Free Lawless by Cindy Stark

deck a few more times and
positioned it in front of her to cut the cards.  She did and slid the deck back
to him.  He placed his hand over hers on the deck, and she had to slide hers
from beneath him, the experience a seductive play of sensations that she was
sure he meant to happen.
    That was okay.  Two could play this game.  Ultimately,
she would not lose.
    A brilliant flash of lightning lit the room as they
anted up.  Milo placed a card face down in front of her and then one for him. 
She smiled as he dealt her the jack of diamonds face up.  Then he placed the eight
of clubs in front of him.  "Not looking too good for you," she
taunted.
    "It's only one card, darlin'.  The game is
far from over."  He lifted the corner of his face-down card and smiled.
    He was only goading her, trying to make her think
he had something good.  She was sure of it.  Or almost sure of it.  She peeked
at her card.  King of hearts.
    A grin spread across her face as she looked at him.
    "I'll start with two."  He tossed a
couple of chips in the middle of the table.
    "I'll match your bet and raise you two." 
She slid four chips toward him.  He arched a brow.
    He matched her bet and then flipped their next
cards.  Another king for her.  The five of spades for him.  She kept her
half-smile in place as she met his gaze.
    "Your bet."
    She slid two more chips into the pile, giving him
a playful smile.  "Ready to fold?"
    "Hardly."  He added four more poker
chips to the center of the table and returned her grin.
    She matched his bet, searching for a hint of
emotion in his expression.  He couldn't seriously think his hand beat hers.  At
this point, if she'd only held a five and an eight, she'd fold.  What was he
hiding?
    He dealt two more cards, an eight for her and a
three for him.  She tossed down another bet, and once again he upped it.
    "You're bluffing.  You haven't got anything." 
She matched it and added another four.
    He tossed in more chips.  "You seem a little
worried to me.  Perhaps you should be."
    "I don't think so."
    The last round of cards gave him an eight and her
a jack.  Triumph flared inside her.  There was no way he could win now.  "You
think you've beat me," Milo said, a touch of laughter in his voice.  "I
can see it in your eyes."
    "Perhaps."  Between their two hands,
three eights lay on the table.  The odds of him having another eight were off
the charts.  The best he could have would be two pair, and it would be hard to
beat the two pair she held.
    He snorted.  "Did I mention I get to pick
which piece of clothing you lose first?" 
    He looked so damn confident.  He had to be an
excellent bluffer.  Had to be.  She glanced at her cards again.
    "Fifty."  She tossed her chips on the
pile.  "If you want to see what I've got, you'll have to pay."
    He studied her, his startling blue eyes leaving
her anything but cool.  He slid a pile of chips into the center.  "Call."
    She flipped her cards, pairing her kings and
jacks, giving him a smug grin.
    She was surprised when his smile not only stayed
on his face, it grew larger.  She lowered her gaze, widening her eyes as he
turned over another eight.  "No way."
    "Way."  He crooked his finger at her.  "Come
here, darlin'.  So I can have a better look at what you're wearing before I
decide what goes."
    A shiver rushed through her.  "I don't think
so."
    "Are you going to be a sore loser?"
    "No, but there was no discussion beyond
removing clothing.  Nothing said about you inspecting me."
    He called her again with a nod of his head.
    "You know if you torture me now, it's going
to come back to haunt you when you lose."
    "Maybe.  Maybe not.  Now get over here." 
A loud roll of thunder accentuated his words.
    She grudgingly stood and walked toward him.  He
watched with heavy-lidded eyes, obviously enjoying her approach.  She stood in
front of him and jutted one hip to the side in a show of attitude.  "Do
your worst."
    "Oh, I intend to."  He shifted