Chapter 35

Maverick

After spending three days at the clubhouse, Grace had grown more distant by the day, and I woke up with a plan to talk to her about it. I found her in the kitchen as usual, but she wasn't bustling around the place whipping up breakfast for the house, instead she held a mug in her hand, and she was staring into space. Lost in thought, nibbling her bottom lip with worry.

"Are you all right?"

She gasped and then shivered when I placed a kiss on her neck. "I'm fine," she said, and popped up, nearly hitting me in the chin with her head. "Here, take this coffee. It's just the instant stuff but I'll get a pot started." It was as if a flip was switched and suddenly she was full of energy, no longer lost in thought.

"Grace."

She stopped and her gaze slammed into mine, but it wasn't the same warm, affectionate look in her green depths. "Yes?"

"Talk to me. Something is clearly going on with you. Why won't you talk to me?"

She sighed and closed her eyes, hesitating as if she didn't want to say. Grace opened her mouth and then closed it. "Do you think Trent has given up and gone back home?"

"I want that to be the case, but I just don't think it is. That's why it's so important you and Sophie spend your days at the clubhouse. It's been too long, which means he's probably biding his time and waiting for the perfect moment to make his move." I shook my head as all the color drained from her skin. "I'm sorry, but I'll never lie to you, Grace."

She stiffened, but she said nothing for a long time. "Okay."

"What's wrong?" I pulled her close, kissing her forehead. "What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"

"Nothing I want to bother you with," she sighed, and gave me some of her weight, the only sign she still wanted me.

I held her tighter. "If it's bothering you, I want to help. I want to share the burden, Grace."

She shook her head. "There's too much…I don't know."

"We're going to talk, Grace. I'm not going to push now because I know we have a lot of other shit to worry about, but we will talk. Got it?"

"I'd like to stay home today."

"I'm sorry, but I need you at the clubhouse today."

Her blond brows dipped into a frown. "Why? What's happening?"

"Nothing for sure, but I'd feel better if you were there. I can't focus on what needs doing if I'm worried about you and Sophie."

She sagged against me and put her forehead against my chest. "Yeah, okay, fine." She pulled back and placed her hands against my chest. "Thank you, Maverick. For everything."

I smiled. "I don't want your gratitude, Grace. I mean, I'll take it, but I'm helping you because I can't not help you."

She frowned. "Then what do you want?"

"You." I cupped the back of her head. "I thought I made it pretty fucking clear that you are what I want, Gracie. You and Sophie. Here with me." I didn't give her another minute to think about whatever was going through her pretty, overanalyzing head. I didn't give her a moment to second guess what I knew she felt. I took her mouth, kissing her softly and gently at first, almost sweetly.

Then she moaned and slid her hands down my stomach and around my waist to rest just above my ass, fisting my shirt in her hands.

I deepened the kiss, pulling her closer and tasting every sweet inch of her mouth. Fuck, but I could kiss this woman all day. All night. For the rest of my fucking days. Holy shit. I froze for only a moment and then lifted her in my arms, kissing her with a raw intensity that shocked us both.

Grace moaned again and gripped my hair, wrapping it around her fingertips as if she couldn't get enough of me either. "Maverick," she purred, and nipped at my bottom lip. "Stop tempting me."

I laughed and kissed her across her jaw and down the column of her neck. Kissing her collarbone while she moaned and writhed against me. "But I love to tempt you. That sexy kitten sound you make? It does wicked things to me, Gracie."

She laughed and the sound was musical. Beautiful and feminine. "I don't know what I'm going to do with you, Maverick."

"Well, when you figure it out, let me know." And then because I couldn't help myself, I kissed her again.

"Okay, okay, hot lips. If we're going to the clubhouse again, then I need to get breakfast started and get Sophie ready." Her hands stayed in my hair and her legs were still wrapped around my waist.

"One of us has to let go."

"You feel so good like this, though."

"Now who's tempting who?"

She shrugged and then laughed, slowly loosening her legs until she slid down my body. "Breakfast," she pronounced, and shook her head to clear it.

"You feed us, and I'll get Sophie up and ready for the day."

She froze and looked up at me with wide, shocked green eyes. "You'd do that?"

"Yeah. I told you, Gracie. We're a team." I kissed her one last time and left the kitchen before I stripped her down and took her, right on the counter. "Later," I promised.

And I fucking well meant it.