Page 52 of Fractured Hearts

Maverick’s chin wobbles as he explains finding me on the cliff stairs and then dragging me up them and into the tub with Jo. Tears sting my eyes, and I don’t bother to try to stop them as I let them fall down my cheeks.

“I’m so sorry,” my voice is barely a whisper with how dry it is. Maverick notices and jumps from the bed.

“I’ll go get you water and let Jo know you’re awake and okay.”

I nod, not really able to say more.

The next time the door opens, it’s Darren. He checks me over and removes my IV, making me promise to call him if I feel worse.

“I got you water and some fruit. I didn’t know how hungry you would be.” Maverick makes his way back to my side of the bed and helps me sit up to drink the water. The coldness burns my dry throat, but it feels good at the same time.

“Thank you,” I tell him. He nods and bites his lip like he wants to say something but is holding back.

“You should probably get some more sleep,” he says instead.

I slide myself back down until I’m lying flat. When Maverick turns to go, I grab his wrist to stop him.

“I know I have no right to ask, but will you stay? Please?” I want to stay in this fever dream a little longer.

Maverick’s face softens, and he gives me a small smile. “Yeah. I’ll stay.”

He crawls back into bed, quickly snuggling down into the blankets. He must be exhausted because he’s out in minutes. I watch him for as long as I can before sleep pulls me under, too.

The next time I wake up, the room is completely dark, and Maverick’s body is wrapped around me from behind. He always liked to be the big spoon, even though I’m bigger than him. He must feel me move because he pulls me closer like he’s afraid I’ll disappear if he lets go.

“Mav,” I whisper. “Sweetheart, you need to let go so I can pee.”

He grumbles something but loosens his hold enough to let me go. I relieve myself in the hallway bathroom and return to the bedroom as quickly as I can. Which isn’t all that fast considering how sore I am. I glance over at Jo’s bedroom, but her door is shut. I’m sure she’s asleep. The apology I owe her will have to wait until morning.

Maverick is sitting up against the headboard with the lamp next to the bed on when I return, his muscular chest on full display. I stare at it too long before meeting his eyes. Luckily, he smiles when he catches me. That smile leaves his face so quickly I thought I imagined it before it’s replaced with tears. I scramble onto his lap, ignoring my screaming muscles and my brain, telling me that straddling him probably isn’t appropriate right now. He wraps his arms around me and squeezes tight while he sobs into my chest.

“What’s wrong?” I ask, hugging him back and rocking him gently. I keep my voice calm even though I’m panicking a little.

“I thought you left me again,” he hiccups. “I thought it was eight years ago all over again.”

“Sweetheart, I’m so fucking sorry. Please believe me. I will never, ever leave you again.” I hear my voice crack. I hurt him again.

Maverick gently pushes on my chest, and I back up enough for him to look at me. I see the flash of something in his eyes before he’s pulling me down and crashing his lips against mine. It takes me a minute to catch up with what's happening before I’m returning his kiss, pouring every ounce of desperation and longing into it. His lips are so fucking soft, his taste so familiar. I don’t know which one of us is crying when I taste salt on my tongue.

We kiss until we’re breathless and our lips are swollen and then kiss some more. I never want to stop, never want to be disconnected from him again. I want him to fuck me. To remind me of who I belong to. My hole clenches at the thought, and my already painfully hard dick twitches in my wet and sticky boxers. It takes every ounce of self-control I have to pull away from him. With the noises he’s making, I know he’ll let me take things further, but I can’t, knowing there’s every chance he’s going to regret this in the morning.

“Baby, please,” Maverick whines, thrusting up to rub his hard cock against mine. I groan, pressing my forehead into his.

“I’m trying to be good,” I say, a little breathless. Maverick pulls back and glares up at me.

“Don’t treat me like I’m made of glass. I’ll say stop if I want you to stop.”

“Fuck,” I grunt. “Fuck, sweetheart. What do you want? I’ll give you anything.”

“Naked. Now.”

I scramble off him long enough to get my boxers off and he does the same. He has just enough time to lay flat on his back before I’m on top of him, both of our dicks rock hard and leaking an obscene amount of precum. I groan into his neck on the first glide of my dick against his. He’s so hard and so warm I nearly come right there.

“Yes, baby,” Maverick moans, clutching my back as he thrusts up to meet me. “You feel so good.” He’s always been more vocal during sex. Usually he’s the one in charge, but I think he needs me to be right now.

We’re so wet and slippery from how aroused we are that we don’t need lube, thankfully, because I don’t have any. I wasn’t exactly expecting to have sex when I got here.

Maverick nips his way along my collarbone and then my jaw as I continue to grind against him. The tingling starts at the base of my spine and quickly moves to my balls. I don’t know how much longer I can hold out, but I can’t stop.