Full House (The Gamblers Book 3)

by Sarah Curtis

  And, oh man, could he kiss. The lips she’d just been fantasizing about, her imagination didn’t hold a candle to the reality. Just a mere brushing of them on hers sent electric tingles through her. Never had she been so effected by such a light touch, and she couldn’t imagine what would happen if he deepened the kiss.

  He didn’t leave her wondering long.

  Sweeping along the seam of her lips, his tongue demanded entrance, and she had no control over how quickly she complied with its enticing request. Her whole body felt the impact of his kiss. Her blood warmed, her nipples hardened, and she grew wet between her legs. And it was only a damn kiss. No other part of his body other than his lips even touched her.

  She heard a moan, and she was vaguely aware it was her that made such a needy sound because it was answered with a growl.

  The kiss grew more demanding and felt almost desperate, as though he’d been waiting forever to kiss her when she knew that was impossible as they’d only known each other a week. But she still recognized the feeling because strangely, she felt the same. She opened her mouth wider, becoming braver, her tongue dueling with his. Her hands found his hips she’d been so desperate to reach for before, latching on, her grip tight with her fingers digging in. It was the best friggin’ kiss of her life. The kind one could only imagine in their dreams.

  The kiss turned gentle, a soft grazing of his lips, and when they finally parted from hers, she whimpered. She was discovering, when it came to Nathan Reed, she was a greedy, greedy girl.

  He backed up a step, letting his hands fall from the door. But before she could issue a protest, he raised the right one, cradling the side of her face.

  “Now, say your line.” His thumb stroked her cheek.

  She blinked a few times. “Wh… what?”

  “Say your line.”

  Then it all clicked into place. God, how could she have been so stupid? She closed her eyes, dreading to ask the question she feared she wouldn’t like the answer to. “You kissed me, so I wouldn’t be nervous to kiss you?”

  “Yeah. I took away the fear of the unknown.”

  Already knowing the truth didn’t make hearing it sting any less. She took a sidestep out of his hold.

  “But Tori?”

  She stilled, liking the sound of the unfamiliar nickname falling from his lips. Her hurt and ire took a back seat at the desire she saw simmering in his eyes.

  “That doesn’t mean I haven’t been fantasizing about doing it, too.”

  A slow smile curved her lips. “Yeah?”

  He returned her smile. “Oh, yeah.”

  Okay, she could live with that.

  ≈≈≈

  They’d wrapped up another day of filming, again ahead of schedule, and Nate was leaving his trailer when he spied Victoria leaving hers as well. He took the steps two at a time and headed her direction.

  It was stupid to go after her, just as it had been stupid to kiss her earlier without the excuse of performing for the camera, but he found he didn’t give a fuck. For the first time since he started in the business, he was tempted enough to break his number one rule.

  No on-set romances.

  That had been a line he’d never dare cross—too much drama. And from what he’d seen from fellow colleagues, they never ended well. But for Victoria, he didn’t just want to step over that line, he wanted to obliterate it altogether.

  Victoria stopped when she saw him and gave him a wave.

  “Going home?” he asked, noticing the purse slung over her shoulder and the keys in her hand.

  “Yep. You?”

  “Yeah, I thought I’d go home and relax. These short days are nice. That rarely happens.” Then he surprised himself by saying, “Would you like to come over? We can have a drink. Go over our lines.” Reenact their kissing scene a few dozen times until they got it just right.

  She smiled but shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

  Without thinking, only knowing he needed to close the distance between them, he quickly took the couple of steps that still separated them.

  Her smile vanished as her lips parted in surprise when he captured her face in his hands. Her eyes widened a fraction before he lost sight of them as his mouth descended to hers, taking her mouth and claiming it as his own. He swallowed her gasp as he invaded her heat, his tongue sliding along hers to tangle in the familiar dance of lovers that somehow felt completely foreign with Victoria.

  Better.

  No, fucking fantastic.

  He slid his hand to the back of her head, his fingers sliding through the silky strands of her hair before fisting a handful and tilting her head back to give him better access.

  He heard her moan and felt the sharp bite of her nails when she gripped his upper arms as he deepened the kiss.

  Her taste on his tongue, the sweet scent of her as he drew in a breath, and her sexy whimpers tantalizing his ears were enough to have him almost coming in his pants like a fucking teenager.

  What was she doing to him?

  With a groan, he pulled himself away. She was too fucking tempting. Spending more time with her than necessary was probably a really bad idea. But fuck if he had the willpower to walk away.

  He rubbed his thumb across the apple of her cheek—the skin so soft it felt like the smoothest silk—and took in her beauty. Her eyes, a mixture of green and blue, fascinated him most, and he swore he could see her soul in their hidden depths. Chunky layers of sable-brown hair framed her face, emphasizing rather than hiding its shape, and as he now knew, so thick and soft he wanted to spend hours running his fingers through it. And her lips, soft and full and perfect for kissing. She was any man’s wet dream, but he wanted her to be only his. And as crazy as that thought was, it strangely didn’t scare him, it just made him feel content.

  “What was that for?” Her voice—a sexy rasp that tightened his balls and sent all available blood to his dick, making him so hard he ached—pulled him from his musings.

  “Because I can’t seem to control myself around you.” He clamped his mouth shut then shook his head before chuckling. “Which I can’t believe I just admitted to you.”

  Her lips tipped up, and he reluctantly pulled his gaze away from her sassy smirk when she poked him in the chest with her finger. “Soooo, are you trying to say I’m irresistible?”

  His lips quirked as he fought back a smile. “Maybe.”

  Then she did something he wasn’t expecting. Leaning in, pressing the length of her body to his, she got up on her toes and whispered with a sultry purr in his ear, “Well then, that makes two of us. I find you quite enticing, too, Mr. Reed.”

  And fuck him if those words weren’t the hottest thing he’d ever heard.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  She’d lost her mind. That’s the only reason she could think why she was speeding through the streets of LA in the passenger seat of Nate’s sports car.

  After she’d delivered her bombshell, things seemed to happen with a mixture of warped speed and slow motion. His hand, reaching for hers, seemed to take forever for their fingers to touch. But then in a flash, they were at his car, and he was depositing her into the passenger seat. His endless stare as he pulled the seat belt across her lap, not broken until the soft click of the latch shattered the spell. Then sonic speed, again, as he got in the car, turned over the engine, and took off out of the lot. All without a word spoken.

  And now, as he deftly navigated them up a winding road, a look of concentration on his face, they still said nothing. And for the life of her, Victoria had no idea what to say to fill the silence.

  She looked through the window, curious, as they drove deeper into a gated community. She hadn’t known where Nate lived but wasn’t surprised he had a ritzy Beverly Hills address. Actually, she didn’t know much about Nathan Reed the person other than what she’d learned over the past few days. Not something she was proud of at the moment, considering their destination and the fact she knew they wouldn’t really be having a drink a
nd going over their lines. But she was okay with that because never in her life had she felt the chemistry with another person as she felt with Nate. From their first meeting, she’d felt his pull, and it had only grown stronger the more time she’d spent with him. And for however long this attraction between them lasted, whether it be just for the night, a week, a month, or the duration of their working relationship, she would throw caution to the wind and enjoy the time they spent together. Because what she felt for Nate, that didn’t happen with just anybody, and she’d be a fool to pass it up. She just had to remember to keep her emotions out of it. It would only be a fling.

  He pulled into a windy drive before stopping in front an impressive house. Putting the car in neutral, he set the parking brake, climbed out on his side then came around and opened the door on hers.

  She gave herself a pep talk as he took her hand, pulled her from the car, and led her up the stairs to the front door. And that’s when her brain turned to mush. Because as soon as he pushed the door open, she’d barely had time for one complete breath while he deactivated his alarm before the door was slammed shut and she was pressed against it, Nate looming above her for all of one second before his lips were on hers.

  Greedy. That was the only way to describe his kiss. His lips pulling at hers. His tongue forcing its way into her mouth, claiming and possessing. His teeth, nipping and biting.

  Warm fingertips grazed the bare skin at her waist as his hand dived under the hem of her shirt, his other hand landing on her jean-clad hip.

  He pressed her harder against the door, his pelvis grinding into hers as his hand slid up to cup her breast. He swept a thumb across her nipple through the lacy fabric of her bra before pinching it between two fingers, sending a tingle straight to her center.

  Closer. She needed to get closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pushing her chest into his palm, silently begging him for more.

  With a show of strength, his hand at her hip moved under her ass, lifting her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, anchoring herself fully to him.

  Then they were on the move. So fast, Victoria couldn’t take in her surroundings as he carried her up a flight of stairs and into a darkened room. She landed with a thump, her back to a bed, Nate following her down.

  He buried his face in her neck, his lips trailing kisses up to her ear. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my head all week. You don’t know how many times I’ve envisioned you just like this.”

  His lips started roaming again, down her neck and chest, following the deep vee of her t-shirt. She was panting and needy and unknowingly echoed aloud the little voice in the back of her head that wouldn’t shut up. “I don’t know what’s come over me. I’ve never done this before.”

  She felt Nate stiffen then slowly raise his head to look her in the eyes. “What?”

  She replayed her words and realized his confusion. Shaking her head, she explained, “I didn’t mean I’ve never done this before, but that I’ve never slept with someone I’ve known only for a week. I’ve only been in two relationships. One in college and one that ended badly a couple of years ago. I made them both wait. Months. Well, to be fair, I was a virgin with the first guy, so that was understandable, but Chad? I honestly don’t know why I held out so long. Maybe I knew, deep down, he was an ass.”

  Nate planted his face in her neck, chuckling. Crap, she’d been rambling. She only did that when she was nervous. Taking a deep breath, she admitted, “I’ve ruined the mood, haven’t I?”

  Nate raised his head, capturing her face between his palms, all humor gone from his expression. “First, let’s get one thing straight, my dick anywhere in the vicinity of you, I’m always in the mood. But note, in the future, you and me in a bed, it’s only you and me in a bed. You want to rehash old relationships, I won’t like it, but I’ll do it. Just not when I’ve got you under me with my dick rubbing against your pussy. Understand?”

  She understood, but one thing he’d said had really popped out. “In the future?”

  “Yeah, you couldn’t possibly think one taste of you would ever be enough for me.”

  “I wasn’t sure. Like I said, I’ve never done this before.”

  “Trust me, sweetheart, we’ll be doing this a lot more.”

  She reached up, wrapping her fingers in the hair at the back of his head. “So, I didn’t ruin the mood?”

  His mouth claiming hers was the only answer she got.

  ≈≈≈

  Her heat, her taste, her soft little moans—it was something he could grow addicted to—and not for just a little while. He hadn’t lied to Victoria, but he hadn’t been exactly truthful either. When he’d implied they had a future, he knew she’d thought he’d meant short term, and he didn’t dissuade her. He hadn’t wanted to scare her. Hell, he was scared enough for them both.

  He didn’t know what the future would bring, but he did know, he saw Victoria as his. He’d been around the block enough times to know something special when he saw it. Even if it had only been a week.

  He wouldn’t call himself a player or a manwhore, but growing up in the industry, he’d had his fair share of women, especially in his younger years. He’d grown more selective as he’d grown older, and lately, that selection had grown even slimmer still.

  He wasn’t a saint, but he’d also never lied or led women on. They’d known what to expect from him, but he wanted Victoria to expect a whole lot more. He couldn’t explain it—this deep wanting he had for her—but sometimes in life, a guy knew. And he knew Victoria was the one. But, as he’d said, he didn’t want to scare her. So, he’d keep that a secret for now. Though there was no way in hell he’d be letting her escape through his fingers.

  His lips trailed a path down the soft skin of her neck, and he breathed in her scent—something floral with a hint of something uniquely Victoria. He continued a path down her chest only stopping when her t-shirt impeded his journey. It needed to go. In fact, all her clothes needed to go.

  Rolling to his back, taking Victoria with him so she was now on top of him, he smacked her on the ass. “Stand up.”

  He watched her blink, a small smile playing on his lips as she looked at him in confusion. “What?”

  “I want you naked, Tori, and the fastest way to get you that way is if you’re standing.”

  Her eyes grew wide, and a small O shaped her lips as understanding struck. Then a smile lit her face that shone bright even through the gloom of the room. “In that case, I want you standing, too.”

  Bodies up, Nate grabbed the hem of Victoria’s t-shirt and pulled it over her head followed closely by her bra. Her tits were like a magnet not only for his eyes but his hands, as well. They were fucking perfect, round and full, the nipples rosy and begging for attention. He cupped them, enjoying their weight, his thumbs sweeping along the hardened peaks of her nipples. Her back arched, pressing them into his hands, and her head tipped back, exposing the long line of her throat.

  His dick throbbed in his jeans as he watched her, his balls growing tight at the sexy-as-fuck little sounds she was making.

  Her hands, at his hips, roamed under the hem of his tee, the soft pads of her fingers running along the heated skin of his lower back. He took a half-step, closing the distance between them, and his hands fell from her tits to work the waistband of her jeans. He was growing impatient. He wanted her laid out before him.

  Her jeans were snug but not tight, and with a little coaxing, he slid them over her hips to fall down her legs, taking her underwear with them. Using him for support, she toed off her shoes before stepping out of her pants completely.

  She pressed against him, tipping her head back to look up at him. Her eyes were hooded while her lips were slightly parted and glistening in the light shining through the door. He’d never seen a sight more beautiful.

  The primal part of his brain engaged, wanting to dictate his next actions, telling him he needed to claim, conquer, and mate with the lovely creature before him. But Nate focused
on the civilized part of his brain, the one not ruled by his dick, forcing himself to take things slow to draw out both their pleasure.

  He got to his knees, grasping her hips, and with his face hovering in front of her stomach, he brought his tongue out to play over the quivering flesh. Her hands settled on his head, clutching at his hair for balance.

  “Fuck, I can’t wait another second to find out what you taste like.”

  Her stomach dipped as she took a deep breath, and her hold on his hair became firmer. He smiled. She liked his idea.

  His position was awkward, and he wanted her comfortable for what he had planned. Still holding her hips, he directed her until the backs of her knees hit the side of the bed.

  “Sit.” The command came out harsher than he’d intended, but honestly, it was a miracle he could still form syllables at that point.

  It didn’t matter because she did what he’d asked without protest, and he slid his hands down her thighs parting them wide enough to fit his shoulders.

  He didn’t play around, he’d save that for another time, this time he went straight to her clit, sucking it deep into his mouth. Her hips jumped, but he had a firm hold on her inner thighs, keeping her in place as he worked the little nub.

  God, she smelled good, tasted even better. Like sex and lust, and he was greedy for more. His fingers found her opening. She was wet and slick. Nothing fucking sexier than a woman turned on by what you were doing to them. He curled his finger, finding the right spot, rubbing it with lazy circles while his teeth lightly bit and his tongue flicked her clit.

  Then she was coming. He felt it in the pulse against his fingers and heard it in the high-pitched pants she was taking.

  Her body lay limp as he worked kisses up her stomach, pausing at her breast to suck in a nipple. He put a knee to the bed, his arms holding himself above her.

  He felt her hands ghost along the length of his back and heard her mumble near his ear, “Why are you still dressed?”

  He chuckled, giving her nipple a final flick before standing from the bed. He didn’t waste time grabbing the neck of his tee and pulling it over his head. He tackled his boots next, managing to keep balance as he tugged them off. He hooked the waistband of his jeans and underwear with his thumbs, pushing them down in one go, nabbing his socks in the process as he pulled them off his legs.