Page 85 of Ruse
Facing the door, I shove my best friend back, turning my body completely toward him. He’s dressed casually in black jeans and a plain tee, pristine white Js on his feet, but it’s the look on his face, the defeated, apologetic look speaking volumes in his eyes that has me inhaling a sharp breath and holding it in until I’m dizzy from the lack of oxygen.
How easily I’m once again hypnotized by his entire being, unable to breathe, to speak, to move without falling to my knees at his feet.
“I’ll go check on his pain meds, it’s been a while since they’ve administered them,” Dee says, leaving the two of us in the room alone.
Maverick shocks me when he doesn’t come to me immediately, instead walking over to my brother’s bedside. He takes Brooklyn’s hands in his, being careful not to touch the IV embedded into his veins, and then he does something I would have never in a million years expected from him.
He starts to cry. Soft, barely audible cries as he mumbles an apology about this being his fault. Instantly the feeling of helplessness which earlier consumed me is back, this time with twice the intensity as before. I rush over to Maverick’s side, wrapping my arms around him as his sobs become louder and more uncontrolled, meeting him with my own unhinged and erratic sobs, crying into the crook of his neck. We sit that way for what feels like hours until he shocks me, turning and taking me into his arms, shifting us so I’m sitting on his lap.
He brushes my messy hair out of my face, trailing his thumb under my eyes and wiping away the tears that won’t stop falling. He doesn't speak or try to console me in any other way, all he does is hold me tightly against him and I give in, leaning closer and placing my head against his chest.
Maverick places a tender kiss on the top of my head and inhales a deep breath. “I’m so sorry Nyx. This is all my fault if I would have known…”
“Don’t,” I say, drawing back and meeting his solemn dark eyes. The intensity of his gaze strikes me speechless once again, but I know what he needs is to hear that I don't blame him for this.
“None of us could have predicted this would be the outcome of last night. It was a tragic accident; one we should have seen coming but still wouldn’t have been able to prevent. Brooklyn was spiraling out of control and however tragic this was, it was a way to stop that spiral, or at least make us aware in order to help him.”
“What about us?” he murmurs into my neck. Mav takes the opportunity, realizing he’s left me completely shocked and bemused, and lifts me so I’m left straddling his lap. His arms cross around me pulling me in closer to him. “These last few hours without you, replaying everything that happened between us repeatedly in my head, it’s made everything I already knew crystal clear. I don’t want to live in a world you're not in. I can’t live without you baby, and this here was a reminder that life isn’t ours to bargain with. It can be taken from us in an instant, without warning or apologies.”
“Maverick, I…”
He presses his mouth to mine, the tingling taste of tobacco kissing my lips and making me addicted. “Don’t say anything right now, Nyx. I won’t ask you to give me an answer when you’re this vulnerable. But I want you to know mine.” Letting my mind wander, I close my eyes and give into the feeling I’ve missed. “I know you’re scared, trust me at first, I was too. But I’m not anymore. I love you Phoenix, and I want you to let me love you.”
ChapterTwenty-Seven
MAVERICK
The moment I hung up with Donovan, I knew what I needed to do. Despite what I kept telling myself, that Phoenix was better off without me, I knew there was no way I’d be better off without her. For once in his life my father gave me a piece of advice that meant something to me, and deep down I know it meant something to him.
The wealthiest and most successful of men all lack one thing, and that one thing is the courage to do what they want to do, without restraint. He never did, choosing to be a legendary force rather than giving into his heart's true desires.
I would not make the same mistake he did, and that meant I needed to fight and come back for my girl.
It's been two weeks since Brooklyn’s accident, and although he’s no longer in the hospital and on the road to recovery, it’s going to be a hell of a long, tumultuous road.
For two weeks I've given Phoenix the space she’s needed, seeing her only during class and at school. I didn’t move back into the Bancroft house, and instead have been staying in Crew’s hotel room, since he’s decided he’s sticking around for a bit. Instead of going back home, Phoenix and Brooklyn have moved into a smaller house at the edge of the water, about two miles from where they previously lived, a house their mother purchased for them. Elaine has also been staying there, postponing her move to Florida until after Brooklyn returns to school this coming Monday.
My stepbrother’s been as expected, broodier than normal, trying to adapt to his new way of life, at least for the next three months. The Doc said the broken ribs would heal on their own, painfully but quickly, though it’s his right arm and leg that are in a full cast, forcing him to move around with crutches he can barely use.
I came over early this morning to help with the setup for his surprise party, which he has no idea about and will surely hate, while his mother drove him off to his physical therapy appointment. The day after tomorrow will be his first day back at school since the accident and the news that his football career is over. That has been the hard pill he’s had to swallow and one I know will take time to get used to.
Regardless of what a stupid idea this is, here I am, lugging a giant inflatable pumpkin across the deck, setting it down next to the inflatable Frankenstein and ghost I’d already built. Did I mention this was a Halloween party, on the first day of October. The only thing Brooklyn likes more than football is Halloween, which is why we’re making the backyard look like a haunted house married a pumpkin patch.
Anything to spend whatever amount of time I can by Phoenix’s side. We haven’t spoken about what I said to her at the hospital the day of the accident, but I’m dying to hear her say those three words back to me. I sound like a chick, a very needy, desperate teenage girl who needs to know what our relationship means. My how the tables have turned.
I’m about to inflate the green wicked witch, when two dainty hands with long thin fingers wrap around my eyes. “Guess who?” she asks, barely able to contain her laughter.
Instead of answering, I pry her fingers away and turn so her hands are now clasped behind my neck, and my lips are pressed against her. I kiss her, stealing her breath and whatever complaint she was about to give me about how I wasn’t playing the game right.
Her rebuttal sits on her lips as she gives into the kiss, opening for me to deepen it, thrusting my tongue into her mouth as my hands find her waist and push her closer into me. She moans and I know she can feel how hard a simple kiss has made me.
“Fuck, baby I need you.” She gasps when my hands grip her ass underneath the mini skirt she’s wearing, finding her bare ass. I smack it lightly making her squeal against my mouth.
“Maverick,” she whines, pulling away from me. I miss her lips the moment they’re no longer on mine. “Not here someone is going to see.”
“Let them Nyx, I’m done waiting around. I need you baby, and I need you right now.”
She somehow escapes my embrace, and that’s when I get a good look at what she’s wearing. A short red leather skirt barely covering her pussy, her ass cheeks hanging out of the back, along with a white strapless corset, and a red, velvet, hooded cloak, the hem ending just above the skirt. “Little Red, you have been a naughty little girl.”
