Page 6 of High Roller

“You’re just the kind who steals his money? Sex doesn’t always have to be a deep connection sweetheart. Sometimes it’s merely to get something out of our systems or make us feel good.”

“You are very handsome. I don’t normally like an all-black suit, but you pull it off.”

A smirk pulls at my lips. “I’d like to pull it off for you.”

Her mouth falls open. “I guess I walked right into that one.”

Something shifts in her demeanor, and she sits up straight. “Let’s do it. What could go wrong? But we’ll let him pay for the room too.”

I don’t have a problem with that, so I stand and offer her my hand.

“Let’s get a few things straight,” she says as we head to the registration counter.

I raise an eyebrow, curious what she’s about to say.

Before I can continue, my phone rings. It’s the annoying ringtone I’ve set for Owen.

“I’ll get the room and let my husband pay for it,” Lili says. “You take your call.”

I step away from the registration line as she flashes an employee her diamond status player’s card.

“What is it?” I snap.

“Cheers to you, too, mate,” Owen says cheekily.

“Get to the point, I’m busy.”

“We may have a better understanding of what Pratchett was up to after a talk with some of his colleagues. I’m going to be sending you some information, and I need you to get into it.”

I grumble my agreement, and he ends the call before I can ask him about the mechanic. Lili approaches me with two plastic key cards as I’m putting the phone back in my pocket. “Penthouse suite courtesy of one lying bastard.” Her grin is infectious, and I once again feel sorry for whoever her husband is.

“I need to get my coat out of my office,” I say, leading her down a long corridor. I make her wait outside as I slip into the shared office and grab my long overcoat. It’s not overly cold outside, but I still like having it when I need to conceal a weapon.

Moments later, we are riding the elevator to the top floor of The Pink Sapphire, but the car is full of others for the first dozen floors, so we don’t get the chance to finish the conversation that started before my phone rang.

When the elevator empties a few floors before ours, I pull her close, my fingers dancing along the curve of her spine. She gasps softly at my touch, her blue eyes sparkling with anticipation.

“So, what were those things you wanted to make clear?”

She lifts a delicate eyebrow, her gaze dancing over my face. “First, I’m not some damsel in distress looking for a knight in a black suit to save me.”

I chuckle as the elevator continues upward. The journey seems to take forever, but it gives me plenty of time to drink her in, memorize her features, and get a read on her body language.

“Second,” she continues, with a smirk playing on her lips as she slips a hand inside my suit jacket, tracing the contours of my chest with her fingers, “I’m not your plaything. I give orders too.”

I raise an eyebrow at that. She has no way of knowing this, but my role at the High Card demands submission from most women. Switches are welcome at the club, of course, but I don’t play with them.

“And what if I’m not okay taking orders?”

Lili smiles. “Then you can have a drink and go home. I’ll head back to the casino and keep spending my husband’s money. My point is that this will be a give and take.”

Her voice is steady, challenging, and I feel an unexpected thrill. This isn’t the game I signed up for when I offered her a one-night stand, but I am intrigued.

“Fair enough, Lili,” I agree.

We stare at each other for a long second before the elevator dings and the doors slide open to reveal the penthouse suite. It is a decadent dream full of silk, crystal, and marble. Hunter Novak doesn’t skimp on his VIP guests, and Lili spent a pretty penny for this room. Her husband is a fool, whoever he is.

I follow her out of the elevator, and I hang my overcoat in the closet while Lili paces in the foyer of the grand penthouse. She seems nervous, and for a moment, I wonder if I’m supposed to just leave. I’ve never believed in forcing myself on a woman. Before I can say something, she stops and smiles at me.

---