23. Riggs #2
Zander pulled a card, flipping it over carefully as if he were nervous to flip. “Well, fuck…six of hearts.”
Killian had a hard time not smiling. “Pull a six, only chicks.” He stared at Esemeray with a twinkle in his eye. “That means girls only drink.”
Riggs scratched his head. He couldn’t tell if Killian was playing nice or not.
Esemeray glared at Killian. “I figured as much.” She sucked in a sharp breath, setting her gaze on Riggs.
Riggs pointed to the wine and then the rum. “Which one, Em?”
She crossed her legs, and leaned back into the couch, and said with a sigh, “I’ll take the wine.”
Zander chuckled. “Classy.”
Riggs reached for the bottle, but his father was already pouring her a glass.
“Here you go, sweetheart,” Rhidian said, handing her the wine, the liquid swishing in a whirl.
And Killian made sure he watched her drink it—every last drop.
Fuck’s sake.
“Alright, pops, you’re up,” Killian stated.
His father’s gold wedding ring glinted as he reached for a card.
Ten of spades.
Killian held up his water. “Ten for the men!” He sipped from his glass. “Toast, boys.”
Zander smirked, pouring himself and Riggs a shot. “Good looking out, Uncle Rhidian.”
In unison, the Whitlock men shouted, “Iron!”
Riggs threw his head back and swallowed his shot. Too fast. The room spun, the walls blending together in a blob.
“Oh, fuck,” Riggs murmured, rubbing his temples.
“Are you okay?” Esemeray rushed to his side.
“Fine, princ—” That made his vision clear. “Fine.” He tossed her a smile, brushing his knuckles on her knee, glad she didn’t sit next to Zander.
Killian started collecting the cards from the table. “Alright I think we all had enough to drink.”
“Let’s continue.” Riggs nodded to Killian. “I’m good.”
“Fine… Emmy, It’s your turn,” Killian instructed.
Esemeray flipped the card. “Six.”
Gently, Riggs tucked her hair behind her ear. “Are you okay to continue drinking?”
She nodded. “Killian, could you pass my glass.”
Killian sucked on his tooth. “Sure.”
She sipped, meeting Killian’s gaze. “Continue.”
“That card requires more than a sip, Emmy.” Killian’s lips curved.
Esemeray didn’t pull her stare away from Killian as she chugged the entire glass, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Happy?”
“Over the moon.” Killian took her glass, filling it to the top. “Here. Refill.”
She tapped a slender finger on the rim of her glass. “What a gentleman.”
Riggs stiffened, his cheeks warming.
“I’m sensing some tension,” Zander said with a wild grin. “Heat up time!”
Killian dropped the cards. “We don’t need to do that.”
“No, No.” Zander shook his head. “Rules are rules, cousin.” He pointed at Killian. “You out of all people should know that.” He raised his fist, pounding it through the air, and chanted, “Heat up time! Heat up time!”
“You boys are crazy.” Rhidian laughed, biting his knuckle.
“What’s heat up time?” Esemeray looked around for an answer, blinking with doe eyes.
Riggs ran his hand down her back, and he could have sworn she closed her eyes for a second, embracing his touch. “You have to arm wrestle, Killian.”
“Oh.” Esemeray’s entire face turned a shade of crimson.
“Give me your hair tie, cousin,” Killian said to Zander.
Killian tied his hair, then rolled his sleeves to his biceps. “Come here, Emmy.” He placed his elbow flat on the table, holding up his hand.
“What do I do?” She faced Riggs, wide-eyed. “His arms are much bigger.”
Riggs licked his lips, Esemeray’s face swirling in front of him, and he couldn’t focus. “Kick his ass.” His voice was a slur.
She nodded, inching toward the table where Killian waited. She placed her hand into his.
“Get him, Emmy!” Zander shouted with enthusiasm and encouragement, “Get his ass!”
Despite his eyes threatening to close with each blink, Riggs watched.
Killian slammed her arm down, the table rattling, vibrating against the floor.
“Again.” Esemeray cleared her throat, repositioning her arm.
Killian’s eyebrow twitched. “I don’t want to snap a bone.”
“Again,” she said, challenging him.
Rhidian crouched on a knee, whispering something to Esemeray.
Riggs leaned forward to catch what was said. He couldn’t hear, but he knew what his father was telling her. A tip from the old man.
“Thank you, sir,” Esemeray said softly.
“Please, call me Rhidian.” He winked. “Or call me whatever you’d like.”
She blushed, and so did Riggs.
His father was drunk…
They went again, but this time, Esemeray held her own. Their hands wrapped together, arms shaking, and ever so slightly, Killian’s arm tilted downward. A breath escaped from Esemeray.
Killian slammed her down—again. “Your efforts are admired.”
“I want to go again,” Esemeray insisted, repositioning once more.
“Are you sure?” Killian asked, arching his brow.
Esemeray exhaled a breath of what sounded like frustration. “Yes, I am sure.”
Killian’s eyes softened in a way that Riggs had not seen in an awfully long time. The last time Riggs had seen his brother look at anyone like that was his wife.
I’m just drunk. All in my head.
Rhidian clapped his hands. “Emmy, I’m impressed.”
They went again. Riggs studied his brother’s movements. The way Killian eased up, the way he purposely made his arms tremble. For fuck’s sake, Killian was even laughing.
Genuinely laughing.
“Ah!” Killian roared. Riggs rolled his eyes at his brother’s dramatics.
Esemeray won that round.
“Nicely done,” Killian said, panting, and wiping his forehead as if there was a drop of sweat beading down.
Riggs shook his head, clicking his tongue. Oh, give me a break.
“Riggs!” Esemeray raised her voice, squealing, “I won!”
“I saw.” Riggs grinned. “I’ll be careful not to get on your bad side.”
Zander fluffed his fingers through Riggs' hair and draped an arm over him, interrupting his conversation. “Are you going to take her to bed tonight? Or should we both?”
Riggs' jaw clenched, hands tightening.
“Oh, man, look at those lips. I can only imagine what they look like wrapped around my?—”
Riggs punched him in the stomach. “Not another word.”
Zander groaned, hunched over his legs.
He needed to call it a night. Needed to take Esemeray away from his brute of a cousin. With swaying movements, Riggs braced his hands around her waist. “Come with me.”
She stood, meeting his stare. “The game’s not over.”
“Would you like to keep playing?” Despite everyone staring at him, he brushed his hands through her hair—tempted to kiss her right now—in front of everyone—in front of Zander.
“I’ll go where you go,” she said, her eyes glossed over.
Killian glared at him. “I prepped the guest bedroom for her.”
“Very well.” Riggs nodded. “I can show her where it is.”
“No need.” Killian ground his teeth. “I will show her.”
The fuck? Riggs sniffed aggressively. “Did I miss something?” He bunched his brows, his frustration simmering.
“I am sleepy,” Esemeray said to Riggs, her voice soft. “I’d like for you to show me.”
Riggs preferred she stayed with him tonight, but he ultimately agreed with Killian. They were both drunk. And it would not be the best idea. Not at all. He couldn’t control himself behind closed doors around her. Not right now. No way in hell.
“Right this way,” Riggs stated, voice hoarse.
“Goodnight, you two,” Rhidian said.
Riggs placed his hand on the small of her back, positioning her in front of him. “Goodnight, pops.”
By the time they made it to the guest bedroom, he leaned against the wall to brace himself from falling over. Esemeray’s face meshed together. He pointed toward the door, at least he thought he pointed toward the door. “The privacy chamber is down the hall if you need to relieve yourself.”
The way she gazed into his eyes looked like she wanted something more, but he could not. Not right now. She deserved more than a drunken, slurring, bastard. He swallowed hard.
“Tonight was…” Esemeray said, chewing on her lip, “fun.”
With heavy eyes, he trailed her dress, realization rushing through him.
She needed something to sleep in.
He met her gaze, emboldened from the rum and wine. “Let me run upstairs and grab you something to change into.”
Her eyes fluttered slowly, her cheeks so red he swore he could feel the heat. “I would like that.”
It took him five minutes to find a tunic when it should have only taken one. But not only that, he had almost fallen down the stairs twice.
By the time he reached the lower level, he stumbled down the dimly lit hall trying not to fall over. His eyes widened.
Esemeray was no longer in the hall.
With trembling hands, Riggs opened the guest bedroom door, his thundering heart soon fell silent.
There she was, laying on the bed with the comforter wrapped around her.
Safe. She was safe.
Her closed eyes and shallow breathing told him she was already sleeping. He sighed in relief, walking inside, and closed the door. There was no way he was leaving her alone. Not with Zander creeping the halls. No matter what Riggs did, Zander’s perverse voice ate through his mind like a maggot.
Fucking bastard.
Esemeray wasn’t some whore at the brothel house.
She was a lady.
A princess.
And she should be treated and talked to as such.
Quietly making his way to the lounge chair across the room, he lay down, fluffing the pillows. While he waited for sleep to come, he foolishly searched for her in the darkness—needing eyes on her.
The moon glow provided enough light to glimpse the side of her face. Even though his vision morphed her into circles, he stared at her until sleep claimed him.