She turned back to the tallboy that Casey had bought for her to keep her jewelry in and reached up to take off her pendant necklace—the olive branch he’d given her—but his hands were there. His fingers quickly undid the clasp and handed the necklace to her over her shoulder.
His fingers brushed her neck and then slid down the slope of her shoulder, touching her through the fabric of the wrap top she’d put on earlier. The heavy polished cotton fabric normally felt thick enough to withstand anything but Casey’s touch burned through it, making her skin feel too tight and too sensitive as goose bumps spread down her arm. He put his arm around her waist and drew her back against his body, holding her close. He took a deep breath.
She waited with anticipation.
Only silence greeted her.
“I can’t change that part of me,” he said at last.
“I know,” she admitted.
Turning in his arms, she put her hands on either side of his face. This was it. This would be her last night in his arms. She had enough money to make the final payment on Gran’s house, accomplishing what she’d set out to do when she took the job at the casino.
And this thing she felt for Casey…she had to get out before it destroyed what she thought she knew about herself.
She went up on her tiptoes and rubbed her lips against his. His mouth was so perfect—the right combination of strength and softness. Her lips parted under his and the kiss she gave him was goodbye. She knew it, and when he lifted his head and their eyes met, she was pretty sure he had guessed it, too.
“Make love to me,” she said.
…
The soft sound of her voice, the sadness in it, the need in it, made him want…well more than he knew he had a right to. He had this night to make love to her. To show her that what they had was real and much stronger than anything she’d experienced in the past. He undid the tie at her waist and the fabric of her blouse fell open, but was fastened by a tiny button on the inside at her waist which he made quick work of. He pushed the top open and then reached behind her to undo the fastening of her bra. He rubbed his hand up and down her back. It was so smooth and graceful. Holding her always made him feel almost too big and awkward.
His entire body felt too hot, like he was going to explode if he didn’t get her naked fast enough. But he shoved his own need to the background. Tonight, he needed to show her how much he wanted her. How very much he needed her in his bed and in his life. He wished he knew if he could show her how much he cared for her, loved her.
“Come here,” he said, walking over to the tufted chair in the middle of her dressing room. The chair was padded and had a back but no arms. He sat down and then drew her down on his lap. She shifted until she was straddling him, and he pushed the fabric of her skirt up to make it easier for her to settle over his erection.
He nudged her blouse off her shoulders and down her arms, then he took his time, running his fingers under the fabric of her bra against her skin. He saw her shiver delicately, and when he pulled the bra away, her nipples were beaded and hard.
She arched her back, which thrust her breasts up, and a growl escaped him. He put his hands on her waist as she leaned forward, brushing the tips of her breasts against his chest. Her mouth was on his neck, kissing and nibbling up the length of it until she reached his ear. She took the lobe between her teeth and bit lightly on it.
“Do you like that?”
He shifted his hips to rub the ridge of his erection against her center. “What do you think?”
She nipped his earlobe a little harder and then shifted back to put her hand between their bodies, rubbing his cock through his trousers. “I think you do.”
She scratched her nail over the tattoo. Now that he knew how she felt about it, he brought his hand to hers and held her hand to his pec for a moment. He wished he could tell her that the cards had been his life…but she was now.
He opened his mouth but before he could speak, she had her mouth on his. Her other hand was on his erection, rubbing him, and he shifted his legs, his mind no longer on talking, but on sex. He needed her naked.
He needed to be buried inside of her. Talking could wait for later.
She broke the kiss and got off his lap, reaching under her skirt to take off her panties. She held her skirt high at her waist and he saw the neatly trimmed hair at the notch of her thighs.
Observing her, his eyes narrowed to slits as he felt his cock getting even harder in his pants. Her tongue darted out to lick her lips as she saw him stroking himself through his pants, watching her.
She straightened and stood there, holding her skirt with one hand up around her waist, her breasts bare, her pussy so close he could smell her arousal. He’d never wanted anything as much as he wanted her in that moment.
He shifted his legs wider and she smiled, arching one eyebrow at him. “Like what you see?”
“You know I do, woman. Get back over here so I can show you how much,” he said, holding out his free hand.
She shook her head and reached behind her to undo the fastening of her skirt, then it slid down her legs. She stood there, a few feet away from him—the woman of his dreams come to life. He’d never have thought he’d been searching for someone like Talia, but now that she was here, he would be lying if he said he hadn’t been.
He got up and was at her side in two steps. He put his arm around her waist and lifted her off her feet as his mouth found hers. His tongue plunged deep inside, taking her mouth the way he wanted to take her pussy.
She sucked on his tongue and drew it deeper into her mouth. He took a step backward until he felt the chair at the back of his legs and then sat down. She straddled his lap again. Putting her hands on his shoulders, she leaned down and kissed his chest, avoiding his right side where the tattoo was, her tongue darting out and brushing his nipple.
She put her hands on his shoulders and eased her way down his chest. She traced each of the muscles that ribbed his abdomen and then slowly made her way lower. His cock was so hard, he could feel his heartbeat with each pulse through his shaft. He wanted to take control and get inside of her. But another part of him wanted to just sit back and let her have her way with him. When she reached the edge of his pants, she stopped and glanced up to his face.
Her hand went to his erection, brushing over his straining length. “Are you going to keep this on all night?”
“Fuck no,” he said, holding her so that he could tunnel his fingers in the back of her hair and bringing their chests together so that her nipples poked into his torso.
Blood roared in his ears. He was so hard, so full right now that he needed to take her, to claim her. To make it so she never left, could never think of saying goodbye.
Skimming his fingers down her body, he found her center. It was warm and wet and he parted her, tapping her clit lightly. Her hands on his shoulders tightened as she arched her back, her head falling to the side as he rubbed her sensitive flesh.
She bit her lower lip as she shifted her hips, moving until he was touching her in the perfect spot. He wanted more. Needed her to come for him. He slipped one finger lower and traced the opening of her body and then when she moaned, he pushed two fingers up into her.
“Casey!”
He worked his fingers in and out of her body, keeping the finger on her clit as she began to rock against him with more urgency. She put her hands on either side of his face and drew his mouth to her breast. She brushed her nipple over his mouth and he sucked on it, drawing it between his lips and teasing the tip with his tongue.
He caressed her, bringing both of his hands down her back until he could cup her ass in his hands. “I love your ass.”
“You do?” she asked, her voice breathy and needy as she continued to ride his fingers.
He thrust them deeper into her body and when he felt her body start to tighten around him, he bit her nipple which thrust her over the edge. She called his name as she came and he held her until she quieted. Then he stood up and ca
rried her into the bedroom. He laid her in the center of the bed and took off his pants and then very carefully lowered his underwear.
Their eyes met and he realized she’d been watching him. She held her hand out to take his shaft in it, stroking him while he opened the nightstand and took out a condom. The anticipation in her eyes made him feel things that went beyond sex.
She rubbed her finger over the head of his cock and he pulled back because he was close to coming in her hand. He opened the condom and put it on before he came back to the bed. Putting his hands on her ankles, he drew her legs apart, resting one knee on the bed between her spread legs.
Then he lowered himself over her and rubbed her body with his, loving the feel of having her underneath him. She reached again for his cock and he caught her hand, lacing her fingers with his, and stretching their hands over her head. She smiled at him.
He pushed his hips between her thighs and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He felt her hand on the right side of his chest and glanced down to see her tracing the tattoo this time. What did that mean?
But he couldn’t think right now. Instead, he drew his hips back and entered her, taking her as deeply as he could. Her hand fell to his shoulder, her nails digging into his skin as he drove himself into her. And she took it all. All of him.
He leaned down and caught one of her nipples in his teeth, scraping very gently. She started to tighten around him, her hips moving faster, demanding more. But he kept the pace slow, steady. He wanted her to come before he did.
He suckled her nipple and rotated his hips to catch her pleasure point with each thrust and he felt her hands in his hair, clenching her fingers as she threw her head back and her climax ripped through her.
A moment later, he followed her. He came hard and deep…and felt like he’d lost his soul to her. Afterward, he cradled her close and held her to him. She opened her eyes and looked at him in a way he couldn’t explain, and he wanted to believe that something had changed. That she understood no hand of cards could compete when she was in his life.
Chapter Fifteen
Talia woke in Casey’s arms. After last night, it was difficult to remember the fears that had been playing around the back of her mind. Instead she wanted to pretend that she didn’t know that gamblers were dangerous and just stay in this man’s arms.
But reality intruded when her alarm went off and she groaned as she rolled over to turn it off.
“I’ll order some breakfast while you shower,” he said.
Just that. Like it was a normal morning. Like nothing had changed last night, when in reality, it felt to her like everything had.
“Okay.”
It wasn’t like she was going to argue with him. Or start something before she had to be downstairs to meet first with the world poker championship people and then later with Darien.
She wasn’t sure how to deal with Casey’s business partner and friend. Though she knew she could just ignore him and deal directly with Rio, she was going to have to figure out how to make peace with Darien if she and Casey were going to keep this relationship going.
She finished her shower and blow-dried her hair before getting dressed in a simple fit and flare navy dress that was trimmed in red. She put on her necklace from Casey and remembered that he was different than her father. He’d never taken anything from her. He always gave her things and that meant more to her than she had realized it would.
She took her time smoothing lotion on her legs and then put on her sandals before heading to the stairs.
She heard the sound of voices downstairs and thought that it must be the room service staff delivering their breakfast. But the conversation was getting louder, and she moved to the top of the stairs, seeing the back of Casey’s body as he faced Darien.
Darien looked angry and she could tell from Casey’s stance that he wasn’t happy, either.
“I’m not firing her,” Casey said.
Her. Did he mean her or someone else? Was it about her? “I can’t let this go. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to sleep with her and let her run our social media. It’s just…too dangerous. For everyone involved. Her included. Sex and business don’t mix, Case. Please listen to me on this.”
Casey ran his hand through his hair. “She’s not like Poppy—”
“Hell, it’s not just about Poppy. My mom couldn’t take it, either. I’ve never known a woman to stick around and neither have you. What makes this one different?” Darien asked.
“She’s nothing like my mom. Talia’s not a leaver,” Casey said.
He has that right, she thought. She was the kind of woman who held on long after anyone else had let go.
“But sex complicates things. You are distracted in every meeting we have and you can’t tell me that has nothing to do with her. Nick and I both see it. When she’s in a meeting, you aren’t thinking about the casino. You’re thinking about her.”
“I don’t know that firing her is going to change that,” Casey admitted.
“Well that’s what I want. Convince me otherwise,” Darien said.
Casey spread his arms wide. “Can’t you just trust me?”
“I do trust you,” Darien said. “When you aren’t being ruled by your dick.”
“Fuck you, Darien, she’s more than a hookup.”
Talia didn’t like that she was listening to this conversation. She knew she should step away or let them know that she was there, but she couldn’t.
Darien stepped closer to Casey and put his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I wouldn’t be saying this if I didn’t care about you. Rio says she’s really good at her job but she knows too much about the workings of the Jokers Wild. You and I both know that if she goes to another casino after things cool, it could end up biting us in the ass—”
“I don’t intend to end it with her,” Casey said.
“I heard you,” Darien said. “Fine, I’ve said my piece.”
He backed away.
“What will it take for you to let this go?” Casey asked.
“I don’t know,” he said, running his hand over his head. “I’ve never seen you like this. I just don’t want to see you crash and burn like I did, I guess. I mean seeing Poppy again makes me realize how deep that damage can go. You know that besides Rio, you and Nick are all I’ve got. I can’t walk away when I see one of you in danger.”
“Why don’t we let fate decide?” Casey suggested.
Talia leaned closer to look down at him. What was he saying? That he would decide if she should stay in his life based on chance? He’d said last night that it had brought them together, but she’d forgotten that this morning. She’d felt like the love she had for him was returned. That maybe after last night, they’d crossed into a new territory, moving forward as a couple.
Then again, maybe she’d misunderstood.
But she saw him walk to the table where he’d pulled the deck from that night when they’d met. That night when he’d high carded her for clothing. Her heart was in her throat as he broke the seal on a new pack of cards and shook them out into his free hand. He shuffled the cards like the consummate professional he was and she told herself to look away. Or better yet, walk away. But she couldn’t.
She watched him hand the deck to Darien to cut and then they both took a card and she stood there watching, as if her life didn’t hang in the balance, too shocked and heartbroken to move as Darien flipped his card onto the table where so much of her life with Casey had taken place.
“Jack of Spades.”
She inhaled deeply and then realized she was holding her breath as she waited, and Casey flipped his card over. “Ace of Hearts. It’s done. She’s mine and she’s staying. I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
Her hands were shaking as she took the first step. The click of her heels against the marble sounded loud in the hallway. Both men turned to look up at her.
“I think I might have something to say about that.”
…
> Darien backed away and was out the door before Casey could punch him. This morning wasn’t going at all the way he had planned. He looked up at Talia—she was pissed. And he couldn’t blame her.
“I can explain,” he said. Though he had no idea how he was going to. She had a thing about gambling anyway. How was he going to tell her that he’d always been lucky at cards? That he had a gut feeling about which card would turn up, and he’d never been wrong? To him, this had been a sure thing.
“I would love to hear you try,” she said.
“Darien was being difficult,” Casey argued.
“I don’t give a shit about Darien. I’m wondering how the man who followed me last night and spent twenty minutes talking to me in the parking lot and telling me that we could make something real and lasting would bet our future on a card? I’m pretty sure you were the one who suggested that, not Darien,” she said, coming the rest of the way down the stairs.
“I was. But I don’t lose at cards,” he said.
“You did when we played,” she said.
“Did I?”
“Didn’t you? Was it all a lie? Has everything just been one big game to you?” she asked.
“No. Talia, please, this isn’t going at all the way I want it to,” he said. “I’m not good with words. You know I’m an orphan…”
She shook her head. “Don’t do that. Don’t try to play on my emotions. It feels cheap, and I always thought you were better than that.”
God, he had no idea how to fix this. He took a step toward her but she backed away. It was the first time he’d seen that indomitable spirit that was so much a part of her dampened and he hated himself for doing this to her. He wanted to make things perfect for Talia—not show her that he was a douche like her old man.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant I have no couth, you know? I want to say the right things but words aren’t what I’m good at. Let me show you how much you mean to me,” he said, trying again to get close to her but she stepped away.
“You showed me when you opened that deck of cards,” she said. “What if you had lost?”
One Night Gamble Page 13
