Jaxon raised an eyebrow,his smirk widening. “The winnings are mine this round, lass.”
He reachedacross the table and took the belt she had wagered earlier, holding it up in triumph.
Gracie pouted,cheeks flaming, but couldn’t hide the thrill of the game. “I shall get it back yet, Laird,” she warned, voice playful despite her embarrassment.
“I look forward to it,lass. This game is far too amusin’ to end so soon.”
Gracie’s heartraced as she collected herself, adrenaline mingling with desire. Each glance from Jaxon, each teasing remark, sent warmth coiling in her stomach.
“Ye are insufferable,”she murmured, though her lips curved in a reluctant smile.
“And ye,lass, are full of surprises,” he said, voice low and intimate. “I have underestimated ye before, but nae again.”
They leaned toward each other,cards forgotten for a brief moment, the heat and tension between them almost tangible. Gracie’s pulse pounded as she felt the pull of him, both infuriating and thrilling. Jaxon’s gaze held hers, unyielding, teasing and commanding all at once.
“Next round?”he asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Gracie nodded,heart still racing. “Aye, next round,” she said, voice steadier now, emboldened by victory and the playful danger that surged between them.
Gracie’s fingerstrembled as she removed her second stocking, cheeks blazing with heat. She held it out between her hands, her pulse quickening as she whispered, “Aye… this shall be me wager.”
Jaxon’s eyesdarkened with amusement and desire, gaze drinking her in. “Lass, bold as ever,” he said, reaching out to take her wager.
“I… I hope I win,”she stammered, trying to mask her nervousness, but failing miserably.
Jaxon grinnedand laid his cards down with deliberate confidence. “Aye… it seems this round is mine,” he said, lifting the hand that beat hers.
Gracie gasped,her stomach twisting in a mix of frustration. She watched him claim her stocking, fingers brushing her own as he took it, and felt warmth bloom low in her belly.
The next handwas even more intense. Gracie glanced down at her cards, feeling the heat of the game and the heat of Jaxon’s gaze pressing down on her like a flame. She knew she had little left to wager.
“I… I have nothin’left,” she admitted, voice barely above a whisper, cheeks bright as fire.
Jaxon leaned closer,voice low and teasing. “Then ye must give me more than ribbons and stockings, lass,” he said, his eyes tracing the line of her throat. “I shall help ye with the next wager.”
Gracie felt her heart race,warmth pooling between her legs at the sound of his words. She stood up, shaking slightly, and he moved behind her. His hands found the laces down the back of her dress, and she shivered at his touch.
“Oh… Jaxon,”she murmured, feeling the heat of his body press against hers, his fingers deft and strong as they tugged the laces free.
The sensationof him so close made her pulse pound and her breath hitch. She could feel every inch of him, the strength in his arms and the warmth radiating from his chest. Desire stirred in her, fierce and unrelenting, as he slowly peeled the dress down over her shoulders, leaving her in nothing but her corset over her chemise.
“Ye are… beautiful, lass,”he whispered, and she felt a heat climb higher at his words.
She steadied herself,taking a deep breath, and whispered, “Then… this shall be me wager. Me dress.”
Jaxon’s gaze darkened further,a low growl escaping him. “I will wager me tunic again, then,” he said, fingers brushing hers as he reached for the stack of cards.
They laid their hands down,tension thick in the air, hearts hammering. Gracie’s stomach fluttered as she watched Jaxon reveal his winning hand.
“Aye…it seems this round is mine, again” he said, voice low and triumphant. He reached forward and claimed her dress, lifting it with care but determination, and Gracie felt a flush of heat crawl up her neck and across her chest.
She swallowed hard,cheeks burning, as she adjusted her chemise, feeling the thrill and the embarrassment in equal measure. The heat of the game, the intimacy of his touch, and the way he looked at her left her almost dizzy.
“Ye… ye won, Laird,”she whispered, voice trembling slightly.
Jaxon smirked,taking in her flushed face and the way her hair fell loose around her shoulders.
“Aye,and I shall claim what is mine, lass,” he murmured, voice low and intimate. “But ye are playin’ well… bold, daring, and full of fire.”
