Page 47 of Ruse
I decide to ignore it, continuing to walk down the illuminated path toward my house. I thought brains were supposed to stop working while intoxicated, not begin overthinking.
“Hold up Nyx, I told you I’d walk you.”
I hurriedly wave him off. “No need, I’m good.”
He chuckles, a deep, throaty sound that makes me shiver as I feel his step close behind me. “Okay, either way, we’re going to the same place. It would be stupid, not to mention completely absurd, for us to walk separately.”
Dammit, he’s right, and the smug bastard knows it.
Suddenly, as we continue down the path to my house, I realize I didn’t let anyone know I was leaving the party. My phone's been buzzing non-stop since I disappeared.
I unlock my screen, ignoring the fifteen missed calls and over thirty unread text messages, and begin typing a quick text to Olly and Dee in our group chat.
Me: Left the party, there’s no way I was staying there a second longer. Saw something that made me gag on my way out, so I’m calling it a night. Please make sure Darcy gets home safe.
I lock the screen, but almost instantly, it vibrates with a reply.
Olly: Bitch, what the hell! We’ve been texting you like crazy! I swear I wanted to see you beat the shit out of that bitch. BTW, what the fuck? Spill it.
Dee: What the hell P, you scared us half to death? I’m supposed to spend the night at your house!
Shit. I forgot Dee, and I planned to make a weekend out of tonight. Party Friday night. Brunch Saturday morning, hungover and with impressive appetites.
Me: Raincheck. I promise I'll answer all questions tomorrow. Brunch at noon, my place. I’ll order in from Geoffrey’s.
That ought to make it up to them. After all, food is the way to my best friend's hearts.
Olly: A woman who knows the way to my heart. A true rarity.
Dee: Fine, but you better get the Lobster Quiche. BTW Fitz took Darcy home ;)
Me: Done.
Gripping my phone in my hand, I look up and find Maverick staring down at me. His eyes watch me curiously, unsure if there is a smile currently on my face when I was just scowling at him not two minutes ago.
“What?” I ask, baffled by his blatant staring. It’s unnerving the way he’s looking at me, like he’s undressing me with his eyes, not to mention creepy.
“The boyfriend texting you?” he drawls,
“What?” I ask, confused by his question.
“Are you texting your boyfriend? Is that why there’s suddenly a giddy smile on your face after texting?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but no. I was texting Dee and Olly, letting them know I left the party you know in case I go missing or end up dead on the beach. Come to think of it, I should alert them I’m with you.”
The last part sends a teasing smirk across his face. “Afraid I’ll hurt you?” he whispers, deep and gravelly as he approaches me. “Because you should be.” His fingers, long, tattooed, and calloused, trail a path over my cheek and down my neck, tracing over my pulse point. They wrap around my neck, his thumb pressing against the dip in my throat, and I swallow hard, feeling my pulse vibrate against his touch.
I inhale sharply and he chuckles at the notion.Son of a bitch.
Mav drops his hand stepping back. “Come on, let’s walk.”
“How is it so simple for you guys?” I blurt out, not making any sense. I’m not stupid when it comes to the laws of attraction. I know despite everything that’s happened lately I remain one of the hottest girls in Malibu Cove. I can see the primal arousal when he looks at me. Forbidden for sure, but it’s there, and I’m afraid he senses it’s more than reciprocated.
But he just had his tongue down someone else’s throat for God sakes, Twit Twat Tate’s to be exact, and now he looks like he wants to shove it down mine.
“Walking?” he asks mockingly.
“No dumbass, sleeping with random women all the time. Being a cliche fuckboy.”
