Chapter 12 Chapter twelve
“I meant no offense.”
He held up an apologetic hand.
“With your degree in social work, you’ll have a perspective of the world that I don’t. You think money is being squandered or at the least could be put to better use. You would have my full support in your endeavors. Perhaps you could establish a foundation and you could be in charge of it, or at least the final decision maker. As you may have noticed, I have an already-established platform you can use.”
At what cost? Putting up with him every day? Enduring his attitude?
“Every relationship starts somewhere. Successful couples have a shared vision. I’d like to support some sort of charity for kids, camps, that sort of thing. That’s something we can work on together.”
Damn him. Maverick Pierce, master persuader, had captured her interest.
“Tell me you’ll think about it.”
She didn’t want to. But she was already picturing herself happily giving away his fortune.
“You’re someone who will stand up to me, tell me when I’m wrong, help me be a better person. Love will come, Charlotte. If we nurture it and allow it.”
She let out a shaky breath. He was so very tempting.
“We need to get to know each other. I understand that. So tell me what you want in a husband?”
“I’m not looking for a husband,”
She reminded him.
“Okay, we’ll do it your way. Hypothetically.”
She didn’t want to soften toward him, but he was wicked good at changing her mood.
“Things in common.”
“We both like sex.”
A tingle shot up her spine at the way he narrowed his eyes.
“Sex isn’t a good basis for a relationship.”
“Okay. Agreed. So tell me what it is.”
Charlotte needed to stop this conversation before it went any further.
“I know what you’re doing, Mav.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re hoping I’ll convince myself that marrying you is a good idea.”
“Caught me.”
He grinned.
“You are wise to my nefarious ways.”
Damn him for being irresistible.
“Indulge me. What else matters to you in life , mate?”
She might be wise to his nefarious ways, but she wasn’t immune to them.
“Common values.”
“And we both agreed, no cheating.”
“Is everything about sex with you?”
“At this moment. Where you’re concerned, yes.”
His dick pointed straight up.
“That wasn’t what I meant. I meant like family, children. How we spend our time.”
Once again on solid ground, she folded her arms.
“I want kids. And we both plan to do good on the planet.”
She scowled.
“By using a carrot instead of a stick.”
“I’m open to discussion,”
He conceded.
He was?
“You are?”
“We would make a good team. What other attributes in Mr. Hypothetical?”
This time, when he left the bed, she didn’t stop him. He walked toward her, a step at a time.
“Love. I want to be loved.”
“I’d say we’ve got potential.”
With extreme gentleness, he held her by the waist.
“The idea of another man touching you enrages me. This isn’t any fancy social-worker term, Charlotte. It’s raw. It’s real.”
He stroked her hipbones with his thumbs.
“I’m exposing my heart knowing I could get hurt badly. It’s a risk I’ve never taken with anyone else.”
“You’ve swept me up in some sort of storm.”
“I’ll keep you safe from them.”
He leaned toward her, his eyes vibrant, intent on her. Now she knew how he’d built his empire. When he focused on something, he was relentless in its pursuit. Yet his words weren’t grandiose—they were filled with sincerity.
Maybe he wasn’t all bad. Maybe.
“I’d like to kiss you.”
A sensation rocked her, that of standing on the edge of a cliff and wanting to jump.
“If you do, it doesn’t mean we have to get married.”
“Of course not.”
She looked at his face, trying to decipher his words.
“I’m not sure I believe you.”
“Oh Charlotte. Do you ever give up?”
“Do you?”
She countered.
“See there? And you thought we had nothing in common.”
He smiled, draining away her tension.
“Now, as for that kiss.”
“Yes.”
She cradled his face and rose on her tiptoes to meet him.
Mav wrapped his arms around her and claimed her mouth with tenderness and a heartfelt promise.
Once he recognized her surrender, he deepened the kiss, his tongue plundering her, asking for more than he’d taken before.
Lost, she clung to him and gave him what he demanded.
He groaned from deep inside, and his cock pressed into her. Boldly, she reached between them to cup his balls, then stroke his shaft. Mav broke off the kiss and pulled back to grab her hand and force her to stop.
“God, no, princess. I don’t have another condom in my wallet.”
“I could just do this.”
She’d never jacked off a man before, but with the way his body went rigid, she guessed she was doing something he liked.
“No. I mean, yes. You’re amazing, but I want to be inside you.”
He moved her hand away from his cock.
“I need to make a trip to the gift shop. I promise you, we can make love all night. Or at least until I have to put you on a plane in the morning.”
Her earlier white lie chafed. Before she could admit the truth, he said,
“Condoms. Now. You want to come downstairs with me?”
“I actually haven’t eaten. So yes.”
“I’ll take you somewhere. What would you like to go?”
“Downstairs. Every night at ten, they have a pizza party in the lobby.”
“Pizza?”
Disdain dripped from the word, making her laugh.
“All kinds of different choices, and they have several different craft beers that they sample. It’s the main reason I stay here.”
“It’s New Orleans. Some of the best steak and seafood places in the country are within walking distance. There’s a place on Chartres Street that serves Cajun food. Their sampler plate is divine. Gumbo, étouffée, red beans and rice, and jambalaya. If you need bread, I know a place with a great shrimp po’boy.”
“You don’t have to eat pizza. Just don’t judge my choice.”
He sighed.
“You win.”
“How sweet that sounds.”
He flicked a glance toward her discarded outfit.
“Do you have other clothes?”
“Yes, Mav. I brought more than BDSM wear with me.”
“Good thing, or you wouldn’t be leaving this room.”
She sighed. Not as self-conscious as she thought she’d be, she dropped the robe, then walked to the dresser to pull out a bra and fresh panties before selecting a pair of jeans and a T-shirt with a motivational saying on it. Positive vibes. Positive life. Then she grabbed one of her dad’s old dress shirts. After slipping into it, she tied the tails into a knot at her waist. Finally, she added a pair of comfortable sandals. With her mussed hair and ruined makeup, she was no femme fatale.