Page 25 of Pit Stop

“I mean, you don’t have to, but there’s this booth and they have the best floral arrangements.

And oh my gods, there are these little moons that glow when you’re about to go into heat.

A shaman in New York was able to put spells on them.

You should get one, Skye. It would really help with monitoring your heats. ”

“Yeah, that sounds—” I begin, and Maverick cuts me off.

“We can go. Sounds fun.”

“Great! I’ll meet you there? Park around back of the butcher. It’s a hidden gem and most people don’t know about it. You’ll always find a spot,” Owen says as he waggles his eyebrows at us.

Going to a street fair doesn’t sound like something Maverick does for fun, so I’m skeptical about why he agreed to it, but I keep my mouth shut as we make our way to the car.

When we get inside, I turn to look at him, wanting to explain why I have Red’s scent on me and his phone number scrawled onto my skin.

“You saw Red,” he says before I can even open my mouth. “That’s his number on your arm.”

“Yeah,” I say, feeling fury boil up in him, the possessiveness swirling around my chest. It sets me ablaze as well. I love that he wants me this much.

It’s just the bond.

“I can feel the guilt you have. Why do you have his number?” he asks as he pulls out of the parking lot and makes his way toward Main Street. His knuckles are white on the steering wheel, and I can almost hear the way his bones are creaking.

“He told me Sage contacted him and said he’d agree to get us into his pack if I…” My words trail off and I swallow, feeling that nausea bubble up again.

“What did he say?” he nearly growls.

“After the bond is broken, I use him for my next heat.”

Mav is silent for a moment. And then he asks, “What did you tell him?”

“I didn’t say anything. Hence the phone number on my arm.”

“But you didn’t say no.”

I swallow, that guilt Maverick felt so keenly inside of me almost pulsing out of my chest. “Yeah. I know. I was caught off guard. I didn’t expect to see him at that restaurant.”

He says nothing as he drives slowly down the road, almost as if he’s laser-focused. As if he’s worried that his anger will propel us into danger.

“I’m sorry,” I finally manage to add when I find my voice again.

“It’s my fault for biting you in the first place. And now you’re in this mess.”

That makes something very much like regret flare to life inside of me. But I don’t feel like being with Maverick is much of a mess, to be honest. I’m happier than I’ve been in a while. And so well-fucked.

And he takes care of me.

The only issue is school and the fact that soon, our lives will diverge, and we’ll be forced apart. I won’t survive without him.

I need him, and that’s what I hate most.

I always wanted to be independent, to make something of myself, and here I am, tied to an alpha. A very hot one, but an alpha nonetheless.

I peer over at him and my cock twitches slightly. His muscles are bulging, the veins in his forearms standing out.

I know it’s from a deep-seated rage over what just happened, but it’s turning me on.

“I can smell you,” he murmurs as he pulls into the parking lot. A butcher sign swings back and forth above a rusty back door, and a few people clamber out of their cars, making their way toward the tents in the distance. “You going into heat?”

“No,” I say, and then wiggle in my seat. “I’m just thinking.”

“About what?” he asks as he turns off the car, and the sweltering heat from outside immediately permeates the space. “About fucking someone else?”

I flinch, then push my glasses up my nose, hating that he’s said this.

It hurts. It really does because even though I know this may not be real, this bond makes me feel close to him.

And the harshness in his voice, in the way he’s speaking to me, puts an ache in my chest. “That’s really fucking rude, Mav. Take it back.”

His jaw clicks, and I see a bead of sweat roll down his temple. But he doesn’t swipe it away. He just continues to stare at me, his eyes sparking gold and silver.

“We need to get out,” he growls, and my dick perks up even more. Oh, it’s not afraid. Not at all. Because under that anger is hot, untamed sex. And I want it. I really fucking do.

“Or else what?” I ask, wetting my lips. His eyes flash down to my mouth, and his parts.

“Or else I’ll pull you onto my lap and impale you on my cock.”

I wheeze as he reaches out, and his fingers brush against my throat.

“Because I’m going fuck you while I still have you and if I have to rut you right here in this parking lot, I will. Because you’re mine, Skye. You’re fucking mine .”

Oh gods. I want that. I so want it. I don’t care what people would think if they saw me getting railed by him.

But before I can move onto his lap and make him prove it to me, he pushes the door open and steps out.

I’m left to pant in the passenger seat, willing my heartbeat to stop pounding in my cock.

But it doesn’t work and I finally have to step outside of the car and tuck my dick under the waistband of my pants to be somewhat presentable.

Maverick says nothing as I do this, just watches me with angry, heated eyes as he rounds the car toward me.

His forefinger tucks under my chin and he tilts my head up, leaving me completely breathless. And then he leans down and rubs his face against my neck and across my cheek, scenting me, removing any trace of Red.

It was faint, but it was there, and I can tell he loathes it.

When he finally reaches my mouth, I lean forward, chasing his lips, and when they meet, I feel his growl slide down my throat, rattling my rib cage and settling in my balls. I feel like I’m going to come. Just from this, I’m going to explode.

His tongue pushes into my mouth, tangling with mine, and his groin meets mine as he thrusts forward. The friction against my dick is making it ache. But he doesn’t give me the satisfaction of an orgasm. Instead, he pulls away, his mouth spit-slick as his chest heaves.

“The bond between us will break, but right now, you’re mine, Skye.”

I groan as he reaches down and drags his palm up my dick before pulling away. Just as he does, a family who is laughing and chatting loudly rounds the corner, making their way back to their car after a long morning of shopping.

I want to slide back into Maverick’s car and head home, but Owen appears a second later, rushing toward us, his cheeks slightly red, his eyes wild.

“Oh my gods! Did you see that sign back there?” he asks, still completely oblivious to the tension between Maverick and me. “They have those timber treats that are to die for! We have to hurry or else the line will be down the block.”

“What the fuck are timber treats?” I ask as Owen grabs onto my hand and pulls me forward.

“Oh. You have to try them. They’re, like, so good. And the high they give you…”

Maverick huffs as he strides next to us, his hand brushing up against my ass as I walk. It’s driving me nuts. I don’t need to get high when I have Maverick nearby. His scent is enough to undo me.

Not that he actually does anything to give me any relief. He’s out to prove something, that number on my skin burning a gap between us.

He plans on making me remember him, I’m sure.

When we get in that long line, Maverick stands right next to me, his hand on my shoulder, his fingers stroking across my skin.

I lean into him and inhale. He smells so damn good.

“Oh, you two are so cute. It’s a shame you need to get the bond reversed.”

I swallow, trying not to think about it.

Owen peers around the crowd and his eyes grow wide.

“Oh, do you see that booth over there? That’s the one with the charmed moons.”

I nod and listen to him prattle on and on about everything we can find here, all while Maverick touches my skin, driving me wild.

I’m panting by the time we make it to the front, half-listening to the spiel and ordering whatever looks bright and exciting. I have no idea what kind I’m getting, nor do I care. I just want to feel Maverick inside of me again. I want to be alone with him, in his place, in our bed.

I want to nest.

Fuck.

The realization does nothing to stop me from plastering myself against Maverick the entire time we roam the stalls, following behind Owen and half-listening to him babble away. I end up buying one of the enchanted moons. It could be a gimmick, but Owen insists it really works.

And I may or may not buy something for Maverick when he’s not looking. A blue ring that would sit so nicely on one of his fingers.

The only time I pull away from Maverick is when River makes an appearance, his eyes brightening when he sees Owen near us.

“Hey, bro!” he says jovially, waving his hand.

Owen’s smile falls, and he rolls his eyes. “Gods, that guy again. I know he’s your brother, but still…”

I huff a small laugh and feel Maverick’s fingers reach out for mine, weaving around my own and setting fireworks off in my skin.

“Hey,” River says to Maverick and then moves his gaze to Owen, who is now glowering at him.

“I’m not sleeping with you, so get that out of your mind,” Owen says curtly, and River’s lips curl up even higher.

“I didn’t ask you to fuck, but I mean, if you’re thinking about it…”

“I am not,” Owen says, his cheeks flushing.

“I mean, I’m available for heats, if you need someone.”

Owen scowls. “I have someone already. A very nice, gentlemanly man who takes care of my every need.”

River’s grin slips slightly, but he’s not deterred. He never is. Even when he was a kid, nothing got him down. Even that one time he spent weeks building a boat out of wood, only to watch it sink in the pond behind our house. He just laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

I wish I could be that optimistic.

“Yeah, all right. No worries.” He winks at Owen, who just blushes and then turns around, stomping away and calling back, “I’m going to go look at the hats. In the stall at the very end of this aisle.”

River watches him go, his eyes dancing until he can no longer see him. Then he turns his gaze toward Maverick and me.

“Didn’t expect to see you two fuck birds out here.”

“Shut up,” I murmur, and River laughs.

“Oh shit. You got some timber treats.” He grabs the bag and lifts it up, peering at the assortment I bought. “Can I have one? The line is stupid long.”

“Sure.”

He rustles around in the bag and pulls out three, popping them in his mouth and chewing loudly. I stare at him.

“I think these are, like, drugs,” I tell him, and he shrugs.

“I know. But this flavor combo is so good.” With that, he holds out his hand, and I’m forced to high-five him before he skips off. I watch him go until he’s disappeared completely.

“How much longer do we have to be here?” I ask, turning to gaze up at Maverick.

“I don’t care. We can leave now.”

“Oh, but I thought you wanted to come here. You were the one who agreed to it.”

“I couldn’t give a fuck about this fair. I just…”

He pulls me into him, his lips hitting my ear.

“I just didn’t want to head home and fuck you out of anger.” I shiver, his hand moving down to my ass and squeezing. “I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“You couldn’t,” I breathe, feeling the desire pulse through him. “Are you still angry?”

He grumbles something and then responds, “No.”

“Then take me home and fuck me.”