Page 16 of Vegas Duology

ChapterFour

Leo

I guidedLexi into the casino, leaving the pounding bass of Studio 54 behind us.Her hand in mine felt good.Better than good, it felt like I never wanted her to let go.

“Are these people still trying to get in?”Lexi asked and pointed to the would-be party-goers standing in the line that hadn’t thinned at all through the night.

“It's a popular spot.”

“But it's the middle of the night.”

“That's when the party happens in Vegas.It's like there's no sense of time here at all.People will be up all night.I know it’s said that New York’s the city that never sleeps, but if you ask me, it’s Vegas.I’ve met people who come for a weekend and don't sleep in their bed once.”

“Then why get a room?”Lexi asked.

“I said they don'tsleepin their bed.”

Instead of blushing or getting embarrassed like I would have guessed, she laughed.

“I should’ve known,” she said.“I’ve heard plenty of stories.”

“So, it’s your first time here?”

She nodded, confirming what I already knew.Her pretty mouth was formed in a circle, like she was going to say something, but couldn’t remember what it was.I couldn’t focus on anything else.Her lips were perfect.Full, but not too full.I could imagine how they’d yield when I pressed mine on hers.I shook my head.

I couldn’t kiss her.She wasn’t the type of woman who you just kissed out of the blue.I was pretty sure if I did, the result would not be what I was hoping for.

“Are you tired?”I asked, trying to get my mind off her lips.

Again, she looked like she was going to say something but then someone hit a jackpot and she turned towards the loud bells and flashing lights coming from a slot machine a few feet away.She moved towards it, watching.The older lady in front of the winning machine was like many of the seniors I saw here on a daily basis.She'd just won big, but if it weren’t for the lights and noise, you’d never know.She didn’t even crack a smile.It could’ve been a huge win, enough to pay for a month of groceries, but the woman didn’t register even a flicker of excitement.

I slid closer to Lexi, but didn't touch her.Standing only inches away from her was hard.It would be so easy to slip my arms around her waist and pull her into me.Not touching her was an exercise in restraint.

“She won big,” I said in Lexi’s ear.

She shivered.Because of me?Maybe, and I hoped it was true, that she felt the same way I did.The urge to touch her magnified.

“She doesn't look very happy about it,” she said.“I assumed there would be a celebration.You know, flipping chairs, yelling...that type of thing.”

I leaned in a little closer and I could smell her perfume.When we were dancing, the scent of her filled my senses.Now, I inhaled deep.It was fresh, not sweet at all or flowery.More like a crisp breeze.“There are two types of gamblers, especially slot players,” I said.“Some are in it for fun.Those are the ones who get excited.And then there’s the hardcore players.I’m sure she’s happy.But she'll keep playing until it's all gone.”

“Really?”She turned around and for a moment, our mouths were only inches apart.

It would’ve been easy to kiss her.

But worry lined her face, so I said, “I've seen so many people who can't afford to lose even a dollar pump everything they own into these machines.”

“That’s really sad.”

“It is,” I agreed.I forced myself to pull away from her, creating distance before I could no longer fight the urge to touch her lips.“Come on.We don't have to watch.”I walked to the elevator bank, giving myself a moment to get my desire in check.Lexi followed me but glanced back to the slot machine and the woman who was no doubt well into spending her winnings already.

I could tell Lexi wanted to stop the woman; her concern was so genuine, so...unlike anyone I'd met in a very long time.I clenched my hands together, stopping myself from brushing a stray hair off her face.Behind me there was a steady flow of people coming and going out of the elevators.

It was late and when she turned back to me, I swallowed hard to prepare myself again to say goodbye to her.

I'd promised Nicole I’d get Lexi got back to her room safely.I’m no fool.There was so much implied meaning behind Nicole’s words, I’d have to be brain dead not to catch on.But I was also a gentleman, and if Lexi was tired, I would take her back to her room, without an agenda.

“It's late, isn't it?”she asked.