Blaine, Destiny - Lying Eyes (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Lying Eyes

  “This is why I don’t date.”

  “I understand. Anyone worth having wouldn’t want you after you’ve slept with whores and thrown parties for the sole purpose of getting laid.”

  “You’re probably right, Audra.” He took a deep breath and started to get up then.

  She fell back against the bed. “I must be pathetic. You pay women for sex but when it comes time for you to fuck me, you walk away. Something is definitely wrong with me.”

  He stared back at her. “Nothing is wrong with you but you’re right about one thing. Anyone worth having shouldn’t want me. I’ve been trying to tell you this all along. You wouldn’t listen. I don’t want to hurt you and if Franco’s told you something about me that you don’t think you can live with then I think you should go with your gut and walk away. Tell me to get lost or whatever. I’m not particularly proud of my past but I’m not going to go through my life explaining it to anyone in my future—that includes you. I’ll give you yes or no answers but that’s about it.”

  As if his little mini-lecture did some good, she tried to sit up and reach for him. “Okay.” Her eyes blinked away the effects of alcohol. “Franco said I would have to worry about a disease or something with you.”

  “If that were true, I would’ve shared that information with you but no, you don’t have anything to worry about. For starters, I know the women I’ve slept with here recently.”

  “Terrific, I feel so much better,” she said with a satirical growl.

  “And I’ve never had sex without a condom. Period.”

  “Huh?” She acted like she didn’t even understand what the word meant.

  “I’ve never had sex without a condom, ever.”

  “Oh.” Her eyebrows narrowed. “A little more information than I needed.”

  “No, not really. I think you needed to hear it. I want you to feel safe with me.”

  His jaw flexed and he tried to hide the fury. “But I expected as much. I’ve had time to check out Franco, too.”

  “What about Franco?” Her head jolted off the pillow but her eyes closed again. “Max?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Franco?”

  “We’ll talk about it later.”

  “Max?” Her voice was full of regret then. “I’m sorry.”

  “Nothing to worry about. You get some sleep.” He reached for the lamp and slowly turned the little knob to the dim position.

  “Stay with me.”

  “I’ll stay until you fall asleep.”

  “No.” She rolled over toward him and reached her hand out slowly. “Stay over here tonight. I need you to stay with me.”

  “Audra…”

  “I want you to hold me…” The stupor rode in faster and faster for her.

  He eased himself over her and kissed her lips lightly. “I’ll stay.”

  His arm went around her. “No more questions tonight. If you want to know anything tomorrow, then we’ll talk.”

  “Max…”

  “Shh…”

  “I want you to love me.” She moved her hands to his waist but her eyes remained shut.

  And there was the problem…because he already did.

  * * * *

  “Good-morning, sunshine.” He joined her on the bed. His fingertips ran across her forehead drawing imaginary circles and lines back and forth across the skin. The curtains were open and he studied her completely as the sun came up and gleamed through the glass. He watched her sleep for a long time and he didn’t think he’d ever tire of it.

  His lips scraped across hers before he pulled her into a close embrace. Nuzzling her hair, he breathed in the peaches and vanilla fragrance before whispering in her ear. “The competition is waiting and while I’d love to keep you in bed all day, I don’t want to lose to you on a forfeit.” He chuckled.

  Her eyes flew open. “What? Did I oversleep?” She stretched and yawned before she covered her mouth. “Oh shit. I passed out, didn’t I?”

  “You did, sweetheart.”

  She stared up at the ceiling. “What the hell happened?”

  “Seven or eight drinks, maybe more.”

  “Oh, hell.” She moaned and rolled over. Her face smothered in the plump pillow, she groaned. “I can’t handle my alcohol.

  “It’s okay. I saved you from yourself.”

  “You mean you saved me from Franco.”

  “That too.” He grinned.

  “How’d that go?” She forced herself to sit and quickly decided her swimming head and stomach didn’t support the concept.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I mean, I vaguely remember you tucking me in and I can’t believe Franco allowed you to escort me to my room.”

  “Somehow, I don’t think he felt he had a say-so in the matter,” Max said blankly.

  “I’m sorry about last night.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry for. You just kicked up your heels a bit. I just hope it doesn’t bite you in the ass today. I wouldn’t take too many chances out there. You don’t look so hot. Keep hydrated and try to stay as alert as possible.”

  “You make it sound like I’m going off to war.”

  “Darlin’, you have no idea now. This is where it gets real interesting. Money will do all sorts of unpleasant things to people. We aren’t playing for thousands here, we’re all playing for the multi-million dollar payday.”

  “I know.”

  “Do you?” He took her hand in his. “Audra, while it’s easy to get caught up in the title and the bracelet, I do want you to remember this event is one where a lot is at stake. Ordinary people spend their last dime just to take their shot at the ten million dollar payday. You do understand this, right?”

  “Yes, Max.” She sat up quickly and moved to the edge of the bed but then turned around to hit him with a direct question. “Max, you really could’ve let me sleep.”

  “Why would I want to do that?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “So you’re cousin could tell you he was right about me?”

  “You know?”

  “He asked a lot of questions about me in the wrong bar.”

  “He was at iBar for a bit.” She hated to think of Franco asking questions about her and Max there. It was embarrassing.

  “Yes, and he talked to the cocktail waitresses, bartenders, and all the players who would listen.”

  She grimly accepted her cousin was a nosey-body. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s nothing for us to worry about.” On second thought, he decided he needed to be assured, too. “I hope you remember enough about our conversation last night to know, I probably am the man Franco warned you about, Audra. I may even be ten times worse, but I can’t worry about making that work for you. I’m not going to worry about who likes it and who doesn’t. I like women and I’ve sampled plenty of them but—”

  “Beautiful morning,” she interrupted him as she stared out the picture window.

  “Audra?” He still wanted to know how much damage was done.

  Her hands dropped to her side and she pushed herself up from the mattress realizing his demeanor was more serious. She winked and quickly gave him something to think about. “So tell me, was I as great in bed as you’d imagined?”

  His arm settled behind his head and he decided on a moment’s notice, it wasn’t as bad as he first feared. “Sweetheart, you were better than I ever imagined. You’re little whimpers kept me up all night long.” A growl harnessed a chain reaction of expressions. His eyes danced with some kind of newly discovered awareness and his cheeks took on a shade of pink in less than three point two seconds.

  “Liar.”

  On a dare, he let it rip. “Oh Max! Lower now baby, lower…lower…Ah yeah, right there!” He bent down and kissed her thigh. “It sounded like you didn’t need the real deal to do you upside down and backwards, you had enough for both of us,” he teased.

  Her eyes narrowed. “You have a very vivid imagination, huh?”

  “No way, I�
�m serious. I tried to wake you up but you were too involved in catching that...” he stopped. “Woman, let’s just say you gave new meaning to blue balls. I’m telling you.” He slapped her ass and turned to leave. “But after it was over, snoring never sounded more beautiful.”

  “I snore?”

  “You breathe heavy after a night of drinking.” He headed for his room, mainly because to linger there and watch her caused him physical pain considering he’d had quite the night planned before Franco ruined everything.

  “Max?”

  “Yep?” He was almost out the door.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” And that was all. No more questions, no sorrow, no regret. Franco hadn’t gotten to her…yet.

  Chapter Nine

  One of the young players stood up when he saw her approach their table. Max noticed. He was one table over. He heard her say hello and quickly turned around to see one stupid idiot place his hand on her lower back in order to offer her a chair.

  Give me a break. Max nearly came undone. Yeah, the self-indulgent poker stud must have had several death wishes. Max liked to make dreams come true for absent-minded punks but he tried to shake off the thought. Audra didn’t like to keep things simple.

  Her laughter filled the room and that wasn’t easy since most players complained about the noise there ongoing. He twisted all the way around in his chair and caught a sweet glimpse of her legs. Another difficult undertaking since a crowd of young players stalked her for autographs.

  “Fold.” Max tossed in his cards and stood up to make sure she saw him.

  “Audra.” He winked.

  She winked back and the young gun removed his hand from the trigger. Yeah, he wanted her marked as his woman. Mission accomplished, he sat back down but kept his eyes piercing through hers for a few minutes.

  Max started to turn his attention back to his game but caught the hem of her short dress. Those hike-worthy legs were particularly noticeable after she’d slept with them entwined around his. If she wanted to over-do sexy, then she succeeded. Stunned into silence, he didn’t hear the other players or the background racket found almost unbearable then, even for The Amazon Room. Typically, he could remember most of the hands and how they were played but right now, he couldn’t tell anyone what he had in the hole the hand before. Even with a hangover, the woman was stunning, but it was more than her sex-appeal beating him into the ground, it was his heart.

  An official break was announced and he went to meet her. “Hungry?”

  “Not for food,” she fired back.

  As if it were the most natural thing in the world, his hand reached for hers and they strolled toward their room, actually sprinted seemed more precise.

  The door was barely open before his lips captured hers. Once inside, he pushed her up against the wall and kissed his way across her mouth, neck and yeah—oh hell yeah—down to her chest. His hands were quick and he grabbed at the hem of her dress pushing it over her head as he did.

  “Twenty minutes,” he murmured.

  “I don’t care.” Her breathlessness was like music, soft and sweet but fading with the mood.

  “Yeah? Well, I do. I’m saving myself for you.” He met her lips again and then backed away with a groan.

  “What the bloody hell is it now?” She glared at him right as her fingers broke the barrier of a belt and her hand reached.

  He strolled over to where her clothes were hanging and chose an attractive red sleeveless turtleneck. He took it off the hanger and tossed it at her.

  “Low-cut short dresses have been out of style since before you were born. You have to change or else I’m going to lose by default,” he warned. “I’m not asking.”

  “Good damn thing.” She snatched her clothes and held them tight against her chest. A twinge of anger held tight to her vocal chords. “You can’t be serious!”

  “Do I look like I’m kidding?” He eyed her skirt then, too. “And the hike-it-up skirts have to go too.”

  “You brought me up here to throw me up against the damn wall for this?”

  “Yeah, pretty much.” He didn’t miss a beat or a growl. “Change, now.”

  “Max…” She moved closer to him. Sex was still on the little siren’s mind. He couldn’t wait to fuck her the first time because after once, the delicious little quickies she wanted wouldn’t bother him in the least. In fact, he planned to look for those opportunities. He’d pin her up and strip her down any chance she gave him.

  “Don’t argue with me, Audra. Just change. I’ll see you back downstairs.” He kissed her cheek before giving her hip a love pat, followed by a gentle push so he could slide on back downstairs.

  “You’re a piece of work,” she hissed.

  “Sweetheart, I am not going to romp your pretty little ass all over this room so you can go back downstairs with a freshly fucked look in your eye and drive me all the more crazy for it. Now, if you would be so kind as to change your clothes, I’d appreciate it. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” As smooth as possible, he quickly added, “And I’ll miss you until then.”

  “Yeah, right. Promises!” She tossed the turtleneck to the floor and walked into the bathroom. After the door slammed, he made his way back down to the tournament feeling quite satisfied that after the break, he’d be able to play poker without concern over how appealing Audra Alexander looked to him and the rest of the world.

  * * * *

  She heard him talking before she saw him but she kept moving toward her new seat assignment. The sudden change to another table pissed her off because she did not want to play at Max’s table. She was starting to believe that this was prearranged by someone. In fact, she’d bet a lot of money on it. This just didn’t happen. Not here, not anywhere. Someone was having one hell of a good time watching them go at it.

  A few whistles were released and she heard the first round of whispers. “Hot damn, check out Audra Alexander.” Right after she heard the praise, she passed Max and only assumed he heard the multitude of compliments, too.

  His back was to her and he chatted with a few players, no one she recognized, but he stopped midstream in conversation. Max used his hands to talk and drive home a point—and he must’ve had one to make—until he saw her. He fumbled his words and dropped his hands.

  “Audra.” He nodded with disapproval haunting his eyes.

  “Max.” She smirked. If he thought for one second she was going to let him get away with telling her how to dress, he had another thing coming. Let him enjoy the view from behind.

  She stood at the end of the table and smiled for the cameras. One of the reporters from a poker magazine walked over to ask her some questions, complimenting her more on her low-cut white dress than anything else. The cameras rolled and lenses zoomed in quickly. She wasn’t oblivious to the star quality she gained just by dressing the part. She might even try it again the next day since it seemed to work so well for her.

  The dealer took his seat and Audra jumped to the start of five more hours of pure poker. Max walked over and slid his hand gently behind her. “Panties?”

  “Now, Max, don’t drive yourself crazy thinking about things that simply don’t concern you.”

  “What if I told you I can’t play until I know?” His hungry eyes undressed her and unfortunately, a reporter was close enough to hear his comment. Her scribble on a notepad proved she took rapid notes.

  Audra laughed and pulled out her chair. “Have fun packing.” She eyed his pressing problem. “It’s hard to miss what you’ve never had but know this, I think you’ve made quite an impression.” She bit her lower lip and defied the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

  His grip tightened and teeth clenched. Somehow, he managed to confine her by grip alone and for whatever reason, he just didn’t give a damn who watched. Now, all the other players at the table were keenly aware of them.

  “Max…let me go.”

  “I have to know.” His voice gave sexy a run for new meaning.
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  “It’s none...of your…business.”

  “The hell it’s not.” Now, he was controlling.

  “Max…this is ridiculous,” she whispered.

  “Yes or no.”

  “No.” She sat down then, furious as hell. She only gave him an answer because of the embarrassing display of ownership he seemed to try and pin on her—never mind her body.

  A player to her right leaned over. “That was more information than he needed.” He grunted before latching his own lower lip underneath a deadly snarl and stared across the table at Max. Before Audra knew what hit her, she felt the stranger’s fingers on her kneecap. She jumped and Max, who’d only just sat down, stood right back up.

  “Problem, Audra?” He didn’t look at her when he asked. His cold eyes locked on a man with far too much confidence but not quite a viable match for Max.

  The young man moved his hand from her leg rapidly but not before flashing a smile to his buddies nearby. “Mine.” The player mouthed the words to the one who truly believed the same.

  Max damn near came out of his chair then but an older gentleman beside him patted his arm before saying something to him. They chatted briefly but Max’s deadlock glare never moved from his opponent.

  “Do that again and I’ll send you home quicker than you can blink,” Audra warned with forced restraint before she waved at a nearby reporter pointing at her with deliberate concentration and an extended forefinger.

  “You want some of me, don’t you?” The young guy’s lime green eyes flashed mischief.

  The table went deathly quiet, all chatter stopped. The dealer’s hands fell to the felt. His right hand patted the table before he shot Max a peculiar glare—one full of meaning, if he cared to pay attention.

  Audra arched her brows and shook her head just once before she began her charade of putting the young man in his place. “I don’t know, hon…” She stared back at Max again and then looked at her neighbor with a ripping glare—one she’d practiced before—“Since you’re the short stack at the table,” she didn’t glance at his chips but instead moved her chair back to peer beneath the game, making her point obvious, “I don’t think you have enough to keep me interested for very long.”