Page 41 of The Gambler

Like she even had to ask. “Of course.”

CHAPTER 16

LUCA

The Saturday night Luca had been waiting for finally arrived. It was the night they were going to buy Tess’ gear from her agoraphobic friend.

She’d brought him to a biker bar. Because… well, of course she had. The front of the two-story bar that had definitely seen better days was lined up with a row of Harleys. A broken neon light told them there was beer and butts inside. One of those butts had her ass planted on a bike, where she was making out with a leather-clad biker whose face was covered with facial hair. Luca might have seen less hair on a grizzly. He was beginning to understand why Tess had insisted on him changing clothes. Of course, he’d refused.

Tess cleared her throat, and gave him a look that said “I told you so.” In her leather miniskirt and purple Harley tee, she fit right in with the crowd they were about to enter.

He straightened his collar. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“I so am.”

“As straightforward as always.”

“That’s me. Right in your face Tess.”

“I remember my face being right in your certain place too.”

Her cheeks turned crimson and she slapped him. “You are so evil for reminding me of that right now.”

No, he had been evil for stopping after he’d made her come. She had been so wet after he’d treated her to a finger fuck, followed by his tongue between her legs. He’d lapped up all of her juices and didn’t stop until she bucked under him and moaned his ears off. It brought him great joy to up her confidence on her being a sexually-desirable woman. He could wait until she would be the one to take the last step.

When she kept staring at his lips and he felt himself getting harder, he knew it was time to change the subject.

“So, tell me. How is it that a world-class hacker like you goes searching in bars for top gear?”

“Hmm.”

“Tess? Focus.”If you can’t focus, neither can I.

“Right.” She looked away from his lips. “It’s not like buying a car, you know,” she started explaining. “When you want a car, you can go to a dealer, and have it custom-made to suit your style. The hacker community doesn’t work like that. In California, Alfie is your guy if you want to get the right stuff. It's a thing among hackers. Just like with deciding who is the greatest among us, the one who never got caught. The biggest bad. The one on the FBI’s list. The more agencies are chasing you, the greater the thrill and the grander your name. You know, like with Lex Luthor. After all, what’s Superman without Luthor.”

“Who’s Luthor?”

She sighed. “I don’t know why your lack of pop culture keeps amazing me.”

“I’m sure there’s an insult aimed at me somewhere there, but I’m gonna let this one slide.” The beefy, tattooed-up bouncer in a leather cut at the door was eyeing them. “Looks like we’re spotted.”

“That’s Teddy.”

That fucker was anything but a Teddy. “What’s in a name, right?”

“There’s a lot in a name.”

“Is disagreeing with me your default stance?”

She shrugged. “Only when you’re wrong, Mr. Custom-made Suits. Teddy really is as huggable as a teddy bear. Unless you piss him off. Then he goes full-on grizzly. Now, we need to get inside that bar, because that’s where I can find Alfie.”

“Then why are we still standing across the street?”

She gave him another up and down. “Do you know anything about biker culture?”

“No, but I’m sure I’m about to find out.”

“Yes, you are. Don’t forget, you wanted to be here. No matter what. You said so.”

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