Page 18 of King of Pride

Rose’s confidence faltered almost instantly.

Still, she forced herself to continue. “I should go home now.”

She tried to shift away from him, but Maverick’s gaze remained fixed on her.

“Why are you trying to run away?” he asked, his voice calm but carrying a sharp edge.

His gaze dropped toward her legs.

“You’re barely able to walk.”

Rose’s breath caught.

The moment he said it, memories of the previous night came rushing back.

Fragments flashed through her mind—the kisses, his hands, the intensity between them. The memories were so vivid that heat immediately rushed into her face.

Maverick watched her reaction.

A faint, knowing smile slowly appeared on his otherwise deathly calm face.

Rose’s entire body went on high alert.

He knew exactly what she was remembering.

And judging by that smirk, he was enjoying every second of her embarrassment.

“Are you hungry?” he asked.

Her body went rigid at the question. Heat still lingered through her from everything she remembered about the previous night, and she immediately shook her head.

“No.”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Maverick’s mouth.

It was the kind of smile she had rarely seen on his face, and somehow, simply seeing it sent a strange shiver through her. The sensation traveled from her heart down through her body, making her tremble again.

Maverick looked directly into her eyes.

“Do you remember last night?”

Rose stood frozen in front of him. The stare in his eyes was so intense that she felt as though he could see straight through her soul.

She swallowed before answering.

“Yes.”

The faint smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.

Rose visibly watched his gaze drop toward her lips once again. Then he leaned down and kissed her.

Her body reacted instantly.

She hadn't expected the gentleness of his touch. Unlike the intensity of the previous night, his mouth moved against hers slowly, his lips curling gently over hers before he pulled back.

When he finally lifted his head, he looked directly at her face.

“Wait for me here,” he said in that low, rough voice that always made her shiver. “We’ll get lunch together.”