Page 15 of Gamble (Black Light #38)
ELIJAH
E lijah was just hanging up the phone when Reagan emerged from the bathroom.
Despite talking with the hotel’s concierge for the fifteen minutes she’d been behind closed doors, he’d still heard her talking on the phone.
He may not have been able to make out what she had been saying, but he was worried whoever she’d been talking to might have talked her out of the fun day he had planned.
“You look amazing,” he said, his breath hitching as their eyes met from across the room.
Christ, she is beautiful.
“Thanks. I decided to throw a bit of makeup on so I didn’t look like death warmed over,” Reagan said flippantly.
Closing the distance between them, Elijah grabbed her biceps. When he saw a flash of concern in her eyes, he made sure not to squeeze too hard, but there was no way he would let her comment stand.
“Are you listening to me?” Elijah said, using his best Dom voice.
Reagan’s eyes widened before answering with a quiet, “Yes.”
“Good, because I only want to say this once. I don’t know who the fuck has messed with your head in the past, but you need to evict them from your thoughts right now.
You could have a cold… or the flu… hell, the Bubonic plague…
and it would be impossible for you to look like death warmed over.
Wear make-up… don’t wear make-up… wear a fucking potato sack for all I care. I’m honored to be seen with you today.
Elijah watched her closely, trying to gauge her reaction to his impassioned speech. He hated that her beautiful green eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
Thankfully, she recovered, a mischievous smile lighting up her face as she asked, “Who wears potato sacks?”
His chuckle escaped just as he released her arms. “Just proves how ancient I am compared to you.”
He’d just turned to put more distance between them when Reagan pulled him to a stop, holding onto his arm this time. “Now, who needs to eject bad thoughts?”
Fuck.
“Touché.”
He was pretty sure Reagan’s bright smile could power the Vegas strip.
“I’ll make you a deal.” She paused, waiting to make sure he was paying attention before adding.
“I’ll promise not to think negatively of myself today as long as you promise not to keep pointing out how much older you are than I am. ”
It was tempting to argue that their age difference was a fact, not an emotion, but truthfully, he didn’t want to spend even a minute of their limited time together arguing. He may only have her for a weekend, but if he had it his way, he’d be making their time together memorable for both of them.
“Deal,” he agreed. “Now, while you were getting ready, I was making some arrangements. Are you ready to head out?”
“Where are we going first? Do I need to dress differently?” she asked, spinning around like the model she could pass as. He hadn’t been joking about her looking good in a potato sack. Even in her khaki shorts, simple t-shirt, and sandals, she was stunning.
“You’re dressed perfectly. It’s gonna get to one hundred degrees this afternoon, so we’re heading toward the High Roller with one brief stop near there on the way.
I’d rather be moving on to our indoor activities by the time the afternoon sun makes it miserable out there.
Especially since I wouldn’t want you to burn that gorgeous skin of yours. ”
They were already walking toward the elevator as she pointed out, “The burning isn’t the worst part of spending time in the sun.”
Pushing the down button, Elijah asked. “I’ll bite? What’s the worst part?”
“The damn freckles. They pop up everywhere and only get worse when I’m in the sun for too long.”
Grateful they were alone while they waited, Elijah leaned closer, unable to resist teasing her. “I hope I get a chance to inspect all of those freckles later.”
Reagan’s breath hitched and for the briefest of seconds, he was tempted to lean in and brush their lips in a kiss.
The ding of the arriving elevator reminded him to take things slower.
They weren’t at Black Light where everyone arrived with a reasonable expectation of having sex.
The Las Vegas debauched reputation aside, he needed to keep things moving slowly enough to make sure he didn’t spook the beauty.
A wall of noise hit them the second the elevator doors opened at the lobby level. The Bellagio was in the throes of a busy convention weekend, making Elijah even more glad they’d be getting out of the hotel for a few hours.
Weaving through the crowds of gamblers, families, and businesspeople was difficult, and when they almost got separated, Elijah reached for Reagan’s hand, pulling her closer so he could lead them through the throng.
A wave of arid heat hit them just as the revolving door spit them out into the circular portico.
Reagan turned toward the line of waiting taxis, but Elijah pulled her to a stop. “I arranged for a car. It will be easier that way.”
He glanced back at her just in time to see her surprise register when he led her to a waiting black town car. The driver hopped out just as they approached.
“Mr. Keaton?”
“Yes.”
Opening the back door of the luxury car, the driver welcomed them. “I’m Marc. I’ll be your driver for the next few hours. There are some cold bottles of water in the back for you and your guest. It’s going to be another scorcher today.”
Elijah waved Reagan forward. “Ladies first.”
But Reagan stopped short of getting into the air-conditioned back seat. Turning to him, she asked, “You arranged for a driver?”
“Of course. I mean, I drove over from L.A., but parking is a bitch when it’s this busy. This will make things much smoother and with this heat, there’s no way in hell I want us walking far.”
“But… isn’t it expensive?” she asked, looking unsure.
Moving into her personal space again, Elijah couldn’t resist touching her face, palming her cheek to make sure she was paying attention before reminding her. “I think you promised you wouldn’t argue with me about money today, either.”
“This is different…”
“No, Reagan. It’s not. I meant it. You spending the day with me… letting me pamper you a little bit… that’s the best birthday present I can ask for.”
Should he add on what he really wanted to? It would be risky. He knew without a doubt Reagan Murphy was as vanilla as they came. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her away. Still… maybe he could test the waters just a bit.
You’ve lived your life on the edge, Keaton. Go for it.
“This is the last time I’m going to remind you not to question how much money I’m spending this weekend. The next reminder will come with consequences.”
He softened his warning with his best grin, hoping Reagan would understand he was doing his best to flirt with her, not actually scare the bejesus out of her.
It had been years since he’d been on a date—any date.
Hell, it had been decades since he’d spent quality time with a woman not in the BDSM lifestyle, and he was positive he’d never been out with someone as beautiful as Reagan. Not even in his prime.
It had him feeling off base, but in an exciting ‘I’m still alive’ way he liked.
“Consequences? That sounds ominous.”
He liked how her eyes danced with mischief, grateful she was having fun.
“You have no idea how fun I could make it,” he countered, waving his arm in an invitation for her to hop in the back seat first.
The drive was short, not allowing for much conversation. It was only as they were pulling up in front of Madame Tussauds instead of the LINQ’s High Roller that Reagan turned to question him.
“I thought we were going on the observation wheel?”
“We are, but they don’t open until two this afternoon, and so I took a chance that you’d enjoy a stroll through Madame Tussauds’ first. Want to get a brush with some of the famous people inside?”
Elijah held off adding that he’d met more than a few of the real people who’d inspired the waxed replicas in the famous museum.
Some celebrities he couldn’t talk about thanks to the NDA at Black Light, and while he wasn’t sure why it mattered so much, he was at least honest enough with himself to acknowledge that it was more important that Reagan was spending time with him for who he was and not who he knew.
Once inside, the rush of cool air welcomed them. Glancing at his watch, he saw they were a few minutes ahead of the opening time, but as he flashed the email the Bellagio’s concierge had sent with his VIP tickets attached at the woman taking tickets, she waved him in early.
“Have a good time,” she offered with a smile.
“Wow, isn’t that the line over there?” Reagan pointed in the ticket booth’s direction.
“Probably. I had the Bellagio call over to make sure we wouldn’t have any hiccups.”
Reaching for her hand, Elijah pulled Reagan into motion. He’d been to Vegas many times, but this was his first visit to the museum, so he didn’t know what to expect. So, when they entered the first exhibit, Club Tussauds, he was unprepared to be greeted by a sign announcing their newest exhibit.
Shane Covington and Piper Kole, Hollywood’s newest action couple, were in the same general vicinity of the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s ‘Mr. And Mrs. Smith’ scene. Four A-list actors, two of whom he was lucky enough to call close friends.
“Oh, my goodness! They look so real,” Reagan said, rushing forward to stand next to the waxed couple, dressed in costumes from their recent blockbuster movie from the summer before. “I wonder if Shane Covington is this tall in real life?”
Fuck. The last thing Elijah wanted to do was lie to Reagan, but there was no way he could explain just how well he knew the A-list actor without disclosing secrets—secrets that weren’t his to tell.
Stepping closer, Elijah gauged the figure’s height before answering. “I think Shane is a bit taller than this exhibit has him, and I know Piper is taller, although, since I never see her without those four-inch heels she likes to wear, maybe I could be off on her height.”