His hands, calloused and rough, cupped the back of my head and scraped along the small of my back before hooking around my waist, pulling me to him. His mouth met mine once more, holding a possessive, demanding note to it that had my toes curling in my boots. When he finally pulled away, both our chests rose and fell in heavy breaths. He didn’t let go of me, which was more than a bit surprising. I half expected him to run away already. In fact, Istillhalf expected it to happen any moment.
“You taste like tobacco and trouble,” I murmured, tilting my chin up to meet his hooded gaze. His hat cast his face in shadow.
He chuckled, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “No, you’re the one who’s trouble.”
I grinned, pulling his face down toward mine once more. “I’ll take that as a compliment,” I said against his lips.
He surprised me again, brushing his lips against the corner of my jaw, the words low, husky as he whispered, “Figured you would.”
He claimed my mouth with his, his grip on the back of my head tightening with the slightest pressure as his fingers knotted in my hair. A moan escaped me.
This. This was exactly what I needed. What I’d wanted from the minute I’d met him.
And he sure as hell didn’t disappoint.
I don’t know why I’d expected timidness—okay, scratch that, I knewexactlywhy I expected that—but I was more than pleasantly surprised when he matched me with a passion I’d only dreamed of.
No, he wasn’t just matching me, he took the damn reins completely as he pressed me back against the wall, his touch, his kisses possessive, hungry, wild.
I liked this side of Maverick.
And I wanted more.
The hand that’d been wrapped around me slid up my waist before brushing along the swell of my breast, finally settling lightly around the side of my neck. A touch that proved Maverick wasn’t as sweet and innocent as he appeared.
As he pulled away, I bit his bottom lip, pegging him in place with a scalding stare.
The look on his face nearly knocked the breath from me. This wasn’t the same man who’d all but trembled in his boots when I’d told him I wanted him. This was a man who knew what he wanted and had no problems doing whatever necessary to get it.
I’d never been more attracted to him.
“Well,” I huffed, my hands resting against the planes of his chest. “Gotta admit, I’m more than a bit surprised at that.”
“Is that a good or bad thing?” Even though that sexy look in his eyes still remained, his voice gave him away. There was a hint of worry laced in his words.
Grabbing a fistful of his shirt, I leaned up once more and kissed him softly. “Don’t worry, Maverick,” I whispered against his lips. “It’s a very good thing.”
He chuckled, low and deep, his light green eyes taking me in. I don’t know what it was about that look, but it filled me with confidence.
One of my hands snaked up his chest to cup the back of his neck, even as his hand clutching my throat drifted down to hook along the curve of my hips. “So, what’dya wanna do?”
The corner of his lips pulled up into a lopsided grin, his light eyes swimming with desire now. Anticipation thrummed through me. Was this really going to happen? Was I finally going to get Maverick all to myself?
“How ‘bout a dance?” he asked, surprising the hell out of me.
It was my turn to frown. Okay, was I in some weird episode of the Twilight Zone? The guy who’djustsaid he didn’t want to dance earlier now wanted to dance.I studied his face, searching for anything to help me understand the shift in his decision.
“You’re serious?”
He shrugged—his trademark gesture. “You wanna dance, and if I say no, some other guy’s gonna come over and steal you away.”
I highly doubted they’d be able to steal me away, but I didn’t say that. No, I just started counting on my finger.
He frowned. “What are you doin’?”
“I think that’s the longest sentence you’ve strung along all night…that was, what, eighteen words?”
A true, genuine smile pulled on his lips, damn near stopping my heart. Sullen Maverick was hot as fuck, but happy Maverick…he might just be my favorite. “Well, now I ain’t dancin’,” he said with another shrug.
