The more I thought about it, the more it made the most sense.
My door banging open drew my attention.
“Maverick?” He was the last man I expected to see. “What’s wrong? Where are Jayce and Levi?”
The door swung shut, and he locked it.
Turning back to me, Maverick didn’t pause.
He didn’t answer.
He marched towards me. His face wasdetermined.His eyebrows furrowed, his jaw clenched, his lips pinched. I was still using the bed to hold most of my weight, but then his large hands found their way to my hips, supporting me instead.
“Enzo was right. Anunsolvablepuzzle.”
That was the only explanation I received before Maverick forced his lips to mine.
They werecold, full, harsh.
“Mmm!” The noise came from my mouth but was caught by his.
Part of me wanted to struggle, to fight this.
But a darker, deeper, more powerful piece wanted to be consumed by Maverick.
By whatever this was.
The last game had broken us apart but in different ways.
He had seen his long dead brother. I had been nearly killed by my long-lost friend.
Opening for Maverick, I allowed him to take control. Giving him the space to do what he needed.
But instead of pushing further, he tore his lips apart from mine, panting a few times as he looked fixedly into my eyes. Searching forsomething.
“Why are you okay with this? How could you possibly want this? Wantme? I’m a coward! The weakest link of our group!” His fingers found their way under my shirt, digging into the skin of my hips, just below my stitches.
“I’m used to not having a choice. But I do now. I know you would stop this.” I stared up at him through my eyelashes. I expected him to run, to flee this interaction entirely.
Maverick had never appeared thisunhinged.His mask was absent, his hair in disarray, his eyes bright and wild, the hazel irises practically glowing.
“You knownothing.” He shoved me down.
The scratchy carpet bit into my bare knees, but I didn’t care.
“Open your fucking mouth.”
Ignoring him, I tilted my head in thought.
Levi and Jayce had already permitted me to do what I wanted. That there weren’t any restrictions on who I pursued.
But what will this do? How will this change our dynamic?
Maverick dropped his pants, his cock bobbing free.
My lips parted in surprise, and he took that as an invitation to push the velvety tip in.
“Raven,” Maverick groaned.