“Yes. I do.” She didn’t say thenowpart out loud, though she definitely thought it. “I’m guessing there were no battles for material possessions when your grandparents died?”
Maverick shook his head. “No. I mean, we each took something of theirs to remember them by, but no one fought over anything. We were too devastated over losing them. They died within hours of each other. I think Granddaddy was just holding on, waiting for her to go, and when she did, he followed her.”
Ella’s eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t realize. I mean, I know that was a devastating loss for your family, but it’s also kind of beautiful that they went together.”
Maverick smiled sadly. “It is. We all thought so too.” He reached out, wiping the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. “Can I ask you something, Miss My Life is a Mess?”
She nodded.
“Are you happy in Meridian?”
“No. I don’t think I’ve ever been happy there. Gracemont always felt more like home to me.”
“So, would you consider moving back here?” he asked, looking around the house. “And just so there’s no misunderstanding, I don’t mean Gracemont in general. I want you to move into this cabin. With me.”
She laughed softly. “You realize all the books say you shouldn’t make major life-changing decisions for a year after a loss.”
Maverick rolled his eyes. “You and your damn books. Tell you what, take a few days and think about it. I know I’ve hit you with a lot in just a couple of hours.”
“A few days, huh?” she joked. She already had her decision, but Maverick was probably right about her waiting. After all, she was still tingly and floaty after those amazing orgasms. She should probably revisit this when she wasn’t lust drunk.
A line formed between Maverick’s eyebrows as he considered her question. “You’re right. A few days is too long. You can get back to me tomorrow…morning. Right after we wake up together.”
“I’m spending the night?”
Maverick slid his arm under her knees, the other gripping her lower back as he stood with Ella in his arms. “You’re spendingeverynight.”
“Were you always this bossy?” she teased.
“I haven’t even started to get bossy,” he said, as he carried her through the master bedroom into the gorgeous, dream bathroom he’d created. “But now seems like a pretty good time.”
He placed her on her feet by the oversized tub before bending over to turn on the water. “Take that dress off, Firefly.”
Ella shivered at the dark, sexy tone of command in his voice. Her last two relationships were best described as painfully vanilla—a whole lot of missionary, sprinkled with occasional doggie style and reverse cowgirl, for nights when they were feeling adventurous.
No bondage.
No spanking.
No hair pulling or dirty talk or whispered demands.
Hell, she’d never had sex against a door until an hour ago.
Maverick shot her a look when she failed to obey, and she quickly responded, pulling her dress off.
He shed his boxers as well, pulling her into his arms.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” he murmured, his lips rubbing against hers.
Ella closed her eyes and let those words sink deep, let them take root and blossom.
Checking the water, Maverick climbed in, sinking down and leaning back before reaching his hand out to her. Ella took it, sinking down in front of him, sighing when he wrapped his arms around her waist and peppering the side of her neck with kisses.
His cock was hard again, and Ella laughed to herself as she thought how nice it was to know some things never changed.
For several minutes, neither of them spoke. Instead, they simply relaxed together, the hot water washing away the heavy emotions—the guilt, the sadness, the loneliness, the anger. Ella let it all go, and for the first time in too damn long, she felt at peace.
Sure, she still had a long way to go as far as straightening out her life, but today was the first day she looked ahead and saw something good.
