\[Serenity’s POV\]
“Spell it out?”
Frowning, I try to make sense of what it is that Maverick is getting at. Was he talking about his duty to protect me? I was more than aware of that, but for some reason, this seemed like something totally different.
“Yes, little fool.” Maverick sighs, giving me a gentle smile. “Figure it out.”
Stepping back, he watches me, waiting as I continue to try to figure out what exactly it is that he is saying, but when I come up empty, he just sighs and collapses.
“You know,” he huffs, giving me a smirk. “You really are oblivious to so much if it isn’t related to pack matters or battle.”
“Are you insulting me?” I growl, still feeling like I was missing something important.
“Not at all,” he responds.
Growing quiet, he just takes me in with that unreadable expression from before that makes my heart kick up speed and my stomach erupt with butterflies. I swear, it felt like he was almost seeing right through me, and I didn’t necessarily hate it, but I didn’t like it either.
“Was that the only reason you brought me here?” I ask, needing a change of subject. “To question me and then confuse me?”
“Of course not.”
Plopping down, Maverick gets comfortable and then motions for me to do the same. Only once I’m seated does his expression grow serious.
“We’re playing mates, right?” He asks, becoming all business. “Didn’t we agree that we would lay down some rules for what we should do to keep others convinced?”
“Oh, right.” I say, slowly taking a seat. “We should do that.”
Since I used that as a reason to keep Maverick beside me, the most we could do was put on the best act in front of others and my family. But I almost felt back. What if Maverick’s mate were to appear? Or even mine? Would he stay beside me? Would I stay beside him?
I would. I think inwardly, taking myself by surprise. But would he? Just the thought of him leaving me for another causes a wave of unease to rush through me.
Frowning, I try to make sense of all these new feelings I was experiencing while Maverick watches me.
“You alright?” He asks, attempting to touch me before I jerk backwards. Keeping his hand in the air, he gives me a pained look. “Sorry.”
Dammit, Serenity, get it together!
“No,” I say quickly, wanting to make that hurt look go away. “It’s not you, really.”
It definitely wasn’t him. It was me. Since a while ago, I was acting squirmish and not really being me.
“Act like mates,” I say now. What did mates even do aside from hang all over each other and get super jealous if anyone came near? Before any of this, I hadn’t even had a relationship. Sure, there were a few crushes, but nothing serious. The only man who was always close to me was Maverick. “Do you have any idea what we should do?”
I grow quiet and wait as Maverick considers, and when he lifts a hand and touches my cheek, I feel a shiver rush through me.
“Something like this?” He says, keeping it in place while his calloused fingers rub my skin. “Simple touches and such? Are you fine with this?”
Was I fine with it? I was actually fine with it, and that was what scared me a bit.
“Anything else?” I breathe, trying not to get lost in his simple touch.
Not speaking, he runs his hand down my cheek to my jaw and then my throat, and when he reaches my shoulder, he lets his fingers grave my arm until they reach my own and twine in them.
“And this,” he continues, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.
Nodding, I try to ignore the pleasant tingles that are rushing through me from such a simple thing. Goddess, was I really that easy?
“We should also attend events together.” Maverick continues, keeping my hand firmly in his. “We have to look like the perfect couple, right?”
“That’s right.” I agree. “That much should be obvious.”
Chuckling, Maverick rises to his knees and moves close to me. When he’s so close, his warmth starts to seep into me. I fight everything in me that screams at me to attack him. Dammit, this was bad.
"Now, what else should we do?” He asks, giving me a mischievous grin that I’ve never seen on him before. When he did that, he looked so much younger and so handsome that it almost took my breath away. “There’s one other thing that couples do.”
Leaning ever closer, I feel his breath mingle with mine as his lips get close to my own.
“But are you willing to go that far?”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to say yes, but stop as I begin to wonder how doing such a thing could possibly start.
Lifting a hand, I put a barrier between our lips while Maverick’s eyes flash with disappointment.
“I was wondering when you were going to stop me.” He chuckles, sitting back on his heels.
Blushing, I clench and unclench my fists as my anger spikes over his doing such a thing to tease me.
“Do you think it’s funny?” I growl, jumping up. “Messing with a girl's heart like that?”
Even though I knew that he was simply going along with something I started, I couldn’t stop the hurt I was suddenly feeling. How was he so okay with doing such things, and why was I the only one whose heart and body were going crazy?
“Tell me,” I continue, unable to stop myself. “Do you do the same thing to other women? Go around touching them and kissing them like it’s nothing. What do you do in your free time when you’re not with me?”
“Hey!” Maverick hisses, his eyes growing wide. “Serenity.”
“No!” I yell, turning and beginning to run. “Just stay there, and don’t you dare follow me!”
Dammit.
Dammit.
Dammit.
What was I even doing—making a scene and then running away like a fucking baby?
Feeling a wave of hatred rush through me over my actions, I burst into the academy and find myself crashing into someone.
“Shit,” I hiss, stepping back. “I’m…”
“Serenity?” I don’t get to finish my apology as Aunt Elise’s gaze comes to rest on me. “Are you alright?”
“I’m,” I begin, but stop as I feel Maverick’s presence behind me.
Frowning, Aunt Elise peeks past me, and when she fixes her gaze on me once more, she gives me a knowing look.
Reaching out, she grabs me and gives me a tug, leading me down the hall and toward the dorms, but instead of going back to mine, we go to hers. When we arrive, she releases me and waits as I try to get my wits about me.
“Alright,” she announces, smirking. “Since I’ve saved you from the gentle giant, how about you tell me what exactly happened?”