Page 94 of Deadwood
Along with magic, I had no coin on me, but I had to bet something. “My necklace?”
Crass’s eyes fell to my collarbones, then lower. “I don’t know, Nemin. You think her necklace is worth a wad of coin and some magic?”
My throat worked on a swallow as Nemin glanced from his cards to my necklace, his face far too close to mine. From this angle, he had a clear view of the swell of my breasts, and the thought alone caused a shiver to skate down my spine. “It’ll do this round,” he finally said.
I reached up to unclasp the chain, then set it in the pile with the rest of the pot. I opted for a long sip of ale in the hopes the alcohol would wash away my nerves.
“I’ll raise it.” Nemin shoved three vials toward the center along with his coin, his inked arm brushing mine.
Perkins let out a puff of smoke as he set another card in the center, revealing a ten of spades. My fourth spade. That had to be good for something.
“Fold,” Perkins muttered around the head of his cigar, a frown pulling the corners of his lips down.
“I’ll call it.” Crass set two more vials of magic on the table.
Lander chewed on his lip before adding his portion to the pot.
Nemin’s thumb pressed into my side, signaling my turn. With nothing to bet, I should’ve folded, but instead, the word fell from my lips. “Call.”
Crass’s smirk grew as the rest of the table waited. “With what?”
I mentally checked each item I wore, which wasn’t much. I couldn’t offer them an abundance of whatever magic they wanted, as it’d give away my abilities, so I only had one other thing to offer. “My dress.”
Thankfully, I wore a corset and undergarments underneath, so I wouldn’t be entirely exposed if it came down to it.
Nemin raised a brow, his hand gripping the fabric. “Brave girl.”
“Braver than you,” I snipped, not sure where my boldness came from, other than the alcohol.
A wry smile stretched his lips. “You’d be surprised.” He tossed two vials on the table, not taking his eyes off me.
“You’re a lucky one, Lander, to have such a temptress,” Crass crooned before sipping on his ale.
Lander ignored him, staying silent as his fingers nearly folded the cards in his grip.
The door burst open behind us, and none other than Bowen stormed in, his gaze trained on me, not giving a single ounce of his focus to anyone else in the room. His eyes burned into my skin where he stared at me, and I wondered if it was due to the position I was currently in—perched atop Nemin like some sort of shiny prize.
“What are you doing?” Bowen practically growled.
I grabbed my cards off the table, lifting them a few inches in the air. “Playing a game.”
“Not anymore,” he said, no room for debate in his tone. Naturally, that would’ve turned me away, but Bowen’s command was one I wanted to heed, and the alcohol was not helping in my persuasion.
I shook my head of its haze, though it did little with the thick cigar smoke hanging in the air. “We’re almost done. I think.”
Nemin snorted.
“The girl has already bet so much,” Perkins said with a false pouty tone, a glint in his eyes as he trailed them down my body. “Let her take her chances.”
Bowen let the door fall shut behind him as he leaned up against the wall and crossed his arms. My eyes followed the action, my breath hitching as I noticed the tattoos covering his arms, the same ones I saw the night of Exitium Lunae. From his wrists to beneath his shirt, he was full of black ink. My heart picked up its pace. How had I forgotten he was just as dangerous as the rest of them?
“Care to play?” Nemin asked, not looking up from his cards. His hand gripped my waist uncomfortably, causing me to shift. Bowen’s eyes moved to his hold on me.
His jaw clenched, a tick jumping in his cheek as his upper arm muscles bulged when he tightened his stance. His gaze burned into me like a flame—one I welcomed. “I don’t gamble.”
“Too bad,” Nemin tsked. “Some good stakes being thrown about today.”
Perkins set another card in the center, then sat back in his chair as he puffed on his cigar, tearing my gaze away from Bowen to inspect the card. Jack of spades. Maybe I wouldn’t lose my clothing after all. If the least I had to do was sit on a stranger’s lap, I’d call it a win.
