Page 29 of Maverick
“Why do I feel like it goes so much deeper than that?” I already knew that it did, but Reese needed to get there on his own.
Red-faced, Reese cast a glance in my direction. “He has this mindset that I think I’m better than him.”
“Do you?”
“I used to,” he admitted quietly. “But not having him in my life was the kick in the ass I needed. I should have tried to fix it a long time ago—I should havemadehim listen that night at the beach house, but I was just so glad that he was talking to me at all that I didn’t want to screw it up.”
Then, a sound caught my attention. It came from the showers—soft footfalls across the tiled floor before one of theshowers turned on. It had to be Maverick. Everyone else had already left. “I have an idea,” I said to Reese, “but I need you to trust me.”
“Okay…”
“Go take a walk. Have some water or a snack. Give me ten minutes, then come find me.”
Reese nodded his agreement and pushed himself to his feet. I waited for the locker room door to shut behind him, then I went in search of my princess.
14
MAVERICK
Thank fuck everyone was gone.Sweat and grime were starting to cake on my skin, but I wanted the opportunity to sulk on my own.
That had been the worst game of my career. After that night at the beach, I thought I was over Reese Taylor getting under my skin, but there was something about having him boss me around on the field got me twisted up in a way I hadn’t been in a long time. Maybe it was the way he’d bent tomywill when he was on his knees for me…
Ugh!
I dropped my shower kit to the bench and turned on the water. The rushing sound and the wet drops on my hand triggered a twinge in my lower belly. Considering how much I typically drank during a game, I shouldn’t have been surprised that I had to go, but I grumbled anyway. It was just another step getting in the way of my brooding. I spun in the direction of the toilets… only to smash into a rock-hard wall.
Hands grabbed my waist, and I realized it was aperson. “You okay?” Quinton asked, stabilizing me on my feet.
“Fine,” I groused, choosing to ignore what his voice did to me.Ever since he admitted to knowing who I was, I’d had a hard time seeing him as my teammate—as my colleague. He’d tugged me into his lap to comfort me, hadtaken me homeand taken care of me when I was sick. That had obliterated any remaining thoughts of keeping things professional. He was my Daddy, and after I’d opened up about my past, I only felt our connection grow stronger.
Something in my chest ached. Ineededmy Daddy.
But I still needed to go to the bathroom.
I attempted to wiggle out of his grip, only for him to tighten his hold, thumb stroking my skin in that way that nearly made me forget my own name.
“Hold on,” he muttered. “You’re covered in dirt and sweat, sweetheart. You need to take a shower.”
He wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me toward the stall, but I anchored my feet in place. The rushing water and the fact that I’d acknowledged my need ramped up the urgency. “I have to pee.”
Quinton peered down at me, a move that not very many people could pull off but in that moment, I felt two feet tall.
And Ilovedit.
With nothing more than a quirked brow and the memory of our conversation in the hot tub, heat flooded my cheeks. My heart thundered, goosebumps drawing over my skin. Unfortunately, my body hadn’t gotten the memo. I squirmed. The temperature rose in the room, and I wasn’t entirely sure that it was because of the shower.
“Remember what I told you?”
Oh, I remembered. It was all I’d thought about.
“The moment you step off the field every day, your body belongs to me.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“Now, is there something you’d like toaskme?”
Blushing furiously, I hid my face in his shoulder. “Can I use the bathroom?”
