Page 84 of Gamble
After dinner, Reagan was ready to excuse herself to go check in on Elijah’s table when the DJ announced it was time for the first dance. Reagan dutifully joined the other bridesmaids and groomsmen on the dance floor to surround the newlyweds as they shared their first dance as a married couple. Her heart swelled with joy at how happy her best friend was.
Reagan swayed to the romantic ballad with Asher’s brother loosely holding her as they shared how happy they both were for the new couple. When the song was in its final notes, she felt familiar hands on her waist, grasping her hips from behind and pulling her away from her dance partner.
“Mind if I cut in?” Elijah’s voice was low, with an edge of possessiveness. “I want to dance with my girl.”
The best man she’d been paired with good-naturedly stepped aside with a slight bow as Elijah spun her around, pulling her into his arms just as one of her favorite love songs started playing next. The solid warmth of his chest against hers, the scent of his cologne mixing with the faint smell of his masculine shampoo, made her feel instantly more centered as the dance floor filled with couples.
Unlike her dance with Anthony, their bodies molded together, leaving no space between them as Elijah held her right hand in his while letting his left slip low against her back. It was a possessive move, and she loved it. Placing her cheek against his shoulder, the lovers enjoyed a few moments of intimacy despite being surrounded by swaying dancers.
After a moment, Reagan broke the silence, “How’s your hip feel?” She’d already noted that he was moving more freely than she’d seen him since before the surgery but she didn’t want him to overextend and set his recovery back.
“Like new,” he said with satisfaction. Pulling back slightly so they could look into each other’s eyes, Elijah added, “Don’t tell Jennings, but he was right. I wish I’d done this replacement years ago. I feel like a new man.”
“That’s wonderful. You’ve been a very good patient.”
Elijah’s eyes darkened with familiar heat. “I’m hoping that when we get home tonight, I can be a very naughty patient. I have a few exercises I’d like to try that aren’t on my approved doctor’s orders.” His grey eyes glowed with heated sexuality.
Reagan felt her pulse quicken at the promise in his voice. “Oh, anything I might approve of?”
“I sure as hell hope so.” He pulled her even tighter against him so she could feel the evidence of his arousal through his dress pants. “Watching you in this sexy dress all day has me hot and bothered. I can’t wait to take my frustration out on this luscious body of yours.”
The admission sent heat spiraling through her core, but it also reminded her of all the things they still hadn’t discussed. Maybe this was her opening.
“I’ve been thinking...” she stuttered, hoping she would find the right words.
“Oh?” His eyebrows rose with interest. “I have been too.”
“Do tell...” she said, heart pounding, relieved for a bit more time to decide how she would try to steer the conversation.
“You first,” he insisted, and she could see something nervous in his expression, surely matching her own nerves.
Reagan’s courage faltered. “No, you said it first. You go.”
She could tell he was nervous too, which only made her more anxious. Please let him bring up Black Light, she thought desperately.
“Well, I’ve been thinking that this time off—spending it with you—it’s the happiest I’ve been in I don’t remember how long.” Her heart leaped, hoping he was about to confess his real job.Instead, he said, “I’ve decided to put in my resignation. I don’t want to go back to working nights and weekends again.”
Reagan felt her stomach drop. Of all the things she’d been expecting him to say, that wasn’t one of them. While the practical part of her brain acknowledged that his having regular hours would be better for their relationship, she realized with stunning clarity just how much she’d been looking forward to him introducing her to Black Light and his secret lifestyle. The revelation was telling.
Her expression must have registered her surprise because he quickly added, “I thought you’d be happy. This will give me more time to spend with you after you get off work.”
“Oh, that part is fine—great even. It’s just...” She struggled to find the right words to express her disappointment without sounding crazy.
“Don’t worry about my financial situation,” he said, misreading her hesitation. “The house is paid off, and I have a lot socked away for a rainy day.”
“It’s not the money,” she replied, more sharply than she’d intended. This conversation was going completely off the rails.
“Okay, I’ll bite,” Elijah said, searching her face with concern. “Why do you look upset?”
They’d stopped swaying the music, standing rooted in one spot as other dancers continued swaying around them. Reagan took a deep breath and looked into Elijah’s intense grey eyes.
Be brave. Say it.
“I guess because I’ve been waiting for you to recover enough so that you could take me to your club.”
Elijah looked confused. “What? You want to go back to Runway? We can still go there even if I don’t work there.”
“Not Runway, silly.” She paused, her heart hammering against her ribs as she looked deep into his eyes. “I can’t get the picture of that naked woman getting whipped while strapped tothe St. Andrew’s Cross out of my head. Of course, I didn’t know it was called that until I Googled it after I got home.”
