And my body reacted. My temperature elevated a few degrees, and my nipples pebbled. When he placed me down, the cheers of everyone around us were dulled, and it was as though we were the only two in the room.
Then, he did the unthinkable. He closed the gap between us and kissed me. It was a sweet peck on the lips, but I was shocked into stillness.
I thought he’d apologize, but the damn man did it again, quick, like a robber of kisses, stealing every chance he got.
Surprised and shocked, I stared up at him, blinking, while my panties disintegrated. I took two healthy steps back, dizzy and dazed, still staring up at him.
A man clapped me on the back and brought me into a hug. “You won me a shit-ton of money, girl.”
Another woman went in to high-five me.
My mind spun in a whirl, all caught up in that kiss.
Austin stepped between them, smiling softly. “We’re cashing out.”
The notable boos and sighs echoed in the room.
“Gotta go to a concert,” he said with a wave of his hand as the dealer took our chips to the counter. “Security is here. They’ll escort us to the arena,” he said to me.
His hand slipped into mine, holding tightly and my stomach dipped and flipped.
What about that kiss? Shouldn’t we talk about how he kissed me?
“What was that?”
“What?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“That kiss. Unless you do that with all your friends.”
“I’d barely call that a kiss.” His smirk was devilish as he pulled me through the crowd, through the chaos.
A taller, broader male with a goatee, named Tim trailed behind us. Henson, the other security who had big-as-boulder-shoulders, led the way.
There was power in Austin’s stance beside me. I wondered if it was his height that made people notice him. Or the fact that he was famous. But as he guided me through the chaos, I knew that if he wasn’t famous, he’d produce the same effect. People would turn, take notice of his height, the strength of his shoulders, the aura around him.
I guessed it was what made the power powerful. It was what made CEOs who they were or athletes like Austin, who were at the top of their game.
We were at the cashier, getting our chips cashed. I wanted to have this conversation now, while his kiss was still burning my lips, but not in front of the crowd and the security.
When the woman said, “Twenty-two thousand,” and started paying out hundred-dollar bills on the table, my mouth about fell to the floor.
“Wait, what?” My head flipped to Austin’s and back to the attendant.
“What did I tell you?” Austin said softly in my ear, pulling me into him. “I told you, you’re my lucky charm.” He kissed the top of my head, as though we were like that—a couple.
My eyes widened at the stack of bills splayed in front of us. “This is insanity.”
Austin tipped his chin toward the cash on the table. “It’s yours.”
“Um, no! It’s yours. I won it for you.” My voice heightened in pitch.
There was a line of people forming behind us.
“If you want me to take it, I will.” A taller male, not much older than Austin, leaned over and gave me a smile.
Austin ignored him, grabbed the money, and placed it in my hand.
He leaned into me. “Take it. It’s yours. Spend it on no one but yourself.”