Free Calling Her Bluff (What Happens in Vegas) by Kaia Danielle

each turn made her ultra-aware of his nearness. Each frustrated sigh reminded her of how he growled when he kissed her. And of how much she wanted him to kiss her again. Her mind went back to those damn rules. Liking his kisses was not the same as liking him, as he said, like that.
    She had no problem using him again for sex. He’d already given her the green light for that. But that kiss… It had changed everything. Clearly, both of their emotions had ignited it. He knew that her emotions were already on the table. That’s why Jack had issued her that challenge: admit she liked him and he gets two more days with her. No, sir. Why would he even say that to her? Come Sunday, she was outta there. That was a challenge she would not let him win.
    But now, her need for competition had been stoked. She needed to play in some shape or form. If Jack wasn’t game, then she should just go back to the casino.
    No. She flopped onto her stomach and cradled a pillow between her arms. She kicked her feet against the mattress. She tossed herself onto her back and then she drummed her fingers against her chest. The tightness from earlier began to return. The bed was too big, too empty. Taking the California-king suite had been Chastity’s idea, not hers. Chastity was used to this luxurious shit. Whereas she had spent the last three years learning again how to live without it.
    The urge had never been so strong to play a hand. Just one hand. She thought about the fifty dollar bill she hid in her wallet for “emergencies.” Didn’t everything about her situation scream “EMERGENCY”? That bill surely was enough to be dealt into a decent round. Just once. This morning, she’d been able to get up. In fact, she’d been about to leave the table before Mr. Perfect swept in. Stopping hadn’t been a problem then. It wouldn’t be a problem now. As long as she didn’t get caught.
    She was back on day one anyway. She had nothing to lose.
    Jack’s breathing had become more even, more relaxed in the last few minutes. Kamaria sat up. She should go now while Jack slept. He wouldn’t even notice…
    What happens in the dark always comes to light. Her grandmother’s words rang clear in her mind. She felt a guilty lump form in the pit of her stomach. Jack would never look at her the same if he caught her back in the casino. The way he’d looked at her when he told her she was brave, that made her feel like she could fly. Did he really want to fly with her?
    That’s it. She didn’t want to think anymore. She wanted her mind to clear, to be on auto-pilot. Gambling did that for her. One last hand would quiet her mind. Get her into the zone. She could prove to herself once and for all that she could start and stop playing on her own. She swung her legs from under the covers and onto the floor. She began creeping through the dark, only to wind up fumbling and making more noise than necessary.
    “What are you doing?” She froze. Jack’s voice made her heart leap into her throat.
    “Nothing,” she croaked. Dammit. Could she sound any guiltier?
    She heard him flail either his arms or legs from under the covers. A muffled thud. There was another thud followed by a curse. It sounded like it had been one of his limbs connecting with the coffee table. Finally, Jack flicked on the light in the living room.
    She jumped back onto the bed. He yanked open the door to the bedroom. She was too slow in throwing the comforter over her body. There was no way Jack hadn’t seen her jean-clad leg and sneaker-covered foot.
    Jack, in all his rippled, shirtless, and red-boxer-brief-clad glory, stood over her with one eyebrow raised. “Going somewhere?”
    The guilty lump in her stomach lurched. The weight of his judgment made her lungs constrict. She gulped. “Well, if you were in bed with me instead of trying to sleep on that ridiculous loveseat, I would be too distracted to go anywhere…”
    Jack held up a hand, cutting her off. “Nice try. Face it,