Blaine, Destiny - Lying Eyes (Siren Publishing Classic)

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Blaine, Destiny - Lying Eyes (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 12

by Lying Eyes


  “Now?” He adjusted his cock and fell against the pillows behind him.

  She moved over to the nightstand and picked up her watch. “You’ve kept me waiting for a few days so now you can get a good idea of what the words ‘sexually frustrated’ truly mean.”

  “I have an intimate understanding, I promise you.”

  A crooked smile formed on her lips and he reached for her. “Here’s an idea I like better.” With a quick flip of a wrist, she was flat against him. “How about ‘sexual gratification’ starting now?” His lips hit hers and he tapped her tongue before he released her. He wanted to love her—all over the place and he didn’t care who had to wait while he did it.

  “Max…”

  Okay, so he had to wait. “I know, he’s family and you need to go. I want you to go,” he lied like hell. “Well, not really, but I understand why you need to and I’ll be right here when you get back.”

  Audra smirked. “I think you will be tonight,” she chirped.

  “What was your first clue?”

  Her playful little tongue swatted across the inside of her upper lip and before she headed out, she left him with enough to drive a good man down. “I can close my eyes and still taste you on my lips. You have no idea what that does to a woman.” She winked, turned and left him with the only inspiration he needed to handle his problem solo one last time. It was obvious she had no idea how her words inspired a man.

  * * * *

  Franco met her in front of Antonio’s. “You look gorgeous, little cousin.”

  “Franco,” she was immediately suspicious, “what’s wrong?” Audra tried to cancel or reschedule and her cousin wouldn’t hear of it. In fact, he asked her to meet him for dinner alone, almost frantic with his request. Max, surprisingly enough, understood and urged her to go on without him. She already felt like Franco’s theatrics were a ploy to get her out of Max’s arms.

  She shivered when she thought about what she was missing at this very second.

  “Are you cold sweetie?” A look of concern washed over his face.

  “No,” she mumbled. Just stupid. She followed him through the restaurant.

  Once they were seated, Franco glared at the entrance. Anyone observing them would’ve thought he fully expected a hit-man from the Mafia to rush in and gun him down at any given moment. Franco was occasionally a little melodramatic. He lowered his voice. “Is he coming?”

  “You mean, Max?” She felt her jaw drop. Okay, so she was pissed. Now was a good time to play the part so he wouldn’t cross the line and force her to the realm of mad-as-hell.

  “Yes.” He nodded his head rapidly and gave her a sideways glance. “Yes,” he repeated before dropping his voice another octave. “Him.” The emphasis on ‘him’ and ‘he’ and any other references to Max was a little over the top.

  Audra ignored his theatrics for the time being. “You told me to ask him politely to stay behind and he did. I might add, he didn’t mind at all since you insisted it was an urgent family matter. He said he might catch up with us later for drinks.”

  “No, that’s not a good idea.”

  “Why not?” She gritted her teeth and hung on for the pending ride.

  With all the stage presence he could muster in the middle of a restaurant, Franco reached for his napkin, shook it once and allowed it to drift across his lap before leaning across the table and taking Audra’s hand. “My beautiful cousin,” he began, “we have a problem and I think it’s serious. I’ve had time to investigate your Mr. Reynolds and it’s not good.”

  “What on earth do you mean?” Audra quipped with enough sarcasm drenched in between syllables.

  The waiter approached and asked them what they were going to have to drink. Franco typically would’ve ordered them both soda but not tonight, he wanted to bypass the usual and go for truly effective. “She’ll have a vodka straight-up with a twist of lime, and I’ll have the same.”

  Audra started to ask for a soda but after studying Franco a moment more, she decided he ordered correctly. She was going to need that drink, no doubt about it.

  “Franco, why on earth would you try to find out information about Max?”

  “Because you’re spending far too much time with him and from what I hear around here, there are wedding bells sounding out in the distance along with a houseful of…whatever they’re called.” He took a deep breath and held it.

  “Children?” She didn’t want to elaborate. It was too soon to call anyway. “Really, Franco, you’re going to the extreme here.”

  He finally dropped her hand. “Yes, and that’s not the only buzz.” He crossed his arms over his chest and settled back in his chair. “In fact, from what I understand, you and your Mr. Reynolds aren’t considered the two to beat here anymore.”

  This pissed her off. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “It means you’re going to cancel each other out before either of you have the opportunity to sit at the final table. It means you have your head somewhere else and Reynolds is playing you because he knows you have what it takes to win the tournament everyone predicted he’d win.”

  “That’s just not true.”

  “Audra, while I waited for you, I sat in the bar making small talk with players and some of the locals who know him. He plays in the big game at The Bellagio a lot and he’s not a man who goes unnoticed. After a little digging, I’ve decided that I don’t want you within a city block of this man. He’s trouble, and I can only imagine what the man plans to do to you.”

  “Yeah, me too,” she grumbled and rolled her eyes.

  The waiter placed their drinks on the table and sensing tension, no doubt, informed he’d give them a few minutes and return to take the order.

  “Prying.”

  “Huh?” His brow creased.

  “You said you were digging for information but you were prying. Prowling, also known as sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”

  “I’m looking out for you.”

  “Franco, then it needs to stop. I care about Max. I like him a lot and I’m not going to quit seeing him just because—”

  He held his hands up. “Wait a minute, did you say ‘quit seeing him,’ as in you’re already doing the wild number with him kind of seeing him?”

  She was furious. “How in the world is that your business?”

  “Audra, listen—”

  “No, I won’t. Franco, I love you. We’re family. But I have to tell you, there are some lines even family shouldn’t cross and I believe you’ve just stepped over one of them.”

  She stood up to leave.

  “Please Audra, sit down. I have to tell you what I know about him or else I won’t be able to sleep tonight.”

  She felt her throat tighten and she stared at her cousin. He was very handsome, almost a pretty boy, but he always had the tendency to meddle like a woman. She wanted to walk out but she chose to stay. Sometimes she tolerated him only out of respect for her dead mother’s memory.

  The waiter approached and she quickly waved him off. “Give us just a few more minutes, please.”

  He nodded and disappeared.

  Audra tried to calm down. They were seated in the center of the restaurant right under the chandelier, the most beautiful appointment in the open dining room. It made it quite impossible to go unnoticed, especially with her current status in the tournament. A few onlookers paid enough attention to make her nervous.

  “You have to believe I only did this for you. I saw how possessive he was over you when we met in the lobby and I admit it, I was worried, deeply troubled in fact. Then, there’s the obvious. I mean the man isn’t a spring cow or anything.” He sipped his vodka and batted his eyelashes.

  “Spring chicken, smart ass…and age isn’t important to me.” She gulped her drink and almost screamed for another. The waiter approached as if he’d read her mind.

  “I’ll take another one please and if you don’t mind, I’d like to go ahead and order.” With her stomach growling now,
she decided to eat. She might choke on it but maybe she’d find some nourishment because she planned to expend her energy later. Trying to find a smile to flash, she handed the menu to the handsome waiter standing over her. “I’ll have the pan-seared scallops.”

  “Yum, I’ll have the same.” Franco closed his menu and handed it off as well.

  The waiter disappeared.

  “I forgot to tell you, I’m not comped here.” He waved a dismissive hand as if it wasn’t a big deal, and it really wasn’t. Complimentary meals were hers to enjoy right now.

  “I am, don’t worry about it. I haven’t paid for a meal yet in this city.”

  “In that case…” he gulped his drink and tilted the rim in the wait staff’s direction.

  “Audra, the man has a lot of experience, if you know what I mean.” He leaned forward and placed his hands in his lap before he told her of his important discovery. “He’s been around.”

  She glared at him. “Amazing.”

  Another drink was placed in front of them.

  “You know?” he asked.

  “I know.”

  “It doesn’t bother you?”

  “It doesn’t bother me,” she said.

  “You’re lying. Audra, he’s no good for you. He’s a womanizer and from what I understand, the worst of his kind. He’s the type of man who wins millions at a poker tournament and then throws sex parties just to celebrate. You could end up with a disease for crying out loud.”

  “Shhh…” she tried to hush him. She hadn’t thought about that and now she felt suddenly sick.

  “Are you okay?” Franco was concerned.

  “I’m fine.” She gulped her drink and then snapped back into combative mode. “Franco, I travel across the world now, do you really think Max’s reputation is one I haven’t heard about?”

  “I think you are so smitten by him that you don’t care.” He propped his chin on his tented hands in front of him. “I know he’s easy enough to look at and maybe he even has something no one else has shown you, but Audra, you have to be sensible here. He’s twice your age. It might not bother you now because you’re having fun. You’re in a city where anything goes and everything does. Let’s face it, men here have twenty-one year old arm ornaments and one bone already sticking out of the grave for saving grace.” He started to take a sip but then added a final jab. “And FYI, it’s not the bone you want either, if you know what I mean.”

  “Franco, for goodness sake, I’ve heard enough!” She was afraid everyone else got an earful too.

  “I don’t want to see you get hurt.” His face didn’t show one ounce of amusement.

  “How is he going to harm me? I mean, come on, Franco. We’re playing ten hours of poker a day. We’re pushed and shoved here or there and then invited to this party or that one. Cameras are everywhere. Besides, Max isn’t a criminal and he isn’t going to try to kill me or anything.”

  “Do you really believe that? Then you’re in worse shape than I thought.” Franco rolled his eyes upward and his hands nervously played with the tablecloth, smoothing over the imaginary dust mites or something. “True, the man isn’t going to stab you through the back, but he will cut your heart out and he’ll do it with a sly smile. What you don’t seem to understand is you aren’t the first woman he’s played right up to a final table. He uses women, Audra, and then he discards them. So no, maybe he’ll leave you alive for the finish but you’re dead in the water when you try to take the man’s bracelet. He may not even allow you to get to the final table.” A look of true frustration swept over his face. “I guess that’ll depend on how good you are in the sack.” He greedily reached for his tumbler and tossed back his drink.

  “Oh be reasonable, for God’s sake. Do you really think Max is capable of keeping me away from the final table? Please, Franco. You should know me better than that anyway. I didn’t come out here to lose.”

  “From what I hear, Reynolds rattles you enough at the tables. Word is, whenever he joins you losing is precisely what you do.”

  “Then you’re misinformed.”

  Their dinner was served and Audra barely took time to observe the plate presentation. She quickly ate in silence while Franco continued to bash Max. Throughout the course of dinner, she drank and before long, lost count of what she consumed.

  When the waiter approached for the last time, he handed her a copy of her receipt. “Ms. Alexander, you’re meal has been taken care of by Mr. Reynolds.”

  Franco huffed and puffed but still offered her a pen. She signed the ticket and handed it back to the handsome waiter along with a fifty dollar bill. “Thank you very much.” She smiled.

  “Thank you,” he politely added. “And good luck out there, Ms. Alexander.”

  She shot him a quick wink and then glanced at her receipt copy through blurred vision. The slip in her hand brought a stout dose of reality—seven drinks later and her head was spinning. “Oh dear.”

  “Audra, he will use you. Believe me…” as if something came to mind, he added more, “but don’t just take my word for it, ask him. From what I hear, the man doesn’t give a damn and he is nothing if not honest.”

  “Maybe I will.”

  “I think you should.”

  She turned her head toward the entrance, like she almost felt him there but before her eyes settled on any one person in particular, she turned back to Franco. He continued to babble.

  “You need to ask him. I mean the man is…” he struggled to find the right words, “well, let’s just say he isn’t particular about where he sticks his bunny hopper. In fact, he’s a regular at the Bunny Ranch—speaking of bunnies and all—and not only does he take up with whores when he’s in town, but he typically sleeps around with a lot of the players, too. You might be surprised to find out just how many women he’s kept out of the money by keeping them in his bed.” He set his jaw in disgust but it didn’t compare to the expression spreading across the face behind him.

  “Max…” Through blurred vision, she barely saw him and his timing was incredible because the room was spinning in all different directions. “There you are.” She looked up at him but it was hard to focus and she felt like her words repeated again and again in her ears.

  He glanced down at her empty glass. “Audra, looks like you’re about ready to party until dawn, aren’t you doll?” He shot Franco a condescending as hell stare.

  “Yep.” She grabbed her glass to raise it in a customary fashion, toasting the idea of a long-awaited party, only she returned it to the table with a slam.

  “Did you have a nice dinner?” He reached for her hand and pulled her up. Kissing her on the cheek he lightly whispered, “You’re drunk, just let me help you back upstairs. Please try to be quiet.”

  She laughed. “Lie still and be quiet? Is that what you have in mind?”

  “Shh…not yet, just let me get you upstairs.”

  Her head swam as soon as she stood. Max placed his arm around her and she felt the tingling sensation of butterfly eyelids as they batted uncontrollably. She positively drank too much and everyone in the restaurant stared. Her knees started to buckle under her.

  “Franco, I’m going to get her upstairs and into bed.” His voice was low and angry.

  Franco stood immediately. Audra realized Max’s choice of words wasn’t a mistake. He had, after all, heard the part about the Bunny Ranch.

  “I can see her to her room.”

  Max was already moving toward the door. “So can I.” He flashed another defiant glare in Franco’s direction. “It’s easier for me to take it from here. We have adjoining rooms.”

  Before she could say goodnight or even realized they left the restaurant, Max was taking off her shoes and helping her into bed.

  * * * *

  “Max?” she slurred. “Are you going to sleep here with me?”

  He grinned. “Sleep is exactly what we’re going to do.” He kicked his shoes off and sat down next to her. He tugged his shirt loose one button at a time.

/>   She stared up at the ceiling. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  “You’ll be fine,” he reassured her.

  “No, I’m not going to be sick over the booze.”

  He took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “Something you want to ask me tonight or can it wait until tomorrow?”

  “Now, please.” She glanced up at him. “I don’t think I can have this conversation with you sober.”

  “Okay, go ahead. I’m listening.”

  He shrugged out of his shirt and then propped up against the bed, his fingers gently touching her hair. She flipped over and tried to focus on his face, something he kind of figured as impossible given her slurred language and droopy eyes.

  “Are you a male slut?” She giggled as if she thought it was the funniest thing in the world. She rolled over on her back and laughed harder, even kicking out her feet to indicate further amusement.

  “Yeah, I am.” Honesty was the best policy. Well, not always, but still, he was more or less caught with his hand in the candy jar or more specifically, his dick in one too many condoms. He released a tortured sigh. “Or, I was…” Now, he’d like it a lot if she’d just pass the hell out and call it a night.

  “You were?” She wasn’t laughing anymore. “What changed your mind? Ah…let me guess, after time with me, you’ve decided to rethink your options.”

  “Exactly.” He smacked her ass and pulled her to him. “Next question.”

  “Do you fuck around at the Bunny Ranch?”

  He felt his throat close off completely. “I have before, yeah. Next question.” He hoped he could move her through the Q and A as quickly as possible.

  “Do you throw wild sex parties?”

  “I have before, yeah. Next.”

  “You bastard!” She rose up over him and drew her hand back to smack him.

  “Audra? What the hell?” He grabbed her wrist before her open palm came down against him. “I’m beginning to think we should talk about this some other time.”

  “No, I don’t think so. Now works for me.”

 

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