Page 28 of Between Never and Forever

“We’ll have two more shots of tequila.” She pointed to the glasses, and the bartender obeyed immediately. I liked to think it was because she stood there with me, but most men would have given into her the second she pouted out those soft lips. “Actually, just leave the bottle.”

He frowned and glanced at me. “Sir?”

I nodded and waved him away.

She swiped the bottle off the counter and said, “Your room or mine?”

“We moving that quick?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Dex, I know you can barely stand me, and I’ve had the urge to stomp on your foot more than once tonight, so we both know this isn’t going down that rabbit hole. That said, I can’t be seen out here in the middle of the night drinking with you when I just got engaged.”

“Most people in this casino are celebrities or want their own privacy. My security systems won’t allow for anything to go out without our consent. When I put together the system, I made sure videography within—”

“Dex.” She cut me off and took a breath to probably calm herself. “I’ve been promised privacy all my adult life. People always find a way to get around it.”

“Not around me. If anyone’s going to get footage in my resorts, it’s going to be me.”

She chuckled. “I wish it was only you. At least you used to know me.”

“As opposed to…?”

“As opposed to a stalker here and there. Obsessive fans. Men with too much time on their hands. Women ready to tear down other women in any fashion. Someone looking to make a quick buck. The list goes on and on.”

“I’m happy to control some of that when you’re with me.”

“You can’t.”

I hummed. I didn’t think Keelani was aware of how powerful I’d become. “We’ll see.”

“You think you can control everything, Dex.” She shook her head at me.

“Are you saying I can’t?”

“You’ve never controlled me.” Her eyes were so dark, I could never classify them as chocolate or violet. I couldn’t see exactly what emotion she felt, either, as I stared at her. She wasn’t like most people I dealt with now who I could put specifically into one box. Instead, she jumbled the way I lived, the way I categorized my life, the way I survived in it.

“And yet, here you are, in my resort, under my contract.” That meant she was mine. It had to mean that now.

“Technically, youandyour brothersandBane own this—”

“They’re going to let me handle your contract, and we both know it.”

She couldn’t argue with that, so she changed tactics. “It’s not worth us getting involved when—”

I sighed at her circling a drain. She knew she was going to go down it with me. “Stop arguing with me and say yes.”

“No.”

“That answer will change by the end of the night.” I nodded at the bottle the bartender had left. “Take it and let’s go.”

She took a deep breath before she stood in that flowy dress that still somehow showed all her curves when she walked and swiped the bottle off the counter before walking past me. I loved that she wanted to lead the way, even when she didn’t know which elevator we were going to. Still, my hand found the small of her back and steered her in the right direction. Even after all these years, our bodies worked together and complemented each other.

On the elevator, we were silent as I swiped my watch to get us onto the restricted level where few people had access. High-profile clients, Bane, and myself. We were the only ones who had penthouses on this floor. We went down the hall to French doors, and my fingerprints unlocked them as I turned the handles. Keelani gasped when I pushed them open.

The view out of the hotel was that of the Vegas Strip, lit up, alive, and beautiful. She flung her cap off her head and tousled her long hair out before striding over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. They allowed for the city lights to pour in, shining light on the sleek furniture within the living room space. She saw how the world was still alive out there, dancing in the night and giving us a show. “It’s beautiful what people can make sometimes,” she murmured.

“Dom helped design that building over there.” I pointed to one of the big skyscrapers.

“I’m sure he did. And I’m sure you endorsed it.” She hesitated, brushing a small hand against the windowpane before she continued. “And I’m sure your brothers have profited off it.”