Zora’s voice is sharp and final.“There’s nothing to talk about, Ethan.Please leave.”
But he doesn’t.He smirks, his eyes darting to me again.“So this is what you’ve decided?”
Something inside me snaps.I don’t lunge.Don’t swing.But I do step forward, just enough to put my body between him and them.My voice comes out low and dangerous.“She said leave.”
“I wasn’t speaking to you,” Ethan retorts with a dirty look.“This is between Zora and I.”
“There is nothing between us, Ethan,” Zora says softly.“I didn’t want to hurt you but you aren’t listening to me.”
He looks at her with a softness in his gaze that makes me want to pummel him.“Zora...”
“No, Ethan.I know you want us to be a family.But we aren’t your family.”She takes a deep breath.Softly she speaks, “We never will be.”
Ethan’s smirk falters, just for a second.“If that’s really what you want.”He nods but I know he isn’t happy.“I’ll always be here if you need anything.”
He melts back into the crowd, but the fury in my chest doesn’t fade.
Ivy tugs at Zora’s hand.“Mommy?”
Zora forces a smile, crouching down.“It’s okay, baby.Let’s go ride the carousel, okay?”
And just like that, she smooths it over, her voice calm, her hand steady.But I see the crack in her mask.
****
By the time we gethome, Ivy is asleep in the back seat, her sticky fingers wrapped around Bun-Bun.Zora carries her inside, tucking her into bed with the practiced grace of years.I linger in the kitchen, fists still clenching, rage burning like acid.
I tell myself to leave.To go home, cool down, and let Zora handle her own past.But when she comes down the hall, shoulders tense and eyes still shining with the fight she’d had to swallow in front of our daughter, I can’t.
“You shouldn’t let him talk to you like that,” I say, my voice rough.
Her head snaps up.“I handled it.”
“Barely.”
Her eyes flash, that old fire I remember sparking.“You think you can just swoop in and...”
I move before I can stop myself, crowding her back against the pantry door.My hands are braced on either side of her, my breath ragged.
“I tried to stay out of it,” I grind out.“I tried to let you fight your own battles.But Zora, seeing him near you...”My voice breaks as I try to remain in control.“It will make me lose my fucking mind.”
Her chest rises, fast and shallow.“Maverick...”
The sound of my name on her lips undoes me and I kissed her.Hard.Her gasp turns into a moan against my mouth, her hands fisting in my shirt.I slide one hand to her waist, the other cupping the back of her neck, dragging her closer until there is no space left between us.
Years of tension, years of anger and longing, crash together in that kiss.She tastes like memory and fire, like everything I’ve been starving for.Her fingers dig into my shoulders, pulling me closer, until the world narrows to just her, her lips, her breath, her body pressed against mine.
My cock is a lead pipe against her stomach and all I want to do is strip her bare and remind her of how good it can be between us.But I can’t.I don’t know if she is ready for that yet.
“Damn it, Zora,” I rasp against her mouth, my hand skimming her hip, gripping tight.“I can’t stay away from you.”
She shudders, her forehead dropping to my chest.“This isn’t what we’re supposed to be doing.”
“Then tell me to stop.”My voice is hoarse, desperate.
But her silence is answer enough.So, I kiss her again, slower this time, deeper, my hands roaming, remembering, memorizing her anew.Heavy touches, hungry and aching, until she trembles beneath me.
We break apart only when breathing becomes impossible, both of us gasping, foreheads pressed together, hearts hammering in sync.
