He glowered at me, but took a small drink.
And proceeded to gag. “What the fuck is that?”
“Vanilla syrup. You’ve ruined me. Now let go of the small human. No offense, Carter.”
Maverick loosened his grip, just slightly. Carter managed a shallow breath. “What do you mean, I’ve ruined you?”
“Follow me to my office and I’ll tell you.”
He stared at me with narrowed eyes, but didn’t move.
“Come on.” I grabbed his wrist and tugged as I stepped away. “Or I might accidentally touch someone else.”
Maverick growled, but he finally released Carter and let me pull him a few steps to the side.
“I’m sorry,” I called over my shoulder, tightening my grip on Maverick’s arm and walking faster.
“Thanks,” Carter called out, coughing once as he cleared his throat.
“I think this is the first time you’ve touched me without being angry or turned on,” Maverick grumbled. “I should start threatening your friends more often.”
“So you do know he’s just my friend.”
We reached my office, and I pushed him toward the door. When he grabbed it, he held it open and waved me through. “I know he wants you, and that you’re mine.”
I wasn’t touching either of those “facts” with a ten-foot pole.
“That wasnotacceptable,” I said, gesturing toward the coffee bar. “He was telling me that his sister isdying. I put my hand on his arm as I was saying I’m sorry. It had nothing to do you, or attraction, or sex, or—what are you doing?”
He’d taken my chair and propped his feet up on my desk. Hisbarefeet.
Did the man not own a pair of shoes? He could definitely afford them.
“Listening,” he said.
“Did you hear a single word?”
“Attraction. Sex.”
I huffed. “Stop staring at me, and listen.”
“You’re fun to stare at, and I told you, I’ve been listening.”
“Can you take me seriously for two minutes, Maverick?”
“Can you?”
“What?”
He gestured toward the coffee bar like I had. “I told you I can’t control my instincts right now. You didn’t listen. Do you think I want to attack puny little humans who can’t defend themselves?”
I blinked.
I guess I hadn’t thought about it like that.
“Now, you owe me an explanation as far as how I’ve ruined your coffee.” He gestured toward the drink in my hand. “That is an abomination, by the way. Even immortal digestive systems shouldn’t have to deal withthat.”
“I’ve always had a love affair with vanilla lattes. You smell like vanilla, and it seems to have affected my taste buds.” I sighed. “I might have to switch to caramel or mochas or something.”
