Page 15 of Billionaire's Surprise

She nodded, allowing me to take her hand and lead her up to the roulette table. My heart pounded, and the desire to drag her back to the room caveman-style still ran through my body. I’d never wanted anyone as much as I wanted Emerson.

“Can I get you anything?” a waitress asked, walking up beside us.

“I’ll have a Mai Tai,” Emerson answered immediately.

I bit back a smile as I shook my head, declining a drink. I was still a little buzzed from our bar crawl today, and I didn’t want to risk my control any further tonight. I’d had plenty to drink earlier, and I didn’t need to add whiskey to the fire burning in my soul—and my dick.

The waitress returned quickly with Em’s glass as we surveyed the casino.

“The problem with umbrella drinks,” Emerson said thoughtfully as she wrapped her arm around mine, pressing her beautiful body against my side while she took a sip. “Is that they taste like juice, but before you know it, you can’t walk anymore.”

“I’ll carry you,” I offered before I could stop myself.

She giggled, and it was all I could do not to groan. I’d have to build the pillow wall between us twice as high tonight.

“Bets are open,” the wheel operator called, bringing my attention back to the game.

I pulled a handful of chips from my pocket and handed them to Emerson. She flipped one of them over, staring at the $100 imprinted in gold on the black chip.

“Did you really just give me the equivalent of one of my paychecks to play this game?” she whispered.

I glanced at her hand then met her gaze.

“You’re underpaid,” I answered.

“How loaded are you?” she blurted. Her eyes immediately widened, and a blush crept up her neck, spreading over her face as she clamped her free hand over her mouth.

I couldn’t help smiling at her outburst, even knowing how mortified she must be at asking such a crass question. Rather than leave her in a state of panic, I leaned over and whispered a figure in her ear.

“Bullshit,” she hissed, wide-eyed. “That’s like, your company, right? That’s not just you?”

“No, actually, the company is almost bankrupt,” I said solemnly. “My brothers are idiots. And ugly, too. Completely unattractive and inept.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, and I finally cracked, laughing softly as I caressed the back of her fingers with my thumb. Even in her shock, she hadn’t pulled away from me, and I liked that.

“You have that much money?” she asked, apparently too shocked to be embarrassed again. Her eyes looked wary, not avaricious.

“No,” I said. “Wehave that much money, Em. If I have my way, what’s mine is yours. Forever.” I pulled her hand to my lips and kissed it softly. “Enough about that right now. Let’s play.”

It was forward, and it was blunt, but it was honest. I needed her to understand, as quickly as possible, this trip wasn’t a one-week fling for me. She had to know I wanted her by my side for the rest of our lives.

“I think I want to go back to the room,” Emerson said softly.

“I’ve made you uncomfortable,” I answered, shaking my head. “I’m sorry.”

I was used to plunging forward and going for what I wanted, and now, I’d pushed for too much, too soon. I mentally kicked myself. I shouldn’t have let the conversation go where it had. As much as I craved Em, she barely knew me. Of course, she wasn’t ready to talk about forever. I knew she was the one.My one.But she hadn’t had time to realize I was the only man for her.

“That’s not it,” she said, shaking her head at the same time. Her drink sloshed perilously close to the edge of her glass. I took it from her hand, setting it down.

“Then what is it?” I asked, meeting her gaze. The heat there made me shut my mouth so hard, my teeth clacked against each other. “Em?”

She bit her lip then stepped into me, her hand sliding into my pocket, depositing the chips back where I’d gotten them. Too soon, she removed her hand from my pants.

“Maybe I need that drink,” she murmured, reaching for it. I steered her a few feet away, wanting to return towhyshe suggested going back to the cabin.

“You don’t,” I told her.

“Are you implying I’m drunk?” she asked, her hands going to her hips.

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