Fantasized by You Read online

  “I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “I’ll see you at the airport tomorrow,” I said, reaching for my phone charger.

  “I’ll text you before we take off.”

  “All right. Good night, baby.”

  “Good night.”

  We hung up and I plugged my phone into its charger. Resting my arm above my head on the pillow, I stared up at my ceiling and thought about Harper. I never realized how hard she had it until tonight, how difficult it was for her to deal with the media, but I hoped she felt better now. I’d never let the lies bring her down. I would always be there for her, even if it meant trying to console her from thousands of miles away. Because I love her. It was as simple as that.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Harper

  The next day, I stepped off the plane and there Maverick was, leaning up against the SUV, looking sexier than ever in a pair of dark jeans and a black leather jacket. Our eyes connected, and adrenaline surged through my body as I hurried down the steps, never taking my eyes off him. Seeing him for the first time in two days was like a breath of fresh air, needed and welcomed, filling my lungs and warming my body, making me ache for his touch.

  When I got within touching distance, I dropped my bag and grabbed his face, uniting our lips in one swift, passionate moment. Kissing him felt like home sweet home. Everything about him made me feel safe and protected, like nobody—not even the media—could hurt me with his arms wrapped tight around my waist. I was safe here, crushed up against his body as if we were one. He was my haven now; wherever we were, if we were together, I was home.

  He nibbled and tugged on my bottom lip, silently begging me to open for him, so I did. Tasting the mint on his breath, my tongue twisted around his and sucked, relishing in his unique, delicious flavor. My hands skimmed over the beautiful stubble he kept sexy and short, just the way I liked it, and its burn felt familiar and welcoming. He leaned into me for one more eager kiss and then broke away and rested his forehead against mine.

  “I love you,” he said soberly, looking at me like he’d been counting down the minutes until my return.

  I petted his cheeks, feeling the glow on my face brighten. “I love you, too.”

  “God,” he breathed, hugging me tighter. “Ever since you said it last night on the phone, I’ve dreamed of hearing you say it person.”

  “I love you,” I repeated, kissing his nose.

  He laughed and pulled back. “Welcome back, baby.”

  “I missed you,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck. It was true. I didn’t sleep a wink while I was away, except for a nap on the plane. I was accustomed to sleeping with him, now, and the warmth of him in bed was missed. I was ready for a good night’s rest with him curled up next to me.

  “I missed you, too,” he said, taking my hand. He held the door open for me and smiled. “Let’s go home.”

  We climbed into the truck, and I nestled into Maverick’s side, his arm over my shoulders, and soon we were on our way to my place. There were a million things I needed to do today, like unpack and nail down what songs I wanted to use for my fashion show, but none of those things mattered right now. I wanted to spend the entire day with the man I loved, making up for the time I spent away.

  “I didn’t see Waters get off the plane,” Maverick mused, looking down at me, concerned.

  I linked our fingers together and sighed. “I apologized and he forgave me, but he still thought keeping some distance was for the best right now. He said he needed some time to get over his feelings.”

  He kissed the top of my head. “It’ll all work out.”

  “I know.” I brought my lips up to his. He’d been so great on the phone last night, listening and saying all the things I needed to hear. He was so positive and uplifting, even though I knew that, deep down, he was upset about what Max had done. “Thank you for everything, but I don’t want to talk about him anymore.”

  “Okay,” he said, smiling. “How was the flight?”

  “I slept during most of it.” I said, running my hand up his thigh. “I wanted to be well-rested when I got home.”

  “Is that right?” he asked, seductively. I nodded, and he ran his nose along my neck and up to my ear, murmuring, “Good, because I don’t plan on us getting much sleep.”

  A shudder swept through me, and I bit back a smile and outlined the bulge in his jeans. Now that I knew he could give me everything I needed, I needed him all the time. “I like the sound of that.”

  “I knew you would,” he said, tugging on my earlobe.

  *

  When we made it back to my place, he dragged me out of the elevator, lifted me into his arms, and kissed me roughly. I anchored my legs around his waist as his mouth occupied mine, sucking and teasing and begging for more all at the same time. I peeled off my coat and my top in between kisses, and when he saw my lace bra, he groaned.

  “Take it off,” he demanded fervently, staring at my breasts. “No lace today. No clothes for the rest of the fucking day.”

  I nodded eagerly, loving the idea of being naked all day, and then unhooked my bra and flung it to the floor.

  He paused on his way to the bedroom, and pushed me up against the hallway wall. “You have the most amazing tits, baby.” He swiped his tongue across my taut nipple, and I sighed in relief as his genius mouth went to work, sucking and biting until I was writhing in his arms. By the time he pushed away from the wall and continued to the bedroom, I needed him more than I needed my next breath.

  He set me down on the bed and tugged my boots, jeans, and panties off in one smooth gesture. Then he dropped down to his knees between my legs and smiled mischievously. “Lie back for me.”

  Leaning back on my elbows, I gazed down at him, in a hyperaware state of need. “I want to watch.”

  “Jesus, that’s hot,” he growled, pressing kisses to the inside of my thighs. “You can watch, but I don’t know how long you’ll last. You’re close, aren’t you, baby?”

  “So close,” I mumbled.

  He positioned my legs so they hung over his shoulders and then he kissed my center, and the shatter of sensations wrecking from within was too intense to keep my eyes open. I fell back on the bed, gripping the duvet tight as he sucked on my clit and beckoned me closer with his fingers. I felt myself nearing the edge, and with one more lap of his tongue, one more come-hither stroke, I dove off into the wondrous waters of pleasure, and orgasmic tidal waves crashed over me again and again as I let go around him.

  When I resurfaced, he hovered over me, completely naked, showing off his strong physique that I cherished so much, and grinning triumphantly. My hands were linked with his above my head, and I could feel his cock hard against me. “You look so beautiful when you come, I could watch you all day.”

  “Isn’t that the plan?” I asked, still blissfully buzzed.

  “I love you,” he laughed, leaning down to kiss me.

  Tasting myself on him electrified me. I wrapped my legs around his hips and urged him closer, eager to give him what he’d just given me. Languidly, he slid in every inch of his thick, glorious length, his eyes never moving from mine. I felt fulfilled, physically and emotionally, knowing he loved and cared for me the same as I did him. I never thought I’d find the love of my life, but here he was, making love to me slow and sweet, bringing us even closer together.

  I brought my lips to his and poured my heart and soul into the kiss, moving my mouth over his in rhythm with our hips, slow and precise and incredibly satisfying. When he pulled away, he looked down at me ravenously, his dark eyes hooded with desire, and then he picked up our pace, hitting deeper and stroking a part of me only he could reach. I closed my eyes and held on, as my breathing grew heavy and unsteady, and my toes curled. He drove us into the mattress with our hands still entwined above my head, a shockwave of pleasure shooting through me with each thrust.

  Feeling my climax hit its breaking point, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I strained a
round him, feeling him tense along with me, and we came undone as our orgasms pierced through our bodies like lightning bolts ripping among storm clouds, electrocuting us, leaving us numbed, relaxed and unbelievably buzzed with satisfaction.

  Slumped on top of me, he brushed my hair off my neck and kissed me. “God, I love you,” he breathed, hoarsely.

  I smiled lazily and ran my fingers through his dark, sweaty hair, the smell of sex hovering around us. My heart raced to the same beat as his, and it felt so good to be home with him that tears formed in my eyes.

  Maverick’s smile instantly faded when he looked into my eyes. “What’s wrong, baby?”

  “Nothing.” I shook my head and tried brushing away the tears. “I’m just happy to be home.”

  His smile returned and he kissed my eyelids, holding my face in his hands. “I’m happy you’re home, too.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said, laughing. “I didn’t mean to get all emotional on you after sex.”

  He laughed and shook his head. “Don’t apologize. It’s okay to cry after sex; it’s supposed to be emotional. I can’t stop telling you I love you, and you don’t hear me apologizing for it. And I won’t, because it’s true.”

  “But women love hearing that,” I retorted, running my fingers along his jaw. “It’s not the same.”

  He captured my wrist with his hand and kissed my palm. “You don’t think a man loves when his woman opens up? I love seeing all of the different pieces of you. Don’t ever hold back your emotions around me. I want to know everything, remember?”

  I nodded. “See, you say things like that and it makes me love you more, and I didn’t even think that was possible.”

  “Oh, it’s possible,” he said, smiling against my lips. “I feel the same about you every day.” He covered my mouth with his for a gentle, smooth kiss, reiterating the fact that everything was possible with him. Every dream could come true. Every fantasy could become a reality. He didn’t believe in holding anything back. Failure ceased to exist in his world. In his own unique, masculine way, he was the ideal man for me, and he understood me and my needs perfectly.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Maverick

  It was the day before Valentine’s Day and Elly, Paige, Tessa, and I were all headed to Lincoln Center for Harper’s fashion show. She was already there, making sure everything was just how she wanted, and she’d arranged a limo to pick us up for the show. Elly, Paige, and Tessa were talking nonstop about what to expect, clothing-wise, and discussing which celebrities would be in attendance. All I was thinking about was Harper. I wanted to be there to show my support, but I really didn’t care about the clothes or the celebrities or any of that. I was excited to see her show, just because I knew how hard she’d worked to put it all together.

  “So, Mav,” Paige said, crossing her arms over her chest. “Let’s talk Valentine’s Day.”

  I smiled and shook my head. Women. “What about it?”

  “It’s tomorrow!” Tessa said, rolling her eyes. “Please tell us you got Harper something amazing.”

  Laughing, Elly elbowed my side. “Yeah, what’d you get her?”

  “I’m not telling you guys,” I teased. My Valentine’s Day gift for Harper was all planned out, and I knew she’d love what I had in store for her.

  “Oh, come on!” Tessa whined. “I don’t have a valentine, so I have to live vicariously through Harper and Elly. Please, tell us! Or you could just tell me.”

  “If you’re living vicariously through them, shouldn’t you have to wait for the surprise just like them?” I asked.

  “Ugh! You’re such a dick sometimes,” she retorted, pouting.

  “But you did get her something, right?” Paige asked again. “I mean, she’s Jen Harper. I know it’s probably hard to shop for her since she could buy anything herself, but you can’t ruin Valentine’s Day with her. In fact, I’m going to make sure you don’t ruin your relationship with her at all. I love having her in our group of friends. She gave me a free pair of jeans the other day.”

  “Yeah, she’s really sweet,” Elly said, smiling up at me. “She told me what she got you and it’s really great. You’re gonna love it.”

  What?

  “Wait, she got me something?” I asked, completely thrown. “I thought Valentine’s Day was just a chick’s holiday.”

  “No, it’s not,” Tessa laughed, shaking her head. “It’s a couple’s holiday, so of course she got you something! Haven’t you ever celebrated Valentine’s Day before?”

  I thought about it for a second. “I have, but it’s never been anything serious. So, we just had sex and called it good.”

  “Oh. My. God.” Paige said, shocked. “Your gift to her better not be sex. I mean, sex on Valentine’s Day is expected. It should not be part of her gift.”

  “Did you get Carter something?” I asked Elly.

  She nodded mischievously. “Yeah, me. In sexy lingerie. Holding a case of beer.”

  I laughed and shook my head. Typical Elly. “Is that what Harper’s getting me?”

  “God, no,” Elly laughed. “Harper’s gift is way better than mine.”

  What’s better than beer and sex?

  “Look,” Paige said, staring at me. “Elly and Harper are totally different. Elly isn’t big on romance, so she could get flowers and chocolates and sex and be perfectly happy. Harper on the other hand is a woman who loves romance, so you should go beyond the typical Valentine’s Day gift of flowers and chocolate. Your gift should wow and woo.”

  “It will,” I insisted, thinking about my gift. “It’s neither of those things. I mean, I planned on sending her flowers during the day, but that’s not her real gift.”

  “Okay, good,” Paige smiled, looking pleased. “And you’re seriously not going to tell us?”

  “Come on, please, Mav!” Tessa begged, smiling.

  “Now I want chocolate,” Elly interjected.

  Shaking my head, I laughed at their ridiculousness. “No, for the last time, I’m not telling you guys. I don’t want anyone ruining the surprise for her.”

  “Fine,” Tessa and Paige said in unison.

  *

  When we pulled up to Lincoln Center, a petite blonde opened the back door to the limo and the four of us filed out.

  “Hey, guys. My name is Penny and I’m one of Harper’s assistants. She’s asked me to be your escort today,” she said politely, smiling. She waved us forward. “Let’s go on in and I’ll take you behind the scenes where you can say hello to Harper before the show starts.”

  We nodded and introduced ourselves, then followed her into the building. Penny made it so we avoided all the paparazzi as we entered and walked through the building. When we came to the area where the runaway was, the girls’ faces lit up and they started whispering excitedly about the show. The runway was straight and simple and covered in plastic.

  “The plastic will come off before the show starts,” Penny informed.

  I nodded, and we continued our mini-tour. When she took us through another door, noise started coming from every direction and people were running all over the place, carrying clothes and talking into headsets. There were half naked women and men walking around who I assumed were the models, and other people who were busy doing their hair and makeup and various other tasks.

  “This is the behind-the-scenes stuff I was talking about,” she laughed. She grabbed my arm and pointed to the left. “Harper is just over that way, if you’d like to see her.” She turned and smiled at the girls. “If you girls want, I can introduce you to some of the models and let you see what some of them will be wearing. They’re getting dressed now, so everything’s kind of chaotic in here.”

  “That sounds perfect,” Paige said, in a professional tone.

  I walked in the direction Penny suggested Harper would be, passing more and more people and clothes as I went. When I finally found her, she was standing near the exit to the runway talking to a man with a headset on. I smiled as she laughed and pointed to th
e clipboard he held, waving her hands occasionally as she explained whatever she was talking about. She looked sexy in tight black jeans and black heels, her hair hanging loose over her black blazer. She was in work mode and it was fucking hot.

  I continued toward her, and it was like she sensed me because she looked up as I approached and ran her eyes over my body. “Look at you in a suit!” she mused with a smile, grabbing onto my lapels. She rarely saw me in anything but my gym clothes, so I was happy the suit pleased her; I wanted to look good for her on her special day. She pulled me in for a quick kiss and then gestured to the guy in the headset. “I was just talking to Lenny here about the effects, but I think we got it all figured out.”

  “Anything for you, H.” He walked away talking on his headset, and Harper turned toward me.

  “I’m so excited for you to see the show,” she said, reaching for my hand.

  She led me back into the chaos of the backroom smiling. Despite the people running around, I could tell everything was going just as she had planned since she wasn’t stressing. She seemed happy with the pandemonium, like it was supposed to be that way. Since this was my first show, it was all foreign to me.

  “Is it always like this?” I asked, looking around the room.

  “Oh, yeah,” she laughed. “If it’s not, there’s something wrong.”

  Just as I suspected.

  Most of the models were clothed and beginning to line up, and more people could be heard taking their seats for the show. Harper pulled me off to the side and gave me another kiss. “Seriously, thank you for coming. I know this stuff isn’t your cup of tea, but it means a lot that you’re here.”

  “I wouldn’t have missed it,” I said, resting my hands at the small of her back.

  “Well, you and the girls better go take your seats because the show is about to start!” she exclaimed, leaning into me. “I’ll see you afterward, okay?”

  “Okay,” I said, pressing my lips to hers one more time.

  Penny showed us to our seats in the front row, giving us a perfect view of the runway, which made the girls even more excited. The runway had the plastic taken off just like she said it would and the room buzzed with noise and chatter as people waited for the show to start.