Page 75 of Ruse
“Do you know if he’s coming tonight?” Darcy asks, whispering in my ear over the booing coming from the crowd. They hoot and holler, calling for the Sharks to make their much-anticipated exit onto the field.
Since the day Darcy overheard Donovan tell me I reeked of sex after getting off the Ferris wheel, she’s been badgering me about what the deal is with me and Mav. I’ve told the two of them what I’ve tirelessly told myself. I have no fucking clue. Of course I haven’t told them about what happened that night when we came back home.
“I don’t know and don’t care,” I tell her, turning my attention back to the field just as the Sharks come rushing out of the tunnel, ripping through the banner held out in front of them that reads, STATE CHAMPS 2022. A little presumptuous, but probably spot on the way their track record goes.
It would be nice to know where Maverick and I stand, but I’ve decided I won’t keep driving myself crazy trying to figure it out and fail at reading his mind. He’s a complicated man and I can tell something is still holding him back. Which is why I’ve made it clear to him, if he wants me, then he needs to stop being a coward and come get me.
I’m done playing games. I won’t allow myself to be hurt by him, and if that means keeping the walls around my heart intact until he decides he’s ready, then so be it. I’m in no hurry to claim him as mine, but I’m also not opposed to the idea. The ball is in his court now, and I’m not going to do a damn thing about it.
The crowd goes wild as the Sharks win the coin toss and prepare for kick off.
Darcy and I stand to join them, rolling our eyes and mocking the way the girls, and Olly, go crazy, yelling and screaming for Bancroft and Fitzpatrick. The boys however are zeroed in and focused on the play at hand, not paying their fans any attention.
That’s the thing I admire most about my brother, probably the only thing as of late. Despite his blatant disregard for anything of importance nowadays, on the field, with hundreds of people shouting his name and cheering him on as he’s playing the game he loves and is incredibly good at, he’s in his element.
Suddenly, the crowd around us goes silent, at the exact moment I feel an arm creep around my waist. The electric current that follows the movement of his fingers, trickling down my lower back, and sliding underneath the cropped jersey I’m wearing - one of Brooklyn’s old jerseys I cut up from freshman year before he bulked up - tells me it’s him before I even turn and look for myself. The eerie silence that follows, like everyone’s hushed and obsessively watching us, waiting to see what my reaction is going to be, makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand.
At school this week we kept mostly to ourselves, but that doesn’t mean the rumors circulating around about the video Tate somehow got her hands on, have everyone creating their own version of what happened that night. My classmates of course, like vultures, have been hanging around, trying to pry the answers they’ve been unsuccessful in getting from me, from him. Weirdly everyone has begun talking to me again, saying hey during passing periods or acknowledging me at events such as tonight. It’s like dating the infamous Maverick Carter has suddenly bumped my status back up making me once again relevant to those who had previously, as in three months ago, decided I wasn’t worthy of their time and attention.
Not like I care but it’s nice to walk through the halls and not hear hateful whisperings about yourself every single day. Or parade around town and not worry about running into someone who’s going to be talking shit the entire time we’re seated having dinner.
Using the hand not around my waist, he pushes my hair to one side, as his lips trace kisses along my neck following the same path his fingers were just grazing. He grunts, frustrated I’ve yet to acknowledge his presence.
I hear a loud and clear moan come from a chick in the row behind us, or maybe it’s coming from Oliver on my left. Regardless I'm about to let one out myself when Darcy clears her throat.
Thank goodness for my friend and her aversion to Maverick’s charm.
I shake off the visions of what he must look like right now, so close to me I can feel the indentation of his erection pressing against my side. “What are you doing?” I ask, not bothering to turn around and face him. I’m not amused by his show of dominance over me or whatever the hell this is, and although I am aroused, like very aroused, I’m not about to put on another show right now. The video going around is enough PDA for the week.
“The party tomorrow, are you going?” he asks, but the question somewhat confuses me. I don’t understand if he’s asking if I’m going to be there, since it is being hosted at my house, or if he's subtly asking if I’ll be going with him. Like I said, I’m done with subtlety.
Keeping my focus on the field, which everyone is failing to do, I bring my hand to my chin, pretending I’m contemplating his question. Squinting my eyes like I’m deep in thought I purse my lips. “If you’re asking if I’m going with anyone, then my answer is that it is yet to be seen. If you haven't noticed, I’m the talk of the school again, you know, since last weekend when I was caught riding your dick on the Ferris wheel.” Olly nearly spits out his soda at my crude brashness, while Darcy and the rest of the kids around us chuckle, some dude in the back row yelling “burn” over the oohs and aahs.
I choose this precise moment to turn around, instantly regretting my decision when the anger in his eyes nearly brands me. It’s invigorating and pushes me to taunt him further, just to see how much restraint he’s willing to show. It's a dangerous game, but it’s obvious since Maverick arrived in town, I crave reckless danger.
Caressing the prickly stubble on his chin with my fingertips, I lower his face to meet mine, tracing his plump bottom lip with my thumb. “Apparently fucking you was all I needed to make it back on top.” I hide my anxiousness with a sly smirk, raising a brow teasingly.
But before he can react, and I know he was just about to, given the feral look that flashed in his eyes, we’re interrupted by the crowd erupting in cheers as the Sharks’ score the first touchdown of the night, the All-Star QB Fitz of course, passing the ball to his All-Star wide receiver Brooklyn.
I remove my fingers from his face, joining in on the cheers, clapping my hands, and paying no attention to the daunting presence to my right.
Frustrated by my disregard for him, Maverick leans forward, his hot tantalizing breath kissing my neck as he scrapes the stubble on his chin against my cheek. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’ll play along, until tomorrow night that is.” His fingers once again creep under my shirt, this time trailing his calloused tips along my stomach, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “Keep at it and I’ll have your perky little ass bent over my knee until the shape of my palm is imprinted in your luscious flesh. But then again, I know that’s secretly how rough you want it, baby.”
A quiet moan leaves my lips, my eyes instinctively closing at the same time my thighs clench, heat and arousal pooling in between my legs. God-fucking-dammit this man is going to be the death of me. One look, one simple touch and I’m a pile of want and need at his feet. I’ve come too far tonight to fall for his possessive alpha bullshit. I'm the one coming out on top tonight.
“Don’t threaten me with a good time Mav. Unless you’re going to follow through.” My faux show of confidence is almost comical, my voice cracking with every word I spoke.
A deep, toe-curling chuckle leaves his lips, reverberating through me. “Don’t provoke me Nyx, I’m not against bending your ass over and fucking you right here and now for everyone to see. I hear they like a little show and I know if I were to shove my fingers into your sorry excuse for shorts, teasing that sweet little cunt of yours, I’d find you soaking wet with all this dirty talk.”
And he’s one hundred percent right. It’s almost pathetic how aroused I am.
“Didn’t think voyeurism was your kink babe.” He laughs again, this time nipping at my ear. “Don’t worry, as much as I want to I won’t. Not until tomorrow tonight.”
A tense moment passes between us, nothing but the sound of our unsteady breathing ringing in my ear. His presence looms over me like a wayward storm brewing about to release its ire on me and wash away the heat crawling up my spine, showering me in a wave of frosty water.
“Wear the gold one, Nyx,” he whispers, breathily and so damn sexy, heating my neck where the cool breeze just hit me. “The gold dress you wore for me, the one meant to tease me and drive me wild. I didn’t get to admire you properly in it last time, and the moment we walk hand in hand through the doors ofourhouse, I want every fucker there to know you are mine.” He reaches down and squeezes my ass at the same time he bites down on my shoulder, making me whimper like a needy whore. “Make no mistake Nyx, you are mine.”
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