Page 109 of Face Off
“Says the leech,” I toss back, and he grins.
“I love the nicknames you have for me, but I’m partial togod. Particularly when you’re on top of me.”
A flush creeps up my neck, and I’m glad none of our teammates are paying enough attention to listen to our conversation.
“I might call you Satan next time, just to keep you balanced.”
“Don’t care what you call me.” He wraps his ankle around mine and drags me toward him with the strength of his leg until our thighs are touching. “I like that there’s going to be a next time.”
I’ve never had a friend with benefits before, but Maverick is a good starting point. There are no messy emotions or hours of waxing poetic about feelings and relationship expectations.
It’s sex however we like it, whenever we want it, and I secretly love that he can trade barbs with me and make it feel like flirting.
I also love that he touches me when he’s not supposed to, little stolen moments when no one else is watching because he can’t keep his hands away.
It’s nice to be wanted.
“Are you sure you still want there to be a next time?” I ask quietly. “You saw me when I looked like literal garbage.”
“Doesn’t change a thing.”
“And you’re okay with being exclusive and only sleeping with each other?” I rub my forehead and wince. “Sorry. I shouldn’t be talking about this right now. The night I was sick is a little hazy and?—”
“Hey.” Maverick’s fingers wrap around my wrist, and he smiles. “I’m more than okay with it. I meant what I said—you’re enough, Emmy, and what we’re doing right now makes me happy. Vomit and all.”
My heart flutters dangerously in my chest. “It makes me happy too.”
“Look at us.” He grins. “Two happy people.”
“Speaking of happy people, you might have a fight on your hands one of these days.” I look over my shoulder and see Grant talking Lexi’s ear off. Two rows back from them, Riley watches their conversation with hunched shoulders, and I want to give him a hug. “Something to keep in the back of your mind as captain.”
“Hm?” Maverick’s eyes are closed. He’s half-delirious and ready for a nap. “What are you talking about?”
“Grant is flirting with Lexi. Riley clearly likes Lexi. I’m not sure Lexi likes either of them.”
“Grant likes Lexi?”
“Yup.”
“And Riley likes Lexi?”
“It’s the most obvious thing in the world.”
“It is? Huh. I never noticed.”
“How did you not notice?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugs, and his fingers dance over my knee. “Guess I’ve been too busy looking at you.”
The bass at the club is so loud, my eardrums might burst.
The ten of us who walked the half mile to the club in downtown Toronto got escorted to a VIP section on the second floor with thick curtains along the wall and plush leather seats.
The drinks started flowing the second we sat down, and they haven’t stopped in the ninety minutes we’ve been here. A string of men and women have come by, trying to get our attention, but no one pays them any mind.
Not even Maverick, who, when our conversation was interrupted by a horde of women in dresses with plunging necklines that screamed his name and asked for an autograph, didn’t take his eyes off me.
I don’t know how our teammates haven’t figured out that we can’t stay away from each other. It helps that the majority of them are on the dance floor. The rest are so past tipsy, they won’t remember a damn thing from tonight.
