Page 13

Chapter Thirteen

Sera

"Red or black?" he asks, seeming in a better mood than earlier when he smirks down at me. We're in the Sky Casino, people talking all around us, the lights so bright it seems like daytime even though it's evening.

"What are we playing for?" I say, touching his arm.

All around us, I notice people watching. They're trying to be subtle about it. We're at a VIP table, and people often pause when they walk by, looking over as if to confirm this really is Luke Cross...and perhaps wondering who the lady on his arm is. I'm filled with a heady sense of power. I want to shout, yes, I'm his woman. You got something to say about that, huh?

He leans down, kissing me under the ear. That special place that sends tingles dancing over my neck and my cheeks. "For your heart, obviously."

"Black, then."

He makes the bet, then loops his arm around me, kissing the top of my head. "Is that supposed to mean that your heart is black, Sparkplug?"

"Oh, yeah," I say, sarcasm dripping from my voice.

"Which is why your passion project is making AI more empathetic..."

I laugh. "You're too clever for me."

"No," he says seriously. "I'm not. That's the reason I'm here with you."

"As opposed to the countless women tearing me apart with their eyes, wishing they were with you instead."

"I haven't noticed."

The roulette wheel spins, landing on red.

"See?" he says, smiling down at me. "Even the table knows you're lying about the black-hearted thing. Could you take the next bet?"

"Sure, Luke."

He steps away from the table, taking out his phone and texting quickly. He's been doing that all night, ever since our meal at the SkyBar. I can't blame him. It's a CEO's curse, and he's got a lot to deal with. He's already mentioned he has five meetings scheduled for tomorrow. There will be conference calls, product redesign, PR plans.

He returns, squeezing my side. "We should get out of here soon," he whispers.

"Hmm, for what?"

He kisses my cheek. "I've booked us a suite. I have a surprise for you. A show."

"A show ?"

"You'll see."

"Do you always have to be so mysterious?"

"Are you complaining?" he counters.

"No freaking way," I admit. "You make everything feel like an adventure."

"That's what you've made this trip for me, Sera. You've turned what could've been a disaster into the greatest adventure of my life..."

Pleasure sizzles across my body as he kneels at the edge of the bed, his hands gripping my thighs as he guides his mouth toward my sex. The first time we got intimate, I was nervous, but those nerves have quickly vanished as he touches me again.

He's shirtless, his chiseled body humming with desire. He strokes his tongue up my folds, focusing on my clit. I gasp at the sensation and slide my hand through his hair.

"Better than your books?" he says, his hot breath teasing over my core as he licks his lip.

"Wuh-way better," I gasp.

He thrusts his finger inside me, licking my sensitive bud at the same time. He quickens his pace with each moan I make, like he's addicted to giving me pleasure, like he can't get enough of me. I feel the same, drunk on him, completely intoxicated and never wanting to be sober again.

He pushes his finger in and out. The friction sends waves of heat through me. He growls and sucks on my clit, driving me wild.

I grind my hips against him, the pleasure swelling, and then he leans back, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his eyes glinting with complete obsession. How could I ever think we'd forget about each other? Just let go?

"You're so beautiful," he says huskily, pulling down his pants.

His manhood springs up, impressive and rock-hard, his tip glistening. He falls atop me, holding himself up with his powerful arms. I grab onto his muscled shoulders, digging my fingernails into their firmness.

He takes the condom wrapper from the bedside table, tears it open with his teeth, and slips it on.

He guides himself to my entrance. I open my legs wider, then hook them around him, pulling him with my body, guiding him inside. He snarls as he slides his entire length into me, sounding like a beast finally free of its chains, like he's done with the suits and the boardrooms, and all he wants is me.

I hold him close, my nails finger gripping him hard. We move together as if meant to be. Nothing and nobody else will ever affect me this way. Nothing and nobody else will ever make me sparkle like this. No one has ever made me feel this wanted and desired like he does. Just him.

I'm like one of the characters in my books as I bite down on his neck, tasting his sweat, tattooing my man with my teeth, sinking my fingernails into his back. He groans and thrusts even harder, the mattress squeaking as he moves in and out of me.

He pushes deep inside, bringing me closer to the edge, the orgasm approaching like a promise.

"Your body is talking to me," he gasps. "Your pussy is pulsing tight, telling me how fucking close you are."

His firm chest glides against my naked breasts, both of us slick with sweat, the heat making us slide against each other. Both of us are burning up, smoldering.

"Yes," I pant, moving even faster, chasing the release.

Confidently, purposefully, with intent. I can't believe it, but I'm doing it: being the woman I always secretly hoped I could be.

When the orgasm overtakes me, I'm not shy about it. I let out a loud moan of passion. He leans back to look down at me. I stare into his eyes as I moan, rocking my hips fast, grinding up and down his hard length.

My core burning. My soul singing. And then it all somehow gets sweeter when he groans and his eyes widen, his own release coming.

I reach up, holding his face in my hands, our bodies becoming one as we rock together. We stare into each other's eyes. Lose ourselves in each other.

When he explodes, he collapses against me, gasping, kissing my ear. I hold him tightly, saving this moment like a file to a hard drive, determined not to forget every twitch of his body as he shudders inside me.

After, he pulls away, takes off the condom and puts it in the trash. He turns back to me naked, a smile on his face.

"You better get dressed."

Lying on my side, I'm shocked by how sexy I feel, how in control. I've read phrases like, 'He looked at her like she was the only woman he could imagine being with.' I've fantasized about those words, wishing they could apply to me one day. Now, they do.

"You don't like me like this, hmm?"

He glides his hand up my side, caressing my ass. "I love you like this," he groans.

Love . The word fills the room, floods it with meaning. But he wasn't talking about love like that, obviously. I can't go from telling him a relationship will never work to dwelling on the freaking L-word.

"But I don't want you to miss the show."

"When you mentioned a show, I thought it was a euphemism for this."

He grins. "No. I've got a surprise for you. Get dressed. Wait here. And don't come out until I tell you, okay?"

"Okay, Mr. Mysterious."

He quickly gets dressed and leaves the bedroom. As I get dressed, I look around the palatial room, reflecting on the fact I'm sitting on a four-poster bed. Being with Luke for who he is, that's been the highlight of this trip. But I'd be lying to myself if I claimed the helicopter rides, the views, and the sheer majesty of everything hasn't influenced me.

Does a girl have to feel guilty for being spoiled every once in a while? As far as I'm concerned, that's a hell to the no.

Entering the en-suite, I fix my hair, smiling at my reflection. I've never been this confident. There's something about being with Luke that just makes me feel so feminine. I love being his fascination.

He returns to the bedroom, looking giddy. "Okay, it's time."

When he walks up behind me and covers my eyes, I laugh in delight.

"You've already surprised me with a private Grand Canyon trip," I say. "You don't have to?—"

"That's where you're wrong," he cuts in, leading me blind from the room... I trust him to lead. "With you, Sparkplug, I have to. I feel compelled. I feel like there's no choice. It's a hunger that won't take no for an answer."

He leads me through the suite and out onto the balcony.

When he lowers his hands, I squint, thinking I'm hallucinating for a second. I rub my eyes.

Delilah Sky, my favorite singer, is looking at me with a smile on her face. The plus-size artist's red hair is tied up, giving her a casual look... and she's holding a microphone.

"Delilah Sky ?" I gasp.

She approaches me. "Hey, Sera, right?"

"Uh, yeah." My head is spinning. "I didn't know you were in Vegas."

"I was in LA, but when Luke reached out and told me what a big fan you are, I knew I had to come."

This entire experience has felt unreal on some level, but this knocks it up several notches. It seems I'm living inside a dream. Luke wraps his arm around my waist and gives me a supportive squeeze.

"It's..." I lick my lips, feeling like a dork. Finally, I find my voice. "It's so nice to meet you. I've been a fan for years. This is honestly unbelievable."

"What's your all-time favorite song?" she asks.

First, this man makes my book dreams come true. Now, he's making my other dreams come true as well. He's a freaking miracle worker, reshaping my world, making me feel as if I'm sparkling... and not just in the bedroom.

"'Can't Get You Out of My Mind,'" I say, giving Luke a look.

He smiles, but he can't hide the glint of something else in his eyes. After this trip, I won't be able to get him out of my mind for sure.