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Chapter 10

From the Storm

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THE BOAT HAD MULTIPLElevels. Conner took me down a flight of stairs to a hallway of thin doors. The walls and ceiling were tight—he looked hunched in the space, our bodies pressing together helplessly in the narrow passage.

His hand skimmed over my lower back, resting there, sending hot thrills through my body. “In here,” he said, using a key to open a door. Inside was a bed covered in a crimson blanket, the rug gold and black, the small, circular porthole in the wall the only window.

Edison-style lights glowed on the ceiling and over the bed's headboard. “What are we going to do in here?” I asked.

He handed me a small silk bag from his pocket. “I want you to wear this, then join me upstairs in the casino at the poker table closest to the bar. We're going to pretend we don't know each other.”

“Strangers flirting?” I asked, smiling excitedly.

“And a little extra. That bag is part of the game I want to play.”

I held it up, twirling it on the woven strings keeping it closed. “What is it?”

“You'll see when you open it. The rules of the game are simple.” He bent low, kissing my bare neck, talking with barely controlled lust that made his voice smoky. “Beat me in poker before everyone sees your pretty face twisting as you come.”

Blushing, I felt my panties getting wet. “Why would I come in front of everyone?”

Tipping my chin up, he gave me a soft, lingering kiss. He pulled away—I grabbed for him, but he chuckled, dodging me as he backed towards the exit. “No more touching until after the game.”

Breathing heavily, I clutched the bag. “That's cruel.”

“I know. And you love it.”

He was right, I did. Conner closed the door, leaving me alone with the silk bag. My hands shook as I opened it to look inside. Once I did, I understood his plan.

Beneath a pile of poker chips was a pair of lacy red panties. I felt the small bullet sewn into the front. A remote controlled vibrator. It was like something from my private, dirty dreams. Conner didn't just know my dark perversions.

He shared them.

****

CONNER WAS SITTINGat the poker table, waiting for me. His stare fixed on me hotly. I became acutely aware of the vibrator I was wearing. I was sure he had the remote, and knowing he could turn it on any second, driving me wild, was turning me on like nothing had before.

“Can I join?” I asked.

The dealer nodded her head. “Of course. Buy in is twenty.”

Locking eyes with Conner, I lifted the satin bag. I'd counted out the chips inside—five hundred dollars. I'd wondered when he'd had the time to get all this together. Then I'd remembered about the errands he'd told me he had to do before picking me up at his place.

Had he collected the poker chips and the tickets to the boat then? And had he gone into a sex shop, buying the vibrating panties, assuming I'd agree to his game?

Sitting across from Conner at the long, green-felt table, I placed a twenty-cost chip down. The dealer slid it into the middle. In a flourish she began lying down cards. When I looked at the three in my hand, I crossed my knees, thighs squeezing tight.

Conner made a tiny noise—I looked at him, wondering if he'd give away a hint at his cards. No. He was looking directly at my cleavage. I was already boiling hot with arousal, but I bent forward, getting myself hotter while giving him a better look. Pretending I hadn't noticed he was peeping was just part of acting like we were strangers.

“Raise,” Conner said, tossing two fifty pieces out. I grinned, matching him. He was eager to play. So was I.

He bet twice more before all the cards were on the table. I turned mine over to show what I had. Right away I knew I'd lost the first hand. Not because I looked at his cards, but because the sudden, delicious buzz of the vibrator ran across my clit. “Oh!” I squeaked, covering my mouth, ducking my head when the dealer glanced at me. I saw Conner smirk before I grabbed the fresh glass of champagne a waitress had delivered to the table.

Sipping it, I tried to hide how I wiggled in wanton bliss. The panties were amazing, but more than that, our torrid little secret was turning me on like crazy. Conner didn't let up—I shot him a nervous look. He winked, then turned away, as if there was something more interesting out in the casino. Bastard. This was bad...

“Winner,” the dealer said, motioning at Conner. She gave him my chips, cleared the cards, and dealt again. Phantom vibrations continued on my pussy. He'd finally turned it off. Was the remote in his pocket?