17.

Dazed.

That was one way to describe my current condition. Because, one: this is all so confusing and two: I hate how my body is so drawn to his. To his scent, to the feel of his fingers trailing down my cheeks, to the tons of tattoos staring back at me on his neck, considering my height stopped right there.

Plus the fact that he was soaking wet, his white shirt plastered to his skin, while his black pants hung dangerously low on his hips and fit tightly to his thighs. I could see the dark outline of the tattoos on his chest through the soaked shirt and it was doing absolutely nothing to help my confused state of mind.

Dear damn!

Gone was my fear of the rain and thunder, replaced with the unfamiliar feeling that has engulfed my mind since I saw him yesterday. And that isn't a good sign.

'Damn! Why does he have to look so hot when he is angry?' Robyn whispered, sounding almost as dazed as I was.

Oh, yeah. He definitely looked angry. No, make that utterly pissed, that is the right word to use here.

Then suddenly, his thumb was touching my bottom lip. Rubbing it sensuously, in a way that made my toes curl. I didn't care that it was cold because that wasn't what I was focusing on. Before I could finish reacting to that, however, he was leaning down so close that I could feel his hot breath fanning my lips, his mouth was mere inches away from mine.

Are we going to kiss? Nah. Definitely not. Because I wouldn't allow that.

"Your lips are too tempting, Kitten," he murmured, his voice a husky whisper.

'Shit, Sher. That sounded too hot! I'm losing myself here. Do something, please!'

That seemed to draw me out of my dazed state. I swallowed hard and fast, nearly choking on my own spit. I then managed to mask my features, keeping my face blank on the surface. I wasn't sure if my face showed my inner turmoil a few seconds ago, but I'm done playing this shit!

"What. Are. You. Doing. Here. Maverick?" I gritted, placing my hands on his chest in an attempt to push him away. But he was too strong. His muscles remained firm and he wouldn't budge. Not even a bit.

Instead, he leaned in closer and buried his face into the crook of my neck. His trimmed beard tickled me, his wet body pressing against mine, and then he did the unexpected.

He sniffed me.

"Your scent is so intoxicating. I haven't been able to get it out of my mind since last night."

Oh. The things this man says to me. The things he does. Everything about him is so confusing! And I definitely do not like it, not one bit.

'Oh my. I'm a goner right there, Sher. That neck thing is practically dominating. Is it normal for a wolf to be wet?'

'Shut up, Robyn. You aren't helping me here!' I snapped.

'How tf am I supposed to help you when I can't even help myself? The pull of the mate bond wasn't this intoxicating on Friday night. Perhaps the sex sparked more of the bond?'

'Could be,' I sighed. 'How weird is it that I'm currently wet, Robyn?'

'Oh believe me, it's not weird. What IS weird is that I, a wolf, am wet. WET, Sher. WET!' Robyn groaned.

I had to stifle a smile then, because despite the situation, Robyn was able to make me feel something other than the terror and confusion gnawing at me.

'You've got to do something before I completely lose my shit. I'm literally about to snap what little control I have left over my sanity. With him this close, whispering those words, I don't think I can last much longer. So focus and just do something!!!'

Yeah. I should focus. Because there won't be another time for us. At least, not while his actions are so confusing.

"I'm going to ask you one last time, Maverick. What are you doing here?" I asked, willing for my voice to sound strong and determined.

"You weren't replying to any of my texts," he replied and kept quiet, as though that suddenly explains the reason why he was here, in my apartment. And the big brute still has his face buried in the crook of my neck.

"So?" I asked, looking everywhere but at his face. "What does that have to do with you barging into my house unannounced?" I continued. "Can you move away from my neck? That is a pretty intimate gesture for someone who has no interest in a mate."

He shuddered, then sighed into my neck before pulling away. He eyed me for a while, his eyes raking down my whole body, making my super sensitive nipples react to the way his eyes darkened in a way that didn't look too innocent, or the way he licked his bottom lip.

'Just screw me,' Robyn groaned for the umpteenth time. 'Why does he have to be a douchebag and sexy at the same time? Can't I be allowed to deal with one thing at a time?' She grumbled.

'I suppose you and I...'

"Why weren't you replying to my messages?" Maverick cuts me off. "I sent tons of them, yet you didn't reply to any. Hell, I was worried because I had no idea if you'd gotten them or not because your read receipts seem to be turned off," he added, running his hand through his low undercut.

He was biting his lower lip and now that I was finally getting out of my daze, it seemed as though he didn't care one bit that he was still clad in wet clothes.

"Still doesn't explain why you are standing here soaking wet."

"Because I was worried. I needed to hear from you after that...that disturbing text you sent me."

"Disturbing text?" I asked, raising one of my brows. "You mean my reply to the lousiest text ever?"

"Ki..."

"Stop calling me that. My name is Sherneil," I snapped, finally getting hold of my emotions.

"Kitten fits you better, though," he mumbled, moving in closer again as though he was going to kiss me. "I like calling you that."

"Too bad I don't like it, but it doesn't seem like you care what I think or feel. You will do whatever the hell you want, anyway. Just get out of my apartment. Now!" I pointed towards the door.

He simply stared at me. Despite my numerous tries, I couldn't read what it meant. Couldn't figure out the emotions that were on his face.

Closed off. As always.

"It's raining." He finally answered.

"You didn't seem to care about that though," I pointed to his wet clothes. "Why start now?"

"I wasn't thinking, okay?! I wasn't thinking when I decided to board a last-minute plane and come to a kingdom that I haven't been to in two years. So, excuse me, for not caring if it was raining then." Maverick finished, and this time around, he was the one avoiding my gaze.

Yeah. It's been two years since he left. Again. So he came back... for me? Does that make any sense?

'Nope. It doesn't. Not even a bit. This man isn't confusing to only you, but to me as well.' Robyn chirped in.

"I'm sorry for barging in without letting you know," he murmured, his right hand still plastered on the wall, the left was dropped to his side. "I know this sounds weird, but can I spend the night here? Or at least just until the rain stops?"