Reckless Gamble: a billionaire high stakes suspense romance (City Sinners Book 4)

by Kenna Shaw Reed

  “Then, let me talk to an old friend.”

  Unwilling to take my eyes off her for a second, I backed down the stairs, watching her laugh as I collided into shirtless men on their way upstairs.

  No, I didn’t want to join them. I’d never been tempted by cock, and the only lips I wanted wrapped around mine came attached to natural breasts and a hungry pussy. Preferably answering to either Carlynn or GG.

  “Scott! What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here with a guest, any chance we can get the VIP treatment.”

  “Does Darius know?” Tara asked. As the head hostess and club marketing genius, she’d been left to look after the mess we’d created.

  “Yes.”

  Scott to Darius: Taking Carlynn to The Club. Am I still welcome?

  Darius: Tell Tara you can have my private room.

  Scott to Darius: Thx

  Darius: Tell her to put out all the VIP trimmings, on me.

  Darius: Just make sure the only cuffs you end up in tonight come with silk ties and no social media.

  Tara cocked a perfectly sculptured eyebrow at the texts. “Are you sure your guest will want all the trimmings?”

  “I’m sure my guest won’t be afraid to tell me if we hit her boundaries.”

  Tara looked up to where GG had just declined the offers from a couple headed down to the dancefloor. “Given up on blondes?”

  “I’ve evolved. Gentlemen might prefer blondes, but I’ve never really been a gentleman.”

  “Oh, Scott, what are we gonna do with you?” Tara had laughed, grabbing a set of keys. “Or, more to the point, what are you going to let your guest do with you!”

  “Anything she wants.”

  I hadn’t even watched Tara’s ass as she led me back up to the viewing platform. GG’s eyes were having their own conversation with my cock. Yes, yes, and yes to that as well. Fuck, I couldn’t wait to get her upstairs and alone.

  “Carlynn, this is Tara.” No reason to share her poker name.

  “Let me get the two of you some privacy,” Tara said after shaking GG’s hand. My own hand found the small of GG’s back, just above the curve of her ass. Helping push her up the circular bannister to the private viewing rooms.

  Of course, Darius’ room was at the far end. Locked with a key and swipe card. Tara opened the door, the dull lighting leading us past the two custom made couches that were large enough to host a footballer’s party, past the glass coffee table, bar and to the floor to ceiling windows.

  “Oh, my—” GG gasped, turning into me. Lips crashing against mine in full show that her trust had been well placed. “This place is—”

  “If I can interrupt you lovebirds for one moment,” Tara had said. Standing to GG’s side, “I’ve already asked the kitchen to prepare some platters, and if Mr. Patera’s bar doesn’t have what you want, please call down to the front desk.”

  “Darius?” GG asked.

  “He’s part owner.” Tara smiled and I hoped Darius knew how fucking lucky he was.

  “You?” GG looked to me, “I didn’t see any clubs—”

  “In my financials? Because this is Darius’ thing. Not mine. I’m more startups and blue chips.”

  “The windows are one-way glass. You can see down; they can’t see up even when the lights are on. You have full access to a library of music and old movies through these controls.” Tara handed GG the remote and a hidden television appeared behind one of the couches. “Our staff are very discreet—if you don’t want them to come, just press one of the green buttons. There’s one next to the light switch, and if you don’t want to leave the comfort of the couches, there’s a button on each end.”

  “Green button, why?” GG kept spinning in place. Taking in the room, Tara’s instructions but was drawn back to what was happening on the floor below. Her initial shock had disappeared, and my gut clenched with panic. What if I’d over-stepped and this was more than she could handle? A nice idea, but not for her—or at least not with me.

  “That will be your food,” Tara excused herself to open the door to a cute blonde with a smile bigger than her shorts delivering a tray of fruits, cheeses, bowls with chocolate and caramel sauces and whipped cream. “Thanks Katie.”

  I looked to Tara. Why the fuck would Darius have the splitting image of Catherine working here, especially if she answered to Katie. “Something to say, Scott?”

  “No.” And I didn’t. My obsession had been more about ego and Darius, rather than the woman herself. The brunette in my arms was all the woman I needed.

  “Carlynn, The Club is all about you and your desires. Whatever you want, we will try to make happen but only within your comfort level. Once I leave here, the room will be marked as engaged and only staff can swipe in to serve you. But, if you don’t want to be disturbed, press the green button. They are all around the room, and the engaged signal turns yellow and no one will enter. As I said, we are very discrete.”

  GG’s hand was cool as I squeezed it, “You okay?”

  “Overwhelmed—” GG led me back towards the window. Engrossed in watching, she didn’t appreciate the glistening male body delivering a second platter of sushi, oysters and champagne. “Are they really?”

  “If they wanted privacy, they would have asked for a room. If they wanted access to toys, they would have asked for a different room.”

  “This room is fine,” I assured Tara, not needing her to ask. GG and I needed to have conversations about boundaries and safe words before taking advantage of the other private rooms. Then again, we needed to have a conversation about what we were and where we were going as a couple.

  Sex was a great conversation starter, but it couldn’t be everything.

  “What do you think?”

  The slight click of the door closing behind us was the only sign we were alone.

  “Are they really having sex down there?”

  I pressed GG against the one-way glass. The cool glass against her warm skin. My chest pinning her body, my hands already snaking down the front of her pants. Searching for her warmth and wetness. Needing to feel for myself her desire.

  “Don’t worry, we can see down but they can’t see us.”

  “Are they?”

  “I’d say that lady is getting quite a sandwich.”

  The stunning redhead didn’t need her top, not when one dance partner shielded her breasts with his hands. Pulling her back into his crotch. Her second dance partner was kneeling. His head disappearing behind the crowd, before reappearing, having licked his way from her barely covered hips, up her chest and to her face.

  GG’s body swayed with the rhythm. Her hands stroking me in time to the movement of the second dancer’s tongue. Frozen in place, I didn’t want any movement to shatter this moment. GG was in a spell, her eyes diluted and mouth agape.

  Responding to fresh moans and purrs, I chanced to give her a necklace of kisses. Fuck, I’d never wanted a woman more than I did right now. Tomorrow, be damned. Tonight was the only thing that mattered.

  “Press the button,” she’d sighed, extracting my hands to push me towards the nearest couch.

  “Your wish will always be my command.”

  “What about my desires?” GG grabbed me by my shirt and shoved me the rest of the way, until I fell backwards onto the couch.

  “What about them?”

  “Will they be my command?”

  “What do you think?” Within seconds, I’d ripped open her bustier while she wriggled out of her leather pants. I loved watching her soft flesh materialize from under the black. Her white skin begging to be kissed, bitten, slapped and fucked.

  “I can smell your desires from here.” This time it was my turn to grab her by her clothes. Not that the royal blue thong put up a challenge. “Soaked and ready for action.”

  “Then you’d better not disappoint,” GG moaned. Not waiting for me to finish kicking away my pants before straddling my cock. Her wet pussy ready to milk me dry.

  We’d had sex, eve
n made love. Even as recently as hours ago.

  But until The Club, we’d never truly come together as one.

  My lips sought the truth in hers, and found them. I tasted her sweetness amidst cream and pitted cherries until I thought for sure the staff would break down the door to her screams.

  They didn’t, and GG screamed until the large couch shook with the force of her spasms. She fucking lit up like a Christmas tree as I found ways of touching her, pleasuring her until all doubts of betrayal were erased.

  I finally felt free to scream to the world that I’d found her.

  The only woman for me.

  The only woman I wanted in the boardroom, bedroom and pressed up against the glass, fucking her as if our lives depended on it.

  I loved this woman. With no doubts and no regrets.

  I’d known it. Refused to say it even though they seemed to be the only words reverberating in my drunken brain. I loved Carlynn.

  I couldn’t wait to tell her.

  Sober and sated, I’d dropped GG back at her place before heading home for a shower, clean change of clothes and two coffees. Arriving at Softli on adrenalin and love but no sleep, I was ready to offer Mason a clean slate.

  We’d been friends for too long to let my bruised pride get in the way. After all, we both had the same objective—making Softli the market darling.

  Which was why I didn’t understand why Mason ignored my greeting, grunted and led me back to my own office.

  What the—

  His movements were deliberate, and one look sent interns looking for the nearest desk to hide under.

  Again, what the?

  Mason waited until I’d stepped inside before closing my door softly. Only when he turned around, did I see the full extent of his quiet rage. Worse than when Darius and I hit the press for all the wrong reasons. Worse than when selling Softli had spectacularly backfired and almost killed his company under the weight of bean counters and corporate suits.

  “I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do with you.”

  Mason glared, taking a step forward with fists clenched before backing away and gripping his hair. I’d never seen him like this.

  What the hell happened yesterday? It couldn’t be because I’d turned up to work unannounced. Mason should be kissing my feet for getting my shit together so quickly. It couldn’t be about the out of session board paper I’d promised for next week. Last I’d checked, most of my team were well advanced implementing the recommendations from Carlynn’s report. Current projections were that within three months, the debt book would be down to a level even I’d be happy to carry.

  All in all, if I could set aside my pride and forgive Mason as well as Carlynn, life was good and there was no reason for Mason’s attitude.

  “Please, sit down. Make yourself at home and take the weight off.”

  “I guess you didn’t come back here because of the news?”

  “I’m here because last time I checked; I still had a job.”

  “Have you seen the news?” Mason paced around, slapping his fist against the window, turned back, still fuming.

  To hell with his secrets and agendas. I wasn’t going to let the glow from last night with Carlynn disappear. Not when I was planning on how to tell the woman I loved, just that.

  I loved her.

  With all the blood pumping through my veins. With every heartbeat and breath.

  I’d wanted to tell her yesterday. Wanted to breathe it into her pussy as I ate her out. But, I was pretty sure that for once, I’d kept my feelings under lock and key until they were worthy of sharing.

  Now? After last night, I had no doubts. Not about her or us.

  But where and how to tell her?

  Back to New Zealand? Maybe north to Kakadu? What about a picnic on the floor of the place I bought in Melbourne that washed away her ex-husband’s debt?

  We’d been through so much shit, I wanted to make saying three little words an occasion she’d remember.

  “Mate, I’ve had a big night with no sleep and no cards. I’d be happy to tell you why, but it’s never been my thing to kiss and tell. Why, did we make front page?”

  “I’ve had three journalists asking me for a statement, including whether I’m going to ask for or demand your resignation.”

  Resignation? What the fuck?

  “Are you going to give me a clue or should I just sign a piece of paper now and have it done with?”

  “If I wanted your fucking resignation, I would have typed up the letter myself and got Darius to hand deliver it for you to sign. If I wanted you gone, your logon would have been cancelled and your building access revoked. Do you understand me?”

  “Mas, mate.”

  I wanted to pull out my phone and check something other than text messages to Carlynn. Instead, I pulled out one of my visitor chairs. If Mason wanted to have this conversation in my office, we could at least do it like businessmen, instead of caged animals about to be unleashed.

  “Seriously, I have no idea what you’re talking about.” For the life of me, I didn’t even know where to begin looking. Financials were good and neither Carlynn or the other investigators had turned up anything other than my cards. “Mas, I haven’t read the news and until you walked into my office the worst thing that could have possibly happen to me today was one of our competitors merging with our key customers. Would you at least tell me what the hell is going on so I can defend myself or fix it?”

  “How about you go online and read the article; it shouldn’t be difficult to find.” Mason’s voice shook with more than rage. “I don’t know how we are going to recover from this, period.”

  We, Softli?

  Or we, Mason and my friendship?

  Before I could react, Mason’s phone rang. “It’s Darius, I have to take this.”

  “Of course, it is.” The bloody man always turned up when he wasn’t wanted.

  “But it’s only been open 15 minutes—are you sure?”

  Mason studied my face before replying to Darius, “I’m in his office, I don’t think he had a clue—yep—I’m on my way.”

  Before Mason flung the door open to leave, he shot me a parting stare, “This conversation isn’t over.”

  At least now I had a chance to find out what the hell had gotten Mason and Darius riled up about.

  Fuck. No. Fuck.

  Mason wasn’t kidding about the articles being easy to find.

  Prominent businessman caught up in gambling den!

  Who would have thought that tech giant, Softli, could get caught up in another scandal so soon after its CIO and CFO cooled their heels overnight in jail after a punch up?

  This reporter has it on good authority that CFO, Scott Alexander, knows his way around a card table. Poker card table to be precise, losing over seven figures in just a six-month period.

  Chief executive officer, Mason Winters, commissioned a secret report into his CFO’s gambling habits and losses, but did Australia’s favorite sexy CEO know that Scott Alexander was sleeping with the enemy?

  Carlynn Rush, also known in gambling circles as Carlina Hargraves and GG, and former wife of colorful gambling identity, Matthew Hargraves, was not only sleeping with Scott Alexander while she was investigating his gambling habits, but she was his prime companion at the poker table.

  You have to wonder about a company that engages a consultant known by three names. After all most of us law-abiding citizens only need one name in life. Then again, most law-abiding citizens aren’t trying to escape from one notorious ex-husband who allegedly managed to clear a half million-dollar gambling debt, only to end up in the bed of another gambler.

  It remains to be seen what the market will say about a CFO who can be so reckless with money. After all, it is a little difficult to believe that Softli can be genuinely concerned about reducing the size of its debt book while its CFO is running around town racking up gambling debts.

  Mason had every right to call me out.

  Yes, every wor
d was true, but out of context.

  And only available from someone familiar with my personal life and Softli.

  Neither Mason nor Darius had anything to gain by leaking my shit to the press.

  That left the only other person who knew about the secret report, and her ex-husband’s gambling debt. Carlynn.

  I didn’t want to believe she could be such a vengeful bitch. Okay, the article would have been written before yesterday. Journalists would need to have fact checked the detail and gotten it cleared through lawyers. Carlynn would have leaked it after I’d stopped taking her calls. Before we’d cleared the air.

  Before last night. When I’d gone to her.

  But, Mason and Softli had been her client. Why the hell didn’t she give Mas or even Darius a heads up?

  Why hadn’t she warned, me?

  “Read it?”

  Less than ten minutes after leaving, Mason slumped into my offered visitor chairs. “Here’s another one that’s just been published.”

  It’s lucky that Softli CFO, Scott Alexander, has Mason Winters wrapped around his little finger. Why else would our favorite CEO sign off on a half million-dollar loan to bail out the CFO’s gambling debts?

  That’s right, folks. A CFO who borrows five hundred thousand dollars from a company that was investigating him for embezzlement. What else should the market know about Softli?

  “I, I don’t even know where to begin.” Shaking my head didn’t make the words disappear. This was more than an attack on me. Whoever had leaked this shit wanted scorched earth. No survivors.

  What the fuck had Carlynn done?

  And why?

  “I’ve spoken to Darius, and he’s going to look into any cyber attacks or any hacking of our servers. When you read all the articles combined, it’s obvious that somebody has access to information that’s not public.”

  I sucked in a breath, checked the unflattering comments before handing Mason back his phone.

  “I was with Carlynn last night and this morning.” I hated, loathed and despised putting my personal life out on display, but Mason needed all the facts to save his company.

  My life, reputation and career looked beyond repair. I needed to protect Softli and Mason before conducting some scorched earth revenge of my own.