Page 161 of A Little Complicated

A brush of lips hits the top of my head, and his deep voice rumbles, “Love you too, Lia. Just give me some time, all right?”

“Yeah,” I whisper. “We have all the time in the world.”

If only it was true.

“I’m, uh, I’m gonna head inside.” Brushing off my jean shorts, I stand and give Archer the space I know he needs, even if he’s too unselfish to take it for himself. I slip back through the glass patio door and down the hall toward the bathroom, anxious to lock the world out and how shitty it can be sometimes, even if it’s only for a minute.

48

MAVERICK

Ophelia disappears down the hallway, and my feet move of their own accord, following her down the long hallway and away from the party. I know we agreed we wouldn’t act like we’re together, but the distance is killing me, and if I can steal a moment with her, I will. It’s like I’m already a ghost, and I can’t take it anymore. When she reaches the guest bathroom at the opposite end of the house and closes the door behind her, I twist the handle before she has a chance to click the lock into place, shoving the door open.

When Ophelia realizes it’s me, her grip tightens around the edge of the door, and she blocks me from opening it fully. “What are you doing?”

“Let me in.”

“Mav…”

“Let me in, Ophelia.”

She peeks over my shoulder, scanning the hallway and stepping aside so I can join her in the small space.

I close the door behind us, grab her waist, and press her back against it, holding her in place. “What did Archer say to you?”

“I’m the one who did most of the talking,” she mutters. Her expression twists. “I hate how I hurt him, Mav.”

“We both did.”

Her smile is sad as her eyes find mine. “I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For…everything?” she offers, giving me a pathetic, half-assed shrug as she stares blankly at my chest. “I feel like this is all my fault.”

“Come here.” I pull her into me and rub my hands along her spine.

She melts against my chest, releasing a quiet sigh. “I love it when you hold me.”

“I love holding you,” I whisper as her curves mold against me.

The girl is fucking perfect.

Her breath of laughter seeps through my shirt as her hand finds my hard-on pressed against her stomach. “I can tell.”

“Careful,” I warn.

She lifts her head and tilts it to the side, watching me. “Is this why you followed me in here? Thinking you could sneak in a quickie until you realized your girlfriend’s an emotional wreck?”

I smirk and lift her chin a little higher with my knuckle. “It wasn’t the plan, but if it gets you to smile and stop carrying all the guilt for something webothdid, I’m not afraid to take one for the team.”

“How generous of you.”

“I think we both know how generous I can be.”

Her teeth dig into her bottom lip, but it doesn’t stop her mouth from stretching toward the ceiling. “You’re joking, right?”

“I was, but then your smile reached your eyes. Come here, baby.” I cup the side of her face and kiss her. It’s soft and playful and tugs at my chest. It turns more heated as her hand on my dick squeezes.

---