by Ruby Vincent
“Valentina.” He gestured with his chin. “After you get your lunch, will you come with me?”
“Where?”
The question should have come from my lips, but Kai beat me to it. Maverick glanced at him.
“Do I know you?”
“What’s up, Maverick?” I asked, drawing the attention back to me.
The taller boy’s muscles flexed as he shoved his hands in his pockets. I never thought of myself as someone obsessed with looks, but I couldn’t help but drink him in every time I saw him.
“I have something for you,” he said. “I would have given it to you sooner, but Jaxson claimed you for the weekend.”
I warmed at his word choice.
“It’s in the Knight room. Come with me?”
“Okay.”
Maverick drifted off to the side to wait while I got my lunch—and the third degree from my friends.
“What do you think he wants to give you?” Sofia asked, eyes shining. “Ooh, I love this twelve labors thing. I wish a guy would do something like that to show how much he cares about me. Let alone four guys.”
The twins spoke at the same time.
“Twelve labors?”
“What do you want me to do?”
Sofia rose up and kissed Zane’s cheek. “Not you specifically, babe. The Knights acted like awful shits to Val in freshman year and now they are each doing three things to make it up to her.”
“Sofia!” I cried. “Let’s just tell the whole school, shall we?”
“Is it a secret? Why? It’s the sweetest thing ever.”
Zane captured her chin between his fingers. “Well, if you think it’s sweet; sign me up.”
They dissolved into giggling and flirting and I looked away. Kai sidled up to me as the lunch staff handed me a tray.
“Is she for real?”
“She added a bit more spice, but yes. The Knights are working to apologize to me.”
“So that’s why they’re all over you all the time.”
“I wouldn’t... say that they were,” I said under my breath. “Anyway, I’ve got to go. See you after lunch.”
I walked up to Maverick and we left together. “Can I get a hint about this gift?”
“Nope,” he replied.
“You guys know you don’t have to take me places or buy me things, right? I just want to know that you’re really sorry.”
A hand on my arm pulled me up short. Maverick turned me to face him. “We are. I am. You don’t know—” His voice hitched and for a moment the calm and collected Maverick vanished. It was hard seeing the naked pain on his face. “Ezra and Jaxson didn’t know why you were marked, but I did. I knew Scarlett was behind it, and I fucking hated myself for doing what she wanted.
“It was wrong you being at the mercy of that monster when the one wearing that mark should have been her. But I didn’t know how to stop her without telling everyone that— that she—”
“It’s okay,” I whispered, “I understand.”
“You shouldn’t!”
I stepped back at the shout. There was a battle warring inside of him, and the toll it was taking had been well hidden.
“You shouldn’t be understanding, Valentina. You shouldn’t be nice to me. You shouldn’t forgive me. I’m the worst coward. Every day I wanted to go into administration and tell them the truth about what Scarlett did to me... and every day I couldn’t do it.” He tossed his head. “In the end, I figured the only way I could protect you was to give in. If I helped get you out of the school, she couldn’t hurt you anymore.”
It was awkward with the tray between us. Still, I stepped as close to him as I could. “Maverick, I get it now. Infecting my computer was wrong, but I’m here. You can believe me when I say I understand how you felt.” I looked deep in his eyes. “I understand more than anyone ever could.”
A flicker of surprise flashed in Maverick’s eyes, gone as quickly as it came. As we gazed at each other, something passed between us that neither of us needed to put into words. I knew in that moment that we understood each other.
I was the first to step away. “We should go. I’m excited to see what you have for me.”
“Okay.” Maverick reached out and grabbed my tray. “Let me hold that for you.”
Silently, we walked through the halls to the Knight room. When we rounded the corner, I saw the doorknob had been replaced with one larger and heavy duty. Maverick pulled a key from his blazer and let me in.
“It’ll never change in here, will it?” I looked around at the usual toys and gadgets. “You just get more stuff, not new stuff.”
He chuckled as he set my food on the table. The act made his clothes ride up, exposing a peek of toned bronze flesh. “You know, I never told the guys about your lunchtime visits.”
“Really? Why not?”
He shrugged. The barest smile tugged at his lips. “I kind of like it being our little secret.”
Memories of what we did the day he found out my “secret” flooded my mind. A sudden thought occurred to me.
Is that my gift? Did he bring me here for a repeat? His hands slipping under my skirt to fondle my—
“You can sit down and eat.” Maverick ripped me out of my fantasy. He was seated, and peering at me while I stood in front of the door like a dummy.
“What about your lunch?” I sank down onto the cushion as he got to his feet again.
“I hate eggplant.” Maverick walked around the couch and I heard shuffling behind me.
“Huh.” I looked down at my eggplant parmesan. “I didn’t know that. Something else to file under Maverick.”
“You still keeping a file on me?”
“I have to until I have you all figured out. I’m almost there.”
“You think so?” I could hear he was amused.
“Yep.” I speared a piece of my food and popped it in my mouth. “You do the strong, silent sexy type well, but it turns out you’re not as mysterious as you think.”
He hummed. “Then I guess I can file something else under you too.”
“What?”
His reply burrowed in my ear and made my heart pick up speed. “You think I’m sexy.”
“That’s not what you should have taken away from that comment,” I shot back, face warm.
Maverick’s laughter was deep and rich. I remembered how much I loved that sound. Love it for how rare it was to hear.
“If you don’t want eggplant, why don’t you have my garlic bread? Or the muffin?”
“You said you’d come out fork swinging if I touched that muffin.” His voice grew closer as he approached the couch. “I better not risk it.”
I couldn’t stop a laugh even as I rolled my eyes.
“Here. This is for you.”
The fork stopped halfway to my lips as I laid eyes on the present in his hand. It was a large, rectangular gift wrapped in bright green paper and a blue ribbon.
“Maverick, I— I said you didn’t have to give me gifts.”
“This one I do.” He stepped closer. “Take it, Val. Please.”
I hesitated another second. If it’s too much, you can give it back. Let him know it was the thought that counted.
I moved my lunch to the table and let him place the gift in my lap. The wrapping fell to the floor in shreds as I revealed what Maverick had given me.
“A laptop?” I rested my palm on the shiny black cover. I didn’t know much about these things and still I could tell it was expensive.
“It’s to replace the one I ruined,” he explained. “It’s the newest model from Maverick Technologies and I had Dad upgrade it himself. Not even I could hack into this computer.” Maverick opened it up. “It’s pretty cool actually. He installed a malware defense he designed himself that will...”
Maverick launched into a bunch of computer stuff I didn’t understand for a minute. My eyes traced his face.
He looks so happy talking about this stuff.
Abruptly, his smile melted away. “Sorry. Yo
u’re not interested in the tech.”
“No, I am,” I protested. “I especially like how excited you get talking about it. You’ll have to teach me what all of this means.”
“You really want to learn?”
I bumped his shoulder and took my time pulling back. “I do.”
His smile was so cute for how genuine it was. “Does that mean you’ll keep it?”
“You do owe me a new one.” I clutched it to my chest. “So yes, I’ll keep it.”
“I do owe you which is why this doesn’t count as my apology.”
“What?” I stared up at him as he rose again. “This is great, you don’t have to give me anything else.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No, honestly.” I twisted to track him as he went around the chair and knelt in front of a cabinet. “This is perfect.”
“Trust me, Val. Just one more.”
“Well, what is—” Maverick turned and nestled on his palm was something green and tiny. “What’s this?” I asked, lips curling into a grin. “It’s so cute.”
“It’s a robot. I made it myself.” Maverick joined me on the couch. “She can’t do much other than walk, but I thought you might like it.”
“I love it.” She was a small bot with flat feet and a cube head, but Maverick had painted a smiling face on it and granted her a green body. “You made this? That’s amazing. The only thing I know how to make is a mess.”
He tossed his head back laughing. I loved that I could get him to do that. “You have your own talents. You’re the best dancer in this school while I can’t handle the electric slide.”
“If you teach me about this”—I held out my robot—“then I can teach you to dance.”
A smile played at his lips. “You’re on, Moon. But let’s be clear; those are private dance lessons. No one sees me but you.”
“I could live with that.”
I gazed at him, and once again I felt a silent communication pass between us. I was highly aware of how alone we were right now.
“Val?”
“Yes?”
“What are you thinking right now?”
I couldn’t tell him the truth. That I was wondering if the power and sex appeal his body exuded in uniform would be the same when he was out of it. My core throbbed at the very idea and I swallowed hard. One weekend of sex and now it was all I could think about.
“Nothing,” I rasped. “You?”
“I’m thinking of the last time we were alone in here together.”
My pulse quickened. I forced a laugh to cover my reaction. “You mean when you caught me munching on a carrot sandwich?”
Maverick shifted until he faced me. “I mean when we kissed on this couch and I had to fight every urge not to do more.”
Heat surged through me like wildfire. Okay, so we are going with honesty today.
“Oh, yeah... that might have crossed my mind too.”
Maverick came closer, scooting in until he bumped my hand and knocked my little robot over onto my palm. Maverick’s hand closed over both.
“Jaxson says that you aren’t boyfriend and girlfriend.”
“No,” I said softly. My eyes were fixed on our hands. The robot fell in my lap as Maverick laced our fingers together. “How did that come up? You guys sit around talking about me?”
Maverick’s fingers slipped out of my grasp. His touch was featherlight as he traced slow circles on my arm, but goose bumps erupted all the same. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking now.
“We do when Ezra announces that he’s going after you with everything he’s got.”
My mouth fell slightly open. “He said that?” The tiniest thrill snaked through my body. More nights in Ezra’s arms eating brownies and talking.
“He did, and that’s why I’m saying now”—Maverick closed the distance between us until his forehead rested on me—“I’m going after you too.”
His hand found mine again and brought it to his lips. “I know I don’t deserve you.” His breath ghosted over me. “I have no right to even think about being with you after everything I’ve done, but I want you so bad I can’t help it.”
“Maverick,” I whispered. I traced my finger along his lips, heart singing with every word. “But what about Jaxson and Ezra? You guys are friends; I don’t want to come between you.”
He shook his head. “We’ll always be friends. That won’t change. We also know we can’t expect more than you’re willing to give us. I can share you, Valentina... as long as I have any part of you. That’s enough for me.”
Maverick’s eyes flicked down to my lips and once again I read his mind.
“Kiss me.”
Our lips collided in a spark of heat that curled my toes. I was flying again. My body bounding, twisting, and riding on a roller coaster of emotions I couldn’t control.
Maverick gently pushed me down onto the couch and I wrapped my legs around his waist, completely giving myself over to the kiss. We were breathing hard when we broke apart. Maverick gazed down at me through heavy-lidded eyes.
“Is that a yes?”
I laughed. “That’s definitely a yes, but if it didn’t come through clear the first time, I can try again.”
“Just for clarity, we should try again.”
Maverick swallowed my giggle in another kiss. My food was abandoned as we spent our time on that couch, locked in each other’s arms.
As the end of lunch neared, we found ourselves stretched out on the cushions, my head resting on his chest.
“Maverick?”
His hand was under my dress, tracing a design on my thighs that made me shiver. I wanted him to keep going, searching, but the bell would be calling us away too soon.
“Yes?”
“Have you...?” I trailed off, not knowing how to say this. Unease began creeping in, chasing away my happiness. “Have you been getting texts?”
“Texts? What do you mean?” His hand drifted lower until he was caressing my ass.
My breath caught. That hand was seriously distracting me. “Have you been getting texts from an unknown number? Weird ones?”
“No. Why?” His hand stilled. “Have you?”
“No,” I said quickly. “Not me. One of my friends is. It seems someone in the school got their hands on their number and is now bothering them. Just wondered if they were doing it to anyone else.”
“Oh.” Maverick resumed his activities. “They might be, but I haven’t gotten anything. Some assholes like to scam numbers and harass people, but I bet they know better than to pull that on a Knight. Is it Sofia? Tell her to come to me and I’ll show her how to block unknown numbers.”
I wish it was as simple as blocking Ace, I thought as my fist clenched over his chest.
“It’s not Sofia,” I corrected. I didn’t want Maverick going to her himself and getting her curious. “But they have tried blocking them and it won’t work.” I lifted my head to meet his eyes. “Is there a way to trace it? Find out who owns the phone so they can get them to back off.”
“Yeah, you can do that. Send them to me and I’ll sort it out.”
Smiling, I stretched and landed a peck on his lips. “Thank you.”
Maverick’s reply was to tangle his free hand in my hair and pull me in. I moaned when he nipped at my bottom lip. He played the shy and introverted game so well, but deep down there was more to Maverick Beaumont.
The hand that had been teasing me to distraction moved up to my waist, then slid beneath the lining of my panties.
Click.
“—telling you guys,” Ezra’s voice sounded in the room. “If we don’t handle this now— Oh. Are we interrupting something?”
I scrambled off of Maverick like he caught fire. Cheeks flaming, I yanked down my dress as he pulled his hand back. Maverick’s movements were much more relaxed as the Knights filed in. He sat up, straightened his tie, and put his arm around my shoulder as though it was nothing.
Jaxson grinned at us. “I see y’all have been up
to some serious apologizing in here.” The suggestion in his tone was so blatant he might as well have come out and said it. It surprised me a little. He, and Maverick, told me that they would be cool with sharing me, but still, it was odd to see my goofball act so mature about this when only a few days ago I was tangled in bed with him.
I glanced at the other Knights and saw what I expected to see. Ezra’s face gave nothing away—his disguise of politeness firmly in place. As for Ryder, the mask he wore was gorgeous in its sculpted beauty, but it was expressionless.
Jaxson strode up to me and boldly claimed a kiss, unheeding of who was watching. “It’s always good to see you, baby,” he said when he pulled back, “but you’re about to be late for class.”
My eyes widened. “Shit!” Shooting out of Maverick’s hold, I tossed a hasty goodbye over my shoulder and raced out the door.
My heart pounded as I booked it to class and not just for the run. I had three hot, smart, talented guys after my attention and a nutcase blackmailing me. I don’t know which one of those scared me more.
Chapter Seven
“I’m so excited.”
I tossed Sofia a look. “I can tell. You’re practically bouncing out of your seat.”
Paisley chuckled from our other side. “She’s going to the homecoming dance with one of the hottest guys in school. I’d be bouncing too... on his lap.”
“Paisley!” Sofia leaned over me to swat her friend. “You’re so bad. Besides,” she said as she straightened. “That comes after the dance.”
They collapsed into giggles while I tried not to roll my eyes at my crude friends. They were giddy—everyone was. The homecoming dance was tomorrow night and we were piling on the bus to get our dresses and tuxes.
In the last few weeks, it had been like a fog lifted. Freshman and sophomore year had been nasty with pranks, bullying, sniping, fighting, revenge, and school-wide retribution handed down by the headmaster. With the mark gone, everyone could breathe again. We could have fun again.
The taunts stopped. There were no more hissed insults in the halls. No comments on my body. No insinuations that people paid me for sex. No more attempts on my life. Life at Evergreen had gone back to the way it was, and through it all, I did not receive another text from Ace.