Page 16 of Maverick
It only took a few more bites for my stomach to protest, so Ioffered the rest to Quinton. “Is this a relationship?” I asked. “Or just fun in the bedroom?”
He shrugged, urging me to take the hot drink again. “It can be whatever you want. We can also just do what feels good for the moment and check in again later.”
I hummed, Quinton’s large hand massaging my thigh beneath the tray. “That one; I like that idea.”
He rose from the bed, leaning over to kiss my forehead before he got to his feet. “You work at that drink. I’ll go start your bath.”
With the warm mug in my hands, I relaxed. For a little while, I’d forgotten about my brand-new house with all the furniture waiting to be assembled. As I waited for the bath to run, the scent of tea tree and lavender wafted into the room. Once the water was ready—and I couldn’t tolerate any more of the strong drink—Quinton helped me out of bed and into the bathroom, where he undressed me with a tender touch, placing gentle kisses over every inch of exposed skin.
When I lowered myself into the hot, bubbly water, I couldn’t help but notice that he hadn’t taken off his own clothes and all it took was a pointed glance for him to do so. After tying his hair up, he climbed in behind me, and I laid in his arms, fitting like I was made to be there. Whatever he’d put in the bath worked wonders in opening up my sinuses. Quinton washed me, starting with my shoulders and working his way down. As he massaged shampoo into my hair, I found the strength to speak. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course you can, baby girl.”
My stomach fluttered. “You said you don’t normally date during the season.”
“That’s right.” Quinton took a deep breath. “That’s why I was in the back room of a club all the way across the country—I usually get it out of my system before the season starts.”
At his instruction, I closed my eyes. “What makes me so different?”
Quinton wound soapy fingers through my curls, tugging my head to the side so he could nuzzle into my neck. Nosing along my jaw, he rumbled his next words into my ear. “Because I can’t getyouout of my system, princess.” Despite how shitty I felt, blood surged south and if Quinton noticed, he didn’t address it. “The second I left you alone, I wanted to turn back. Ishouldhave turned back, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. You’re different because having you within sight and not being allowed to touch you would be the worst torture I could think of.Thatwould be the worst distraction. But Maverick, if you decide that you don’t want to be exclusive, I just need you to tell me. Just because I’m not seeing anyone else doesn’t mean I expect you to do the same. Okay?”
“Mmhmm…” Damn it, I’d do whatever he wanted if he kept touching me like that. My heart hammered against my ribcage.
Quinton finished washing me, roaming my body with careful strokes of his hands—but never quite ending up where I really wanted him. When the bath cooled and I showed no signs of wanting to get out, he only added more hot water. Long after I was clean, I laid there on his chest, hovering in such a relaxed state that I was one tender stroke away from falling asleep.
For the first time in a long time, I was… comfortable.
And that was a feeling that I could start getting used to.
8
REESE
I didn’t seeMaverick for the rest of the week. When he did return to training, he hardly spoke to me, other than what was required. I tried my hardest to catch him alone, but he seemed to make it his personal mission to make sure thatdidn’thappen. He was always the first one on the field and always buried himself in the crowd in the showers after. By the final day of training camp, we’d only shared one interaction.
However, some strange twist of fate—or simply me spacing out and forgetting my phone—had me stumbling into the classroom long after everyone had left.
Or so I thought.
Maverick sat at a table, bent over a tablet. He had headphones in and hadn’t even noticed that I’d entered the room. Unfortunately for him, my phone was plugged in right next to that specific table. Not ready to interrupt the moment, I took advantage of it and leaned against the door frame to drink him in. He twirled a loose curl around his finger, rewinding the video and leaning even closer to the screen. I silently pleaded for him to look up, for those gorgeous eyes to meet mine.
“I don’t understand,” he muttered to himself, sliding the cursor back to the same spot.
Damn. I guess my admiration of him was over. Pushing off the wall, I advanced into the room. “Don’t understand what?”
Maverick flinched, gaze whipping up to meet mine. “Nothing. What do you want?”
I didn’t answer right away. Instead, I watched Maverick's temper grow with each step I took. His nostrils flared, his eyes darkened to a deep hunter green. His left leg bounced beneath the table, increasing in pace as I got closer. By the time I landed in front of him, his left hand had curled into a tight fist. Man, hereallydidn’t want me near him.
“Relax. I forgot my phone,” I told him, throat tight. Leaning down, I yanked my phone free of the charger. In doing so, I caught a glimpse of what he’d been watching: block shedding drills. I gestured toward the screen. “I can show you what you’re doing wrong.”
“That sounds like a great idea, but I’ve got some pins I’d rather stick in my eyes later.”
Although he was snapping at me, I found myself trying not to laugh. Angry Maverick was fucking adorable. “Alright,” I surrendered. “But the offer stands. Will I see you tonight?”
Every year, some of the team took a trip to Gulf Shores to celebrate the end of the training. We all pitched in on a house, and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t hoped that Maverick and I would end up “stuck” in the same room.
If that wouldn’t force him to talk to me, nothing would.
