Full House (The Gamblers Book 3)

by Sarah Curtis

  “Who do you think is behind all this?”

  This. Such a simple word to sum up someone trying to destroy the one thing he couldn’t live without. Victoria. Their one lead had been a bust. Smith had already informed him the surveillance tapes had been no help. They hadn’t spotted anyone sneaking in, and all the cars that had gone through the gate had been accounted for, being checked off on security’s master list.

  He ran a hand through his hair, his anger transforming to aggravation. “I wish I knew.”

  Their conversation was interrupted by Smith’s return, a new look of determination turning his features hard and his eyes sharp. “They found a few partial footprints in the dust up on the catwalk. Some type of running shoe.”

  Nate felt Victoria stiffen beside him. “Are you sure they belong to the person responsible for this?”

  “Forensics assures me the prints are fresh.”

  Nate was silent a moment, processing the new development. Victoria was equally quiet at his side, and he wrapped an arm around her shoulders. But he honestly couldn’t tell whether it was for her comfort or his.

  Smith continued, “With this second attempt, I’d like to explore other avenues.” He turned his eyes to Victoria. “Do you know of anyone who might have a grudge against you.”

  Nate looked over to see Victoria shaking her head. “No. No one.”

  “For even the smallest thing. It could be someone from your past?” Smith persisted.

  Victoria shook her head more forcefully. “No.”

  Nate thought he heard Smith sigh, as if he’d hoped she held the answer that would tie the investigation up neatly in a bow. “I need a list of everyone you’ve come in contact with the last few weeks.”

  “That’s so many. I’m sure I can’t remember them all.”

  “Just do your best,” Smith said. “Every name you can think of will help. And who knows, we may get lucky.”

  Lucky? Nate suddenly hated that word. He wanted assurances, not some luck of the draw. The stakes were too high with Victoria’s life in the balance.

  “We’ll get the list to you by tomorrow. If that’s all, I’m going to take Victoria home.”

  Smith dipped his head once in a nod. “I’ll be in touch if we find anything else sooner.”

  Nate and Victoria didn’t speak until they stepped outside. The glare of the sun was blinding after so many hours cooped up inside. Victoria lifted her face to the sky, her cheeks paler than they appeared inside.

  “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” He still had an arm around her reluctant to let go in case she became dizzy again.

  She tipped her head back down opening her eyes. “Yeah. All this is such a shock. It’s hard to let it sink in. You know, after the first accident, it was easy to pretend it was just an accident. Easy to believe that maybe, just maybe, all those screws really did come lose all on their own. But after today…” She turned in his arm, her hands clutching at his waist. Looking up at him, he saw a lone tear trail down her cheek and it nearly broke him. “After today, it’s impossible to pretend anymore. Someone’s trying to kill me, and I’m scared. But the scariest part is, I don’t know why.”

  Nate brushed the tear away with his thumb. “We’ll figure it out. And until then, I promise, I won’t let anything harm you.”

  It was a vow he planned to keep or die trying.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  They were quiet on the drive home. Silent as they moved through the house, up the stairs, and to the bedroom. Nate still didn’t speak as Victoria watched him veer off to the bathroom. Then the silence was only broken by the sound of running water.

  He reappeared a minute later, stalking to her and only stopping when he was right in front of her. His hand cupped her face, his thumb grazing her cheek, and it was then Victoria realized words weren’t needed. Everything he needed to say could be read in his eyes, in the expression of his face, and the soft touch that caressed her skin.

  He loved her.

  She hoped she conveyed the same emotion back when he looked into her eyes and felt the lingering touches she placed on his skin. She was confident he did when he let out a soft breath as his forehead fell to hers.

  They stayed like that, breathing each other’s air, fingers exploring as if they’d never touched each other before. He drew her blouse over her head and removed her bra. She tugged at his t-shirt, raising it above his stomach, so he could yank it the rest of the way off.

  His hands trailed over her breasts, down her belly to the waistband of her shorts, and with a flick of his fingers, he had them unbuttoned and the zipper pulled down. He slid his hands inside her shorts, under her panties, grabbing both ass cheeks, pulling her to him, and pressing her against his hard length. His lips descended then, his mouth covering hers, his tongue claiming entrance as his hands kneaded the twin globes of her ass. There was power and strength in his hold, in his kiss, but also an underlining tenderness that couldn’t be ignored.

  Her fingers plowed through his hair, tangling in the thick strands, holding on as if she never wanted to let go. And she didn’t. If she could, she’d hold on for a lifetime.

  He ended the kiss, taking a step back to slide her shorts and panties down her legs. She grasped his shoulders, stepping out of them and kicking off her shoes.

  Lifting her, he cradled her in his arms and carried her to the bathroom. The tub was only half filled, but still, he set her down in it, the water reaching her, mid-shin.

  She sat, hugging her legs, her cheek resting on her knees as she watched Nate strip the rest of his clothes. It was a sight she would never grow tired of. His chest and arm muscles flexed as he worked his pants down his legs, tossing them in the direction of his discarded boots and socks. In a few steps, he was by the tub, stepping in, and sitting, hugging his arms and legs around her.

  And still, they didn’t speak.

  He picked up a washcloth, wet it, then pumped a few squirts of body wash before taking her hand, extending her arm, and running the cloth over its surface. He did the same to the other before moving to her back, sweeping circles over her shoulders and down the length of her spine.

  He pulled her back to his chest and ran the cloth down her neck and over her breasts, the scent of wildflowers mixed with the steam from the water drifting to her nose. She took a long, relaxing breath.

  “The water’s going to overfill,” she said, breaking their silence.

  Nate grunted, as if uncaring, as he continued administering lazy circles with the cloth over her breasts.

  “One of us should turn it off.”

  He grunted again but didn’t hinder her when she scooted forward, out of his embrace, to reach the knobs. She turned her body to face him, and he grabbed one of her ankles, lifting her leg out of the water and placing her foot on his shoulder. The action caused her to throw her arms back, catching herself before she landed in the water.

  He pumped more body wash on the cloth then proceeded to wash one leg then, switching her legs’ positions, the other, being careful not to irritate the few tiny cuts courtesy of the falling lighting unit.

  Seemingly satisfied she was clean, he stood, stepping out of the tub, grabbing a towel from the rack, and whipping it around his waist. She followed suit, standing from the bath, and as soon as her foot hit the floor, she was engulfed in a towel cocoon.

  He dried every inch of her before throwing the towel on the pile of his clothes and taking her by the hand, leading her into the bedroom where he uttered his first words since arriving home. “Lay down in the center of the bed on your stomach.”

  She turned to him, but he was already walking back to the bathroom. She settled herself face down on the bed as instructed amidst the clatter of Nate searching for something in the bathroom cabinet.

  He returned, his knee dipping the bed, less than a minute later. Victoria started to rise to an elbow, twisting to look at him, but a hand on her shoulder prevented the move. She was further trapped when he straddled her legs.

/>   An icy stream of… something hit her spine, and she bowed into the bed.

  She heard a chuckle and then Nate by her ear, “Sorry, sweetheart, I forgot to warn you it would be cold.”

  She felt his hands on her, massaging—what she assumed was—lotion into her skin. Whatever it was, it felt like heaven. He started at her nape then moved to her shoulders, his strong fingers digging into her flesh and bordering on just the right side of pain. His hands moved to the center of her back, working the muscles as they slid over her skin. Her lower back was next, him paying special attention to the sore spots on either side of her spine. She groaned, maybe even drooled a little. It felt that good. Then his hands were on her ass, kneading the mounds of flesh.

  Eyes closed, she was lost in her own little world of pleasure until she was jolted from it when his finger slid through the crack of her ass. Her whole body stiffened.

  “Easy.” She felt more lotion being dribbled on her ass cheek. “Do you trust me?”

  She did, but that didn’t make it any less embarrassing.

  At her hesitation, he continued, “I promise you’ll love it.”

  “Said the guy with his finger in my ass.”

  Nate chuckled. “Not yet, sweetheart, but soon. Get up on your knees.”

  He slid down her legs, giving her room to maneuver if she chose to do so. Oh God, was she really going to do this? She buried her face in the pillow then slowly tucked her knees underneath her, pushing herself up.

  Guess she was.

  ≈≈≈

  Nate came up behind her, grabbing Victoria’s hips and pressing his cock against the slit of her ass. He loved her ass. Twin globes that overfilled his hands, and perfect for squeezing. He’d never been an ass man until he’d seen hers. Now he couldn’t get enough of it.

  Placing his hands on the bed, he leaned over her, his lips homing in on the spot he knew drove her wild—the juncture where her neck met her shoulder. She squirmed, her ass rubbing his dick, and he closed his eyes as pleasure shot down his spine, tightening his balls.

  He reached beneath her, sliding a finger through her folds. She was wet. Very. He smiled against her skin. She was as turned on as he was even if she was reluctant to admit it. Up, down, he worked his finger over her pussy, building her up into a frenzy. Her gyrating hips conducting the orchestra of her muffled groans and heavy pants.

  “Look at me.” He wanted to see her face. See her reaction to what he was doing to her. Watch her shatter.

  She turned her head, one cheek resting on the pillow, the other rosy. Her eyes met his over her shoulder, dewy and languid in the midst of her arousal. Her plump lips were parted as if begging for a kiss. They didn’t need to beg.

  He captured the lower one between his teeth, softly biting it before sucking it into his mouth. Her tongue came out, tracing a wet line across his upper lip.

  Now it was his turn to groan. The feel of her wet tongue and wet pussy was too much. Straightening, he grabbed the lotion from the bed, dribbling more over the expanse of her ass. Already moisturized, her skin didn’t readily suck it up, leaving it slick to his greedy hands.

  And they were greedy, exploring every inch.

  Unable to stop himself, he took himself in hand, giving himself a few strokes. His lotion covered hand effortlessly slid over the rock-hard appendage. He guided himself to her pussy, using his other hand to hold her hip, keeping her still as he entered her just an inch.

  Fuck she felt good, but he restrained himself from plowing forward.

  Abandoning his dick, he moved his hand back to her ass, running his fingers through the lotion before trailing his index finger through her crease.

  Her body stiffened again, and he stilled his finger as he squeezed her hip. “Easy, I’ll take it slow.”

  Her lids fell, and her body relaxed in small stages until he felt comfortable to proceed, slowly entering both holes—one with his cock, the other with his finger. A sigh escaped his throat as he planted himself to the hilt.

  Simultaneously, he slowly pulled out before just as slowly pushing back in. His dick wasn’t happy, egging him to quicken the pace, but he ignored it, keeping the steady rhythm until he felt Victoria participate.

  It started with a slight dipping of her back, tipping her ass higher. Followed by a rotation of her hips on his next thrust in, as if she were seeking something or perhaps even chasing it.

  He accommodated her, fluttering his finger while picking up the tempo of his thrusts. He slammed into her, holding her hip while she clutched at the sheets to keep herself in place.

  “Brace yourself on the headboard.”

  She extended her arms in front of her, flattening her palms against the solid wood, locking herself in place. Now secure, he moved his hand from her hip to her pussy, dragging his fingers through her folds until he found her clit, circling the nub.

  The triple stimuli increased her excitement, and using the newfound leverage, she rammed herself back as forcefully as he was thrusting forward. The headboard banged against the wall with each of his powerful jabs, the sound driving him to a frenzy. He couldn’t hold out much longer.

  “Babe, you’ve got to find it.”

  “Almost. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

  He worked both fingers faster until, with a scream, her whole body convulsed, her pussy sucking at his dick. Her arms gave way, her head falling to the pillow. He quickly removed his finger, and his hands grasped her hips to keep her in place as he slammed into her two last times. Coming with a shout, he straightened his spine and tipped his head back as he drained himself inside her.

  Fuck, he’d never come so hard.

  Depleted, he collapsed on top of her but was still mindful enough to hold most of his weight with his elbows. They were both panting. His heart was thundering.

  “Are you alive?” Victoria mumbled into the sheets.

  “No,” he spat out between breaths. “You?”

  “Nope.”

  He chuckled, burying his face in her neck and giving it a nibble.

  She squirmed.

  Heart settling to a normal rhythm, he rolled, pulling Victoria with him. He stood, picking her up from the bed with her arms loosely encircling his neck, and her head falling heavily to his shoulder.

  He carried her back to the bathroom and stepped into the still full tub.

  “No, it’s going to be cold,” Victoria complained.

  “It’s still lukewarm. We’ll make it fast.”

  He sat, keeping her on his lap then got to work scrubbing them clean. She was shivering by the time he’d finished, so he didn’t waste time getting her out and dried off.

  He directed her to the dresser where he pulled one of his t-shirts from the drawer and slipped it over her head.

  “You hungry?” he asked once her head popped through the neck hole.

  “I’m more tired than hungry.” She punctuated her sentence with a yawn.

  “Okay, nap first, but then you need to eat something.”

  They got into bed, and Nate pulled the covers over them while Victoria situated herself with her head in the crook of his shoulder. She yawned against his chest, and he kissed the top of her head.

  They lay quietly for so long—Nate enjoying Victoria in his arms—he’d thought she’d fallen asleep, until she said, “Although I know we’d both like to, we can’t ignore the elephant that’s in the room, forever.”

  “I suppose you’re talking about what happened earlier today and not what happened in our bed a little while ago.”

  She uttered a small choking sound. “You would be correct. In fact, I don’t mind never talking about what we did in our bed a little while ago.”

  “You enjoyed it though?” Although she was adventurous in bed, he didn’t want to overstep any boundaries and do something that made her uncomfortable.

  She got up on an elbow and looked at him, pink tinging her cheeks. “I thought we weren’t going to talk about it.”

  “This is important. Whatever w
e do together, your pleasure always comes first with me. I’m happy only if you’re happy and don’t need anything more than what we already do, so I want you to always tell me the truth.”

  “I would tell you if I didn’t want to do something or didn’t like something we did.” Her cheeks flamed a brighter red. “Besides, it was pretty obvious how much I liked it.”

  He grinned. “Then I’ll be sure to add it to our regular rotation.”

  She dropped her forehead to his chest and giggled. After a moment of silence, she asked, “What about you?”

  He raised a brow, although she couldn’t see it. “What about me?”

  Face still hidden, she mumbled into his chest, “Don’t you what to um… use something other than your finger?”

  He was happy she couldn’t see him when a broad smile stretched his face. “Sweetheart,” he fought to keep the laughter from his voice, “are you asking me to fuck you in the ass?”

  She groaned but soon saw her shoulders shaking in what he hoped was silent laughter. “Look at me.”

  “No.” Yeah, it was laughter. He could hear it in her voice.

  “Tori, look at me.”

  She raised her head. Her eyes were shiny, and a smile twisted her lips. “Can we go back to not talking about it now?”

  He gave up the hold on his laughter and also gave in to her request. “Yeah, we can stop talking about it,” he chuckled.

  Her features transformed, a frown marring her forehead. “I suppose that means we should talk about the other thing.”

  Though he saw red just thinking about the fact someone was trying to kill her or, at the very least, hurt her, he knew she was correct, they needed to talk about it.

  She continued into his silence. “We don’t know who’s behind the accidents and until the police figure it out, what are we going to do?”

  He tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “I thought we could go away for a while.”

  “Go away? Where?”

  He shrugged, his shoulder scraping the sheets. “Vegas. I can meet your family.” He paused. “We can get married.”