Page 1 of Maverick (Playing For Keeps #2)

MAVERICK

“That’s no fair!”

“Well, those are the rules, Stetson.”

I sat on the bed, watching my best friend argue with his boyfriend and trying to stifle my laughter.

It would only spur him on.

Levi held a platinum credit card in his hand, and—much to Stetson’s disapproval—had just given him a four-drink limit for the night.

“But you just said we could have whatever we wanted!”

“I said Maverick could have whatever he wanted. It’s his birthday, and I’m not his Daddy.”

Stetson accepted the card, but he did so with a scowl, grousing, “Daddies are supposed to be fun.”

Levi clasped a hand around Stetson’s throat so fast that I flinched.

A full head taller than his boy, Levi oozed dominance, and even Stetson—the brattiest brat to ever brat—instantly submitted, even if he did have a twinkle in his eye as he did.

“Daddies are plenty of fun when their boys follow the rules.”

Levi’s voice had dropped to a growl and I blushed, suddenly feeling like I was interrupting something.

When Stetson sucked his pouty bottom lip between his teeth, I cleared my throat to remind them of my presence.

“I know the three of you like being watched, but I’d rather not spend tonight bleaching my eyeballs. ”

Snickering, Levi smacked a kiss to his boy’s lips and dropped his hand. Stetson’s bright blue eyes watched the man walk away, and something tugged in my chest, but I banished that feeling as quickly as it came.

No, I wasn’t living one of those romcoms where I spent my days pining for my emotionally unavailable best friend.

I loved him, but we were so far from compatible that we might as well have been on different planets.

That pull in my chest? That was jealousy—but it was over the dreamy look in his eyes as his boyfriend walked away.

Last spring, I watched Stetson fall for two men that made up baseball’s most notorious power couple: Levi Grant and Barrett Swindon.

The three of them made headlines when their relationship was exposed, and again when—after the Thrasher’s World Series win—Stetson leapt into Barrett’s arms and planted a show-stopping kiss on him at home plate.

I’d watched while the three of them fell head-over-heels for each other, and now I craved the same thing.

But I knew I wasn’t going to get it in Alabama.

I hated Alabama.

I’d been drafted to my dream team right out of college—the Georgia Bobcats.

Was I the most sought-after player in the league like my best friend?

Not even close, but I was a half-decent linebacker.

Two years into my career, however, everything changed.

I’d been traded, and as if the league had it out for me, it was to the one state that I’d done my best to avoid.

I put off going to Auburn for as long as I could, which is what culminated in me flying out to San Diego for the weekend.

I had some time off, and the Thrashers had a game the next night.

I hadn’t intended on celebrating my birthday at all, but Stetson insisted on taking me out and when he mentioned a certain club?

Well, my interests were piqued to say the least.

Everyone in the queer community knew about Peaches.

Stetson’s fascination in the place hadn’t surprised me, After all, he was the one that dragged me into the kink scene when we were in college, but as I sat there and watched him playfully argue with his Daddy, I took a deep breath and tried to remember that I couldn’t drink that night—even if it would settle my nerves.

I had a plan, and no part of it involved hugging the toilet the next morning.

Peaches had a secret back room. It wasn’t advertised, but it was common knowledge.

I’d heard about it from a friend and after doing my own digging, found myself on an online forum.

Between the NDA I’d signed and the airtight security, I felt confident that I didn’t have to worry about my deepest secrets being leaked to the public—and I couldn’t wait .

What better way to get over my loneliness than a quick fuck with a hot stranger?

The ensuite door opened, and the final piece of the bat-swinging trio entered the room wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. I barely refrained from letting a dreamy sigh escape my lips.

Barrett Swindon was a beautiful man with chin-length dirty blond hair, striking hazel eyes and tattoos that spanned every inch of his body.

Catching me staring, he threw me a wink.

I squirmed, quickly averting my gaze.

“Are these two still bickering?” Barrett teased, snapping his hair towel against Stetson’s ass.

My friend yelped, rubbing the sting, and Barrett wrapped him up into his arms and planted a passionate kiss on his lips that nearly made me look away.

“Get out of here,” he commanded with a playful shove.

“I doubt your best friend wants to spend his birthday cooped up with the three of us.”

Think again, sir.

Shaking away that thought, I leapt off the bed like something had stung me in the ass. “He’s right, Stetson. Are we seeing some hot, naked men tonight or what?”

Levi snickered, clapping a hand over Stetson’s mouth to stifle whatever bratty comment he was about to make. Barrett only offered me a crooked brow. Heat flooded my face. “Not you two! Other hot, naked men—can we just go?”

Listen, I never claimed to be suave.

Stetson took his sweet time with the goodbye kisses, leaving me to all but haul him out the door.

The moment my feet hit the sidewalk, I let out a sigh of relief.

The weather in San Diego was warm and balmy, with a fresh ocean breeze coming off the water.

I inhaled the scent deeply, relishing in the salty tang of the air.

I was going to enjoy every second of this I could.

In just a few weeks, I would be landlocked for the foreseeable future.

Okay, maybe that was a little dramatic. Auburn was only a couple of hours from the Gulf Coast, but God , I really didn’t want to be there.

What was that old saying? Let sleeping dogs lie? Trust me, I’d rather not be bitten twice.

“Are they really okay with you doing this?” I asked Stetson as we waited in line outside of Peaches.

My friend smiled up at me. “Yeah, they’re cool with it. Besides, three’s a crowd sometimes. They don’t mind having the occasional night to themselves.”

“That doesn’t make you feel left out?”

The line inched forward. Stetson shook his head. “I know there’ll be space for me in the bed when I get back. And if I asked for the same treatment, I know they’d give it to me.”

We both handed over our IDs and got waved through.

I hadn’t been shocked that Stetson ended up with two men.

Hell, he probably needed both of them to settle his wild ass down.

Even as we entered the club, he practically bounced on his toes, scanning the space for an empty table.

There was a dancer on stage, doing things with his body that I could only ever dream about .

“Slender” and “lithe” weren’t terms typically used to describe me. I was built… well, like a linebacker.

But not tonight. Tonight, I was going to be some hot stranger’s little pr?—

“What are you drinking?” Stetson needed to arch onto his toes to shout into my ear.

“Just… water.”

He arched a brow at me, but I stood my ground.

I’d been speaking to Diesel online for weeks—a fake name, obviously—and he’d been an amazing comfort through all the nerves, but he’d made one thing clear: I was not to drink a single drop of alcohol.

For consent reasons, I couldn’t be drunk, nor did I want to end up needing to stop because I had to pee.

“I’ll let loose later,” I promised Stetson, eyeing the cutoff behind the stage. That’s where I’d need to go after making some excuse to get away.

Unfortunately for me, my best friend was far too observant. “Oh,” he chuckled knowingly. “I got it now. You bought yourself a birthday present.”

My shoulders sagged in relief. Of course he knew about the room, that kinky little bastard.

Before I could defend myself, he clapped me on the shoulder and wormed his way to the bar.

My cheeks were on fire, but at least I wouldn’t have to lie to get away from the table.

All I had to do was wait on a dancer named Onyx to finish his set, and all I’d have to do was slip away.

Technically, I hadn’t paid for anything. It was an anonymous meetup between two consenting strangers—but there was no arguing with Stetson once he got something in his head. Besides, the entire west coast would know if he had a problem with it.

He returned with my water, holding up a wad of cash that Levi must have given him when I wasn’t paying attention. “Come on. Onyx is on in five minutes. Let’s see if we can get close to the rail.”

That seemed to be the cue to kickstart my heart—but not for the dancer. I’m sure he was great, but I was more excited for what would come after.

I practically vibrated in my seat throughout Onyx’s entire set.

Sure enough, Stetson had clued someone in on my birthday, and I got some extra attention.

Onyx singled me out with those glitter-accented brown eyes, crawling onto all fours and bouncing his glorious ass in my face.

When he flipped his purple pleated skirt up to reveal the matching jock beneath, my mouth dried out.

Squirming in my seat, the soft lace caressing my cock only served to make me harder.

Onyx was gorgeous but even though my dick took interest, he was still far from my type.

Then he returned to the pole, and my heart threatened to beat right out of my chest. The song came to an end with an impressive spin from Onyx, and the stage went black. Subtly adjusting myself in the dim light, I rose from my seat. Stetson offered me nothing more than a wink and a knowing grin.

As the next dancer took the stage, I disappeared behind that curtain, counting the doors as I walked down the dark hallway.

One… two… three … And I burst into the pitch-black room.

I couldn’t see anything. The only sound I heard was the soft thump of the music outside—and my pulse rushing in my ears.

Blood surged south, the thrill of the unknown enough to have me on the edge faster than I could blink.

For a moment, I wondered if I was in the wrong place. I was a second away from leaving when someone grabbed me from behind. I stiffened, hands flying to my captor’s arms. “Easy, princess. I’ve got you.”

The breath whooshed out of my lungs. God damn, I was 6’ 4” but when my head fell back, it was onto a mountain of a shoulder.

No wonder they called him Diesel. He must have been at least 6’ 8”, and the arms around my neck were the size of tree branches.

He pressed into my back, letting me feel the hard planes of his chest and stomach.

Judging by the sizable bulge pressing into my ass, he wore nothing but his underwear .

Now on edge for more than one reason, I tried to focus on my breathing. Deep inhales through my nose, and out through my mouth. Diesel’s thumb stroked my shoulder in time to my exhales. “Do you need a minute?” he asked.

“No,” I answered, perhaps a little too quickly. He chuckled, the deep sound rumbling his chest and vibrating my back. “I’m ready.”

“Alright, then. Give me your safeword and we’ll get started.”

“Traffic light system.” I swallowed against a dry mouth. “Yellow to slow down, red to stop.”

“Good girl.”

Oh, shit . Two little words were all it took to have me pressing my palm to my erection to stave off my orgasm. That was why I was here. I wanted to explore that feeling.

“Now…” Diesel’s right hand splayed across my chest, palm right over my heart.

His left draped soft fabric across my arm.

Rotating my hand, I accepted the mysterious garment.

“As breathtaking as your ass feels in these jeans, it’s time for you to change into something more comfortable.

I’m going to bring the lights up a bit so you can see.

There’s a bathroom directly to your left. Leave your phone there. Understood?”

I nodded before remembering he couldn’t see me. “I understand.”

“Good.” A soft pat to my ass, and he stepped away. I groaned at the loss of him.

Soft pink light slowly crept over the room. It was barely enough to see by, but it highlighted the closed door to my left. Swallowing hard, I let myself inside. The same light crawled over the walls and despite having the privacy, I didn’t turn on anymore—I didn’t want to ruin the mood.

I powered off my phone and left it on the counter, then undid my belt and kicked out of my shoes and jeans.

I peeled out of my socks for good measure and whipped my shirt over my head.

Nervous, I took a risk and glanced at myself in the mirror.

The only thing that remained were my lacy panties, which left little to the imagination.

Diesel had picked those out himself, sending me the link through the online forum so I could order them.

The deep green contrasted my olive-toned skin and when I’d put them on, the soft material cradled my cock and balls in a way that made me wonder why I’d waited so damn long to try them.

My erection pressed against the silk-lined pocket, and I pressed the heel of my hand to it, shuddering at the sensation. God, I hadn’t been touched in so long…

Before I could lose myself, I unfolded the bundle of fabric that Diesel had put in my hand.

A satin blindfold fell from the folds of a leather skirt and fluttered into the sink.

At first, I didn’t think the thing would fit and when I stepped into it, I hardly had the room to zip it up in the back.

It was tight , hugging my ass and my hips.

Laced-up cutouts highlighted the Vs of my Adonis Belt.

The hem, barely long enough to cover my sexy underwear, cut high on my toned thighs.

Looking in the mirror at the man staring back at me, I should have been confused.

Hard, cut muscles shouldn’t pair so well with skirts and lace—but they did.

Running my hands over the black skirt, I could only conclude one thing: it felt damn good.

Next, I retrieved the blindfold from where it had fallen to the sink. With shaking hands, I closed my eyes and opened the bathroom door.