Chapter 11

ELEVEN

Maverick

Ada squirms and my eyes snap open. I run my hand up and down her back to soothe her. The room is dimly lit by a small lamp in the corner of the room.

“I can take her,” a sweet voice whispers.

I look over at the couch to see Stella curled under a blanket, watching us. “I thought you went to bed?”

She nods. “I did, but I couldn’t sleep.” Slowly, she slides out from beneath the blanket and stands, making her way toward me. “I’ll put her down.”

I don’t argue with her because I have to piss, and my little bug throws off the heat. My shirt is soaked in sweat. I move my arms to the sides and allow her to lift Ada from my chest. She snuggles her baby girl and moves down the hall to my room, where the Pack ’N Play is. Stiffly, I climb out of the chair and head toward the bathroom.

After taking care of business, I strip off my damp shirt and toss it into the hamper before making my way to the kitchen. I pull three bottles of water from the fridge. One for her, and the other two are for me. I down the first one and toss the bottle into the recycling bin before taking a long pull from the second.

“Thirsty?” Stella asks.

“Yeah.” I slide the other bottle over to her.

“Thanks.”

I study her as she twists off the cap and takes a small sip. “Something on your mind?”

“What?” Her brow furrows in confusion.

“You said you couldn’t sleep. I thought maybe something was bothering you, and you might want to talk about it.”

“Strange bed. Strange house.”

“Right.” I nod. “Did you have fun tonight?” I walk around the small island and make my way to the living room. I don’t ask her to follow me, but I know she is. I sit down on the couch and pat the cushion next to me, offering her a seat.

“I did. It was really nice. Everyone was welcoming and easy to talk to.”

“My brothers all hit the jackpot with their wives,” I agree.

“They’re all great,” she says, her eyes trailing over my bare stomach.

I flex just a little, and she licks her lips. I have to focus on not smiling. It’s always a good time having the attention of a beautiful woman. “Stel?” I ask after several long heartbeats of her biting on her bottom lip, staring at my abs.

She looks up. Even in the dim lighting, I can see the blush on her cheeks. “What happened to your shirt?”

My laugh has her shaking out of her stupor and slapping her hand over her mouth. She closes her eyes, and I’m tempted to grab her hand and let her trace my abs. I work hard for them; they may as well be enjoyed.

“I’m sorry,” she says. “You’re just… distracting. It’s been a long time for me.” She curses under her breath. “I should go back to bed.” She starts to move, but I’m faster, clamping my hand gently over her wrist, preventing her from doing so.

“How long?” I’m asking for trouble, and we both know it.

“Too long.”

“Come on, Stella. We’re friends, right? You can tell me.”

“The night Ada was conceived.”

I whistle. “Damn. I bet your pussy is mad at you.” I laugh.

“Maverick!” she scolds, but she’s laughing and relaxes back into the couch.

“What? You can’t tell me I’m wrong.”

“We shouldn’t be talking about this.”

“Why not? We’re friends. Pretend I’m one of the girls.”

Her eyes rake over my bare chest again. “Yeah, that’s not happening.”

“You can touch them.”

Her mouth falls open in shock. I expect her to refuse. Instead, her eyes regard me hungrily. Reaching out, I take her hand and pull it to my chest. She presses her palm flat against my abs, and a garbled sound falls from her lips.

I move my hand, letting her take the lead. I’m still frozen, and my abs are slightly flexed as she starts to explore.

“How many hours a week are you in the gym?”

“Not many, to be honest. I used to go three or four times a week, and I still do when I’m laid off, but in the summer months, this is all the day job.”

She nods but doesn’t give me her eyes. Well, that’s not true. Her eyes are on me, just not on my face. “Are there eight of them?”

I chuckle lightly. “Yeah, babe, there are eight.” She starts to move her hand, and I stop her. “Your hands are soft.”

“I moisturize,” she mutters, tugging on her hand, and I let her this time.

“You should get some sleep.” My cock is way too interested in Stella and her soft hands. I should most definitely put some distance between us.

“I’m not tired.”

Well, damn. “Movie?” I offer. Surely, she’ll crash once we get a movie started, right?

“Are you sure? I don’t want to keep you up.”

“Yeah, I’m not going to sleep anytime soon. Bug and I fell asleep early.”

“Why do you call her bug?”

“Does it bother you?”

“No. Not at all. I’m just curious.”

“She’s a little snuggle bug. She’s always resting her head on my shoulder.”

Her smile is soft.

She’s fucking gorgeous.

“I like that,” she says softly.

“Here.” I hand her the remote. “You pick.”

“Really?”

I shrug. “Sure, do your worst.” I watch her as she scrolls through the channels and lands on the Lifetime channel.

“Is this okay?”

“Fine by me. We grew up watching romance with my mom, and now my sisters-in-law and my cousin, Ramsey.”

“The Kincaid men keep their ladies happy.” She’s nodding thoughtfully.

“We do. That’s what you do when you love someone.”

“I wouldn’t know,” she mutters.

My chest grows tight at her words. I hate that she’s never known that kind of love. She’s too sweet and far too beautiful to have never experienced it. Not that I would know. I’ve never experienced it, either, but I’ve watched it happen. I grew up watching the way my dad loved my mom, and I’ve been lucky enough to witness seven of my eight brothers fall in love, and Ramsey too. I know what it’s supposed to look like. And one day, when I find it, I’ll grab hold of it with both hands and never let go.

Pulling the blanket off the back of the couch, I cover her with it. She smiles and settles back against the couch. We’re not even to the second commercial break when her head hits my shoulder. I wait for a good ten minutes before I adjust my position to lie down and move her with me. By some miracle, she doesn’t wake up. I know she had a few drinks, and she has to be tired. Babies wake up early, at least all the ones I’ve ever been around do, so I know it’s been a long day for her. She settles onto my chest, and I pull the cover over her.

Snagging the remote without moving us—thanks to my long arms—I turn the volume down low, hoping she’ll be able to sleep through it while I watch the rest of the rom-com she chose.

My eyes are growing heavy, and just as I feel sleep closing in, I feel a soft press of her lips against my bare chest. At first, I freeze, but then I decide to show her that I’m awake. She might be asleep. I can’t tell by her breathing. Lifting my hand, I run my fingers through her hair. It’s soft like silk.

She kisses me again, and I shift on instinct because my cock is responding to her lips against my skin. I’m a man, and there is a sexy-as-fuck woman lying on my bare chest, kissing me. It’s impossible to hide my reaction to that. I’m hoping I can adjust myself so my hard cock doesn’t wake her up.

However, when I move, she moves. Her legs fall to either side of mine, and my hard cock is nestled between her thighs. If she moves or sits up, her pussy is going to be in direct contact. I don’t know what I should do. Normally, if a woman is this close to me, it’s because we’re about to get to know each other better in the most intimate of ways, or we already have.

We’re not there.

Stella is a friend who is going through a lot. The last thing she needs is me and my cock altering the friendship we’ve started, but damn, she also takes my breath away. Her tight little body using me as a bed is hard to resist.

Knowing that I need to change this situation before I’m no longer in control, I grip her hips with the intention of sliding off the couch and leaving her to rest. That was before she lifts her head and those mesmerizing blue eyes of hers find mine. She’s breathing heavily, so I know she’s been awake.

My hand has a mind of its own as I reach out and tuck her wayward hair behind her ear. “Hey,” I whisper.

“Hey.”

We stare at each other, neither of us willing to make a move. I need to do the responsible thing and slide out from under her, but that’s a tough choice to make when she feels perfect lying on top of me. I’m trying to talk myself into following through with my plan. When she lifts up, her palms press against my bare chest.

Fuck. Me.

Her pussy is covering my cock. I’m as hard as steel, and there is nothing between us but a few scraps of clothing.

Her nails dig into my bare skin, and I lift my hips in response, causing her to moan. I should stop. I know I should, but her blonde hair is glowing in the dim lighting of the room, and she looks like an angel perched on my cock.

An angel with a pussy that’s been untouched by a man for almost two years. I really wish she had never told me that, but I only have myself to blame. I asked.

“Maverick.”

The way she says my name, it’s half moan and half question, and my cock twitches. That sets off her next reaction, which is to rock her hips into mine.

“How much did you have to drink tonight?” I ask.

“A few,” she answers as she closes her eyes, tilts her head back, and rocks against me. Again.

“How many is a few, angel?”

“Enough to have the nerve to do this, but not too many that I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Fuck. “I’m going to need you to break this down for me. Tell me what you want.”

“I want to come. It’s been so long.”

Son of a bitch.“Do you make yourself come, Stel?”

“Sometimes, when I’m not too exhausted, but it’s not the same, Maverick.”

Sitting up, I take her with me. She’s still straddling my hips, and we’re both sitting up so that we’re face-to-face. I push her hair back over her shoulders and place my index finger beneath her chin, lifting her eyes to mine.

“You’re not allowed to ghost me after this. We’re friends, and it stays that way.” I don’t know why, but it’s important to me that things do not change between us. She’s new in town and is starting to become friends with my family. The last thing we need is awkwardness.

I don’t bring women around my family. None of us ever have unless we knew in our hearts that she was the one. This is a little too close to home for me, but I want to give this to her. I want her to know she can come to me. If she needs a sitter or if she needs a release, I’m more than happy to provide both.

“I know what this is.” Another shift of her hips has me lifting mine.

Damn it all to hell, she’s sexy.

“This is me giving you what you asked for. But tomorrow, we pretend like it never happened. No running from me.”

“Yes. Okay. Yes,” she says, grinding a little harder.

I still don’t know how intoxicated she is. She seems as though she knows what she’s asking for, but I still can’t let things go too far. I can give her what she needs. Can I give her what she’s asking of me without crossing the point of no return? Sure, I’ll be fisting my cock in the shower as soon as she falls back asleep, but I’m okay with that.

“Stand up, angel. I need these jeans off.” The words are barely out of my mouth before she scrambles off the couch and quickly shimmies out of her painted-on jeans. “Panties too.” She doesn’t say a word while doing as I ask. “Lose it all.” I’m pretty certain this is a onetime thing. No way in hell am I passing up the chance to see all of her. I’m a gentleman, but I’m also a man in front of every man’s fantasy. I’m cashing in on seeing all of her.

Doing as I ask, she strips down to nothing and stands before me, her chest rapidly rising and falling with each breath she pulls into her lungs. Her hands hang at her sides.

“Come back to me.”

“What about you?” she asks.

“Tonight is all about you, Stel.”

She accepts my answer and straddles my hips. I’m in a pair of thin basketball shorts that do nothing to conceal how turned on I am. My hands land on her hips, and I tug her down so she can feel what she does to me.

“Mav,” she moans.

“Can I touch you?”

“Yes. Yes.” Her head bounces up and down with her words, both showing and telling me she’s on board.

Lifting my hands, I test the weight of her breasts in each palm while tracing the pad of my thumb over her nipples.

“W-What are you doing?”

“Enjoying the hell out of this moment.” Leaning forward, I suck a hard nipple into my mouth, and she groans, arching her back, giving me better access. I don’t know how long I play with her tits. Long enough to give them both equal attention and long enough to feel her pussy soaking my shorts.

She runs her finger through my hair, gripping the strands, holding my body close to hers. “Your skin is so soft,” I murmur as I trail my index finger from the valley of her breasts and over her quivering belly. I don’t stop until I’m running that long digit through her folds, witnessing how turned on she is.

For me.

“All for me?” I ask. I know it is. We both do, but I ask the question anyway.

“For you,” she answers.

“What do you want, angel? My hands or my mouth?”

She rocks against my cock. “This.”

“Not tonight.” I can’t believe those words are leaving my mouth, but I know it’s the right choice. If we ever make it to a moment like this again sometime in the future, and she’s completely sober, I’ll give her anything she wants. Right now, tonight, she only has two options. Leaning in, I trail kisses down her neck while my index finger still explores her wet pussy. “Choose, Stella.”

“Hands. I need… a part of you inside me.”

I don’t bother to tell her my tongue would be inside her had she chosen my mouth. I’m too worked up to be rational. I want her to come apart for me, just as badly as she wants to fall apart.

I tap her ass. “Lift for me. Up on your knees.”

She does as I ask, and I immediately slide one finger inside her. She moans and falls forward, gripping my shoulders. “That—never had that.”

I don’t stop moving my hand as I question her. “What do you mean?”

“Never felt this good.”

My brain spirals. “Stella, how many men have you been with?”

“One—one time. Ada—” she says, her voice breaking on a moan.

This is not a conversation we need to have right now, but I file this information away for another time. Should I be in this position again, we will talk about that little nugget of information she just dropped on me.

“Tell me if this is too much.” I pull my hand out and add another digit.

“No. Not too much.”

“Good.” I slowly work my fingers in and out of her. She’s tight as fuck. My cock aches to be inside her, but I push my needs down, far, far down, as I focus on giving this beauty what she needs.

“Fuck my hand, angel. Ride it. Take what you need.”

“I—I can’t do that.”

“You can. Roll your hips.” I help guide her with my free hand, and it only takes a few seconds before she takes over. I curl my fingers, and she moans. It’s a deep, throaty sound that fills the room.

It’s going to be hard to sit on this couch and not think about this moment with her.

We don’t bring women here. This is our safe place. Where our family is always welcome. I’m breaking a lot of my own rules for her, to give her what she needs, but I have no regrets.

Her pussy squeezes my fingers like a vise, and I know she’s close. “Come for me, Stel. I want my hand dripping with you. Take what you need, and come for me.”

“Maverick!” she calls out as her body shakes. She falls into me, resting her head on my shoulder, and I work her over until she goes still.

When I pull my hand away, she groans in protest. A few seconds later, she lifts her head and smiles shyly. I bring my hand to my mouth and lick my fingers clean. Her eyes widen as if she can’t fathom me wanting to taste her.

“You want a taste?” I offer her my fingers. I expect her to say no, but she shocks me when she leans in and takes both digits into her mouth. She does this thing with her tongue, where she’s tracing my fingers in her mouth, and I can feel cum leaking from the end of my cock.

It’s time to shut this down.

“You go get cleaned up first. You can grab a T-shirt out of my room to sleep in. The dresser is by the window. Second drawer down.”

She nods and slowly climbs off my lap. When she bends down to pick up her clothes, I second-guess my decision to send her to bed alone, but I know it’s the right choice.

“Thank you, Maverick.”

“Stop thanking me, Stella. If you think for one minute that tonight wasn’t as much for me as it was for you, we’ve got some talking to do.”

She nods and rushes off down the hall.

I wait until I hear the bathroom door close, then pull my cock out and fist it. It’s not going to take much to take me there. I’m stroking myself when I hear the door open. I should stop, but I don’t give a fuck if she finds me. Luckily, a few seconds later, I hear my bedroom door close. Closing my eyes, I tilt my head back and replay what just happened in my mind. When the memory of her calling out for me presents itself, I make a mess of my hand and my chest.

I’m breathing heavily, and even though I should be sated, I’m not. I still want her. That’s a problem. Stella and I are friends. I let things get carried away, something I won’t do again. That’s not what this was about, so I shove those feelings down deep and stand to strip out of my shorts; I clean up and make my way to the shower.

Tonight definitely took a turn in events that I wasn’t expecting, and I know no matter what happens in the light of day, I won’t regret it. I also know I won’t let her push me away. Stella will continue to be a part of my life. I’ll make sure of it.