“I want a night with you.” The proposition tasted like warm honey against her lips. She had no idea where she’d found the boldness to voice it, but now that she had, she wouldn’t take it back for a million dollars.
“I’m not going to take advantage of you like that.”
A chuckle broke from her. Was he kidding? She was the one doing the advantage-taking here.
“One night,” she coaxed, silencing the sensible voice in her head that howled in protest. One night to redi
scover what made her happy. “That’s all I want.”
“This is ridiculous.” Despite his words to the contrary, he didn’t pull back.
Did he desire her? Was she brave enough to find out?
“Black, you get me,” she said, hearing the ball slow. Only seconds now. Seconds that would change her life forever. “Red, I get you.”
She slipped her fingers beneath the lapel of his suit coat and rested on the expensive cotton covering his broad chest. He grabbed her hand with his as her fingers grazed his nipple. His harsh exhalation thrilled her.
If something as mundane as standing close to him and touching his chest made her feel this incredible, what would happen when they were naked together? Her knees wobbled as his hand slipped around her waist.
His eyes burned into her. “Why are you doing this?”
“Because it’s my birthday.” Because I’ve wanted you for four years but never dreamed that you’d want me in return. “Because it’s Vegas, baby,” she crooned.
“Very well,” he growled, arm tightening to draw her body against his. “It’s a bet.”
Two
The ball dropped into the slot.
It landed on red. Missy didn’t need to look for herself or hear the dealer announce it. She just knew deep down that it was so.
And she knew because Sebastian stiffened.
In all sorts of interesting ways.
“Red thirty,” the dealer said, confirming Missy’s win.
She felt like cheering, but one look at Sebastian’s tight expression told her he wouldn’t appreciate her victory dance.
He loosened his grip, releasing her by slow increments. His fingertips grazed across her lower back just above the swell of her butt. Had he meant the caress? His remote expression offered no answer.
“I guess this means I won.” She spoke quietly to hide the tremor in her voice.
“Five thousand dollars,” Sebastian said, scooping up her winnings and depositing it in her hands.
“And you,” she reminded him, clutching the chips to her suddenly tight chest.
Winning a man at the roulette table. If her family could see her now. The thought made her shudder. She pushed aside her concerns. This was Vegas and everyone knew that what happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas.
One night. One night she’d never forget. But only one night.
Her knees wobbled.
Sebastian scrutinized her expression. One eyebrow rose. “Let’s cash it in and get out of here.”
“Eager to start paying up?” Her weak attempt at teasing got lost in the cries of dismay around them as the ball dropped into place.
Sebastian caught her by the elbow and pulled her away from the roulette table. Was he afraid she was going to gamble away her winnings, or was he in a hurry to start their time together? The significance of the debt she was about to collect prompted an unexpected bout of vertigo.