Page 30 of Maverick

Parker stood up from the floor and walked further into the house. She found herself in a spacious living room with tall windows that stretched all the way up to the ceiling, and along the entire wall, offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding countryside. A large stone fireplace sat on one wall, welcoming anyone who entered. Two comfortable leather sofas faced each other, with a recliner at one end facing toward the fireplace. Above the mantle hung a sleek flatscreen TV.

To her right, Parker noticed a hallway leading off from the living room. Curiosity getting the best of her, she followed it and discovered a full bathroom on her right, a cozy bedroom across from it, and another bedroom beside it. At the end of the hallway was a master bedroom with rich cherry wood furniture and a king-size bed against one wall. Another stone fireplace adorned the opposite wall, with a large TV mounted above it. A door next to the fireplace led to a luxurious bathroom. Patio doors sat on the outside wall.

As Parker took in the beauty of Maverick’s home, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of comfort and warmth radiating throughout. It may not have been a huge house, but it was certainly stunning and welcoming.

As she turned to leave the room, something caught her eye outside of the patio doors, and she walked to them and peered out to see a sparkling inground swimming pool. She left the room and made her way back to the kitchen.

“I bet that pool feels good after a hot day at work, doesn’t it?”

“You have no idea. There’s been a few times when I’d go into the mudroom, strip, and go dive in. It feels fantastic.”

“Naked?”

“Of course. There’s no one around here. This place sits on five acres, so it’s very private. The pool is also heated, so I use it in the winter too.”

“It’s a beautiful place.”

Maverick turned to face her; his intense gaze locked on her. Her heart fluttered as she smiled at him, and he set the sharp kitchen knife down onto the counter. He strode across the room, his long strides eating up the distance between them. With a gentle yet firm grasp, he pulled her into his arms and pressed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss. Parker moaned softly as she wrapped her arms around his waist, losing herself in the taste and feel of him. Would she ever tire of his kisses? She highly doubted it.

As they broke apart, Maverick placed his forehead against hers as he gazed deeply into her eyes.

“I want you so much, Parker,” he whispered hoarsely.

“Maverick...” she murmured, shivers running down her spine at the raw desire in his words.

“I know, baby,” he replied, understandingly. “But I just had to tell you how I feel.” With a small smile, he stepped back from her. “We’d better get going,” he said as he packed their sandwiches into plastic baggies and then placed them into a cloth bag. He took her hand and led her outside to a small barn situated across from the house.

Parker stopped him, and he turned to look at her. She lifted his hand.

“Your knuckles are bruised,” she said.

“Yeah, they’ll heal. It’s not the first time I’ve bruised my knuckles, but it’s the first time, in a long time that I did it in a fight.”

“Do they hurt?”

“A little. I’m fine. Come on.”

Once inside the barn, Maverick guided her to a room at the back where an ATV was parked. He handed her the cloth bag before pushing the vehicle out of the room.

“Is this how we’re getting there?” Parker asked with excitement bubbling in her chest.

“Well, since you don’t ride horses, this is our only option,” Maverick replied with a grin. “I’ll need to get you a hat first though. Then we can head to the pond. The fishing poles are already on the ATV.” He took the bag from her and put it into a cooler strapped onto the rack behind the seat.

He reentered the room and returned with a cowboy hat for her. He put it on her head, kissed her lips, then swung his leg over the seat of the ATV, then started it. He looked at her and put his hand out for her. She stepped onto the footrest, swung her leg over the bike, and scooted close to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and screamed when he tore out of the barn.

****

Maverick couldn’t contain his grin as he heard her screams of excitement behind him. With a swift twist of the throttle, he revved up the ATV and sped through the sprawling field behind his house. He could feel her chin resting on his shoulder, her body pressed against his as they raced through the open space. He put his left hand on her bare knee, thankful she’d worn shorts. She had great legs.

“You’re loving this,” she shouted over the roar of the engine.

“What? The speed or scaring you?” he replied with a laugh.

“Both!”

He nodded in agreement, feeling exhilarated by the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. But even more so, he loved knowing that she was having just as much fun as he was. As they crested a small hill, Maverick slowed the four-wheeler. “I’ll take it easy then.”

“It’s true what they say... boys will be boys,” she said teasingly next to his ear, her warm breath tickling his skin before she let out a loud whoop. “Come on, Blue!”

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