by Mia Knight
Manny shook his head. “Boy screwed up.”
“No, it was meant to be. It woke me up. I got to see the world a bit and I found a great guy.” She ignored Manny’s derisive look. “Jonathan's really sweet.”
“I’m biased, mi amor.”
“Of course you are,” she grumbled. “I just want normal, Manny.”
“But you aren’t normal.”
She straightened in her chair, offended. “Yes, I am.”
“If you were normal, you wouldn’t be here.”
She didn’t know how to challenge that statement and didn’t have the chance to since he rose.
“Eat and we’ll go shopping,” he said and left her at the table, staring after him.
Of course she was normal. If she hadn’t gained Manny’s attention as a teenager, her life would have been extremely ordinary. Maybe she would have followed her father into accounting or gotten married to some joe schmo and been a stay at home mom. She wasn’t Carmen—adventurous and sexy with a personality that electrified the room. Lyla was definitely normal. Everyone around her wasn’t normal. It was why she clung to Jonathan. He was safe and ordinary. Gavin’s words came back to haunt her. If you were in love with that boring fuck you were living with, you wouldn’t respond to me. Of course she loved Jonathan. The fact that she responded to Gavin was... It was...
“You ready, Lyla?” Manny asked.
He was dressed in jeans with a gold chain around his neck, a gold cane and gold framed sunglasses.
She got to her feet and grinned at him. “You look like a pimp.”
“This is Vegas, baby girl, you have to dress with flair.”
Ricardo had a Mercedes waiting for them in the driveway. They got into the backseat and she wasn’t surprised when Manny clasped their hands together.
“Why did you retire?” Lyla asked.
“I was too old for the bullshit.” At her inquiring look, he shrugged. “I was losing my touch. They needed someone tougher at the helm. That wasn’t me.”
“And Gavin is tougher than you?” she asked carefully.
He squeezed her hand. “I made sure he’s tougher than me. He needs to see the business through to the next generation.”
Next generation? Lyla ignored that and asked, “You’re completely out of the business?”
“Yes, I don’t know a thing,” he said and waved a dismissive hand. “It’s fantastic. True freedom.”
That’s what she wanted. She didn’t want to wonder how many Gavin murdered or if the man holding her hand with such care taught him to kill.
“Gavin is the CEO, Vinny the COO. They work well together. While they slave away all day, I do what I like.”
“Which is?” Lyla asked with arched brows.
“Sometimes I gamble for the hell of it. I went on a Mediterranean cruise and safari. Whatever whim I have, I do.”
“Do you have any trips planned?”
He kissed her knuckles. “Not right now. If Gavin is a fool, you can choose a place you wish to visit.”
If Gavin let her go, she would leave, not go on a vacation... But, she didn’t want Manny to go alone. Lyla had to remind herself that she wanted away from Vegas and the Pyres. When had she begun to accept that being a captive was acceptable?
Ricardo pulled up to a sketchy looking building where the man behind the counter greeted Manny by name and assumed that Lyla was his young mistress. Of course, the man wasn’t stupid enough to say it out loud, but he didn’t need to. The shopkeeper’s poorly concealed jealousy made Lyla edge closer to Manny. They browsed aimlessly, pouring over knick knacks or laughing over offensive paintings and statues they stumbled across. The day passed by pleasantly.
When they stopped for lunch on The Strip, Lyla was relieved to see that they weren’t going to a Pyre establishment. Manny led her into a dimly lit, quiet and beautiful restaurant with nice views of the city. Despite the fact that this wasn’t one of their restaurants, the staff fawned over Manny and called him by name. The Pyres were Las Vegas kingpins and everyone knew them. Once they ordered drinks, Lyla excused herself to go to the bathroom. She felt underdressed, but that couldn’t be helped. She was on her way back to the table when someone called her name.
Lyla paused and saw Rafael and his brother Steven rise from a table. She smiled as Rafael sauntered towards her. His brother Steven ambled behind, strange eyes fixed on her face.
“Fancy meeting you here,” she said.
“Yes.” Rafael raised a brow. “You have no phone, but you seem to have no problem getting into exclusive places. It must be that pretty face.”
“I have good friends,” she said.
“I could be an even better friend," he said, spreading his arms wide and giving her a devilish grin. "And a more generous one."
He obviously thought she was someone's arm candy and could be bought. "Thanks for the offer," she said carelessly, "but I like my friends."
Rafael was about to say more when he looked past her, stiffened and reached for something in his jacket. Lyla took a step back and collided with an unyielding body. A hand gripped her waist. She had no doubt who was holding her so possessively. What surprised her was the way Rafael’s face morphed into cold fury. What the fuck?
“Stay away from Lyla,” Gavin hissed.
Rafael’s eyes flicked from Gavin back to her. “You've been holding back on me, beautiful. You didn't tell me who your friend is.”
Gavin’s grip tightened on her. “Keep your distance. She’s mine.”
Rafael’s face turned calculating as he looked at her. He went from friendly stranger to dangerous in a millisecond.
“What if she doesn’t want to stay away from me?” Rafael asked.
“She will,” Gavin said. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Rafael inclined his head. “We shall see, Pyre.”
Rafael walked back to his table. Steven gave Gavin a long look before he switched his unsettling gaze to Lyla before he walked away. The men at the table with Rafael watched Gavin as if he were a ticking bomb. Maybe he was. Gavin ushered her past Rafael to their table in the back where Manny waited.
“We’re leaving,” Gavin said shortly. “Rafael is here.”
Manny rose without a word and they left the restaurant. Gavin took Lyla’s hand and squeezed a bit too tightly. She slapped his wrist and when he looked down at her, she felt a chill. He looked murderous.
“What the—?” she began but he shook his head and walked even faster.
He led her out of one casino and into the next, which he owned. He pointed to a restaurant.
“Dad, get us a table. I need to talk to Lyla,” Gavin said with savage bite.
Manny eyed Lyla before he ambled into the restaurant. The servers screamed and rushed to hug and kiss him in welcome. Gavin walked her in the opposite direction. It took her only a minute to figure out where they were going. She tugged on her hand to get away from him, but he picked her up and continued to walk.
“Let me—” she hissed and tried to smile reassuringly at the employees they passed who goggled at the sight of their CEO toting a woman around. “You’re making a scene.”
“I’m trying not to make a scene,” Gavin hissed. “Shut up, Lyla.”
She wanted to push it, but decided getting into a drag out fight in front of his employees wasn’t the right place. When he slammed into his office, she wasn’t reassured when he locked the door. Lyla knew from her time working for Manny that the executive offices in every casino were soundproof. That realization penetrated a moment too late.
“How do you know Rafael?” Gavin asked, body vibrating with tension.
“Who is he?”
“Lyla.” Gavin’s hands balled into fists at his sides and she took a step back. “Tell me how you know him.”
“I met him last night.”
Gavin blinked. “What?”
“I met him at Lux.”
“How the fuck did Rafael Vega get into my club?” Gavin shouted, veins in his neck popping.
The explosion propelled Lyla backwards. The back of her legs hit the couch and she sat with a plop. She shrank into the cushions as Gavin approached.
“So you met him at Lux,” Gavin said, voice calm but everything else about him pulsed with rage. “Where in Lux? What did he say?”
“He didn’t say much. He bought me drinks.” When he gaped at her, she said defensively, “I don’t have money!”
Gavin leaned down, fists depressing into the cushions on either side of her. “Lyla, you don’t let anyone buy you a drink, least of all Rafael Vega.”
“Who is he and why are you so pissed?”
“He’s a sadistic fuck. He runs the prostitution ring in Las Vegas.”
Lyla’s stomach churned. The charming, cocky guy who bought her a drink last night ran a prostitution ring? Seriously, how the fuck did she attract men like that?
Gavin caught her chin on his hand. “You don’t ever talk to him.”
“I don’t want to,” she said honestly.
That didn’t seem to make any impact on Gavin’s simmering rage.
“I can’t leave you alone for a minute,” he hissed. “Did he say anything else?”
“He asked for my number but—”
“He what?”
Gavin grabbed a paperweight and hurled it. Glass exploded, leaving a fist sized hole in the wall. Lyla got to her feet as he swept everything off his desk and onto the floor. Papers flew, his lamp shattered and pens flew like daggers.
“Gavin, stop!” When he reached for his computer, she rushed forward and grabbed his arms. “Gavin!”
His eyes were blind with rage, but at her touch, he froze. She could feel him vibrating beneath her fingertips. The force of his emotions was nearly physical. She felt battered by it, but she didn’t back away.
“Nothing happened,” she said, hoping to get through to him. “He didn't even touch me.”
For a moment, she wasn’t sure he heard her and then his mouth was on hers. He clasped her head still for his assault. Fear collided with lust and exploded inside of her, sweeping away all rational thought.
“You’re mine,” Gavin said when he drew back, gazing down at her with a hunger that should have made her run. “No one else’s.”
Gavin gripped her hips and set her on the edge of his desk. Before she could figure what he was about, he brushed her dress up, spread her thighs and ripped her thong.
“Gavin, what—”
His tongue slipped into her vagina and her mind went blank with shock. Gavin dragged her to the edge of the desk and ate her as if his life depended on it. One hand pinned her thigh open for his assault while his other cupped her ass, drawing her tight to his mouth. Lyla couldn’t think as pleasure ricocheted through her. Gavin’s talented mouth suckled her clit. Before she could counteract the pleasure or get a hold on it, her climax, violent and unstoppable blasted through her. Lyla wrapped her legs around his head, body bowing as he slammed his fingers into her, eliciting mind numbing pleasure so great, her mind shut down and her body took over. When it became too much, Lyla yanked on his hair, trying to get his mouth away from her. Gavin moaned, but didn’t move. She could hear him swallow as he lapped up her juices.
“G-Gavin, please stop,” she said hoarsely, shuddering.
Without moving his head, he pushed her so she sprawled on her back in a boneless heap on the slick surface of his desk. He used his fingers this time, curling and stroking. The heat began to build again. She tried to kick him, but his hands pinned her wide and she had no defense as he teased oversensitive nerves.
“I-I can’t,” she panted even as another climax punched through her.
Lyla erupted, body jerking as Gavin pulled the strings like the master he was. When rational thought returned, she lay in a limp heap on his desk. He was standing over her, fingers still buried inside of her. His eyes were ablaze with lust.
“I didn’t ask the first time. You say I raped you. Will you let me have you?”
For a moment, she hesitated. It would feel damn good, but... “No.”
Gavin’s finger gave her clit a last swirl that made her gasp. He took his hand from between her legs and licked it. Lyla’s stomach clenched.
“This will tide me over until you ask me.”
She forced herself to sit up even though she shook uncontrollably. “Ask you?”
“You will,” Gavin said as he walked into the bathroom, washed his hands and fixed his hair. He came back with a washcloth and efficiently cleaned her before he dragged her off the desk and gave her a deep kiss. “Dad’s waiting.”
Lyla’s mouth fell open. Before she could get her wits together, Gavin ushered her to the door and past his secretary.
“Have someone clean up my office. I made a mess,” Gavin said.
The hand on her waist tightened when she hissed at the double entendre. Lyla’s feet moved, but she didn’t remember the trip back through the employee area, through the casino and back to the restaurant. Manny was in the middle of his meal when they walked in. He took one look at them and clapped his hands together.
“You are back together?” Manny shouted, drawing the attention of the other patrons and half the staff.
Lyla wanted to disappear. “No, Manny.”
Manny looked crestfallen.
“Soon,” Gavin predicted as he guided Lyla into a chair, kissed her cheek and took the seat beside her.
“Progress is good,” Manny said as he cut into his steak. “I ordered for you both. Eat up. I’m sure you’re both starved.”
Lyla choked and ignored Gavin’s chuckle. Gavin went from The Hulk to a gentleman in the blink of an eye. What the fuck? He made her orgasm. Again. Multiple times. No dream to blame this time. His expertise was undeniable, but if it had been any man between her legs, would she have responded the way she had?
“Eat,” Gavin said firmly.
When she glanced at him, he gestured to her pasta.
“It’s our specialty. You’ll like it.”
He was acting like the tantrum in his office never happened, as if the three years she was gone never happened.
“You’re insane,” she whispered.
Gavin shrugged. “Where you’re concerned, yes, I don’t act rationally.”
That was the understatement of the century. There was nothing rational about Gavin. He blackmailed her into coming back to Las Vegas and wanted to resume a nonexistent relationship. He made no sense. He wasn’t a homeless psycho or ugly bastard who had to pay for a mail order bride. He could have anyone. So, why fixate on her? And, why oh why, did she go off like a geyser every time he touched her? This couldn’t be happening.
“I can feed you,” Gavin said and reached for her fork.
She slapped his hand away. “I can feed myself.”
“You need to keep your strength up,” Gavin said with a straight face.
“Fuck you, Gavin,” she hissed.
“I can’t wait.”
Manny nearly choked on his steak, he was laughing so hard.
Chapter Eight
“No!” Lyla shouted.
Carmen put a hand on her hip. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I am not going to another club with Gavin!”
“I’m going too,” Carmen said.
“Big help you were last night when he had me pinned against a wall!”
Carmen licked her lips. “You fucked in a hallway?”
Lyla wanted to pull her hair out. “No!”
Carmen lost interest immediately. “Vinny will be there too. I haven’t been to The Room yet. It’s not crazy like Lux. It’s a classier club.”
“I’m not going.”
“Don’t be such a baby. I brought you a hot dress.”
Lyla gave the cute dress a cursory glance. “I’m not leaving this room.”
“You wanna bet?” Carmen asked, tapping her heel.
Lyla’s heart sank. Carmen could be a bulldog when she wanted something. If she told her cousin that Gavin ate her out
as if she were the elixir of life and she had a mind-blowing orgasm, Carmen would be even more ruthless.
Lyla barely survived lunch. Gavin talked to his father as if the incident with Rafael and interlude in the office never happened. He was so calm and collected, she would’ve thought she imagined everything if her body didn’t have aftershocks still coursing through her. When they left the hotel, Gavin gave her a chaste kiss before he handed her into the car. Manny was gleeful and wouldn’t listen to her protests not to get his hopes up. While she considered nailing her bedroom door shut, Carmen barged in and announced that they were going out again. Her life was seriously fucked.
Carmen forced her into a shower and made her look presentable while Lyla tried to fortify her defenses. She had no idea where she stood with Gavin. She lost major ground with Manny today. He thought they had sex. Well, she had. Manny nearly danced into the house this afternoon. Her escape route was closing. She needed it to reopen. Gavin was wise to her tricks and wouldn’t respond to her attempts to find him a distraction. So, what tactic could she adopt to keep him at bay?
Even as they pulled up to another Pyre Casino and Gavin and Vinny appeared, Lyla still wasn’t sure how to handle him. Gavin helped Lyla out of the car and gave her a thorough kiss.
“I can still taste you,” Gavin said when he drew away.
Appalled, she elbowed him in the stomach and tried to walk into the casino without him. He laughed and caught up with her, dragging her beneath his arm.
“No one tastes like you, baby,” Gavin said.
“You’d know,” she snapped.
“You really think I still want other women?”
“Nothing’s changed.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but was distracted by the club bouncers who inclined their heads respectfully to him.
“Mr. Pyre,” they said, tones nearly reverent.
The Room was a high end club with modern lounging furniture and blue lighting. A live band played bluesy, melancholy music that set the mood. Gavin guided her to the second floor, which was manned by behemoth-sized security. The second floor looked out over the club and contained private alcoves with white pod chairs that two people could comfortably sleep in. Frosted white glass separated the top floor into private sections. Lyla could see the silhouettes of the people next to them. Did people come here to fuck or watch other people fuck? Who wanted to fuck in a club? Gavin, of course. It turned her stomach and when he tried to pull her down to share his pod chair, she resisted. However, Gavin wasn’t going to take no for an answer. He gave her a firm yank and when she plopped down beside him, he wrapped her close. Carmen and Vinny took another pod chair while Ricardo took the last. Scantily clad women swarmed around them, dropping artfully arranged appetizers on a tiny table in front of each pod. Even though she knew Carmen, Vinny and Ricardo were nearby, they weren’t able to talk to one another over the music. The sides of the pods were designed to encase each couple in a dome of privacy. This was too intimate for her peace of mind.