Page 17 of Best Part of Me

I want to hear her voice, sweet and raspy, in my ear. I want to hear her beg for what she wants. I want to hear all her requests and fantasies.

She gazes down at me, and her lips curve into a wicked smile that has me obsessed. “You can take your pants off.”

I was a fucking idiot to think this thing would be slow between us.

I’ve wanted her for too long.

This is about the time when I’m with a woman that I usually let my hormones get in the driver’s seat. But I can’t keep my heart from beating out of control. I’m acting on all head, heart, hard-on, and everything in between. This is a first for me.

And it scares the hell out of me.

CHAPTER5

Camille

Afew hours ago, I was about to marry someone I wasn’t in love with. The truth is, by choosing Chris, I was settling. Deep in my heart, I knew he wasn’t the one. I don’t even know if there is such a thing asthe one.

But if there is, it’s not Chris.

I said yes to Chris because Mom liked him. And I didn’t want Dad or Jones to worry about me. When I was with Chris, I was comfortable. I had stability. His career as a financial adviser not only came with a cushy office but health insurance and a 401k.

But when I was with Chris, I always felt like I was in second place. Second to his career, second to his golf buddies, second tohim. In the three years we were together, he never once asked me what would make me happy or what I needed to be happy.

When Maverick asked me that question, something inside me came undone. Something that has been wound up tight for far too long. Not only did Maverick’s words unravel me, but the way he’s looking at me now makes me want to give him the end of the string to the last of my reservations and let him tug. To let him completely untangle me from my fears, my insecurities, my control.

I want him to set me free.

From everything.

As the two of us stand before one another in the middle of Maverick’s apartment, his hooded eyes targeted only on me, I feel powerful. In a way I haven’t in probably forever. For too long, I felt inferior. But Maverick not only gazes at me like I’m the most delicious thing he’s ever seen, he also gives me space to take the lead if I want.

So I do.

With my face flushed—how much whiskey did I drink?—my eyes linger over the part of him I’ve never been lucky enough to see until this moment. I don’t know why he’s giving me access now. After all these years. I focus on the beauty of his length and the reaction I’m causing. The disbelief that he’s getting off by making out with me is almost enough to make me stop. But I try to force myself out of my brain.

Maverick bows his head, grazing his thumb across my jawline and guiding my chin closer to him.

“What next?” he growls against my lips.

My head is fuzzy with desire. I can’t think straight. The alcohol probably isn’t helping. My brain can’t get past this moment. Where we’re both half naked, and nothing’s stopping us from taking each other in, touching each other—not even some dumb childhood pact.

He brushes my lips with a kiss. It’s warm and tender. The care and precision he’s taking with me is blowing my mind. All this time, I’ve fantasized about Maverick being a rough lover. Maybe I had it all wrong. But this is better. The craving for him builds between my thighs, and I squeeze them together.

“Shirt... off,” I demand in a rushed breath in between kisses.

His lips curve into a devilish grin, and he gives my bare backside a light pat. “Good girl.”

With those two words, all my smut book fantasies are coming to real life. He can call megood girlany damn time he wants to.

And where have his hands been this whole time anyway? I’m suddenly aware they’ve been missing during this mind-boggling foreplay session, I need them on my body. Anywhere and everywhere.

I stop his hands from gripping the hem of his shirt. “My thong. Take it off too.”

He chuckles softly. “So eager,” he teases, and my face heats.

Embarrassment creeps up my neck, and I suddenly want to shrivel up and fucking die. The idea of me and Maverick is crazy. We haven’t gone far enough that we can’t stop this and forget the whole thing. Go back to being friends. Were we ever just friends though? He’d go back to being my brother’s best friend and unattainable crush, and I’d go back to being... what exactly? His best friend’s annoying little sister?

But Maverick swoops an arm around my back, bringing me flush against him and swallowing my insecurities with a kiss so intense it has me rising on my tippy-toes. In his embrace, all my worries disappear with this single kiss.

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