Page 29 of Roulette Rodeo
HOUSE OF PLAYING CARDS
~RED~
The dressing room reeked of hairspray and desperation, the usual cocktail that preceded another night of performing for alphas who saw us as menu items rather than people.
"Did you see the news about that omega in California?" Tanya was saying, carefully gluing on false lashes that probably cost more than my weekly food allowance. "Bonded to some tech pack. Four alphas, private jet, beach house in Malibu."
"Lucky bitch," Nicole muttered, adjusting her breasts in a corset that defied physics. "Some omegas get fairy tales. The rest of us get this."
"At least the tips are good this week," Amber added, though her optimism sounded forced. "That Japanese delegation dropped serious cash last night."
I tried to tune them out, focusing on applying my makeup with mechanical precision.
Foundation to cover the exhaustion. Concealer for the shadows under my eyes that seemed permanent now. Highlight to catch the light, to sparkle like the diamond I was supposed to be.
But my mind kept drifting back to the storage closet.
To him.
Forest green eyes that had looked at me like I was something precious rather than profitable. Hands that could probably kill but had held me like spun glass. That voice, rough as gravel but somehow gentle when he'd called me his omega.
His omega.
I shivered, heat pooling low in my belly at the memory.
The way he'd kissed me —God, I'd had no idea kissing could be like that.Consuming. Devastating. Like he was trying to crawl inside my skin and I wanted to let him.
Allow him in and not be so afraid that he’d make my world crumble in a heartbeat…
"Earth to Red," Tanya's voice cut through my thoughts. "You're going to rub your skin off if you keep blending that concealer."
I blinked, realizing I'd been working the same spot for who knows how long.
"Sorry. Just tired."
"Well, wake up," Nicole said, not unkindly. "The Castellano pack is back tonight. You know they always request you."
"Actually," Amber leaned in conspiratorially, "I heard the real entertainment tonight is that pack that never loses. You know, the ones who cleaned out the high-roller room last month?"
"The Moretti pack?" Tanya's eyes widened. "They're impossible. I spent three hours trying to seduce the youngest one, and he looked at me like I was furniture."
"Maybe they're gay," Nicole suggested.
"Or maybe they just have standards," Amber shot back. "Not everyone's desperate enough to fuck anything with a knot."
"Says the girl who gave the Reeves pack leader a handjob under the blackjack table."
"That was strategy! He tipped me five grand!"
"For a handjob? Girl, you're underselling yourself."
They continued bickering, but I'd stopped listening again.
My mind was painting pictures I had no business imagining. What would it be like to be part of a pack that actually wanted me? Not my scent, not my body, not the status of owning a virgin omega, but me?
The girl who liked to box, who hoarded books and was trying to save ever penny in a broken compact. This girl who learned to count cards out of boredom and desperation, all in hopes of surviving a world that was simply unkind to Omegas unless it was to strife in the world that rewarded completion.
He hadn't minded my defiance.
