Page 31 of Dark Horse

“I think hell would need to develop a thick layer of ice first.”

“Wilder things have happened.”

“So they say.”

“Be safe.” She nods at me.

“You too. Careful on the drive back.” I wave her off as she heads for the elevators and then return to the chess room.

I press my hand to the glass and lean over to look out on the casino floor. It’s busy already, which is a good omen. I just hope that occupancy numbers and the busyness of my casino floor continue to be at the top of my priority list for the foreseeable future, rather than the number of men I have dying while fighting an unwinnable war in the streets.

ELEVEN

GRANT

I’m exhaustedby the time I get up to my suite. I collapse on the couch with a bottle of water and the late-night snack I grabbed from the kitchen. I didn’t even manage to eat dinner tonight, too busy entertaining guests, having meetings with my late-night staff, and checking off on some final orders and arrangements for Ramsey’s wedding with all the guests coming in from out of town for it. All after the day I had handling business.

If I had more energy, I’d sink into the hot tub out on the patio to soak my tired body. I was on my feet all day, and the workout I did this morning in the gym was more brutal than usual. I can feel it every time I have to move my shoulders. I don’t know how Ramsey keeps up. Or rather I do—it’s his job, and he has staff on both sides of the country to keep himin shape and eating right, and probably a whole post-workout regimen on top of it. Not to mention the ten extra years his body has off mine. I’d give anything to be that young again and get to redo some of this—appreciate what I had when I had it. Speaking of young, my phone dings, and I see her name across the screen. Or rather, her nickname.

HELLFIRE:

Any special requests? I opened today, and I just want to take a shower and climb into bed. But I don’t want to be out of compliance with assets.

I smile at her sassiness.

That makes two of us.

Take your shower and text me when you get in bed.

All right. If I don’t fall asleep in there, I’ll text you.

I slip my phone onto the table and take the last bite of my pita, downing the water before I make my way to the shower. I imagine Dakota doing the same in her apartment, slowly peeling her clothes off and letting them drop to the floor, turning the water on and letting it steam up the small tiled room. Her hands drifting over her body as she soaps herself up.

I can’t stop the roll of images that flash through my mind. I can’t unsee what she posted. I knew she was pretty—gorgeous even. I could tell that from the number of men who flocked to her side of the bar whenever she was working. But in my mind, she was always his kid sister. Someone I was supposed to watch over and keep safe. Forever stuck in time as an irresponsibleeighteen-year-old with an attitude. Not someone that I could even remotely imagine as anything else.

Now, though… fuck. It’s all I can see. The swell of her breasts and hips. Her hand following the curve of her stomach. The sound of her voice—that perfect, sweet husky quality it has, the full way she laughs when she teases me. I want every dirty fucking thing I can get from her, and I’m a sick fuck for pressing her into this situation. She already hates me enough, and I can’t imagine this is helping any.

But I can’t stop myself. Not yet. I’d have to though. We couldn’t take this too far. It would be a disaster with all the ways the two of us are tangled up in each other’s lives. But there’s room to play before we get too close to that edge, and I don’t plan to deny either of us that fun until I have to.

Forty minutes later,I’m half-asleep, sprawled across my bed, when I hear my phone ding with a message, and I reach for it. It’s not a text though. Just a picture of her spread out on her own bed, an arm drawn over her face, and damp hair spread out around her. The sheet is draped over her abdomen and falling between her thighs. But she doesn’t bother covering her breasts, and her nipples are peaked from moving from the heat of the shower to the light breeze of the air conditioning.

Falling asleep on me already?

HELLFIRE:

I was hoping maybe you already were, but I didn’t want to risk it.

I was drifting off. Smartass.

You still haven’t told me enough to know what you want, so you’re getting the basic package.

Nothing about her is basic. But I hate that I can’t see her eyes and her gorgeous smile in these photos. I want all of her.

You don’t have to cover your face for me.

Risk giving you more blackmail material?

I have enough blackmail material to bury you already.

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