Page 25 of Kings Against the World

The underground tournament isn’t the only gambling I plan on doing.

We ride the elevator up to the twelfth floor where our room is located. Strauss breaks out in a fast stride ahead of me, clearly wanting to be the first person in our room. I come up behind her, amused by how stubborn she is even now.

This is going to be averylong two and a half weeks for her.

The first thing she does is flick on the hallway light and park her suitcase in the corner. Then she’s off, poking her head inside the bathroom and exploring the rest of the living space. She stops in front of the queen bed the clerk told us about, studying the mattress as if deciding whether there’s a way to saw it in half.

Her gaze lands on the armchair by the balcony. I interrupt before she can get any bright ideas.

“If you think I’ll be all chivalrous and offer to sleep on that tiny-ass armchair, don’t bother, Strauss. I’m an equal opportunity kinda guy. Which means wesharethe bed. But tell you what—I’ll be nice enough to let you decide which side you get. You want the left or the right?”

She openly rolls her eyes. “That’s not what I had in mind, Gallagher. We can always ask for a rollaway bed?—”

“You ever sleep in one of those? I’d sleep in a pit of rocks before I’d ever do a rollaway.”

“Who said it’s for you?”

“You?” I raise a brow at her, still grinning. “Go ahead if you want to wake with a crick in your neck. You’re really determinedto stay as far from me as possible, aren’t you? You ever think sooner or later you’re gonna have to accept we’re partners?”

“We can be partners… so long as you stay on your side and I’ll stay on mine.”

Shaking my head, I toss my carry-on duffel bag with everything I’ll ever need on the bed. “Fine, I’ll take the left side. Forever hold your peace.”

“I’m serious about no touching. Inside this room… keep your hands to yourself.”

“You sure you don’t want to cut all this tension between us?” I taunt, pushing her buttons. Her scowl becomes reason for my laughter. “I promise I could have you coming harder than you ever have in your life, Strauss. Something tells me you’ve never been fucked right. You wouldn’t be so damn uptight otherwise.”

“I swear, if I wake up with your dick inside me, Gallagher, Iwillbreak your nose.Andyour dick.”

“Sounds like a good time. I like it a little rough. Don’t you?”

A howl of laughter tumbles out of me as her mouth opens and she glares in indignation. She’s simmering on the spot like a kettle about to blow, then she stalks out of the bedroom area and slams the bathroom door shut.

If she’s going to last two weeks with me, she’s going to learn real quick that there’s nothing I love more than getting under somebody’s skin.

I grab the TV remote and start flipping through channels, throwing myself down on the bed.

We’re supposed to have the night free.

Tomorrow’s the first event. Some kind of party Boone’s throwing to celebrate the start of the tournament.

Maybe for tonight I’ll chill and watch whatever games are on ESPN. Order a little room service and?—

“Oh shit!” Strauss screams out of nowhere.

The bathroom door bangs open and she rushes out clutching her phone.

“Why’re you running around like your hair’s caught fire?”

“Benz has been blowing up my phone for the last half hour!”

“Shouldn’t you have noticed? You couldn’t put it down at the airport.”

It must be serious, because she ignores my line and rushes over to her suitcase. “He says the party’s been moved to tonight.”

I sit up halfway on the bed. “Tonight? Why all of a sudden?”

“He didn’t say. He just said Boone’s changed the plans. And to come dressed.”

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