Page 76 of Vengeful Guard

Her voice goes low and sultry when she says that, and my heart skips a beat.

Shit.

“All right. But you’re the one who’s going to lose your shirt.”

“Bet you’d love that,” she drawls, and I give her a hot look.

“Aye.” I draw out the word, my slight Irish accent coming through. “I think I would.”

She deals another hand, and folds after I bet ten chips.

She slowly takes off one of her socks, grinning.

“Hey! That’s cheating,” I protest, but she just laughs.

“It’s legal.”

I smile a little. “I was going to play nice, but not anymore. Let’s get you out of the rest of those clothes, then.”

“You wish.”

She gets a flush on the next hand, and I end up folding.

I’m only wearing a T-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts, so I make a face and take off my shirt.

She appears to be staring, which isn’t unusual, but she’s specifically looking at the tattoos on my arm. “Why the flowers? The lion?”

“The flowers are for my sister,” I murmur. “Her name was Lily.”

“Was?”

“She passed when I was younger.” I don’t like to talk about it. It hurts.

“I’m so sorry.” She reaches over and holds my hand. “I know what it’s like losing a loved one.”

She was too young to remember her mother, and I got to have my sister up until I was fourteen. I wonder if it hurts worse when you’ve had them most of your life, and they’re taken away.

She intertwines her fingers with mine, and I don’t move away for a long moment.

Finally, I pull away, clearing my throat. I deal us another hand.

She wins with two pair, grinning at me, and I groan, taking off my shorts. I’m down to my boxer briefs, and her eyes roving over me are almost like a caress.

“Do you have any tattoos?” I ask, and she grins.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“Bet I’ll get to find out this hand,” I murmur in a low baritone, and she shivers slightly.

I deal again, and I’ve got only a pair, but I keep my face stony.

Paige frowns slightly. She doesn’t have much of a poker face.

When I win with just one pair, she groans and pulls off her other sock.

I try not to look at the expanse of her calf.

“We’re getting somewhere, now.” I smirk, and she kicks me under the table, but I just laugh. There’s no way this will go much further.

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