Page 85 of The Invite
“Why isn’t he here?”
“Has he got you hooked already?” Maverick teases. “Is that why you got him suspended, to resist the temptation? Because that assault story was bullshit. You wanted us.”
“It wasn’t bullshit,” I angrily reply. “I could never want either of you.”
“Then be a good girl and accept the car.”
Maverick stands his ground like he has all the time in the world. The longer we stand at an impasse, the more I’m getting late to work.
Begrudgingly, I snatch the keys from Maverick with the intent to return the so-called gift directly to Augustus when he comes over tonight.
The grin on Maverick’s lips grows and he shifts sideways and waves his hand toward the car.
“I thought you were his best friend, not his lap dog.”
My insult doesn’t ruffle his feathers, and he retorts with a laugh, “A very loyal one. And a whole lot crazy. You don’t want to get bitten by me, Miss Davenport.”
I swallow back a bite of dread and walk past him toward the car.
Then I get inside and drive away.
Only after I don’t see Maverick in my rearview mirror, do I notice the piece of paper on the passenger seat. I don’t need to turn it over to know what’s on the other side. My breath hitches when I see the stunning sketch.
Unlike the last two, it’s not a drawing of me in the throes of ecstasy. Instead, it’s the moment when I was dressing hiswound while sitting on his lap. Him half naked while I’m bare with my hair flowing down my back and one of his arms curled around me protectively.
Even without the sexual nature, it’s deeply erotic and intimate.
My head is tilted down as I cup his palm while Augustus, whose face is shrouded in darkness with black strokes, is staring at me.
I can’t quite catch his expression.
CHAPTER – 21
Augustus
“Your precious toy took the car.”
I glance up at Maverick after he strolls into the den room in the basement. I arch one brow expectantly.
“After stubbornly refusing it twice,” he elaborates with an amused tilt of his lips. “Though her outfit screams she most likely stole it rather than owns it.”
She’ll have to take care of the attention she draws to herself. And she’ll have to think of a way without returning the car to me, which I’m certain she’s plotting to do at the first chance. Too bad, she won’t get it.
Plus, I’ve put a tracker in the car so I know where she is at all times.
With the cameras I put in her house, everywhere she goes in this town is a cage for her and I’m the emperor with the key.
My gaze follows Maverick as he walks over to the couch and slumps down on it.
“What about her outfit?”
“It looked cheap and bought from a thrift store.”
While I was at her house, I didn’t venture into the closet and the only clothes I’ve seen her in are her nightwear, which she loves to wear as minimum as possible. Half the time I give her clothes just a cursory glance because I’m far more interested in tearing them off her.
Now, I’m second-guessing if I should’ve. Because if Maverick is right, money is obviously tight for her. As someone who prides himself on being detail-oriented, I sure missed something important about Nessa.
I guess I’ll have to fight the urge to ruin more of her clothes. No more ripping or slicing them with knives.
