Page 116 of Face Off
Maverick sent me a selfie earlier, a sideways shot where I saw a pair of cufflinks. Polished shoes and tailored slacks that hug his body.
There was also the curve of his signature smirk, and the top two buttons of his shirt were popped open, showing just enough skin to make out a hickey on his neck. The red is fading to purple, and it made me want to leave another one next to it.
I blow out a breath, spin, and immediately want to throw my heel at his face.
Goddamn him all the way to hell.
I’ve seen him in suits and ties walking into games, but this is different.
He’s sexy. The picture of every woman’s fantasy wrapped up in a six-foot-four hunk of a man wearing a tuxedo and bowtie.
Moisture pools between my legs, and there’s a swooping sensation low in my stomach. Liquid heat settles in my blood the longer I stare at him. My nipples harden under my dress, pointed peaks I know he can see, and as much as I’d like toblame it on the wind or the cold or anythingelse, we both know it’s because of him.
“Hi, Mav.” Piper gives him a quick hug. “Thank you so much for the limo.”
“Anything for my favorite ladies. Did you all have fun?”
“We had a blast.” She smiles and squeezes his arm. “You look nice.”
I want to laugh.
Maverick Miller looks so beyond nice.
“So do you, Piper,” he says, but he’s not looking at her.
He’s staring right back at me.
There’s molten-hot awareness behind the darks of his eyes and the curl of a smile on his mouth. He licks his lips, a slow drag of his tongue reminiscent of a man starved, and it feels like he’s running his tongue over every inch of me.
The jut of my hip. The inside of my thigh. The swell of my breast and across my stomach as he nudges my knees apart, ready to feast.
“Are you all right, Hartwell?” Maverick asks, and he tips his head to the side. “You look a little flushed.”
I think I’m going into cardiac arrest.
“I’m fine.” I fix the strap of my dress and his gaze flashes a shade darker. I wonder if he’s undressing me with his eyes like I’m doing with him. “You do look nice, Miller. Glad to know you clean up so well.”
“I’m going to head up,” Piper says, turning for the stairs. “I’ll see you inside, Em.”
“Will you save me a seat at your table?” I ask.
“Sorry, Red. It’s assigned seating, and you have a spot next to me,” Maverick interjects. “But I’ll make sure you have a good time.”
“I’ll come and visit,” Piper promises, and she blows me a kiss. “Don’t stay out here too long. It’s freezing.”
Funny.
I feel like I’m on fire.
“I’m right behind you,” I assure her, and when she disappears into the crowd, I look back at Maverick. “Did you bring a date with you?”
“I did,” he says, and I don’t know why my heart sinks to the floor. “She’s about yea high.” He holds up his hand to his hip. “Likes to talk a lot. Definitely knows more about the Stars than I do and would put me to shame in a trivia match.” At my confused expression, he laughs. “I brought Rachel. The girl from?—”
“The arena tour,” I finish for him, and my heart leaps back up to my throat. “You did?”
“I thought she…” He trails off, the rest of the sentence hanging unfinished. He shoves his hands in his pockets and looks up at the night sky. “She deserves to be here.”
I reach out and touch his bicep, right where I know the tattoos of a cluster of stars sit. “Can I meet her?” I ask, and his smile is a shot to the center of my chest.
