Page 59 of A Touch of Treachery
My heart squeezed at her echoing my words from when we’d arrived at the resort.I stepped forward, leaned down, and rested my forehead against hers.“And I’m so glad you’re here with me, Numbers.”
Charlotte stroked her hand down my chest, and the heat of her fingers soaked through my vest and shirt.My breath and my body quickened at her touch, the way they always did, but for the first time, I realized just how snugly she held my heart in the palm of her hand.
Somehow, without my even realizing it, I had fallen hard and fast for Charlotte Locke.
In that moment, I reaffirmed my primary mission, one I set above all others.No matter what happened this weekend, whom I had to piss off or whom I had to kill, I would keep Charlotte safe from Henrika, Bryce, the other paramortal criminals, and, most of all, my father.
Thecoldchasedusinside, and Charlotte and I got ready for Casino Night.
I donned a classic black tuxedo Joan had picked out, although I opted for a vest instead of the traditional cummerbund.I tucked a gun in the small of my back, strapped a knife to my left forearm, and slid my feet into shiny black wing tips with reinforced steel toes and heels that would let me break ankles and crush bones.
I tucked my silver watch with its long chain into a pocket on my vest and put on some black onyx cuff links.Each cuff link contained standard comms equipment, although I was betting Bryce would find a way to disable them again.
I tugged my sleeves into place, then went into the living room.
Charlotte was eyeing her own reflection in a mirror on the wall.She was wearing a forest-green gown with a plunging neckline that clung to her curves in all the right places.A slit up the side of the sequined fabric teased a hint of her toned leg, while silver stilettoes with steel toe tips covered her feet.
Charlotte had piled her hair on top of her head, and her smooth auburn locks gleamed underneath the lights.Smoky shadow brought out her dark blue eyes, while plum lipstick enhanced her lips.
I let out a low whistle.“You look amazing.”
Charlotte smiled at me in the mirror.“So do you.Very chic and sleek, with massive James Bond vibes.Maybe I should start calling you 007.”
I chuckled at her teasing, then trailed my fingers down her neck and along her collarbone.Charlotte shivered at the gentle touch, and I dropped my hand to her waist and pulled her back against my body so that I could feel her soft curves molding against me.The heat of her body soaked into mine, and my dick immediately took notice.
“I wish we could stay here for the rest of the night,” I whispered.
Charlotte looked at me in the mirror again, heat shimmering in her eyes.“Me too.”
I sighed with regret, then pressed a kiss to the side of Charlotte’s neck and stepped back.
She turned to face me, reached up, and adjusted my bow tie.Charlotte skimmed her fingers across the stubble on my jaw, and I bent forward and lowered my lips to hers.It was a soft, gentle kiss, just a brief brush of my lips against hers, but it electrified every single cell in my body as though I was gripping a live power line.
I wanted nothing more than to keep kissing Charlotte, to sink into her touch and body and scent and aura until I didn’t know where I left off and she began.But I couldn’t ignore the dull knife of duty still grinding into my ribs, so I brushed my lips across hers again, then reluctantly drew back.
“Rain check?”I murmured.
“Absolutely,” Charlotte whispered.
She tweaked my bow tie a final time, then grabbed her purse and threaded her arm through mine.Together, we left the suite.
Wegotintoanelevator, rode down to the ground floor, and went to the grand ballroom.Even by the hotel’s luxurious standards, the ballroom was impressive.In keeping with the Winterfest theme, white lights had been wrapped around enormous silver snowflakes that dangled from the ceiling and twirled around like disco balls.More lights wrapped around live pine trees that had been sprayed with white glitter to give them a snowy look, while ice sculptures shaped like snowflakes, trees, and skis towered on green marble columns.
Several folks were perusing the selection of food, but the main attractions were the poker tables, roulette wheels, and other gaming stations that stretched across the ballroom.Even though it was just after eight o’clock, Casino Night was already in full swing, and people in gowns and tuxedos were playing, laughing, and losing their money, while waiters fetched them round after round of drinks.Theching-ching-chingof slot machines filled the air, along with the occasional yelp of excitement and the tinkling of coins when someone hit a jackpot.
“How much money does Henrika usually raise for her cancer charity?”I asked.
“Last year, it was more than ten million dollars,” Charlotte replied.“But given how many people are here, she could easily double that amount.”
The two of us strode forward, keeping to the outskirts of the ballroom and weaving our way around the crowd.
Joan was standing at a high table and clutching a half-drunk glass of champagne.The liaison was dressed in a silver gown with long crystal strands that looked like icicles, and her black hair hung loose around her shoulders.
An older man with a bushy gray beard was also standing at the high table, talking and gesturing, but Joan ignored him and glanced over to her right.She took a sip of champagne, but the motion didn’t quite hide her deep frown.
I followed her gaze and spotted Gabriel chatting with a waitress.The former cleaner noticed Joan watching him and gave her a saucy wink.Joan rolled her eyes and turned back to the bearded man who was still chatting at her.
“There’s Henrika,” Charlotte murmured.
