IRIS A ring. A fucking ring.I had known this was coming. Of course, I had. This was all part of the plan, the arrangement, the show we were putting on for the world to watch.But somehow, sitting in Maverick’s car as he drove us to one of the most exclusive jewelry stores in Seattle, I felt like I was walking into a trap. Or maybe, I was setting the trap myself.Maverick’s car was too quiet. Too still.I was still a bit shaken over Quentin’s visit. Quentin had already planted a seed of doubt. And I was fairly sure that he wasn’t the only one who had a feeling that it wasn’t a real marriage.Moving in with Maverick would change that, and—more importantly— also protect my daughter. Still, I hated this.“You’re quiet,” Maverick finally said, turning his head to glance at me.I hated how easily he played his part. Hated that he was so calm while the inside of my head was a fucking mess.And I was the one who had been married before.The irony was glaring.I kept facing forward even as
IRIS “What do you mean he’s coming here?” Megan practically shouted, her voice filled with alarm.I groaned, rubbing my forehead. “He’s coming here to pick me up, Meg. I’m freaking the fuck out!”When I told Maverick that I didn't need his help packing, he continued to insist and insist, stating numerous bullshit reasons that didn't even make any sense.“Iris, it would be strange if I didn't help my fiance move in. You’re not doing this alone.”He said he was going to be the one to bring me to my new home.I scoffed. Home. As if.Now all that was on my mind was how I was going to prevent him from entering the house, because he was definitely going to know that there was a baby in the house.Above all, I didn't know how to feel about leaving my daughter. I had planned to spend a lot of time with her when I got back from my Amsterdam trip, but life had other plans. And now I was going to have to be away from her just so I wouldn't raise suspicion.“What do I do?” I asked Megan.“Um…” s
IRIS Maverick’s sharp, calculating gaze zeroed in on the picture.My breath hitched and I exchanged panicked glances with Megan, racking my brain for an explanation that would fit.His expression didn't change at first, but I knew him well enough by now to notice the subtle shift. The tightening of his jaw.Maverick took a step closer to the photo. My stomach dropped.“Whose baby is this?” His voice was too calm. Too steady. If I didn't come up with a reasonable explanation right away, I was going to start hyperventilating. Already, my breath was coming out in short pants.Calm down, Iris. Fucking think.Before I could scramble for a response, Megan swooped in like the goddamn superhero she was.“Oh, that’s my daughter!” She chirped casually, moving to stand beside me. “Isn’t she adorable? Iris loves taking pictures with her.”I was so close to falling to my knees and worshipping Megan.Maverick turned, studying her with that same unreadable intensity.“You have a child?” he asked he
MAVERICK I wanted to say no. I should have. I really should have asked my father to shove his fucking invitation up his ass. And later, when I would be telling the story to Dwayne, he was going to give me hell for accepting the invitation.Impromptu, might I add. That was something I never did.But something told me that this was a test. It was impossible to tell what was going on in my father’s head, and quite frankly, I didn't want to know. But he was cooking something. Iris moving in this early made so much fucking sense now. My father was going to go through the ends of the fucking earth to try to prove that what Iris and I had wasn’t real.I couldn't let him do that.Speaking of Iris…I turned just in time to see her descending the staircase in a long, flowing black dress that hugged her in all the right places, highlighting every dip, every curve, every fucking thing that made her undeniably beautiful.This was something I would never admit to Iris, but I was the one who pick
IRIS I should have had something to eat before coming here.It wasn’t that the food looked bad—because holy shit, it didn't. The dining table had been set with crystal glasses, gold-plated silverware… Everything looked expensive. Exquisite.But the problem wasn't the food. It was the company.In all honesty, I’d only been here not more than twice as I wasn’t invited a lot by Quentin. Quentin had never liked me.He sat at the head of the table, his expression neutral. Across from me sat Sebastian, expression smug as ever, like he knew something I didn't.And beside him, Eleanor.I had to fight the sickening urge to grab a butter knife and stab her just for breathing in my direction.But I didn't. Instead, I did the only rational thing that was going to help me deal with the Sinclairs.I poured myself a glass of red vintage wine.Maverick’s hand landed subtly on mine before I could lift it to my lips. I turned to glare at him.“Pace yourself,” he warned, his voice low. “You haven't sta
MAVERICK I leaned against the car, my hands clasped together on the roof as I exhaled slowly through my nose.Breathing exercises did nothing to ease the irritation pulsing through my veins. My fingers were itching to curl into fists again.I should have hit him. I should have fucking hit him. But with Iris’s hand on my arm, hitting Sebastian’s smug fucking face would have put her in danger too.And I would’ve given Sebastian exactly what he wanted.A reaction.“Fuck,” I cursed, letting out another slow breath. Then, glancing at the backseat, I sighed.Iris lay in the backseat, her cheeks flushed from her wine and her lashes fluttering as she fought the drowsy effects. She was quiet now, but too quiet.Bringing her to this dinner was a fucking bad idea, and we knew that.I wasn’t angry at her for drinking and ignoring my warnings. I understood why she did it.But watching Iris down glass after glass brought back memories I had buried so deep in my mind.With a sigh, I climbed into th
IRIS The sound of something shattering woke me up from sleep.I sat upright, my pulse racing. I pressed my head against my forehead and looked around the room.It was still dark, and my mind was still a bit foggy from the wine, but I could think more clearly now.And then it happened again and again. Dull heavy thuds, followed by the unmistakable sound of something being destroyed. I threw the covers off, pulling one of my t-shirts on. My bare feet hit the cold floor as I rushed toward the noise. I followed the sound down the hall, my heart sinking into my stomach.Whatever was going on, whatever Maverick was doing, was hurting him.And then I saw it. The door to Maverick’s bedroom was slightly open, the dim lights from his bedside lamp didn't reveal much, but as I pushed the door open without hesitation, I saw EVERYTHING.The floor was a mess. Everything ranging from one of the bedside lamps and the furniture was turned upside down. My breath caught when I saw Maverick.He stood i
IRIS Maverick’s hand twitched against my waist, his jaw tightening as he exhaled sharply through his nose. For a fleeting second, I thought he might ignore his phone ringing in the room. Thought he might pull me down to finish what he started.But then his hand slipped from my waist, and just like that, the moment was over.He stood up, walking out of the bathroom towards the sound of his ringing phone.I swallowed hard, taking a deep breath as I heard his deep voice echo throughout the entire room. “Maverick Sinclair.”I wondered who the hell was even calling this late into the night, but it wasn't my concern.I walked out of the bathroom, heading towards his bedroom door. It was only when I was at the door that I looked back and found Maverick staring after me, phone pressed to his ear as he hummed.Neither of us said a word to each other. I left.And by the time I climbed into bed, my heart was still pounding, my entire body was on fire. We had come so close. So fucking close to k
IRISI pulled the front door open even before Megan started to knock.“Hey…” I trailed off when I noticed the look on her face.“I’m losing my fucking mind, I tell you,” she hissed as she stomped into the house.“Easy with the cussing,” I said. “Kids live here now.”Megan made a show of looking around, spreading her arms wide at her sides. “Kids where? I don’t see any.”I rolled my eyes, heading over to the kitchen to grab the bottle of wine I’d kept in preparation of this moment.It was about time we had some time to ourselves while Chelsea and Amethyst were asleep. Maverick had dropped me off after the cake tasting because he had some ‘emergency’, and I hadn’t seen him since then.And neither had Megan seen Dwayne. I grabbed two glasses, heading to the living room where Meg had completely relaxed on the couch.I dropped them onto the coffee table and I popped the wine bottle open. “Wait. You can have this, right?”“Yes,” Megan rolled her eyes. “Of course, I can. I’m not on pain med
MAVERICK Dwayne wasn’t alone when I got to his club.Ryan Moss was with him in his office, arms crossed over his chest like he was bored of being here.“What the fuck’s going on?” I asked Dwayne.I hadn’t seen him since our fight two nights ago. We had a lot of shit to clear up, but right now, it seemed there was a bigger problem than that.Dwayne didn’t answer, but Ryan did.“Turns out Dwayne here, was wrong about the assumptions he made about Steven Walsh.”Steven Walsh was Megan’s ex-boyfriend who’d just gotten out of prison after being locked up for over three years for assaulting her.On the night of the fight, the last thing Dwayne had said before he left was that he was going to find out the truth.In other words, he was going to find Steven Walsh because he was convinced that he was the one who cut Megan’s brakes.“What do you mean?”Dwayne ran a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched hard. He shrugged exasperatedly. “Turns out Steve Walsh isn’t even in the country anymore.
MAVERICK I was hard as a rock.I couldn’t think. Couldn’t focus because my mind was on Iris. I craved her wet heat and I needed to be inside her.Right now.I adjusted my cock in my pants.The baker, whose name I’d never really learned, came out to meet me, a nervous smile on her face as her eyes darted around as if she was looking for Iris.“She had to leave…” I said, rising to my feet. “Emergency.”“Of course,” she let out an airy laugh even as she tried so hard to look at anything but my face. I wasn’t sure at what point she had noticed that something was going on between me and Iris, but she had. And I could tell how anxious and uncomfortable she felt being in my presence.I concealed my smile. “I also have to leave, so you’re going to have to discuss the details with the wedding planner. I’ll have her contact you.”She let out a sigh laced with relief. “Of course. It’s been a pleasure having you, Mr. Sinclair.”“I’m truly sorry you had to witness that,” I muttered before I coul
IRIS I froze in my seat.Stay?What the hell did he mean by “Stay?”The baker smiled politely. “Oh, of course, I can stay,” she said. She was completely unaware that Maverick had just issued a threat disguised as a request.“Oh, you don’t have to—” I started to say, but she cut me off.“Please. I’m usually nervous about watching my clients taste my cake, but I don’t mind being here as long as it’s what you want.”My eyes were wide as I stared at Maverick, and he had a smirk on his face. His stormy eyes twinkled with mischief.And the remote was completely out of sight.“It is,” he said curtly, his gaze pinned on me sharply, daring me to disagree.That wasn’t going to happen.“Okay, sure,” she replied, tucking her hair behind her ears nervously. “I’ll just… stand back and talk you through the flavors while you try them.”Maverick’s expression was unreadable as he reached for a mini red velvet cake from the platter. He stabbed it with his fork, holding it out to me.“Open,” he murmured
IRIS It wasn’t long before I was ready. I had on a lilac-colored sundress—yes, I picked it on purpose—and tied my hair up in a messy bun, letting a few stray curls dangling near my face.Maverick was already in the car when I slid into the passenger seat.He turned to look at me, his look appraising as he regarded my form.“You’re playing a dangerous game, Angel,” he said huskily, his gaze trained on my cleavage.I couldn’t help it—I stuck my chest out a little more, and Maverick’s jaw twitched.“When am I not?” I replied sassily, biting on my bottom lip.He looked away from me, tapped his fingers on the steering wheel once. Twice. Thrice.And when he looked back at me, there was anger swirling in his eyes. Anger and something else.Desire.“Let me make something clear to you, Iris,” he said in a deadly tone. I let out a soft gasp.He continued. “This doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you for what you did. I haven’t.”Maverick shook his head slowly even as my heart sank. “I don’t know if I’
IRIS The first thing I perceived the moment I opened my door was the smell of pancakes. It wafted up the stairs and filled the entire corridor.I was a little shocked, because yesterday, Tania had said she wouldn't be coming in early, so all I knew was that I was going to be the one to make breakfast this morning.But the moment I went down the stairs, I got my answers.Maverick was in the kitchen, his back turned, muscles flexing as he worked on the stove.First of all, he was supposed to be at work. Second of all…Wow.But I wasn't the only one staring at him in admiration. Chelsea sat at the counter, engaging him in a conversation while looking at him like he created the damn world.And Amethyst…She sat in her high chair, smiling up at Maverick whenever he turned to look at her.Something lodged itself deep in my throat, and my vision turned cloudy. I wasn’t prepared to see Maverick being a dad.But here he was. And his daughter adored him.I wasn’t sure how long I stood there,
MAVERICK Iris was going to kill me.She was going to murder me without hesitation and bury me six feet under. “Fucking hell, Iris,” I gritted out, my eyes focusing on her wet pussy that was spread in front of me.“You’re so fucking needy. You’re a needy little slut, aren’t you?”My insults never got to her. Iris would never admit it, but she had a degradation kink. She was a proud, feisty woman, but when she wanted me, she was willing to push all that aside and submit to me in whatever way.And I fucking loved that about her.But right now, she was testing my limits, dangling bait in front of me.And I was a fish willing to catch that bait.Iris stuck her tongue out to lick her lips, nodding desperately. “I need you, Maverick. Whatever you want to do, just… give me something. Anything.”I stood quietly for a full minute, just watching Iris’s legs open and close. She was restless, aroused. I knew that if I touched her pink pussy, I would find it soaking wet.But I wasn’t going to tou
IRIS I had no idea what I was doing. No idea why I was doing it. No idea why I couldn’t help it.But when I saw Maverick watching me quietly through the small opening, I wanted to tease him.To make him want me.And I knew I didn’t have the right to do that. Not anymore.But all I’d done was ask him if he was coming. It was left for him to say yes or no.But as I stepped into the rainfall shower enclosure, I couldn’t help but wonder whether he would actually take the bait.I turned on the shower, sighing when the warm water sprayed down on my body.I released my hair from its bun, letting it fall over my shoulder and tossing the hair tie aside. And then I let the water do its work.I was anxious. It had been a little over five minutes and Maverick still hadn’t come in.Disappointment wrapped itself around me like a cold blanket.I guess… he didn’t want me.But what was that look I’d seen in his eyes then if it wasn’t desire? If it wasn't—The sound of the door to the enclosure slid o
MAVERICKI could’ve pushed her away from me. But I didn’t.I let Layla wrap her hands around my neck. Let her scent cloud my senses.She always used to smell like jasmine, and now?Now, it was no different.Layla was seated on my lap, a small smirk on her face as one hand left the back of my neck to trail down my chest.“Get off me,” I muttered.She didn't. Not that I was even expecting her to.“Why?” she whispered, leaning in close. “You didn’t used to mind. “You used to beg for it. For me to sit on your lap…” Layla ground her hips against my lap. “For me to ride you.”Her lips grazed my ear as she leaned in even closer. “Does Iris ride you the way I used to?”My nostrils flared. “Don’t say her name.”“With pleasure, baby. I don’t even like her. I just want you.”I placed my hand on her hips, starting to push her away, but I paused when her teeth grazed my earlobe.Not because I was aroused, but because a thought struck me. If I hadn’t broken up with Layla that faithful night, maybe