Sinning in Vegas (Vegas Morellis 2)

The sound of Rafe’s voice sends a jolt of guilt through me and I close my messages, glancing over at him as he asks, “Who are you texting?”

“Mia,” I answer, offering a smile before tucking my phone away. He’s paying attention now, so if she texts back and uses Sin’s name, he’ll see it. Obviously it’s no secret Sin is still on my mind, but I’d rather not rub it in his face.

He cocks a golden eyebrow in

surprise. “My Mia?”

I cock an eyebrow right back. “Your Mia?”

Now he rolls his eyes. “I meant, Mateo’s Mia. My family—you know what I meant. Wasn’t sure if you had a friend by that name, or…?”

“Well, I do now,” I tell him, with a hint of playful smugness. “Your Mia is going to be my mob wife friend. She assures me I need one.”

“Oh, does she?” he asks, snaking an arm around my shoulder and leaning in to kiss the shell of my ear in one smooth motion.

“Mm hmm,” I murmur. It actually feels nice, so I lean into it.

His hand creeps between my legs, caressing my thigh. “Someone to show you the ropes?”

My body responds as his hand creeps closer to the apex of my thighs, but I press his hand against my leg to stop him. “We’re in public,” I remind him.

“We are,” he agrees, but not before nibbling on my ear.

“And we have guests. Or, we are guests. Either way…”

“Hey, people pay for a show in Vegas; they get to sit here for free,” he reasons.

I smile, nudging him away with my shoulder. “Come on, I want them to like me. Right now you’re making me look cheap.”

That catches his attention and he pulls back to look at me. “How am I making you look cheap?”

“Maybe cheap is the wrong word. Common,” I amend.

His brow furrows. “Explain.”

Glancing at his cousin at his wife while they eavesdrop without even pretending otherwise, I hesitate. Looking back at Rafe, I bring a hand up to caress his cheek. “Can we talk about it later?”

Ignoring my placating gesture, Rafe says, “I’d like to talk about it now.”

This is so fucking awkward. With a barely audible sigh, I force myself to offer a pared down explanation. I keep my tone low, but I’m sure they’re still listening. “How many other women have sat here and been mauled by you in this booth? Dozens?”

Gio snickers, glancing at his wife. “Dozens, she says.”

Lydia tries to fight a smirk, but I feel like the butt of the joke.

Brief irritation flickers across Rafe’s face. I think it’s in response to them, but I suppose it could be me. I lean in close to his ear so I can talk more quietly. “I just don’t want to be one of many. I don’t want to be dismissed like the latest temporary exhibit in your museum of conquests. I want them to take me seriously, and they won’t if you treat me like all the others.”

Instead of getting annoyed at this blatant show of insecurity, Rafe takes my hand and uses his thumb to caress it. “They’ll take you seriously when they see you’re the one who sticks around. Showing you affection doesn’t make you look cheap or common, it makes you look like someone I like.”

“You like me?” I tease, wrinkling my nose up in mock-distaste.

“Maybe a little bit,” he teases back. “I’ll like you even more later, when my cock is buried between these pretty thighs.”

I flush, and of course that is the moment Sin appears in front of the table.

9

Laurel