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Chapter Seven

MALLORY

M averick dressed me so tenderly that it made my stomach swoop with nervous butterflies. Every man who has touched me before this has been rough and only out for their own pleasure. But he treats me like I’m a treasure, like something to keep and cherish. The feelings coursing through my chest make me uncomfortable, so I just stare down at my feet, waiting for what comes next. Wondering if his kindness is all false niceties and his claws are about to come out and rip me to shreds. He grips my chin in his hand, tugging my face up to look at him, and it makes me flinch back, but he holds me tightly in place with his other hand on my waist.

“I’m not going to hurt you, pet.” He whispers, almost like he’s offended that I would even think such a thing of him. But how could I not when I just met him only a few minutes ago? “You’re beautiful. You will not be ashamed of your body or me caring for you, do you understand?” I just stare up at his demanding gaze because I don’t know what the hell to say. He can’t tell me how to feel, can he? When I don’t give him the answer he is looking for, he tugs me closer to him. So close that I can see the black flecks in his iris and the slight wrinkles on his forehead. “I want you to listen to me and listen to me well. You are mine. I don’t give a fuck who or what you were before this very moment. Right now, and going forward, you belong to me. Your mind, your body, and your soul. Do. You. Understand?” He growls out the last part, making me tense up. Gazing into his eyes, I see just how serious he is. It makes me tremble with nerves, fear, and lust. No one has ever talked to me like that before.

“Yes… I understand, sir.” I gulp in a gasp as his lips slam down onto mine. His lips are soft and pillowy, and his tongue is warm and wet as it prods at the seam of my lips, trying to get in. The last time a man kissed me like this, it was sloppy and gross, but this man? Fuck, he’s going to turn me into a puddle on the floor. Our tongues tangle together in a fight for dominance that I very quickly lose out on when he sucks mine into his mouth. My hands coming up, nails digging into his chest, tipping up on my toes to get closer to him. He bites my lips, making me yelp in surprise and then soothing the sting with his tongue. The heat between my legs grows hotter than it’s ever grown before. I rub my thighs together to stave off the heat and wetness starting to pool there just from this simple kiss.

We pull apart, gasping for air, his forehead leans against mine, warm breath fans in my face while his hand trails down my neck and chest before landing on my other hip. My hands clutch his shirt between my fingers as I war with all of the contradicting feelings churning inside of me. I know he can sense my unease when he turns us sits down on the sofa and pulls me on top of him. His arms holding me tightly in place, like he’s afraid I’m going to jump ship and flee.

“What’s going through that pretty head of yours, pet?” He inquires while tilting my head down to his, eyes boring into mine with an intensity that makes me shiver. Is everything with this man so damn intense?

“I-I um.. Well, I…” All I do is stutter in my panic while I try to voice all the many thoughts swimming through me.

“Stop.” He demands in a voice that makes me stiffen on his lap. “Take a deep breath, and try again.” I do as he says, my lungs inflating with air that I hold before releasing. I do it a few more times until I feel my mind start to relax and piece my thoughts together in actual sentences.

“No one has ever kissed me like that, taken care of me, touched me, or made me feel like I was about to melt into a damn puddle before.” He looks up at me like he genuinely can’t believe what’s coming out of my mouth. I run my hands down my face and then clutch them in my lap before I continue. “Every man who’s ever come in contact with me has only ever cared about their feelings and desires. No one has ever taken the time to think about my own. Damn, I’m really putting myself out there with this one, but I’ve only ever come with a vibrator by my own doing.” The absurdity of that last confession makes me fall into a laughing fit until tears are streaming down my face, turning into full-blown hysterics. Embarrassment flows through me, and I leap off Maverick’s lap, ready to bolt away from here. I don’t get very far as his thick arms wrap around my waist, and he carries me to one of the rooms, then tosses me unceremoniously onto the bed.

I bounce on the bed until I come to a stop in the center, scooting back against the headboard, and pulling my knees to my chest. Maverick walks towards me until his thighs hit the edge of the bed. He looks me dead in the eyes as he takes off his T-shirt and tosses it to the side before balancing on one foot to unlace his boots and tossing them one by one into the corner. All while continuing to stare into my eyes, his gaze getting heated like I’ve never seen before.

“W-what are you doing?” I stutter out, trying to back away further, but there's nowhere else to go. He's silent as he tugs his socks off of his feet before placing one knee on the bed. I hold a hand out towards him in earnest, “Stop! Please, what are you doing?” My voice screeches, cracking with fear that I was right. This man's kindness has worn off, and he’s about to finish what Chad and the others started outside. A sob creeps up my throat, my vision getting blurry with tears at the revelation that I guess I was never meant to feel good around men.

“Look at me!” He commands so loudly it makes me hiccup. I look up at him for a split second before turning away from him and burying myself in the corner, hoping I will become invisible. I feel the bed dip as he scrambles up onto it towards me. He rips my hips out from under me, pulling me down on the bed until I’m flat underneath him. A gut wrenching sob wrenches from my chest when he wraps one hand around my throat while the other holds my shaking hands above my head. “Mallory. My beautiful pet, please look at me.” He whispers, his nose skimming my tear-stained cheeks. “Please.” The tenderness in his voice shocks me so much that I do look up at him through my wet eyelashes. “I am not going to hurt you, Mallory. At least nothing more than you can take, and it will feel good when I do it.” He smirks, and my eyes bulge with confusion. “I want to make you feel good; make that pretty pussy pulse and weep just for me. I’d say it’s a shame no man has ever been able to do that for you, but I’m rather possessive, and it turns me the fuck on knowing I’ll be the first man to make you come.” Maverick's tongue slips from his lips as he licks the tears from my face, groaning from the salty taste of them. “Now, are you going to be my very good pet and let me make you come? Or do I need to tie you down like a bad one? Your choice, but either way you’ll be coming on my tongue.” His dirty words make me gasp in shock, my nipples being a traitor and tightening, straining against the thin material of the shirt.

“I’ll be a good pet for you, sir.” The heated whisper leaves my mouth as his lips come crashing down against mine again. He’s rough with his kiss this time, nipping at my lips, thrusting his tongue into my mouth, and forcing the pleasure upon me.

His hands come up underneath my shirt, tugging it swiftly over my head, my nipples tightening even more in the coolness of the room. Maverick gives me one last kiss before leaning back on his feet to admire me in all my topless glory. I try to cover myself with my hands, but the look he gives me makes me stop and lay there under this inquisitive gaze.

“You’re such a beautiful creature.” He whispers, thick with lust, running his hand up my stomach to my chest. Flicking his finger against my hard nipple, making a gasp come from me. “Has anyone ever played with these pretty pink nipples before, pet?” He tilts his head to the side as he rolls both of my nipples between his fingers, tugging and pinching them. My back arches off the bed in pleasure that I’ve never felt before, almost seeming to go straight to my pussy too. I clench my thighs together, and he notices, letting out a smirk. “I’m going to take that as a no then.” The words come out fast before his mouth descends onto one of my nipples, sucking it deep into his mouth as his other hand pinches and pulls the other. A squeak tears from me when I feel his teeth graze against it. Maverick looks up at me through his lashes, as if he’s trying to decide what to do next. It’s then I feel his sharp teeth biting down on my nipple while his other hand twists the other one hard.

A moan rips from me as my chest pushes my breasts closer to him in a silent request for him to give me more. “Guess we like a little pain with our pleasure, huh?” He growls when his mouth finally lets go of my nipple. He leans back on his feet again, looking down at my breasts, and I follow his gaze. My nipples are red, puffy, and glistening from his saliva, and they almost seem to have their own pulse now. He leans down, pulling off my socks, then reaches for the waistband of my sweats, pulling them down my legs and tossing them over his shoulder. I pull my knees up, squishing my thighs together, my heart almost pounding out of my chest with nerves. He has no idea that I’m a virgin, and the fear of him tossing me to the side and leaving me here because of it courses through me. Both of my exes were quick to tell me how much of a prude I was for being a twenty-one-year-old virgin. Telling me no man would ever want to take it now because there has to be something wrong with me. My breaths come out in little puffs, my eyes darting across the room as I try to scoot away from him. In my panic, I don’t see or hear Maverick move until he’s in my face, slapping me across the cheek.