by Nana Malone
“Kind of,” she said with a shrug.
He laughed. “One thing I always know with you. You are honest. It didn’t matter to you who I was when I started. All you ever cared about was if I was any good at my job.”
She flushed and cringed. “Not entirely true. I heard you were a Dawson and I had my preconceived notions about who you would be. I suppose I make my fair share of Silver Spoon, Richie Rich and Junior Warbucks jokes.”
His laugh was rich and low. “True. But that’s you giving me a hard time. Besides, with you, my family name is more something to overcome. Since I was old enough to know what my father did or the fact that we weren’t like other kids in the world, I was sort of already disillusioned with the money. Dad used to say things like ‘This is not how I expect a Dawson to act.’ Or ‘Tristan, you’re a Dawson. You should know better.’ I always felt like it was more about the disgrace I’d bring to the name than me. If he’d just changed it and said ‘This is not how I expect you to act,’ life would have been a whole different story.”
“I take it the two of you don’t get along?”
“Yeah, you could say that. He pretty much disowned me when I said I wasn’t going into the family business.”
Her heart squeezed. Growing up, she would have been jealous of someone like Tristan, having both parents and more money than Midas, but it seemed he’d faced his share of problems, as well. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
He shrugged. “I see my mom about once a month, but Dad and I don’t speak, unless he’s calling to try to force me into working for him. To him, I’m a loser and waste of talent.”
A heavy silence filled the air for several moments. Then she spoke. “You’re not a loser. You’re doing things on your own terms. He might not like it, but he has to respect it on some level.”
“Yeah, well, try telling him that.”
“No offense, but your father’s a bit of a jerk.”
His characteristic grin was back in place. “Funny, I’ve told him the same thing before.”
The limousine pulled up to the hotel and she stifled the regret. They were here to work, after all, and she still had to check out the facilities. It didn’t matter that she’d rather spend the rest of the afternoon finding out more about him. Check yourself, Syn. This isn’t real. Whatever happened tonight, she had to remind herself of that; otherwise she would get hurt.
Chapter 9
Tristan had spent the past hour checking out the private betting rooms. He was even up a little, considering he’d been playing some high stakes. The perfect kind of gambling—here he didn’t have to assume any of the risk. As part of the VIP package, Bella had provided gambling money. After all, he had to look the part.
When he opened the door to the suite, it smelled fantastic. “Wow, you cook?”
Syn’s smile was bright and sunny. “Hey.”
He grinned. “Hey, yourself. You look happy.”
“Well, I figured we could have a late lunch. I had this fantastic kitchen and I wanted to test it out at least once.”
He laughed. “Yeah, me too. But somehow I think we have different ideas about the definition of try it out.”
She laughed and shook her head. “You’re incorrigible.”
“And sexy. Don’t forget sexy.” As automatically as if he’d been doing it for cameras, he swung an arm around her and twirled her into a dance. “One thing I want to make a habit.”
She scrunched her nose. “Oh yeah, what’s that?”
“This.” He kissed her deeply. No preamble, no lead-up. Just fused their mouths together and tried to sate some of the hunger for her.
When he released her, she blinked sleepily. “Okay, you should always do that when you see me.”
“Done. Though it could make for the weird and awkwards around the office.” Her smile faltered and he realized what he’d said. Damn it.
She recovered quicker than he did. “You’d miss me calling you Silver Spoon too much.”
“I think of it as a term of endearment.” He swatted her on the butt. “So, what’s making my mouth water?”
“I hope you like Cuban. I made this shrimp and rice dish I had at Cubana Libre in Miami. I harassed the chef via email for ten months before he’d give the goods on his recipe.”
“Somehow I can totally see you doing that.”
She shrugged her slim shoulders. “So I’m a little persistent. Nothing wrong with that.”
“Not a thing. It’s probably why I like you.”
She quirked an eyebrow. “You mean it’s not my ass?”
Tristan laughed. “Okay, admittedly, that might have a little to do with it. But if we’re being serious, it’s your snarky and persistent attitude, then your laugh, then your ass.”
“Wow, that ass ranks third, huh? I have to say I’m surprised.”
“Oh, really? And what is it you like about me?”
She stirred something on the stove, and her smile turned serious. “That you surprise me. Just when I think I have you figured out, you switch it up again. It keeps me guessing. Those eyes of yours don’t hurt either. And, well, your abs. I hope you don’t mind, but I plan on doing a load of laundry on them later.”
“As long as you do the load naked, I’m not really bothered.” He took a position on one of the stools at the island. “Do you cook for your sister a lot?”
“Not so much anymore now that she doesn’t live with me. She has her own place close to campus. The only time she comes home to my place now is to do laundry or to go grocery shopping.”
He frowned. “Grocery shopping, not my thing.”
Syn hitched a thumb and pointed at the fridge. “No worries, we’re well stocked.”
“You know you didn’t have to cook. We’re in Vegas with world-class restaurants on every corner.”
Syn shrugged. “I don’t get to cook much for people, and cooking for one is so dull. I made more of an effort to be home for family dinner when Xia lived with me, but I guess little sister had to grow up sometime.”
“I hear they do that.”
“You know, I don’t even know if you have siblings.”
“I have a brother, Taylor, and a sister, Tawny.”
“Oh, the T names. You were that family.”
He coughed out a laugh. “Yes, my mother’s name is Trista, so you can imagine how my name came about. Then it was a tradition, so...”
Syn clutched a hand to her chest as she laughed. “I am so sorry.”
“Yeah, me too.” Man, she was so pretty. Putzing around the kitchen in her bare feet and apron was not something he ever pictured her doing. It seemed she could surprise him too. “So, how long till lunch?”
“About twenty minutes. Give or take. Would you like me to make you a drink?”
“Wow, that is very fifties housewife of you.”
She laughed and tossed a towel at his head. “Don’t go getting used to this. I expect you to be a cabana boy, peeling my grapes later.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Is that a euphemism? ’Cause, done deal. So how about I steal my kisses now since after lunch we should do some work.”
“I might not be opposed to that.”
Tristan stalked over to her with a grin and she backed up. He kissed her deep, loving every moment of being with her. Picking her up, he sat her on the counter, stepping between her legs. It wasn’t long before he was sliding his hands under her blouse and she was dragging his shirt off his back.
What was it about this woman that always made him lose complete control of the situation?
“Tristan.”
Mmm, the way she said his name made him hard. “Yeah, baby?” She tasted like sweet and spice and he slid a hand between the two of them. Through the denim of her jeans, he stroked his thumb over her sex. And she bowed into him.
>
“I need—”
A sharp ringing sound broke through the sexual fog.
She tore her lips from his. “Damn, that’s my sister Xia’s ringtone. I need to get that.”
Even though sexual frustration clawed at him, he dragged on his T-shirt and then gently set Syn back on the floor. “We’re going to pick this up later.”
“Promises, promises,” she muttered.
He tried to give her a bit of privacy for her call, but he couldn’t help overhearing Syn’s part of the conversation. “Yeah...relax, I know it’s due...working on it...ever let you down before...I’ll make it happen. You will graduate, I promise.”
She was paying for her sister’s tuition? Concern for her burned in his gut. She had been serious about looking after her little sister. While for him, his job was about getting ahead and earning respect, for her, it was about survival.
Chapter 10
After lunch, Tristan spent a few hours checking out the gym and talking to the trainers. When he returned to the suite, he dressed quickly for dinner. Tonight the plan was dinner followed up by a concert by pop star Coco Goldstein, who the hotel had booked for a two-year Vegas residence. Tickets had sold out within forty-five minutes of going on sale. Too bad a crowded concert venue was the last place he wanted to be with Syn. What he wanted to do was stay in with her, and enjoy her body. Especially if he wasn’t going to get to touch her again after Sunday.
The thought of going back to LA had him clenching his teeth. He wasn’t going to think about it. He’d focus on now. When he could touch her, when he could keep them locked in here making love for hours. They could blow off tonight. If you’d seen one concert, you’d seen them all, right? And bumping and grinding with Syn’s sweet ass pressed into his lap was a recipe for torture and a public indecency citation.
He knocked on her door. “Hey, so before you get dressed—”
The door to her bedroom swung open and he stared. Her makeup was darker than usual, dramatic. He liked her normally natural look, but this was pretty too. She looked the part of a vamped-up sex goddess. The ruby-red lipstick beckoned to him to kiss it off.
She twirled around and his dick throbbed. Where was the rest of that dress? Last night’s number had been backless. This one was dangerously short. As though, if she shifted the wrong way, the world would get too much of a private view.
He swallowed hard, unable to find words. Instead several scenarios went through his head. All of them involved her with no panties. He studied the dress again. Dare he hope? Was there enough of a thrill seeker inside her to go commando? Would she let him find out?
“Yo, earth to Tristan, did you hear me?” She snapped fingers in front of his eyes.
He blinked, then focused on her beautiful face. “Huh?”
“I asked what you were trying to ask me?”
Ask her? Yes, there had been something he wanted to know. Too bad he couldn’t remember it now. He stalked into her bedroom.
She backed up. “Oh no, you don’t. I know that look.”
He took another step forward and she retreated. “What look?”
“The look that says you’re dying to do something we don’t have time for.”
“We can be late.”
Syn shook her head. “Tristan. We’re supposed to be working, remember?”
Work. Right. That thing he was in Vegas to do. “You’re right. But I have plans for you later.”
She cocked her head. “Who says I don’t have plans for you?” Her red lips parted slightly, and she dropped her voice to a whisper. “Have I mentioned I’ve been dying to taste you?”
Pleasure zinged down his spine and settled low in his belly. He burned for her. “See, I was prepared to be a good boy, but then you said that.”
She gave a nervous laugh. “Tristan...dinner, remember?” She put both her hands up, but she giggled.
“Come here, Syn.”
Her grin turned cheeky. “Make me.”
She was quicker than he thought, but he still caught her and looped his arms around her waist. “See, when you make me chase you, there’s going to be a punishment.”
With every laugh and giggle, his chest warmed. God, she was pretty. And yes, of course, she was scorching hot and her body was unreal, but there was something soft and feminine and real about her smile. It always made him pause.
“You can punish me after dinner, because—” She stopped talking and something between a moan and a groan escaped her soft lips as he nuzzled her throat.
“What is that perfume? It’s been driving me crazy since I met you. Sweet, but a hint of spice. When I’m near you it’s all I can do not to lean in to get a better sniff.” He kissed along the column of her throat and she whimpered. “Tristan.”
“Mmm.”
“You’re dangerous.”
“Oh, I know.”
He trailed kisses up her neck and jawline, finally landing one on her lips. She parted them on a sigh and delved in. The kiss turned from exploratory to sizzling hot in less than three seconds. Next thing he knew, he was desperate to get as close to her as he could. He wanted to shut out the outside world and lose himself in the woman.
When she slipped her hands into his hair, he deepened the kiss. Feeling her nails scoring his scalp drove him nuts, and she knew it.
He slid one hand up her thigh, teasing the flesh just at the hem. Syn hummed into his mouth and he took that as acceptance. Slipping his hand underneath the gossamer sliver of fabric, he paused just short of the juncture at her thighs.
Syn whimpered again and he dragged his lips from hers. “Do you want to go? Or do you want to stay here with me?”
She arched her body into him and tugged on his hair again. “That’s not playing fair.”
“Who said anything about fair?” He laughed. “The way I figure it, you’ve been torturing me for two years. You have all kinds of payback coming your way.”
“Well, if you hadn’t acted like such a moron for two years, we could have been doing this a lot sooner.”
He met her gaze. Did she mean that? Could there have been something between them outside of this moment in time? Beyond Sin City, where they could be irresponsible and not think about the future? He shoved the thought aside. Focus on the now. Focus on the fun. “You might have a point there.” He slid the back of his knuckles over her sex, and they both froze.
“Is there something you want to tell me, Synthia?”
She shivered. “What? You mean about the no underwear thing? That was supposed to be a surprise for later, but you’re pretty freaking impatient.”
Man, he was keeping this woman. Forever. He frowned. Where had that thought come from? Tristan cleared his throat as he slid a finger between her silky smooth lips. If he wasn’t careful, he’d come right here. “Is there something else you want to tell me?”
She squirmed in his arms, trying to arch her body closer to his questing hand. She shook her head slightly and grinned. “Nope, nothing else really. Why, is there something you’ve noticed?”
Noticed? He was on the verge of orgasm and she wanted to tease him. Fine, he could play along, but he wasn’t going to give her the upper hand here. “Well, I seem to remember some hair right here, yesterday.” He slid his fingers over the delicate lips again, making sure she got his meaning. “Want to tell me what happened to it?”
Still giggling, she blinked her eyes rapidly. “I was mugged. It all happened so fast. There was this big woman named Olga in the spa downstairs and she took everything I had. Left me with nothing.”
Wow, she was awesome. He nuzzled her neck again. “Was it something of value? Should I go down and have Olga arrested? Or was it something you won’t miss and maybe I should thank Olga?”
Syn rotated her hips just so, bringing his finger in contact with her cl
it. “You can probably thank her. That is, if you like this sort of thing.”
If he liked— Tristan bit off a curse. “Yeah, I like it.”
“I certainly hope so, because you ruined my surprise.”
“I promise, I’ll make it up to you.”
“Just how do you plan on doing that?” she breathed.
Tristan slid a finger into her slick moist depths, and at the same time rotated his thumb over her clit. What he wanted to do was bury his dick deep inside her and never move again, hopefully dying from pleasure.
But since he’d ruined her surprise, he decided to show restraint. He slid his finger from her, then brought it to his lips and licked it clean. “Have I told you how incredible you taste?”
She blinked up at him with wide, dark eyes. “No.”
“Then by all means, let me show you.” He told himself the kiss would be quick. That he wouldn’t prolong it. He told himself he would hold her a little away from him before he lost control. But there was no taking things slow and easy with Syn. Every kiss felt as if he kissed a live wire. As if it might just be possible to die of ecstasy.
She kissed him back, pulling him to her. It was her tug on his belt that brought the control back. If she dragged off his belt, they were never leaving this room. Not tonight, not tomorrow. And certainly not on Monday when they were due back. He would spend the time exploring every single nook and cranny of her body. Then spend time rediscovering it all again.
He released her abruptly. With sex-hazed, droopy lids, she stared at him. “What’s wrong?”
He tried to bring his breathing back to normal. “Besides you driving me to the edge of reason? Nothing.” He straightened and shoved his hands into his pockets. “We have dinner plans. And you said I should practice restraint.”
The moment it dawned on her that they wouldn’t be having a quickie, she scowled. “You got me all worked up.”
He loved the way her eyes sparked with anger. “It helps build the anticipation.”
Syn crossed her arms over those beautiful breasts. “Fair enough. Just remember that payback is a bitch wielding killer stilettos.”
