Page 97 of King of Pride

Rose didn’t notice when the bathroom door opened.

Maverick stepped out, a towel wrapped low around his hips, droplets of water still clinging to his bare chest and shoulders. His long hair was damp, a few strands falling around his face as he walked toward the bed.

He had only taken a few steps when he heard Rose’s voice.

“I’m not going to your apartment. Are you out of your mind? What did I just tell you? I have no interest in you anymore. We’ve gone our separate ways. How long are you going to keep pestering me?”

Maverick’s expression changed immediately.

He didn’t need to hear much more to understand who was on the other end of the call.

Jealousy flashed across his eyes, followed by a sharp tightening of his jaw.

Rose continued, completely unaware of him.

“You—”

The phone was suddenly taken from her hand.

Chapter 13 Why Do You Care?

Rose blinked in surprise as Maverick tossed it onto the nightstand and stepped closer.

Before she could even process what he was doing, he planted both hands on either side of her pillow and leaned over her, trapping her beneath him.

Rose’s breath caught.

His damp hair dripped onto his forehead, while the towel around his hips sat dangerously low. The sight of him so close made her heart stumble, but the expression in his eyes quickly wiped away any other thought.

“Who were you talking to?”

His voice was quiet.

There was no curiosity in his gaze. Only jealousy.

Rose opened her mouth to answer, but Maverick didn’t give her the chance.

He lowered his head and kissed her.

The kiss was sudden and possessive, stealing the words right from her lips. Rose’s hands instinctively found his shoulders, her fingers curling against his damp skin as he deepened the kiss.

One of his hands slid from the mattress to her face, holding her gently but firmly as he tilted his head and kissed her again, leaving her struggling to catch her breath.

Beside them, the phone suddenly came alive.

Ivan’s furious voice erupted from the speaker.

“What the fuck? Are you with another man right now? Who is that?”

Rose barely heard him.

Maverick kissed her again, completely ignoring the voice coming from the phone.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Ivan shouted. “What are those noises? Are you sleeping with him?”

Maverick’s jaw tightened.

Without taking his eyes off Rose, he reached over, grabbed the phone, and ended the call.