Page 20 of Roulette: The Madam

Manicured nails hugged the mouth of his bottle. He took another sip, almost finishing it completely. He tapped the side of it, garnering Juan’s attention.

You.

“I still haven’t figured it out, yet.” I sighed. “I’m waiting for the revelation.”

“Did you think you’d find it here? In a secluded restaurant with a closed sign in the window?”

“I thought I’d find a drink and possibly something to get into.”

When my drink arrived, so did his orbs. They combed over my frame as silence played loudly between us. By the time his beer was sat in front of him, his interest had already parted.

“Beautiful, beautiful women in America. I’ve said it a hundred times before and I’m quickly reminded by looking at your face.”

His accent was heavy. So were his lids. This wasn’t his second beer. He’d been atCasa Casasome time now.

“Which reminds me of someone– I can’t quite put a finger on it. Do I know you?”

He didn’t toy with his thoughts. They slid right from his tongue. I remained quiet, watching as the three men scattered around the bar all took steps forward. My eyes roamed their bodies, locating their firearms while simultaneously devising a plan that would end each of their lives in a matter of two seconds if necessary.

“Do you?” I finally asked.

His straight, kissable lips parted, showing his pretty white teeth. He was in good health. It was quite obvious he had access to the best physicians in the country. There wasn’t a flaw in sight.

“Tell your men to stand down. If I don’t make it back to America, my brother will be a very unhappy man. And, there won’t be a hole they can crawl in that he won’t find them.”

As the words left my mouth, I removed my Dior frames. He tilted his head in the opposite direction, demanding the retreat of his henchmen.

A nod followed. His memory was sharp. He didn’t forget a face, a name, a voice, or an encounter. His life depended on it. So did his fortune.

“How is Chino?”

One meeting. One encounter. And, I’d never forgotten the sex that oozed from his lips when he spoke. I’d never forgotten the feeling he induced between my legs, involuntarily. And, I’d never forgotten the promise I made to not break the rules by giving him the attention he sought.

The fact that anyone I’d ever considered exploring my sexuality with were those associated with Chino had kept my pussy in my panties. There was also the fact that I believed men were worrisome as a collective. One was too many. Adding anymore to my roster felt like overkill. The opportunity was there, but I’d made the choice not to take it to save myself the headache of balancing work, life, solitude, family, and a stable of men.

“Chino is well, Matías. I suspect.”

“Ahhh. Selfish guy,” he groaned, sucking the skin of his teeth. “You’re far too beautiful for him to have all to himself.”

The clicking of his tongue as he shook his head made me wonder how it felt against a set of lips that didn’t belong to him. I sipped from my drink, suppressing the urge to finish it in one gulp. I was parched.

Or maybe it was the man sitting next to me. He intensified my thirst.

“I’m a big girl who is in full control and can consent to anything– anyone she wants. Chino has no grounds here, Matías.”

I sat my drink on the bar, eyes still planted on the hunk of sexiness two chairs down from me.

“And, you’re right. I’m too much woman for one man.I’mwilling to share.”

In a split second, his finger was in the air spinning in a full circle. Every man in the building, except Juan, began shuffling their feet. My bag was on the arm of one and my chair was pulled out by another. Matías was no longer in his chair. He was standing in front of me with his right hand out, waiting.

For me.

I slid down from the stool, careful not to ruin the fabric of my dress. Slowly, I interlaced my fingers with his and followed himtoward the kitchen. The large door swung from the pressure of the hands of the man leading the way.

Staff members of the restaurant rested near the stove. Their chatter drew to a close upon realizing they were no longer alone. The smiles were swiped from their faces and replaced with straight lips and curious eyes.

The sun kissed my skin as we pushed through the back door. A black SUV, much like the one Chemistry had waiting outside for me, burned rubber in the dust in an effort to meet us before our feet touched the soil.

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