer to him, draping my leg over his. His hand settled on my thigh, his thumb drifting back and forth.
“For a long time, it’s been just me and my brother,” he explained, staring across the empty room. “We’re close, but there are things I do that he doesn’t like.”
It didn’t take a genius to realize what he was talking about. I wrapped my arms around his waist, hoping he knew what he was going through wasn’t unique to him. I didn’t know what it was like to have family who didn’t accept me, but I’d lived with judgment most of my adult life. After my grandparents died, things only got worse. I was the little orphan boy, even though I’d already reached adulthood, and all of their friends felt the need to tell me how upset they’d be by my choices if they were still alive. Nana was the only person who knew them and accepted me exactly as I was.
Still, I knew I had it easy in some ways. I’d never have to worry about those who were related to me by blood turning their back on me.
“If he knew about us, he wouldn’t be able to hold back his opinions,” John continued. “I can take whatever he throws at me, but all I’ve been able to think about this past week is what I’d do if he gave you a hard time. It wouldn’t be pretty.”
It probably made me a horrible person, but my dick perked up at the protective tone in his voice. “I can handle myself, John. You don’t have to be my white knight.”
“I know, sweetheart, but that doesn’t mean I’d be able to sit back while Stephen and his buddies gave you a hard time,” he admitted. “They’re not as bad as some, but they’re hung up on how men are supposed to act. And that includes trying to fuck everything with a pussy they can get their hands on. They’d come down even harder on you because you’re so damned pretty. You’d confuse them, and they’d lash out because they didn’t know how to react.”
“Well then, it sounds to me like it’s a good thing they won’t have the chance,” I quipped. I sat taller and pressed my lips to his cheek. “Because if and when I meet them, there won’t be any question that you’re the only one I want to be with.”
“Fuck, princess. You’re killing me.” John dragged me onto his lap and grabbed my ass. He pressed his forehead to mine. “You’re not going to take no for an answer, are you?”
“Not unless you really mean it,” I promised. “I’m not going to stalk you if you say you aren’t interested, but if it’s just that you’re scared what someone else is going to think and you meant everything you said to me in my bedroom, I’m not going to let you hide from me.”
“And that’s why I’m pretty sure you’re perfect for me.” I rested my head on John’s shoulder and closed my eyes as he gently rubbed my back. This was how it was supposed to be between us.
In that moment, I knew things might never be easy, but I would keep my promise to John. I was his, until he set me free.
8
John
A sense of calm washed over me as I cuddled with Mav. It didn’t matter that both of us were supposed to be on the other side of the club working or that any number of people could walk in on us. He probably didn’t even realize that his strength was what I needed to see this through. I needed to know he wouldn’t give up on me when things got rough, and the road ahead of us was bound to be rocky.
All week, Stephen had found shit for me to do around the property. He wasn’t even subtle about the fact he thought if I was busy helping him, I wouldn’t have time to help out at the club. For some reason, the more security I found for myself, the more he tried shortening my leash.
But I was officially over that shit. I didn’t care anymore if he booted me off the property we’d inherited when our parents passed away. I’d park my trailer at a local RV park and call it a day if it came down to it. Now that I’d found Mav, and he’d come back to me, I wasn’t about to turn my back on him.
“As nice as this is, I think it’s probably time for us to get to work,” I said, burying my face in the crook of his neck. Fuck, but he smelled good. A newly awakened part of me wondered if the scent of vanilla and brown sugar was all over his body.
Mav leaned back, his hands still on my shoulders. “Would you like to have dinner with me? It can’t be anywhere fancy since I don’t know when I’ll get my first paycheck, but I’d like it if we could finally sit down and talk.”
“I’d like that, too, sweetheart.” I turned my head at the exact moment Mav looked up, and our lips were so close I could feel his warm breath against my skin. I couldn’t help myself. I’d wondered about this for the past week, and I wouldn’t go another second without knowing how he tasted.
I slid my hand over his cheek to the back of his neck, pausing just long enough to gauge his reaction. He relaxed and rested his forehead against mine. With the slightest pressure at the back of his neck, I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips to his. Without breaking the kiss, Mav wiggled around until he straddled my lap, his knees digging into the cushions on either side of my hips. He held my face so tenderly, I practically melted.
My mouth fell open and Mav took the invitation. His tongue dipped tentatively into my mouth, slow and sweet, as if he was giving me a chance to figure out if this wasreallywhat I wanted.
It wasn’t, not by a long shot. I wanted so much more. I wanted someplace private where I could take him and unwrap him like the gift he was, one piece of clothing at a time until he lay bare before me. Yes, I’d seen every inch of him already, but that wasn’t by choice for either of us. The next time, he would know it was because I couldn’t wait any longer to worship his body and make sure he knew how beautiful he was.
One hand slid down to cup Mav’s ass, pulling him close enough I could feel his arousal grinding against my own. He rocked against my body, gentle whimpers escaping into my mouth as my tongue delved deeper. I didn’t just kiss him, I made promises I had every intention of keeping.
Later.
