Seven
Fray
“Shall I get you another Mai Tai?” I whispered in Emerson’s ear as we entered the ship’s casino.
“No, thank you,” Little Miss I’m Not Getting Drunk stated firmly, pretending not to sway on my arm. “I believe I’ve had enough.”
“I believe the fact we left the cabin is proof to the contrary,” I teased her.
“Were you trying to get me drunk to take advantage of me?” she accused, keeping her tone light as if to assure me she was kidding.
“Do I have to?” I asked.
I watched heat darken her gaze and couldn’t resist dipping low for a kiss. She’d allowed me that pleasure all day, and I wasn’t about to give up repeating it as often as possible. Her lips were like the sweetest elixir, candy to my senses, and I hadn’t needed a drop of alcohol to feel punch drunk every time I’d tasted her.
“I’m not a big gambler,” Emerson said as we walked the floor.
“That’s okay,” I assured her. “It’s just play money.”
She shot me a sideways glance, which I ignored.
I’d already purchased the chips while I’d wandered the ship yesterday, waiting for Emerson to get settled in the room. That meant I didn’t have to go through the ritual of exchanging wads of cash in front of her. It was one thing to spend money on things that brought her pleasure. It was another to flaunt my finances in front of her. She knew I was a billionaire—or wealthy, at least—but I was trying to keep that part of me as low key as possible, without pretending to be someone I wasn’t.
“How about roulette?” I asked, steering her toward the large wheel. “How are you with odds?”
“Really good actually,” she said. “Your best odds right now would be to put your chips back in your pocket and return to the room.”
I stared at her, wondering if she realized what she was implying with that innocent statement. She was looking around the casino, so I didn’t believe she did. But it wasn’t fair of her to tease me.
I leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Em, if you’re telling me I’d be luckier in our room than I would be here, I will grab you fireman style and make you prove it.”
Her cheeks flushed as her wide eyes met my gaze. Her hand shook as she reached up to touch my face. Leaning forward, she kissed me softly.
“I don’t mean to be a tease,” she said. “I promise.”
“I know,” I assured her. “And I would never push you into anything you aren’t ready for. Let’s just have fun tonight.”
She nodded, allowing me to take her hand and lead her up to the roulette table. My heart pounded, and the desire to drag her back to the room caveman-style still ran through my body. I’d never wanted anyone as much as I wanted Emerson.
“Can I get you anything?” a waitress asked, walking up beside us.
“I’ll have a Mai Tai,” Emerson answered immediately.
I bit back a smile as I shook my head, declining a drink. I was still a little buzzed from our bar crawl today, and I didn’t want to risk my control any further tonight. I’d had plenty to drink earlier, and I didn’t need to add whiskey to the fire burning in my soul—and my dick.
The waitress returned quickly with Em’s glass as we surveyed the casino.
“The problem with umbrella drinks,” Emerson said thoughtfully as she wrapped her arm around mine, pressing her beautiful body against my side while she took a sip. “Is that they taste like juice, but before you know it, you can’t walk anymore.”
“I’ll carry you,” I offered before I could stop myself.
She giggled, and it was all I could do not to groan. I’d have to build the pillow wall between us twice as high tonight.
“Bets are open,” the wheel operator called, bringing my attention back to the game.
I pulled a handful of chips from my pocket and handed them to Emerson. She flipped one of them over, staring at the $100 imprinted in gold on the black chip.
“Did you really just give me the equivalent of one of my paychecks to play this game?” she whispered.
I glanced at her hand then met her gaze.
“You’re underpaid,” I answered.
“How loaded are you?” she blurted. Her eyes immediately widened, and a blush crept up her neck, spreading over her face as she clamped her free hand over her mouth.
I couldn’t help smiling at her outburst, even knowing how mortified she must be at asking such a crass question. Rather than leave her in a state of panic, I leaned over and whispered a figure in her ear.
“Bullshit,” she hissed, wide-eyed. “That’s like, your company, right? That’s not just you?”
“No, actually, the company is almost bankrupt,” I said solemnly. “My brothers are idiots. And ugly, too. Completely unattractive and inept.”
She narrowed her eyes at me, and I finally cracked, laughing softly as I caressed the back of her fingers with my thumb. Even in her shock, she hadn’t pulled away from me, and I liked that.
“You have that much money?” she asked, apparently too shocked to be embarrassed again. Her eyes looked wary, not avaricious.
“No,” I said. “ We have that much money, Em. If I have my way, what’s mine is yours. Forever.” I pulled her hand to my lips and kissed it softly. “Enough about that right now. Let’s play.”
It was forward, and it was blunt, but it was honest. I needed her to understand, as quickly as possible, this trip wasn’t a one-week fling for me. She had to know I wanted her by my side for the rest of our lives.
“I think I want to go back to the room,” Emerson said softly.
“I’ve made you uncomfortable,” I answered, shaking my head. “I’m sorry.”
I was used to plunging forward and going for what I wanted, and now, I’d pushed for too much, too soon. I mentally kicked myself. I shouldn’t have let the conversation go where it had. As much as I craved Em, she barely knew me. Of course, she wasn’t ready to talk about forever. I knew she was the one. My one. But she hadn’t had time to realize I was the only man for her.
“That’s not it,” she said, shaking her head at the same time. Her drink sloshed perilously close to the edge of her glass. I took it from her hand, setting it down.
“Then what is it ?” I asked, meeting her gaze. The heat there made me shut my mouth so hard, my teeth clacked against each other. “Em?”
She bit her lip then stepped into me, her hand sliding into my pocket, depositing the chips back where I’d gotten them. Too soon, she removed her hand from my pants.
“Maybe I need that drink,” she murmured, reaching for it. I steered her a few feet away, wanting to return to why she suggested going back to the cabin.
“You don’t,” I told her.
“Are you implying I’m drunk?” she asked, her hands going to her hips.
“It’s crossed my mind,” I admitted. “But, no. That’s not what I was saying. Tell me what you want, love.”
“Well, maybe, I just want…something,” she answered.
“What do you want?” I repeated, needing clarification from her. If she was drunk, and this was just harmless flirting, I could deal with that. I could spoil her, kiss her, show her how much I wanted her without letting anything go too far.
But if she wanted me, truly wanted me the way I wanted her, I wasn’t sure I could hold back. Half of me prayed she’d beg off, drop the conversation and move on. But the other half… Well, that part was rock-hard and desperate to find release in my future wife.
“I want you,” she said, meeting my gaze with solid determination.
“Good. Say no more. For now.” I scooped her into my arms, carrying her quickly through the casino toward the deck outside. She wrapped her arms around my neck and laughed but didn’t fight me.
“You really are just like Rhett Butler,” she said, leaning forward to nuzzle my neck.
“That scene where he picks up Scarlett and takes her upstairs isn’t actually romantic,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Are you sure you’re not drunk?”
“Fraser, just take me to bed.”
I didn’t need to be told again.