Without hesitation he began making love to them both,
alternating between them as if enjoying the finest chocolates
man had ever encountered.
Her moans were music to his ears. Maverick knew there
wasn’t anywhere else on earth he’d rather be than with
Tempest.
Laving a path down her sternum, Maverick dipped his
tongue in her bellybutton, smiling when she squirmed and
whimpered. Scooting further down the bed, he continued with
his quest.
The scent of her desire bombarded his nose and he
burned for her. With two fingers, he trailed them over the
juncture of her thighs as his mouth nibbled along the top of her
panties.
He could feel the moisture seeping through the cotton
material and his cock responded with a violent jerk in his
pants. His teeth bit her side, and she shook while his tongue
licked away any pain.
“James,” she panted.
His fingers drifted over her core again. And again. She
tried to increase those light touches by shifting her hips as
much as she could.
“Yes, mitawin,” he purred against her silken skin.
“What?”
She moaned and bucked against his fingers again.
“Please.”
“Please what?”
“Touch me,” she said breathlessly.
“I am.” Another touch flitted across her apex.
“James!” she yelled as one hand wound in his hair and
pulled.
He nipped the inside of her thigh in response and she
ground herself against him. Maverick could taste her sweet
essence through the material of her underwear and he bit back
a groan.
His tongue swept up the wet cloth and he shivered as
her taste covered his tongue. He used one finger and moved
the material to the side, allowing his tongue full access to her
moist flesh.
He moaned in pleasure as her cream saturated his
probing tongue. His skin felt on fire. His body ached to join
them as one. He longed to sink deep into her heat and
experience emotions he could only have with her.
With a rough growl, he ripped her panties down and
dropped them somewhere, his attention firmly fixed on the
sight before him. Her pussy was neatly trimmed and he could
see the tip of her clit peeking out from the full lips.
His mouth covered her and he began to enjoy her again
without the obstruction of her panties. Her mews filled the air
as he licked up and down her slit.
Pulling her clit into his mouth, he rolled it around. His
teeth grazed it lightly and he reveled in each jump, each quiver
from her. Her responses only enflamed his.
“James,” she whimpered. “Please.” Her hips arched
against his mouth. Her legs tightened around his ears, holding
him in place.
Stabbing his tongue deep inside her, he lapped all she
had to offer. When her body stopped convulsing around him,
he drew back. In seconds, he shucked his pants and boxers
before lowering himself over her. His rigid erection knew just
where to go and Maverick slid home, welcomed by her slick
heat.
Tempest released a groan of satisfaction. Maverick
slipped slowly into her, stretching her, forming her body to fit
his. Every touch, every caress from him sent her to a place she
longed to remain.
A perfect world where nothing was wrong.
His rough, silvery timbre, whispered words in Lakota in
her ear as he moved slowly within her depths. She placed her
legs up around his waist, the heat of his skin searing her, and
allowed him deeper access.
He took it and then some. She purred in pleasure as his
slow, even strokes started a fire deep within her. Only this man
had that ability. Sex with others had been good, but this was
damn near indescribable for her.
“Maverick,” she mumbled.
“Yes?”
Flames licked up and down her skin where he touched
her. His teeth grazed the outside of her ear, adding to the
stimulus.
He murmured more Lakota to her and picked up his
pace just a bit. His hands found hers and stretched them out
over her head where he interlaced their fingers.
Maverick’s body enveloped hers, making her feel so
warm, loved, and needed. The pace increased further as she
wriggled beneath him.
“More,” she begged, planting her feet on the mattress
and angling her hips to meet his sensual thrusts sooner.
“Easy, mitawin. We do this easy,” he uttered.
She whimpered and pushed against his sweaty body.
“No.” Tempest wanted to forget everything. She longed for
mindless sex.
“I’m not fucking you, Tempest. I’m going to make long,
sweet love to you.” He nibbled on her parted lips before
covering them with a kiss.
She wriggled against him.
“No, Tempest. I want you to burn for me like I burn for
you. This is our time to start over. This is our time.”
And just like that, she stopped wanting it fast, hard, and
mindless. She wanted everything he had to offer. Kissing him
lightly, she closed her eyes and pretended he was hers.
All hers. No one else’s.
“I’m all yours, mitawin. I’m all yours.”
His body moved faster. Skin slid on skin as he withdrew
and entered her core.
Tempest cried softly, “James.”
His hips never stopped plunging into her. “Right here,
my love. I’m right here.”
She was so close to the feeing she craved. His lips made
love to hers as he continued moving within her.
“Are you ready, Tempest?” he asked in a graveled voice.
“Yes,” she replied as she tightened her fingers around
his.
“I love you, Tempest,” he said as he came deep within
her.
She didn’t answer. She couldn’t answer. Her body fell
apart into a million tiny pieces as she was launched over the
edge, encompassed by bliss.
His heavy and warm body settled her deeper into to the
mattress. She could feel the rapid beating of his own heart
against her breast. His face was buried in her neck and for a
moment, they remained joined and silent.
Tempest whimpered slightly when he rolled off of her,
but she stopped when he pulled her into his embrace, tucking
her head under his chin and latching his arms around her.
Limbs languid, she nuzzled his neck and sank further
into his hold. This was what she wanted. This was what she
needed.
Maverick’s hand stroked the back of her head as their
pulses slowed. Tempest could hear nature outside the window
and it lulled her into another restful slumber.
Twenty-Two
Tempest opened her eyes slowly. The sun was going
down. She sat up slowly and met Maverick’s. He sat in a chair
watching her.
“Hi,” she whispered shyly as she drew the blanket up
over her naked body. Would he want
to take back those three
words he’d told her earlier?
“Hey, beautiful,” he answered in the same low tone.
Scooting back till she hit the headboard, she asked,
“What are you doing?”
“Watching you sleep.”
“From across the room?”
“I wanted to make sure you got all the sleep you needed.
Touching you was driving me crazy and I didn’t want to wake
you. But I didn’t want to be away from you, either, so I opted
for this.”
His words warmed her. She looked over the side of the
bed and didn’t see her clothes. When she glanced back to
Maverick, an arrogant smirk had filled his face.
“Are you looking for something?”
“My clothes.”
“I have them here.”
Tempest blinked and saw her folded clothing resting on
his lap. “Can I have them?”
“He smiled wolfishly. Come get ’em.”
Tempest didn’t understand why she felt shy, but she
did. Wrapping the blanket around her, she climbed off the bed
and shuffled her way toward him. One hand snuck out of the
blanket and she wriggled her fingers.
Maverick opened his thighs and pulled her closer to
him. He kept his fingers on the wrap around her. “Tempest,”
he murmured.
“Maverick,” she whispered. “Can I have my clothes,
please?”
He pressed them into her hand as he used his other one
to caress her cheek. “I’ll get dinner started.”
She turned and headed away; but at the last minute, she
looked over her shoulder at him. He stood by the door, arms
crossed over his chest, and he looked so predatory it made her
shiver despite the heat and the blanket around her.
His eyes took one more journey of her body and then he
left without a sound.
Heart beating all fast and out of control, Tempest
dressed quickly and went to the bathroom to try and contain
the mess of her hair. She brushed it a few times and left it loose
around her shoulders, not wanting to put it up.
She headed out to the main part of the cabin and found
Maverick in the kitchen heating up a griddle with two steaks
beside him. Tempest stopped before actually going over to him
and slipping her arms around him.
As if he heard her thoughts, he turned and pinned her
with his pitch-black eyes. “Why are you standing there looking
so unsure?”
“Why are you here, James?”
She heard his sigh from where she stood. He placed the
steaks on the heat before washing his hands and approaching
her. His strong hands settled on her shoulders and pulled her
into him. Her head was tucked under his chin and the soft
material of his shirt rubbed against her cheek.
“Answer me, James,” she muttered, determined not to
let his comforting distract her.
“Where else would I be, chante, when you are hurting,
but by your side?”
“Did Dakota send you up here to find me?”
“No, he doesn’t know where you are.”
“I know. Only Mili did. How’d you get her to tell you?”
“I can be very persuasive when need be.” He brushed
his lips over her temple. “Listen to me, Tempest. I’m here
because you are in pain and I want to help you through it.”
Shoving back from him, she glared up at him. “I’m in
pain because of you!”
A solemn look filled his handsome features. “I know
that and I swear to you if I could take it all away from you, I
would do so in a heartbeat. The last thing I want to do is hurt
you more than I’ve already done so.”
Unsure, Tempest ran a hand down her face. “I thought
this was about getting to know your son.”
“Not all of it.”
“I don’t want to play a part in this.”
“Tempest, what do you want me to say?”
The sound of frying meat filled the silence but they
continued to stare unerringly at one another.
“I want you to be honest with me.”
“I am!”
“Why are you here?” she hollered. “Surely you could’ve
found a fuck in Albuquerque without disturbing me.”
“I did not come here for a fuck!” he bit off.
“Why should I believe that? I said if you wanted to fuck
you could stay. You did.” Whirling around, Tempest bolted out
of the room and out the front door. Sobbing, she sank down on
the swing.
Maverick turned the heat down on the steaks so they
wouldn’t burn. Then he went out the door. He found her sitting
on the porch swing and crying. Her legs were pulled up and
her chin rested on her knees.
Lowering himself to the wood beside her, Maverick
stretched his legs out in front of him and remained silent for a
moment as he mulled over the right words to say. The woman
next to him looked devastated and it broke his heart.
“Tempest, I need you to hear me out.”
She didn’t say anything, but he took the fact she didn’t
bolt and run again as a good sign.
“I came up here to be with you, to help you through this
rough patch. I want you to use me. Hit me, scream at me,
whatever. I just want you to know I’m here.” He turned toward
her and took her chin in his hand. “And I’m not leaving.”
“What if I want you for sex?”
“Sex? No. We can make love all you want. But I’m not
going to fuck you for the sake of fucking.”
“I thought you said I could use you,” she countered.
“You can. I want you to find happiness, mitawin.” He
placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “I’ll call you when dinner’s
ready. Let me know if you need anything.”
Just as he was about to walk in the door, she stopped
him with a question. “James?”
“Yes?” He looked over his shoulder at her. The setting
sun gave her skin a beautiful glow. She was so gorgeous, it
hurt, and her eyes were dappled full of mischief.
“So it’s just mindless fucking that’s out? Anything else
goes?”
He trailed his gaze over her body and licked his lips,
delighted to see her pulse increase. “Anything else goes.”
She smiled wickedly. “Just checking.”
Shaking his head, Maverick walked inside and finished
making dinner. He wasn’t entirely sure what the reason for her
one-eighty, but he figured there might be a lot of that until
whatever demons she fought were defeated.
He watched her over their quiet dinner. They were
sitting across from one another, with two candles burning
between them. His gaze was glued to the way her eyes
sparkled in the light, the way her mouth pursed when she
pulled food off her fork, the way her tongue peeked out and
drew in every last bit of flavor possible from her lips.
After dinner, they cleaned the plates and returned to the
table with a piece of cake in front of them and a cup of coffee.
“Thank you,” she said.
Maverick drank some coffee. “For?”
“Being here with me.�
��
“Baby, I don’t want to leave you, ever.”
She chuckled but he could still see the pain in her eyes.
“Sure.”
Tempest took a bite of her cake and moaned in apparent
pleasure as she swallowed it. His cock jumped in the confines
of his jeans. Down, damn it. This isn’t about sex! His cock
throbbed again to remind him what it thought about that. But
Maverick was determined to show Tempest he didn’t just want
the amazing pleasure of her body. He wanted everything she
was. All of it.
Maverick wouldn’t push her, though. He had his plan in
mind; and she could protest all she wanted, but he needed her
in his life. They were intertwined and she needed to realize
that.
They spent a quiet evening on the porch swing.
Maverick kept her anchored against his side. No words were
spoken. The night sounds of nature provided them with a
beautiful symphony.
Maverick couldn’t recall a time he’d ever experienced
such contentment. The image of enjoying nights like this with
Tempest and a little baby flashed before him. His grandfather’s
warm approval flowed over him. Finally, you understand,
grandson. Finally!
Closing his eyes, he nodded before turning his attention
to the woman at his side. Tempest was sound asleep against
him. Her head rested on his shoulder with feet curled beneath
her.
He brushed a hand over her hair and pressed a kiss to
the top of her head. For a few moments, he allowed his lids to
droop. When he felt himself beginning to doze, he stood,
scooped her sleeping body into his arms, and carried her back
inside the cabin.
Her thick lashes rose as he entered the bedroom.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“You’re exhausted, Tempest. If your body says you need
to sleep, you sleep.” He laid her gently on the bed.
As he began to straighten, she grabbed the material of
his shirt. “Stay with me,” she whispered, her eyes fixed to his.
“I plan on it,” he returned as he shut of the lone light
and headed for the bed, dropping his clothes along the way.
_
Tempest stood beside Maverick as he surveyed the
wood she’d chopped. She cast a sidelong glance at him when
he shook his head.
“All of this, Tempest? You chopped all of this?”
She heard the astonishment in his voice. “Yes. Amazing
how chopping wood gets out frustrations.” Tempest shrugged.
“I just have to stack the rest of this. There is a bit more to chop.