Page 11 of Reluctant Surrender

Unfortunately, I had no plans to quit.

“The cards. They’re marked, why?” I palmed her ass cheek. Feeling the heat of her skin against my hand whet my appetite for a hell of a lot more than was owed to me. My cock strained against my zipper as I squeezed her ass.

“I just play with them, Lukas. I swear I’m not hustling anyone.” She pushed up from the cushions and looked over her shoulder at me. Her deep blue eyes caught mine. A strand of hair lay across her face. In that position she almost looked innocent.

“Then we’re back to ditching me last night. I did warn you.”

She shook her head. “No, you didn’t. You just said ‘You better.’” She mimicked my deep voice while repeating my words back to me. Considering her position, she wasn’t making great choices.

“And what did you think that meant?”

“Not this!” She waved her hand. “Let me up, the joke’s over.”

I withdrew my hand from her ass and brought it down hard, enjoying how her ass bounced beneath the smack. It was almost as sweet as her hiss when the initial burn hit her senses. But one was never enough, so I brought my hand down again and again, switching between her cheeks while she kicked her legs and threw curses at me.

“The language isn’t helping you right now, angel.” I pinched her thigh and went back to adding to the dark blush blooming across her ass.

“Fine! I’m sorry! Seriously!” She quit fighting me and sagged over the arm. “I shouldn’t have just left without telling you. It was rude.” Her breath was labored between sentences.

“You swear to me you’re not hustling poker games?” I asked, running the tops of my fingers over her heated flesh. I’d gone light on her, but I doubt she understood that.

“I swear it.” She dropped her feet down to the floor, but only her toes touched.

“If I find out you lied, I’ll take my belt to your ass and no amount of I’m sorry’s or begging will save you from the blistering. Understand me, angel?” I fisted the material of her shorts just above the crease of her ass.

“Of course, Lukas. I swear. I’m not lying.”

I pulled her shorts back into place and helped her get to her feet. Her hair was even messier than when I first arrived. I pushed the blonde mess back from her face.

“Hmmm,” I said, running my fingers along her cheekbone. “Not a single tear. Maybe I should have gone harder.”

Her lips pressed hard together. “Maybe you shouldn’t go around spanking women you don’t know.”

“Oh, I know you.” I laughed. “I also know you need more sleep.” My thumb dragged along the dark circle beneath her eye.

“I was doing that before you stopped me.” She blew out a slow breath.

I tugged on her lower lip, wondering how sweet her mouth would taste. “I’m going to check in on you again. I’d rather you live somewhere better. I can help—”

“On my own, remember?” She cut me off, but this time, there was less defiance in her tone.

“Get some sleep.” I pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, wanting a hell of a lot more, but I wasn’t going to push. She needed sleep.

Once I was back in the hallway, I waited for the familiar click of the bolt before heading back downstairs to my motorcycle. On the way down, I shot off several orders. The landlord needed a talking to, and I knew exactly who to send to make it happen.

As I climbed on my bike, I looked back up at Maggie’s window. As my eyes landed on her apartment, the blinds snapped shut. She’d been watching me.

I fired up the engine and took off down the street. A huge ass grin covered my face.

Chapter 6

Maggie

Ihopped out of my car three blocks from where the game was to be held. It was better to remain as low key as possible. My client had already texted that he was inside, so I could just go right up. It was never a good idea to show up at the same time as any other player.

As I approached the brownstone, my phone went off in my purse. I snagged it. If there was trouble upstairs, I would just keep walking as though I had nothing to do with anything going on in that building.

Staying out of trouble?

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