Chapter 100 Come inside
Maverick turned and arched a brow.
“I do want to come inside.”
Heaven’s face turned crimson at the meaning of what she had said.
“I mean inside,” she pointed into her house.
“Well,” Maverick drawled, amusement flickering in his eyes, “is there any other inside apart from that one?”
“I..” she cleared her throat. “I want to thank… and apologize to you for the other night.”
“Then we should go inside,” he said smoothly. “So you can start apologizing.” He walked into the house like he owned it.
Heaven hesitated for half a second before following and closing the door behind her.
She barely turned before his hand braced against the door beside her, trapping her in place.
Her breath caught.
Maverick’s gaze slid slowly from her lips to her eyes, lingering just long enough to make her pulse race. She felt breathless, unsteady, aware of him in a way that made no sense.What was happening to her?
“Do you often invite men over,” he asked quietly, “or is it just me?”
“It’s just you,” she blurted out.
“Should I take it that I’m special, hmm?” He badly wanted to call her by her name, but he couldn’t.
Heaven slipped past him, heart pounding. “Have you eaten? I made dinner. I…” she faltered slightly, “I forgot my son isn’t home.”
“Where is Liam?” Maverick asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharpening.
“He’s over at his grandparents’,” Heaven replied.
Maverick’s eyes squinted. His son had only one set of grandparents—his parents. Even though she didn’t know it, who was she calling his grandparents?
She tiptoed to get a plate from the cabinet above. Maverick saw her struggling and moved to help her.
Heaven didn’t expect his taut chest to press against her back. She froze, her face turning crimson.
Maverick’s hand slid to her waist and gently lifted her like she weighed nothing so she could reach the plate. When she got it, she turned but he didn’t pull away. His eyes held her captive.
“That man,” he said calmly. “The one who threw a punch at my face. Who is he to you?”
“Fabian…” she stuttered. “He is my friend.”
Maverick stared at her. He didn’t like that another man was her friend. He wanted to ask how they became friends, but it had to be one step at a time.
“I should serve the food,” Heaven said, her cheeks crimson, her heart thundering.
Maverick let her pass and went to sit at the table.
She served a bowl of rice mixed with beans and bone broth, with side dishes beside it. He carefully picked the beans out of the rice and ate elegantly.
Heaven watched him. “My son does that,” she said, pointing at the food.
“Does what?” he asked without looking up.
“Picking the beans out of the rice.”
“Okay,” he replied but in his head: He is my son. He’s just like me.
“You didn’t ask the question others would have asked me,” her voice turned emotional.
Maverick set his spoon down and looked up.
“What question is that?”
“Who Liam’s father is,” she said softly. “I don’t know him… or what he looks like.” Her voice cracked.
Maverick stayed silent. He was sitting right in front of her, yet he couldn’t say it. He was the one she was looking for.
Guilt squeezed his chest.
Heaven noticed he wasn’t eating anymore.
“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to disrupt your meal. Go ahead and eat,” she said, drinking from a glass to calm her nerves.
“I want to take you on a date. Clear your schedule for me,” Maverick said as he picked up his spoon.
Heaven choked on the water. It splashed onto his face and food.
She jumped up.
“I’m sorry..so sorry!” She grabbed paper towels and wiped his face and clothes frantically, knocking over the bottle of water.
She slipped and fell into him.
Their lips met.
The world fell silent.
Her eyes widened in shock, her face burning crimson. Maverick placed one hand on her waist and the other at the back of her head. He tilted his head and deepened the kiss.
She didn’t pull away.
Her lips moved returning the kiss.
Heat surged through her body.
Maverick kissed her with everything in him. He had missed her so much. His hands itched to touch her in places only he could, but he stopped himself.
He pulled away, both of them breathing hard. He rested his forehead against hers.
“Fuck,” he hissed.
Heaven wanted more. She realized she had been clutching his shirt tightly and was on his lap.
Awkwardly, she stood.
“I..I’ll bring another food… to..”
She disappeared into the kitchen.
Maverick let her go. She needed time to sort through her thoughts. He smirked.
Then he looked down at his bulge and winced.
He took a deep breath and followed her.
She stood in the kitchen, clutching a plate to her chest, eyes closed.He took the plate, startling her.She gasped.
He lifted her onto the kitchen counter, her legs straddling his sides.
“Uh… I should get you food,” she said, looking everywhere but his eyes.
“I’m full,” Maverick replied.
“But you barely ate anything.”
“I ate quite a lot and I’m full.”
Heaven blushed when she realized what he meant. He brushed a strand of hair from her face, looking into her eyes.
“Pick a day you’ll be free. For the date.”
“S-Saturday,” she blurted out.
“It’s settled, then,” he said with a smile, her heart melted.
His hand lifted her dress slowly. Her body froze. She squeezed her legs together involuntarily. Maverick noticed.
He stopped at her knee.His gaze fell on the scar.
Heaven cursed herself. What was she thinking? Was she suddenly sex-starved?
“We should do something about this, right?” He pointed at the scar. “I don’t like it.”
She nodded.
He leaned in again and he couldn't help it. Not when her lips looked plump, like red pomegranate fruit, calling him.
“Mama?”