Page 113 of King of Pride

He drove through the gates and headed straight for the house. Maybe his mother had misunderstood. Maybe Rose had never married anyone at all.

Ivan pushed through the front door without bothering to announce himself.

Inside, he found Rose standing beside several cardboard boxes while a helper carried another one toward the entrance.

“Please help me put these in the car,” Rose was saying. “And if I realize I’ve forgotten anything, I’ll call you. Please have someone send it over, okay?”

Troy stood nearby and nodded. “Of course. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure everything is loaded into the car. If you need anything else, just call me.”

Ivan stopped dead.

Relief spread across his face.

‘She really did lie to me.’

Rose was still here. She was in her own home. She hadn’t gone anywhere. Of course she isn’t married.

For the first time since seeing the photograph, Ivan felt certain that everything Maria had told him had to be some kind of misunderstanding.

Then a man appeared behind Rose.

Ivan’s relief vanished.

Maverick stepped close to her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her back against his chest in an effortless display of possession.

Troy immediately looked away, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden intimacy, and quietly walked out of the room.

Rose startled for a brief second before relaxing against Maverick. She tipped her head back to look at him, her expression softening.

“Maverick, you scared me,” she murmured, drawing a breath as his arm remained securely around her waist.

Maverick leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. “Sorry,” he whispered against her skin.

His hands slipped down to hers, and his gaze dropped to the faint marks around her wrists. His expression immediately softened.

“I’m sorry about these bruises,” he murmured. “Next time, I’ll be more careful. I won’t tie you to the bed so tightly.”

Rose’s mouth fell open as she realized what he was talking about.

“Stop it,” she hissed, glancing toward the doorway. “We’re at my house. Someone might hear you.”

She lightly smacked his arm, trying to hide her embarrassment.

In her other hand, she was holding a piece of candy. She quickly unwrapped it and held it up between them.

“Here. Do you want one? It’s strawberry flavored.”

Maverick rarely ate sweets, but when she brought it toward his mouth, he opened it without hesitation.

Just as she was about to feed him, Rose pulled her hand away.

Maverick frowned down at her.

A mischievous smile spread across her face.

She brought the candy toward him again.

Once again, he opened his mouth.