“You’re killing me,” I whisper in her ear, hoping I sound more composed than I feel. “Can I get you a drink?”
Ruby pulls back slightly, biting her lip as her eyes search mine. “I’ll need something strong,” she murmurs, a slight huskiness in her voice.
I place my hand at the small of her back, guiding her toward the bar. The contact is innocent enough—anyone watching would see only a hostess escorting a guest—but I feel her muscles tensing under my touch. I signal the bartender with a subtle nod. He knows exactly what to pour. We stand close, facing each other.
Ruby takes a slow sip of her Scotch, her eyes never leaving mine over the rim of the glass. A small stain of amber liquid lingers on her lower lip, and I have to force myself not to lean forward and taste it.
“So…Scotch for truth,” I say.
Ruby’s lips curve into a smile. “Ask me anything.” She reaches out to straighten my collar, her fingers brushing against my neck.
“Did I freak you out? Is that why you left?”
There’s a subtle catch in her breath, a momentary tensing of her shoulders. Her fingers pause on my collar as if she’s been caught off guard, didn’t expect me to be so direct. For a beat, I wonder if I’ve made a mistake bringing it up.
But I’m tired of dwelling, of wondering, of obsessing over those five words that sent her running across state lines. If she runsagain, so be it.
“I’m sorry if I did,” I continue. “I just need to know that you’re still comfortable with me before we go into that room. Trust is everything, right? We need to be honest with each other.”
Ruby nods, her expression softening. “Yes, it freaked me out a little,” she says quietly. “But I’m here. You haven’t scared me away.” Her gaze drops to my lips again. “I have feelings too. I’m just figuring out how to navigate them.”
My heart beats faster as her words sink in. The admission I didn’t dare hope for, delivered so simply.
“Thank you.” My hand moves of its own accord, sliding from the small of her back to curve around her hip. “For your honesty. I know it’s not simple.” I tighten my grip on her, needing to anchor myself in this moment.
Ruby lets out a soft sigh. “As I said, I’m still figuring things out, but I know one thing.”
“What’s that?”
She inches closer, aligning her body with mine. “I want you to myself.”
My hand moves lower, fingers tracing the curve of her behind through the fabric of her dress. I feel her slight jolt, followed by the way she subtly leans into the touch.
“If it wasn’t clear already, let me make it crystal clear right now,” I say. “I’m yours and only yours. You won’t find me in that room with anyone but you, and you won’t find me flirting with other women.”
Ruby’s eyes widen slightly, her lips parting in surprise at my directness.
“But,” I continue, unable to resist teasing her a little, “as I’m a big scary casino boss, I want something in return. That’s how this works, right? Quid pro quo.”
“Quid pro quo,” she repeats, her hand sliding inside my blazer and around my waist. She lifts the fabric of my topfrom the waistband of my pants and finds my skin, her fingers trailing up and down my back. “What do you want?”
I lean in and brush my lips against her ear. “I want you to spend the night with me.” When I pull back to look at her, a flush spreads across her cheeks.
“That’s quite a lot to ask for,” she says with an amused smile.
“Maybe.” I shrug, returning her smile with one of my own. “But I’m a hedonist. I want it all.”
FORTY-NINE
RUBY
“I’m not going to blindfold you today.” Athena looks me up and down. “I want you to see yourself in the reflection of all those mirrors. I went easy on you last time, but today, I want you to watch.” She trails a finger down between my breasts. “Don’t worry, though. You’ll enjoy it.”
I swallow hard.Didshe go easy on me last time? It didn’t feel like that. Part of me is glad I’m not blindfolded, but seeing myself is very confrontational. I’m cuffed to the ceiling, stripped to my black lingerie, and I’m so aroused I can barely stand still.
“Tell me what the safe word is,” she says.
“Pause.”
