Chapter 37

Maverick closed his bedroom door and said, “We can’t.”

“I figured.” Lucky nodded solemnly.

“I can’t risk Rebel hearing us,” he explained. “Even thinking about it stresses me out.”

She grinned. “I understand, but for the record, I do know how to be discreet. I’m not loud.”

He cocked an eyebrow and kissed the space in front of her ear, whispering, “If I have my way, you will be.”

“Oh.” Well. All right, then.

He chuckled as he kissed the corner of her mouth. She forced herself to hold still, waiting for him to ravish her properly, but he seemed intent on tormenting her instead. He kissed under her jaw and down her neck—hardly a poor replacement. She happily helped by tilting her head back for him. It’d taken her some time to realize it, but when she thought of romance, his were the kind of kisses she’d always imagined. His comforting touch lingered on her skin and in her mind. It was perfect where perfection wasn’t supposed to exist. The most divine combination of physical intimacy and mental pleasure.

“I want to take a quick shower before bed,” she said absently.

Maverick suddenly met her gaze, eyes alight. “We could do it in there? My shower isn’t near her room, and if we put on music with the water running, it might…no?”

Lucky was shaking her head and frowning. “Shower sex might be okay, but maybe not the first time? I don’t think I’d like that.”

“Gotcha.” He kissed her temple. “Would you be open to having company?”

“In the shower? Why?”

“You said all I had to do was ask.” He took her hands and looked into her eyes. “I’m asking to join you. I want to take a shower with you.”

“Oh. Oh. I’ve never done that before.”

“Would you like to?”

“If you think you’d be okay just showering, I’d be fine with that. I mean, I’d be naked, so I completely understand if that’s—”

“Let’s go.” In one fluid turn, he steered them both toward his bathroom.

She snort-giggled at his sudden eagerness. “Are you sure?”

“Positive. Let’s go.”

Maverick’s sink and mirror were outside of the bathroom itself—Lucky waited there while he got the water started. Her travel toothbrush was still on the counter, next to his in the holder. Same for the toothpaste she liked and the rest of her toiletries. She didn’t expect him to throw her stuff away or anything, but…maybe she did. Seeing them made her chest tighten. She shook out her hands and took a deep breath to steady herself. Little things like that always meant more to her than they probably should have.

She began pulling her braids up into a high bun. Her gaze lingered a second too long over a prescription bottle as he sidled up to her.

“I take them for anxiety,” he said, kissing her shoulder.

Lucky suspected as much, but he never mentioned it before. “Have they been helpful?”

“I think so. It’s easy to fall into the cycle of feeling like I’m doing great and then wondering, Is it me or is it the pills? Then I go off them and almost immediately it’s like, Oh no, it’s the pills too.” He laughed. “I need to attack it from all angles. Exercise, staying busy, meditation, and medication. All of it, together, really makes a difference for me.”

She watched him through the mirror, trying to gauge if he was okay talking about it, ultimately deciding to change the subject. “How are you so wonderful?” she asked. “You’re wonderful.”

He scoffed. “Sure. Come on.”

“I’m serious,” she said as they walked into the bathroom.

“Uh-huh.”

“Accept my compliment,” she demanded.

“Already done.”

She narrowed her eyes at him before letting go and immediately noticed a distinct lack of steam. “It’s not hot enough.”

“I’m not interested in burning my skin off,” he complained.

“You’ll be fine,” she promised, slightly adjusting the temperature. “You’re taking a shower with me, which means we do it my way.”

“What else does that include?” He laughed. “Because I was thinking I could undress you…”

Her stomach flipped and she stared at him wide-eyed. Being naked in front of Maverick didn’t feel like a big deal. Him taking her clothes off, though? Big deal. Huge. Massive. In her mind, taking a shower together wasn’t inherently sexual unless there was a choice to make it that way. Letting him undress her was definitely a choice.

“Or not,” he amended softly, holding up his hands. “Can I ask for one thing?”

“Okay?”

“I’ll wait in the bedroom. You go in first.” He gently stroked down her arms. “Tell me when you’re ready. Face front and don’t turn around.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s what I’m asking for. You can trust me.”

Lucky undressed quickly, neatly folding and setting everything on top of the hamper. In the shower, she concentrated on how soothing the hot water felt on her tense muscles and took a few moments to check in with herself. Old habits and fears died slow painful deaths. She wanted to do this. She wanted to be there. This wasn’t too much. She felt comfortable saying otherwise.

“Ready!” She did as requested, not turning around when she heard him step in behind her.

“All good?”

“Yep.”

“Tell me if it’s not.”

“I will,” she said, smiling because she trusted him.

Maverick reached past her, wetting a washcloth. She gasped, surprised as he began washing her back. Using gentle circular motions, he skillfully moved across her shoulder blades and down the curve of her spine.

Lucky closed her eyes, allowing herself to relax and revel in the feeling of being cared for. No one had ever done this for her before. She never even would’ve thought to ask. It just didn’t seem like something she’d be into. She’d been wrong—this felt indulgently marvelous. He placed one hand on her hip to keep her steady as he neared her lower back. His touch became firmer, movements more like a massage. Her happy sigh suspiciously resembled a moan.

“Still okay?” he whispered.

Hoping to make him laugh, she wiggled her ass right as he reached it and was rewarded with a low chuckle.

Unable to stop smiling, she asked, “Are you feeling shy?”

He snorted. “No.”

“Embarrassed?”

“No.”

“Then why can’t I turn around?”

“Because you’re not attracted to me.”

She didn’t mean to laugh but the disbelieving cackle had a mind of its own. “Oh, yes, I am. What are you talking about?”

“Not sexually.”

She scoffed. “That one doesn’t count.”

“Why not?” The sincerity in his tone caught her off guard.

“Because it’s not something I can change, Maverick. I’m attracted to you in all the ways that matter to me. Would you like me to list them? Because I absolutely will.” She turned around before he could stop her. “Stop being so—oh, wow.” Not wanting to be rude, she forced herself to look him in the eye, cheeks burning like hellfire. “That is definitely not little. Yeah.”

“This is so strange.” He laughed and then clarified, “Not bad. Just different than what I’m used to. You’re very…calm right now.”

Personally, she would’ve gone with startled, but a win was a win. She noticed he was also keeping his eyes on hers. “So are you.”

“Yep.” He nodded and they burst out laughing. “But really, looking at me—you’re not turned on? At all?”

Instead of answering, she asked, “Would it be too much if I touched you? Above the waist?” He consented and she grabbed the second washcloth he’d brought.

She began washing his chest with the same mindfulness he’d shown her. Slow, methodical circles. Gentle kneading in tense areas. All while trying to keep a ridiculously pleased grin off her face.

“Seeing you naked isn’t going to magically change me. Although”—she paused to look him up and down—“your body? One hundred out of ten. Beautiful. You have no idea how giddy I feel looking at you. I’m attracted to your body because it’s your body. Try thinking about it like that without the qualifiers. I like all of you. Every single part, inside and out.”

He casually placed his hands on her hips, and without missing a beat, she began washing his arms, from his shapely shoulders down to his wrists. She glanced at him while continuing the purposeful rhythm she’d created. He was watching her closely, a pensive look on his face.

“What are you thinking about?” she asked.

“Trying to wrap my head around everything. You enjoy sex, right? Not just liking it or thinking it’s fine. You enjoy it?” His voice sounded strained—hoarse and concerned. “Because if you don’t, please tell me.”

“I can, yes.” She wanted to be honest, and tried not to sound negative, but the truth was far more nuanced than that.

“I think I might’ve read too many accounts of people confessing that they only had sex because their partner needed it. They didn’t even like it. I don’t want that for you or for us.”

“I see,” she said. “Stripped down to basic parts, I like the way it feels. But I don’t think I’d ever ask you to have sex with me, if that’s what you’re getting at.”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

“Switch places with me,” she said, moving around him. “You in front.” She added more bodywash and started on his back. He truly was a sight to behold. And touch. “Please continue.”

“Basic parts. Okay,” he echoed, thoughtfully. “For me, your enjoyment isn’t optional. I want you to…uh, have a good time. I need to feel it. That.”

She kissed his neck. “Say it however you normally would.”

“Uh, no, I really don’t think I should do that. We’re not there yet.” He turned his head to look at her, laughing nervously. “I’m very…exacting. I don’t want to have any doubts. So, let’s say, I tell you to look at me. In that moment, I want to see how hard it is for you to do what I ask. But once you do, I’m going to”—he stopped himself again—“reward your efforts. And then I’m going to ask again.”

“Ah.” Lucky began focusing on the shower wall in front of them. He was being cautious again, testing the waters, and she knew he’d barely skimmed the surface.

While slightly unexpected, she wasn’t too shaken. She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her body firmly against his. “I think I understand what you mean. Would it always be like that? Because I enjoy…gentle.” It took a moment for her to work up enough nerve to look him in the eye, but she did it. “Slow and steady wins the sensual race kind of vibe with kissing. Would that be okay too?”

“Yes.” He answered so enthusiastically it instantly put a smile on her face. “Now we’re getting somewhere. What else do you like?”

“That’s the only thing that’s stood out so far,” she said. “I only really know what I don’t like.”

“That’s okay. We’ll work on that,” he said, holding her arms in place like a promise.

“You want to help me?”

He gave her an incredulous look. “I will do whatever you want.”

“Even roleplaying? I think you might’ve been right.”

Roleplaying seemed fun because they’d both be in on the joke. They’d be playing characters together. And when it was over, they’d go back to being perfectly happy as themselves.

“Especially that.”

“Even—”

“What. Ever. You. Want. I do not care. I will do it.” He laughed. “I highly doubt anything you genuinely want to do will shock me.”

She narrowed her eyes to mess with him. “I’ll see about that.”

Early the next morning, Lucky woke up naturally on her own. No alarm. No phone call. Nothing tugging at her mind. She sighed into a stretch, happily rolling over inside of Maverick’s embrace. He was still sleeping, serene and peaceful, breathing deep and even. She delicately brushed her thumb across the line of his bottom lip and smiled at his sleepy groan. She could get used to waking up next to him every day. But she had a job to finish first.

Lucky wanted to return before Hennessee woke up looking for her. She was almost finished getting ready when she heard Maverick shift in bed. “I can feel you brooding. I’m not supposed to be here, remember?”

“So, you were gonna sneak out?” he asked, tone more sonorous than she’d ever heard.

She grinned, glancing at him. “Maybe.”

“You should stay.”

“As tempting as that is, you know I can’t.”

Maverick grumbled in protest as he got out of bed. He kissed her cheek on his way to the bathroom. While she waited for him, she checked her phone to count the missed calls and filled out her spreadsheet.

He put on a shirt before sitting next to her on the bed. “Last night, you said you have an ‘abnormally strong connection’ with the house. What did that mean?”

“I’ve been there consistently, longer than anyone has in years.” She explained the depth of the connection with examples to give him a better idea of her progress. “I also have a memory palace full of first impressions. It gets to meet new people as often as it likes and learn more about us. I suspect that’s part of why it treats me differently.”

“And you’re just…fine with that? Not worried at all?”

She regarded him for a moment, trying to figure out where he was going. “You seem to think I should be?”

“I stand by what I said last night: your presentation was very good. Extremely thorough.” He paused, gaze dropping to his lap. “The questions that I have are about you.”

Lucky sat up straighter, rolling her shoulders back and giving him her full attention. She didn’t have much time left but could spare a few minutes to reassure him.

“I don’t understand how you’re fine with the house constantly being in your head,” he continued. “What makes it any different than a ghost?”

“Oh, well for one, Hennessee is far more powerful. It destroyed the ghost. It’s not in my memory palace anymore.”

Maverick’s eyes widened—and Lucky knew she’d said the wrong thing. “Did you ask it to do that?”

“Not exactly, no,” she admitted. “We have an agreement now. It hasn’t done anything like that since.”

“Lucky. I think you need to leave that house for your own good.” He held her hands in between his and pressed them to his mouth. “I think you might be possessed.”