“Would your family come with you?” he asked.
“My son most likely not, my daughter, I don’t know. She might stay with my mom. I’m working on getting her set up on disability right now. I don’t even think she’ll be able to hold a job. She’s had it rough and has handicap issues. Husband, no. Most likely I see him and my son getting a place since they both like to smoke their funny stuff. I just want a condo, no house.” She leaned her head back and sighed. “I don’t want to have to mow the grass, shovel snow, worry about a basement flooding, all those things that come with owning one. I just want a condo with a pool, gym, and three bedrooms—one for an office, and a guest room and no carpet.” She smiled and looked over at him. “Would love a big tub too. One I can sit back and soak in.”
He smiled. “I can relate to part about the tub. After working out and dancing, it does feel good to soak.” Maverick pulled into his favorite place to eat, a diner out of the way and quiet. “Well this is it, small and quiet, but has the best food.”
“Looks good,” she reached for the door, but he reached over and patted her hand. “I’ll get the door.” Maverick said. As he opened his door, scanned the area as he got out. He knew it was safe since he’d been coming here for a few years, but Maverick always kept up his guard.
His car was one of his babies, so Maverick always parked under a light. A 1968 Ford Charger in mint condition. He ran his finger over the door handle before opening the door for the woman that waited for him.
“Come Jess,” Maverick said, holding out his hand to her. She turned, slipping one leg out, her black dress riding up her leg and showing part of her thigh. Jess did have a nice pair of legs on her. He knew she didn’t find herself attractive, but the longer he was with her, Maverick began to notice just how stunning she was.
Her curves where thick and she wouldn’t break while someone fucked her hard. A growl slipped out as she stood. The thought of someone touching her didn’t sit well with the cat inside him.
“You okay?” she asked.
“Sorry, something in my throat,” He wrapped his arm around her and walked up to the diner after locking the doors.
“So tell me about yourself? Married?” She asked, as he showed her to the table up the stairs that they could stare out at the strip. “Wow, breath taking,” she said scooting into the booth.
Maverick hesitated, trying to decide whether to sit beside her or across from her. He chose to sit across from her. He wanted to see her reaction to his questions and he had quite a few of them before anything was going to progress further tonight.
“So you were married before?” Jess asked watching him.
* * *
The man was all alpha, just the way he moved and spoke. Jess didn’t know what the hell she was doing here, but she couldn’t help but be drawn to him in a primal way. Just the way his gaze traveled over her body, had her blood boiling, needing.
“How did you know I was married?” he asked, his gaze meeting hers, and holding it.
“It’s not that hard to tell when a man has been burned and you have all the signs. Do you have children?”
“Three, all in college now. I was married for ten years and gave up too much. Never again.” He turned to the waitress. “Mary, I’ll have the steak, rare, baked potato, and whatever vegetable you have that is fresh.” He glanced over at her.
“What would you like?” he asked.
“Don’t you think she should have a menu? Really Maverick, how would she know what we have here?” The woman handed her a menu and rolled her eyes. “Sorry about that. He the kind of guy that seems to think everyone should bow to him.”
“Mary,” Maverick snarled and the waitress laughed.
“Isn’t he cute when he growls?” The waitress leaned down. “Wait till he gets you...”
“Enough!” the man yelled and slammed his fist down on the table, scaring the living crap out of her.
She closed the menu and handed it back to the waitress. “Well, that solves that. Thank you Mary for the menu and being so kind, but I don’t think I’ll be ordering anything. But if you could call me a cab, I’d appreciate it.”
“No, please.” Maverick reached over and squeezed her arm. “Forgive me. I just don’t like gossip. If you want to know about me, I’ll tell you, just ask, but what you don’t realize is that Mary here is a little jealous.” He turned to look at the waitress. “I suggest you send someone else to wait on us since it’s obvious you can’t handle it. Good night Mary.”
The woman bowed her head. “I’m sorry, sir. I’ll have Beth come over and take your order.” The redhead turned and almost ran away.
“I told her it wouldn’t work, that I wasn’t interested in anything permanent, but Mary assured me she could handle it.” He shook his head. “Again, I’m sorry.”
Jess leaned forward. “I don’t stand for bullies and I sure won’t tolerate violence. I don’t care how fucking good you are in bed. I’m too old and too tired to put up with that shit.” Jess looked back at where Mary had gone. “Seems to me I’m a little bit out of your usual choice of ladies? I mean Mary is so not me.”
Maverick leaned back and took a deep breath, staring at her. “You’re right. She is different, and I wasn’t being a bully. She called me alpha and Mary knows she stepped over the line. You don’t know me, and for her to even start bragging or saying anything, is wrong. Not only have you gotten a bad impression of me now, but a less than flattering one, and for that I am sorry.”
Jess took a deep breath and studied the man. “Our new waitress comes,” she said. “I’m not leaving yet.”
The man across from her ordered and glanced to her. “Please, this is on me,” he said.
“I’ll take a bowl of your clam chowder and an order of your stuffed mushrooms, with a diet soda, whatever you have please.” Jess handed the menu to the new waitress and took a drink of the water she had brought with her.
“You are not one of those who diet all the time, are you?” he asked.
She snorted. “Yeah, I diet for a day till I see something that I like.” She smiled. “But I do try and keep the carbs at bay, but have a hard time doing it, especially since I love bread. A good soup will usually fill me up, but I do like my meat when it’s time. But it’s late and won’t sit right on me, and might keep me up.”
He smiled. “And what if I’d planned to keep you up with me tonight?” he asked.
Damn, once more the man used his voice on her, making her body a quivering mess. She squirmed in her seat under his gaze.
* * *
Maverick hid the grin as the new waitress brought their food. It seemed Jess was still interested in him, but Maverick was still furious with Mary. How, dare she try and scare away a female he was interested in. She knew better, especially since she was a member of his pack.
“Are you asking?” she asked, taking a spoonful of her soup and moaning.
“No, but I won’t force you either. I was planning on taking you to my penthouse at the hotel after we’re done here,” he informed her, loving the little sounds she made while she ate.
The spoon stopped halfway to her mouth and her gaze met his. She stared at him for a second before lowering her gaze. Jess was very much a submissive and he couldn’t wait to find out how far he could go with her tonight.
“Don’t you think you should text your friends and tell them you won’t be back tonight?” he asked.
She picked up a mushroom and took a bite, closing her eyes while eating. “So good.” Her eyes opened. “I haven’t decided yet,” Jess said, and popped the rest of the thing in her mouth before digging through her bag for her phone.
“Excuse me for a minute, Maverick,” she pushed a button and put the phone to her ear. “What do you want, Hunter?” she said. “Well, if he’s drunk go to your friend’s house for the night. You don’t need to put up with that…What? Who’s there with him?” she closed her eyes. “I did tell him to find someone and he always did have a thing for her. Just go to
your friend’s and don’t say anything. You don’t need to start anything when I’m not there. Is Rose at Grandma’s?” she asked, sitting back and staring at her food.
“So Mom and Rose know your aunt is there? Please, just tell them to go back to Grandma’s and not to say anything. I can’t do anything and I really don’t’ care anymore. Listen I have to go. I’m having dinner with a friend right now. We’ll sort it out when I get home.” She nodded her head.
“Love you too, baby. See you on Monday.” Jess shut the phone off and put it on the table.
“You okay?” Maverick asked.
“Sure, just honkey dory. I mean I always did tell him to find someone, but who would have guessed my little sister would step up to bat?” She snorted. “Now, I only hope my book proposals turn out here at the convention.”
She took a drink of her diet pop. “Is this going to change anything?” Jess asked.
“Why would it change anything?” he leaned forward, running a finger down her cheek. “If you stay, I’m not promising anything. Do you understand?”
“Of course, I didn’t think anything otherwise. Plus, I’m only here for a few more days. We each have our own lives.” Jess said and sighed, looking at her phone that was ringing. “Excuse me. That’s my mother.” Jess got up and moved to the large bay window, staring out at the strip in the distance.
She didn’t think he could hear, but he heard everything Jess said.
“No mom I’m not going to say a word to Linda. Mom, stop please. There is no sense in you getting all upset. If she wants to screw around with David she has my blessing. At least I know it wasn’t his heart attack, like he claimed, for not wanting sex. Just wish I would have known sooner. I wouldn’t have waited. Guess I’m the sucker who really wanted to believe in happy ever after. What a joke.” Jess glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him.
“Listen mom, I’m out to dinner with a friend. I refuse to allow this to upset me when I planned for this week for the past year. Just don’t say anything to her. Let them do their thing. I know, Mom. Tell Rose I love her and I’ll see you guys when I come home.” Jess hung the phone up and sighed before turning toward their table again.
“Everything okay?” he asked.
“Nope, but there is nothing I can do about it now and I refuse to ruin my week because of two assholes. They have messed with my life for the last time. Now, is about me and no one else. So, as to your question, I’d love to stay with you tonight.” Jess leaned over and smiled. “Let’s see what you have, Mr. Wetsal, if you are still up to it.” She challenged.
“Text your roommate, but know this as soon as you send that text…The rest of the night you are mine. You follow my orders, understood? Yes, Sir would be appropriate…” Maverick said.
“You’re a Dom, aren’t you?” she asked.
“No, I’m your Master.” He answered and watched as her eyes got big.
“Yes, Sir,” Jess took her phone texting her roommate. She looked up at him as he stood.
“Move over,” he ordered and at once she did as he said.
* * *
Jess scooted over in the booth. She had just agreed to give herself to a man she barely knew. Was it because of what had happened at home? Jess peeked up at the man in question and the question answered itself…no.
She had a feeling tonight would be everything Jess had ever dreamed of, she just hoped her heart didn’t get lost here in Vegas.
Maverick pulled all his food over to him and turned to her, studying her. “I want you to pick a safe word. Any time you are afraid or uncomfortable, I want you to ask questions. But the safe word is the only thing that will stop me, understand.”
“Yes Sir.” She smiled. “Dream is my safe word.”
“It fits you,” Maverick said, grabbing a handful of her hair and pulling her head back. He stared down at her for just a second before his mouth covered hers in a hot, demanding kiss. Not just any kiss, but one with lots and lots of tongue. He was devouring her and all Jess could do was hang on.
“You taste amazing and I don’t even like clam chowder. Eat Jess, because you are going to need every ounce of strength when I get you back to my place.” He nipped her bottom lip, before he released her and started to eat again.
Jess reached up and touched her lips. Were they swollen like so many of her friends described in their books? She turned her head away from him, reaching for her drink. Right now Jess didn’t know if she could hold the spoon without shaking the soup all over herself.
She tried to remember the last time someone had actually kissed her like Maverick had, but nothing, no one. Jess reached and grabbed one of her mushrooms.
“What’s wrong?” Maverick asked, giving her a sideways glance.
“Nothing,” she said and regretted it as he turned his golden eyes totally on her. “Jess, I need honesty here or nothing is going to happen tonight. Now, one more time. What is wrong?” he asked.
“I have a feeling I’m a little out my element here.” She took a bite of her mushroom.
“Explain?” he asked, going back to eating his steak, but Jess could tell he was still waiting.
“I might write all the hot stuff, but I have no experience, Maverick. Oh, I’ve always wanted to venture into a club, but never had the guts to do it. Plus, with my life, it was just too much. Hell, some nights I would have killed just to be held.”
He turned his head, his gaze on hers. “When is the last time you had sex?”
She snorted. “The last time for anything was Valentine’s Day over nine years ago. I put on a teddy, the whole bit. Gave him a blow job and he rolled over and went to bed. Said he couldn’t do anything. So, I thought you should know what you are getting into.”
“Did you use toys?” he asked and her face heated.
“Yes, some, but after a while it just felt empty. You know that saying, you can be surrounded by lot of people, but be totally alone?” she asked and he nodded.
“Well, I’ve had that feeling for a long time. So these conventions are a lifeline for me. I get to actually see and talk to friends. I consider some of them more than friends like my friend Mara. She’s the one that lives here. She and her husband will be picking me up tomorrow after my pitch session and I can’t wait. I swear she’s me, but a younger version.” Jess looked up at him. “But she found the one she’s supposed to be with.”
“Mara Dones? She’s your friend?” Maverick asked.
“Yep, you have heard of her?” she asked and risked taking a sip of her soup now that the shaking had calmed.
“I know her husband well.” A slow smile formed on his lips. “It seems we are to have dinner together tomorrow night.”
“Really? That little stinker.” She glanced over at him. “Do you want me to call her and tell her to forget it? I don’t want to put you on the spot.”
“Nope. I have no problem having dinner with you again,” he said, putting a bite of his raw steak into his mouth.
He laughed. “I take it you don’t like your meat pink?”
She shivered. “Nope, maybe a little pink, but not when it’s still talking. Have you had a slave full time?” Jess asked.
Maverick reached down and popped the last piece of steak into his mouth. “No and I don’t know if I’d want a full time slave.” He looked down at her. “My wife was very prim and proper. The very idea of submitting to me was against everything she believed in. Ten years is a long time to hide what is ingrained in me and I won’t do it again. But if I did every bring anyone full time into my life, she would have to learn that 80% of the time I will be demanding. If she can give me all that, then she would want for nothing, because I’d give her the world if she asked for it.”
“I’m sure you’ll find the right woman, Maverick. You are an amazing man and I know there are hundreds out there that would kill just to have a night with you.” Jess leaned over and took the last spoonful of her soup.
“Does that include you?” he asked, leaning over and burying his fac
e into her neck, licking and sucking on her skin.
“Of course, but with me I’m wondering why you’d even be interested when there are so many others that are…well, younger.”
He placed his hand on her thigh and slid it up under her dress, squeezing as he progressed.
“You are very lucky you didn’t say prettier. I happen to think you are stunning. You’re smart, and you don’t mince words.” He nipped her neck and lifted his head, looking at her. “I don’t want a bimbo. If I wanted one of those, I would have picked one a long time ago. No, I want someone that will challenge me, but give me the respect I deserve. What do you want in a man, little fawn?” he asked
“Little Fawn?” she said.
“You remind me of a little fawn when you learn something new. Your eyes get big, but you are soaking up the information.” He leaned over and nipped her bottom lip. “Answer the question.”
* * *
She tasted sweet, her skin was soft and her scent even had his cat purring. When she turned her head to the side to think, it was the cutest thing. Even being older, this woman had an aura of some one very young and innocent.
“The type of man I would want,” she said, as she rested her head back and looked up at him. “He’d have to be smart, someone who could debate with me on issues. Even if we disagreed, he’d allow my beliefs. The man would welcome my career and my children without any restrictions and that means the conventions. Hell, I’d love for my man to come to the conventions with me. To actually want to show me off, like he was proud of me. He’d have to want to travel, because I want to see the world, England, Scotland, Ireland just to name a few places. The man I want is someone that is sure of himself, someone I don’t have to keep reassuring all the time. One that makes up his own mind and takes what he wants, especially in the bedroom.” She sighed.
Left My Heart in Sin City Page 2
