Page 19

Maverick

T he adrenaline starts to fade as I make my way back to my dressing room.

Doug didn’t even see the ride, but I am sure he will want to be a part of the conversation.

If he hadn’t been with my dad the majority of his career, I would have kicked him to the curb.

But he got passed down to me when I lost my dad and has stuck around.

The hallway is brightly lit, and I smile and nod at the other contestants as I pass by, wanting to get this over with and head back to the hotel.

A hot shower and a long sleep sound great.

Plus, the nightly movie marathon with Ava has become something I look forward to more than I want to admit.

The movies are usually not my favorite, but hearing her laugh makes tolerating two hours of trash completely worth it.

I open the door to my dressing room, seeing that Doug has Gonzales’ ride streaming on the small TV. This is one of the better arenas. It’s nice having space to settle down in after the rush of riding. I can still keep up with the contenders but not have to be in the public eye.

“Good ride out there today, Maverick.”

“Yup.” I’m still a little peeved at how he talked about Ava earlier, right in front of her. I knew he wouldn’t be the biggest fan of her being there. But this is my ride, not his. If he wants more of a say, he can get his happy ass on the back of a pissed off bull and start making his own money .

“Don’t tell me you’re upset with me over the girl.

” He looks as if my frustration is completely uncalled for.

Calling her “the girl” brings another round of anger in me.

He knows her fucking name. She didn’t do anything but show up tonight, and he’s out of his God damned mind if he thinks he can disrespect her, or myself for that matter.

“You don’t get to have a say in who I bring to these things, alright?

If I want to bring a friend, I can. I think you are forgetting who pays who here.

You manage where I am riding and who is paying to be on this vest.” I tap some of the badges littering my riding vest. “I do the rest.” The shock on his face could be read from outer space.

I never mouth off to him, small little quips, but I usually ignore him and walk out when he gets on my last nerve, which feels like something I should be doing now.

Coach walks in, breaking up the awkward silence that has fallen over the room. “Gonzales had a good ride, but his bull wasn’t nearly as good as yours, and his scores show it.” He must catch on to the tension in the air. “Did I interrupt something here?”

Brushing past Doug, I say, “No, I was just leaving.” Screw that. I am going to find Ava and get out of here.

Stalking out of the dressing room and down the hall, I see Ava talking to no one other than Gonzales.

Fucking leech. Of course she would catch his eye.

She should catch his eye. I’ve been knocked in the head a few times, but even I know Ava is a knockout.

Everything about her is too damn good for that little fucker standing in front of her.

She seems to be making pleasant conversation, but as I get closer, I can hear bits and pieces of their conversation.

“What? Is Ryder the only rider you are willing to ride on? ”

The shock on her face at what he said is front and center. “I’m just not interested. But thank you for the offer.” She goes to stalk off, but he follows close on her tail.

“I didn’t think buckle bunnies played hard to get. Come on, let me buy you a drink.” He reaches for her arm, pulling her back to face him, and I lose it. Every ounce of control I had cracks.

“Excuse me?” She whips around at the buckle bunny insult. Between Doug and this douche, I’m seconds away from blowing a gasket.

Rushing to her side, I push her behind me with my arm. “Who the fuck do you think you are talking to my wife like that?” My voice comes out in a murderous thunder, loud enough for the whole arena to hear. Which is good. “If you want to fuck with Ava, you’re going to have to get through me.”

Ava grabs my arm. “It’s okay, Mav, really.”

My anger is still too hot and needs a place to be released.

“It’s not fine.” Clasping Ava’s hand in mine, I keep her positioned behind me.

‘If you have something disrespectful to say about my wife, say it to my face or get the fuck out of here.” I point to the door, which I would like to drag him out of and kick his ass.

Gonzales, being the pussy he is, puts his hand in the air. “I didn’t know she was your girl.”

“It doesn’t fucking matter. Maybe you wouldn’t have to beg a woman for a drink if you treated them with a little respect.” He tucks his metaphorical tail between his legs and heads back to his crew.

When I look up, I see quite a crowd gathering around us, and what I just did hits me.

So much for keeping this whole marriage thing under wraps.

Cameras flash in our direction, and the weight of it crushes me.

It’s not me I’m worried about, it’s Ava.

She’s already stressed out with everything that has been going on, and I don’t want to ever add another thing for her to worry about.

“Shit, Ava, I’m sorry.” But she isn’t looking at me with anger; something else that looks a lot like wonder simmers behind her eyes.

“Let’s get out of here before this becomes a cluster fuck.

” Gripping her hand, I lead her out the back.

I drove my own truck here, and we can head to the hotel in that.

I will text Weston and Coach when I get there.

Ava’s silence unnerves me. I know we were supposed to keep this thing quiet.

Partially for my reputation, a super short marriage and divorce are not helpful in keeping my image squeaky clean.

People will speculate and talk, they always do.

The other half of it was for her. For exactly what happened tonight.

I don’t want anyone coming at her because she’s my wife. Or my wife by name.

When we finally get to the truck, I turn toward her and take her hands in mine.

“Listen, I know we were supposed to keep this under wraps, but when I heard him talking to you like that, I snap—” My words are cut off by her lips crashing into mine.

God, how I have wished for this. Savoring the taste of her on my lips, I ensnare my hands around her hips, pulling her close enough to feel the rapid beat of her heart against me.

She pulls back, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m not mad, Mav.”

Confusion fills me, though it shouldn’t, considering the way she’s reacting. “You’re not.”

Her hands grip the front of my vest as she shakes her head. “Not even a little. You had my back.”

A piece of my heart breaks that simply standing up for her would elicit this type of reaction.

“I’ll always have your back, sweetheart.

” My palm cups her face, my thumb brushing against the soft skin on her cheek.

Her lips crash back into mine, and the urgency in the kiss rises.

I reach behind me and try to find the handle, desperate to get her out of here.

Breaking the kiss, I turn around and open the door. She hops in without a word, and I hustle to the driver’s seat.

I expect her to let me get the key in the ignition, but the second my ass plants in the seat, she’s reaching over and kissing me over the console. I lose all sense of what I am supposed to be doing; the only thing I can think about is her lips on mine.

She takes me, pulling me closer in stride, and crawls over the center console. Her hips straddle my lap, making it impossible to hide the swell of my cock right now. Her center perfectly lines up over it, delivering the tiniest bit of friction.

My voice comes out in a rough grumble. “You better be careful, or I’m going to end up fucking you in this parking lot.”

She pulls her face back; mischief and fire are written all over her features. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen her eyes shine like they are right now. “Would that be so bad?”

“Fuck.” My head is thrown back against my headrest as my resolve starts to melt away. How am I supposed to resist that? How am I supposed to resist her? The way she looks right now. My bones feel like they are on fire.

Her lips find mine again as she rolls her hips, creating the perfect amount of friction for it to feel good.

I’ve never come in my pants in my thirty years of life, but I think Ava is on a mission to brand my cock as hers and take home the title.

She rocks her hips again as she moans, and the sound causes goosebumps to erupt over my skin.

“Make that sound again,” I command. I feel her smile break out against my lips as she drags herself against me again. “Ava, let me touch you, sweetheart? ”

“Please,” she pleads, and my lips move to her neck. My hands roam her body, cupping her ass.

When my hands eventually find her tits, I feel my grip instinctively close over them with a gentle squeeze. “Yes, Mav. More.”

More. Exactly what I want from her. More .

Maybe six months with her won’t be enough. I feel like the more I’m with her, the more I crave her.

Unable to keep my composure, I unbutton the top of her jeans and slide down the zipper. Pulling my head back, I grip my fingers under her chin, guiding her attention back to mine and silently asking for permission. She doesn’t answer, but she nods her head and leans back in.

The windows begin to fog as her breath grows heavier; my hand is a tight fit between the jeans and the zipper. I want to push down her pants, but the blue jeans are glued to her figure. My hand slips down and grazes against her clit. When my fingers circle, I am met with a moan.

“Is that what you wanted, baby?” It’s not nearly enough for me. I want to dive my hand between her legs and feel how wet she is for me. Maybe have a little midnight snack on her pussy. Anything she is willing to give me, I’d take it. “Let me hear you say it, Ava.”

“Yes, Mav.” She places her hands on my shoulders and rocks her hips, my fingers slipping just far enough to get a feel for how wet she is. I wonder how wet she gets after she comes. It becomes my personal mission to find out.

My index finger circles around her clit in small sharp movements. Her breathing grows heavy, making a dense fog cover the windows. If anyone had a question about what we were doing behind my tinted windows, they won’t anymore .

“I need you to come for me, in this truck, for anyone to see.” If they had any doubts about who she belongs to, they won’t after hearing my name being screamed from her lips.

“Let everyone know who you belong to.” She may not actually belong to me, but while she’s my wife, she does, and I want everyone on planet Earth to know.

Her voice comes out breathy. “If you can get me off with just a touch of your finger, I will personally deliver you a gold star.” And now I’m even more motivated. Watching her unravel in my hands is one thing, but being rewarded for it? Game on.

My hand slips up her shirt and bra, my free hand circling her pebbled nipple as I pinch.

My other hand focuses on her clit, speeding up and applying more pressure, circling around her clit like a fucking Oklahoma tornado.

Her body begins to shake, and when her eyes peer into mine, I know she’s close.

She didn’t think I could, but I’m about to rock her world with a touch of my finger.

Leaning in, I whisper in her ear, “Come. Now.” The touch of command in my tone sends her over the edge. Her body shudders, and I fight the urge to come. If I am going to come anywhere tonight, it’s going to be in her pretty little cunt.

“Now. I am going to take you back to the hotel, and this time, you’re going to remember every second I spend fucking you.”