Chapter 9
Nine
Maeve
N ot sure how everything spiraled to this moment, but here we are. If I tell them what I really desire, it’ll be so embarrassing. After shitting myself, falling on my face and mooning everyone, and making a deal to have a fake fiancé to impress everyone, it wouldn’t be that much more pathetic. It’s Vegas, after all. So why not go for it?
“I want Nicholas to continue being my fiancé until I leave Sunday. A weekend in Sin City, right? I want my night of sin.”
The men look slightly mortified as they fidget in their seats – well, except for Nicholas.
Nicholas chuckles. “I was referring to being in Vegas. This is Sin City.”
“No,” I tell him. “You’re going to continue to be my fake fiancé and you’ll behave as a fiancé would. They’re right; you started this. You were all smooth-talking and acting all bold and suave. Show me. Whatever deal y’all agree on, I want Nicholas Deschamps to be my date for the wedding and to treat me as though I’m his only desire. You said there will be acting, so act as my fiancé. I want you to eat your words.”
I stand from my seat and lean forward to whisper in his ear, “And just so we’re clear, I’m not saving myself for my wedding night.”
Nicholas bites his bottom lip. “You sure you want to play this game?”
“I love playing games.”
Nicholas stands and leans forward on his desk. Our noses are but an inch apart. “You should know something. I always win. I will devour you.”
“Let’s play.” I blow him a kiss and then turn my back to face the door. I can’t look at my older cousins right now, so I walk straight for the door.
It’s not until I reach the elevator that I begin to freak out.
What. Have. I. Done.
The moment is short-lived because Tristan comes charging out of the room. “Maeve!”
“Yes?” I cross my arms and face him head-on. I’m an adult that’s capable of making my own decisions. He’s not the boss of me.
“What in the hell are you thinking? Over my dead body will you spend another moment with that man. Are you insane?”
Quite possibly, yes. Instead of voicing that I roll my eyes at him. “He’s not going to hurt me. He knows you’d avenge my death.”
Tristan hovers over me glaring. “I don’t want him doing anything to you. You’ve been sheltered. You have no idea what men like him are capable of. There’s worse things than death, Maeve.”
“Men like you, dear cousin? I know you do things under the table.”
“Jesus, Maeve! This isn’t about dirty money. There’s a very dark underground world. And yes, like me. I don’t want you with someone like me. You’re good. You deserve better.”
A laugh bubbles out of me. “I’m not actually going to marry him. I’m going to have a little fun and then go back home.”
“It’s not that easy. This is something you’ll regret. Listen to me on this.”
“Yeah, well, maybe I need a few bad choices in my life.”
“Like jumping in a car with a stranger?” Tristan is not a patient man and I can tell he’s using all his strength to speak to me calmly. “How many times have we fucking warned you about those rideshares? And talking to strangers? If you’d listened and stayed on the path we’d laid out for you, we wouldn’t be in this situation now, would we?”
“I regret nothing,” I tell him confidently.
“You’re too na?ve.” He groans.
Vincent steps into view. “She’s young and defiant.”
“Don’t you think your fiancée is looking for you? If I was her, I wouldn’t even marry you after not being there for most of the rehearsal dinner.” I arch a brow at him.
“I’m heading there now,” he tells me with a smile that is too wide. Uh-oh. What have they done?
Tristan and Vincent exchange a look and then smile at me. They both hug me. This sudden shift in their moods has me on high alert.
“Call me,” Tristan demands. “You check in before midnight. You check in at nine in the morning. You check in again at noon. You check in before the wedding at four. I mean it. ”
“What about after the wedding?”
“You’ll be going with me to the airport by then.”
Before I can say another word, my cousins turn their backs and walk away. I should probably go back to Nicholas’ office to check on him since Mark is still in there. Instead, I press the elevator call button again. He’ll survive. Plus, it’s good he knows I have people to protect me if he gets too far out of line. I may be feeling reckless, but I haven’t lost all common sense.
Actually, I have lost all common sense. What was I thinking demanding a weekend of sin with Nicholas Deschamps? This is a man who is insane enough to manipulate an audience with the men of KO. He’s proven he’s unhinged. Who was Cleric that Mark mentioned and claimed was dangerous that he does business with?
I pace the vast penthouse as my mind and imagination go in all sorts of wild directions. Should I flee? Pack a bag and go stay at a neighboring casino? What I said was in the heat of the moment, my five minutes of feeling brave. I’m so ashamed. I just demanded… What did I demand? I confessed in front of my family, and the devil himself, that I wanted said devil to fuck me. As part of a business deal for Pete’s sake. The sound of the elevator dings. I thought I had more time. Sit? Stand? Hide behind the curtain? Lie spread eagle in front of the fire place?
The doors ease open. I quickly turn around so that my back is to the elevator and I face the window overlooking the city lights, which works in my favor. I don’t have to face him immediately; he has to speak first or come to me, while I appear non-frazzled.
“You took my advice, Little Bit.”
Why does he have to use Gram’s nickname for me? It’s weird that I kind of like it. I can’t resist seeing his face when his voice sounds so calm. Instead of turning completely around, though, I peek at him over my shoulder. “Meaning?”
He begins to unbutton his red shirt. “To be bold.”
Nicholas steps closer and it’s then I can see his lip is busted. He begins to circle me. His gray blue eyes remind me of a wolf’s as he studies and stalks me. “Is it the dress that gave you the courage? Or was it your desire for my dick that made you so bold?”
“It’s only fair I get something out of all this.” I hate the slight quiver in my voice. I lift my chin and force myself to stand tall. “I’ve shown you how bold I can be. Now it’s your turn.”
In the reflection, I see him behind me, watching me with hunger. He licks his lips and then his teeth sink into his bottom lip. “Do you think you really made a wise choice down there? You had an out. But were you so desperate for my cock, is that it?”
“Desperate? Hardly.” I spin around to face him. “You were right. I do need a date for the wedding. And I don’t want to spend the weekend alone.” While my ex flaunts Trina around.
Nicholas invades my personal space. Heat radiates from him. His woodsy scent fills my senses. “So you’re going to spend it with a complete stranger? It’s dangerous to be so trusting…” His fingers feather along my jaw. “Lucky me.”
“You’re the one who said we’re no longer strangers. And you strike me as a smart enough guy who wouldn’t dare do anything while my cousins know I’m here with you.”
“You are precious. I could slit your throat and have them killed before midnight. And although I do love the color red against your pale skin, I have better uses for that throat.”
My eyes widen and I take a step back. “You’re a monster.”
“I said I could kill you…not that I would.”
He’s trying to scare me. It’s a challenge, but I’m not backing down. It’s a dangerous gamble, but I believe he won’t hurt me.
I sidestep around him. “Let’s go down. I haven’t had a chance to play any games.”
A strong hand wraps around my wrist. “That’s a lie. You’re already playing. Remember?”
I spin around and smirk. “Your games don’t count.”
“Wanna bet?”
“Bet.”
“You talk a big game, Little Bit.” He flashes me a white smile that’s blinding but also has a hint of wickedness to it. There’s no doubt about it. I just challenged the devil.
Nicholas holds up a finger for me to give him a minute. He strolls across the room and disappears behind one of the doors to the right. It’s only a minute before he returns with one hand in a fist.
“Hike your dress up,” he commands.
“Excuse me?”
“You said you wanted to play. I won’t ask again.”
My heart races as I ease the fitted material up. It doesn’t go easily. “This isn’t going to work. The dress is too fitted.”
“Not a problem. Unzip your dress.”
Feeling defiant, I shoot back, “You do it. Oh wait, I’m sorry. You’re my fiancé tonight.” I give him a pouty expression and beg, “Would you please be a dear and help me with my dress? I can’t seem to reach the zipper.” I bat my eyes and pretend to struggle with reaching the zipper.
He releases a dark chuckle. “What kind of fiancé would I be if I didn’t offer you assistance in this matter?” In one swift movement, Nicholas is behind me. Painfully slow, he eases the zipper down. “Now be a good girl and hold still.”
Nicholas comes to stand in front of me. I refuse to cover my nude body. He doesn’t physically touch me, but the heat from his eyes scorches my skin. “Open your mouth.”
My lips part and Nicholas holds up a red dice. He places it on my tongue and then closes my mouth with his fingers. It’s cold and hard on my tongue. I can feel the dips and curves of the white dots. He holds his palm out in front of my lips. “Now give it back to me.”
Again, I do as he commands, only for him to place a second one in my mouth. We repeat the same process. Goosebumps scatter across my skin as he lowers himself. He thrusts a single large finger inside me. He releases a sound that’s between a growl and a moan of approval. Then he adds a second finger. My pussy tightens around his fingers.
“I need you to hold on to something for me.” Before I can process his words, I feel something hard and square being pressed into my opening.
“Wh-what are you doing? Those don’t go in there.”
His dark chuckle is followed by him pushing it all the way in and then adding the second one. It’s slightly uncomfortable but not painful. I’m not sure what to do with the foreign object inside me.
“Why do I need your dice inside me?”
“You’re going to hold them for me until I need them.”
He can’t possibly mean…
“I have hands that are, funny enough, intended for holding things.”
Nicholas ignores my statement. He runs his fingers between my legs, eliciting more arousal from me. “That’s a good girl.”
This is not what I was expecting, but has anything gone as expected or even remotely normal on this trip so far? Just add getting dice shoved up my pussy to the list of bizarre things that happen in Vegas.
Nicholas stands to his full height. He wordlessly takes my hand and guides me to step back into my dress. Once I’m zipped back up, he leads me to the elevator.
“Shouldn’t I get a pair of underwear,” I ask.
“No.”
“What if they fall out?”
“Kegels.”
“Really, asshole?”
His lips twitch in amusement. “Alright. I guess I win.”
“No.” I take a step back. It’s stupid that I won’t give in because, honestly, what does it matter if he wins whatever stupid bet or game he’s playing at. Yet I can’t. And the darker part of me wants to see where this goes.
The elevator arrives and we step inside. Once the door closes, I turn to him and whisper, “Does this mean once I win I get to shove these dice up your ass?”
“If you win then I’ll reward you with my cock that you’re so desperate for.”
“You’re the one that was so desperate for me you made all kinds of promises and arranged this whole fake fiancée scenario.”
His hand comes up to my collarbone and presses me against the wall of the elevator. “Careful, Little Bit.”
“Or what?” I release on a shallow breath.
The doors open and instead of answering, he loops his fingers through mine and pulls me over the threshold.