Page 52 of Built for Mercy

I took the towel from him and gently scrunched my waves to get the water out. The last thing I wanted was for false information to drive a wedge between us, or to take away everything he’d built his life around. “Would it help if I stepped in?”

He narrowed his eyes, the blue in them darkening. “What do you mean,step in?”

I shrugged. “Like, make a public statement to your guys claiming I have no intention of being involved in this business and the Reyes family supports you and your family.”

“Hmm. Maybe. But what do you gain from this?”

I ignored the sting of the question, because this was take-no-prisoners, ruthless, business-oriented, deal-making Maverick, and I had to learn to separate my emotions with a man like him. So, I squared my shoulders and looked him dead in the eyes. “You.”

His gaze softened. “Me?”

I shrugged again. “Yes. You, without questioning my intentions, without this hanging over us. We can just be us.”

He grabbed my hips and pulled me into him. “I like the sound of there being an us in all of this.”

Beaming brightly at him, I stood on my tiptoes to kiss him. I let him deepen it, let him thread his fingers into my waves, before I pulled away, thrilled at him even considering my idea at all. “Think about it?”

He dipped his chin. “I’ll talk to Paulie and Duane about it after we interrogate the rebel.”

One of my brows arched. “Interrogate, huh? Maybe my professional lingo is rubbing off on you.”

He barked out a laugh that had my core tightening. He ripped the towel off my body, growling, “Fat chance. Now, go get on the bed on all fours. I want to fuck you from behind before I leave.”

I swallowed and half ran back into the bedroom to obey, suddenly excited in a whole different way. Maverick was behind me seconds later with a hand on my hip and another rubbing my slit. My back arched on instinct, my hips rocking back onto his magical fingers.

“Look at my little whore, already so wet for me,” he purred, then smacked my ass. I gasped at the sharp but fleeting pain. “You’re a good girl who likes to be punished when she does bad things, aren’t you?”

I nodded, biting my lip, even though he couldn’t see it. Couldn’t punish me for it.

“Fucking say it.” Another smack on my ass.

The words came out as a whimper. “I’m yourbadgirl who likes when you punish me.”

The hand on my hip slid up until it grabbed my throat. “That’s right. You’re my girl. Good and bad. Angelic and bratty. I fucking love it.” His fingers continued to work me, making me pulse as I climaxed. He groaned. “I need to be inside you. Now.”

Before I’d even caught my breath, he pushed into me, stretching me in the way only he could. The backs of my thighs pressed against the front of his, his hand still firmly on my throat, squeezing just enough to labor my breathing.

Then he started moving, and he was far from gentle.

“Yes,” I moaned. “God, yes, Mav.”

“I fucking love hearing you say my name, baby. Say it again,” he said through his grunts.

“You feel so big, Maverick.” Returning the praise felt right, especially in light of last night.

“Fuck,” he breathed, releasing my throat to grab my hair and twist it around his hand, forcing my back to arch further and deepening the angle he was thrusting. “I can feel all of you, Soph.”

The way he said my name had my heart tumbling, falling into the abyss that was Maverick Mercer. So reverently, so beautifully.

“Just right for me.” His words were so quiet, I wasn’t sure I was meant to hear them at all, but it didn’t matter because seconds later another orgasm erupted inside me, taking all of my strength and thought with it.

24

Sophie

Maverick sighed heavily as he put his watch on and slid his phone and wallet into his suit jacket. “I wish I didn’t have to go. I’d much rather spend the day with you,” he admitted, cheeks flushing at the confession. Now that was fucking adorable.

I beamed, flouncing over to him on the balls of my feet and pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. “Likewise, but we both have other priorities. We’ll see each other later.”