She wasn’t sure why he was holding back, but she trusted him. For whatever reason, Penelope knew he wouldn’t hurt her, and perhaps that was how she knew she’d fallen in love with him in a matter of days. Not only because of whatever was driving them to be together, either. This was coming from within her, deep inside. Obsidian filled her with warmth and light when she’d spent months—no, make thatyears—walking around with a cold chill in her bones.
“Hold on to me,ayreme. Don’t ever let me go.”
“I’ll never let go,” she promised.
He became feral then. They both did, succumbing to the overwhelming pleasure as his body covered hers, hammering her with ruthless thrusts as she held on. It was the most exquisite feeling in the world, one she wanted to savor. It didn’t matter what he was or even what she was, for that matter. They’d been brought together for a reason. There was always a reason.
“Obsidian … I’m—” Penelope didn’t get the word out, screaming in ecstasy as her orgasm obliterated both her body and mind.
The sound that escaped him was something resembling an animalistic growl, sending her over the edge again, the two of them coming at the same time, united in pleasure.
When Obsidian tried to move off of her, Penelope held on, refusing to let go.
He chuckled, then rolled so that she was draped over him, his warm arms surrounding her.
She fought the urge to tell him she loved him, not wanting to play all her cards too soon. Instead, Penelope settled on top of him and closed her eyes, giving herself over to the exhaustion that dragged her into the deep, dark abyss.
“WELL,AREN’TYOUALOVELYTHING?” PERFIDIOUScrooned at the brunette female occupying the end chair at the blackjack table.
Though he would’ve preferred to sit at Beatrice’s table, he wouldn’t get lucky tonight because his favorite dealer was enjoying a night off.
“Care to join us?” the brunette offered.
“I think I would.” Digging a single chip from his pocket, Perfidious set it on the table as he eased onto a chair, waited for the dealer to finish the hand.
“Table’s not doing so great,” the female said, smiling. “Hopefully you’ll change our luck.”
Oh, he most certainly would do that.
With the ease of one who was comfortable in the process, the dealer swept all the cards away, sliding them into the card shuffler before pinning Perfidious with a hard stare.
He pushed the one-hundred-dollar chip out, signaling his desire to play.
“Where’re you from?” the brunette asked while the dealer exchanged the larger chip for smaller ones.
“Oh, here and there. Been all over, really.”
She smiled, gaze darting between him and the cards being dealt. “Travel for business?”
“I do. And you?”
“Here for a convention. Starts tomorrow.”
When it was his turn, Perfidious motioned for the dealer to pass him another card, something to better the two sixes he had.
Another six was laid down, making him smile.
“Oh, yuck. Ugly hand,” the brunette said, waving her perfectly manicured fingers over her cards to signal she wanted to stand on twenty.
“Eighteen,” Perfidious told her. “To the dealer’s suspected seventeen. I’d say it’s not too shabby.”
“But six-six-six. That’s the devil’s number.” She shivered, as though a cold chill raced over her.
He didn’t bother to tell her Lucifer had never once staked a claim on any number, much less that one. But whatever.
The dealer revealed the nine he had beneath, then drew another card as was the rule. A king broke him, giving the win to all three of the table’s occupants.
“Nice,” the brunette said, smiling. She held out her hand. “Elizabeth.”
