“Red. Number one. All of it.”
Even the dealer looked at me like I had two heads.
Finally, the fucker nodded. “No more bets.”
As he spun the wheel, I was able to feel her weighted stare on the table, her breath skipping. I dared to take a second look, desire that had been shoved into a padlocked box roaring to the surface.
The damn ball tumbled around the wheel several times. I found it interesting I couldn’t care less. Yet I watched as the ball shifted then flipped into slot number one, a feeling of elation rushed through my bones.
The group around me cheered, clapping as if I’d won a three-hundred-million-dollar lottery.
I took a sip of my drink as the dealer shoved additional chips in front of me.
“Go again?” he asked.
All I needed to do was nod.
“Place your bets.” The dealer was more animated than before.
As before, the mysterious girl dragged my hand into hers, blowing on the dice. The odds of her hitting another homerun were slim and nil, but I was a betting man. What the hell? I shoved everything on the number she whispered in my ear.
And I won again.
And a third time.
At this point, a crowd had formed around the table.
When she performed her magic for a fourth time, a laugh formed in my throat. As the dealer pushed my winnings across the table, dozens of the cheap plastic chips fell to the floor. “Have them added to my account. I’m finished here,” I stated, grabbing my drink and turning in her direction. The fact that the mysterious woman who’d helped me win a solid two hundred fifty k had disappeared pissed me off more than it should have. I didn’t come to Sin City to fuck, at least so I’d told myself.
The hope was I’d heal, enough so I’d become a functioning member of society again. That wasn’t likely to happen, but I’d accepted the gift from an old friend anyway, determined to enjoy myself. After all, the man owed me for keeping his ass out of jail.
With the voucher for the chips and the drink in my hand as I left the casino, I realized I was constantly scanning the room in hopes of locating the buxom blonde again. Jesus. I was pathetic.
As soon as I left the massive ballroom, I thought I caught a glimpse of her just before she rounded a corner. What was left of the rational side of me insisted on calling it a night, refusing to allow my needs to surface.
I took long strides toward her, heading down a long hallway leading to God knows where. I caught single additional glimpse of her, even noticing what appeared to be a mischievous grin on her face before she rounded another corner.
When I reached the hallway, I heard her sensual laugh seconds before she popped into an elevator, the door closing when I was within three feet.
Huffing, I stared at the numbers as the steel box shot up to the tenth floor. Maybe the sexy filly was waiting for me outside her hotel room door. A grin popped across my face as I slapped the ‘Up’ button. At least I wasn’t forced to wait long before hearing the ping of a second elevator. After sauntering inside, I leaned against the back wall, folding my arms. I could be playing with fire, but that’s all I’d known my entire life.
I closed my eyes briefly, visions from the past few months creating a wave of nasty anger. Hissing, I shook my head. I’d been advised by just about everyone to let the bullshit go, but there were two things I refused to tolerate in my life.
One: Lies.
Two: More lies.
I’d have my revenge, only I’d bide my time before striking. Meanwhile, a little carnal entertainment might keep my extreme hunger at bay.
When the elevator door opened, I wasn’t certain if I’d run into a dead end. I walked out, staring down the empty hallway to the left. Yep. I’d been ghosted. I felt it. As I started to shift my attention to the right, I heard the same subtle, yet provocative laugh. There she was in all her beautiful crimson glory. The girl blew me a kiss before disappearing.
I’ll be damned. The little woman was playing cat and mouse with me. She had no idea who she was fucking with. By this point, my cock was so full I could barely keep it in my pants, the pain of confinement agonizing as hell. I polished off my drink, finding a cart full of dirty dishes and adding my glass to it. Then I continued down the hallway, the sound of my boots thudding against the floor matching the rapid beating of my heart.
There was no real reason to be excited, other than until now, I’d never enjoyed any games, but the cat and mouse scenario was enticing.
After rounding the last corner where I’d seen her, I noticed an open window at the end of the hallway. Was she kidding me? I didn’t even know the windows in a posh hotel like this one opened any longer. I darted a look over my shoulder before taking long strides in her direction. The untrusting side of me said this was some kind of crazy setup. What would be the reason? She didn’t know me, and I certainly didn’t know her.
I moved toward the window, constantly checking out the doors to the hotel rooms, half expecting one of them to open, some badass wannabe trying to milk me of my winnings. That wouldn’t be a good idea, not with the mood I was in. I stopped in front of the window before bothering to peer out. There was a nice sized balcony overlooking the strip. At least the chick wasn’t some looney tune I was going to need to rescue.