Sweet Temptation

“Shut up,” I say in a low voice.

She goes still. Her eyes are on me, and they are sweltering, her lids dipping low. Come to think of it, I should probably cover her eyes, too. I should put her to bed and tuck her in tightly. All by herself. Fully clothed. Until she’s ready to behave again.

Sounds of the casino ring out in my extended hearing.

“You look familiar,” I hear Father say. “Are you an actress?”

A feminine giggle. “Nope.”

“Come on, with a face like that . . .”

A

“I’ll buy you a drink,” Father says smoothly.

A

“Ah, damn it,” I whisper, yanking my hand away. She’s killing me. She’s going to kill us.

“Please . . .” She pulls her hair tie out, releasing her blond hair about her shoulders, those eyes still melting into me, begging me. It is nearly too much.

My ears fill with laughter from Father and the woman downstairs. I have no idea if he’s listening. He seems fully focused on his prey, but I don’t trust him. He clearly warned me against A

“I will tie you up again if you don’t behave,” I warn A

Her eyes narrow wickedly. “Oh, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

A

The beast is alive, warnings be damned.

I grab her waist and turn her, pressing her back into the entertainment center so that I have leverage to press hard against her. The entire thing clatters madly. Her arms and hands are everywhere, clinging, digging, pulling. I kiss her hard, wanting to own all of her—every alcohol-laced breath of air that escapes her mouth—I want it all. We grope as we move to the couch.

Multiple footsteps are moving quickly down the hall.

I am on top of her, between her legs, realizing I should have ripped those shorts off before getting her this far. But I can’t stop moving; her body feels so good against mine, her kisses and moans a delicacy.

“Sounds like the daughter of Belial is drunk again,” comes Blake’s voice down the hall.

“Shocker,” snaps Ginger.

“We’re about to have company,” I say, devouring the soft skin at her neck. I push my hand up her shirt, feeling her silky skin, and let my thumb rub under her bra. She gasps and undulates beneath me.

Banging echoes through the room. “Oi!” Ginger shouts. “Open the damn door.”

“I’m busy.” I nip A

“The more the merrier,” Blake says.

I look at A

I smash her into the couch with another blazing kiss.

“Don’t let that skank take advantage of you when you’re bored, son of Pharzuph.”

A

Oh, hell. I quickly cover her mouth and she struggles to get free. I wish they’d just bloody go away. Just one more time together before this godforsaken night begins. I can make it seem like an act of sheer lust. . . .

“Open up.” Kopano’s voice is like a solid thing that rolls into the room and stares at us. I reel back and jump to my feet. A

I ca

Once I calm down, I walk to the door and let them in. Their faces are disappointed and angry. One look at my eyes and Marna softens. Kope just nods and brushes past. Blake bumps my shoulder and I move aside.

I feel like an ass. This is too big, too important to mess around about. I trudge into the sitting area, where A

We have to use caution, Marna signs.

You could have gotten carried away and said something dumb, Blake adds.

I’m sorry, I sign.

“We’re here to chaperone your guard duty and help out,” Marna says out loud. I suppose it’s time to play this game.

“Let’s get it started,” Blake says.

“I have to watch the wino,” I deadpan.

“She can sit there and watch us,” Blake says. “We won’t let her go nowhere, ain’t that right, Kope?”

“That’s right,” Kope says with complete seriousness.

Blake bounces on the balls of his feet, getting into his role. “Pre-party, then summit, then we’re back in business.”

“Fuckin’ right,” Gin says. She glares at A

When I look over, A

“Someone put on some music!” Marna cheers.

“Ezzactly!” A

I seem to recall A

I pace my way up to the bedroom level overlooking the seating area, while the twins, A

I watch her like a hawk, so when she makes her way back over to the minibar, I’m ready. The others might not care if she has another, but I do. I march down there and take the bottle of chardo

“Hey! Give that—”

I press a hand over her mouth and look at her sternly. Her eyes blaze up at me. She is pushing all my buttons.

I turn her over to Marna because I don’t know what to do with half-drunk sexy girls other than shag them, and A

I hate watching everyone pretend they’re living it up in Vegas while what we’re really doing is sitting around waiting for this thing to happen, the moment that will define us. It’s maddening.

I temporarily lose Father, then find him again at the high-stakes table with that same woman. Nothing seems out of the ordinary.

The twins take A

When she starts to cry, my heart shatters and I ignore Kope’s outstretched hand to stop me. I push past Blake and burst into the bathroom. The twins silently try to stop me as well, but I know what I’m doing. I’ll be quiet. I have to comfort her.

A

When she finally turns to look at me, her eyes are clear, and I nod.

I stand, dry my arms, and leave her to get ready.

I hate this night. It’s hard to imagine that things will look up from here. I can only imagine all the ways they can get worse.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE