Page 82 of Casino King

My mind is filled with the memories of how Tessa’s soft skin felt beneath my hands, the way her body moved when she danced just for me, and the sound of her soft moans and sighs that turned to wailing cries as I filled her with my aching cock that only wants her.

The memory of her sexy smile that tightens my chest, her flowery scent that drives me wild, her sexy voice that makes me hard as steel in seconds, and the way she’d soften and submit to me when I needed her to, all have driven me to the brink of insanity every second of every day since I told her I’m the reason her brother is dead.

When we got back from my mother’s, she locked herself in my spare bedroom and has only come out when I’m not there. I have Tito in my place watching her, making sure she doesn’t try to escape, but I have to find a way to make her not want to run anywhere but towards me.

It’s taken everything in me to give her any space at all, but I know she needs it to come to terms with the truth on her own.

The only way I’ve been able to stay away is to work all day until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore, and then I drag myself up to bed to pass out for a few hours until the sun wakes me up again. I’ve taken on the work I usually delegate to three other people to keep me busy. Just knowing she’s tucked away, safe and unable to run, is the only consolation I have.

I need her.

Tessa is my fucking queen.

She’s deep in me. She shined her light into the darkest corners of my soul and gave me hope that I could have something so pure and beautiful all to myself. She lets me give her all of me. She takes my darkness and keeps it as her own, claiming the parts of me that no one’s ever wanted before.

She’s my perfect little rose, blooming only for me.

I need her to forgive me, and I’m not above keeping her locked away until she does. It would be simpler if she just came to the conclusion that she needs me as well herself, but even if she hates me the rest of her life, at least she’d hate me from the room next door.

Sipping on a fresh glass of whiskey, I look around the room at some of the wealthiest men in the country playing poker. Tonight’s game is hosted by some billionaire CEO whose name I can’t even remember. I only care about the millions I’m getting from these games.

More money is exchanged in a single night here than the whole casino sees in a week. And that’s saying a lot considering The Aces is the most successful casino in town.

With these games, there’s no questions as to where the money comes from, there’s no recording the winnings for taxes, and there’s no limits.

This is what the Triads are trying to establish for themselves in my city. But that’s never going to fucking happen.

Vinny is sitting next to me at the bar, and when he opens his mouth, I already know it’s going to be about Tessa. He spent two hours in the car with her, and now he thinks he has a right to weigh in on her well-being. “You need to either let her go or beg for her forgiveness.”

“I don’t beg. Ever,” I tell him, despite contemplating begging her every day since I’ve gone without her.

He barks out a harsh laugh. “I know. Does that mean we’re hitting Darkhorse later?”

Darkhorse is the strip club our family owns, and before Tessa, I would go there whenever I needed a warm and willing woman for a few hours, knowing they’d leave when I was done with them and not try and turn it into something more.

But now? The thought of being inside of anyone but Tessa isn’t appealing.

“No. You can go, though.”

“I think I will,” he says. “I’ve been thinking about having Chelsea’s tits in my face all day.”

“Jesus, Vinny.” I shake my head. “You know she has her tits in everyone’s face.”

“I know. Don’t ruin it for me. And since when does that ever bother or stop you? If I remember correctly, her tits were in your face at one point.”

“You have that memory wrong.”

“I don’t. But I’ll let you think that since you’re in a mood.”

“Vinny,” I warn, my eyes darting to his. “Not here.”

“You can’t keep her locked away in your penthouse. You’ll only make her hate you more and she’ll find a way out of there. Then she’ll have a line of men waiting to sweep her off her feet and lick her wounds. Literally and figuratively.”

My blood boils and I turn to face him fully. “Shut the fuck up, Vin,” I grind out low, not wanting to draw any attention to us.

Standing, I snuff out the stub of my cigar and button my suit jacket. “I’m done here. You stay longer to make sure this shit goes smoothly. I’m going to go check in with all the pit bosses.” Maybe there will be a card counter I can get my hands on. They’re itching to inflict a little pain onto someone else.

As I walk past the men in the room, I know they know I’m there, but they don’t dare look me in the eyes, too afraid of what they’ll see.

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