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
LAKEShe was fucking clueless. She was fucking hot, and she had no idea.If I didn’t value her, I would have fucked her, but I had great respect for her, and I didn’t want her to regret sleeping with me when she woke up the following day.And the fucking agreement started to piss me off— really pissed off. It was getting our way, and she had never been a rulebreaker.I slept with a raging hard-on after I sent a text to my assistant, and I was exhausted.I woke up too early and went to my mini gym to run on a treadmill and lift some weight. After that, I put on my gloves and threw punches and kicks on the bag. I was sweating, my heart pumping so hard, and I began to catch my breath.It felt good, but I was still pissed off at myself and the entire situation I put myself into.I needed to blow off some steam because the image of Maverick naked kept taunting me, and the softness of her skin, the feel of her breast on my palm, and those moans she did when we kissed. She was just goddamn b
LAKE“Um. I changed my mind. I don’t want a spa anymore.” I felt the firm grip of her hand around mine.We were already inside the salon, our booking confirmed, when she suddenly changed her mind, which confused me.“Why? What’s wrong?” I looked at her, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.“The women over there are the ones at the Bazz.”I followed her gaze. Those women chatting while getting their nails done with Champagne on the table. “Those two?”“Yeah. So can we get out of here now?”“Of course, baby. Hold on a minute. Stay here. Don’t move.”“Where are you going?” She looked worried.“Trust me on this.”I went to the girls, and they instantly recognized me.“Lake?” The blonde smiled widely.“Oh, my God. What are you doing here? Nat would be so jealous right now.” She shooed the woman doing her nails.“Really? Well, tell her this. If any of you, and that includes her, will pull that stunt again on my wife, I will sue all your asses and make sure you all in up in Mexico? Did you fuckin
MAVERICKI was so nervous, and riding in the chopper didn’t help. I started fidgeting as we walked into the massive entrance of Beatreigh’s mansion.“Darling, you made it.” the voice just came from nowhere, and I was instantly engulfed and squeezed in a hug.“Oh, hi. It’s an honor to meet you, Mrs. Winston.” I returned the hug.“Just Beatreigh or Bea, darling. You are Mrs. Winston. I dropped that name a long time ago,” she said with a smile. She looked younger to have a son of Lake’s age. She was also beautiful, with bright blue eyes and a fabulous smile.“Well, hello, Mom.”Beatreigh chuckled, kissing her son on the cheeks. “Hey, bunny.”“Right. Still bunny, even in front of my wife.” He kissed his mother back.“Come with me,” she said excitedly.Lake might have still sensed my nervousness. He took my hand as we followed his mother.The view in the backyard was spectacular, with vast greenery and blooming flowers.“Wow. It’s beautiful.” It was one of the most beautiful places I’d see
MAVERICKLake’s eyebrows met, waiting for his mother to reply.“I want alone time with her.”He was hesitant at first but rose to his feet and kissed the top of my head. “If she makes you uncomfortable, just yell out.”“You didn’t just say that. I’m not the one making her uncomfortable,” his mother said to him.Once Lake was gone inside the house, I shifted in my seat. My heart thundered in my chest.“Did he really do what he said?”“Yeah, and I’m dumb. Now I feel so embarrassed. Considering our situation, I thought he was doing those to make me feel comfortable around him. Like he said, we have to make it look real in front of people. So I did what I did. It was nothing personal.”“You don’t like my son, Maverick?” Her question caught me off guard.I looked her in the eye and saw nothing but a loving and concerned mother. “I like him, but that’s it. I can’t fall for him. Our situation is complicated, and it’s contractual. It has an expiry date.”“Why not? It’s just a contract. What’s
LAKE“Hey. Are you okay?”Maverick was surprised at me joining her in the powder room. “What are you doing here, Winston?”“Don’t worry. I’m sure Mom has so many ideas about what a married couple would be doing in the powder room, but are you okay? You look—”“Like a mess?”“You’re of many things but a mess.”I watched her apply lipstick on her lips, and she saw me.“Creepy.”“Are you really okay? Did Mom say something that upset you?”“No.” She washed her hands and patted them dry.“What did you two talk about?”“I’m sure she will tell you if you ask.” The tension in her body said otherwise.“Something’s bothering you. What is it?” I cupped her head, forcing her to look at me as my eyes searched hers. “I don’t know how to read mind, but I know when someone hides something from me. I’m your husband, Maverick. I need to know.”“And so far, you’re doing a bang-up job as a husband.” She pulled my hands off her head. “We have to get out of here before she thinks we’re doing something myst
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