CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Sadie
A Week Later
The past week I've been getting everything ready for me to have a few days away in Vegas, not only away from my life here in LA with my studies and work but also mentally. I will be spending more time with Maverick and the club, but there is also the chance my past could rear its ugly head, and I don't know if I am prepared to face that threat.
Every instinct is telling me I should tell Maverick or at least Alpha. Fill them in so they can be prepared. But I don't want them to think less of me. I also don't want them to be dragged into anything associated with my past.
I have spent years running.
I'm tired of hiding.
And for the first time since I left, I finally feel like maybe I have the right people around me to help.
Maybe.
If not, then I guess if worse comes to worst and my family is there, then I will have to face the consequences of that when it comes down to it. However, the thought of seeing them again is utterly terrifying, especially now that I have this thing with Maverick.
The club makes our way to the hotel. Though, I can't help but feel like I'm looking over my shoulder every few minutes, ensuring no one is following us. An unease and paranoia set into the very depths of my soul.
Maverick turns to me, his brows setting into a thin line as he looks me up and down. "Are you okay? You seem agitated?"
I let out an almost hysterical laugh that's out of my control, sounding like a crazy person, as I fake a smile at him. "Yeah, of course! Just taking all this in."
I can tell he's not buying my answer, but he wraps his arm around me and kisses my head tenderly. The small gesture sends a wave of calmness through me almost instantly.
We stop in the foyer of our hotel, and Alpha gathers us all in a circle and begins handing out the keys to the hotel rooms. They all seem to be on the same floor, making me feel even better knowing the entire club is together.
Alpha glances at me, checks the information booking sheet, and scowls. "Fuck! We're missing a key. Haven, can you ask reception if they missed a room for Sadie?"
Standing back, I twiddle my thumbs, that anxiety creeping back in as Haven moves over to the reception counter while Maverick holds me firm. "I'm sure it's fine."
It takes a few minutes, but Haven walks back empty-handed and shrugs as she looks at me. "Seems when I booked, I was short one room, which happens to be Sadie's. Problem is, with the convention in town, all the rooms in the hotel are booked."
My stomach flips, but I nod once. "Oh, okay. No problem. I'll go search around town for another hotel. Surely someone has a vacancy."
Maverick shakes his head. "You're not staying away from the club, Sadie. You can stay in my room with me. Nothing expected, but I am not having you separated from us."
"It's settled then." Haven smiles wide.
My eyes widen in shock because I haven't been able to say anything as they decide for me. But I have to admit, I would definitely feel safer staying here with the club than somewhere else on my own.
And in a room with Mav?
I can think of a worse place to be.
Anxiety grips me again as I turn to Maverick. "Are you sure? I don't want to impose?"
"You're not imposing, Sadie. I'm happy to have you with me." Maverick grips my hand, and I welcome the comfort it gives.
Butterflies dance in my stomach, and I try to fight my smile. "Okay, your room it is."
Haven goes to walk past Maverick, and she leans in toward him. "You're welcome," she whispers, though I hear her.
He grins, shaking his head as I raise my brow, watching her walk off arm in arm with Alpha.
"You think she did that on purpose?" I ask.
"I'm beginning to think so." Maverick exhales, taking my luggage for me.
"I can't figure her out. One minute, she's warning me off you. The next, she is putting me up in your bedroom. Is she always like this?" I ask.
Maverick chuckles as we follow behind everyone else for the elevators. "I think Haven was initially protective, but then our kiss in front of everyone must have shown her that we have something going for us. Now she's heading in the other direction and doing what she can to force us together."
"It's sweet in a way. That she cares so much."
He shrugs. "It is, but it's also invasive. Don't get me wrong… I am so fucking happy to have Haven back in my life, but I think because we were apart for so long, she is overcompensating by thrusting herself into every aspect of my life she can. I love her for it, but it can be a bit much sometimes."
The elevator doors open, and we step in. Clover is moving beside us. "I'm bunking with Rhy. Do you think we can head out onto the strip tonight?" Clover asks Maverick.
Maverick snorts. "You're seventeen, Clover. You're staying in the hotel suite this entire trip. I don't need you getting into any trouble."
She rolls her eyes. "Seriously? It's not like I can gamble or drink. It's just walking around, looking at the fountains, and seeing the sights, Mav. C'mon, don't be a damn dick."
I snort out a laugh as Maverick scowls at his sister. "The guys and I have to go over and register for tomorrow's convention. Maybe we can all go out and take in the sights after that. It will be just around sunset, and we can go out for dinner after. How about that for a compromise?"
Clover smiles, shoving out her hand for him to shake. "Deal!"
The elevator opens to our floor, and we all step out, heading for our respective rooms. Maverick drags our luggage sets to our suite, and I swipe the keycard to the door. We walk in and are immediately met with the most beautiful view.
But as we enter, we both drop our eyes to the obvious elephant in the room. The fact is that there is only one king-sized bed. We stop, staring at it, when we realize we will both be in this room for a few days with only one bed and the ramifications of what that could mean.
Maverick gently nudges me. "It's okay, I'll sleep on the sofa."
Letting out the breath I didn't know I was holding, I turn to him and smile. "Okay," is all I can manage because I'm unsure if I'm relieved or completely disappointed he's sleeping on the sofa.
He spins on his heel and moves our luggage onto the luggage rack just as his cell rings. He pulls it out and answers while I remain at the edge of the bed, still staring at it, wondering how I am going to cope with spending nights alone in this room with Maverick.
I hear him talking to Alpha, but my head is spinning. Visions of us tossing and turning, naked under the sheets in front of me, are clouding my vision. My clit is throbbing so hard right now as a hand on my arm breaks me from my indecent thoughts. I snap my head to Maverick, who's staring at me with concern in his eyes.
"Sadie, I said… are you okay?"
Stuttering out a breath, I let out a nervous laugh, wipe my brow, and walk away to find the air conditioner controller. "It's hot in here, don't you think?"
He chuckles. "I guess. I hadn't really noticed, but… are you okay? Are you freaking out over something?"
I play with the thermostat, making the room cooler while trying to calm my racing heart. Then I take a breath and turn back to face Maverick with a more relaxed demeanor. "Sorry. I'm okay, I promise. I didn't want to tell you, but flying always makes me a little uneasy, and then with the mix-up of the hotel suite, I'm a little rattled. But I'll be fine once I cool down and get some water into me."
He steps up with a kind smile and wraps his arms around me. "I thought you were quiet on the plane. I should have realized. That's on me, and I regret not asking. Unfortunately, Alpha needs me to be with the guys to register, but I can stay here with you if you need me?"
Widening my eyes, I place my hands on his chest. "God, no. Last thing I want to do is to be the reason you're taken away from doing something important with the club. Please go. I promise I'll be fine. I'll go to the girls' room, and we will make a start on Clover's schoolwork. I'll even call Ingrid and ask her to bring Louis, and we will hang out while you guys are doing your thing."
Maverick nods. "Okay, but first…" He backs me up against the wall, slamming his lips to mine, kissing me with so much intensity that it shocks me to the spot for a moment. My eyes widen as his hands slide down, cupping my ass, then his tongue dances against mine so passionately my body finally relaxes and molds into his. My fingers slide up into his hair. I close my eyes, whimpering into his mouth as I kiss him back, needing every inch of him. Then I pull him closer, feeling his cock begin to harden against me.
My leg instinctively wraps up around his waist, needing to be closer, my clit throbbing with so much need. I was wet from just looking at the bed, but now I am dripping as his hand slides down between us, pressing on the fabric of my panties.
Fuck!
I need more.
I drop my hand, moving his hand to where I need it, and our hands, in unison, begin to rub my pussy. I moan against his mouth, and at the same time, a low growl reverbs from his chest while we continue to kiss, rushed and frantic. We're all breathy and wild as the pleasure rolls through me, building and building. My hips rock against our hands when he bites my bottom lip, not hard, but just enough to send a shock wave through me.
"Come for me, cupcake," he orders against my lips, then delves his tongue deep into my mouth again as he slips his finger beneath my panties straight to my clit. He pushes down on it, circling with such precision it's my undoing.
My head slams back against the wall, and I gasp dramatically. My body tenses, then begins to shudder uncontrollably as the wave of euphoria hits like a massive tidal wave rolling from my head through my body and straight to my pussy. The adrenaline surge makes me feel like I'm floating. Even though I am still standing, I can't feel my feet as I pant frantically, trying to catch my breath. His finger gently swirls on my clit, trying to bring me down from my massive high. My fingers slide up, slowly twirling in his hair as I rock my hips back and forth, coming down from the climax I was not expecting when I walked in here.
Maverick gently eases his fingers out of my panties, then takes a step back, a salacious grin on his face. He places a finger in his mouth and, in the sexiest move I have ever seen, sucks on it, tasting my juices. He growls as his eyes lock on mine. "So fucking delicious, cupcake. Now, take off your panties."
My eyes widen, a slow smile crossing my face. I move my hands under my dress, hook my fingers into my panties, and then slide them down my legs, pulling them off and dangling them from my finger. He grins, steps up to me, and takes them in his hand with a cheeky grin.
"These panties are soaked for me. I'm gonna keep them as a reminder of this moment." His voice is deep, husky, full of lust as he shoves them into his jeans pocket. "I've needed a taste of you since you arrived at the clubhouse this morning. I missed you after our week apart. Seeing you again only reminded me how much I fucking want you. But this, what just happened here, is only a taste, Sadie. But I'm not going to push you. We do this at your pace. So you want me to sleep on the sofa, I'll be on the sofa until you tell me otherwise."
Right now, I can't possibly think straight after that mind-blowing orgasm. All I know is, if that was just a taste, I want to eat the whole damn cake. "Mav, I—"
Suddenly, his cell beeps with a text, and I chuckle as he lets out a groan, pulling out his cell to check the message.
"Fuck, it's Alpha wondering… where the hell I am. They're all waiting for me."
Smiling, I gently ease him back, straightening out my dress and hair, and I reach for my carry-on, which contains all my tutoring stuff for Clover. "C'mon then, we better head off before I get you in trouble."
"Cupcake, when it comes to you, I'm already in deep trouble."
Licking my lips, I reach out, grabbing one hand as he rearranges his obvious erection with his other, and we walk for the suite door. "Walk me to Clover and Rhyan's room?"
"You got it."
As we make our way out and down the hall, I can't stop smiling. I tap on Clover's door, and she answers soon after with a bright smile. As soon as she spots me holding her brother's hand, there's nothing I can do to stop the flush from reddening my cheeks. Clover smirks as if she can tell something happened between us, but she says nothing.
Maverick leans in to kiss my cheek. "Behave and do the work for Sadie. You got it, kid?"
Clover groans. "Yes, Dad!"
Maverick winks at me, then turns, heading for the elevators.
Walking into the suite, Clover and I get to work, even though I find it hard to concentrate now, especially because I am wearing no panties.
Time passes with a comfortable routine despite being away from the clubhouse. Clover and I are in a groove with her studies, only needing the occasional perspective change when she struggles. Rhyan sits idly by, scrolling through her phone, while Ingrid does her best to keep Louis quiet when Clover works.
It's close to evening now, and I haven't heard from Maverick all day, so I pull out my cell to text him just to check in when a knock at the door startles me. We all turn our attention to the sound.
I look at everyone else, almost questioning if we're expecting anyone, but Clover returns to her studies, Ingrid is nursing Louis, and Rhyan is on the balcony. So I stand. "I'll get it."
Ingrid lifts her chin. "Check the peephole first," she instructs.
"Good idea."
I step onto my toes once I reach the door to check the peephole. Maverick. Smiling to myself at how I was literally about to message him, and now here he is, I pull back the door to let him in. "I was just about to text you," I say, opening the door to greet him.
He waggles his brows. "We must be in sync. You guys ready to head out for some dinner and to have a walk around?"
"So much, yes," Clover calls out from the other end of the room as she begins to pack up her work.
I had no intention of leaving the hotel on this trip, but I have no logical reason to explain to Maverick and everyone else why I need to stay in the hotel. Now that he is here, asking for me to head out onto the strip with him, how can I say no without telling him why?
"Okay, let's go," I reply, though my excitement doesn't seem as completely enthusiastic as I wanted it to sound.
He reaches out for my hand while the other girls step up behind me, and we head to the elevators, making our way down onto the streets below to meet up with the rest of the club for dinner.
The club walks together along the strip. Witnessing us as a group must look intimidating if the looks from those who try to maneuver around us are anything to go by. Finding a nice place, we fill up the bar, taking our time eating.
The longer the night wears on, the more I relax, letting myself enjoy this time with the club.
Maverick and the brothers talk about the convention and how they might find some good information moving forward with the crops. Mid-conversation, Maverick excuses himself to the bathroom, and I take a moment to appreciate the view of him walking away.
A loud, strained cough distracts me, and I turn to Haven staring at me with a raised brow. Busted. Embarrassed, the heat in my cheeks has me dropping my head and focusing on my now-empty plate.
When I finally get the courage to look back up, Maverick is almost to the table, and I practically choke. My eyes widen when they meet his, and I sharply tip my head down, gesturing to the side of his jeans where my panties are hanging out. I'm holding my breath, praying he understands what the fuck is happening. His eyebrows pinch as he follows my line of sight. Then, with a wicked grin, he stares at me while making a show of tucking them back into his pocket and readjusting his now obvious hard-on.
"Shit," I mumble, feeling myself getting wet. He has my damn panties, and now I have no protection from soaking my damn dress.
Maverick slides in next to me, his hand gliding up my thigh like he knows what he's doing—the cocky bastard. Then, as if nothing out of the ordinary happened, as if I'm not sitting here turned on, he dives back into the conversations around the table like he never left.
Thankfully, Clover distracts me with animated small talk about all the sights she's hoping to visit while we are here.
After getting our fill of drinks and good food, we stroll along the strip, being rowdy and having a real good time. It takes my mind off all the bullshit plaguing my mind about my past and why I was afraid to step out of my comfort zone in the first place.
With Defiance, I feel safe.
I have found a home where I can be myself.
And there's a real reassurance in that.
That maybe I can have a normal life after all, with people I care about and who care about me.
Maybe I can have it all?
We make our way back to the hotel, and everyone says goodnight.
Alpha steps up, gaining everyone's attention before we head off into our rooms. "All right, we're meeting at nine to head to the convention. If you wanna have breakfast, we can meet in the buffet at seven. Got it?" The guys all nod in acknowledgment, and Alpha waves his hand through the air. "Get some sleep. We got work to do tomorrow to get our club back into business."
The guys head into their rooms as we walk Clover and Rhyan to theirs.
"I'll be in your room at nine to start another day of schoolwork."
Clover groans but nods before she turns, stomping into her suite and closing the door behind her. I smirk at Maverick as he clutches my hand in his, a clear tension rising between us again.
This is the first time we will be alone together in a bedroom overnight.
Sure, Maverick is going to be sleeping on the sofa, but the fact is, we will be alone. And that thought is a little daunting.
We walk into the suite in silence and immediately spot a problem. A steady stream of water flows from the air conditioning unit all over the sofa. My eyes widen.
Maverick rushes over, grabbing his things from the sofa. "Fuck!" he calls out as I run over to the unit's control panel to turn the stupid thing off to try to stem the flow of water.
Maverick races over to the suite phone, calling down to, I assume, reception when the water finally stops flowing. My eyes meet his as the call answers on the other end. "Yeah, we have a problem in our room. Our air conditioning unit spewed water all over our sofa, so we're gonna need someone to come and fix that."
He listens for a moment, his face turning red. "What do you mean your maintenance crew won't return till morning? We have fucking water all over our sofa and the floor?" He hits the speaker button so I can hear the conversation.
"I apologize, but with it being so busy at the moment and us being short-staffed, we can only get someone to remove the sofa for you and help with the water situation. As for the air conditioning unit, they will have to fix it in the morning. We can bring up some fans to help with temperature control. Unfortunately, we can't switch you to another room as we're fully booked with the convention in town."
He glances at me, and I weakly smile, letting him know it's okay. "Fuck. Bring us some fans and take the sofa. We'll make do."
Maverick ends the call and turns to me. "I'll sleep on the floor."
It's easy to see he is frustrated. He doesn't want me to feel pressured, and I am grateful for that fact, but honestly, I couldn't be more happy about this situation right now if I tried. "Mav, it's okay… sleep in the bed with me."
His eyes meet mine, hesitation in them as he assesses me. "Are you sure? I don't want you to think I am pressuring yo—"
I lean in, pressing my lips to his, effectively silencing him. My tongue dances in a flurry, letting him know I am more than okay with this. I press my body against him, my hands sliding up under his shirt, my nails digging into his skin as he lets out a deep, throaty growl.
His hands slide under my dress, clenching my bare ass cheeks, and just as he is going to lift me, there's a knock on the door. It has us breaking apart, both of us panting for breath.
"Every… fucking… time." He chuckles, then turns for the door, opening it to the hotel staff.
They are quick to do what they can, leaving a couple of fans as promised. Half an hour later, Maverick is tipping the guys and slipping the lock in place after he closes the door.
He releases a long breath, then turns to me, and even though I know the heat has been building between us today, we have plenty of time here in Vegas. And I meant it when I said I don't want to rush into this with Maverick. I need to think about Clover and how a relationship with her brother could affect her.
So, for now, I am going to put us back down to a simmer, even if Maverick is going to hate me for it.
He stalks up to me, and I place my hand on his chest with a weak smile. "I think we should head to bed. This day and night has been crazy."
He raises his brow like he is surprised but doesn't appear disappointed. "Yeah, absolutely. I'll let you get changed," he states, turning and facing the other direction while I walk to my suitcase to grab my long shirt and some panties. Though I am standing in front of a mirror, and his back is turned to me, I can see him in the reflection as he gets undressed. I know I shouldn't be watching him shrug out of his cut and shirt, but seeing his body, all his tattoos, and even the wounds on his torso from the battle make him sexier. I don't know what that says about me. But as he drops his jeans, steps out of his boots, and is wearing only a pair of boxer briefs, my breath gets caught in my throat when I see the power in his thighs. And I wonder what it would be like having control of that man over me while he thrusts inside.
Shaking my head from the thoughts, I slide my eyes away from spying on him and continue to get changed, then make my way to bed and slide in. He hops in next to me, and I shift to his side, cuddling into him. "Who knew we'd be forced into sharing a bed?"
He chuckles. "It's not all bad, though."
I can't help but grin as he plays with my hair, then leans in, kissing me softly again. The kiss becomes a little more heated when his tongue dances with mine a little more passionately. My earlier thoughts of taking this slowly fade with every beat of my frantic heart.
I need more.
Wrapping my arms around him, I pull him closer. Maverick groans into my mouth as he slips his leg between mine, settling between my parted thighs. Immediately, my hips rock, grinding against his hardening length, a reminder that only a few layers of thin fabric separate us. A shudder races through me, and I arch up, wanting the friction against my nipples.
"Shit, cupcake," he grits out against my lips, and I can't help but smirk. I love knowing that he's just as worked up as I am, and when I rock my hips again, he inhales sharply. "Goddamn, you are soaked, Sadie. I can feel how wet you are through my boxers." He groans and adds, "Now I need a proper taste."
Maverick makes quick work of slipping my panties off, and all of a sudden, I'm too hot. I sit up, pull my shirt over my head, and toss it to the floor, now completely naked. My eyes meet his, and the desire burning in his gaze as he takes me in steals my breath. I've never had anyone look at me the way he is right now. It has my breath coming short and fast as I wait for what he's going to do next.
To my surprise, he sits back on his knees, creating a distance between us that has my brows pinching in confusion.
Shit! Maybe I read this wrong.
"I-I—"
He moves so fast, cutting off my apology. His hands grip my waist as he pulls me up, moving me with him. Maverick rolls to his back, and I am now straddling him, but I don't have time to sit on him where I'm desperate to be. He shifts me up his body until I'm on my knees, my pussy in front of his face. "Unless you are going to tell me to stop, the only thing I want to hear is you screaming my name as I devour your sweet pussy."
When I go to speak, he turns his head, nipping my inner thigh. The yelp that leaves my lips is weak, the sting of his teeth making my clit throb and my legs shake with anticipation.
"Now, cupcake… you're going to ride my face so hard when I wake tomorrow, I will still taste you. So all I can smell is you. Do you understand?"
All I can do is nod as I try to breathe. I want everything Maverick promises. No, I need it like I need my next breath. But when I hesitate, unsure exactly how he wants me, he guides my legs to straddle his face. With one hand grabbing my ass, he pulls me down so I'm putting my weight on his face. I let out a squeal, falling forward, but my hands slam against the wall, stopping me.
A deep, carnal growl erupts from his throat, and holy shit, the vibration through his tongue as it hits my clit has me losing myself. I rock my hips, tentative for the briefest of seconds, before I let go completely, riding his face as he demanded me to do.
He sucks and laps at my clit, and I moan, each flick of his tongue sending me closer to the edge. With his other hand, he slides it around to my breasts, where he pinches my nipples.
"Holy shit, Mav! Al-almos—"
My words are cut off when he slides his hand up and wraps it around my throat. At the same time, his other one forces me to sink my full weight to sit on his face. Without warning, he thrusts his tongue inside me, and then his grip around my throat tightens, cutting off my breath.
Stars burst in my vision. My thighs inadvertently squeeze around his head as I come undone in the most intense orgasm I have ever felt. "Maverick!" I wheeze, and my head lolls back as I clench around his tongue, my thighs trembling from the force.
I don't think I've ever experienced a climax so strong.
Maverick chuckles beneath me, I think, but I can't be sure. My head is fuzzy, consciousness slipping away from me. His hold on my throat loosens, and I draw in a deep breath, swaying over him. If it wasn't for his grip on my ass and my hands on the wall, I would collapse, utterly spent.
After a few more deep inhales, my vision starts to clear, and I peer down to see nothing but pure lust and delight as his sparkling chocolate eyes stare up at me. A slight glisten surrounds his mouth—I'm assuming that's from me—but there's something more in the depths of his eyes as he stares at me. But it's gone before I can process what it is. Or maybe I'm too delirious from the mind-blowing orgasm, and I'm imagining things.
When I'm sure I can move, I shift and ease down beside him, catching my breath.
Maverick rolls over, resuming his position over me from before this started, gazing down, his fingers gliding over my cheeks in a gentle caress. His intense eyes stare into mine as I continue to come down from my second incredible high induced by him today. "That's enough for tonight. We still have a few nights here in Vegas. I want to savor this and make it last."
He's given me two orgasms already today, and he expects nothing in return. I feel so guilty. "But don't you want me to make you feel good?"
He grins salaciously. "Oh, baby, you just did." Maverick leans in, kissing me. I taste myself on him, but he pulls back just as quickly, and he rolls onto his back, pulling me into the nook of his neck and shoulder. "Goodnight, cupcake."
Smiling wide, my hand slides onto his chest, resting above his heart. I feel it beating frantically under his skin, and I can't help but bite my bottom lip.
He feels this energy between us, just like I do.
Holy shit! I must be dreaming because this kind of fantasy does not happen to me.
Well, if I am, I never want to wake up.