Page 6 of Ruse
Struck by fear or something of the sort that has me all trembling and flustered, I have a moment of weakness where I almost succumb to his childish game of intimidation, but after the shit day I’ve had, I don’t have the time nor energy to play any of his games.
“Fuck off,” I jab at him, pushing him off me, surprising him, and getting at least a foot of distance between us as he falters and takes a step back.
I don’t think he thought I had it in me, though the smirk he gives me in return catches me off guard. It’s not at all what I expected. Instead of angering him further, my defiance seems to amuse him in some awfully sickening way.
He’s still in the same outfit from school. His hair though, is unruly and looks like he was out running, or it was previously swaying in the wind. Maverick catches me staring, instinctively biting his lip, and trailing his tongue over the horseshoe ring on his bottom lip. I can’t help it, and my gaze follows the teasing movement.
“Say it again, only this time like you mean it.” He takes a step forward, once again closing the small gap of space between us and this time there's no ignoring the sudden heat pressing against my core.
He’s testing me. Trying to figure out how easy it’s going to be for him to push me around and make me run and hide to the safety of my bedroom and eventually out of my house. Were it any other day, that’s exactly what I’d do, but I’m so damn tired of everyone telling me what I need to do, how I need to feel, what needs to happen next.
I’m done with this perfect life I was living and am no longer interested in rejoining the society that cast me out because of my father’s mistake and my mother’s weakness. I am not her. I am not weak, and I’m going to show Maverick Carter exactly what that means.
You picked a fight on the wrong day, dearbrother.
I reach up and trail my fingers, as erotically as I can manage, down his cheek, the tiny bristles of his coarse shadow tickling my fingertips. Tipping his chin down to meet me, I step up on my tippy toes, softly grazing his lips with mine. “Fuck off,” I moan breathily, like the slut I’m sure he thinks I am. I step back, quickly regretting it as a fire flows through me from the electricity that passed the moment I touched his lips.
His eyes darken for a second, just as his jaw stiffens beneath my touch. I’m sure he felt it too. Maverick swallows hard and I can feel his breath hitch, his heart beating unsteadily and mimicking mine. I almost think he’s about to lean forward and kiss me when his hand against my lower back pushes me further into him.
“Again,” he groans, biting down softly on my thumb tracing his bottom lip. My thighs clench as a wave of desire hits me, nearly knocking me off my feet. If it weren’t for him practically holding me up against him, I’d be rolling down the stairs to my death.
Well, this is working the way I was expecting it to. Except now I’m too flustered to know what comes next.
A nervous chuckle escapes me at how easily he believes I’d be stupid enough to kiss him. My heart might be currently pummeling its way out of my chest, but I’m not stupid enough to act on it. There it is again, someone underestimating me. It’s only fair I give him a free pass. It’s not his fault he’s new around here.
Leaning away from him, I speak in the sultriest tone I can manage without running out of breath. “You’re not my type, honey, and I know how this is going to play out.”
I feel him smirk against me as I stare into his eyes, now gleaming with curiosity, and somehow notice he’s moved in closer. “Care to enlighten me?” he utters, amused.
I can feel his thick, hardened erection pressing against me, and now it’s my turn to swallow down my pride. Maverick is only proving I was right by using his desirability as a weak trick against me. I’m sure it works on any other desperate chick he’s come across, and to be honest, any other day it may have worked on me, but not today, Satan, not today.
“You think you’re just going to come in here, put your hands on me like it's the most natural thing, accompanied by your little bad boy charm, and I’m going to beg you to have your way with me? Only once you have, you’ll remind me how pathetic and easy it was to fool the poor little rich girl whose life is falling apart because of her daddy’s inability to keep his dick in his pants.”
My voice cracks and he laughs in response, a deep, menacing laugh that sends shivers over me. Fuck, this guy is good. Remaining calm and as cool as a cucumber while I’m over here burning up and nearly begging him to snap the tension.
“Lucky for you, I’m not your type. I mean theFuck Boy Kento yourMalibu Barbieis the complete opposite of me,” he mocks, raising a brow, his lip ring teasing me as he flicks it with his tongue.
For a moment I wonder how he even knows about my relationship with Chad, but then I recall the rumors of our breakup continue to circle down the halls. The beauty of Malibu Cove High, rumors, and gossip flow quicker than the errant waves of the Pacific during a perilous thunderstorm.
It’s my turn to meet his teasing smirk with one of my own, careful to make sure I don’t give away how skittish I really am. “Like night and day,” I admit, although Chad is nothing of mine anymore, but he doesn’t need to know that bit.
Maverick steps into me, his fingers pressing deeper into my waist as he walks us backward continuously, pushing me until my back hits a wall. He shifts so I’m caged in against him, both of his hands on either side of my head, while his mouth comes dangerously close to mine. I can smell his breath as he exhales, minty fresh with hints of something entirely intoxicating that isn’t allowing me to think straight.
“Hate to bearer of bad news, Nyx, but sadly for you, I’m everyone’s type.”
I inhale sharply when his fingers press into the bare skin showing beneath my top, his eyes lowering to my chest, getting a glimpse of my bra through my now see-through shirt. Desire gleams in his blue eyes as his pupils dilate, but he quickly reins it in and they’re back to ice cold.
“Nyx?” I stutter breathily, confused by the sudden nickname, and ignoring his arrogant yet otherwise totally accurate comment.
“Nyx, Goddess of the Night.” A smile presses against his lips, a real smile this time, not the usual teasing smirk he constantly wears, and it makes my knees weak. The only thing more daunting than his wicked smirk is this playful grin. Dangerous and intoxicating. “Because unfortunately, after the shit that’s happened to you, you’ve been banished to the dark side. Welcome to the club,love.”
I scoff, turning away from him. “Is that supposed to be some kind of threat?” I can’t help but rebuttal, even though hearing him call melovedoes something terribly exciting to me. Wrong but enticing. Fuck, I need an ice-cold shower immediately.
“It’s an olive branch, Nyx.” His gaze drops to my damp top while his fingers tug on the small string between my breasts. He pulls slowly, untying the bow, and causing my top to fall open, revealing the swell of my breasts pressed up against him. “This new arrangement can be easy for you, or I can make it hard,” he bites down on his bottom lip as his gaze moves from my cleavage back to my eyes. His groin presses into me and I feel just how hard he can make it. “Take it or leave it.”
I want nothing more than to take it. To give in to whatever it is he’s offering, but I know better. This is all part of his plan. He thought he’d show up here and take advantage of all the perks this new arrangement would offer, but oh fuck was he wrong. He can take my dad’s money, he can live in my house, hang out with my friends, but there is one thing he’ll never get from me.
And it’s the only thing I know he wants - the sweet spot between my legs.
