Page 46 of King of Pride

She had no choice but to move even nearer.

Before she could settle properly, Maverick reached for her leg and pulled her toward him.

Rose sucked in a breath as he drew her closer, until her legs rested across his lap.

His gaze dropped to her knees.

The redness on her skin was clear as day. His expression changed as he carefully examined the irritated areas.

Rose remained still as his fingers gently brushed over the reddened skin.

Maverick reached for the medicine he had brought with him and squeezed a small amount onto his fingertips. Then, with surprising gentleness, he began carefully applying it to her knees.

Maverick’s fingers were so gentle that Rose could hardly reconcile them with the same hands she remembered from the night before. His touch had been so rough and commanding then, yet now his fingertips moved carefully over the irritated skin of her knees, applying the medicine with surprising tenderness.

The contrast left her almost breathless.

Her mind inevitably drifted back to the previous night. Memories of his touch, his closeness, and the overwhelming intensity of everything that had happened came rushing back, making her body tense.

She suddenly jerked beneath his hand.

Maverick immediately lifted his gaze to her face.

“Does it hurt?”

His voice was unexpectedly gentle.

Rose stared at him, her cheeks warming as another thought crossed her mind.

‘Is he asking because he wants to do that again?’

The possibility alone made her flush.

She swallowed nervously before answering, “Yes. It hurts. I might not feel better for a few months.”

Maverick studied her expression for a moment, clearly understanding where her thoughts had gone. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“All right. I won't make you get on your knees until you feel better.”

Rose's entire face turned red.

“Don't talk like that,” she muttered, frowning at him.

A hint of amusement remained on his face as he continued tending to her knees.

After a moment, Rose looked at him again.

“Can you not scold Zoe?” she asked quietly. “She was only trying to help me. What happened last night wasn't her fault.”

Maverick's eyes lifted to hers while his fingers continued their careful movements over her knee.

“You’re a good girl,” he said calmly. “But if you want me to forget about what happened, someone still needs to pay for it.”

His gaze sharpened.

“If you want me to forgive Zoe, how are you going to convince me?”

Rose stared at him, uncertain.