“Oh, I’m betting on it,” she says with another smirk. Her eyes once again check out my body. Fuck, I need to win a hand here.

3

MYRA

“Oh, I’m betting on it,” I say with a smirk. Usually, I have to fake my smiles at this job. But for some reason with this guy it’s not becoming an issue.

I scan his body again. Fuck. He’s pretty hot. His shirt is doing nothing to hide all his giant Kaledian muscles.

My eyes naturally rolled when he first stumbled over to me. He presented himself like any ordinary ‘bro’ that saunters in this place. I didn’t think I was lying to him before. I have seen guests just like him all day every day. Or at least I see guests just like what I assumed he would be like.

But he is slowly and surely showing himself to be something else. He’s just here having fun with his friends. That explains the energy he gave off before. Watching it evolve, feeling my opinion on him change, it’s fascinating.

He is beyond the usual drunk fair I have to deal with at this job. I just can’t quite put my finger on what it is. I’m just drawn to him.

Maybe he truly is different from all the rest. But it could also just be that he’s fucking hot. I’m struggling to keep my eyes off him long enough to do my job.

And I think he’s noticing.

Regardless, I gave him an opportunity to win information about me. I’veneverdone that before. Guests have tried to buy my contact number, win my break time, and so much more. I’ve never given anyone the chance before him. It just felt right.

“But security detail for a politician? Most Kaledian mercenaries who come through here are doing something much shadier.” I deal Zair a new hand.

“Yeah, but it’s true. That’s what we’ve been doing non-stop for the past two weeks. The trip here is our reward, before the next job starts. Those shady jobs… we stay away from them.”

“How come?”

“Well… at the end of the day, we want to take jobs that make us feel like we’re–”

Zair’s eyes move off me and to something behind me. I check my peripherals and see one of his friends stumbling over. Zair’s body language changes, and he leans back coolly in his chair.

“We don’t take those jobs because they’re too easy.” Zair smirks. “We want a real challenge. Isn’t that right, Tnaker?”

Zair’s friend responds with a big drunk smile. “Zair… we… uh… Do you want another shot?”

“Fuck, yeah, bring it over to me.” The friend salutes and stumbles away. Zair’s body language changes again, leaning forward and keeping eye contact with me. “You never answered my question. How did you get a job in a place like this?”

In some ways, heisdifferent. But in others, he is clearly the drunk guy here with his friends. I think he was almost going to get honest with me before his friend showed up.

As the night progresses, it’s more of the same. Just as he continues to prove himself to be more than my first impression of him, one of his friends will pass by the table and he’ll slip back into what I first suspected him to be. But in those private moments, a deeper Zair is truly able to shine. There is another version of him hiding beneath the surface. If I just had enough time alone with him, I bet I could find it.

However, for now, I’ll just have to watch him desperately try to win a single hand at my table. The longer he stays, the more he drinks. The more he drinks, the worse he does.

Nevertheless, with each hand, with each story of his interrupted by a friend showing up, I feel my attraction towards him growing. The drunker he gets, the more excuses he finds to flex his muscles. That shirt is barely holding on.Fuck, he is hot.

But I can’t give in to this urge. I just can’t let that be who I am. Three years here, I’ve never had thoughts like this for a guest. I need to shake this off.

Though at the same time, I just want him to toss me on this table. Tear off all my clothes. Kiss my body with his lips.

Fuck. I’m not looking for a relationship. That is the last thing I need right now. I can’t have anything keeping me tied to this place, especially some guy.

Although, that doesn’t have to be what this is… Who said anything about a relationship? This guy is probably just in town for a few more days. Might as well have some fun, right?

Gods, I could use some fun right about now. It’s been too long since I’ve had that type of fun. And with a guy as hot as Zair? Forget about it. Why pass up this opportunity?

“Hmm…” I say as another hand comes to an end. Zair has lost again. “You won. Finally.”

“I… I did? No… wait… I only have a…”