Chapter 4 Ace
Ace
Did he just say…?
My body aches, but it’s not my leg this time. I’m too bothered by my sensitive nipples and drenched pussy.
Daddy.
God, I’m so messed up.
I always have been.
I can’t even say it’s Daddy issues because I barely remember my father. He died when I was just a kid.
Yet, for some reason, that word makes my clit pulse, and all I want to do is kneel in front of this man whose name I don’t know and be his good girl.
Good God, I don’t know his name and I’m thinking about sucking his dick. My mother would croak.
He leans over, so his face is near mine, his neatly trimmed beard scratching against my skin, sending a flurry of shivers through me. “Daddy is what you’ll be calling me all night if you’re a good girl.”
I’m so glad I’m sitting because it doesn’t matter how strong my knees are from all my years of training; they would have buckled right now. I’d be a pile of arousal on the floor.
“What makes you think I’ll be doing anything with you tonight?” I challenge.
Look at me being all frisky and brave. I would never have done anything like this in Seattle.
Hell, I went to clubs in disguise just so I could dance somewhere other than a stage and really let go.
When I was barely surviving and probably needed to go to therapy, but I went to clubs and danced to hip-hop and pop music instead.
Ballerinas don’t dance like whores.
The words my mother said when she caught me dancing to In Da Club by 50 Cent in my bedroom one night. When I got my hands on a fake ID and started sneaking into clubs, it always felt like a big middle finger to my mom. It was my version of rebellion. My only stress release.
Boy, if Mom could see me now.
He leans down, his lips hovering near my ear again, his clean scent making me want to sniff him like an excited puppy.
“Because, since the second we looked at each other, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about fucking you all goddamn night. I’m pretty sure, with the way you were eye-fucking me while you were dancing, that you were having some of those same thoughts. Tell me if I’m wrong.”
His words, so filthy, yet so damn right.
I’ve had sex before, and it was fine. It wasn’t as awful as my mother made it out to be, that’s for sure.
But it wasn’t spectacular. So when he stood at the edge of the dance floor and watched me like I was the sexiest creature he’d ever seen, I had a lot of the same dirty thoughts.
“You’re not,” I finally whisper back, even though no one is close enough to hear this conversation, especially over the music.
A strawberry is brought to my lips, and I look down to find him holding it up for me.
“I want you to stay the night with me,” he says.
I open my mouth and take a bite, considering his words.
We can get a room. It’s not like Vegas is lacking hotels.
Hell, we don’t even have to leave this building.
I can have one night to live out my Daddy fantasy or whatever the hell it is.
Then tomorrow, or whenever, this guy can go back to wherever he came from, and I can focus on living my best life for the first time ever.
One night, no strings.
It’s a perfect and easy plan.
“Are you single?” I watch his face closely, looking for any sign of him lying.
When he brings his left hand up, he holds it out for me to see, palm down, his knuckles marked with ink.
“Yeah, baby doll. Single and the only fucking thing I have on my left hand is your name,” he says while I read the letters marked across them.
ACE is spelled out on the first three fingers, and on his pinky is a spade. I know it’s a coincidence, but seeing my nickname tattooed into his skin is so damn sexy that I let out a soft moan. Thankfully, only he hears it and chuckles.
When I slide my fingers over his, he turns his palm over and closes my hand in his, giving it a squeeze. “I find aces to be… lucky.”
I know he means it in terms of gambling, but something about the way he says it feels deeper. Sexier.
“Aces are my favorite.” I inwardly cringe because why the hell did I just say that?
Of all things. It’s clear this guy isn’t interested in what my favorite card is.
He’d probably be more likely to want to know what my favorite sex positions are.
And that is just fine with me because I want this Daddy to pretzel me by the end of the night.
He raises an eyebrow and watches me with his dark eyes. Gosh, they’re nearly black. Maybe he really does see right through me.
“Which suit, baby? Ace of what?”
Butterflies explode in my stomach as he brings my hand up to his mouth and kisses the inside of my wrist. It’s light and quick, nothing lingering, but even after he pulls away, I feel it. His tender kiss. Something I wouldn’t think a man like him would be capable of.
I have no doubt whoever he is, he’s rich and dangerous.
Most women probably wouldn’t know it from the short amount of time I’ve spent with him, but I know the signs.
It’s possible this man could be in the mafia, for all I know.
He might kill me after we fuck. It’s risky to hook up with a random guy.
But that’s why I left Seattle and moved to the city of sin.
I’m here to take more risks. To have fun.
And if this guy does kill me tonight, I just hope like hell he fucks the daylights out of me first.
“Ace of hearts,” I reply before gulping down some more water.
His tattooed fingers tighten around mine, and his jaw clenches slightly before he quickly relaxes it.
When he leans over to whisper in my ear, I reach up and grab the lapel of his suit jacket.
I’m not sure why I do it, other than I want to touch him.
To feel his heat and keep smelling his crisp, manly scent.
“Can I take you up to my room? Or do you want to keep teasing me with your body on the dance floor?”
A shiver runs through me, and I can’t help but smile at that comment. Was he turned on while I was dancing?
“How do I know you’re not going to kill me?” I ask with a raised brow.
It’s a legit question. Just because it’s a hotel room doesn’t mean it’s safe. And while this man might be here for business, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was for illegal business. At least if he is in the mafia, he doesn’t know my name. Total anonymity.
Something flashes in his eyes. “Well, at least I know you have some self-preservation instincts to at least ask questions.”
I glare up at him. “What the hell does that mean?”
His jaw tightens again. “It means you left the dance floor with a total stranger without telling any of your friends. And none of them have come looking for you. Which makes me concerned about what kind of friends they are.”
My head jerks back at the way he’s so accusing of my friends, but then, I remember I’m not actually here with anyone.
“I came by myself to dance. That’s allowed,” I say with a cheeky grin. “You’re here alone, it looks like. So why is it okay for you?”
He snorts, looking fully amused. “You got me there, baby doll. Although I came with people who have apparently ditched me for the night. For all I know, you might murder me.”
That makes me laugh, and I swat his rock-hard chest. He winks and chuckles, taking a sip from his glass. “I promise you’ll be safe with me. You can call anyone on my speed dial and ask.”
Then he pulls his phone from his pocket and opens his contacts to his favorites.
Unable to keep myself from snooping, I take the device from him and scroll.
Cash.
Beckett.
Xander.
Jordyn.
Caleb.
Quinn.
Who the hell is Quinn?
“Is Quinn your girlfriend?” I ask.
Smirking, he reaches around and taps Quinn’s name, initiating a call.
I swear, I think my eyes pop out as I stare at the screen in total shock. Then it connects.
“Hello?” a woman answers.
“Quinn, tell this woman who you are to me,” he says.
She is quiet for a moment, whispering something into the background, but I can’t hear it over the noise of the club.
“I’m your sister-in-law. Are you okay?” she asks.
He chuckles, his eyes watching me as I stare at him in stunned silence. “I’m fine, Quinn. Other than you and Xander ditching me at this club.”
Ah, that’s who he was with. His brother and sister-in-law. So he wasn’t just here by himself looking for a hook-up.
“Can you tell this beautiful woman sitting next to me that she is safe with me?”
My face burns, and I’m so glad the person on the other end of the phone can’t see me because I might actually burst into flames.
He basically just told his sister-in-law that he’s picking up a woman for a one-night stand.
Thank goodness I’m never going to meet her; I’d never be able to look her in the eye.
“Any woman would be safe with you,” Quinn replies, and even though it’s loud in here, I hear the genuineness in her voice.
“Are you done talking to my tired, pregnant wife? I’m trying to put her to bed,” a man barks in the background.
I glance up at the hot guy beside me and laugh when he shakes his head and rolls his eyes. “Goodnight, you two.”
After he taps the end button, he studies me. “There are still several other people in there you can call.”
I knew the second I looked over at this man, when he repeated my name after the bartender, that he wouldn’t hurt me. Maybe it’s my familial intuition, or maybe it’s the way he looks at me, but whoever this man is, I’m safe with him.
“I don’t need to call anyone else. Let’s go.”