Page 35 of Maverick

I winced. “Which we left in California.”

“Fantastic,” he grumbled, voice dripping with sarcasm. A moment later, the door opened a crack. He stuck his head out, dark hair damp. “So, I guess I have to wear the same clothes tomorrow?”

“Looks that way,” I said.

He sighed, pulling the door wider. For a second, my eyes went straight to his muscled chest. He clutched a small towel at his waist, but it wasn’t quite long enough. I kept my eyes on his tanned abs. My face flamed.

“Well, that’s just perfect,” he muttered. Then he looked at the single bed, brow creasing. “I’ll take the floor. Least I can do.”

“In just a towel?” I blurted, my mouth running ahead of my brain.

He arched an eyebrow. “I can’t exactly sleep in my wet jeans,” he pointed out where he haphazardly left them in the floor as he was stepping out of the shower. “They’re all I’ve got.”

I wanted to shrivel up. “Oh. Right.”

He grabbed his old clothes, giving them a sniff. Apparently not satisfied, he tossed them aside. Then, without warning, he let the towel drop.

“Oh my God,” I squeaked, instinctively covering my eyes with my forearm. I thought I’d pass out. “Warn a girl, would you?”

There was a quiet chuckle. “Look at me, princess,” he said, voice low and serious.

“I can’t,” I whispered, mortified. But a dangerous curiosity simmered in my veins.

“I want you,” he said in a husky tone that made my stomach flip. “I’m not gonna pretend I don’t. Hell, seeing you under that water earlier… it messed me up.”

I swallowed, eyes still squeezed shut. “I’ve never done anything like this before.” The words spilled out in a panicked rush. “I’m not that kind of girl. And my mom just died, and…”

I heard him exhale sharply. Then some rustling, and the soft whisper of cloth. A moment later, he murmured, “Shit, Lex, I’m sorry.”

I lowered my arm a fraction, peeking. He’d grabbed the towel from the floor and was covering himself again. His gaze held genuine remorse.

“This is too much,” I managed. “I can’t. My brain can’t process it. My mother’s death, the threats, you… I just can’t.”

He bowed his head, stepping back. “I get it.” He turned and strode back into the bathroom, rummaging. After a minute, he pulled on his damp jeans, wincing as he buttoned them. Then he came out, toweling off his hair. “Lexi, I’m sorry. Sometimes I don’t think, especially when I’m… worked up.”

I stood there, arms wrapped around my torso, trying to stop the shakes. “It’s fine,” I croaked. “This is all just. Yeah, it’s a lot.”

He set the towel aside and looked at me with an intensity that made my breath catch. “I know we barely know each other. But I can’t ignore this pull I feel. It could be the rush, the danger, it could be something different. But I want you to know, you aren’t alone. You hear me?”

A tremor coursed through me. “Why?” I whispered. “Why do you want to help me, or be with me, or anything? All we have in common is a bunch of bullets whizzing by.”

His eyes flickered. “Because you fill a hole in me, I didn’t know was still raw. I’ve lost people, too, Lexi. People I cared about. And you… you make me want to do better. Don’t ask me to explain it, I can’t. Attraction, chemistry, destiny, whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

Heat flooded my cheeks. “So, it’s just lust, basically?”

A half-grin pulled at his lips. “Not just lust. But damn, you arefine,princess. You got these curves, that mouth, those eyes… I’ve been trying not to stare at your ass since day one.”

My jaw dropped. “That’s… crude.”

He shrugged. “I’m a crude guy. But it’s the truth.”

A strange flutter warmed my chest. Despite everything, I felt a surge of gratitude that he found me attractive. But the grief and confusion overshadowed it. “I’m sorry,” I said, my voice giving away my inner turmoil. “I just can’t jump into bed with you right now. It’s all too fresh, my mom…”

He stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I know,” he said softly. “I’m sorry about the timing. I’m just being honest about what I feel. We don’t have to act on it.”

I nodded, tears prickling my eyes. “Thank you.”

He exhaled, a long sigh that seemed to carry the weight of the world. “I’ll sleep on the floor, all right? No arguments. You need space.”

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