Maverick by Ashers, LeAnn (read dune TXT) 📕

shutting the door behind her. She gets some items out onto the tray.

“I will send everything you need home with you.” She starts opening gauze pads. “I will also be prescribing some antibiotics. I already did blood work and we should have that back tomorrow.”

“Alright, sweetheart, do you mind taking off your shirt?” Myra asks.

He looks at the both of us to make sure we’re okay with it. He lifts it over his head, handing it to me, and I take his hand, holding on tight, letting him know I am there for him.

Maverick and I step to the head of the bed so we can watch, and I almost fall to the ground in shock.

Maverick turns his head away, gripping the counter so tight it creaks under the pressure.

I rub Ronny’s hand, hoping he doesn’t notice our reaction. This precious baby has suffered; he has suffered in a way that is utterly inhumane.

His mother is a complete and utter monster. It makes me sick that I ever had hope that she would be a good mother.

Scars upon scars cover almost every inch of his skin—scars so thick and aggravated.

“I can recommend a great plastic surgeon, if that’s something he wants,” Myra points out.

“We will talk to him about it,” Maverick tells her, holding Ronny’s other hand.

Once his back is cleaned with ointment, we help him put his shirt back on. Myra doesn’t bother with the bandage because he will be showering later. “It feels much better, thank you.” Ronny smiles at her, his beautiful blue eyes shining with life for the first time today.

Ronny’s belly growls and I laugh. “I think it’s time we get some dinner!” Ronny giggles and takes my hand, hopping off of the bed.

“Thank you, Myra, we’ll see you in a few days.” He is to come back in a few days for a checkup.

Next thing on the list is to get him set up with seeing Braelyn, then we grab a few pizzas and his medicine and head home.

“Maverick, do you have soda at your house?” Ronny asks sheepishly.

Maverick grins that he openly asked him a question. “I sure do.” Ronny smiles, looking out of the window.

My poor heart. I feel so much love for this precious boy.

I feel so much for Maverick also. I feel things for him that I never dreamed

possible. He has completely changed my life.

* * *

“I’m dressed!” Ronny yells.

Maverick and I walk into the bathroom. “How are you feeling? Is your back hurting?” I ask, thinking the water probably made it hurt.

He shakes his head. “It doesn’t hurt me, Bell.”

It hurts me.

Gosh, how it hurts me. My heart is aching so bad as Maverick applies the ointment to his back and bandages it.

His whole back.

I take a comb off of the counter and run it through his strands, and it hits me. I have no clue how to fix his hair, at all. I try to comb it as best as possible.

“Alright, you are all set,” Maverick tells him, handing him his new pajama shirt that has dinosaurs on it.

He is so cute.

Ronny climbs into his bed. I pull the blankets up to his neck, tucking him in. “Can I turn the TV on? Just for a little bit?” he asks.

Maverick turns on the TV, handing him the remote. “Goodnight, honey.” I kiss him on his forehead and close my eyes for a moment, thankful that he is here, safe.

Today has been horrible, but I have him now.

Maverick takes my spot. I leave the room. Needing a second to myself, I stand outside of the door.

“I want to make a promise to you, Ronny. I will always keep you safe. You will never be hurt again. I will take care of you, always. This is your home, with me and Bell. I don’t want you to have any sort of fears, okay?”

I look at the two of them together. Ronny looks like he is on the verge of tears before he rises up and hugs Maverick, climbing into his lap.

Maverick closes his eyes, holding him just as tight. “Goodnight, Maverick, thank you for saving me.”

Maverick pulls back to look at Ronny, eye to eye. “I will always be there, always.”

Ronny lies back into the bed. Maverick tucks him in once again and shuts the door behind him, letting him have his privacy.

Maverick scoops me off of the floor, carrying me to his room, locking the door behind us.

My mind is stuck on him locking the door. Butterflies swarm my belly as to why we need to lock it.

He sets me gently onto the bed and stands above me, staring down at me with so much emotion that I have to catch my breath.

I take his hand, pulling him into the bed with me and kissing him. I lean back onto the bed, my legs on either side of his waist, pulling him as close as I can.

My fingers slip under his shirt, drifting along his back. His hand cups my throat, tilting my face to the side, breaking the kiss.

My eyes flutter open and I watch him. He gives me a heated look. I tighten my legs against him.

He bends, kissing the side of my neck. Goosebumps break out across my arms, my face growing warmer.

“I have never met someone in my life I have wanted more,” he whispers against my neck, his breath causing me to shiver.

He lifts his head to look at me. “I have never met someone I wanted to give the world to like I do you. I have never met someone who I wanted to protect like I do you.” He lifts my hand, pressing it against his chest. “You are mine, just like I am yours.”

“Maverick.” My voice cracks, overwhelmed by his beautiful, unexpected words.

“I am yours. I never want to be anyone’s ever again.” I close my eyes, collecting myself. “I want to be yours, you have shown me how it feels to be taken care of, to be safe.