Page 1 of Maverick
1
MAVERICK
“That’s no fair!”
“Well, those are the rules, Stetson.”
I sat on the bed, watching my best friend argue with his boyfriend and trying to stifle my laughter.
It would only spur him on.
Levi held a platinum credit card in his hand, and—much to Stetson’s disapproval—had just given him a four-drink limit for the night.
“But you just said we could have whatever we wanted!”
“I saidMaverickcould have whatever he wanted. It’s his birthday, and I’m not his Daddy.”
Stetson accepted the card, but he did so with a scowl, grousing, “Daddies are supposed to be fun.”
Levi clasped a hand around Stetson’s throat so fast thatIflinched. A full head taller than his boy, Levi oozed dominance, and even Stetson—the brattiest brat to ever brat—instantly submitted, even if he did have a twinkle in his eye as he did. “Daddies are plenty of fun when their boys follow the rules.”
Levi’s voice had dropped to a growl and I blushed, suddenly feeling like I was interrupting something. When Stetson sucked hispouty bottom lip between his teeth, I cleared my throat to remind them of my presence. “I know the three of you like being watched, but I’d rather not spend tonight bleaching my eyeballs.”
Snickering, Levi smacked a kiss to his boy’s lips and dropped his hand. Stetson’s bright blue eyes watched the man walk away, and something tugged in my chest, but I banished that feeling as quickly as it came.
No, I wasn’t living one of those romcoms where I spent my days pining for my emotionally unavailable best friend. I loved him, but we were so far from compatible that we might as well have been on different planets. That pull in my chest? Thatwasjealousy—but it was over the dreamy look in his eyes as his boyfriend walked away.
Last spring, I watched Stetson fall for two men that made up baseball’s most notorious power couple: Levi Grant and Barrett Swindon. The three of them made headlines when their relationship was exposed, and again when—after the Thrasher’s World Series win—Stetson leapt into Barrett’s arms and planted a show-stopping kiss on him at home plate.
I’d watched while the three of them fell head-over-heels for each other, and now I craved the same thing.
But I knew I wasn’t going to get it in Alabama.
IhatedAlabama.
I’d been drafted to my dream team right out of college—the Georgia Bobcats. Was I the most sought-after player in the league like my best friend? Not even close, but I was a half-decent linebacker. Two years into my career, however, everything changed. I’d been traded, and as if the league had it out for me, it was to the one state that I’d done my best to avoid.
I put off going to Auburn for as long as I could, which is what culminated in me flying out to San Diego for the weekend. I had some time off, and the Thrashers had a game the next night. I hadn’t intended on celebrating my birthday at all, but Stetsoninsisted on taking me out and when he mentioned a certain club? Well, my interests were piqued to say the least.
Everyone in the queer community knew about Peaches. Stetson’s fascination in the place hadn’t surprised me, After all, he was the one that dragged me into the kink scene when we were in college, but as I sat there and watched him playfully argue with his Daddy, I took a deep breath and tried to remember that Icouldn’tdrink that night—even if it would settle my nerves. I had a plan, and no part of it involved hugging the toilet the next morning.
Peaches had a secret back room. It wasn’t advertised, but it was common knowledge. I’d heard about it from a friend and after doing my own digging, found myself on an online forum. Between the NDA I’d signed and the airtight security, I felt confident that I didn’t have to worry about my deepest secrets being leaked to the public—and I couldn’twait. What better way to get over my loneliness than a quick fuck with a hot stranger?
The ensuite door opened, and the final piece of the bat-swinging trio entered the room wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. I barely refrained from letting a dreamy sigh escape my lips. Barrett Swindon was abeautifulman with chin-length dirty blond hair, striking hazel eyes and tattoos that spanned every inch of his body. Catching me staring, he threw me a wink.
I squirmed, quickly averting my gaze.
“Are these two still bickering?” Barrett teased, snapping his hair towel against Stetson’s ass. My friend yelped, rubbing the sting, and Barrett wrapped him up into his arms and planted a passionate kiss on his lips that nearly made me look away. “Get out of here,” he commanded with a playful shove. “I doubt your best friend wants to spend his birthday cooped up with the three of us.”
Think again, sir.
Shaking awaythatthought, I leapt off the bed like somethinghad stung me in the ass. “He’s right, Stetson. Are we seeing some hot, naked men tonight or what?”
Levi snickered, clapping a hand over Stetson’s mouth to stifle whatever bratty comment he was about to make. Barrett only offered me a crooked brow. Heat flooded my face. “Not you two!Otherhot, naked men—can we just go?”
Listen, I never claimed to be suave.
Stetson took his sweet time with the goodbye kisses, leaving me to all but haul him out the door. The moment my feet hit the sidewalk, I let out a sigh of relief. The weather in San Diego was warm and balmy, with a fresh ocean breeze coming off the water. I inhaled the scent deeply, relishing in the salty tang of the air. I was going to enjoy every second of this I could. In just a few weeks, I would be landlocked for the foreseeable future.
