by K. D Clark
“I’m sorry about walking in on you this morning,” I rush out. I want to close my eyes and hide away. Heat fills my cheeks.
A small smile stretches across Maverick’s face. “You can watch anytime, just let me know beforehand so I can put on a show.”
My mouth drops open in shock, and I splash him in the face with water. “Pig!” He grabs me around the waist and lifts me out of the water. “Maverick! No, stop!”
Like I weigh nothing, he throws me across the pool. I hit the water with a huge splash. When I come back up, Maverick has an eyebrow raised at me.
“Oh, it is on,” I say.
I charge at him as fast as I can in the water before trying to push his head down underneath. It’s a pathetic attempt, and he just laughs before throwing me across the pool again. This time, instead of coming back up, I swim underwater and come up right in front of him. His eyes widen for a fraction of a second before I splash him with water.
We play in the pool for what felt like hours. I felt like a kid again as we slung water at each other, and Maverick continued to pick me up and throw me like I was light as a feather.
“Go to Mexico with me,” he says, catching his breath as we stand across the pool from one another in battle mode.
I cock my head to the side. “Why are you going to Mexico?”
“To celebrate. I have a place there.”
The last time I’d been to Mexico was when I went to Cancun for spring break during my undergrad. I’m sure this trip with Maverick would be a lot different.
“Yeah, okay, let's go to Mexico.”
He smiles before rushing across the water to get to me. I let out a scream as I run as fast as I can against the pool water to escape what will for sure be another toss across the pool.
***
“Our plane leaves at what time?” I ask. We’re sitting at the breakfast table, talking over coffee. Maverick seems to be in a rush. I just want to enjoy my cup of coffee and rest with him.
“Eight a.m. Are you ready?” He asks, already fully dressed and flipping through his emails. I quickly learn that he’s a little type-A when it comes to traveling. He had one of the staff members pack my bag two days earlier, and he insisted we had to leave early, even though he has a private plane, so it isn’t like we have to deal with a crowded airport.
“I will be. Can I finish my breakfast first? I’ve never seen someone so uptight about a vacation.”
I was starting to consider our mornings together sacred. He usually spent a large part of the day working in his office or going to meetings. The only time we sometimes got together was eating breakfast and drinking our coffee together. He looks so handsome in the morning light. Those dark piercing eyes ruffle my feathers every time. He hasn’t tried anything with me yet, but every time I’m around him, I have to change my panties. He’s waiting for me to take the first step, and that will probably be sooner than later.
He grumbles something under his breath, but I ignore him and look out the window at the beautiful property. After a while, he stands and drops a kiss on my mouth. The smell of fresh soap and his cologne surround me. I want to bottle up his scent and keep it to myself.
“One hour,” he warns before leaving me alone in the dining room.
An hour later, I have it together, and I’m ready to go. Maverick has been sitting around in the lounge area. He’s twiddling his thumbs in angst. He’s calm and calculating when it comes to business. Today, though, he’s like a little kid.
A black SUV is waiting outside the house. We climb in, and the staff loads up our suitcases. The drive to the airport isn’t very long. At the airport, we’re escorted to the private runway. Maverick owns a couple of private planes, but this one is top of the line. A Cessna that retailed for twenty-six million, according to the plaque on the wall next to the emergency door. Two young stewardess welcomes Maverick and me aboard. The captain enters from the cockpit as we’re being seated.
“Nice to see you again, sir.”
“Hey, Michelle,” Maverick responds. “Nice to see you again. This is Hazel.”
“Nice to meet you,” the captain says, offering her hand out for me to shake.
“Nice to meet you too,” I say, giving her hand a shake.
“We’ll be taking off in just a few moments,” the captain assures us before retreating to the cockpit.
“A female pilot and an all-female crew, very cool,” I say.
The stewardess offers us some beverages along with a breakfast menu.
“Women’s equality.” He grins at me.
“Is that what it is?”
I wonder if Maverick has slept with any of his staff. Since I’d caught him masturbating, I doubt that he’s sleeping with anyone else, but my insecurities flare up anyways. I don't have a reason to be jealous, but I am. They say jealousy is the fear that someone else is going to take your happiness away. And I have to admit I’m very happy with Maverick. The happiest I’ve been in a long time. After everything that happened with Miles, it’s like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. It will take a while to get over that.
“I’m not part of the Mile High club if that’s what you think.”
How did he read my mind like that?
I swallow. “Good to hear.”
He scoots closer to me, his lips coming to my ear. His breath tickles my neck as he speaks. “But I don’t mind joining if that’s what you’re into.”
I clench my thighs together as he pulls away from me and sits back in his seat. He wants me to make the first move.
He grabs a book from the table in front of us. His hand rests on my thigh as he reads. I relax under his touch.
“All you have to do is ask,” he says, not sparing me a glance as he reads. The offer is tempting, but I’m still nervous about being intimate with him again.
Shortly after that, the plane is ready for departure. We took to the air and began the three-hour flight to Puerto Escondido; a beautiful, quiet fishing village tucked away on the Pacific Coast in the state of Oaxaca. I slept through the entire trip. My body was exhausted even though I’d gotten plenty of sleep last night. Maverick woke me with a kiss to my forehead.
“We’re here,” he says.
In my mind, I assumed Mexico to be a third-world environment with poverty undermining its economy. As we exit the plane and a driver takes us to Maverick’s house, I realize this part of the country exemplified a tropical paradise. The automobiles, while not Range Rovers and Teslas, were modern, the buildings nicely constructed. People walk the streets leading to the five-star resort. The driver drove down a long winding road to a modest house. At least modest compared to his estate in Tahiti.
The house is an off-white two-story home. It almost seems to fit in with this affluent neighborhood if it wasn’t for the high level of security he has. The fence that surrounds the property is similar to the one in Tahiti. I’m suddenly reminded of why he has to have such a high level of security. I almost let myself forget about the other business Maverick is involved in. Even though he’s building his clean energy company, he still isn’t out of the arms dealing game. He works all day running both businesses, but I haven’t let myself think about the specifics of what he’s doing.
The house is located a little bit off the road so it would be difficult for someone to see it. As we exit the car and approach the front desk, Maverick’s rough hand grabs mine and intertwines our fingers. He takes a key out of his pocket to unlock the door and waves me inside.
“You don’t have staff here?” I ask.
“No, just security. There’s a local couple that stays here while I’m away, but I come here when I need some quiet time.”
I can’t imagine Maverick needing any quiet time. He’s always on the go. I take a step inside the house. It’s decorated beautifully with oversized furniture and carpeted floors. It’s so cozy and different from what I imagined his vacation home would look like. A wooden staircase is next to the foyer. I assume that leads to the bedrooms.
/> “Have a look around, I'm going to grab our bags,” he says from behind me, but I don't turn around; I’m too much in awe of the cozy home. I walk to the kitchen that has green cabinets and wood countertops. Everything has a rustic look to it, and it’s entirely out of place in this beautiful part of the country. There are glass double doors that led out to a small porch. Beyond the porch, I can see the ocean. A sense of warmth surrounds me. I’m going to love it here.
“Come on. I’ll show you to our rooms,” Maverick says. He has two suitcases in his hands and is standing at the foot of the staircase. I follow behind him to the second floor. Four bedrooms are on this floor, all with the same black panel door. He sets the suitcases down in the hallway and opens the second door.
“This will be your room.”
My heart sinks a little as I realize we’ll still be sleeping in separate rooms. He’s just giving me the space that I’ve needed, but now I crave being close to him. What happened with Miles will always be a part of my history, but I want to move forward. I step inside the room anyway. It’s a typical guest room complete with; a bed, dresser, flatscreen TV, and a bathroom. There’s another door next to the dresser.
“Where does that go?” I ask as Maverick sets my suitcase on the floor.
“To my room. I bought the house as-is, so I’m not sure why it was installed. It could have been a nursery, but I decided to keep it.”
I open the door to see that his bedroom is almost a replica of mine.
“This house is very…” I don't know how to describe it. Unlike him? Normal?
He comes behind me and wraps his hands around my waist. Home. This feels like home. His five o’clock shadow brushes against my neck, causing goosebumps to pop up all over my skin.
“Humble. I come here when I need to be reminded of where I came from. Sometimes I need to remind myself that I haven’t always been a billionaire. It's easier to make hard decisions from a place like this when I’m not surrounded by all the things I accomplished.”
Something about his words makes my heart grow for him. He might be worth enough money to buy anything he wants, but he still reminds himself of where he comes from. He isn’t going to ever let money get to his head or lose sight of who he is. Something about his confession puts me at ease.
He places a kiss on my neck. “I’ll leave you alone so you can unpack.”
Chapter Ten: Part Two Viva La Mexico
Maverick
An hour later, Hazel knocks on the adjoining door and slides it open slowly. I’m planted at the desk with my iPad and docking station.
“You don’t have to knock, you know...” I say, turning to face her.
“Okay. I won’t knock anymore. I’m ready.” Her azure eyes run deep like the tropical waters I surround myself with. I’d texted her after we got settled that we could go into town if she wanted to do some exploring. I’d been to this part of Mexico, so many times, it doesn't really excite me anymore, but it will probably mean a lot to her. Is this what I’ve become? A man who does things just because it makes his girl happy?
I stand up from the desk and grab my keys. A short drive later and we’re in the town center. I park behind a line of cars and help Hazel out of the vehicle. We walk hand in hand toward the busiest part of the community.
The town center is the hub of the community. Multitudes of restaurants, novelty stores, and other small businesses dominate both sides of the street. The main avenue is only a block from the ocean. Within minutes, we reach the end of the road. Hazel spots a handmade jewelry shop and coaxes me inside with her. As she peers around the store, she admires all of the handmade jewelry.
“It's a lot like Tahiti, but all the jewelry has different colors and designs,” she says in awe, looking down at the table.
I nod. “Every culture is different in their handmade art.”
I followed her around the center as she oohed and ahhed at everything.
“So what are we exactly?” she asks as we stroll alongside the sidewalk, weaving around people that stop at the kiosks.
“As in...” I know what she’s asking, but I want to hear it from her mouth. I wouldn’t be doing all this if I didn’t have feelings for her.
“I mean,” she stops and turns to face me. “We don’t have to put a label on anything. If you don’t want to be exclusive-“
I grab her hand and intertwine our fingers. “I haven’t fucked anyone else since I first laid eyes on you. You’re mine, Hazel. And if you think for a second that I’m ever going to let you go, you’re wrong. Is that enough of a label for you?”
She pulls her bottom lips in between her teeth. “It’s just our relationship hasn’t exactly been... traditional.”
I can’t hold back my laugh, and she smiles. “No, I definitely wouldn’t say it’s been traditional. But you’re mine, and I’m all yours.”
“I cheated on my husband. You're not afraid-“
“Your husband was a piece of shit, and if you think I’d judge you for something like that, then you don’t know me at all. I’ve done a lot worse in my life than you ever have.”
Her tawny throat moves as she swallows. The weight of my words hang in the air, but they're true. The woman who stands before me is so much stronger than the one I meet that first day. Miles broke her down until she was nothing, but she’s built herself back up, and I’m one lucky motherfucker to be able to witness her strength.
She nods. “Okay.”
I lean down and place a kiss on her forehead, inhaling her scent as I do.
It wasn’t until she started complaining about her feet hurting that I suggest we stop in one of the small restaurants. I pick one on the corner of the street. It’s two stories; the bottom holds a small shop, and the restaurant is on the top floor. I’ve been here a couple of times before. I follow her as she ascends the stairs first, her hips swaying. The memory of holding them as we made love filters through my mind. She pauses momentarily and sighs in pain. Clutching the handrail with one hand, the other hand on her head. I scan her body with concern.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I think so. I just got a little dizzy for a minute, but I’m okay,” she replies breathily.
“Are you sure?” I persist.
She waves me off. “Yes, I’m fine.”
I look her over, not believing her for a second, but I let it slide. I wrap an arm around her waist as we walk the rest of the way up the stairs. The hostess sits us at a booth in the corner, so we have some privacy. Hazel opens the menu and smiles.
“I guess I didn't think about everything being written in Spanish,” she says.
The waitress comes over, and I order for both of us.
“I didn't know you were fluent.”
I shrug. “It's one of the reasons I bought property here. The best way to become fluent is to immerse yourself in the culture completely.”
It helps me when doing arms deals across the country, but I don't mention that. Hazel looks like she’s deep in thought as she stares at me from the other side of the table. Her face is free of any makeup, and her hair has a natural texture to it. I like her like this. It’s almost as exotic as seeing her naked.
I’ve discovered in the short time we’ve been together that she enjoys dressing up. She usually has curls in her hair and makeup on, even if she’s just staying in the house. Maybe the fact that she is natural now means she’s comfortable around me.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
My question seems to surprise her as if she had been completely zoned out.
She smiles, but I can tell it’s forced. “I’m just happy, that’s all.”
“Does that mean we can start sleeping in the same bed?” The question has been on my mind for a while. I’m tired of the distance between us. I want to wake up with her every damn morning. She’s still holding back.
She pulls her bottom lip in between her teeth, and my dick twitched at the sight.
“Maybe.”
Chapter Eleven: Discovery
/>
Hazel
After we get home, Maverick goes to his room to work, and I sit on the edge of my bed. I had him stop at a pharmacy on the way back, claiming that I needed some candy. I’d gotten the candy but also a pregnancy test.
The package sits in my hands, my stomach twisting in knots. What the hell am I going to do if it was positive? I never even thought about the possibility of being pregnant until I had that dizzy spell at the restaurant. My period is technically late, but I’m always irregular, so that comes as no surprise. I haven’t had any symptoms of pregnancy, so maybe I’m just overreacting. I take a deep breath. I need to take the test. Tears roll down my face as I try to build up the nerve to go into the bathroom. Everything is going so well between Maverick and me, and it’s about to be completely ruined. Fuck. What am I going to do with a baby?
At least I’ll have some money soon so I can support myself and my baby. I assumed I couldn’t get pregnant. Miles and I had tried for years to have a baby. But what if it was Miles’s child? Would I look at my child’s face and see the man that raped me? I wipe a hand over my face to dry my tears. I have to find out. I could be worrying about nothing.
Standing from the bed, I walk into the bathroom. After peeing on the stick and washing my hands, I sit on the toilet seat and wait. The seconds seem to crawl by. When the timer goes off on my phone, indicating I can check the test, I don't want to. This could mean my life is going to change again completely. I’ve allowed myself to dream about a future with Maverick, but this could all come crashing down. Maverick is still involved with arms dealing. Is that the kind of environment I want to bring my kid into? He or she couldn’t go anywhere without a security team. That isn’t a life for a child to live. I stand from the toilet and look at the test that balances on the sink.
Positive.
My stomach sinks. Holy shit. I’m pregnant. I rub a hand over my stomach as if I can feel something. Tears stream down my face, but I can barely feel them. How am I suppose to tell Maverick? “Hey, I know things have been going well with us, but now I’m pregnant, and it might be my dead abusive husband’s”?
