“I’m just losing money here like I was at the Bellagio.” Aurora sighed and stared at the screen.
“They’re a lot more fun once you start drinking.” Ryker held up his beer and smirked. “Are you really going to spend your entire vacation drinking water?”
“Truthfully?” She looked at Ryker and grimaced. “I’ve never actually drank alcohol before.”
“What!?” My eyes nearly bulged out of my head and I barely kept my whiskey from spewing all over the slot machine. “Never?”
“You have to be shitting me.” Ryker chuckled and shook his head. “Not even for your twenty-first birthday?”
“I celebrated turning twenty-one sitting across from my parents and eating cake.” She shrugged and looked down at the floor. “I’ve been… sheltered.”
Well, this just got a lot more intriguing.
“Okay, I can’t stand for this.” Ryker held up his hand. “You’re going to have a drink. I insist.”
“Maybe she’s a Bible thumper or something.” I recovered from nearly spitting out my drink and smirked. “She’s got an accent like one.”
“I was supposed to have my first drink in Vegas with my sister.” Aurora lifted her head and swallowed hard. “Have you guys ever seen The Hangover?”
“Yeah, I think everyone in Vegas has seen that movie at least once.” Ryker nodded and chuckled.
“My sister and I always planned to go up on the roof of Caesar’s Palace and recreate the scene. Minus the drugs.” She sighed and shook her head. “Anyway, yeah. I was saving it for a big moment. That was our favorite movie about Vegas.”
“Let’s do it.” Ryker looked at me and then back to Aurora.
“I’m down.” I nodded quickly. “We might have to sneak up there, but why not?”
“Seriously?” A slight grin formed on Aurora’s lips.
“Fuck yeah.” Ryker reached over and patted her hand. “This is your vacation—if that’s what you want to do, then we’ll make it happen.”
“All right, let’s see a few more sights, lose a little more money, and then we’ll head back to the Strip.” I lifted my whiskey and took a sip.
We spent the rest of the afternoon showing Aurora all of the main attractions on Fremont Street. It was fun, but I was anxious to get back to the Strip. A little alcohol would definitely help loosen Aurora up and then things would be headed in the right direction. I struggled to keep my eyes off her as we wandered around. Her ass was a perfect upside down heart, and the way it pressed against her jeans when she walked made my balls twinge. Her tits were magnificent, although I wished her t-shirt was just a little bit tighter so I could see the curve along the bottom. There was marvel behind her emerald green eyes as she took in the sights, and they flickered when she laughed.
“I guess that’s about it.” Ryker put his hands on his hips and looked around. “Unless you want to do the zip line.”
“Uh, no.” Aurora quickly shook her head. “I’m not that brave.”
“Then let’s head back to the Strip and find a liquor store.” I looked at Aurora. “Are you ready to take that shot?”
“Yeah, I think so.” A huge smile spread across her face.
“Perfect, let’s do it then.” Ryker leaned forward and looked down the street. “I don’t see a cab…”
“I’ll just get us another Uber.” Aurora pulled out her cell phone and tapped the screen. “They gave me a bunch of credits when I signed up for the service, so I might as well use them.”
On the way back to the Strip, Aurora told us more about her life in Tennessee, her sister, and the plans they made when they were kids. By the time the Uber driver dropped us off at the liquor store, I was feeling bad about the bet. Aurora wasn’t just some random girl on a fantasy vacation that might be looking to hook up. She was simply lonely. That was the only reason she agreed to go with us in the first place. She was just trying to have fun.
“Why don’t you go in there and pick something out.” I motioned towards the liquor store. “You’ve never even had your ID checked, right?”
“No.” She smiled and shook her head. “Okay, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Oh man, this might have been a mistake.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes, quickly lighting one up.
“You’re the one that made the bet.” Ryker raised his eyebrows and shrugged.
“I think I should call it off.” I walked over to the wall and leaned against it. “I bet she’s a virgin.”
“You think?” Ryker chuckled and nodded. “Her cherry is so red it’s about to fall of the vine.”
“Fuck!” I took a drag and exhaled a stream of smoke. “I can’t believe a woman that fucking hot has never been touched before.”
“So are you going to call it off? You made the bet so you’re the only one that can. I mean, we can still hang out with her and show her a good time, but we aren’t going to pry those panties off without a lot of booze and a crowbar.” Ryker raised his eyebrows and shrugged. “I mean, I’ll lay it on thick if I have to, but I’m not going to feel good about it.”
“Yeah, it’s over.” I nodded and sighed. “Let’s do the shot and get her back to the Bellagio.”
I was an asshole and that was never going to change, but I couldn’t take advantage of a innocent young woman like that. Aurora was beyond sheltered. There was a part of me that wanted to rip the roof off the shelter and pop her delicious cherry, but it wasn’t fair. She deserved something better than two horny ex-Marines looking to get laid. I finished my cigarette and tossed it to the curb when I saw her walk out of the liquor store. She had a bottle of Jägermeister and a pack of plastic shot glasses. A huge smile was spread across her face. She was truly happy. Just seeing that would have to be enough.
Why did I have to decide to be a decent guy now? Damn, she’s so fucking hot—irresistible even—yet I have to do just that. I have to resist every bit of the temptation I feel.
Chapter Five
Aurora
Leaving the Bellagio with Ryker and Cole turned out to be the best decision I had made since I arrived in Vegas—not that I had been there long enough to make very many decisions. My sister wasn’t there to share my Caesar’s Palace rooftop experience, but I wasn’t going to have to miss out on it after all. I would have never been brave enough to go up there on my own. I felt better about Ryker and Cole after spending the day with them. Ryker seemed to be extremely sweet and the more time I spent with him, the dirtier my thoughts got. I wondered what his lips tasted like and how they felt when he kissed. I wasn’t brave enough to find out on my own, but I wouldn’t have resisted if he tried.
Cole had a bit of edge to him, but he didn’t set off any alarm bells. He was certainly hot—smoldering, even. If I met him first, I might have been having those same dirty thoughts about him instead. Ryker had just locked me in a trance before I had a chance. I hated that I was so timid and shy. I had no idea how to flirt or show Ryker that I was interested without just coming out and saying it. Then what? I couldn’t exactly fall in love with him. When my week in Vegas was over, I would never see him again. I probably wouldn’t even see him again after the day was over. If I wasn’t brave enough to kiss him, I certainly wasn’t brave enough to lose my virginity and have a vacation fling. My imagination would have to do, because the tingle between my legs wasn’t going to go away until I gave it some attention, even if that attention was just my finger when I got back to the Bellagio.
“All right, so we’re going to have to get through the secured area, it looks like.” Ryker walked up and motioned with his hand.
“This will be just like the Marines.” Cole chuckled and nodded.
“Are we going to get in trouble?” I raised my eyebrows in concern.
“No, cause we aren’t going to get caught.” Ryker nudged me with his elbow. “Okay, come on—follow me.”
Ryker carefully plotted his path across the secured area, which had several security guards between us and the do
or that would take us to the roof of Caesar’s Palace. I quickly realized that there was no way in the world Becca and I would have been able to make it up there on our own. Ryker and Cole were like something out of an action movie, though. They pulled me around corners, tugged me into doorways that required us to press our bodies together to avoid detection, and before I knew it, we were closing in on the door. My head was spinning and I hadn’t even had a drink yet.
“Shit.” Cole stopped when we got to the door. “There’s an alarm.”
“Can you disable it?” Ryker looked over his shoulder to make sure nobody was coming.
“Yeah, I can. Give me a second.” Cole reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife that he quickly flicked open.
“Uh, wait. It’s not that important. I don’t want us to end up in jail.” I looked at them with a worried expression on my face.
“We’ll be fine. Cole used to dismantle IEDs in Afghanistan. He can make quick work of a hotel door alarm.” Ryker chuckled and looked over his shoulder again. “But hurry up.”
“I’m hurrying.” Cole pushed his knife into the side of the door and grunted when he yanked it back towards him. “Okay, the wire is cut. Let’s do this.”
My heart was practically beating out of my chest when Cole pushed the door open, but we were greeted with silence. The alarm didn’t go off. The three of us rushed up the stairs and then I felt the cool breeze on my face. The view from the top of Caesar’s Palace was breathtaking. It was everything I imagined and more, even if Becca wasn’t standing by my side. I walked close to the edge and looked down at the Strip. There couldn’t have been a better view in all of Las Vegas. I could see everything. I turned back towards them with a huge smile on my face, feeling adrenaline still coursing through my veins. Ryker twisted the top off the Jägermeister and poured three shots. Cole took one and he extended his hand towards me with the second one. I walked over and took it, wrinkling my nose when the harsh licorice scent filled my nostrils.
“That smells awful.” I looked at the shot and blinked. “Do people actually like this stuff?”
“Uh, you picked it.” Cole chuckled and then his eyes opened wide. “Oh, you picked it because of the movie—I got it. Yeah, I would say it’s an acquired taste.”
“It does mix well with Red Bull, though.” Ryker held up his shot. “Okay, here’s to Aurora’s first shot.”
“And possibly the last.” I grimace and lifted the plastic shot glass to my lips.
It burned. Oh, how it burned. It was like swallowing fire that tried to suffocate me before it let me die in the flames. It hit my stomach like lava churning in a volcano and my eyes opened wide with surprise. I thought it was going to come right back up, but by some miracle, it stayed below my esophagus. The aftertaste was nothing short of miserable. It tasted like someone had fed me rotten Twizzlers that wanted desperately to linger on my taste buds for eternity. Ryker and Cole stared at me for a moment as I tried to process all of the sensations, then Ryker cracked a smile. A couple of seconds later, I felt something else—it reminded me of a runner’s high without being sore.
“So, ready for another one?” Ryker held up the bottle.
“I don’t know—I don’t think I can handle that taste again.” I grimaced and felt my stomach flip when I looked at the bottle.
“We can always go down to the bar and get a mixed drink that would sit a little better on your stomach.” Cole nodded and shrugged.
“No.” I turned back and looked at the breathtaking view. “Let’s do another shot.”
“Now we’re talking.” Ryker walked over and refilled my plastic shot glass.
The second shot was a little better than the first, but it still wasn’t enjoyable going down. I could definitely feel something. There was a warm feeling in my stomach and the world just looked more vivid. I stared at the lights on the Strip and I felt like a kid, seeing something marvelous with eyes that could understand grandeur in a whole different way. The feeling seemed to get more intense after a couple of minutes. The aftertaste wasn’t gone completely, but the the agony was. I liked what I felt. I had no idea why people criticized it so much. It was euphoria on a level that I didn’t know could exist.
“Okay, I want another one.” I turned back towards Ryker and Cole.
“Easy now.” Ryker’s eyes narrowed. “You need to take it slow.”
“Yeah.” Cole nodded and smiled. “It can go from great to vomit before you even realize it’s going to happen.”
“Just one more.” I walked over and held out my shot glass.
“This is definitely the last one.” Ryker tilted the bottle and the dark liquor filled the shot glass to the rim. “Cole, are you going to join us?”
“Sure.” Cole sighed and I poured him a shot.
“Bottoms up!” I lifted the shot glass and sent the violent liquid down my throat.
There was something else going on inside me—something strange. I looked at Ryker and he wasn’t just hot, he was irresistible. The slight tingle I had felt earlier became so intense that I felt like my body was on fire with a desire that was almost vulgar. I could actually feel lust. It wasn’t just a feeling—it was an emotion. An emotion that made my panties wet. Courage surged through my veins. I dropped the shot glass and walked up to him. He tilted his head in confusion. I wanted him to kiss me—I really wanted him to kiss me. I didn’t want to be the sheltered virgin afraid of being desired—too naive to even see it when a guy was interested in me. I had seen that in Ryker. I knew that because I was seeing it burn in his eyes again as he stared at me.
Please make a move before this wears off.
Chapter Six
Ryker
“Okay, I think we should get you back to the Bellagio.” I put the Jägermeister back in the bag and motioned to Cole.
“We’re leaving already?” A look of disappointment spread across Aurora’s face. “Can’t we do just one more—it can be the last one.”
“We already had the last one.” Cole nodded and walked closer. “Let’s get you back to your hotel before you do something you’ll regret tomorrow morning.”
I should have never given Aurora three shots. We came to the roof of Caesar’s Palace to do one shot so she could have her moment, but we had taken it too far. We were moving into dangerous territory. I wasn’t really sure how much of an effect three shots would actually have on her. I felt it, but I had been drinking for years. I wasn’t sure if the look in her eyes was lust trying to force its way out or purely driven by the buzz. I had been with drunk girls before. Taking one home usually wasn’t a problem because they knew what they wanted before the alcohol touched their lips.
“Please.” She pushed her bottom lip out and looked up at me. “I want the full Vegas experience.”
“You have no idea what that even means.” Cole walked over to the door and pulled it open.
“I’ll tell you what. If you still want another shot when we get back to the Bellagio, you can have one more.” I motioned to the door.
“Okay.” She smiled and nodded. “I will, trust me.”
I was almost certain that we were going to get caught when we tried to make our way back through the secured area. The alcohol was definitely settling in Aurora’s veins and she couldn’t stop giggling as we walked. When we finally passed the secured area and made it to the casino, she quickly got distracted by the lights. I pulled her away from them before she could put any money in the slot and aimed her towards the door. By some miracle, we made it outside and she managed to request an Uber. Once we climbed in the back, she slid close to me and put her hand on my leg. She had no idea what she was doing—that much was clear.
You’re so fucking lucky I have a few morals left…
“Can we have the shot in my hotel room?” She looked up at me and grinned.
“I really don’t think that’s a good idea. Besides, I can’t just abandon Cole. I’m his ride.” I looked down at her tempting, begging eyes and sighed.
“You can
come too.” Aurora turned her head towards Cole. “We don’t have to stop the party just because I have a buzz. It feels really good.”
Is she literally just asking us to come back to her room and have a drink? No, she definitely wants more.
“You’re asking both of us to come back to your hotel room with you?” Cole blinked and looked over at me. “If that’s what you really want...”
“Good, it’s settled.” Aurora tilted her head and smiled again.
What the fuck are you doing, Cole? The bet is over. This isn’t right.
The Uber stopped in front of the Bellagio and we climbed out. I gave Cole an ice-cold stare, but all he did was smile and shrug. While my attention was on him, Aurora grabbed the bag out of my hand and started walking. It took me a second to realize that she was unscrewing the cap off the Jägermeister. Before I could catch up with her, she had already turned the bottle up and drank what equated to more than one shot. Her face twisted into a look of disgust as it went down her throat, but then her smile returned. I took the bottle from her and grunted as I put the cap back on. Cole caught up with us and put his arm around Aurora, leading her towards the hotel. She looked back at me and motioned with her head, still smiling.
Cole, you fucking asshole.
There was no way I was going to let Cole go to her hotel room without me. He might have been closer than any family I ever had, but he usually treaded the line of morality a lot closer than I did. I was surprised he called off the bet when he realized Aurora was a virgin. I half expected him to decide that made her a better prize. Whatever brief glimpse of virtue he felt when he called off the bet had definitely been stifled by the alcohol. It was hard for me to control my urges, because I wanted Aurora the worst kind of way. I just couldn’t take advantage of her. They stayed ahead of me when we got to the lobby. Pulling them apart would have created a scene. I followed them to the elevators which were away from the crowd and grabbed his arm.
Vegas Bets: A MFM Romance (Nevada Bad Boys Book 5) Page 3
