Bounded Passion

e just leaned quietly against the frame, his arms crossed tightly over

s Ros

and fell with each calm breath. The afternoon sunlight slipped through the new

she even got inside his condo. No one ever came here without his

o calm, too tired... and too beautiful. She wore simple clothes-just shorts and a tank top-but the way she laid there, with her smooth, fair skin

se and turned his gaze away, tryin

The sound of the doorbell

ise, shifting on the bed. Not wanting her to wake up just yet, Maverick g

ng there. She looked nervous-her eyes wide, her

n in a shaky voice. "Is Roseline still her

able as he answered, "She's asl

inked, shocked by

e," he said

uickly. "She... she insisted on coming with

ce rose, sharp and surpris

, her head lowering in fear.

and took a breath, trying to calm down. When he looke

ntler tone. "I'll take care of Roseline. Ju

ty hesitated. "What i

"Would you prefer I be the

ping back. She glanced toward the inside of the condo, but Mave

and walked back t

as still asleep, lying in t

yellow curtains she must have put up and let out a small breath that could've been a laugh-soft and surprised. The b

face again. Her lips were slightly parted in sleep, her eyebrows relaxed, her ex

t and touch her cheek. But instead, he clenched

ll. And right now, he di

he living room, far from the girl who was quie

as still sound asleep

her eyes and yawned, still feeling half-asleep. For a moment, she forgot whe

ice-only to freeze as soon as she hear

sat up straight, loo

he realized w

pered to herself, her voice fu

off the bed. Grabbing her bag, she tiptoed t

iet. No sign of

into the hallway, lo

out without him not

the main door, a cold, low vo

ou think yo

or. Her heart skipped a beat, and she squeezed her eyes shut at t

s Mav

you're going?" he as

avy." she said in a shaky voice, a

re calm but firm, like a lion waking from a nap.

t is, Roseline?" he asked, hi

eplied, avoiding his eyes. "I can go h

y," he said, now standi

, clearly surpri

I'll just call a t

ng. Stay here and go

, really-

efore she could protest again, he gently grabbed

d red as she walked behind him. She couldn't e

the room, Maverick let go o

ep," he said, v

reply, her stomach

the quiet room like

ed a hand over her belly, embarrassed.

t eaten yet," she admitt

g. Then, without a word, he turned around and walk

ning area and pulled

he said

cook. I can just gr

epeated, this time with a

d quickly. "O-

ing called with another nickname, but h

him as he tied on an apron. His movements were quic

very movement, curious. At first, she thought he might be preparing a full dish-maybe a soup or a stew-but in

ed scram

. Fast

k. She never imagined someone like Maverick-tough, cold,

eaming plate in front of her. "

own plate, and sat back down

lier?" she asked, her voice fu

and slumped onto the couch. He turned on the

hoping he'd say

she asked, sm

k replied flatly, not ev

so hard to prepare that meal-thinking about how much he might like it, imagining him smil