“I’m not,” Lexi bragged. “I won a hundred dollars at blackjack.”
Then a cheer went up at the poker table, and Belcourt and Winona got to their feet, smiles on both of their faces.
Britta applauded. “Way to go, Win!”
“I beat you! I finally beat you.” Winona said. “I beat the genius.”
Belcourt wasn’t taking it hard, a smile on his face. “Well done, little sister, but, hey, don’t forget your chips.”
They had dessert and coffee back in the dining room, cashed out their chips, and then it was time to head downstairs, where the limo was waiting to take them back to Scarlet. One of the hotel staff walked over and handed Victoria a black check holder.
She opened it, signed some kind of receipt, and handed it back to him, but not before Eric caught a glimpse.
Eight thousand nine hundred dollars and change.
Shehad paid for this?
What a Victoria thing to do. She’d paid for it, and she hadn’t made a big deal about it. She’d even let him believe Taylor and Lexi were footing the bill.
He helped her into the limo, sat beside her, kissing her cheek as he slipped his arm around her shoulders. “You are incredible. You know that?”
“You just wait.”
It was going to be a long damned drive back to the inn.
Chapter 15
Vic walkedwith Eric to the elevator, his fingers twined with hers. He pushed the button—three times—and they waited, the silence humming with sexual tension. The door opened with ading, and they stepped inside.
He was on her the moment the door closed, backing her up against the elevator wall, his mouth coming down on hers in a brutal, punishing kiss.
God, yes.
She’d waited all night for this. She buried her fingers in his hair, surrendering to him, the urgency of his need for her sending a dark thrill through her blood.
He slid one hand down her hip to her thigh, lifted her leg and wrapped it around his waist, his erection straining against his trousers. And then she remembered.
“Security cameras. What if … ?” Still, she couldn’t quit kissing him.
He lowered her leg, broke the kiss, and pressed his forehead to hers, breathing hard. “This elevator needs to move faster.”
It seemed to take forever to reach the third floor, Vic’s heart still pounding, her body jittery with unmet sexual need.
Finally, the car stopped, and the door opened.
Eric swept her out and across the hall, one clever hand sliding between her thighs to caress her while she fumbled with the key card. “You’re so wet. Have you been wet like this all night, thinking of me, thinking of what I’m going to do to you?”
“Yes.” She finally got the door open, stepped inside, and flicked on the light, while Eric kicked the door shut behind them. And then they were in each other’s arms, picking up with that kiss right where they’d left off.
They stumbled across the floor together, Vic tugging at the starched fabric of his shirt, yanking it out of his trousers, her hands hungry for the feel of his skin. He drew away from her long enough to shed his jacket, tear off the tie, and rid himself of his shirt. She reached for his fly, fought with some kind of hidden metal clasp. He took over, so she reached for her own zipper.
“No.” His voice was rough, dark. “The dress stays on.”
He jerked open his fly only enough to free his erection, and she caught just a glimpse of his cock before he turned her to face away from him.
Oh, God, she wanted him inside her.Now.
He bent her over the sofa, rucked her dress up over her hips. “Jesus.”