5. Bash
Chapter 5
Bash
Stasia’s thick lashes lower over her clear blue eyes, hiding her expression, but not before I catch the look of satisfaction. I should have called her out when I noticed she’d been feeding me drinks, but I’m nothing if not curious, and this girl has me more than intrigued.
I have to fight the smile that wants to take over my face when I look at my cards. Queen and a nine waiting, looking back at me.
She’s good, barely a tell on her, but the slight shift of her ears gives her away. I expect her to call for another card, but she rolls her shoulders back. She’s taking a risk. I almost want to encourage her more, but the anticipation of what item she’ll remove outweighs anything else.
“Ready.” She gives me the sweetest of smiles, and for the first time tonight, worry shifts through me. She looks like a cat playing with a mouse.
I flip my cards over, resting my head on my palm. “Nineteen.”
She sucks in a breath as she looks at my hand. It’s about as close to twenty-one as possible.
It’s not until her lips curl into a grin that I know I’m fucked.
She flips hers over, revealing a queen and an ace. “Twenty-one.”
“Not possible.”
“Are you accusing me of cheating?” Her brows shoot up, and an adorable crease forms between them.
“Never dream of it, Princess.”
Her mask slips with her win, and she accidentally reveals the fire burning within her gaze. I huff out a breath. She’s riveting when she’s up to something, and I’m going to find out what.
Taking my time, I loosen my tie and let it fall to the floor before undoing the top button of my shirt. Her bottom lip catches between her teeth, a soft flush covering her cheeks.
“Whatcha looking at, Princess?”
Her gaze darts down to where she’s shuffling the cards. “Nothing special.”
I bark out a laugh. Oh, this is going to be fun.
She deals again, and this time, there’s no lift to her ears. Nothing to give herself away. Impressed that she’d been able to trick me so easily, I knock on the table for another card.
Stasia does the same, but instead of the glint in her gaze, her head drops forward, and she flips her cards. Twenty-three.
Bust.
I run my thumb over my bottom lip, watching her intently. Will she play it safe and remove a piece of her jewelry, or did she suggest this game because she really wanted to play?
“Shit.” Stasia takes her glass and tips it back, emptying the liquid down her throat. There’s a muscle ticking in her flushed cheek, and she clenches and unclenches her fists on the table.
I’m about to call it all off, putting an end to her misery, when my breath catches. She reaches behind her, and there’s a soft click as she unclasps her bra. I can’t look away as she lowers each strap, slowly slipping her elbows through until she’s able to pull the thin black lace out from under her dress. My mouth fills, and I swallow hard as the tips of her nipples are visible through the thin fabric.
Not fucking fair, Princess.
It’s my turn to polish off my drink, and she fills it immediately. It’s not lost on me she’s filled it to nearly the brim. She’s definitely up to something, but if she thinks she can get me drunk, she’s sorely mistaken. Stasia has me riveted, caught in her snare.
If only Xander could see me now. He’d be laughing his ass off at how easily she’s pulled me in, but at this point, I’m way too curious to turn back.
She wants me distracted, plying me with alcohol and showing off the sweet tips of her nipples, and I’m going to play right into her game. I let my eyelids lower and sway a little in my seat. I may be tipsy, but I’m nowhere close enough to be drunk. It’s a good thing there’s no way she could know that.
Assessing me for several seconds, she must decide it’s safe to move forward with her plan and ask her first question. “My brother told me the Order keeps most of their valuables in this hotel. Tell me why they would do something so risky.”
There it is. What does my little princess want with that information? She’s playing a very dangerous game here. I should end it, but there’s a thrill growing in me, one that I haven’t felt in years.
Her voice is light, as if she’s just making small talk, but her knuckles are white with tension as she looks at her cards, waiting for my response.
She loses again before I can answer.
This time, she plays it safe and leans over to remove her shoes. She lifts the hem of her dress until an inch of smooth skin above her knees is visible. My cock twitches as she bends low, fingers fumbling with the clasp.
I kneel in front of her, loving the way she squirms in her seat as I raise her foot up to my chest.
“I don’t need your help.” Her knee is bent, and she’s applying the slightest pressure, digging her heel into my pec, showing her displeasure.
“Ah…but I want to.” I deftly undo the strap around her ankle and glide the shoe off, making sure I graze my fingers against her. I hum in the back of my throat when I feel her faintly tremble under my touch as I slide over the slippery fabric of her stockings. This is way hotter than I expected.
She faintly trembles, and her cheeks turn a pretty shade of pink. She really shouldn’t have had that last glass of whiskey because she’s lost the ability to hold her mask in place.
I’m not complaining. I’m enjoying every second of this.
Not wanting to let go, I knead my thumb into the arch of her foot. She goes to pull away, but I know exactly what will keep her there, and I never once agreed to play fair. It’s devious on my part, but she’s the one who suggested this.
“We keep most of the jewels here because this building has multiple levels of security.” I give her a taste of what she needs, and she leans forward, eating up my every word.
An unease fills me. If she was speaking to anyone besides me, she’d be in more than a little bit of trouble. “Stasia, you should be careful. You’re giving yourself away. Did your brother already tell you this is where the Vault is located?”
The blood drains from her face, and I realize my mistake.
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone. The location of the Vault is the worst-kept secret.”
Her skin’s heating under my palms, and her lips are parted as her chest rises and falls rapidly. That’s it.
I rise from the ground and place both hands on either side of her, effectively caging her.
She doesn’t move as I lower my lips toward hers, close enough that our hot breaths mix together. Now she’s the one that’s caught.
I shift so our mouths brush across each other, and her round blue eyes are dark on mine.
Her breaths come out in shallow pants, and she swallows before asking, “So you keep the valuables in the basement.”
Shock rolls through me as I realize I don’t quite have the control of this situation as I thought I did.
I stare into her eyes, desperate to know what she’s up to.
“Yes. There are several rooms down there.” I rest my finger across her lips. “But shhh. That’s a secret.”
She nods, her mouth parting, and the tip of her tongue touches me.
A groan rumbles in the back of my throat, and I’m about to replace my finger with my mouth when the door swings open.
There’s a startled squeak. “I’m so sorry. I thought this room was empty.”
“As you can see, it’s not.” Even as I say it, Stasia’s using the distraction to skirt from beneath me, grabbing her shoe and money before scurrying out of the room.
I drain my too-full glass, letting the amber liquid burn down my throat, and collapse against the back of my chair.
That didn’t go how I expected, but I still can’t be disappointed. She made a fatal mistake.
Now, I need to know everything about her.
I pull out my phone and open up our group chat, Brothers Before Mothers .
Me: What do you know about the Volkov family?
Damon: Where the fuck did you disappear?
Me: I found something interesting. Do you know anything or not?
Matthias: I’m not sure we should encourage him.
Damon: Agreed.
Me: That’s truly unfair coming from the both of you.
Xander: Sounds ominous to me.
Me: Ha ha very funny. She just caught my attention.
Matthias: She? I thought you were asking about the Volkovs.
I place my phone on the table. It dings again, this time with a message just from Xander.
Xander: I’ll look into the Russians here in New York.
Xander: Tell me what you’re up to.
Me: Not yet.