Vice

by Rosanna Leo

  “This is Vegas. Will people even come if there isn’t a slot machine somewhere or if I don’t show my boobs?”

  “Actually, I don’t want to build in Vegas. I’ve been talking to Alex. He’s pointed out some great opportunities in New York. I’d like you to come with me.”

  “New York.” Kate couldn’t seem to close her jaw. “I don’t know what to say…”

  “Say yes.” He bit his lip, a silent reminder to himself not to be so pushy. “Or at least say you’ll think about it.”

  It took a few seconds, but soon she bobbed her head. “I want to be with you.”

  “Then we’ll take it slowly and we’ll make it happen. I want to make you happy, Kate.”

  “Then take me home, Liam.” Her slow smile made his heart hammer in the best of ways. “Now.”

  Liam could feel his cheeks in his ears. Not caring that they were in a pizza parlor, he stood, scooped her out of her side of the booth and held her in his arms. Kate laughed as he fished for some money in his pocket and plunked it on the table to cover their meal. Then, kissing her like his life depended on it, he carried her out the door.

  Somber intensity made Liam’s eyes sparkle as they entered her apartment, but Kate could tell something had changed. Gone was the man who had things to prove. Gone was the man who couldn’t trust, who needed to bend life to his will. And gone was the little boy who was afraid of being alone.

  The need in his eyes no longer filled her with fear. Perhaps because his desire was now tempered with sweet consideration and freedom from his past. His perceived sins no longer held him hostage.

  She was glad he’d brought her to her apartment, rather than back to Vice. As much as she felt badly he’d sold his businesses, she knew she didn’t need to see the inside of a casino again. Too many memories. Too many ghosts. Like Liam, she’d seen things she never needed to see again.

  He embraced her long and hard and she drank him in. The scratch of his beard as he nuzzled her neck. His warm breath as it drifted under her collar. His delicious cologne as it mingled with the scent of his clean skin. He touched all her senses, gave her a heady rush.

  Her Liam.

  He dug his hands into her hair and looked deep into her eyes. “The last time I saw you here…” Lines of regret furrowed his brow. She remembered how Hugo Vaughan had been all over her.

  “Don’t dwell on it. The future, remember?”

  Since Vaughan’s arrest, other women had come forward, accusing him of rape. Detective Baxter had assured her the loan shark would go away for a long time.

  Liam brushed his thumb over her cheek. “No one will ever hurt you again, Kate.”

  “I love you.”

  “I adore you. C’mere.”

  He held her against his firm body, his arms molded about her as he covered her mouth with his own. She opened to him and their tongues met in a dance of velvety surrender. He kissed her as if making a pledge to her.

  He skimmed his hands over the top half of her body as they kissed, massaging her shoulders, playing with her hair. Tickling her ribcage. She arched into him as her body begged for more intimate touches.

  Despite her need, he kept his touch light and sensual, rather than sexual. A few minutes of this took their toll on both of them. Kate panted as he rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.

  “Christ,” he murmured. “I’m trying hard not to rush things, but this might kill me.”

  She let out a giggle, feeling his pain. “Liam, I want you so much.”

  “I want you, too.” He caressed her ribs, his hand straying close to the underside of her breast.

  “Then what are you waiting for?”

  His eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing. “Just this.” Liam reached over to where he’d dumped his jacket and pulled a slim box from out of the inside pocket, handing it to her. “This belongs to you.”

  Kate already knew what was inside but was too choked up to open it. Liam raised the lid of the box for her. Upon seeing the shimmery strand inside, her tears spilled over. Her mother’s pearls lay inside.

  He took the choker out of the box and fastened it around her neck. “Vaughan left a trail. It wasn’t hard to follow it. You didn’t think I was going to leave your mom’s necklace in some grubby pawn shop, did you?”

  She covered her trembling lips with her hand.

  “Hey.” Liam smiled and wiped her tears away, holding her until her breathing calmed. “No more tears, okay?”

  She nodded. “No more tears.”

  Within seconds, their outfits lay scattered all over the floor. As soon as he revealed the tantalizing planes of his abdominal muscles, she dropped to her knees and smoothed her tongue over each ripple. His stomach clenched and he buried his fingers in her hair.

  “God, Kate.”

  She gripped him, teasing him further. He swore and lifted her off the floor, then dropped her on the bed. He stood over her, running a hand down her calf.

  “Mine,” he said as he lowered himself over her, mystified by their connection.

  And he was hers, all hers.

  He traced her eyebrow with his thumb. “Forever.”

  Kate nodded. “Forever.”

  After worrying they’d never be joined again, he found his way inside her, moving with such aching slowness that she cried out. Letting out a long sigh of ecstasy, she dug her fingernails into his broad back and held on.

  Perfection.

  Each thrust pitched her higher and his heat warmed her like the sun over the desert.

  Their love wasn’t wrong after all. They could be good for one another. Would be good. In losing everything, they’d gained the only thing that mattered. Each other.

  He rose up on his elbows to gaze at her. He drove them both toward an incinerating climax, and Kate realized she no longer feared his passion. She shared it.

  Their bed was no longer a home to vice, to addiction or fear. Instead, she saw promise in the familiar lines of his face, and hope. As they came together, swallowing each other’s sighs, she felt Liam smile against her mouth and her heart soared.

  Wherever they went, whatever they did, they would be home.

  Acknowledgements

  So many wonderful people played a part in helping me bring this story to life. Thank you to everyone at Samhain Publishing for accepting this romance and starting this journey. I’d like to also thank my editors, Noah Chinn and Patricia Kot, for helping to clarify my thoughts.

  Many thanks to my friend Monette Michaels, the talented author who first read this book and shared her opinions. Moni, I appreciate your honesty and kindness. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my readers, the people who cheer me on and share their enthusiasm on a regular basis. I am lucky to have you. This story is a personal one for me and although I haven’t led Kate’s life, I understand her choices. It’s my hope that anyone dealing with compulsive gambling receives the help they deserve.

  About the Author

  Rosanna Leo is a multi-published, erotic romance author. Several of her books about Greek gods, selkies and shape shifters have been named Top Picks at Night Owl Romance and The Romance Reviews.

  From Toronto, Canada, Rosanna occupies a house in the suburbs with her long-suffering husband, their two hungry sons and a tabby cat named Sweetie. When not writing, she can be found haunting dusty library stacks or planning her next star-crossed love affair.

  A library employee by day, she is honored to be a member of the league of naughty librarians who also happen to write romance. Rosanna blogs at rosannaleoauthor.wordpress.com.

  If you loved this book, then you’re sure to love these Samhain favorites as well!

  Vegas Nights, Book 1

  Reagan can’t believe her luck—and not in a good way. One minute she’s hanging out with her friends at an exclusive party in Las Vegas. The next, she’s
attracted the attention of a famous actor. Not just any actor. Declan Carter, the man on whom she used to—okay, might still—have a fangirl crush. Whose blue eyes leave her embarrassingly tongue tied.

  All Declan wants is to meet a nice, normal woman who won’t use him as a stepping stone to fame. Something about Reagan tells him she could be that rare woman, and he follows his instinct to invite her back to his suite—where they proceed to have wild monkey sex. All. Night. Long.

  What was supposed to be one night of no-regrets sex stretches out into a blissful weekend of two people who can’t get enough of each other. But when the glamour of Sin City wears off, they’re standing on the edge of a once-in-a-lifetime chance to turn a weekend fling into something lasting. Will they take the jump?

  Warning: Smokin’ hot sexy weekend with a gorgeous actor? There shouldn’t be a warning—more like encouragement to indulge your fantasies!

  Vegas Nights, Book 2

  Andrea and her two best friends have shed their nurses’ scrubs for a long-awaited weekend in Las Vegas, and nothing—flight delays, lost luggage, or the slightly weird guy with the sketchy invite to an exclusive bash—is going to stop their fun.

  Within minutes of arriving at the opulent party, she’s deep in conversation with gorgeous, funny Luke Nelson, wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks. For some crazy reason, he can’t seem to keep his eyes—or hands—off her.

  Luke isn’t looking for a hookup, he just wants to relax…until he gets one look at the classy brunette in the barely there dress. One minute they’re talking, the next they’re all over each other in a dark corner. It’s like he’s an addict and she’s the fix he’s been searching for all his life.

  One night of hot sex isn’t nearly enough. But after a weekend spent never more than a few inches apart, the time is quickly approaching when they’ll have to make a long-distance relationship work—or break it off.

  Warning: A lady who wants to go a little wild, a good-guy pro athlete who likes a little sass with his class, crazy good sex, and a crazy ex.

  eBooks are not transferable.

  They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Samhain Publishing, Ltd.

  11821 Mason Montgomery Road Suite 4B

  Cincinnati OH 45249

  Vice

  Copyright © 2015 by Rosanna Leo

  ISBN: 978-1-61922-719-4

  Edited by Noah Chinn

  Cover by Syd Gill

  All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  First Samhain Publishing, Ltd. electronic publication: September 2015

  www.samhainpublishing.com