“I won’t. Instead, I’ll show you how to play.”
Kaelen led me to a large oak table draped in lush velvet. Everything down to the seating was decadent, catering to the obscenely wealthy. A small sign on the right side of the table noted the minimum bet as $100. I paled, my fight-or-flight instinct taking over. I couldn’t lose that much money on one hand.
“Kaelen,” I hissed. “You have to be joking. Is there a beginner’s table or something?”
“This is the beginner’s table,” he smirked. “All the others have minimum bets starting at $500 or more.”
My eyes widened at the stupid, smug expression on his lips. His beautiful lips that I wanted to drag my tongue over. I internally cursed my omega and her horny thoughts.
Now was not the time, not when I could lose thousands of dollars in minutes.
I ignored the feeling of cotton in my mouth, irritated by the equally amused looks on Aidan and Torin’s faces. I glowered at them, and they at least had the decency to look abashed.
“Fine. I’ll play one hand.”
“No,” Kaelen said, his voice a silken demand that did terrible things to my panties. “You’ll play as much as you want. Come.”
Like some sort of king lounging over his subjects, Kaelen lowered himself into the empty chair at the center of the blackjack table, pulling me into his lap. I squeaked, squirming against his hold for only a second before I gave up my frivolous assault.
I went limp in his hold. A strong hand slid along my navel, palming my belly as his other hand pushed my hair aside, nipping at the sensitive skin there.
Fine.
If he wanted to play king, then I’d be the queen on my sexy alpha throne.
“That’s my good omega.” I wiggled slightly, and he groaned, his nails digging into my flesh. “Don’t,” he warned.
A queen with a praise kink and soaked panties.
His hardening length poked at the seam of my ass. I debated teasing him further when the waitress from earlier appeared, handing a lowball glass with crystal amber liquid to Kaelen, and a pretty pink drink to me.
A mix of lime and strawberries danced over my tongue as I took a sip, a quiet moan falling from my lips. Kaelen grinned, enjoying my noises. I wriggled happily, thrilled that I couldn’t taste any hint of the rum that hid in the drink.
With a thud, Kaelen deposited the black velvet pouch on the table, fishing out an equally dark chip and sliding it into my palm. My hands felt so small when dwarfed by his.
“If you want to play in the hand, you’ll need to place your chip here.” He pointed to a small betting circle marked on the table.
Deciding not to argue with him, I placed the dark chip in the spot, grinning up at the stone-faced dealer. Creases formed around his mouth, giving away his hardened façade. The dealer handed out two cards to everyone, including himself, showing one and hiding the other.
“The goal is simple, get closer to twenty-one than the dealer without going over and you win,” he said, drawing aimless circles over my navel, distracting me.
Everything about him was distracting. His scent, his voice, histaste—how could I possibly concentrate? The dealer’s exposed card was a seven and mine was a nine, putting the odds more in my favor. I sneaked a peek at the hidden card, my nose twitching when I saw an eight.
Kaelen’s teeth grazed over my pulse point, his murmur vibrating the spot and sending a thrill through me.
“Now you can ask for additional cards as much as you want, but if you go over, you lose. What do you think, mo chroí? Do you want to hit or hold?”
I liked that he didn’t tell me what to do, that he gave me the opportunity to make my decision. If I asked for advice, he’d give it to me, but I wanted to try on my own first. I had a seventeen as it was. If I got another card, I’d probably go over, and the chances of the dealer having a better hand than me were slim.
“I’ll stay,” I said, shifting slightly and taking another sip of the sweet pink drink.
A few people around the table went over, while the dealer held too. When he flipped the cards, I shrieked, jumping out of Kaelen’s lap and giggling when I won. The dealer smiled, pushing me my winnings.
“Well done, Miss.”
I turned, beaming up at Kaelen, who stared at me like I was a rare painting to be admired. My cheeks burned, my stomach doing a weird swooping thing.
“Look at you,” he cooed, brushing his thumb over the swell of my lower lip, and I debated sucking it. “My brilliant girl.”
