Burning Bridges (Beech Grove) Read online

  If I didn’t take it, I knew I would regret it.

  I would never get another chance.

  I took his hand, leaving sanity behind.

  My breathing was erratic by the time we reached the front door. Like a gentleman—I knew sooner or later he would prove to be otherwise—he let me walk in first. I stood in front of him after he shut the door, taking my purse off my shoulder.

  “So?” he asked, and I shivered. Never tearing my eyes away from the man who had overpowered every thought since I’d laid eyes on him that first night back home, I moved my hands down to reach for the hem of my tank top.

  I wasn’t stupid or naïve. I knew this would probably blow up in my face, but I was still going to give this to myself.

  One night of really living for the now.

  I tossed my tank top on the ground, reaching behind me.

  “Slower,” he gritted, sitting his ass on the nearest couch.

  My hands moved away from my bra and down my torso. Looking over my shoulder, I shimmied out of my maxi-skirt, letting it pool at my feet. His low curse made me feel powerful and sexy as I touched my body, shutting my eyes as I enjoyed the feel of my hands on my skin. I undid my bra, letting a strap fall over my shoulder one at a time before pulling the material away from my heavy breasts.

  I kneeled and got on all fours in front of him, resting my forearms on the shaggy rug below me, and stared ahead as I watched his reflection on the big screen TV in front of me. As he was staring at my body, I wished I could take a snap image of the way he was looking at me. Not that I would ever be able to forget the passion that vibrated off him.

  “Head down, Princess,” he ordered, and I followed his directions.

  My face fell to the side, and my bottom popped up higher into the air. The cold air relieved what felt like fire brushing my skin.

  But it was his sudden touch that made my eyes flutter closed as he traced the line of my spine.

  “Has anyone ever told you your skin is like silk, Princess?” My body hummed at his praise. The tips of his fingers traveled down to the crack of my ass and right into the folds of my wetness. “Soaked,” he rumbled. “So pink,” he muttered to himself, the need in his voice driving me crazy.

  Swack!

  My head flew back and a cry escaped from the back of my throat, all while my skin burned with the most delicious heat.

  “I’ve been dying to do that since I laid eyes on this sweet ass.”

  “Mav…” I whimpered like a wanton slut. Swack! “Oww…” I whimpered.

  “You like that, don’t you, Princess?” he asked, his voice thick with lust. I nodded my head.

  Swack! The sound of his hand slapping my ass echoed through the living room as my head fell back.

  “Look at how that pretty pussy glistens for me, Sofi. You fucking love being my naughty girl, don’t you?” he goaded, and damn it, I did. We had only started to play, but he had blown every other sexual experience I had ever had before to him out of the water.

  “Yes.” I pushed my ass back toward him. Silently begging for more.

  “Fuck my fingers, baby,” he demanded to my relief. His long middle finger smoothly entered me. Without fumbling, obviously knowledgeable with a woman’s body, I felt him kneel behind me.

  And like I’d already done tonight, I did as he ordered. I fucked his finger. Bucking my body back and forth, his beautiful digit slipping in and out of me. The sounds of my slickness should have been embarrassing, but he made everything feel too good to feel shame. My body started to tighten around him too quickly, and before I could stop myself, dying to make this moment last as long as possible, he slipped his finger out of me.

  “No,” I whined, dropping my head in frustration. Missing his touch so bad.

  “Come here,” he ordered, sliding his beautiful body onto the couch, and I turned to him.

  He sat, and I moved, standing in front of him. “Up,” he ordered, but I didn’t understand his request.

  “What?”

  “You’re going to straddle my face, Princess.” A shiver ran through me. “You’re gonna rub that pretty pussy all over my lips.”

  His nose flared, and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He held his body tightly, tension and intensity radiating off him in waves, like he was the one on edge.

  “Mav—”

  “Until you come and your sweetness drips down my face. You’ll stay up there. Get it?”

  “Maverick, I haven’t ever—”

  “Good,” he clipped as he reached for my hand. I tried to pull away, but he held on tighter.

  “Maverick.”

  “I want to be the one you do things with for the first time,” he admitted. I stared at him and silently wondered how drunk he was to admit that. “Hop up, babe.” He tapped the couch, and I looked at him.

  Now or never, I reminded myself.

  I hopped up, my legs surprisingly steady as my crotch was right in his face. I felt him breathe in and sigh, like I was the best thing he had ever smelled.

  It was so hot my knees went weak.

  “I might fall.” My voice softened, and his massive hands roamed upward, from my ankles to my ass, firmly holding me in place.

  “Shh, I’d never let that happen, Princess.” His hands gripped my ass tightly and pulled me closer, spreading my thighs.

  With anyone else I would have been hesitant, deep in my head with self-consciousness. But this was happening with him. The one man who let me lose all my inhibitions and brought out my inner vixen.

  “Hike up your leg, Sofia,” her ordered. I shook the nonsensical thoughts away and complied. My core at his lips, he licked my outer lips, and my hands dug into his shoulders.

  “Oh my…” I gasped as my head fell back.

  His tongue swiped my swollen clit and pulled on it lightly. Sounds I had never made slipped from my lips.

  “You taste so fucking good,” his voice whispered against my sensitive flesh, only his tongue moving in and out of my channel.

  The wetness and heat of his mouth felt so damn good, I was afraid I would go cross-eyed. I pressed down, rubbing into him. His deep grunts vibrated off my overheated, hypersensitive skin, and I couldn’t get myself to stop. I rubbed down.

  Harder.

  Rolling my hips into his face.

  His hands grabbed the flesh of my ass, and I couldn’t stop myself.

  Without warning or idea, I flew.

  Flew into an intense orgasm, shuddering on top of Maverick.

  He held me in place. He didn’t let me fall to the ground. His hands were on my bottom like he was holding a treasure, his mouth still working my body. His touch softer and sweeter now.

  Gasping for air, I let my knees go weak. He let me drape myself his body, straddling him, his hands on my face.

  “God, you’re beautiful,” he groaned, bringing his mouth to mine. I tasted myself on his lips and loved it. “I’m going to make you come again,” he promised in a whisper against my lips.

  He picked us up, and I found the strength to wrap my legs around his narrow waist as he walked us into his bedroom. He set me down on the bed, and I rested my weight on my forearms, not shying away from watching him.

  When Maverick pulled off the soft navy tee, I licked my lips, enjoying the sexy view. He undid his belt and pulled his pants down along with his boxer briefs. My eyes were pinned on his beautiful, thick cock when it sprung toward me.

  I pushed my body up and reached out for him, but he stopped me before I could get a chance to touch him.

  “Nu uh.” He shook his head, then his lips nipped at mine.

  “Why?” I sounded like I was whining, but I couldn’t help it. I wanted to taste him.

  “You touch me, Princess, and tonight ends a lot faster than either of us wants,” he hummed, and I moaned.

  “Okay.” I sighed. My eyes caught his angry-looking tip and watched as he covered up his thick manhood with a condom.

  “Move back,” he ordered, not taking his gaze away from
me. I liked the way he looked at me. Like I was the only woman who could ever capture his attention.

  Leaning back, I opened my legs, the invitation far from subtle as my head touched his cloud-like pillows. He got into bed with me, his large body between my thighs, draping his beautiful body over mine.

  “Hi,” he grinned playfully, and my heart flipped inside out. My hands moved, holding his handsome face.

  “Hey.” I smiled back. My heart thumped hard in my chest and what felt like every centimeter of my skin burned and sparked.

  My eyes closed as one of his hands moved from the side of my face to the back of my head.

  Everything became more intense.

  More intimate.

  “You sure about this?” he asked, lining his hardness up with my center, and I tried to get closer, but he wouldn’t let me.

  “Maverick.”

  “I’m buzzed, but I know what I’m doing,” he promised.

  “So do I,” I answered. And I did. “Please, Mav, I need you,” I begged softly without embarrassment or shame.

  His forehead touched mine while his other hand slid to the back of my head. His eyes pinned me down the moment he slid his thick, long manhood into me in one smooth thrust. I gasped. I hadn’t had sex in a while, and nothing from my collection of buzzing toys was as girthy as he was.

  “Yes,” I hissed, loving the bite of pain mixed with the beautiful pleasure.

  “Shit!” he hissed the moment he was balls deep in me. “Damn it, Princess.”

  “You feel good, Mav,” I gasped.

  “Not as good as this sweet little pussy,” he growled, kissing me lightly. “Be a good girl for me and tighten your legs around my waist,” he ordered in a deep voice, and I obeyed. My eyes rolled to the back of my head in pleasure.

  “My princess likes it when I talk dirty, doesn’t she?” he asked, shifting his body, pulling out then thrusting back in.

  “Yes.” I bit my lower lip, clutching his hair.

  “Yes, what?” he grunted, his voice hoarse.

  “I love it when you talk dirty,” I panted. “Fuck me, Maverick.”

  “I’m going to give you what you need. Trust me.” And as stupid as it might have made me, I did. I trusted him completely.

  He started to work in and out of me. Slow and shallow thrusts at first. Then his pace increased, working faster and faster until he was pounding into me.

  Roughly.

  Demandingly.

  Deliciously.

  The heels of my feet on his beautiful ass, my arms on his shoulder and face, I held on for dear life.

  “You’re close,” he grunted. I was.

  I am so, so, so close.

  I could only nod as incoherent noises escaped my lips. My body was his to control. He started to jack hammer into me, hitting that illusive spot deep inside of me, and I opened my mouth to tell him I was almost there, but it was impossible. I couldn’t string two words together. But he didn’t need my words. He knew my body despite it being our first time together. As he held the back of my head, I opened my eyes and drowned in the heat of his.

  I broke.

  Wave after wave hit and left me breathless.

  Panting for air, I felt my body shudder below his. My senses slowly came back to me, the sound of a faint buzz in my ears. I watched his masculine face twist.

  Sweat glistened on his brow, and I tightened around him. Sheathing him tighter, urging him to move deeper into me. I bucked up, meeting him thrust for thrust. The sound of our bodies connecting echoed through the room.

  Time ceased, both of us lost in the sensation of our coupling. I started to feel it. A second orgasm building higher and higher. His eyes on mine, I could tell he knew.

  “My greedy girl,” he grunted.

  “Mav,” I whimpered.

  “You’re going to come again, aren’t you? I can feel it.” He clenched his jaw. A drop of his sweat fell on my shoulder. His face hid in my neck. “Sofi… get there. Come with me,” he demanded.

  I bucked up as much as I could. Still holding me close, he ground his pelvis as he thrusted, his pubic bone rubbing against my needy clit, and I free fell into an abyss of bliss bigger and brighter than I had ever experienced.

  “Mav!” I screamed, my voice hoarse.

  He groaned into my neck, chanted my name into my skin. I felt the flow of his release hit the condom between us and held on tightly, nowhere ready to let go.

  Maybe it was because it was the first time I had experienced a simultaneous orgasm with a partner.

  Or maybe it was because I knew the moment the sun rose, this would all be added to his list of regrets.

  Chapter Nine

  Maverick

  He could smell her on his sheets, but even in his sleep he knew she was gone.

  With a sigh, he rolled over to the side she had slept on and opened his eyes.

  Empty.

  He should have been happy she was gone.

  Should have been ecstatic.

  Her leaving, not waking him up, would make the entire messed-up situation easier. Hell, how many times with other women had this been the exact scenario he would have hoped for?

  Why was he disappointed his naughty little princess had run off?

  “Morning,” her voice chimed out sweetly, and he found himself smiling. Looking toward the doorway, he tried to lose the smile and blank his face. He kept his eyes on her, making sure he was seeing her right.

  “Hey.” He nodded, his voice tight, eyes glued on how hot she looked standing and breathing. In his navy tee from the night before at his doorway.

  My princess, his mind claimed, but he shook it off. Sitting up in bed, he found a way to tear his eyes off her.

  I’m no one’s prince.

  “I started the coffee and talked to my mom,” she shared. The sound of her voice made his chest ache.

  “Oh yeah?” He didn’t look at her, and it bugged him.

  He wanted to not only stare into her eyes, but grab her into his arms and have his way with her. Drag her to the shower and make more than damn sure she was dirtied up before he cleaned her off.

  A couple of times.

  “Yeah. I’m going to take her to the hospital later.” she said, and he spared a glance at her and winced.

  “Shit, your car.”

  “Don’t worry about it. I’m gonna go and get it.“

  “How?” he scowled.

  “Walking.”

  “Like that?” he asked, unable to fight the temptation she was, devouring her with his eyes.

  “I don’t know? I think I’m rocking this T-shirt a lot better than you ever could.”

  “That’s a fact, Princess,” he rumbled, and she gave him a small smile, hope lighting her eyes. He had messed up.

  He couldn’t give her hope.

  They had said one night, and that night was over.

  “I’m going to change… Let me know if you need a ride to your car when I get back,” she shared, breaking the silence.

  “I’ll be fine,” he immediately answered, his tone clipped, but he couldn’t help it. He didn’t trust himself to be in a small, enclosed space with her again.

  “I thought so.” She shook her head, and he could see how her body screamed disappointment. “About last night—”

  “It’s over.” He regretted the words the moment they slipped out, and he ignored the sharp ache in his chest he felt when her eyes reflected how much he had hurt with those two little words.

  But his little princess was stronger than anyone gave her credit for.

  “Right,” she softly said with a shrug before looking away from him. “Well, I’ll see you around,” she added before she left him alone in his room.

  His heart felt like it was suddenly beating under a mole hill of sludge as she walked out and into her room. He could hear her moving around in there, getting dressed.

  Sitting up on the edge of his own bed, he leaned forward, his hands in his hair, elbows on his knees, and closed his eyes. />
  My princess. The thought rushed through his head. She’s mine. He knew it. If he was honest, he had had known she was it for him the moment he had laid eyes on her at the bar that first night.

  But what about Gabe?

  He would have to figure it out. Gabe would understand, right? Even though the idea of telling his best friend that he wanted his sister made his gut heavy, he had to man up and do it.

  When the time’s right.

  With that as his last thought, he rushed around his room. Pulling on a pair of gym shorts and a tee, he hurried out to the living room, hoping like hell she hadn’t left yet.

  She was his, and he was not going to give her up.

  Sofia

  Without looking at myself in the mirror, I tossed my way-too-long hair into a messy bun at the top of my head and contemplated chopping it all off. Maybe a change was what I needed?

  It wasn’t even eight in the morning, and the sun was already shining bright outside. Dressed in black yoga pants and an olive-green tank top, all I needed was a water bottle, and I’d be able to get the heck out of here.

  It’s over. His voice rung in my head, and I tried to breathe in deeply. I knew it had been my suggestion last night, for one night, but hearing those two words had hurt.

  I thought he had felt it.

  Not only had the sex been phenomenal, but we had slept together. Actual sleep. My head had been on his chest after he had discarded the condom and slipped back into bed. He had grabbed me and held me all night long. Until I had woken up and gently wriggled my way out of his bed, terrified he would kick me out the second he opened his eyes.

  When his eyes had met mine this morning, for a moment I had believed that maybe, just maybe, he wanted more. But if my mom’s stories about the famous Maverick Bridges were to be believed, he didn’t take a dip in the same well twice.

  He proved that by saying last night was over and done with.

  And just like that, he was done with me as well, apparently.

  Which worked fine for me. I don’t need a man, I reminded myself. Moving out of my room and directly to the kitchen, I was deep in thought.

  Who does he think he is, anyhow?

  I was a grown woman. A woman with a new job and a new life to start! I didn’t need an overgrown man child who didn’t know what he wanted.