IRIS My fingers tightened around my phone, my pulse hammering as I reread the message.‘Are you keeping secrets too, Iris?’Too.That one fucking word made my blood run cold.Something—someone— was watching me, prying into my life. Into my past. Into my biggest secret.And Maverick’s too.I swallowed, my breath shaky as I typed out a reply with trembling fingers.‘Who the fuck is this?’I hit send and stared at the screen, not even expecting a response. The last time I’d received a text from this number, they were warning me about Maverick.This time, they were threatening me.And whoever it was knew something.The seconds dragged on, stretching into a full minute, and then, just as I was about to put my phone down, the screen lit up. Another text had come in.‘Don’t be scared. We all have things to hide. Yours is just more… interesting.’My stomach twisted. My finger hovered over the screen as I thought of what to type. I had no idea what to say in reply.More interesting? What did
IRIS Maverick’s black card burned a hole in my pocket the entire drive to the stylist’s boutique.I should not have taken it, but Megan would have buried me six feet under if I’d refused to take the card from him.Not that Maverick had given me an option even.“I swear to God,” Megan started from the driver’s seat, her voice dripping with amusement. “You and Maverick are something else.”I scoffed, shifting in my seat. “There is no me and Maverick.”Megan hummed knowingly as she flicked on the turn signal. “Right. That explains why he was looking at you like he wanted to devour you this morning.”“No, he wasn’t,” I groaned, throwing my head back against the headrest. “He was not looking at me like that.”“Uh huh,” she smirked at me, continuing. “And the way you snatched that card from his hand? Baby, I could feel the pure, sexual tension. Felt like I was interrupting.”I rubbed my forehead, already regretting bringing Megan along with me. Today was going to be a long fucking day.Ame
MAVERICK “I don’t know, man,” Dwayne said, dragging his hand over his beard as he leaned back in his chair. “This whole engagement party thing… it sounds like a fucking nightmare.”I huffed out a laugh, taking a sip of my glass of ginger ale.“Tell me about it.”Dwayne and I were at a private bar that he owned, tucked away somewhere only the wealthy and powerful had access to. But even here, surrounded by expensive liquor and the smell of cigarettes, I couldn’t get Iris out of my head.“Can’t believe I’m even saying this,” Dwayne continued, “but you actually look stressed. What happened to that untouched, cold bastard who didn't give a shit about anything?”I shot him a glare. “He’s still here.”Dwayne smirked. “Right. So how’s the whole ‘marry Iris to take down your family’ thing going? Or is she already getting under your skin?”My jaw clenched. “Stick to your fucking drink, Dwayne.”“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” he said with a chuckle.I didn't respond. What the hell was I suppos
IRIS Maverick was here.My fingers stilled on the zipper at the back of my dress, and for a moment, I just stood there, staring at him through the reflection of the mirror. How long had he been standing there?I turned around. Maverick was leaning against the doorway, looking dangerous as sin. His hair was messy again, like he’d been running his hand through it all day. His tie was loose around his neck, the top buttons of his black shirt undone, exposing the skin on his chest.His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, forearms flexed as he crossed his arms over his chest.But it wasn’t the way he looked that had my knees weakening. It was the way he was looking at me.Like he was seconds away from snapping. From breaking the rules and just doing whatever he wanted to do to me.He looked like he wanted to rip my dress off with his fucking teeth.I honestly had no idea why I was even trying it on again. I was so in love with this dress, that I just had to put it on again and see.And
IRIS “I think you should just fuck him and get it out of your system.”I choked on my breath, my mascara wand nearly slipping from my fingers. “Excuse me?”Megan was standing behind me, casually running her fingers through my hair, fluffing it up after she’d just styled it. “You heard me,” she said, smirking at my reflection in the mirror.I turned my head to look at her. “You’re out of your goddamn mind.”I probably shouldn’t have told Megan about what had happened last night, because now, she was giving me the worst advice I had ever heard in my life.Megan snorted. “Maybe. But let’s be real here, babe. You want to climb that man like a fucking tree.”I groaned as I looked away, feeling the heat creep up my neck. “Megan—”“You literally cannot stop staring at him every time he’s in the room. Honestly, being around you two always feels like the start of a porn movie. So much bloody tension in the air.”I rolled my eyes. “For fuck’s sake, Meg—”“And don’t even get me started on the w
MAVERICK Fuck, I wanted Iris. I wanted her so fucking much that I’d stopped filtering my words around her. I was letting her know that I wanted her because I knew she felt the same way.Iris wanted me. I could see it in her eyes, in the way she spoke, in the way she rolled her hips slightly at my words without even realizing she did.And I meant every single word I said to her. I wanted to take her right there on the counter, and I would.Only if she would ask.Iris wasn’t going to get what she wanted if she didn't ask, and I was going to die on that hill. Even though I wanted to claim her so badly.But, as expected, she only laughed nervously, pulling away from me. “Well, we don’t want to be late, do we?”“Of course, we don’t,” I replied, watching her retreating ass as she headed for the staircase.My head fell into my hands as I groaned. Tonight was either going to be a nightmare or worse than a nightmare. My father had invited half the damn city to this engagement party. Not becau
IRIS I had never been to an engagement party where everyone’s focus wasn’t on the engaged couple. But I guess there’s a first time for everything. Everyone was busy striking deals and endorsements. The fucking elite. Then again, it was probably better that everyone wasn’t overly focused on us. It gave me some breathing space. I raised my wine glass to my lips, taking a sip. This was my second glass of wine, but I wasn’t gulping it down this time like I did at the dinner, no matter how much I wanted to. I knew Maverick wouldn’t like that. And come to think of it, I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him drink alcohol before. He would hold it, sure, but drinking it? Where the hell was he, anyway? He’d been gone for over fifteen minutes. I excused myself from the table, leaving Dwayne and Megan to their conversation. They were really hitting it off tonight, and I liked that. Dwayne seemed like a genuine guy. I looked around, and, seeing no sign of him, I started walking towards the
MAVERICK I wasn't sure Iris knew what the fuck she was doing. Wasn’t sure she understood what she was asking me, but I didn't care. I needed a fucking distraction, and Iris was perfect. So once she gave me her permission, I didn't wait. I couldn’t. The second those words left Iris’s mouth, I held her against the railing, my hands firm on her waist as I crashed my mouth against hers. And fuck me, Iris kissed me back like she’d been starving for this just as much as I had. Her lips parted, and I didn't hesitate to deepen the kiss, tasting the faint hint of wine on her tongue. Iris moaned softly into my mouth, her hand gripping my loose tie, pulling me even closer to her. I groaned at the contact, sliding one hand down to her ass as I lifted her up and sat her down on the railing. Iris gasped, pulling back for only a second. “You trying to kill me?” I smirked against her lips. “You know you’re safe with me, Angel. I’m not going to do anything to you that you don’t want me to.” An
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
MAVERICK ‘Why the fuck am I doing this?’ I muttered to myself as I walked through the doors of a bar downtown. Inside was nearly empty, save for the owner of the bar, who had let me in.Just like she said it would be.I took a seat at a booth in the corner, checking the time on my wristwatch. She was running late.Not that I expected anything other than that.“Would you like anything, sir?” The owner, a tall, bald man asked as he walked up to me. I shook my head firmly. “No, I’m just here to meet someone.”“I’m aware of that,” he replied with a smirk.He walked away before I could say anything else. Good. Because I wasn’t here to strike up a conversation with anyone but her.I didn’t have to wait long, though, because it wasn’t up to a minute later when she stepped into the bar, silky dress hugging her body, her heels clicking against the floor as she strutted toward me with a smirk on her face.“You’re late,” I said curtly, keeping my tone blunt and formal.“Well, I’m here, aren’t
IRIS The moment the door shut behind Dwayne, everything settled into silence. There was an uncomfortable level of quietness between Maverick and me as he stared at the door, and I stared at him.Dwayne had gone off to do god-knows-what, and he and Maverick had gotten into a fight.I’d never seen them like that with each other. Ever.Maybe that was what emotions did to people. To men like Maverick and Dwayne, emotions were destructive.My gaze dropped to Maverick’s split lip. He may have succeeded in leaving a mark on Dwayne, but Dwayne got him good too.I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to keep the words from falling out of my mouth, but I couldn't help it. “Your lip is bleeding,” I stated, gesturing with my pointer finger to his mouth.Maverick’s eyes met mine, and he stuck his tongue out slightly, licking the blood off his bottom lip.“I’m fine,” he muttered, turning away from me.“No, you’re not,” I said softly. “You were just in a fight with your best friend, Maverick. Nothing
IRIS Dwayne looked pissed as Maverick let him into the house. “What’s going on?” Maverick asked, looking between me and Dwayne. I would’ve said I didn’t know, but judging from the look on Dwayne’s face, I had an idea of what he was doing here. “Megan is keeping something from me,” Dwayne said, “And my gut tells me you know what it is.” He took a few steps closer to me. “So why don’t you be a darling and tell me what I want to know?” I shook my head. “Dwayne, I don’t—” “What the fuck is going on?” came Maverick’s voice, cutting me short. He stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Dwayne and his view of me. “Mav—” I couldn’t see Maverick’s face, but I watched the way his back tensed as Dwayne grew increasingly impatient. “Fuck, no,” Maverick snapped. “You come into my house, questioning my fiance about something I don’t know about. And you didn't even think to come through me?” I swallowed thickly. I didn’t want to see this as Maverick defending me, but I couldn’t help i
IRIS I didn’t know what was harder for me.Finding out that history had been repeated, or realizing that I’d really, really fucked up.I hadn’t really ever thought of the fact that Maverick and Sebastian were so close in age. But now, it all made sense.“Apparently, Esther got pregnant with Maverick by the time Sebastian was only two months. Quentin was doubtful at first, but Esther swore that the child was his. And then they had a paternity test done, and it was confirmed.”I didn’t know what to say. My mouth was hanging open because of how short of words I was. “Oh, I…”“So, you can see that this hits so close to home for him.” Tania reached for my hands, taking them in hers. “You already know that Mav doesn’t have the best relationship with his father. And frankly, Quentin is a horrible man. When Mav was growing up, he…”I stared at Tania, urging her to continue. But she shook her head, like she was trying to get her thoughts in control. And then she let out a long breath.“Now t