Tainted Souls

Chapter Eighteen

"Maverick? Are you almost done?"

By now, I was still shivering from the after effects of being in the pool. I counted the minutes and realized that I had been stuck in the pool for forty-eight minutes. No wonder I was this close to getting hypothermia.

I couldn't believe that Maverick was still taking a bath. He was more high-maintenance than he wanted to admit.

There was no response. Instead, I continued hearing the heavy metal blaring from his speakers. Ugh, it must be what was preventing him from hearing me speak.

Maybe he was already done showering. I heard Keisha's annoying voice in my head again, telling me to seduce him when the timing was right. No way. I couldn't.

But you could make the excuse of checking up on him to get the opportunity to seduce him, a voice in my head said.

That was the devil side of me speaking. I didn't even know that I had a side like that.

Don't do something like that. You shouldn't disturb his peace. He's already going through too much lately. He deserves some space.

That was the usual angel side of me speaking. Unfortunately, the devil side won this time because of Keisha's goddamn pep talks.

By the time I had snapped out of my inner thoughts, his speakers had stopped blaring. There was just complete silence. Now, I was seriously starting to feel worried.
"Maverick, are you alright?" I asked in a panicked tone.

I rushed into the bathroom, feeling like both my angel and devil side were coinciding at that moment. But what I didn't think about at that moment was that Maverick would obviously be naked in the bathtub. Of course my overthinking had me forgetting that important fact. Also, I was trespassing. And that was something that he hated.

I peered over at him nervously, only to breathe a sigh of relief when I noticed that the water and the bubbles from his bubble bath were covering his lower region. Thank god for that! However, it didn't stop me from admiring the V line that led to—I had to stop my mind from heading in that direction. He was closing his eyes and sleeping. In a way, that made him look peaceful and adorable.

His jawline was sharp, his hair damp and alluring, and his lean muscles were a feast for my eyes. I was so blatantly captivated, I was thankful he was asleep.

I smiled at his sleeping form for a moment, wishing nothing more than my story to come true. At that moment, if Maverick and I had been lovers, I wouldn't have hesitated at kissing him sweetly and telling him that he looked completely adorable when he was sleeping. Of course, I knew that he hated being called adorable, hence why he would have scowled and said that he was all bad and tough. Typical Maverick.

He exuded an almost godlike aura, even in slumber. His long lashes cast dramatic shadows over his dark green eyes. His lips were sinfully perfect, a stark contrast to the cruel words they'd spoken. "Maid Girl" and "piccola cagna" – those were the insults that burned with every maid duty.

Yet, those same lips could also shape words of encouragement, transforming me into a self-assured force. He saw potential in me, a trust and belief that ignited a spark of confidence.

Those same lips were the haunting centerpiece of my dreams for months. I imagined their caress, skimming past my neck, his strong hands cradling my face as he leaned in. And then—

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard the clearing of his throat.

"Done being affected by my sexy presence? Stalking me when I'm asleep is a whole other level," Maverick smirked, then rolled his eyes.