Chapter Six

Maverick wrapped his arms around her slender frame and buried his nose in her hair, inhaling the sweet aroma of her shampoo. He could feel the tension in her body, the trembling that betrayed her nerves.

"Parker, relax. I'll never do anything you don't want me to do."

"I know that," she replied, her voice shaky.

He sat up and faced her, the setting sun from the nearby window casting a soft glow on their faces. "I hope you do."

Her eyes met his, full of trust and vulnerability. "I trust you, Maverick."

A small smile spread across his lips as he leaned in to kiss her. The touch of their lips ignited a fire within him, and he couldn't help but moan against hers as their passion intensified. "I want you so much, Parker." He pressed his lips to hers again before pushing her back onto the sofa, and he covered her body with his.

He lifted his lips and gazed into her eyes.

"Am I taking you home tonight?" Maverick asked, his voice a soft whisper filled with anticipation. He held his breath, his eyes searching hers for the answer. Parker met his gaze and slowly shook her head.

"No."

A grin spread across his face as he lowered his head, pressing his lips gently to hers. The kiss lingered, then he slid his lips softly across her cheek and down along the curve of her neck.

"You have a spare bedroom, right?"

Maverick chuckled, placing his forehead on her shoulder. Her scent enveloped him, a delicate mix of lavender and something uniquely Parker.

"You're killing me," he murmured.

Parker laughed, a sound that sent shivers down his spine. "I'm teasing you."

He lifted his head to look at her, eyes dark with a mixture of amusement and desire. "You can tease me all you like, but not about that." A heavy sigh escaped his lips. "I'll take you home if that's what you want."

"It's not. I want to stay with you…" Her voice trailed off.

"But?" he prompted gently.

"I just want you to be patient with me," she whispered.

"Darlin', I've been nothing but patient with you," he replied softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.

He got up from the sofa, helped her to her feet, lifted her, and carried her to his bedroom. He kicked the door shut behind them and they laughed when Blue howled.

****

Parker's nerves were going into overdrive as Maverick carefully brushed her hair from her face, after placing her on the bed, his eyes locking onto hers. He leaned in, whispering softly, "Are you sure about this?"

Parker nodded hesitantly, feeling the heat rise within her. Maverick's hand slowly caressed her face, trailing down her neck and collarbone, awakening goosebumps along her skin. He dipped his head, planting tender kisses on her exposed throat. Each one sent heated shivers coursing through her body.

As the heat between them intensified, Maverick moved to remove Parker's blouse. Exposed and vulnerable before him, she felt no shame—only trust. His fingertips traced intricate patterns on her quivering skin, dancing delicately around the curve of her breasts above her bra.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice heavy with desire. Parker blushed in response, entranced by the longing in his eyes.

He kissed her passionately, his lips fervently exploring hers as his hand deftly slid to the snap of her jeans. With a smooth motion, he unzipped them and slipped his hand inside, fingers tracing the elastic band of her panties. She held her breath in anticipation.

"Relax," he whispered softly against her lips.

"I'm trying."

"Just feel, baby," he coaxed gently.

When his fingers dipped into her panties and trailed down along her slit, she gasped sharply, then moaned as he found her clitoris with practiced ease.

"Maverick," she groaned, her voice thick with desire.

"That's it, darlin'. Just feel what I'm doing to you and how good I'm going to make you feel." He pressed his lips to hers again, capturing them in a deep, hard kiss before biting gently at her bottom lip and sucking it between his teeth. "Touch me, Parker. I want to feel your hands all over me."

She ran her hands down his muscled back, tugging at the hem of his T-shirt until she managed to pull it free from his jeans. Rolling it up over his head, she tossed it across the room. Her nails raked down his sculpted chest toward the snap of his jeans. With deliberate slowness, she unsnapped them and lowered the zipper. His hard cock strained against the denim.

Maverick's strong hand wrapped around her wrist and guided her hand to the bulge in his underwear. When she squeezed her fingers around him through the fabric, he moaned deeply and arched closer to her.

"I want to be buried inside you, Parker," he murmured against her lips before kissing her again. "I want to feel you clench around my cock when you come."

Parker trembled at his words; they were the most erotic thing she had ever heard. As he began to move away from her side, she grabbed onto him and whimpered softly. He kissed her reassuringly.

"I'm not going anywhere, baby." He moved to the edge of the bed, removed his boots quickly, and stood up.

She widened her eyes as he turned to face her fully. To say he had an incredible body was an understatement—his physique was nothing short of godlike even with only his shirt off. Holding eye contact with her, he shoved his jeans down and stood there in just his boxer briefs that left very little to the imagination .

Parker propped herself up on her elbows, looking into his eyes before letting them roam over him. She watched intently as he pushed off the last barrier of clothing. His impressive erection made her mouth water. She lifted her gaze back to meet his intense stare. Reaching into the nightstand drawer, he retrieved a condom. She moaned softly as he opened it and rolled it down over himself with careful precision.

He walked to the foot of the bed and removed her sneakers before slowly pulling off her jeans and panties. With a playful grin, he dropped them carelessly to the floor and moved back up along her body. Unhooking the front clasp of her bra with skillful fingers, he slid the straps down her arms while never breaking eye contact. He pulled her into a sitting position and removed the bra completely before gazing at her exposed breasts appreciatively.

Closing his eyes for a moment as if savoring the sight, he leaned down and took one nipple between his teeth gently. She grabbed fistfuls of his hair as pleasure surged through her body; she was amazed at how incredibly good it felt.

Maverick continued trailing kisses down from her chest lower still. The closer he got to the curls between her legs, the more nervous excitement bubbled within Parker. Since Brad had never done this for her before; she didn't know what to expect.

"Maverick…" her voice wavered slightly.

He raised his head and looked at her with concern. "Do you want me to stop?"

The question hung in the air between them like a fragile thread poised for answer. "No, it's just—" She shook her head, her voice trembling slightly.

"Parker, sweetheart, if you don't like it, I'll stop. But I think you will. You are such a sensual woman—"

"I'm not. I don't know what you want me to do."

"Just enjoy it, Parker. Like I said, if you don't like it, I'll stop. I promise."

After a moment of hesitation, she nodded subtly. He raised himself up and kissed her gently.

"It will feel better than you can imagine," he whispered.

"Okay," she replied softly.

Their eyes locked as he lowered his head to her belly, planting soft kisses along the way. He carefully parted her legs and slid down, placing tender kisses above her curls before letting his tongue trace a slow path along her slit. She gasped involuntarily.

"Bend your knees," he murmured. "That's it."

She was relieved he couldn't see the fiery blush on her face; soon that embarrassment melted away as she began to relax and revel in the sensation. When his lips encircled her clitoris and he sucked gently, she gasped again, fingers tangling in his hair. Each suckle sent waves of pleasure through her body, making her belly flutter and her breaths deepen.

"Let go, Parker," he urged softly.

She struggled to catch her breath as an overwhelming sensation surged through her, eliciting a low moan from deep within her throat.

"Maverick," she gasped out .

"I've got you. Let go."

With those words, she cried out as a powerful orgasm overtook her, shaking her body with its intensity. She drew in deep breaths as Maverick moved back up her body, pressing his lips to hers for a passionate kiss.

"Damn, you taste good. It's all I've thought about, and it was worth the wait." Their mouths met again in fervent kisses as he slowly entered her. Once fully inside, he nuzzled against her cheek and then took her earlobe between his teeth for a gentle tug. "Let's do that again." He began thrusting rhythmically. "Wrap your legs around me, darlin'."

Parker obeyed, wrapping herself tightly around him and eliciting a deep groan from his chest. His hand slipped beneath her butt to pull her even closer to him. Their breathing became heavy and synchronized as their bodies moved together in perfect harmony. Each intimate touch of bare skin against bare skin heightened the urgency they felt.

Parker sensed another orgasm building within her and craved it desperately. She let out a needy groan.

"Maverick, please."

"Always, baby. Always." He quickened his pace and drove into her harder.

As she cried out once more, he released a guttural groan from deep within his chest. She marveled at the sensation of him throbbing inside of her as he reached his orgasm. Exhausted but content, Maverick rested his face in the crook of her neck and breathed deeply. Then he rolled to his back, pulling her tight against him.

Parker put her arm across his waist and rested her cheek on his chest.

"I want to do that again," she said.

Maverick chuckled. "Sure, but give me a few minutes."

Parker laughed, then sobered. She couldn't stop thinking about all she had missed, and a tear slid down her cheek, then she choked back a sob.

"Parker? What's wrong, baby?"

She shook her head. "I can't believe what I've missed. I'm so angry at myself."

"Why would you be angry at yourself?"

"I should have talked to someone… anyone but I thought it was me."

Maverick laughed. "Trust me, sweetheart, it's not you. I told you, you're a very sensual woman. You just needed someone to show you."

"I'm so glad you did." Parker sat up and stared at him. She smiled when he tucked her hair behind her ear. He amazed her. "I think I'll become a slut."

He burst out laughing and pulled her back down onto his chest.

"As long as you're my slut, I'm fine with that." He yawned. "How about we take a shower and get some sleep?"

"I might wake you up later. I have a lot to make up for."

"No problem." He rolled out of bed, took her hand, and they entered the bathroom.

*** *

Maverick walked through the barn, leading Cisco with Blue following close behind. He spotted Wes approaching and greeted him with a grin.

"Hey, Wes."

"Maverick, we have to move some cattle to the west pasture."

"No problem," Maverick responded.

"There are twenty cows with calves that need to go there."

"Got it. Where are they currently?"

"In the north pasture, section one eighty."

Maverick's heart sank. Moving the cattle would take a while, which meant he wouldn't be able to spend the weekend with Parker like he had planned. But he knew he had to do his job. He sighed.

"I'll round up some men and we can head out Thursday morning if that works for you."

"Is there a problem with going?"

"No, sir."

"Alright, Thursday is fine with me. And while you're up there, make sure to check for any more calves that may have been born." Wes stared at him for a few seconds, then nodded, and walked out of the barn.

"Yes, sir." Maverick sighed again.

He mounted Cisco and rode out of the barn to inform some of the other men that they would be joining him on the cattle drive Thursday morning. He dreaded telling Parker about this change of plans, but what bothered him even more was not being able to see her for who knew how long.

Later, Maverick plunged his pitchfork into the pile of straw in the barn. He worked with quick, efficient movements, tossing the straw across the stall before jabbing at more in the wheelbarrow. Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him.

"Are you mad at the straw?" Warren's amused tone cut through the silence.

Maverick turned to see his boss standing in the doorway of the stall.

"Oh, hey, Warren."

"What's going on, Maverick?"

"Nothing." He gritted his teeth, trying not to snap.

Warren folded his arms across his chest. "Really?" He raised an eyebrow skeptically.

Maverick let out a sigh. "It's fine, Warren. I have a job to do and I'm doing it." He shrugged nonchalantly.

"You've been seeing Parker, haven't you?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Maverick stabbed at the straw once again.

Warren shook his head. "You forget, I've been there. Balancing time between work and someone you want to spend time with is tough. But work always comes first. It's just how ranch life is."

"I know that," Maverick replied defensively. "I'll do my job like I do every damn day." He leaned the pitchfork against the wall and pulled off his gloves, glaring at Warren who smirked back at him.

"I get it, I do. But our partners need to understand too. It's something that should be discussed from the start of a relationship. Our jobs require us to be away from home for weeks at a time on cattle drives alone. Our loved ones have to accept that, and so do we. It's not easy, but it's our way of life."

Maverick nodded in agreement. "I know. I'm going to talk to Parker tonight. I just don't know how she'll take it, given that our relationship is going so well."

"Well, you'll find out soon enough," Warren replied with a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "But don't forget, Maverick, this is your job, and we need you to do it. Unless you don't want to anymore."

"You know better than that, Warren."

"I hope so. The Triple C Ranch wouldn't be the same without you."

"I'm not going anywhere," Maverick assured him. "I'm just disappointed."

Warren chuckled. "I'm sure you are. Been there myself."

Maverick nodded, feeling relieved. "I know. It'll be fine. I hope."

"Of course it will," Warren said confidently. "Parker's an amazing woman, otherwise she wouldn't be working for Shay." With a nod, he left the barn, leaving Maverick to contemplate their conversation as he finished his work for the day.

****

Parker sat on the sofa, watching TV. She was so glad she was off tomorrow. She loved her job but looked forward to her days off. She flipped through the channels and stopped on a movie. As she settled into the sofa, she jerked when a knock sounded on the door. She glanced over the back of the sofa at the door, stood and made her way to it. She peered through the peephole and sighed with relief when she saw Maverick. Then she looked down at herself and groaned. The T-shirt she wore had holes in it and her lounge pants had seen better days. Oh, well.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door and smiled at him.

"Hi, what are you doing here?"

"Can we talk?"

"Talk?" She was nervous because no conversation ever started out well with those words.

"Yes. Is it alright if I come in?"

"Oh! Yes, I'm sorry." She opened the door wider for him to enter. Her stomach was in knots, but after she closed the door, he wrapped his fingers around her wrist, pulled her to him, and kissed her. She sighed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He slowly raised his lips.

"I needed that," he whispered.

"What's wrong?"

Maverick removed his hat, hung it on the hatrack, took her hand, led her to the sofa, and motioned for her to sit, then he sat beside her. He held her hand as he looked at her.

"I have to round up some cattle, along with their calves, and I'm leaving Thursday morning."

"I see." She shook her head. "No, I don't."

Maverick smirked. "They're in the north pasture and have to be moved to the west pasture so we can keep an eye on them with their calves."

Parker shook her head. "Maverick, you're losing me here. What does this have to do with me? "

"I'm not explaining this very well. It takes a while to do this."

"How long is a while?"

He huffed. "It could be weeks, or longer. They're in a fenced area of five thousand acres. We have to round them up, and that takes who knows how long because that much land is a lot to cover."

"Weeks?" She had to go weeks without seeing him?

"Yes. I'm taking ten men with me but that's still a lot of ground."

"Why are you moving them?"

"Mostly to keep the calves from being attacked by wolves. The cows are bred so they deliver at certain times of the year. The section in the west pasture is fenced specifically to keep them safe. The fence is electrified."

"But why aren't they kept there in the first place?"

"It's just the way the Triple C does it. I don't question it. I do my job."

"But what does this mean for us?"

"We won't be seeing each other until I get back."

"For weeks?"

"Or longer."

She stared at him and couldn't imagine not seeing him for that long. She shook her head.

"I don't like it."

"Do you think I do? I don't, but it's my job. I'm a foreman, I have no choice."

Parker sat back against the sofa and stared at him, then nodded.

"Alright."

"Alright?" Maverick frowned.

"If that's the way it is then that's the way it is." She smiled and cupped his cheek in her hand. "I'll be here when you get back. "

He sighed. "Thank God."

"It's your job, Maverick and if this is the type of thing you have to do, I'm not going to let it come between us—" She was cut off when he pressed his lips to hers. She pulled back from him. "How often do you do this?"

"This is a small cattle drive, and there are three of these a year, but there are large drives twice a year, but even though they're bigger, we're not looking for specific cattle. We round up whichever ones we find. We're usually only gone for two or three weeks. You know, if you learned to ride, you could go. Shay goes on one of the bigger ones. Most of the men take their significant others with them."

"I'm so afraid of horses."

"No need to be. They can be very gentle. I won't lie, they're like any other animal if threatened, but most of them are friendly."

"I'll think about it."

"It's all I can ask. You're off tomorrow, aren't you?" he asked with a grin.

"I am. Will you stay tonight?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Parker stood, took his hand, and led him to the bedroom.

"I want to make this night memorable since we don't know when we'll be together again."

****

All Maverick could think about was tasting her lips once again. With one swift movement, he captured her mouth in a scorching kiss that left them both breathless. His hands wandered down her body, exploring every inch of skin as he removed her shirt and pants.

He lifted her and gently placed her on the bed, pressing his lips to hers before kneeling between her legs, his fingers tracing circles around her clitoris through her panties. She moaned into the kiss as he teased her mercilessly.

"Please," she begged him between gasps for air.

Without breaking contact with her lips or leaving any part of her body untouched by his hands or mouth, Maverick undressed, then removed her panties until they were completely naked. Their skin glistened in the light coming from the lamp as they lost themselves in each other.

His tongue danced across every curve and dip of Parker's body while his fingers worked magic inside of her wet heat; she arched against him in pure ecstasy as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her like a tidal wave. When he finally lifted his lips from hers, he saw her face flushed from her orgasm.

As he rose from the bed, he reached for his wallet to remove a condom. He rolled it down over his throbbing cock. With a deep breath, he slowly entered her, feeling the intense pleasure wash over him as he inched deeper inside.

"Being inside you feels like coming home," he whispered against her lips before kissing her again. He rolled onto his back, pulling her on top of him. "Ride me," he instructed, guiding her hips as they found their rhythm together. Gasps and moans filled the room as they moved together, each thrust bringing them closer to the edge.

Parker sat up, rocking her hips against him as he buried himself deep inside her. "You feel so good." She moaned.

Maverick sat up, rolled her onto her back again and then moved away.

"Maverick," she pleaded.

"Roll onto your stomach," he commanded.

"My... stomach?"

"Yes, trust me. I can go even deeper this way. I'll stop if you don't like it." He gently lifted her hips and plunged into her, causing her to gasp in surprise.

"Are you okay?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

She could only moan in response. "Yes... Move!"

He chuckled and began moving in and out of her with increasing speed and intensity. Her cries grew louder as she tightened around him, pushing them both toward the brink of ecstasy. He slid a hand around to her front and found her clitoris, until she cried out. Maverick continued to thrust into her until he couldn't hold back any longer and joined her in blissful release.

They collapsed onto the bed, their bodies still intertwined as they tried to catch their breaths and process the intensity of their passion, then Maverick moved to lay beside her, and pulled her into his arms. Their skin glistened with sweat as they lay in each other's arms, hearts beating wildly with desire, then he rolled onto his back.

Unable to resist, Maverick reached out to touch her once again. "Are you alright?"

"I'm wonderful," she replied with a blissful smile.

"I definitely am," he agreed, grinning at her. "Parker, I'm crazy about you. I don't want to scare you off—"

"You're not scaring me off," she reassured him. "I feel the same way about you."

He leaned over and kissed her tenderly. "I don't think I'll ever get enough of you."

"Same here."

He rolled out of bed. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere," he teased.

Parker laughed. "Couldn't if I wanted to."

Maverick chuckled as he closed the door, disposed of the condom, and washed his hands. He stared at his reflection in the mirror. How in the hell was he going to be without her for who knew how long? He knew he'd miss her every day.

With a deep sigh, he opened the door, entered the bedroom, and strode to the bed, then crawled in, pulling her close.

"You're going to have to get up awfully early."

"I know, but I'm not leaving you tonight. When I get back, I want you to stay with me every Tuesday night."

"I'd like that."

"Good."

"Do you ride your horse up there?"

"No, we take the horses in a trailer. We'll be taking three trucks with trailers. Two for the cattle and their calves, and one for the horses. We'll camp until we round them all up, then head back." He kissed the top of her head. "I'll try to text you, but the service is spotty up there."

"Okay." She sighed .

"Are you close to your parents?"

"Yes, I told you I'm especially close to my grandfather. My mom's dad. I spent all my summers with him and my grandmother. She died a few years ago. I miss her, but my grandfather means the world to me."

"Sounds like it."

"I need to go home and see him. It's been a few months and I miss him."

"Then you definitely need to visit him."

"I will once the tourist season ends. I have vacation days, but we're too busy right now."

"Makes sense, darlin'. I need to get some sleep. I'll have to get up early. Earlier than usual."

"Okay, let's get some sleep. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, baby." He kissed her lips, and they fell asleep.