"You're officially mine starting tonight."I looked at Maverick from the reflection in his bedroom mirror. He is on the end of the bed drinking alcohol. I continued to comb my hair. We just finished taking a shower together.He let me borrow his shirt and boxer again. It was like I was back on the island again. "And then what?"I saw him straighten up."What do you mean?""What will happen after I say yes? Endless dates? Knowing stages? Unlimited sex? And then what? You'll dump me right after you're done with me. Why would we go through all that when we could easily end it this instant, Mav."He drained the contents of his glass and laid it on the side table. Maverick stood up and pulled me upright.We stood face to face with each other. The light coming from his lamp shade casted a shadow on his strained face."What is it this time, Femella?" His voice is hard and the restrained an

"Stop staring at me Dave. With my state right now, I don't need your questions."I wiped the tears from my cheeks and looked out of the moving car.My mind is going back to Mav's unit and to the scenes after that. How I wish I could erase the pain in his eyes but as far as I want to do it, my responsibility stops me. I think Maverick's angry face will be planted in my head. Gone is the warmth in his eyes as he looked at me. Suddenly, the care and the passion I always read in his eyes since we were on the island are lost. It was replaced by anger, bitterness, and disgust. His eyes became cold to me. Earlier, I saw no sign that he believed me. It's all doubt all over his face. I can't blame him for that. I did it to myself. I did it to us. He looked at me from the driver's seat. "I actually quite have an idea. I turned on the device when you know.. You know.. You guys are so noisy so for the sake of my well-being, I turned it

I felt so heavy. Something is weighing me down. My lips were dry. I tried to swallow saliva. I opened my eyes and studied the place. White ceilings and pendant chandeliers were the first things that immediately popped up in my sight. I squinted. The light hurts my eyes. I moved my hand but something stopped me. I looked at my side and saw Maverick's face. He sat in a chair next to the bed and rested his head on the mattress. He's holding my hand. I closed my eyes and mentally pinched Dave. That kid is such a brat. I already told him not to inform Maverick. I looked up and examined the sleeping man. His position is really uncomfortable. His eyebrows are slightly raised and his forehead is furrowed. I smiled while reaching for the crease on his forehead and straightening them out. I then straightened his eyebrow and spent a few minutes just staring at his face. He is definitely troubled. I can tell by his expression that something is really bothering him.

I've been staring at my cell phone for a few minutes now but I'm still not moving from standing in the middle of the living room. Dave's call had ended earlier but I was still looking at nothing. My heart is heavy with my choice.I glanced around Maverick's unit. On a corner is a display of his family pictures. There's a picture of the Fuentebella family and another picture of him on his graduation in college.I walked over to the area and picked up the picture frame. I caressed Maverick's smiling face. His smile is so wide that it radiates out from the picture. I didn't realize that I just smiled too.I remember what he told me earlier. He wants me to open up to him. But how am I going to do that if he still doesn’t want to hear me about what I know about his past? I know that I can't fully share my past with him without touching that memory.I sighed. "Mom, Dad. Why did you put me in this dilemma?"The ring of the phone broke the s

"Mav." I held him by the arm just as it was time to go down after the valet opened the limousine door. I glanced at the red carpet below us."Why? What's wrong? " This prompted the valet to close the door again. Mav gave me his full attention. He took my cold hand and rubbed it on his hand." Hey, look at me. What's wrong? "I first swallowed the blockage in my throat and fixed my perfectly made hair before responding."I'm scared. Can you just go ahead? It's like I'm going to throw up in here. Please?" I pleaded.He gave me a reassuring smile that sent his message that he understood me. "Nonsense. You don't have to worry. My family is kind, especially my mother. They will love you like I do." He cupped my face while his fingers were caressing my cheek. "And besides, I'll here all night for you. I won't leave you. Hell, I'll go with you, even in the powder room. "His hand went down to my neck and massaged it. "Relax. I won't leave you.