Page 98 of A Little Complicated

“Do you ever wish you could go back? To before prom? I mean, yeah. We were hiding our relationship, but it was so easy. I enjoyed the morsels you sent my way, and I didn’t have to think about our family or drama or what people would think. We could just…be. Do you ever miss it?”

She has no clue.

My fingers make tiny indents on her hips as I squeeze her curves roughly, the proverbial carrot she dangled acting like gasoline on an open flame. “You want it again? You. Me. And nothing else? No pressure, no future, just—”

“Stolen moments and little morsels,” she finishes for me. Her smile is sad as she nods. “Yeah, Mav. Even if the fallout was a bitch, I miss it. Those moments. I wouldn’t give any of them back, even if it could take away the pain from the last few months. I wouldn’t give them up for anything.”

I dip closer, resting my forehead on her shoulder as her soft, sweet scent washes over me. “I’m sorry.”

“You’ve already apologized,” she reminds me.

“I don't know what else I can do,” I whisper against her skin, nuzzling deeper into the crook of her neck while knowing exactly how much I don’t deserve it. To be here. To hold her. To want her when she deserves so much more. “I’m not gonna lie and tell you I can give you everything you want, Goose. No matter how much I want to.”

Her cheek brushes against the side of my head as she nods. “I know.”

I drag my nose along the column of her throat, breathing her in. My movements are slow. Controlled. Giving her plenty of time to reject me. And fuck knows, I deserve it. But she doesn’t. She lifts her chin and waits, her pulse thrumming against my lips.

Thump-thump. Thump-thump.

“Tell me they’re enough.” I lift my head and hold her gaze. “The little morsels.”

“They are.” Her tongue peeks out along the seam of her mouth, and she licks her bottom lip. “Enough for now.”

For now.

The words hang in the air, but I push them away. Becausefor nowis all I have to give. I lean closer, holding her gaze as I brush my lips against hers. Her breath hitches, and she returns the kiss. Softly. Carefully. Like she’s afraid I’ll leave her again.

Fuck me, Goose. I don’t want to.

I close my eyes and tilt her head up, kissing her deeper as I fight for control. Of my words. My body. My future.Ourfuture. Her hands find my chest. She slides them along my pecs, wraps them around my neck, and presses herself against me. I kiss her harder, claiming her mouth with mine as she melts into me, the last of her restraint evaporating. She tastes like heaven. Soft. Sweet. I groan against her lips, pushing her against the rough bark of the tree.

“Tell me no one’s home,” she begs.

“Everyone’s gone.”

“Good.” She tugs at my shirt, yanking it up and finding my hot skin beneath. Her hands are on me. My chest. My stomach. They slide lower and fumble with the button of my jeans.

“Lia—”

“I want to,” she murmurs as the metallic zip of my pants being undone cuts through the air. “I want to see you still need me, even if it’s only for a minute.”

She slides to her knees, but I shake my head and pick her up despite her protests. When her back hits the tree with a soft thump, she gasps, and I wedge myself between her thighs.

“Maverick…”

“Sh…” Lifting her chin with my knuckle, I press my forehead to hers. “Let me make something very clear to you, Ophelia. I need you more than you will ever understand, and even though I love fucking your mouth, let me give you something more.”

“Mav…”

“A girl who’s so quick to get on her knees for me, but you won’t let me get on mine?” I challenge. My fingers find the top button of her jean shorts, and I undo it slowly. Her eyes hold mine, but she shifts her hips slightly as if the thought alone is enough to drive her crazy. I take full advantage, tugging her shorts and underwear off her ass and down her thighs until she’s left bare. Kneeling in front of her, I grab her hips and kiss the outside of her thigh.

“What are you doing?” she whispers.

“I’ve been craving you for months. Do me a favor. Open up, and let me have a taste.”

Slowly, her muscles relax, and I lift one of her legs onto my shoulder. Once she’s spread wide, I dip my head between her thighs. Her skin is dappled with light as the sun cuts through the tree’s branches above us, spotlighting her perfect pussy. My mouth waters. I drag my thumb along her slit, part her folds, and let my tongue follow suit.

Fuck, I missed her taste. The way she whimpers. The way she lifts her hips and shies away like she can’t decide if she wants to pull me closer or push me away. I continue licking, dipping my tongue into her center and trailing it up to her clit. So hot. So wet. So needy. I glance up at her as I spread her folds with my fingers. Her eyes shine with need, watching while I eat her out like she’s my last meal.

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