Chapter 18 #2
He reached across the table and took the belt she had wagered earlier, holding it up in triumph.
Gracie pouted, cheeks flaming, but couldn’t hide the thrill of the game. “I shall get it back yet, Laird,” she warned, voice playful despite her embarrassment.
“I look forward to it, lass. This game is far too amusin’ to end so soon.”
Gracie’s heart raced as she collected herself, adrenaline mingling with desire. Each glance from Jaxon, each teasing remark, sent warmth coiling in her stomach.
“Ye are insufferable,” she murmured, though her lips curved in a reluctant smile.
“And ye, lass, are full of surprises,” he said, voice low and intimate. “I have underestimated ye before, but nae again.”
They leaned toward each other, cards forgotten for a brief moment, the heat and tension between them almost tangible. Gracie’s pulse pounded as she felt the pull of him, both infuriating and thrilling. Jaxon’s gaze held hers, unyielding, teasing and commanding all at once.
“Next round?” he asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Gracie nodded, heart still racing. “Aye, next round,” she said, voice steadier now, emboldened by victory and the playful danger that surged between them.
Gracie’s fingers trembled as she removed her second stocking, cheeks blazing with heat. She held it out between her hands, her pulse quickening as she whispered, “Aye… this shall be me wager.”
Jaxon’s eyes darkened with amusement and desire, gaze drinking her in. “Lass, bold as ever,” he said, reaching out to take her wager.
“I… I hope I win,” she stammered, trying to mask her nervousness, but failing miserably.
Jaxon grinned and laid his cards down with deliberate confidence. “Aye… it seems this round is mine,” he said, lifting the hand that beat hers.
Gracie gasped, her stomach twisting in a mix of frustration. She watched him claim her stocking, fingers brushing her own as he took it, and felt warmth bloom low in her belly.
The next hand was even more intense. Gracie glanced down at her cards, feeling the heat of the game and the heat of Jaxon’s gaze pressing down on her like a flame. She knew she had little left to wager.
“I… I have nothin’ left,” she admitted, voice barely above a whisper, cheeks bright as fire.
Jaxon leaned closer, voice low and teasing. “Then ye must give me more than ribbons and stockings, lass,” he said, his eyes tracing the line of her throat. “I shall help ye with the next wager.”
Gracie felt her heart race, warmth pooling between her legs at the sound of his words. She stood up, shaking slightly, and he moved behind her. His hands found the laces down the back of her dress, and she shivered at his touch.
“Oh… Jaxon,” she murmured, feeling the heat of his body press against hers, his fingers deft and strong as they tugged the laces free.
The sensation of him so close made her pulse pound and her breath hitch.
She could feel every inch of him, the strength in his arms and the warmth radiating from his chest. Desire stirred in her, fierce and unrelenting, as he slowly peeled the dress down over her shoulders, leaving her in nothing but her corset over her chemise.
“Ye are… beautiful, lass,” he whispered, and she felt a heat climb higher at his words.
She steadied herself, taking a deep breath, and whispered, “Then… this shall be me wager. Me dress.”
Jaxon’s gaze darkened further, a low growl escaping him. “I will wager me tunic again, then,” he said, fingers brushing hers as he reached for the stack of cards.
They laid their hands down, tension thick in the air, hearts hammering. Gracie’s stomach fluttered as she watched Jaxon reveal his winning hand.
“Aye… it seems this round is mine, again” he said, voice low and triumphant. He reached forward and claimed her dress, lifting it with care but determination, and Gracie felt a flush of heat crawl up her neck and across her chest.
She swallowed hard, cheeks burning, as she adjusted her chemise, feeling the thrill and the embarrassment in equal measure. The heat of the game, the intimacy of his touch, and the way he looked at her left her almost dizzy.
“Ye… ye won, Laird,” she whispered, voice trembling slightly.
Jaxon smirked, taking in her flushed face and the way her hair fell loose around her shoulders.
“Aye, and I shall claim what is mine, lass,” he murmured, voice low and intimate. “But ye are playin’ well… bold, daring, and full of fire.”
Gracie’s pulse raced, desire and nerves tangling together. She glanced down, feeling the vulnerability of her chemise, and then back up at him, his eyes meeting hers. She was alive with heat, anticipation, and something that was rapidly becoming need.
Jaxon leaned back in his chair, smirk tugging at his lips, still holding her dress.
“Next hand, lass?” he asked, voice teasing, though his gaze never left her.
Gracie hesitated, heart hammering in her chest, but a small smile tugged at her lips. “Aye… next hand,” she said, voice soft, almost breathless.
She began to untie the laces down her corset.
Her fingers trembled, heart hammering against her ribs.
She took a deep breath and loosened them slowly, feeling the constriction release little by little.
Her chest heaved with each breath, and her breasts rose and fell, warm and full beneath the thin chemise.
She could feel Jaxon’s eyes on her, burning into her skin, and the heat of his gaze made her pulse quicken.
Carefully, she tugged the last lace free, letting the corset fall away from her body.
She shivered as the cool air brushed her bare skin, aware of every inch of her vulnerability.
Her hands lingered on the chemise, gripping it slightly as if it were both shield and temptation.
Though she knew that the rosy tips of her breasts were hard and pressing against the fabric.
Jaxon’s eyes darkened, and she felt the faintest shiver of desire run down her spine, cheeks blazing with warmth.
She set the corset gently on the table, her fingers lingering for a moment. Her voice was soft, but steady, carrying just enough resolve to mask her fluttering nerves.
“This… this is me wager,” she whispered, her gaze flicking up to meet his, breathless and bold all at once.
Gracie felt the thrill of daring, the mixture of embarrassment and excitement swirling inside her. She had made her move, and now all that remained was to see how Jaxon would respond. The air between them was thick with tension, her pulse echoing in her ears as she waited for his reply.