LAKE“You were driving like a granny.”“Did I ask you to ride with me? I didn’t, did I? You have your guys and your Mercedes. You should have been here an hour ago.” Maverick paused, dropped her bag on the couch, and arched a brow at me.“Wow.” I stared at her in both amusement and surprise. “You just said five sentences. I was messing with you, Maverick.”“Well, you have a dry sense of humor,” she said as she went to the couch and played with her phone.“Thank you.” I left her alone and went upstairs. I took a quick shower and changed.Then my phone rang. It was my cousin, Striker.“What’s up, cuz?”“I heard a word on the street that you got married and did not tell me. Why?”“Linden has such a big mouth. I specifically told him not to tell anyone. At least, not yet.”“You didn’t tell me, toolbag.” Linden talked.“Oh, now he’s there with you, gossiping.” I got in bed and leaned against the headboard. I felt tired and sleepy. I even yawned and rubbed my eyes. “Is this the club you’re
MAVERICK“Why are you here?” I instantly felt his presence, smelled his cologne, and the mattress shifted as he joined me in bed.My senses awakened. My heart began pumping fast. My breathing held in my lungs as I felt his large hand on my arm.He could have felt my body tensing, but every time he came near me, a fire lit inside me that took all my strength to push my excitement back in place. I admitted our situation was getting complicated. At least, that was what I felt as I began to like Lake.Behind that playboy charismatic, charming, and overconfident Lake Winston, he was a good, caring, and thoughtful person. Before I entered into this arrangement, I thought I would be living in hell for 365 days, but so far, aside from being obnoxious and controlling, he was more tolerable than my ex.I had forgotten entirely about Heath. Lately, Lake had occupied my brain most of the time. And I knew this arrangement was going to screw me up over.“Can you at least turn and face me?”It was a
LAKE“Hey, Mom.” I just entered the entrance of her house, and she was already dashing in my direction to welcome me. Her blue eyes were bright.“Bunny.” She pulled me into her arms, hugging me tight. “I miss you, honey.”“I miss you, too, Mom.” One of her modern architectural houses was situated in her 12.6-hectare estate in Massachusetts, and she has always felt it was her home.“Tell me how you have been for the past weeks.”“Do you realize we just had dinner two weeks ago?” You could say I was a mama’s boy. Mom was also my best friend.“It feels like an eternity.” Her arm was still around me as we went directly to the dining room. I was a little bit late. It took over three hours to get here, and I left the office late because I had to help our IT department fix some code issues.“Well, I am here now.”We began dinner right away. The salad was delicious, topped with grilled prawns. One thing I remembered on Maverick’s file was that she had allergies to shells and walnuts.“If you
MAVERICKI reported to work two hours earlier so I could go home and wash my clothes.“So, where’s your hot and rich boyfriend?” Genesis teased me as she placed down orders on the tray for table five with four women in heavy makeup.“He’s not my boyfriend, GG.”She smirked, glancing at my hand. “Not your boyfriend. Perhaps a fiancee or a husband?”“Just send those orders before Rocco comes and fires us.”“Fine, but I will grill you with questions about your hot-not-boyfriend. And you barely come home, woman. He must be that good.”“Oh, my God.” I widened my eyes because I was sure Dallas was listening, and the customers kept coming.“Don’t mind me, Maverick, but I’m interested if you lost interest in him.” He winked, shocking me more. “I’m into both.”“Oh. Okay, cowboy.” I laughed as I dropped olives into the Martini.Genesis came back, still wearing that mischievous smile on her face. “How big he is?”“You saw him. Thick and long,” Dallas replied, making my face flush with embarrassm
LAKE“How the fuck did that happen, Huxley?” I was already vibrating in anger. My muscles tensed everywhere, and I wanted to throw punches at someone’s face.“She asked me to leave after I followed her to her work.”“Didn’t I specifically tell you to drive her to the Bazz?”“Yes, sir, but she insisted on going by her car alone, or she wouldn’t go to work.” Of course, she would do that.“But she’s a freaking woman, Huxley. You could have done better than that. I trusted you with her life, and I knew you could handle that kind of situation. It was not even a hostile situation. How did you become so incompetent? Now, what the fuck happened?”“Sir, I’m on my way to her work. Mr. Cordoso just informed me, and I haven’t gotten all the details.”“Is my wife okay, Huxley? Fucking answer me, or I swear to God, you wouldn’t be able to find a job again.”“She’s fine.”“Then what fucking happened?”“A group of women came to her work and—” My phone beeped. I had a call waiting. It was Linden on th
MAVERICKI couldn’t believe they vandalized my car with lipstick. They wrote bitch and slut in bold letters on the windshield.I was furious— mad, but I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of proving them right. Homer just arrived before I could even get in my car. I didn’t even know how he got in here so fast, and he told me not to watch the video. So, I followed his advice.He offered to drive home, and when I told him I wanted to go to my apartment, he didn’t resist.I showered and washed off the scent of martini on my body, then changed into an anime-printed T-shirt and pajama bottoms. Since I haven’t bought a bed or a mattress, I had to crash on the couch for tonight.I wasn’t done putting some boxes in the corner when I heard a knock.When I thought it was Homer, I was wrong. Seeing Lake in my apartment and my room was both a relief and a shock. I saw the anger and pain in his eyes, but all died away before he hugged me tight.I sighed in his arms as I hugged him back, but what
LAKEWith money and connections, my wife got her furniture in just a few hours. The men who delivered and installed the bedroom set just left. I was tired and sleepy, but Maverick still cleaned the closet and put her clothes in place. She locked the room and didn’t allow anyone to get in.I knocked again. This time, I had reasons. “For how long are you going to lock the door, Maverick? The food is getting cold.”“Just a minute.”I shook my head as I joined the guys in the small kitchen. “I can’t fucking believe it. Why am I not allowed to get in?”Homer shook his head in amusement.“Do you have something to say?”“Girls value their privacy a lot. They have things they didn’t want boys to see.”“Like what?”“Tampons, underwear, shavers, maybe pictures with their exes, love letters, and so on,” Owen replied.“Sex toys.” Homer shrugged.My blood started rushing in my head. “Sex toys?”“What are you guys talking about?”My spine stiffened, and I turned around. She was beautiful, looking s
MAVERICKThis man kissed me like he was honored. Lake kissed me like it was the end of the world tomorrow. Then he took his time, with no urgency but passion between us, and he absolutely knew how to make a woman’s ovary beg. He was a damn good kisser.I’d never kissed many, but his way was definitely memorable.His hand slipped into my pajama top, dragging his hand all the way to my chest, leaving traces of electrifying sensations in its wake.I wasn’t wearing anything sexy or cute, and it was intentional. Since our sexual tensions crackled between us, becoming more intense, I tried not to wear something revealing that gave him the idea of seducing him.I was hoping this night would end without me waking up tomorrow with regrets. Still, the way he looked at me with such intensity of desires in his eyes, like I only existed for him to be fondled, I got the feeling that we both felt the same and maybe whatever was going on between us—the tension would die away once we slept together.H
TERZOThe thick wooden doubled-door swung open to my father’s office. It was one of the biggest rooms in the house where business was discussed and where the most secured safe and panic room were situated, where he kept his most valuables.I was assaulted by the scents of cedar wood and expensive cigars hung thick in the air.I let go of a shuddering breath as I stepped inside. Gaetano Siciliano, the patriarch of the family, the Don— one of the most powerful and feared heads of the mafias in Italian history— my father was sitting in his chair before his massive desk. His thick brows knitted together, hanging low over his dark caramel eyes and gray hair cut stylishly. In his sixties, he was still fit, strong, and could beat me in the ring if he desired to, but he always humbly said his prime was over.“Figlio.”“Come va, papa?”Papa nodded in acknowledgment. “Come in. How’s your sister?”Standing in the left corner that caught my eye was Celestina, my other beautiful sister who had bee
MAVERICKI smiled as we finally had time for each other. Atlas just fell asleep.Lake cupped my face and traced my lips with his thumb. “Thank you for making me complete, the happiest man on this planet, and for being my wife.”My heart exploded with his words with so much joy. “Ditto. Now, no more talking. Just get rid of your clothes.”He held his laugh, shaking his head as we began taking our clothes off. There was nothing much to strip off. I was in my sexy red lingerie, and he was in his pants.To be honest, our only problem was our time for both of us— most of the time while we were naked in bed, Atlas began waking up and started to cry.“I love you, baby.”I parted my lips as I watched the desire flicker in his eyes. He then dipped down, tagging my bottom lip between his teeth. He groaned as he pressed his hard cock against my lower belly and then cupped my ass as he finally captured my mouth in a passionate kiss, gliding his tongue inside, dominating me.Moaning, I instantly w
MAVERICKEight months later, Southampton I had a teary-eyed earlier as Cooper carried the precious angel I’d never thought I could love beyond anything in this world. He was five months old today and became the center of our universe. He was our ringbearer, and everyone, oh and ah, as he put on a cute little suit, while Nana and Beatreigh had been giggling since I walked down the aisle with my father, Gaetano.Like what he promised to my husband when Lake asked for the blessings he would be here, my friends and family, everyone I loved, including Terzo and Celestina. Lake did his luck inviting my mother. Surprisingly, she was here alone.“What’s in your head, baby?” the most handsome groom I’d ever seen smiled. He still took my breath away when he did that.After all these years of finding my perfect one, he came to me at the right time, even for the wrong reason.Then, our whole universe, Atlas Sawyer Bates Winston, came into our world, adding more colors to our lives. Sawyer was my
LAKE“Oh, my God!” My mother was the first to react, seeing the golf ball pop into blue smoke as soon as my uncle executed a stroke.“I knew it. Look at her abdomen,” Augustine said to my mother.“I told you, remember?” Mom seemed to find a new good friend in Augustine. They went to coffee or shopping together and sometimes baked at home. I was glad they got along so well. They were going to be excellent guides in raising our child.When we held our gender reveal party, Maverick was already six months pregnant. It was worth the wait. Everyone was here— our families, close friends, her friends from the Bazz, and, of course, our extended family.“You should promote my baby products, Maverick.”Amused, I shook my head at Estelle. “Give my wife a break.”“You’re the one who’s not giving her a break,” London replied. “She’s going to wear LH maternity dress for the photoshoots.“Congratulations, cuz.” Striker came to me.“Thanks.” We hugged each other.“Are you ready to be a father?”“I don
MAVERICK“Whoa. Why the long face?” I shoved a spoonful of butter pecan ice cream into my mouth as I watched Lake’s face seemingly in deep, miserable thoughts. “Babe?”“Yeah?” He looked at me, looking guilty.“Did you just cheat on me in that four hours?”“Baby, why do you always think like that?”“Lake, cheating doesn’t only mean you’re sleeping or kissing the other woman. Could be lying, keeping something important from me.”“I know.” He rose from the chair to join me on the couch. Then he pulled me close to him so he could hug me. “You like that?”“Yeah. You want some?” I scooped and offered, but he shook his head.“I want to tell you something.” I could feel the heaviness of guilt in his voice. Whatever he was about to say, I was sure he had reasons.“Shoot.”“I went to Nana.” It lightened up my chest when he called my grandmother Nana. One time, when he talked about my father, he called him Papa even though I still called Gaetano by his name.“And?” I met his gaze.“Your mother w
LAKE“She did not ruin your life. You ruined your own life by sleeping with the most dangerous man,” Augustine spat her anger out.I felt her anger towards her daughter was decades long, and she just had time to let it out of her chest.“You were only eighteen,” she added. “I had high hopes for you, but you disappointed your father. You were reckless and stupid and slept with a married man. You didn’t even know what care and love meant, and after you were gone for months, you came to me five months pregnant. Don’t blame your miserable life and poor choices on the poor, innocent child. She’s been through enough and all of that because you caused her so much pain.”“What do you want from my wife, Florence?”She lifted her chin. “I just wanted to meet her.”“Why now? Why not before when she didn’t have a mother at her first school recital? On her first time having a period? I’m your last to get out of here without being dragged into a van. Terzo is still in town, Florence.”She blinked t
LAKE“Are you okay?” I glanced down at Maverick working on her tan beside the pool.She looked pretty satisfied and comfortable in her yellow two-piece swimsuit and sunglasses, which shielded her eyes from the blazing sun.“Why do you keep asking me that?” She slightly lifted her chin.“Did you put enough sunscreen on?” I wanted to see her eyes but was disappointed that she kept her sunglasses on.“Don’t worry. I need more Vitamin D.” She strolled her gaze at me.“My Vitamin D isn’t enough for you?”When she saw me smirking, she slightly tipped her head down, glaring. “Not everything is about your dick, Lake. Going somewhere?”“Yeah. I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”“A date?”“Yes, Maverick. I have a date. You might as well put Airtag on me.”“Can you buy butter pecan ice cream for me?”“Of course. Anything else?”“Bring your cock back untouched.”I laughed, making her frown. “My cock is exclusively yours, baby.” I bent down to cup her face and kissed her on the lips. “I promise yo
MAVERICK“Linden made fun of me. He sent me every copy of the books he read while Estelle had their first baby, Gabrielle. I’m done reading the first two books.”“Is that why you’re so calmer than me because of these books?”“You may be stubborn, but when it comes to our unborn child, you’re very responsible. Hence, we never argued about it. We most argued about money and my spending on you.”“I did not tell you that I love the ring.” I raised my hand. It was a Marquise cut, the same size as my first engagement ring.“Thank you, baby. I have good taste, you know.” I found some meaning in his words.“I bet.”Once he was done eating, he went to a small fridge and brought two bottled water. He opened one and gave it to me.“Thank you.” I drank it.“Can you stay a little longer?”“Why? Isn’t a chairman and CEO has a lot of work to do?”“That can wait.” He stood before me, cupped my head, and kissed me hard.My hands came to his arms, gripping them as he deepened the kiss and shoved his to
MAVERICKWe finally found out the gender of our baby this morning. I could see the joy in Lake’s eyes as the doctor told us. He was excited and couldn’t wait to meet our baby. He was even teary-eyed as he kissed my tummy.One thing he assured me was that he didn’t care about either a boy or a girl as long as our child was healthy, and I couldn’t agree more.On the other hand, I was a little bit scared of a lot of things, including labor and the pressure of being a first-time mother.I was still astounded at how lucky I was to be his wife. Aside from being overprotective and bossy, he was also thoughtful and loving.After Beatreigh, Nana, and I visited a bridal boutique, we had a late lunch, and then I decided to pay a visit to my husband, who was never invited to the Chairman and CEO’s office. The last time I planned on walking into this building was my confrontation with Wallace, but it didn’t happen.So, I thought I would surprise Lake.I knocked on his office door when Venus told m