Page 69 of Maverick

Burp forgotten, all I can focus on is the tickling feel of her hair on my skin, and the way my dick jumps in my shorts. Carefully shifting my hips back, I try and ignore how fucking good she smells, and how amazing she feels.

"Oh my God," she says with a sigh that brushes over me, "how am I supposed to keep resisting you?"

"Um…you're not." Who am I to judge? If it takes me burping while standing in my shorts in the middle of the kitchen, then count me the fuck in.

She tilts her head back to look at me, face serious. "I really did try, you know. I'm still not sure this is a good idea. Or even if you still want?—"

"I do!"

The corner of her mouth curves up. "I talked with Ransom tonight. And Janey and Bree earlier. And they had a lot to say."

"Yeah, like what?"

"Like the fact that you guys had an empty apartment here, and you wouldn't let anyone tell us that."

"Traitors. I should have known they couldn't keep their mouths shut."

"I'm glad they didn't. I've been thinking we're a burden to you this whole time." I open my mouth but she presses her fingers against my lips. "No. It didn't matter that yousaidwe weren't a burden. I didn't believe it. But all this time, you could have helped us, and still had your space. But you didn't put us in that apartment."

Wrapping my hand around her wrist, I press a kiss to her fingers, loving the way her eyes flash, then move them to my chest. They immediately flex, pressing her short nails intomy skin. All I want to do is drag her to the floor, but this conversation matters a fuck of a lot. I won't risk her backtracking and losing all this progress she's apparently made.

"I wanted you with me. At first, it was about you. But I like Nan. She lets me call her Nan by the way. We all get to, which I think is pretty fucking great. But I wanted you in my space. I figured that with enough time, I could show you the kind of man that I am. Putting you down in that apartment wouldn't have accomplished that."

She nods, putting her other hand on my chest. "I do see the kind of man you are, Maverick. And I like everything I've learned."

"Despite the burp?"

"Yes, despite that," she says with a grin.

"Does this mean…"

She looks down, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "It means that if you still want it, then I'd very much like that date."

"Thank fuck," I mutter, dropping my forehead to hers.

My heart pounds in my chest as I look down at Cadence, her eyes shining with a mix of hope and uncertainty. I can feel the emotions swirling inside me, a heady mix of excitement and fear. I've wanted this for so long, but now that it's within reach, I’m worried about messing it up.

"Cadence," I murmur, cupping her face in my hands. "I want you to know that I would never take advantage of you. We can take this as slow as you want, okay? I'm not going anywhere."

She nods, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "I know, Mav. I trust you."

Those three little words send a jolt of pure joy through me. She trusts me. After everything we've been through, all the misunderstandings and missed opportunities, she's willing to take a chance on me.

I lean in, my lips hovering just above hers. "I'm going to make sure you never regret this," I whisper, before closing the distance between us.

The moment our lips touch, it's like a dam breaks inside me. All the pent-up desire and longing I've been holding back comes rushing to the surface, and I pour it all into the kiss. Cadence responds with equal fervor, her hands sliding up my chest to tangle in my hair.

We're both breathless when we finally pull apart, our chests heaving. Cadence's eyes are dark with desire, and I can feel the heat radiating off her body. I want her so badly it hurts, and I don't want to go slow. I want it all. Now.

Sliding my hands down her back, I'm just about to grab a handful of her sinful ass, when a loud burp echoes down the hallway, followed by Nan's grumpy voice. "Fucking pizza."

Cadence and I both freeze, our eyes wide with surprise. Then, slowly, we both start to laugh, the tension between us dissolving into something lighter, more playful.

"I guess that's our cue to call it a night," I chuckle, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Cadence nods, a rueful smile on her face. "Probably for the best. I don't think I could handle any more interruptions."

I grin, pulling her in for one last kiss. "Just wait until our first real date. I promise, there won't be any interruptions then."

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