Maverick

I ran downstairs, racing for the vehicle Klow-ee drove. I didn’t have keys, but it wouldn’t matter. The thing was falling apart and easy to steal.

Luckily, though, I didn’t need to.

“What’s the rush?” Klow-ee said as I ran out the door and into the space where the vehicles rested.

I grabbed her by the arm and directed her back the way she’d been coming. “Stacy. Now.”

“She called?”

I didn’t bother answering, simply jumped into her junk heap of a vehicle. Klow-ee followed, not hesitating. She was definitely a good human to have around.

“Same place I dropped you off last time?” she asked as she squealed the tires and took off for the road.

“Yes.”

We were silent for most of the trip, but Klow-ee never could hold her tongue for long.

“You know, you guys should learn to drive.” She frowned as she pulled onto Stacy’s street. “You’d have to learn to read first, though.”

I didn’t care. Didn’t even bother to answer her. I simply grunted and jumped from the car as it pulled against the curb in front of Stacy’s building.

Klow-ee hollered, “You’re welcome,” to me from the car, but I just kept going. My Stacy had called. She was ready to fix things, so I would show up. I would tell her everything. I would make sure she knew exactly how much she meant to me.

She’d called, so I’d do anything I could to help clean up the mess between us.

I didn’t care that there were humans on the sidewalks or cars in the streets. I ran across the sidewalk and up the steps to the door, desperate for my mate who had finally reached out. Too afraid she’d change her mind before I got to her to slow down. Once we worked through this rough patch, I would never again let her run from me. No matter what, I would make sure she knew how much she meant to me. I would pull that mask off and tear it into a million pieces.

I would make sure my mate knew I was utterly and totally devoted to her.

Up three flights of stairs, and I was almost there. In fact, the door to her unit was swinging open when I reached her floor, but the hall wasn’t empty in front of it and the door wasn’t being opened for me.

A male stood, looking like he was about to enter.

“Hey, babe,” he said, moving as if to walk past Stacy. I couldn’t see her yet, didn’t know what her face looked like, but it didn’t matter. He had to be Chad.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, sounding sad and sweet…and surprised. Good.

“Got your text.” The guy leaned closer, his face hidden by the wall. That was okay. I could kill him without looking at him. “Figured I’d come make your bad day better. I’ve got about half an hour to take care of you, then I need to bolt. I’m meeting up with the guys for drinks in a bit.”

She’d texted him. Not me, not her sister until today. But she’d texted Chad. Time slowed as I waited to see what she’d do, how she’d handle this. Would she choose Chad? Had I screwed up so badly that she’d take another male to her bed and leave me standing outside?

Stacy’s hand reached for him, palm up, resting against his chest once she could touch him. My heart burned, and something inside of me crumbled.

But she didn’t pull him inside.

On the contrary…

She shoved him across the hall.

“Hey,” Chad said as he stumbled back.

“No, Chad,” Stacy said, confirming my suspicions of who the male was. “I don’t want you here.”

That was all I needed to repair every broken piece inside of me.

“What?” Chad asked, looking as if he was about to push past her. “Quit playing around.”

“She’s not.” I shoved past the human, pushing him into the opposite wall from where Stacy stood, and slammed the door in his face. Something he deserved. “Is that what you want? Some boy who will give you thirty minutes before he leaves you for something better?”

Stacy stood before me, looking so small and scared. I didn’t know what to do with her like that. I was too angry, too hurt, and yet hopeful. Plus, she looked so beautiful, she made my cock hard and my body ache for her. A confusing place to be for sure.

But then Stacy raised her little chin, and she made her decision.

“No.”

I stalked closer, forcing her back. Pushing her into the wall behind her door. “So what do you want?”

She licked her lips. “You.”

“You want me?” I kept my eyes on her mouth. Wanting it. Needing it. Craving a taste of her.

Her plump, sweet lips formed a shape like a kiss, and she whispered a quiet, “Yes.”

“Good.” I nuzzled closer, scenting her neck. “I want you, too.”

Her hands landed on my chest, warm and soft, sending a shiver up my spine. “Even though I annoy the hell out of you?”

I bit the place where her neck met her shoulder. My favorite part of her other than her sweet cunt. “I’ll take the good with the bad.”

She pushed me away and rolled her eyes. “I don’t want to be called bossy.”

I shook my head, holding back a smile. “Never again.”

“I hate being compared to my sister. I can’t reach the bar of perfection she’s set, and I don’t want to have to try. It hurts me to think I’m second to her all the time.”

“You are not second to anyone, my mate.”

Her smile bloomed bright and beautiful and all for me. But then she pursed her lips, attempting to look serious once more. “Good. And there’s no sisterly loving allowed—not even as a joke. In fact, don’t even think of my sister as a female.”

“I didn’t, but I know you thought I did. Next time you’re unsure of what I mean, ask me. Don’t you dare storm away from me.”

“Fine. But I need reassurance.”

“Of what?”

“This. Us. Our connection.”

“Words mean nothing. I show you how I care.”

She glanced down, suddenly seeming less brave. “Sometimes I need words.”

And there it was. The thing she needed from me to stay my Stacy. To drop her mask and be true with me. If only I’d known.

“Then you’ll have them.” I crouched down so I could put my face even with hers, so I could force her eyes on mine. “I care deeply for you. I want you in my life, in my bed, and as my mate. Forever. Will you be that for me? Will you accept me as yours?”

She smiled, so bright and beautiful there was no holding back my return one. “Yes.”

I growled and stepped closer once more. “Good.”

“You’re still an asshole sometimes.” But her body accepted mine, her hands gripping my arms and holding me tight. She may have meant the words, but that didn’t keep her from wanting me.

I yanked her close by the hips, pressing her shoulders against the wall. “Yes, but I’m your asshole.”

“Totally.” She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me in for a deep, delicious kiss. Which led to another. And another. Which was fine by me. There was nothing left to say. She was mine and I was hers and we were going to stay together.

Wait, there was one more thing to say.

I pulled away on a gasp. “Lose Chad’s number.”

She nodded, her eyes unfocused and heated. “Already done.”

I yanked her pants down and pulled her by the thighs so I could wedge my hips between her legs. Needing her. Ready to take her. Lying down, standing up, bent over backward…didn’t matter. I needed to feel her cunt wrapped around my cock. To reconnect. To claim my mate.

“Good,” I said as I lined myself up with where she was hot, wet, and ready for me. “Now quit talking. I only want you screaming my name when you ride my cock.”

She groaned, rocking her hips against me, coating me in her wetness. “So bossy.”

But she didn’t say no.