“That’s fine.” Grit nodded and looked over at me. “You’ll be back again—we’ll get your money the next time you sit at our table.”
“I’ll try to bring more next time.” I chucked and pushed up on my knuckles.
“Why don’t you think about putting on the jacket between now and then.” Grit winked at me. “We could use you, especially if we have to stand against Thaddeus.”
“Fuck, do you really think it’ll come to that—all out war?” I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
“It might.” Grit sighed and nodded again. “Carlos was a bastard, but at least he left us alone. I don’t think Thaddeus will extend the same courtesy.”
“I’ll think about it.” I folded my money up and stuff it in my pocket.
“Talk to Ryker, too—he’s not going to be able to run through the locals at the Bellagio forever.” Grit looked at his cards and made a bet before turning back towards me. “Tell him to come play with us at least. It’s been a while.”
“Will do.” I turned towards the door and started walking.
I knew there was no way Ryker would ever put on a MC cut, much less pledge loyalty to Grit. Still, if there was hope, Grit might keep letting me play without losing his shit when I walked away with some extra money in my pocket. I had a long way to go before my debt was clear, and if the cards didn’t work, I was going to be doing something that I really didn’t want to do. At the end of the day, survival was what I cared about most. If that meant stringing along the Vegas Scourge, then so be it. I had done a lot of stuff to survive before Ryker and I decided to pull away from our illegal activities.
I stopped by Johnny’s place and paid off some of my debt. The atmosphere was friendly, and if they were worried about Thaddeus, it didn’t show. I was actually feeling good about things when I left. I hoped Thaddeus didn’t make any moves on Johnny until my debt was clear, but I had a lot of dollars between my current financial state and that reality. With the most worrisome part of my day over with, I decided that it was time to hit the bar. I had no idea what was going on with Ryker and Aurora, but it seemed that any chance I had of joining in on the fun was over with. Some dirty thoughts certainly went through my head when I took her upstairs, especially when the alcohol made her so horny I could practically smell her lust. Ryker wouldn’t have let me go through with it, even if alcohol was sending my moral compass spinning.
“Another whiskey?” The bartender walked over and looked at my empty glass.
“Yep, and keep them coming.” I nodded and motioned to the glass.
I liked spending the day with Aurora. Part of me regretted calling off the bet, because it meant I would never get more than her drunken affection, but it was the right move. She was a sweet girl, and if she decided to fuck Ryker while she was sober, then it was her choice. The sparks were definitely flying between them when the sun came up. There was no denying that. My place was on the sidelines, and I was fine with that. I sat at the bar for several hours, sipping whiskey and letting my mind spin with ideas for making money. Just when I was about to call it a night, my phone lit up and I saw Ryker’s number on the screen.
“Hey man, what’s up?” I lifted the phone to my ear.
“Did you take care of everything?” His voice echoed on the other end of the line.
“Yep, I’m just hanging out at the bar right now. I’ll probably head home in a little bit. Do you want to go with me, or are you going to stay with Aurora again?” I tilted my head to hold the phone against my shoulder.
“Actually…” Ryker hesitated for a moment and I could hear apprehension in his voice. “She wants you to join us.”
“Ha!” I laughed and shifted on the stool. “What’s on the agenda this time? Are we going to break into Mike Tyson’s house and steal his tiger so she can get the full Hangover experience?”
“No, not exactly.” Ryker chuckled lightly. “She… doesn’t want us to call off the bet.”
“I’m sorry, what?” I blinked in confusion.
“She wants the two of us—at the same time.” Ryker exhaled loud enough for me to hear him through the phone. “Are you up for that?”
“Fuck, man, of course I am.” I dug into my pocket so I could pay my tab. “I’ll be right there.”
I didn’t hesitate for a minute. If Aurora wanted us both, then I wasn’t going to waste an opportunity to devour her beautiful curves. I had to assume she wasn’t a virgin anymore. Ryker popped her cherry, and apparently that wasn’t enough. It seemed that I had underestimated Aurora. She was sweet and innocent, but there was a lingering desire that we brought to the surface. Alcohol often magnified what was already present and just tore away inhibitions, so perhaps her sheltered life had left her craving adventure. I wasn’t going to get the answers to my questions sitting at the bar, so I settled with the bartender and headed towards the elevator. It was going to be a great night. My debt was clear for the moment, and the most beautiful girl in Vegas was about to share her bed with me.
This is why I love Sin City. You never know what kind of fantasies it will bring to life.
Chapter Eleven
Aurora
Ryker made me feel things I never imagined. It was hard to believe I had only met him the day before. I no longer felt like the sheltered virgin that stepped off the plane in Las Vegas with nothing but the allure of the city’s wonders on my mind. There was a new excitement inside me—a fire that begged to be extinguished while roaring out of control. My pussy ached after my body was ravaged by Ryker, but it was the kind of ache that left me wanting more. My desires clashed with my thoughts. I had to stay focused on desire while letting emotions fall to the wayside. I had to separate my lifelong thoughts about love and sex in order to live in the moment, because the moment was glorious.
I knew what would happen when I left Las Vegas. Deep down, that reality never left me, even as my body reacted to Ryker’s touch. I would never see Ryker again. He would be a permanent memory and one I would cherish forever, but that was all he would be—all he could be. We lived in different worlds and we might as well have existed in a different timeline. Ryker was tough, rugged, and Sin City was his home. He wasn’t the kind of man I could fall in love with. I would return to Tennessee a different woman than the one that left, but my life would go in a different direction. Ryker would always be there in the deepest part of my mind because he was my first. That would be where he stayed when the plane carried me away. There was no other option.
“I talked with Cole. He’s on his way up.” Ryker walked into the bedroom and sat down on the edge of the bed. “Are you absolutely sure this is what you want?”
Yes. No. Maybe.