Page 11 of Dirty Empire

He peeks at me from the corner of his eye but doesn't say anything.

I take another sip of wine, enjoying how it makes my body relax.

“So, do you have to, like, work…or something tonight?”

I’m not sure how to ask the question. Did he have to leave and sell more guns to people like my husband?

He smirks at my question. “I do more than just arms trafficking.”

“Oh, I know… I don't mean-”

“It’s fine. I’m also an investor. I’m a shareholder in quite a few large US companies. My energy company will be the first business I have that’s owned completely by me. Everything I own I buy in cash, so I don’t have many expenses that way I can invest my profits and dividends back into my businesses.”

So he plays both sides of the fence. He brings his drink up to his lips, and I don’t miss the way his shirt stretches across his muscular arm with the movement. I squeeze my thighs together to get some kind of relief. I have no idea where the attraction is coming from. It’s the last thing my body should be feeling.

“But, to answer your question, no. I’m done with work for the day.”

I don’t ask any more questions after that. Instead, I focus on eating my food and sipping my wine.

“Do you wanna take a walk with me? I want to show you some more of the estate.”

“Sure. We can do that.” I gulp down the last of my wine. This will give me a chance to get a feel for the place.

Maverick has this confident yet gentle swagger about him. He demonstrates a uniquely calm and pleasant personality, particularly for a person who can turn cold and hostile in one second.

His charm isn’t lost on me. We leave our dishes on the island. Maverick assures me that the staff will take care of them. I follow him outside to the well-lit pier. A huge luminous moon shines through the midnight sky. The only sound is the water as it gently kisses the shore before retreating out to the ocean. I can practically taste the seawater. The air is warm, but the humidity’s low, so I don’t sweat from the heat.

I let out a breath. The weight that has been there since Miles caught Ares and me together starts to lift a little bit.

“This is so peaceful.”

Maverick slowly maneuvers behind me. His six-feet-two frame brushes up against my back, and he places his large hands lightly around my waist, his silky voice rings in my ear.

“This is better than peaceful.”

The strange thing is, I don’t try to move away from him. I need some comfort, a place to rest. What is coming for both of us would require immense strength.

The smell of his aftershave sends me into overdrive. We both stand silently, breathing deeply. Intuiting the passionate undercurrents between us. I feel his dick straining against his pants as he presses against my body. A warm tingle circles my inner thighs. I have to break it. This isn’t the time or place. Things are escalating way too fast.

“What’s that over there?” I point to a tower near the east end of the property.

“That’s the lighthouse. Legend has it that mermaids used to surface there, coming ashore to mate with humans.” When Maverick says the word “mate,” I grow dangerously wet. His husky voice is close to my ear. How was this possible given my situation?

He carries on, “Now it’s just used to guide my boat in during the night.”

I notice a small boat off to the side of the pier.

“Nice.” A lump holds firm in my throat. “Can we walk over there?” I ask, the tension becoming too much for me.

“Yeah.” He untangles his arms from around my waist, and I can breathe again.

We walk side by side along the pier. As our hands swing naturally, they bump together. Maverick takes the opportunity to link his pinky finger with mine. Just enough to keep us connected. I let him. Need to. We walk in silence until we reach the bottom of the lighthouse.

“Wow, this is so beautiful.” I admire the structure and its towering strength.

The ocean breeze blows as we make our way inside. It’s dark. The only light is from small dim lamps attached to the walls. The stairs are black and metal; they echo through the building with each step. Maverick lets me lead the way, following behind me. We wound our way to the top and stand overlooking the turbulent sea.

“This view is amazing.”

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