Page 44 of Spades

Since I’m already here, I can go inside and grab a drink. Drown my sorrows in another gin and tonic.

I’m turning toward the alleyway where the club’s entrance is located when?—

“Maddox!”

I turn. And there she is.

And I drop my jaw.

Alissa isn’t wearing her coat this evening—after all, it’s unseasonably warm—and she’s wearing a tight strapless black dress that pushes up her gorgeous tits. Her gorgeous blond hair is flowing over her bare shoulders.

But as hot as the dress is, it’s not what made my jaw drop.

Alissa is wearing a black fedora to complete the ensemble. I don’t normally care for a woman in a hat—makes me think of the Easter brunches my family would have to attend as a kid—but on her, it fucking works.

Fuck.

She walks quickly to me—she’s wearing black stilettos, so she can’t exactly run—her eyes wide and apologetic. “I’m so sorry I’m late. I got held up at the hospital right at the end of my shift. I would have texted, but my phone died.”

I caress her cheek, bring her in for a quick kiss.

“It’s no problem, Alissa,” I say after breaking away. “You look magnificent.”

She smiles. “Do you like the hat? I picked it up at a thrift store on the way to work this morning.”

“I love it.” I tip my own hat at her. “Glad to see I’ve made an impression.”

“You certainly have.” She takes the hat off. “I know it’s silly, but I figured this matched the vibe of the club a bit more.”

“It does.” I trail a finger over her jawline. “But what you wear doesn’t matter, Alissa. There’s a reason I brought you here two nights in a row. You match the vibe all on your own.”

She shakes her head. “Not in what I wore last night. That light-blue number. I must have looked like the Virgin Mary compared to most woman you meet there.”

I chuckle. “It doesn’t matter what you wear, Alissa.” I place a hand over her heart. “You match the vibehere.”

She scrunches her forehead. “What do you mean?”

“Aces Underground is a place for testing your limits, for trying new things,” I say. “It’s a place that encourages its members to embrace their darker side and take the road less traveled. And you, Alissa, are a woman who exhibits all of those qualities.”

She widens her eyes. “I am?”

I nod. “You showed it to me that night you walked into my shop. You didn’t even know what a haberdashery was. You were curious, and you walked in.” I rake my gaze over her, narrowing my eyes. “And then that kiss last night outside your apartment door. You reached down, grabbed my cock. I think we both know what you would have done if your neighbor hadn’t interrupted us.”

She swallows. “Something took over me, Maddox. I… I’m not sure what it was.”

“Something took over me as well—something raw, untamed.” I offer my arm. “Let’s descend into the depths again, embrace that darkness, and see just how far it goes.”

17

ALISSA

Chet raises his eyebrows—whichI’m now realizing are white as snow—when he sees us.

“Miss Wonder,” he says. “Great to have you back so soon.”

My cheeks warm. “Guess you can’t get rid of me that easily.”

“I wouldn’t want that either.” His eyes sparkle. “IDs, please.”

---