Part 18 (1/2)
”Dessert?” I interrupt.
”Yes,” Finley says, pointing at me. ”The winner gets dessert.”
Jake tosses his napkin onto his plate and stands. ”Well, then, let's go get me some dessert.”
Finley rises too. ”I'd love some dessert.”
They run down the hallway, and their bedroom door slams a second later.
I stare after them. ”That was so not obvious.”
”Thanks for helping me clean up, man,” Maverick hollers. Of course there's no answer.
I get up and gather the dishes. ”I'll help. Seems we should practice anyway.”
When we finish, Maverick leads me upstairs to our suite. It's right above Jake and Finley's downstairs one. I'm actually relieved they stuck us with kitchen duty tonight, because those two are cheerleader loud. It's quiet down there now, thankfully.
I lock the door out of habit. We haven't been interrupted all week, and I doubt we will be tonight, our first night as an engaged couple. The thought makes me warm inside.
Maverick stretches out onto the bed. He's already tossed off his s.h.i.+rt, and tight muscles beckon to me from on top of the duvet. Who am I to say no?
”s.h.i.+rt off,” he says, smirking, just as my knee hits the mattress.
”But I like this s.h.i.+rt,” I tease.
”Eh.”
”Eh? Seriously?” I examine it. Finley thought the same thing when I bought it.
Maverick grabs me around the waist and pulls me down on the bed. ”No, not seriously. But get it off. I want what's underneath.”
He slips the s.h.i.+rt over my head and flings it behind him. Hands smooth over my bra, and my nipples harden instantly.
”That's better.” He grins, eyes trained on me as he dips down and pulls one between his teeth.
”I bet it'll be better without my bra in your way.”
”Should we test that theory?”
”If you don't like it, I can always put the bra back on.”
”That's crazy talk.” He unhooks the back and has it off of me in seconds. ”d.a.m.n, Jellysnack.” He ma.s.sages them, thumbs rolling over my nipples and making them peak. ”You're so f.u.c.king delicious.”
I arch into him. ”You'd better have another taste before you make those kinds of claims.”
He waggles his brows and attaches his lips to one. His tongue circles the base and slowly swirls around to the tip. I suck in a breath at the sensation. He lingers there, licking in easy swaths and driving the pleasure down to my core.
He pulls upward and lets go. ”Yep. f.u.c.king delicious.”
”I'm glad you approve.”
I trail my fingers down his back. Hard muscle under smooth skin greets my fingertips. I could touch this man for an eternity and never be bored.
”Have I ever told you how much I love your skin?” I ask.
”You're just marrying me for my skin, aren't you?”
”If you didn't have it, I probably wouldn't have agreed to marry you, no.”
”In that case, I'm covered in it.”
I laugh, and he kisses me. He moves to my throat, then down between my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. When he reaches the waistband of my jeans, he undoes them and pulls them off. I'm giddy with antic.i.p.ation as he prowls over me. I wiggle beneath him, lifting my hips to rub myself against the bulge in the pants he hasn't removed yet.
”Why won't you say it back, Finley? What changed?” Jake's voice carries into our room.
I freeze.
”Nothing,” my best friend insists. ”I wasn't sure when I said it, and then after ... I'm just not ready for that.”
”You're ready, you're not ready. What the h.e.l.l?”
Maverick notices my lack of movement and lifts off of me enough to study my face. I frown.
”I need time. I'm not like Ali; I don't fall easily,” Finley says.
”How much f.u.c.king time do you need, Finley?” Jake yells.
”I don't know-more.”
Jake lowers his voice. ”Am I wasting my time with you? I tell you s.h.i.+t, but you can't open up for even one G.o.dd.a.m.n question. Who are you?”
”You don't own me, Jake. I don't have to spill my heart and soul to you.”
”I don't want to own you, Finley, but I do want to know you. And I want you to trust me.” A moment of silence pa.s.ses. ”Do you trust me?”
I don't hear Finley's answer. I doubt she gave a verbal one.
”That's great. Just. f.u.c.king. Fantastic,” Jake says.
There's rummaging around the room, and then the door slams. Another door slams after that and the sound of an engine firing up makes Finley's answer clear.
I touch Maverick's arm. ”I have to go.”
Maverick nods.