RYAN

Holy shit. What just happened?

I’ve been waiting for what has felt like forever to see Maverick again. It’s crazy how much can change in a matter of twelve hours.

After Maverick told me he’d be waiting, he opened the door and strutted out of the back room like nothing had just happened. I’m usually able to keep my cool, not much is able to break this hard exterior I usually keep locked in place like a fortress.

That has all gone out the window since Maverick walked back into my life. Pulling my hat off my head, I run my hands through my hair and press the back of my hand against my mouth, trying to gain some semblance of control. The attraction I’ve always felt for Maverick hasn’t gone away, even after all this time.

I open the door and walk back out into the bar, heat rising beneath my skin, thinking back to how Maverick had me pressed against the door. His hardness rubbing against my aching center, full of promise of what’s to come later tonight.

As soon as I near the bar, Nadia appears out of nowhere from the back room and pulls me by the arm behind her. My eyes flutter around the room and land on Maverick, where he’s seated at the bar. There’s a knowing smirk on his face as he tips the bottle of Bud Light toward me before taking a long pull.

“What the hell just happened?” Nadia asks, taking the words out of my mouth from just a moment ago.

“What are you talking about?” I question, playing coy. I know it’s stupid considering half the bar likely saw him press me against the wall before I dragged him down the hallway to the supply closet.

I wasn’t even paying attention to what was going on around me, or even who may have been watching us. I had been so caught up in the moment it was like nothing else existed.

“Don’t play those games with me, Ry. I just saw how you two were grinding against each other, right in the middle of the bar might I add. Then, all the sudden I turn around and you’re gone.”

“We were just talking. It’s not a big deal.” I roll my eyes, exasperated.

“Talking, huh? Is that what they call it now? Were you talking about all the ways he’d like to fuck you because that’s what it looked like to me.”

I nearly choke on air, causing me to spiral in a fit of coughs. My eyes furrow at Nadia and the smug as fuck grin on her face says it all.

“You’re a crude one there, Nad.”

“You love me for it.”

Shaking my head, I turn to push the door open and saunter back into the bar but not before she yells behind me, “This is not the end of this conversation, Ryan Marie. I want the details and you better fucking spill them.”

The night creeps by at a snail’s pace after that. Maverick and Graham sit at the end of the bar, shooting the shit and every second that ticks by, I can sense his eyes on me. Undressing me.

Sauntering over to where they are seated, I see that Mav is running low, so I pull another beer out of the cooler and pop the cap before sliding it over to him.

“Trying to get me drunk?” Maverick asks, raising his eyebrow. He flashes me a wink before he swallows what’s left of his beer and sets the bottle on the counter.

“I know you’re a sure thing, Night. No need to get you drunk to have my way with you.”

Graham laughs. He looks like he’s good on his beer, so I turn to check on the other bar patrons.

The rest of the night tends to flow just like that. A couple of Graham’s friends come in later. I don’t know them well, but I’ve seen them around town. I smile at their warm welcome home and give Maverick some time with his friends.

“You can take off now if you want. It’s not super busy tonight so we should be able to cover it while you’re gone,” Nadia says, taking the empty bottle of vodka from my hand.

“You sure? I only have about twenty minutes left before I’m off.”

“I’m sure. I’ve seen the way he’s been eye-fucking you all night. The poor guy needs to be put out of his misery. Call me tomorrow because I want the details. I mean, all of them,” she says, pointing the bottle at me as she raises her eyebrows, making sure I know she’s serious.

Nadia was there for me through all the heartache after Maverick left town. I understand why he left; I do. It doesn’t make the fact it ended before we ever got started hurt any less. We were both in two different places in our lives and I know he didn’t want to drag me down the path he was going on when who knows if it would’ve ever worked.

Printing out their tab, I walk over to where Maverick and Graham are sitting and slide the bill toward them.

“We’re not quite ready yet,” Maverick says. The hint of laughter plays on his lips.

“Yes, you are, Private Night. It turns out I’m off early and we have plans, remember?”

“Oh, I remember alright. How could I forget?”

The sound of Graham chuckling registers in my mind but I don’t even care. This is just the first round of foreplay and I’m not about to miss out.

“Hurry up, then. I’m starting to get impatient and I feel like I’ve waited long enough.”

He grunts before tipping the bottle of beer taking a long pull before slamming the remaining contents down on the bar.

“Sorry, man. I got plans and gotta take off. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He grins, never taking his eyes off me.

Graham raises his beer to him before flashing me a knowing smirk. My face warms and he must be able to read my expression as he winks and drinks it down. Standing off to the side of the bar near the employee entrance, I wave at Nadia while I wait for Maverick to say his goodbyes.

His shoulders are tense as his muscular legs eat up the distance between us, approaching me. He doesn’t stop until his arm is wrapped around my lower back, ushering me out the door.

“You’re going to have to drive. I took an Uber here and I’m not in any condition to be behind the wheel.”

Reaching into my back pocket, I pull out the remote to my Jeep and press the unlock button. Maverick leads me over to the driver’s side door. Before opening the door, he cages me in against the side of the SUV and leans in, kissing me.

My hand wraps around the base of his neck, pulling him in closer to me. His tongue skates along my bottom lip as his hands clench my hips. I feel him against my stomach as he mutters a quiet “shit”, his body rocking against me.

He tilts his head back and whispers, “You better make this a quick drive or I’m not sure I’ll make it. I’m fucking dying to be inside of you.”

My eyelids lower at his words as I tilt my head back against the door.

“Then we should probably hurry.”

He moves to step back, opening the door for me and helping me inside. Turning the key in the ignition, the music blares to life. The sound of Saving Abel blares through the speakers as I gaze over at Maverick. The grin that takes over his face is filled with so much pride hearing the lyrics.

My tongue skates along my lower lip, wetting my dry skin, as I put the Jeep in reverse and back out. Maverick’s hands are all over me as I drive. His hand resting on my thigh is making me crazy, to the point I’m having a hard time focusing on anything but the feel of his rough calloused skin on me. My thoughts play back the first and only time we’ve been together.

I let myself think about who else he could’ve been with over the years before I quickly push it out of my mind. I’ve dated while he’s been gone. I never expected for him to find his way back here, never expected for us to be together like this again.

None of the other guys have ever made me feel even a small fraction of what I felt when we were together. Pulling up along the side of Tattered, confusion lines Maverick’s features.

“I own the entire building. The upstairs is a loft apartment and the downstairs is our tattoo shop.”

Sliding out of the Jeep, we climb the stairs on the outside of the building leading to the balcony on the side. Standing in front of the door, Maverick’s hands wrap around my waist, pulling me in close. His cock is resting against the curve of my ass as he pulls my hair off the nape of my neck.

“I’ve missed you,” he whispers, his tongue tracing the shell of my ear, causing my skin to pebble and a chill to run down my spine. “It’s been awhile so I’m sorry if this first time is over quick, but I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

My earlier fear over how many women he’s been with is quickly tamped down. I know I can’t be bothered by him moving on. He’s a man and he has needs, but the thought of him fulfilling them with someone else makes my heart ache.

I don’t know how long he’s planning on being in town or when he is leaving again, so I tell myself to push all those negative thoughts aside and just enjoy the feel of being in his arms again. Even if it’s for tonight, if this is all I can have, I will make the most of it.

My hands fumble, but I finally slide the key in the lock and open the door. Maverick’s body is pressed behind me, urging me to hurry before the door is slammed shut behind us. The light above the oven in the kitchen is on, adding just enough light.

My back is pushed against the hard door and his body is once again on mine. Our hands and mouths are everywhere. Maverick’s hands clench the hem of my tank top before quickly whipping it over my head and tossing it somewhere behind him. His mouth is on me, tracing a line of kisses down my chest and over my stomach. Kneeling on the floor before me, he peers up at me. His long eyelashes combined with the lust on his face makes his gray eyes look even more beautiful.

He makes quick work of unbuttoning my shorts. The material quickly falls to the floor around my ankles. The ink covering my left thigh is fully on display for him now and his eyes skate over the design, trying to take it in. I know he’s searching for the hidden meaning before his eyes bounce back up to mine.

Biting my lip, I run my hand over his short hair. The prickly hairs adding friction to the soft skin on the palms of my hand. Wrapping the palms of my hands around his face, I bend forward and press a punishing kiss against his lips. Maverick lets out a deep groan as his hands clasp around my waist.

His mouth tears away from mine as he huskily commands, “Lean back, baby. I need to see you.”

I do as he says because the way the words pass his lips, I know he means it. Normally I would love pushing his buttons, but this is a side of Maverick I haven’t seen a lot of, but I fuckin’ love it. I want more of it. I want more of him and everything he’s prepared to give me.

He leans forward and presses a kiss to the ink covering my skin, trailing kisses up my leg to the apex of my thigh. His heated breath through the lace of my panties makes it difficult to stay on my feet, but I am not anywhere near prepared for what he is about to do next.

His tongue darts out and runs along my slit. Even through the fabric of my underwear, it is just enough to drive me wild.

“Fuck,” Maverick hums, tilting his head back to look at me. Running my hand back over the top of his head, I pull him closer to me again, earning me another hum of approval. His tongue runs over my pussy and my legs feel as though they could give out at any second.

“You taste as sweet as I imagined, Rebel. Like heaven and hell and everything I shouldn’t want, but I do.” Running his palms up my thighs, he pulls my underwear to the side and moves my leg over his shoulder. The move positions him up close and personal with my clit and he wastes no time getting down to business.

His tongue darts out, running over my sensitive bud. My body seeks him out, wanting more as I grind against his face. His hands hold my hips, guiding my movements, and it isn’t long before I feel my release racing through me.

Holding his head against my pussy, muffling his moans, I start chanting over and over not to stop. I’m teetering on the edge of my release when his mouth clamps around my clit, sucking. My leg threatens to give out when Maverick’s strong arm holds me up as the aftershocks race through my body.

When he’s confident I can stand on my own, he moves my leg over so I’m standing in front of him. Rolling my head forward, I look down at him and find him with a smug grin on his face. The evidence of my arousal is left on his mouth as his tongue darts out and licks his lips.

I don’t even care at this point as I lean forward and kiss him deeply, my fingernails dragging against the skin at the base of his neck. The guttural moan he unleashes fills me with a deep satisfaction.

“Now it’s my turn, Rebel. That sweet as fuck mouth has brought me to my knees before. It’s time I feel it around my cock.”