Epilogue
ALEX
Two months later
“Good evening, Alex,” Dominik says, welcoming me to the casino.
“Hi, Dom. What are you doing here?”
“Boss needed me here tonight.” He shrugs, slipping his hands into his pockets. Against all odds, Dom and I have become great friends. He apologized for doubting me in the beginning, and I forgave him because, well, he had reason to doubt me.
“You guys should unionize,” I comment, eliciting a deep laugh.
“You might have a point there.”
“I know I do.” I shoot him a wink, heading inside.
“Hope you enjoy your night.”
“Thank you, I will.”
I enter through the sliding glass doors onto the main floor of the casino.
My ears register the silence before my eyes notice what’s wrong.
There’s soft music playing, like usual, but it lacks a background of dice rolling and chips clacking, combined with the murmur of the gambling crowd.
My eyes trail the room, noticing it’s empty.
The tables are all there, nothing’s really changed, but there are no people.
In the back of the room, where the poker tables are, I notice a figure sitting at one of the tables and recognize him immediately.
My stomach flips, the way it normally does whenever it sees Leon Petrovi?.
The closer I get, the more my heart races, noticing his handsome face, that dangerous smirk and the way his suit fits him.
Though I definitely prefer him naked, it’s always a special delight to see him in a suit.
He rises as I approach, landing a kiss on my neck. My skin prickles all over.
“What’s this?” I ask.
“I got tired of sharing you with others. I thought I’d close the place for tonight, so we can play one on one. Like the old days.”
My insides flip. “That is so romantic.”
“Not really.” He shrugs, playing it off. “I just wanted to fuck you on top of one of these, and I couldn’t do that with people around.”
A cackle breaks free, my lips pulled wide. “Is that so? I was hoping for a game.” I flick the few chips strewn over the table.
“Don’t worry. We’re playing. I hope you brought enough money, because I’m planning to ruin your ass.”
“After or during poker?” I taunt.
The smirk he shoots me tells me just how much he likes the idea. “Stop being a tease.”
I drop into the chair, making sure my dress isn’t in the way. “What if I don’t have any money?”
“That’s okay. I’ll give you the chips, and you can pay me off afterward.”
“You’re really confident you’re winning this, are you?” I shake my head.
“Oh, I’m definitely winning this.” He winks, and moisture pools between my thighs.
“We’ll see. Deal the cards.”
He places a stack of chips in front of both of us.
Judging by the colors and the height of the stack, I’d say there’s about twenty grand in each.
My eyes stick to his hands as he deals the cards with swift precision.
I imagine those hands on my body, and it doesn’t help me focus on the task before me.
It shows in my game because he wins the first few hands. His smile only grows bigger, and my competitiveness follows suit. I win the next one, but my stack is still dented.
“That’s it, sweetheart. Show some teeth,” he comments, making me scoff.
Another hand won, and I’m back on track. He deals the cards for the next one, and I lift them just enough to take a peek.
King-Queen suited. Perfect.
I raise, and he calls my bet. The flop gives me a pair of kings, and I rejoice on the inside, keeping my poker face on the outside.
He calls every bet, up to the river. There are plenty of options on the board, but I’m pretty sure my pair is still the best one.
I bet, and he thinks for a moment before slipping his hand into his pocket.
Bringing the hand back, he pushes his chips all-in.
I notice a red twinkle among the chips and let out a gasp. It’s a ring. My brain doesn’t have time to process until he says, “Come on. Go all-in with me.”
My ears buzz with the wild thud of my heart. My tongue darts out to wet my suddenly dry lips. “What if you win?” I whisper.
He lets out a chuckle, shaking his head.
I push my stack all-in, and it feels like the most important call I ever made. He flips his cards over with a confident smirk, revealing a seven-two off-suit. Commonly known as the worst hand in poker.
Tears well in my eyes as I gesture to his chips. “Is all this mine?”
“Everything is yours, sweetheart. Whatever you want, it’s yours.”
My breath stuck in my throat, my hand extends to where the ring lays. I pick it up with two fingers, choking on a sob. It’s a stunning ring with a giant, diamond shaped rock in the middle of it.
“Is that…is that a red beryl?” I stutter out. He dips his head. “They’re practically impossible to find.”
“It’s one of the rarest gemstones in the world,” he confirms. “But do you know why I chose it?”
I shake my head, a tear slipping down my cheek.
“Do you know what the red beryl represents? It’s a healing stone, drawing the life force from the Earth.
It’s also known to stir the fires of passion and provide the courage to make deep emotional commitments.
” He clears his throat and, for the first time tonight, I see a hint of nerves in his expression.
“What do you say? Would you like to make a deep emotional commitment with me?”
I sniffle a laugh. “Is that your way of asking me to marry you?”
“No. Well yes, we will get married. But I’m asking you for so much more. I’m asking you to put your heart in my hands for the rest of your life. I’m asking you to take care of mine, which is yours no matter how you answer this question.”
I roll my lips, the tears now streaming freely. “Then yes, I’ll marry you.”
Leon circles the table, finally reaching me, and slips the gorgeous ring onto my finger.
Bringing both of his hands to the back of my neck, he pulls me in for a kiss, one that short-circuits my brain, letting my heart lead the way.
With almost no effort, he lifts me from my seat, setting me onto the edge of the poker table.
He pushes the chips to one corner and lowers me to lie down.
“Fuck, am I glad you wore this dress,” he mutters, his hands roaming my body.
“You like it?”
“You look stunning, though that’s nothing new.
But this is why it just became my favorite dress.
” He grabs the zipper between my breasts, spanning the length of it.
Achingly slow, he pulls the zipper down, revealing my breasts.
He lets out a growl as the chill air hits my nipples, and suddenly, this is my favorite dress too.
He unwraps me like a present, lowering the zipper all the way down, and pulling the dress off my shoulders, leaving me naked in front of him.
His eyes are hooded, his pupils blown wide as he stares at me with hunger.
My nipples beg for his touch, my pussy fluttering with need, but he doesn’t touch me.
No, he appraises me before lifting my hand and pressing a kiss to the ring on my finger.
The gentle touch makes my back arch off the table.
“Please,” I whisper.
“Please what?”
“I-I need you.”
“Be patient, sweetheart. I have my whole life to play with you. Let me take my time.”
And boy, he does. He taunts me and edges me, licking my pussy before rising to nibble on my aching nipples and getting back down to rim my ass. It seems like hours before he unzips his pants and releases his cock.
A sigh of relief escapes me at the sight, knowing that the release I so desperately need is close. It’s rock-hard as he enters me, stretching me to my limits.
“You like this, baby? You like this thick cock tearing you apart?”
“Yes, fuck! I love it.”
He rewards me with a quick, deep thrust, knocking the breath out of my lungs.
“You’re mine. Forever,” he grits out, and I’m unable to form a response.
His hips jerk as he pumps into me. My whole body is a live wire, ready to be set on fire.
Just the tiniest spark would be enough to make me explode.
That spark comes in the form of his finger pressing down on my clit.
As predicted, the touch sets me off; the fire spreads from my core, leaving heat in its wake.
Leon follows right behind. His cock twitches as he empties inside of me.
“Fuck, fuck…” he chants, as if he can’t control it, and I get it. Once the spark is there, there is no stopping the flames.
I glance at my red-beryl ring. Leon and I ignited a while ago, but now, there’s no stopping our fire.
What’s next for Alex and Leon?