“Noah, I really don’t feel right in gambling with your money,” she murmured.
“I want you to.” He moved so he stood behind her, settling his hands on her bare shoulders, marveling at her smooth, warm skin. Was she this smooth and warm everywhere else? Hot and wet in one place in particular? Christ, he hoped so.
“We barely know each other,” she protested feebly. He had a feeling his massaging her shoulders had something to do with her weakened complaining. He could feel her muscles loosening beneath his hands. Good. He wanted her relaxed and easy, but only for him.
“Well, tonight is a great way for us to get to know each other.” Hopefully in more ways than one. He bent his head, his mouth close to her ear as he murmured, “You need to learn how to accept a gift when you receive one, sweetheart.”
A shiver moved through her and she glanced up at him so their gazes met, their faces close. He could kiss her again. It would be so damn easy. “Do you call all the girls you hang out with ‘sweetheart’?”
Straightening to his full height, he grinned. She had no qualms calling him out on his shit and he liked it. “Not usually, but I’m thinking you’re special.”
Natalie narrowed her eyes and parted her lips, looking ready to give him a bunch of grief, but they were interrupted by a man appearing in front of them, carrying a tray full of betting chips in a variety of colors.
“Care to play the tables, sir?” the man asked, his voice smooth, his expression neutral.
Noah was tempted. The colorful chips beckoned, silently wooing him. But he wanted to stay with Natalie and watch her hopefully win a few dollars.
“You can play poker or whatever, if you want,” Natalie said. “I’ll stay here at this machine. Maybe. If I can afford it.”
He turned to her, determination filling him. “No more protesting,” he said just before he dropped a firm kiss on her lips. “Spend as much on the machine as you want. It’s on me. I’ll sit with you for a bit and then you can come to the table with me and be my good luck charm.”
She frowned. “How do you know I’ll bring you luck?”
“Sweetheart, with you by my side tonight, I’m thinking I can do no wrong.”
Chapter Four
There weren’t many people in the high roller room with her and Noah. A few people sat at the various slot machines throughout. Two gentlemen sat at the blackjack table with them, seemingly bored as they bet a tremendous amount of money with each hand.
Playing blackjack was very strategic. Natalie had figured that out right away. She hadn’t lost much, but she hadn’t won much either. She was what her grandma called maintaining. Yep, her grandma loved to gamble. Used to take bus trips to Vegas until her hips starting bothering her too much and she couldn’t get around as well as she used to.
Noah sat dutifully at her side, playing his own hand, winning big and losing big too, since he was also betting large amounts of money with each hand. Being with him like this was a huge distraction, which meant her strategic blackjack playing plans went right out the window. He seemed intent on offering her flirtatious encouragement and touching her constantly.
The touching part she liked. A lot. She swore her lips were still tingling from his earlier kiss. The man had skills. She could give him that. And he was so warm. She could feel his body heat radiating toward her, drawing her in. The thought of giving up on this gambling stuff for the night and cuddling close with him had major appeal.
Yet she carried on, not yet wanting to sacrifice all her game play and potential winnings. She was being ridiculous, she knew it. Probably had something to do with the free drinks she kept accepting. Orange juice and vodka had sounded perfectly innocent when she first ordered it.
“You know they call that a screwdriver,” Noah had told her, his gaze heated, his smoky voice heavily emphasizing the word screw.
“It’s orange juice and a splash of vodka,” she’d reassured him. “The drinks are free. They won’t have a ton of alcohol in them.”
She’d been wrong. Her head was spinning. And she was inordinately focused on winning big money, though she was scared to bet big. She wanted to pay back Noah. She wanted a night she’d never forget. She wanted…
Another drink.
“No more drinks for you,” Noah said with a gentle smile after she made that request.
“Why not?” She mock pouted, noting the way his lips curled into a sly smile. Good. Maybe he liked it when she pouted. Did he like her? Could he really? She found it sort of impossible because… Look at him. He was Noah Wilde. Famous worldwide and so sexy it almost hurt to look at him.
But she continued looking at him because she liked it. Liked him. A lot.
“I think you’ve had enough.” He touched her shoulder, giving it a squeeze, and she automatically forgave him for refusing her drink request. He was so touchy feely. “Are you ready to quit for the night?”
“No way,” she said firmly, shaking her head. “Maybe I should go play a slot machine. I’m never going to hit the big one with how lame I’m doing.”
They played their last hand and then left the blackjack table, Noah leaving a few chips behind as tip for the dealer. Natalie let her gaze skim the various machines as they passed them by, trying to find the perfect one, desperate to make a little money. She wanted to prove to Noah she could gamble with the big dogs.
“Which machine looks good to you?” she asked him.