Maverick stopped walking and released her hand, grasping the back of her neck to pull her closer. She’d admitted to feeling guilty about not reaching out to him over the years, remarking more and more frequently that she’d been wrong to stay away, stupid not to reach out to him, claiming it was her fault they’d lost so much time.
He placed a soft kiss on her cheek. “We had too many things to accomplish first, Ella.”
She tilted her head, considering that. “I guess.”
They started walking once more as he attempted to make his point. “I don’t want you to feel an ounce of regret about the past. Things between us have worked out the way they were meant to. You needed to go to college, find your career path, and take care of Gigi.”
Ella nodded, not looking convinced.
Maverick refused to let her wallow in any emotion that wasn’t happiness. The two of them had wasted enough time onguilt, regret, and loneliness. “And it wasn’t just you who needed that time, El. I needed to learn how to make wine, needed the time to help my family make our businesses a success. I worked really,reallylong hours after Granddaddy died, and I became the primary winemaker. I was all work and no play for a good two years. Gone from dawn until late at night. I would have had to leave you alone too many hours of the day.”
She gave him a sideways glance and a mischievous grin. “I wouldn’t say you wereno play.”
He rolled his eyes. “Oh shit. I forgot. Yesterday was Thursday,” he joked. “You had coffee with Molly and Judi.”
Ella laughed. “Yup. It was a light news day, so talk turned to you.”
He groaned. “And what did the girls have to say about me?” he asked begrudgingly, unsure he wanted to know.
“Apparently, I’ve singlehandedly left a trail of broken hearts in my wake, now that I’ve taken you off the market.”
“Damn right, you have. I hope you told those women to spread that news fast and far.” Maverick squeezed her hand before releasing it so he could wrap his arm around her waist. No matter how close she was, it was never close enough. And while her tone was light and carefree, he still felt as if he needed to reassure her. “You’re the only woman I’ve ever loved, Firefly. I swear to you, I?—”
She held up her hand, the woman able to read his mind. “Mav. I’m teasing you. The past is the past, remember?”
Maverick tightened his hold as they climbed the porch stairs, opening the front door for them. “When you first left, I tried to forget. Then, for a few years, I dated relentlessly trying to find what I’d lost…to no avail. The last few years, I’ve been working hard simply to feel something, anything. Even if it was just a few minutes of empty sexual pleasure.”
“And now?” she asked as he locked the door behind them, her head tilted with curiosity.
“Now I have you, and you and I are never going to do anything but make love…for the rest of our lives.” Maverick was proud of his words, certain they were worthy of going into one of her romance books…so he was confused when she crinkled her nose in obvious distaste.
“What’s wrong with that?” he asked aghast. “I thought that was romantic.”
Ella grimaced. “Making love sounds so soft and gentle and sweet.” Her tone made it clear she didn’t consider those good things. “Nothing about it sounds dirty or kinky.”
Maverick laughed loudly, because this woman…
God, she was made for him.
“Fine. How about we make love fifty percent of the time. The other fifty percent we’ll engage in filthy, kinky twisted fucking. Like, we’ll do some seriously messed-up, hot-ass shit that you can put in your books.”
Ella pretended to consider his offer. “Make it thirty percent sweet, seventy percent messed-up twisted shit and you’ve got yourself a deal.”
“Done.” Maverick sealed that promise with a kiss.
Turning out the lights, they made their way to their bedroom. Despite having lived together at Hideaway for three weeks, Maverick still got a little thrill every time he walked into their room and saw all his stuff intermingled with hers.
For the time being, Ella had made a temporary office in the corner. However, he’d promised her that as soon as harvest time had passed, he’d build her a “she-shed” writing room/library in the backyard. As excited as Ella was about that idea, she still insisted the installation of the hot tub was top priority. It was getting delivered early next week and neither of them could wait to initiate it.
They walked to the bathroom together, their nighttime routines a standard by now.
“Shower?” she asked.
He nodded. “Yeah. I smell like wood smoke from the fire.”
Ella turned on the water, undressing while it heated up. Maverick followed suit, stepping into the shower right behind her.
In the past few weeks, Maverick had showered with her more than alone, the two of them making liberal use of the double showerheads, as well as the rain showerhead in the center. They took turns washing each other.
