Page 88 of Gamble
“Oh shit, I’m sorry, old man. I didn’t mean to hurt you, but this place just isn’t the same without you around. Tyler’s great and all, but he turns into a real hard ass when he’s in charge.”
Suzie’s eyes flickered over to Reagan, and Elijah protectively wrapped his arm around his woman’s waist.
“Oh my gosh, the rumors are true! You caught yourself a real beauty, bossman. Hi,” the bartender gushed, sticking out her hand to Reagan. “I’m Suzie. You must be Reagan. I caught a glimpse of you a few weeks ago when you came through with the Cartwright-Davidsons. I’m so glad to see you’ve come back.”
Reagan’s smile was genuine and warm. “Yeah, well, I’m glad to be back too, especially since I have Elijah with me this time to show me around.”
“There’s no one better,” Suzie said, glancing at Elijah. “He’s one of the good guys.”
Shouting from the bar pulled Suzie’s attention back to her abandoned customers. “Well, I’d better get back to work. You kids have fun now,” she said with a wink before spinning around and heading back to the bar, picking up some empty glasses from a nearby table on the way.
“She’s fun,” Reagan observed.
“Oh, she’s fun all right. Don’t get me wrong, she’s great at her job, but she can equally be a pain in the ass when she wants to be.”
Reagan laughed. “Yeah, I kinda got that vibe.”
Elijah took her hand and moved them toward the velvet curtain again. “Let’s get going before someone else decides they want to chat.”
As they reached the heavy fabric barrier, Elijah paused, looking back at Reagan. Was she really ready for this, or was he rushing her? The weight of the moment settled on his shoulders. Once they stepped through that curtain, there would be no going back. She would see him in his element, see the world that had shaped him, see the sadistic darkness that called to his soul.
And then she would decide if she could love all of him, or if she would run.
There was so much riding on her reaction because if she did run, he knew he would be chasing after her, even if that meant leaving the job he loved.
He loved her more.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
REAGAN
Reagan’s heart pounded as she stood beside Elijah at the velvet curtain, processing everything she’d witnessed since arriving at Black Light. Gary had greeted him with genuine warmth and respect. Michael had called him “bossman” with obvious affection. Suzie’s enthusiastic welcome that spoke of real friendship, not just professional courtesy.
This wasn’t just Elijah’s workplace—this was his kingdom. And everyone here recognized him as their leader.
More importantly, she could see the transformation happening in Elijah himself. The careful, recovering patient she’d been caring for over the past weeks was melting away, replaced by the confident, commanding man she’d met in Vegas. His posture was straighter, his movements more assured, his voice carrying that natural authority that made people listen when he spoke.
He was in his element. This was who he really was. Not the broken man who’d needed help to get to the bathroom, but a dominant force who commanded respect and wielded power with gentle strength.
And yet even as she made the comparison of the two different versions of the man, a calmness settled over Reagan as she realized that she actually loved both versions of the man. As painful as his recovery might have been for Elijah, his injury had forced them to slow things down between them. To take the time to truly get to know each other at the most basic level. The hours spent talking, watching movies, or even quietly reading together had shown Reagan that she truly loved being around every version of the man she’d met in Vegas.
“You ready for this?” Elijah asked, his hand poised to pull aside the heavy fabric.
Reagan took a deep breath, her nerves dancing with excitement rather than fear. “I’m ready.”
The wall of sound that hit them as Elijah drew back the curtain was overwhelming—pounding music mixed with moans of pleasure and pain, the crack of leather on skin, the murmur of dozens of conversations. The space beyond was larger than she’d remembered from her brief glimpse weeks before, with multiple levels connected by stairs and walkways, all bathed in atmospheric lighting that created pockets of intimacy within the larger space.
Elijah’s arm came around her waist immediately, possessive and protective, and Reagan felt something deep inside her settle at his touch. He was claiming her, marking her as his, and the primal satisfaction she felt at being so thoroughly possessed surprised her.
“Stay close,” he murmured against her ear, and she nodded, letting him guide her into the crowd.
They moved slowly through the throng of people, some dressed in elaborate costumes, others in various stages of undress, all engaged in the intricate dance of power exchange that defined this world. Members nodded respectfully to Elijahas they passed, some stopping to shake his hand or express their pleasure at seeing him back.
“Boss!” A young man in a black t-shirt with the Black Light logo approached them with a wide grin. “We didn’t expect to see you until Wednesday.”
“Just showing my lady around,” Elijah replied, his hand tightening possessively on Reagan’s waist. “Reagan, this is Marcus, one of our dungeon monitors. Marcus, meet Reagan.”
“The famous Reagan!” Marcus said with obvious delight. “Tyler’s been wondering when you’d bring her by. Welcome to Black Light.”
