“I’d love to.” A smile spread across Ryker’s face. “Let me grab Cole before he orders another drink.”
I was playing with fire. I might have lived a sheltered life, but I knew gambling wasn’t the only reason Vegas was called Sin City. I envisioned myself letting go of my inhibitions, but I didn’t exactly picture myself hanging out with two smoking hot guys. What if Ryker wanted more? I couldn’t do anything like that. I had managed to make it through high school and college without losing my virginity—mostly because I didn’t really have an option to do so, but that wasn’t the point. I certainly couldn’t lose it to a random guy I met in Vegas, no matter how attractive he was. My hesitation didn’t stop me from watching as he walked over to Cole. It didn’t stop me from feeling a tingle when his dark colored eyes looked my way.
We’re just three people hanging out. That’s all this is.
“Aurora, this is Cole.” Ryker walked back over with his friend in tow.
“It’s very nice to meet you.” I nodded to him and smiled.
“The pleasure is mine—trust me.” Cole grinned and then turned to Ryker. “Okay, so we’re headed downtown, right?”
“Yep, let’s show this beautiful young lady our favorite part of Las Vegas.” Ryker nodded and smiled.
Beautiful? Me?
I felt safer taking an Uber, and I was happy when Ryker and Cole were receptive to the idea. I wanted to hang out with them, but I wasn’t quite comfortable with the idea of following them to their car. I looked out the window as the driver took us downtown. Everything about the Strip excited me. There were too many casinos and attractions for me to see everything in a week. Especially if I was going to take a day trip to the Grand Canyon and then spend most of another one visiting the Hoover Dam. There would be plenty left unseen when I finally had to leave. I was just happy to be there. I wished my sister was sitting beside me to take in the grandeur, but she made her choice.
“There’s Vegas Vic.” Ryker pointed out the window.
“Oh wow, that’s so cool.” I smiled and looked up at the iconic neon cowboy.
“Let’s start at the Golden Nugget.” Cole looked over at me. “You’ll probably recognize it from a few movies.”
“Okay, that sounds good.” I nodded and continued to be the most doe-eyed tourist on the planet.
Chapter Four
Cole
I was glad we left the Bellagio. It was Ryker’s favorite place to hang out, when he wasn’t on Fremont Street, but there were a few regulars I didn’t want to see—mainly because I owed them money. It started as a small loan from a shark when I was running short one month. I paid back what I borrowed the first time, but I got greedy and went back for more. I was on what I thought was a good streak and wanted to capitalize on it. I should have known better. The cards always lose their magic eventually. I borrowed more to try and win back what I lost, which was even bigger mistake. I had been paying the money back slowly, but that kept my pockets light. It was better if I avoided our next conversation until I had some money in my pocket to make sure the loan shark didn’t think I was trying to screw him over.
I also didn’t want Ryker to find out how much I owed. The two of us had done a good job of staying on the right side of the law for several years. I was pretty sure I would have to do something illegal to clear my debt at some point, and I didn’t want to drag him into it with me. We were closer than brothers and if he knew I was in trouble, he wouldn’t hesitate to help. It wasn’t f
air to shoulder him with my problems when he had worked so hard to get us out of the illegal shit in the first place. We swore that part of our lives was over and if I had to risk my freedom, I wasn’t going to risk his in the process.
What I really needed was a distraction. The beautiful Aurora was the most distracting woman I had seen in a long time, and exactly what I needed. The instant I saw her, I knew I had to do more than stare. She was stunning with a body that made me rethink my vision of perfection. Her curves needed to be caressed, teased, and touched. Her pouty lips needed to be wrapped around my cock. I wanted to be make her squirm and then listen to her scream. I could have probably gotten what I wanted without Ryker’s help, but it was a lot more fun to share. Sharing kept things in check and made sure there was no emotional attachment. I did that dance once and never would again.
“Okay, let’s get some drinks and find something fun to do.” I looked over at Aurora. “Do you play cards?”
“No, I’ve never played any games that required money.” She shook her head back and forth.
“The slot machine was fun, though.” She looked towards the line of machines that were lit up with bright neon lights.
“All right, slots it is. The drinks will be free over there, at least once we lose a little money.” I chuckled and walked over to the first machine.
Slots were boring and a waste of money, but it was better to let Aurora pick our entertainment. After all, the only entertainment I really cared about was her. Aurora had a certain shyness about her. It was cute and made me want her even more. I just had to play it cool and let Ryker work his magic. I knew I was an asshole for making my sister the punishment if he failed to seduce Aurora, but I also knew it would motivate him more than anything else. There was a time when I thought he would marry my sister, but she changed a lot while we were away serving our country. She seemed to still have a thing for him, but he no longer felt anything for her except nostalgia over what might have been. It was a weakness, and while it was a dick move, I was willing to do anything to have the gorgeous blonde in my bed once I saw her.
“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.”