Chapter 36 Eva
He looked down at her peaceful face, her lashes brushed his skin.
Heaven slept peacefully, her breaths soft and even against his chest.
Maverick, on the other hand, barely closed his eyes. His body was tense, every muscle wound tight, throbbing painfully from the way her body pressed against him.
Every small movement she made tested his control: the faint brush of her thigh, the warmth of her breath against his skin, the way her fingers curled unconsciously into his shirt.
“Fuck” he hissed.
He stared at the ceiling for hours, fighting the urge that coiled low in his stomach, the ache on his cock that refused to fade.
By the time dawn crept weakly through the curtains, he couldn’t take it anymore.
Carefully, he untangled himself from her warmth and sat up. The room felt cold without her against him. He dragged a hand down his face, willing his pulse to steady.
On the table beside the bed, he reached for his phone. There were several missed calls from Eva.
He exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening.
His bride had spent her wedding night waiting.
And he had spent his, holding his brother’s widow.
For a long moment, he stood there in silence, staring at Heaven’s sleeping form, the woman who shouldn’t mean anything to him. The woman he wasn’t supposed to want.
But he did.
He wanted her with a hunger that felt dangerous.
And the worst part was that she owned a part of him without even knowing it.
He finally tore his gaze away and left the room before the estate stirred to life.
He opened the door to his room and entered.
Eva sat on the edge of the bed, still in her lingerie from the night before, her hair slightly messy, eyes rimmed red from waiting. The untouched candles had burned low, their wax hardened into still pools.
“Maverick,” her voice came out small but hopeful. She stood quickly, clutching the sheet to her chest as if trying to hide her disappointment. “Where were you?”
Maverick didn’t answer. He walked past her toward the wardrobe, unbuttoning his shirt slowly.
“I waited,” she said again, her voice trembling. “I waited all night for you. Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?”
He stopped, his back to her. “You shouldn’t have waited,” he said evenly, his tone devoid of warmth.
Eva blinked, the words cutting sharper than she expected. “You’re my husband, Maverick. Or have you already forgotten that?”
He turned then, eyes cold and unreadable. “I haven’t.”
Eva swallowed hard, trying to read him, but his expression was a wall.
“Then why didn’t you come?” she whispered, taking a step closer. “It was our wedding night.”
Maverick said nothing. He pulled off his shirt, exposing the taut muscles of his back, the broadness of his shoulder down to the slimness of his waist Eva’s eyes lingered there she had dreamed of tracing them with her fingers, of being close to him in every way a wife should.
She took a hesitant step forward. “I thought… maybe after the ceremony, things would change. That we would finally…” her voice faltered, cheeks flushing as she looked down.
Maverick turned, walking past her toward the bathroom. “You shouldn’t expect too much from what this marriage is,” he said simply.
Eva’s brows furrowed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
He looked at her, gaze calm but empty. “It means it’s an arrangement, Eva. Don’t mistake it for something else.”
Her breath caught. “Arrangement?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don’t care about the arrangement our parents had, Maverick.. I..?”
Eva stepped forward, wrapping her hands around his waist from behind. Her voice trembled. “I’m your wife, Maverick. I want to be with you. I want to make this work…”
Maverick pried her hands off gently but firmly, his touch careful yet distant. He didn’t look back as he walked toward the bathroom.
The door closed behind him with quiet finality.
Eva stood frozen, the sound of running water filling the silence.
Her throat burned, but she forced the tears back. She had always known winning his heart would be hard.
She just never imagined it would hurt this much.
Eva sat gracefully beside Maverick, her posture perfect, her smile soft . Whatever had transpired between them earlier that morning was neatly hidden beneath her composure.
Heaven arrived a little late before her parents-in-law, but after everyone else had already taken their seats.
The moment she stepped into the dining room, her eyes found Maverick and Eva, sitting side by side, the picture of a new couple.
Her chest tightened. Memories of last night flashed through her mind, his warmth, the way he’d held her until sleep claimed her. When she woke this morning, his side of the bed had been empty, the air still cold where he’d been.
She forced herself to move forward, each step measured. Taking her usual seat beside him, she tried not to look his way.
Maverick’s gaze flicked briefly toward her wrist before he turned back to his plate as if nothing had happened.
“Good morning, Heaven,” Eva said brightly, her tone light
Heaven’s stomach twisted with guilt. She managed a small smile. “Good morning.”
“I didn’t see you at the end of the events last night,” Eva added casually, stirring her tea.
“I wasn’t feeling too well,” Heaven replied softly, trying to keep her voice steady. “Congratulations, by the way.”
“Thank you.” Eva’s lips curved in a delicate smile.
Before the silence could deepen, footsteps echoed from the hall. General Richard entered with Eleanor, their laughter filling the room.
“Sorry we got back so late last night,” Eleanor said warmly as she took her seat. Her eyes gleamed as she turned to Eva. “Eva, sweetheart, did you enjoy your first night?”
Eva’s smile faltered for a heartbeat before she quickly recovered, glancing at Maverick. “Yes… I did.”
Heaven dropped her gaze, her spoon stilling in the cup.
Eleanor chuckled softly, oblivious to the tension.
“The yearly hunt is fast approaching,” General Richard began, slicing through his steak. “The Edwards will be joining this year. We may have to delay your honeymoon, Maverick. I hope you don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind,” Maverick said curtly, his voice even and unreadable.
A servant approached and placed a cup of hot chocolate beside Eva.
Maverick’s eyes flicked toward it briefly before he reached out, taking the cup without a word, he set it down beside his other hand closer to Heaven.
“Eva,” Eleanor said with a delighted smile, “we have a little tradition for our daughters-in-law. We’ve been family, but this time, it’s official.”
A servant stepped forward, holding a silver tray. On it rested a red envelope.
Eva accepted it gracefully. “Thank you, Father. Thank you, Mother.”
As everyone’s attention turned to the small ceremony, Maverick’s hand moved quiet, deliberately. He slid the cup of hot chocolate toward Heaven’s side.
She froze, eyes flicked to the cup, then to him. He didn’t look her way, his expression calm, detached. But the gesture was unmistakable.
Mavericks phone dinged. He glanced at the screen, his expression hardened instantly.