Page 41 of High Roller

I can’t tell him it’s because Gracie got in the shower and hugged me or that he stuck around while I was still a mess, but that’s the only explanation I have for it. I saw something in the two of them tonight that made me want to escape my husband and his family for good. To escape my family for good, and even though he kidnapped me and I’m not sure I can fully trust him, Victor seems like a good man who just wants to protect the people he loves. Finn only wants to protect the people who are useful to him.

“Spitfire? Where’d your head go?”

“I’m sorry. Just lost in thought. I’m ready to be done with that man, and if helping you is the way to do it, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

He shoves a hand in his slacks and nods decisively. “OK then. We’ll talk tomorrow. Do you need something to help you sleep?”

I shake my head. “I don’t really like to take anything. They knock me out too hard and…”

“It’s not always safe to sleep that deeply in your own house?” Victor finishes for me when I trail off.

“Something like that.”

“You’re safe here, Liliana. I understand that it may not seem like it because of how you came to be here, but you are. I can get you something if you change your mind.”

“Thank you, Victor. I mean it.”

“Did Gracie leave me something to sleep in?”

I point to the bathroom. “She said she left it on the counter in there for you.”

He looks at the sleeping form in the middle of the bed and smiles.

“She cares a lot about you,” I say as he walks into the bathroom and picks up the black silk pajama pants and black t-shirt Gracie left for Victor.

“The feelings are mutual,” he says, pulling off his dress shirt.

The t-shirt goes on right away, giving me only a moment to see his gorgeous abs, but it’s a hell of a glimpse.

“Are you going to stand there eye-fucking me all night or are you going to get back in bed with Gracie and make me jealous.”

I glance at the bed and then back at him with a smirk. “If you move over about a foot, I can do both.”

He grabs the bathroom door in order to close it and points to the bed. “Go.”

Laughing feels good after the last few hours, and I slide beneath the covers next to Gracie with a smile on my face.

She snuggles closer to me in her sleep, and I don’t try to make her move. She’s soft and warm and I wouldn’t complain if she were in my bed more often.

When Victor comes out of the bathroom, his face is damp, and his hair is less disheveled.

“There’s room on the other side of Gracie if you want to join us,” I whisper.

He looks back and forth between Gracie and the couch and shrugs before climbing in the enormous bed beside the sleeping girl.

He brushes hair back from her face and kisses her forehead. Then he takes me by surprise when he leans across her and kisses my cheek. “Goodnight, Liliana.”

The lights go out and I slide further down and settle on my pillow, trying not to overthink the kiss.

The next morning I wake, and it’s hot. It takes a minute to realize why. Gracie is plastered to my side, and Victor has gravitated closer to her, and has one leg and arm draped around her, making her warmer and passing the heat on to me. I try to slip out of bed without waking either of them, but Victor grabs my wrist before I make it far.

“Morning, Spitfire. Did you sleep OK?”

“I’m sweating, but yes.”

He laughs and rolls away from Gracie who stirs and rubs her eyes.

“Did Victor come back yet?” she asks, trying to sit up.

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