“Both,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “It wasn’t like I gave him instructions like a drill sergeant and demanded results. When our marriage first hit a rough patch, I tried to think of things that would be new and exciting for us. A little under the table fun at a dinner party. Sex outdoors. Role playing. I even thought about asking for something dramatic, just to see how he’d react. But nothing worked, and it left me feeling so inferior.”
I grabbed her other foot, tugging the sock off and giving it the same treatment. “What a waste. Those all sound like fun.”
“Right?” she exclaimed, throwing both hands in the air. “It wasn’t like I asked for a ginger root up my butt or anything. Just a few little options to spice things up.”
I choked on air, sputtering to catch a breath between fits of laughter. She looked at me with wide eyes, propping herself on her elbows before breaking out into a feral grin and following me over the ledge and giggling.
“Following that epic failure, I suggested counseling and was rebuffed once again. After that, how could I not think our failure was my fault? That’s when I gave up. Maybe I forced his hand.”
I stopped my ministrations and gripped her calf, pulling until she sat up. “That’s bullshit, Summer. You didn’t force his anything. To me, it sounds like you tried until you couldn’t anymore.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip and turned toward the kitchen, watching Malibu scarf up the rest of her dinner and then trot into the living room and jump onto my recliner. I side-eyed her, and she tilted her head, yawned, and laid down.
Summer was quiet after that, and I took the time to really think about what she’d said, insecurities and all.
“I’m going to say two things that are completely independent of each other.”
“Ooookay,” she said, stretching the word into several syllables.
“I never want you to feel you can’t talk to me. About your day, about how you’re feeling—about anything you want. Bitch about your period or a coworker you hate. And if there’s ever a time you feel like I’m not listening, tell me.”
“That’s… Wow. Thank you.”
I nodded, hoping it was the right thing to say. “Now, I am completely satisfied with our sex life. You blew my mind, woman, and I look forward to finding and memorizing all your sighs and moans. But if there’s ever something you want to try, or want me to do differently, just ask. Can you do that?”
“I think that’s a completely reasonable request.”
“Good,” I growled, letting my hand travel up the inside of her thigh until she squirmed, trying to get me to move closer to her center. “Now that we have that settled, I’d very much like to take this conversation to the bedroom.”
She giggled, the sound music to my ears as I moved her legs off the couch and stood, helping her do the same.
“I’d very much like that, Maverick.”
“As you wish,” I growled, trailing one hand up her arm and gripping the back of her neck. “But there’s one question I need to ask you first.”
I tugged her down the hall and into my bedroom, rolling my eyes at Malibu, who followed. My door stayed cracked as she walked toward my bed before turning and giving me a coy smile. “What did you want to ask me?”
Keeping my eyes focused on hers, so she’d understand the seriousness of my request, I breathed deep and said, “Move in with me, Summer.”
Chapter 38
“Move in?” Iasked through hazy eyes, taking a step back and placing my hands on my hips.
His eyes widened as he stalked forward, not allowing me to slink away from his heady gaze. I watched as his eyes dropped to my mouth and his hands snaked around my waist, tugging me firmly to him. Instead of plundering my mouth with his tongue, silencing whatever half-assed response had been on my lips, he trailed one hand up my spine and tangled it in my hair, tilting my head back and trailing his tongue along the delicate column of my throat. He nibbled lightly on my pulse point, and I whimpered, inhaling deeply as my senses spun out of control.
“Not today. Or next week. But soon. Move in with me. I almost lost you, Summer, and I don’t want to go through that again.”
I pressed myself against the hard lines of his body, reveling in the overwhelming rush of desire that swept through me. My heart rocketed into overdrive as my pulse roared in my ears, and my skin became highly sensitive to every lingering touch of Maverick’s tall frame. Could he mean this? Truly?
I worked a hand under the front of his polo and slid it along the hot, taut skin of his stomach. His muscles jumped and twitched as I scraped my nails along the ridges, needing more contact before the flickering flames of lust consumed me, body and soul.
“Woman,” he growled, making the word a threat and invitation all rolled into one deep, possessive sound that had me wrapping one leg around his to pull him closer. “Answer me.”
“Well, Mina is traveling for the foreseeable future, and I agreed to sublet her apartment, but… yes. Not today or next week, but soon. I’ll move in with you. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be,” I said, allowing my touch to turn just as possessive, but also gentle, as I drew teasing circles around his belly button with my fingertips. “Now, kiss me, Maverick.”
Even in the low evening light peeking through the curtains in his bedroom, I could see the exact moment his face went hardwith fierce determination. His grip on my hips tightened almost painfully as he nipped at the edge of my mouth before tilting his head down to capture my lips again.
This time, I was not an innocent bystander, allowing my need for him to shine to the surface as my tongue danced with his. The taste and scent of him enveloped me like the sweetest cocktail, making my head dizzy and my body light.
