She reached Vice in ten minutes, but it felt like thirty. She left her car with the valet and headed inside. Even at this time of night, or morning, the casino was a hive of activity. Tourists played every casino game. Some were dressed in eveningwear and others wore casual clothes. One woman even had pajama pants on. As Dana walked by, she saw a security guard discreetly approach the woman, reminding her of the dress code. The annoyed tourist was forced to abandon her slot machine and walked away, presumably to change.
If there was one thing they insisted on at Vice, it was a classy atmosphere.
Although the lights and commotion were programed to distract, she continued toward the admin hallway. Tired, she stumbled a few times on the thick carpet.
She must have looked stunned, because one of the employees came over and asked if she was lost.
She shook her head. Although she didn’t say it out loud, she’d never felt so lost in her life.
“Alex.”
She didn’t realize she’d mumbled his name until it was out of her mouth.
Everyone comes to Vegas looking for something.
She was looking for him, even though she might not have a hope in hell of having a long-term relationship with him.
The admin hallway was dark and quiet. The casino might never sleep, but it seemed the admin staff members were allowed their rest. There were a number of offices in the hallway, all locked up. At the end of the corridor was the elevator that led to Alex’s office. Its silver doors were shut tight, making it seem like an insurmountable barrier, a symbol of what she had with Alex. The doors might slide open here and there, but at the end of the day, if she didn’t have the right access, they could be closed to her for good.
Not tonight. As Dana approached the elevator, it swung open for her.
She should go home and get over herself. Lots of people had partners who cheated. She didn’t even love Tommy anymore. In all honesty, she’d stopped loving him the moment he’d retreated from her in Dr. Batra’s office.
Go home. Don’t involve Alex.
She couldn’t leave. His allure held her in place. She was a willing captive, hoping for a glimpse of her captor.
More than anything, she was tired, so tired, and she just wanted to talk to him. Was it so wrong? Perhaps talking wasn’t what drove her out of bed. The pain inside her had grown, had started snarling like a beast, and it could only be eased by his touch.
Dana longed for Alex to touch her again.
Here, in his domain, her loneliness didn’t cut quite as deep. Here, she could breathe. Filling her lungs, she entered the elevator and backed up against the wall.
So tired.
For a second, she pretended she was in Covet, numb with pleasure.
Numb, through and through.
Willing herself there, Dana closed her eyes.
***
Alex held his breath as the elevator rose to the fourth floor. What on earth would have possessed Dana to reach out to him in the middle of the night? Not that he minded. She could text him round the clock and he wouldn’t have a problem with it.
The elevator door opened. Dana leaned against the wall, her face creased in pain.
He flew to her. Her mocha skin was grey.
She opened her eyes. They were the shadowed eyes of a woman at the end of her tether.
He held out his arms and she fell into them.
“It’s okay.” He stroked her curls and kissed her head. “It’s going to be okay.”
She raised her head. Her lips parted. So kissable.
No. She left him, wanting a clean break. He could comfort her, but they couldn’t do this.
