Page 31

When I emerged, the room had changed. Soft lighting glowed from the side lamps. Rose petals, actual rose petals, were scattered across the bed. A small bottle of champagne chilled in an ice bucket on the dresser with two flutes set nearby. My eyes darted to Maverick, who stood by the window, wearing only his jeans. My heart did a double take at the sight of his muscled arms, knowing soon they would be wrapped around me. He turned, a devilish grin spreading across his face.

“You like it?” he asked, motioning to the bed. “I thought about your fancy romance books and figured I’d do it right.”

My throat felt tight. “It’s… perfect,” I whispered. “You went all out.”

He crossed the room and slipped an arm around my waist, tugging me into an embrace. “A man’s gotta prove himself, right?”

A nervous laugh burst from me. “You’re not who I expected you to be when we first met.”

He chuckled back, brushing a finger under my chin. “I’m a mean outlaw, princess. But even mean outlaws can do nice things for the right woman.”

“You sure you want me to be that woman?”

He ran his fingers along the edge of my robe. “I’m damn sure.” Then he tugged the belt loose, letting the robe fall open slightly.

I nearly lost my breath.

“May I?” he asked, voice dripping sex.

With a nod, I couldn’t hide my excitement. He slipped the robe off my shoulders, letting it pool at my feet. Air kissed my skin, and I fought the instinct to cover myself, remembering I wanted this. His eyes raked over me, obviously appreciating my body. My face got hot with embarrassment, but I was also very turned on.

“Beautiful,” he breathed, gently guiding me toward the bed. “Lie down.”

Unable to breathe, I did, the rose petals tickling my skin. He knelt beside me, popping the champagne and pouring two glasses. I propped up on my elbow. He handed me a glass. We clinked them lightly, the bubbles fizzling as we drank. I savored the crisp texture, never taking my eyes off him.

It felt like a dream, unreal and completely surreal. “I’ve never had a drink naked before.”

Maverick set his glass aside, leaning over me. “Relax, princess. Let me take care of you.” His voice was deep, resonant with a promise.

I thought he’d waste no time, but the biker oiled his hands, enticing me onto my belly. He started with a massage, pressing his palms firmly into my shoulders and back. A soft moan escaped me as his thumbs dug into knots I hadn’t realized were there. His warmth, his steady touch, melted away my nerves. His hands did things to me, and I was close to losing it. I’d never had a real massage before. This was beyond any fantasy from my books.

“Feel good?” he murmured, leaning to brush a kiss at the base of my neck.

“So good,” I breathed, eyes fluttering shut. My limbs felt heavy, relaxed. I could barely remember how to speak.

He traced his way down my back, kneading muscles along my spine. Then he rolled me gently, sliding his hands down my arms, down my stomach, avoiding the tender area where my tattoo was. He was so careful. But with each slide of his fingers, the flames of my desire grew taller, crackling and spitting.

When his mouth replaced his hands, my skin was seared. He peppered kisses across my collarbone, down between my breasts. He gently sucked on my nipples, one after the other. As if on cue, overwhelmed, I arched slightly, as if I was acting out a play I’d only read about. Was I really doing this? Yes. I felt too good, I didn't care about anything else.

The biker moved lower, leaving hot, wet kisses on my belly. I trembled, thinking of his next move. Biting my lip as his tongue slipped between my slick folds, I tried to keep in control. But when his tongue moved, I moaned his name. Maverick shot up to kiss my lips, assaulting me with the taste of my arousal. Fuck me. What I’d always thought was gross was an absolute turn on.

This biker, this glorious man tasted like the pussy he just lick, my pussy.

Looking downright primal, he undid his jeans, sliding them off. I caught a glimpse of him, my pulse sky-rocketing. I’d seen a naked man or two before in fleeting moments, even him. But this was… different. The biker was large, muscular, and entirely male, with an erect burgeoning male hood, member, manroot… I thought of every euphemism for his cock as he stroked a length to rival all others. And the hunger in his eyes was directed solely at me. I thought we’d work up to intercourse, that he’d want a blow job or something, but it seemed Maverick was going in for the kill.

“I’ve got you, princess,” he said softly, sliding up until our bodies aligned perfectly. “I won’t hurt you.”

Nerves made me let out a soft, high-pitched laugh. “I’m a lawyer, you know, not some silly teenage girl. It’s stupid for me to be afraid. I’ve read everything about this.”

Though reading and reality were worlds apart.

He tenderly touched my cheek before giving me a sweet kiss. “It’s not stupid. And I don’t want you to regret this.” He paused, searching my eyes. “You sure you’re ready?”

A thousand thoughts collided in my head, the danger chasing us, the property patch etched on my skin, the nights we’d spent together, half in terror, half in longing. “Yes,” I whispered, though my voice trembled. “I want this. I… trust you.”

His gaze flared with gratitude and something much deeper. “Thank God,” he murmured, brushing his lips across my jaw. “I’ll go slow.”

He started with sweet kisses, his mouth exploring mine. We tangled in the sheets, practically humping each other, the rose petals crushed beneath us, releasing a faint floral scent. My skin buzzed with electricity as he took a hold of my hips and truly aligned himself between my thighs. His every movement was careful, almost reverent, as the head of his dick butted against my entrance.

“Wait,” I said. “What about protection?” I knew he’d had a condom in his saddlebag.

Maverick bit his lip. “I’m claiming you, princess. I’m going to fuck your pussy raw. You okay with that? We can stop.”

He’d given me pause, not because of the implications, no protection, but because of how he’d said it. The raw desire and need in his voice. “No. I’m okay,” I squeaked, wanting nothing more in my entire life.

And then he moved. A sharp shock of pain followed as he pressed forward.

I stiffened, gasping. “Ouch…” I hissed, eyes flying open. I hadn’t expected it to hurt this much, despite all the warnings and reading.

Maverick froze, concern flooding his features. “Shit, sorry,” he breathed, cupping my cheek. “Didn’t mean to….”

“It’s fine,” I mumbled, even as tears pricked my eyes. “Just… gimme a second.”

He eased back but was still there. I felt the burn still there, too, a dull ache. I was so upset, I felt like crying. This was supposed to be romantic. Damn it. I plastered on a smile, but I bet it looked fake. “I’ll be okay.” Fuck. I wanted him, bad.

His brow furrowed. “We can stop if you want…”

“No!” I blurted, though part of me was real tempted to call it off. The other part needed him inside of me. I’d come this far. “Just… slow.”

The biker nodded, pressing gentle kisses to my neck as he moved his hips ever so slowly. Gradually, the sting lessened, I thought, until he pushed forward again. I was in agony. My body was rigid with pain. A high-pitched whimper escaped me, and instinctively, I jerked away, crawling backward. The abruptness made him slip free, and I could see the frustration and guilt in his eyes.

I was failing at this. My cheeks burned with utter embarrassment.

“Princess,” he said, sitting up, voice thick with worry. “Talk to me.”

I stared at him, tears hovering in my eyes. “It hurts,” I admitted, choking on the words. “I know it’s silly. People do this every day, but I can’t…”

He exhaled slowly. “You’re not silly. Your body’s never done this before. It’s okay.”

But something about his expression shifted, a resolve hardening in those stormy eyes. “Trust me again?”

I kinda hesitated, then nodded. “Yes.”

He laid me back gently. “Sometimes… you just gotta rip the bandage off. That’s how it is in those books, right? The men take charge?”

My pulse kicked. “I guess so.” A tremor ran through me as he positioned himself again, one large hand bracing my hip. I knew what he planned to do. He didn’t plan to stop. Was I consenting to this?

“Look at me,” he commanded softly. “Breathe. Let me do this. I promise I’ll make it worth it.”

My throat was dry. I locked eyes with him, forcing myself to relax. Then, in one rough thrust, he broke through. The biker popped my cherry. The pain made me gasp, but this time, he didn’t back off. He stilled inside me, letting me adjust, his hands gripping mine above my head. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes, but my mind clung to him, focusing on the warmth and weight of his body on top of mine, the sound of his ragged breathing.

“Oh, fuck me,” he groaned, his voice laced with pleasure and concern. “God, Lexi. Fuck, princess,” he rasped, voice strained. “You feel. God, you feel so goddamn good.”

I couldn’t form words. He felt so goddamn big. And I was too full. However, I couldn’t speak it. I let the sensations wash over me as I struggled for air, the initial shock ebbing. Slowly, a tingling warmth replaced the sting. But he moved, and I felt a raw friction that teetered between pain and something deeper.

“M-Maverick…”

He dipped his head to kiss me, swallowing my moan as he began a careful rhythm. Each thrust drew a stifled cry from me, until gradually, my cries shifted from those of pain to a wobbly sort of pleasure. My entire body felt lit from within. The fire was inside. Sensations I’d only ever read about burnt me alive.

“Good?” he panted, brow furrowed with concentration.

My tears mixed with a half-laugh. “Yeah… it’s… oh God…” My words dissolved into a gasp as he angled himself differently, hitting a spot that made me see stars. The ache was still there, but overshadowed by wave after wave of something new, something exhilarating.

Maverick’s grip tightened as he moved faster, reminding me of the fierce, possessive men in my novels when they claimed their women. A strangled groan left my lips, my body bowing up to meet his. The bed creaked beneath us, rose petals crushed to bits. The scent of them mingled with the musk of sweat and sex.

This was happening. The realization made my head spin.

“Lexi,” he growled, burying his face in the crook of my neck. “You’re mine.” His words vibrated through me, a benediction of sorts. I held his back, a surge of heat coiling low in my pussy.

My mind went hazy as our sex built to a climax.

Somewhere in that frenzy, he pressed his forehead to mine. “You’re mine now. Mine. You hear me, princess?”

“Yes,” I gasped, tears streaming down my face. Not from sadness, but from the overwhelming storm of sensations and emotions. “I’m yours.”

“Property patch or not,” he growled, each word punctuated by a heavy thrust that nearly done me in. “You belong to me… I belong to you.”

“Always,” I whimpered, meaning it in that moment with every fiber of my being.

A heartbeat later, he surged his dick into me harder than ever before. Despite the lingering sting, a rush of pleasure crested within me. Then, a wave of pleasure, like a deafening clap of thunder, slammed into me, a soundless roar that forced a cry from my throat.

The biker growled in response, gripping my hips as he sped to his own release. His body shook against mine, his muscles taut as he claimed me in the most primal way, his hot mess spilling into me.

It was done. No going back now.

For a few moments, we lay there, panting in unison, sweaty and tangled. My heart hammered so loud I thought it might burst. A swirl of emotions stormed inside me. Relief, triumph, soreness, warmth, a strange sense of pride. And more than that, love.

I’d done it. We’d done it.

Maverick whispered, “I love you.” Echoing my own feelings.

If I could speak, I’d say it right back.

His chest rose and fell against mine. I turned my head, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. His skin smelled like sex and roses. I let out an unstable laugh, half delirious from the rush.

“That was…” I started but couldn’t find a word.

He pressed a kiss to my temple, still catching his breath. “Yeah… it sure was.” Then he eased out of me. A fresh wave of soreness spread between my thighs, but it wasn’t as sharp as before.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, cheeks flushing at the memory of me running from him mid-act. “I kind of freaked out.”

Maverick cupped my face, forcing me to look at him. “Don’t be sorry. It’s your first time. I just,” He exhaled. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

I managed a smile. “It was worth it,” I whispered, and I meant it. Even with the pain, I felt… liberated, somehow.

I had trusted him to see me at my most vulnerable, and he didn’t let me down.

He let out a quiet laugh. “Thank you for trusting me, princess.” Then, with a smirk, he murmured, “I guess this means the property patch is official. You’re really mine now. No going back.”

My stomach flipped at the possessive edge to his voice, though it sent a thrill through me. I might’ve bristled at being called property once, but here, wrapped in his arms, I found it oddly comforting.

He wants to protect me. Cherish me. Right now, that’s all I can ask for.

He carefully shifted onto his side, drawing me against his chest. I curled into him, listening to the steady beat of his heart. The afterglow pulsed through my limbs, mingling with the ache and the swirl of emotions. When did my life become a romance novel? A small grin tugged at my lips. Maybe it always was, and I just never realized it.

“Sleep, princess,” he whispered, pressing a final kiss to my hair.

Exhaustion dragged me under. For once, no nightmares hovered at the edges. Instead, I drifted into a deep, satiated slumber, lulled by the warmth of Maverick’s body and the beating of his heart. My unlikely hero, my biker, my mean outlaw who’d just shown me more tenderness than I ever knew possible.