Page 8 of Maverick
I’d rather live than die in the arena as a virgin.
Than be a virgin while my sister gets a placement in the FEI Dressage World Cup finals and a husband.
“What the hell?” Holt asks.
“You heard me. I betme. For the night. Either of you.”
Holt immediately flings more money into the center of the table.
Maverick looks at me, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’ll raise you.”
He puts yet more money in, and I realize that they’ve somehow determined the monetary amount on the bet that I’ve just given.
“I call,” says Cade.
Maverick looks at me. And his lips curve into a smile. Then it’s time for us to show our hands. My palms are sweaty. Cade puts his cards down and reveals a flush. And I grind my teeth together. I put down mine. Full House.
Maverick shakes his head slowly. And puts down my worst nightmare. A royal flush.
“I guess I win. Is that the whole night?”
I’m so embarrassed because I’m still sitting there in front of Holt and Cade, and my heart is going crazy. Not only that, I’m not horrified. I should be horrified. I should be terrified. Instead, I can feel a pulse of desire beating between my legs. I’m wet.
I’ve somehow manipulated myself into a situation where I’m going to sleep with Maverick Quinn.
After years of lusting after him on the circuit.
This is hands down the most unhinged thing I’ve ever done, but it’s all… All this. Everything that happened with Colt, everything that’s happened up till now. Tonight’s loss. I just feel anchorless, and I feel like I need something. Something’s going to kill me after all.
It might as well be Maverick Quinn.
I take a sharp breath and meet his gaze. “I guess that’s it for the game, then.”
“You’re not seriously going to cash this bet in?” Cade asks, reaching out and gripping Maverick by the forearm. Mavericklooks down at where the other man’s hand is making contact with him.
“I wouldn’t put your hands on me if I were you,” Maverick says. “Because let me tell you, I’m always looking for an excuse. Give me one. See what happens.”
Cade seems to rethink his chivalry – which I believe was sour grapes and not honor – removing his hand quickly.
“That’s better. And hell yeah, I’m calling in the bet. She made it in good faith. I can only assume that Holt would’ve been in on it if he had won.”
“It’s fucking prostitution,” Holt says.
“Not exactly,” I say. “I’m not getting paid. And anyway, how is it different from what y’all do at the bar every night?” I give them both a frosty eye. “I think you were both hoping you could hook up with me by inviting me to this game. I just figured I’d make it official. Besides, a girl has to get her entertainment somehow.”
I should’ve actually said that I was betting my virginity. It probably would’ve driven the price up. Didn’t matter anyway, since I lost.
I lost.
And am I really going to go through with this?
Maverick is looking at me, and then he reaches out his hand. I swallow hard, and then I take it. His skin is rough, his hand hot and strong. And my heart is rattling around in my chest like a caged bird.
Then he pulls me forward, bringing me within just a couple inches of him. “You got a place to bunk?”
“I have my trailer. Don’t you have…”
“I was going to go to a hotel. But I don’t have a place booked. Might as well bunk down at your place.”
