Page 61 of Explorer’s Revenge

FIFTY-ONE

AIYARET

T he tension is broken, and Maeve’s smile is wide as she looks at us around the fire.

We contacted her dad as soon as we got back, and he told us to give her time, but as the days went by, we grew impatient, and he finally gave us their address, admitting he was worried about her.

It seems she was struggling, but now that I know why, I sigh in relief.

She was worried about us.

That’s adorable.

She’s relaxed now, and Logan starts telling her stories about his physical therapy, making her laugh.

The others join in, but I just observe her.

I never thought I could love a woman, never mind have a future with one, and despite being in love with Way, I’m not complete without Maeve, and our time apart showed me that.

We need her.

I need her.

Way’s hand loosens in mine, and I glance at him. “Go.” He jerks his head. “Maeve, can you grab us more drinks? Aiy will help you.” He pushes me up, and I frown, not comprehending what he wants. The others urge me on, and I still don’t understand, but I nod as she stands.

“Sure, the beer fridge is in the boathouse. Follow me.” She slips her hand through my arm, a habit I’ve missed as we walk across the grass toward the red boathouse. Pulling the door open, she flips the light on.

There’s a small fishing boat anchored between the pylons, some tools on the back left wall, and fridges and freezers along the opposite wall. She hums as she steps away from me, heading to a fridge, and the reason Way pushed me to go with her finally clicks.

He’s giving me a chance. He knows how much I’ve missed her, and he loves me so much he’s provided me with a chance to fix that. Grabbing her arm, I swallow hard as I call her name. “Maeve?”

She turns to me, tilting her head. “Yeah?” She looks confused and so fucking beautiful, I can’t hold back.

I steal a kiss, and she jerks, gasping as I pull away.

“Sorry, but I missed you,” I tell her as I stare into her eyes. “Actually, I’m not sorry.” Swooping in, I press my lips to hers.

I grip her hips and back her up into the closest wall, but tools rattle and fall. I raise my arm to protect her head, and she giggles as she pulls away, the sound making me smile as I sweep my thumb over her lips.

“Did you miss me?” I whisper.

“Yes,” she replies. “Every day.”

“Can you show me?” Her eyes widen at my request. “I’m tired of letting fear control me. I don’t know if I can, but I want to try. I love you, Maeve, and that isn’t going to change. We are starting over. I want this. I want you.”

“Aiyaret, are you sure?” She looks around nervously.

“I know this isn’t the most romantic spot. Sorry, we can wait. I just—” My cheeks heat with embarrassment.

Her lips find mine again before she takes my hand. “Follow me.”

I’d follow her anywhere.

Any of us would.

She steps down on the wooden plank and then onto the boat, holding my hand as I clamber over less gracefully than her, but she just smiles, tugs off a tarp, and throws it aside to reveal a nest of blankets and pillows. There are journals and maps spread around.

“My escape. It’s my boat.” She turns to me before sinking to her knees. “How do you want me?”

My cock jerks at her words, and wicked thoughts fill my head. For the first time ever, nothing else exists—just us, just her and me.

“Aiy?” When I continue to stare at her, she smiles and toys with her shirt. “Do you want me naked?”

I nod jerkily, and she slowly tugs her shirt up and off, exposing her beautiful tan skin.

Her abs tighten with the movement, her nipples pebbling in the cool air as she kneels in front of me, her breasts high and tight.

My mouth waters at the sight before she rises, unbuckles her cargos, and slides them off.

Now, she’s in nothing but a tiny pair of low-rise underwear, which she quickly removes.

“I won’t ask about your past, but please tell me how to do this.

I want you to think of me, nothing else, so please tell me how. ”

It didn’t even cross my mind, but my heart melts at her concern, and I lower to my knees, cupping her jaw as I gaze into her eyes. “I don’t think it will matter when I’m with you.” I hope, at least, that it won’t. “But this time, maybe if I’m in control?—”

She covers my hand. “Whatever you need. I’m yours, Aiy, and if we can’t this time, then it doesn’t matter. We have all the time in the world. We can take it slow.”

“I don’t want to go slow,” I blurt out. Way and I have spoken at length about this.

Unleashing my lust with him was an eye-opener.

I like to be controlled when I’m with him, and although I enjoy making love, I love hard, rough sex, and when I imagine Maeve and me together, that’s what I want.

I want to hear her scream for me. I want to lose myself in her and let go.

I want to control every inch of her pleasure. I want to be its master.

There are probably reasons linked to my past, but I don’t care. Way encouraged me to explore that side of myself, and maybe he was right, so I allow myself to be honest and say it out loud.

“Then tell me what you want, Aiy.” Her voice is quiet and thick with need as she watches me from her blankets.

“I want you. I want to take you in every single way I’ve only dreamed about. I want . . . I want all of you to be mine. I want to . . .”

“Control me?” she finishes, as if sensing what I need.

I swallow, my jaw clenching in embarrassment, but she trails her finger across it, a smile curling her lips. “Who said you couldn’t?” Leaning in, she hovers over my lips. “Take what you want, Aiy. I guarantee I want it too.”

I freeze, her words hanging in the air until she leans back. “Well?” Her hands rest on top of her thighs. The only sign she feels as antsy as I do is the slight tremble in her voice and the rapid rise of her chest.

Wetting my lips, I debate if I can follow through, but I want this. I don’t know if I’ll be able to perform, since she would be the first woman I have ever been with voluntarily, but all the times before, I was never in charge, and it was taken. This time, I want it.

I want her, and maybe with Maeve, I can find that part of me again—the part they stole and ruined.

She’s healed so many other parts of me I had given up on, so why not this one?

With shaking hands, I reach behind me and remove my shirt, dropping it to the blanket. She inhales, watching me for a moment to make sure I’m okay before her eyes dip to my chest and rove over my skin.

I know what I look like. I’ve been called pretty since I was a kid, told I was attractive. It was a curse then, but as she looks into my eyes with awe and lust, it feels like a blessing to earn her desire.

Standing, more confident now, I unbuckle my belt and remove it. The sound is loud as I drop it on the blankets and then tug my zipper down. Her breathing picks up and she glances from my eyes to my hands, and something comes over me—a feeling of control from knowing I’m doing this to her.

The shake in my hands lessens, and I slide my pants and boxers down, stepping out of them. My hard cock points toward her, knowing what it wants.

Her inhale is loud, and when I meet her eyes again, they burn with desire. “You’re stunning, Aiyaret,” she whispers. It’s not a disgusted sneer or command. It’s an awe-filled compliment meant to make me feel good, and it does.

“I know.” It’s not pride, just the truth, but my cheeks heat.

I’ve taken back my body with Way, but with Maeve, I want to regain my soul.

I need her just like she needs me. Dropping to my knees, I crawl toward her and push her back so she tumbles into the blankets and I’m above her.

I’m still shy, but the more she looks at me like that, the quicker my hesitancy seems to disappear, until we have our own little nest. Everything else strips away, leaving nothing but two beings who want to crawl inside each other.

She waits, her chest rubbing against mine, and I pin her until I can’t take it anymore. I want to touch her, but I need to focus on that, so an idea comes to mind.

Grabbing my discarded belt, I wrap it around her wrists, careful it isn’t too tight, and then I lift her hands and hook them above her. “Is your shoulder okay like that?” I ask carefully, knowing she’s still undergoing therapy for it.

“Fine.” She wiggles her hips impatiently. “Aiyaret.”

“Hmm?” I lean down, press my nose to her neck, and inhale deeply. She smells of smoke from the fire, and under that is her scent. “You smell good.”

She shivers as I run my nose across her collarbone and down between her breasts before I slide my lips over her nipple in a teasing, open-mouthed kiss.

She whines, lifting her chest, but I only suck her nipple into my mouth when I want to, and when she moans, I pull back and turn my attention to the other one.

I kiss and lick around her nipple until she’s panting, her hands twisting above her.

I watch her reactions, obsessed with them, but she still doesn’t stop me.

Maeve is always in control, even now, so she could quickly flip the script, but she doesn’t, and I fall even more in love with her as she lets me have this.

Biting her nipple, I listen to her hiss as she writhes below me, but then I soothe it as she lifts her chest for more. Grinning, I lick up her neck to her chin, placing a kiss there before I meet her bright eyes for a moment.

When I lick her lips, I taste beer, and I love it. “Does your pussy taste as sweet?” She startles at my words, and I hum. “I guess I’ll find out. Way and I have a bet.”

Sliding down her body, I part her thighs and look at her.

“What kind of bet?” she asks, her voice hoarse.

Settling between her thighs, I grin up at her. “The kind we’ll both win,” I answer before I seal my mouth on her pussy, tasting as much of her as I can.