Vice

by Rosanna Leo

  It made Liam sick to think about that kind of pain. “He put you in jeopardy tonight.”

  “I’ve dealt with disappointment before,” she replied, still in that sad, quiet voice. “I’ll deal with it again.”

  He reached for her hand, but the phone rang and stopped him short. She vaulted off the couch like a gymnast.

  Thank God someone chose to call because he was on the verge of doing something stupid, like claiming her lips again. He could just envision his tongue coaxing her mouth open once more, tasting her. Dismissing his ridiculous fantasy, he watched as she answered the phone.

  “Hello?” She paused and frowned. “Hello?” Liam could almost see the chills skittering down Kate’s spine now.

  “Who’s there?” she cried, and then dropped the phone.

  Liam jumped to his feet grabbed the handset. He shouted at the person on the other end. “You even think of terrorizing her again, Vaughan, and I’ll have you killed, you hear me, you sadistic asshole?”

  As he slammed the phone back into its cradle he heard a man’s dark laughter. He turned to Kate, shocked his reaction would be so violent. It made no sense. They barely knew each other. But the shattered expression on her face was one he didn’t want to see ever again. For the first time that horrendous evening, she began to cry. And seeing those tears made his stomach pitch.

  “I hate him,” she said on a breath.

  “He’s a crazy fuck.”

  “No, not him. My father. I hate him.”

  His chest rattled with a strange pain. Her words broke his heart. And before he stopped himself to analyze exactly how much it bothered him to see her cry, he gathered her into his arms. At first, she stiffened as if to protest, but within seconds she let out a deep sigh and relaxed against him. Arms wrapped around her, he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

  Home.

  Her body yielded under his hands and he resisted the urge to explore her curves. God help him, he’d already memorized her shape but he wanted to learn it anew. He spread his fingers, loving the roundness of her hips and soft dip at her waist. She dressed like the girl-next-door, but he realized he’d gladly spend a great deal of money to dress her in a flowing gown or silky lingerie, something to compliment her offbeat beauty. She deserved it.

  “I hate him so much,” she whispered against his collarbone.

  Her words brought him out of his reverie. That was it. “Kate, you’re staying at Vice. I’ll put you up in a suite there.”

  “Vice?” She pushed away, horrified. “I can’t stay there!”

  He wanted to shake her and hug her at the same time. He settled for putting his hands on her shoulders so she had to look him in the eyes. “Look, I know how you feel about my casinos, but there you’ll have my security keeping an eye out for you. You’d be safer there than to stay here and take your chances with Scarface.”

  “If I stayed at Vice, I’d be a total hypocrite. How can you suggest it?”

  He let out a sigh. “Just think of it as a fancy hotel. I know it’s not ideal, but we are very good at being discreet. You’d be safe there, and you’ll have everything you’d need. I can arrange a car to take you to your meetings or wherever you need to go.” He smiled. “And you already know my security team. Some of them are pretty fond of you.”

  She held his gaze, ignoring the joke, shaking her head. “Why would you help me. I mean, after the way you left…after what I said earlier?”

  “I know what you meant, and I can’t blame you for saying it. And I’m helping you because you listened to me when I needed it. And, although I hate to admit it, you gave me some good advice about Michelle. I don’t know if I’m ready to call off Nando Perreira, but you’ve helped me…reconsider the situation.” He wet his lips, remembering how easily her knees had buckled. She’d been so responsive to him. He’d seen the beauty of her orgasm, needed to see it and inspire it again. He gave her shoulder another slow squeeze, almost a sensual rub, and smiled, wanting to lighten the mood for her. “Now do you need help packing a bag? Because I’d be happy to rifle through your panty drawer and make some selections.”

  What is wrong with you? She was attacked. Put your dick away. He waited for her to belt him for his bad timing.

  Her good eye widened and her eyebrow arched with amusement. “I think I can manage, thanks.” She ran a hand over her head. “I still don’t know about taking this…this little mini-break at your casino.”

  “This isn’t a mini-break. Think of it as a safe house. Someone hurt you. I’m just putting you up for a few nights, not asking you to job shadow the blackjack dealers.”

  “I can find a motel.”

  His face scrunched up. “Yeah, I don’t think so.”

  “Well, I’ll pay my way. Every cent. It’ll take me the next ten years but….”

  Liam rolled his eyes. “Sure, whatever. Now while you get ready, I’ll call the hotel to make arrangements.” He shooed her into the bedroom. “Go on. Go choose your panties. My favorite color is blue.”

  Seriously, dude. Again? Why couldn’t he stop flirting with her?

  Again, he waited for her to slug him, but for the second time she didn’t. Instead, she scooted to the bedroom, trying to hide the smile on her face. A smile. And he’d put it there with inappropriate flirting. Damn. Seeing that Cheshire cat grin on her face was a thrill he couldn’t ignore.

  She stopped at the bedroom door and looked back at him. “I’m going to regret this, aren’t I?”

  “Don’t be melodramatic. It’s a hotel, not a trip on the Titanic. No one needs to know. After a few nights, the cops will locate Vaughan and you’ll be safe. And then your life can go back to normal.”

  She frowned, as if unsure of what “normal” meant any more. Hell, he wasn’t sure either.

  Kate walked into her new room, the suite in Vice that was destined to be her home for a couple of nights. Hopefully it wouldn’t take longer than that for the police to find her attacker. Dismissing the shiver of fear that coursed through her at the thought, she looked around the suite.

  It was unlike any place she’d ever lived. Thanks to her father’s issues, the family living arrangements had always been modest at best. Penthouse 5D at Vice possessed a sophisticated opulence she’d only glimpsed at in style magazines. No wonder Liam’s clients seemed happy to while away their days at his lavish establishment. It would be difficult to leave such glamor.

  Almost everything in the unit was silver or black, with splashes of scarlet here and there. Against a backdrop of white walls gleamed stainless appliances. Streamlined black leather couches seemed an extension of the dark hardwood floors. And around the rooms, beautifully-coordinated red cushions, flowers and prints offered a hint of sumptuous color.

  No velvet paintings of Elvis in this joint.

  “I’ll put your bags in the bedroom,” said Liam hoisting them through yet another designer-styled portal. She knew he employed bellhops, but Liam had insisted on carrying her things himself and hadn’t let her lift a finger since they left her apartment.

  It felt good, she couldn’t deny it.

  He dropped her bags onto a fluffy, crimson confection she assumed to be a bed. At least, she thought it was one, even though it was larger and more luxurious than any she’d ever slept in. Suddenly, her basic Malm from Ikea didn’t seem all that cozy.

  Liam turned, smiling, hands on hips as if he’d built the room himself last night. “Well? Do you like the place?”

  “What’s not to like? It looks as if it should come with its own masseuse and sommelier.”

  “Actually, I do have staff who…”

  “Liam, why have you put me in this room? You know I can’t afford this. I’d be comfortable with something more low-rent.” She ran a finger along the pristine surface of a cherry wood dresser, and then considered the dust on her furniture at home.

  “Just e
njoy it.”

  “I hope you didn’t have to bump one of your VIP’s for me. This looks like a love den for heads of state and their mistresses.”

  “You really don’t know how to accept a gift, do you?” He shook his head at her snarky humor but his eyes gleamed with appreciation at the same time. “Just smile and say ‘thank you.’”

  “But…”

  “Kate.” His hands clenched in a way that made her want to experience his tight grip again and again.

  “Thank you,” she said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. “I promise not to touch anything breakable.”

  Liam moved about the bedroom area, muttering something about making sure the room was set up as he’d requested. She’d heard him order all kinds of extras over the phone, ones she could never hope to afford: free movies on demand, large toiletry bottles instead of those puny sample sizes, and a full-sized fridge stocked with everything from vintage wines to exotic fruits she’d only ever glimpsed at the market. For all she knew, he might have tucked a Lamborghini under the bed.

  She touched the soft duvet cover, checked out the label and gasped at the astronomical thread count. “This is too much.”

  He walked over and pried the duvet edge out of her fingers. “You’ve had a shitty time. Just relax for a few days. Is it such a sin?”

  “Ha. That could be the new slogan for Vice.”

  “You’re right. Want a job on my marketing team?” His confident bad boy grin was back and put a wobble in her belly.

  “Look, I know you’re doing this to bribe me.” She caught the look on his face and rephrased. “I don’t mean bribe… I mean by getting me into your casino, you’ll convince me it’s not such a bad place after all, and I’ll give up my protest.”

  “You already gave it up.”

  “I can always start it again, any time I want. I can bring you to your knees, big boy.” She’d meant it as a joke, but as they stared at each other, the air grew heavy between them.

  “Woman, I know you can.”

  His words made her want to tumble into that fluffy, red bed with him and not tumble out again for a few days. She didn’t know what to say to lift the sexual tension, so she voiced the other thought plaguing her. “Do you always rescue damsels in distress?”

  “Just redheaded singers who hate my guts.”

  “I don’t hate you, Liam. In fact…”

  He moved closer, making her all too aware of his size and shape and smell, all the things that made him attractive to her. Her pulse leaped and her breaths grew shallow.

  “In fact, what?” His voice, so deep and quiet, coaxed a flutter of strange delight inside her.

  “Just this.” She put her hands on his shoulders and stood on her toes. Leaning into him, she dropped a chaste kiss onto his cheek. His stubble tickled her lips and she couldn’t help the resulting fantasies that raced through her brain. She couldn’t help wanting to experience the tender abrasion of his stubble on her pussy lips again.

  Shocked at her thoughts and actions, she pulled away. But Liam put a hand to her back and held her firm. He wound his arms around her and cradled her head with his other hand and lowered his head. Her heart beat out of her chest, and before she knew it, she’d closed her eyes in anticipation.

  A crush of sensation hit her as their mouths met. His kiss was gentle as he brushed his lips against hers. Sweet, sliding simplicity, as natural as embracing an old friend. But then his fingers curled against her body and his lips parted. His tongue darted out, and she took it in.

  His hunger drove him deeper and he flicked at the inside of her mouth. Sucking her tongue, he made low, growling noises and his every touch screamed of want and fire and impatience. The kiss became one to annihilate all others from her memory.

  “Dammit,” he finally whispered as he snatched a breath.

  Any coherent thoughts she’d had turned into a silly muddle of sex-saturated imagery. Her body, entwined with his. Pounding, driving motion that carried her to the highest heights. Finishing what they’d started earlier.

  In that moment, she remembered where she was. In his casino. A place she wanted to destroy. And yet she’d agreed to stay, because she was weak and hadn’t been laid in so long.

  This was wrong. All of it. She had to forget it, and keep her distance from him.

  He stared at her, blinked a few times, and seemed to glean her reticence. She wanted him, she knew it like she knew her own voice, but each interaction only succeeded in making her feel more guilty. And she’d lived with guilt her whole life. Could they do this? Could someone like her actually take someone like him to bed and not wake up ashamed?

  Damn, she sure as hell wanted to try.

  But with everything that had happened that evening, neither of them seemed ready to take the plunge again. As if to confirm her suspicions, he removed his hands from her body and smiled at her. No longer a happy-go-lucky sort of smile. His expression had darkened with confident sensuality.

  “Get some sleep. It’s been a long night.” He reached into his pocket and pressed a business card into her hand, taking time to stroke her palm. “This is my direct contact information. If you need anything, you know where to find me.”

  “Thank you.”

  He walked to the door in the outer room. As he put his hand on the doorknob, he turned and gave that take-no-prisoners grin once more. “Enjoy the suite while you can. You’ll trade it in for my bed soon enough.”

  “Uh, that won’t happen.”

  “Oh, it will and you know it. Enjoy your stay, sugar.”

  She watched him stride out of the room, unable to say anything that would make him understand why they couldn’t. Before the door closed behind him, she saw him speak to the security guard posted outside.

  Riddled with tension, Kate flopped onto her luxurious bed, rolled down the covers and kicked off her shorts and underwear.

  Remembering Liam’s velvety voice and naughty smile, she touched herself and imagined him there. Right there. As she visualized his hard body between her legs, she came with a silent scream that did nothing to eradicate her fever for him. After removing her hand, she moaned, turned her face into the pillow and tried to sleep.

  Chapter Eight

  Liam stormed into Sin, the first casino he’d built on the Strip, ready to bust some heads. He’d been called by John, the head of security there, before he even got twenty winks, let alone forty. They discovered who’d been stealing from him, and he was not impressed.

  He’d dealt with theft before. It was a fact of life in the casino world. And each time they’d encountered a shark amongst the ranks, he’d been quick to act. If there was one thing he didn’t tolerate, it was disloyalty. He treated his people well, and expected the same in return. No one fucked with Liam Doyle.

  Wade, John’s peer at Vice, accompanied him so he could offer input. He muttered as he tried to keep pace. “Liam, hold on. I can’t keep up with you. It makes me look bad.”

  “So walk faster.”

  He headed toward the staff elevators behind the casino floor, ignoring the pointed looks from a couple of women in flashy dresses who looked as if they hadn’t gone to bed yet either. They waved at him, clinking their wineglasses together. One of them gave him an unmistakably suggestive wink.

  “Have a nice day, ladies,” he said, ignoring their interest.

  “Damn,” Wade whispered. “You’re stronger than I am, Liam. Those two are clearly looking for some action. Hell, that might have turned into a Liam sandwich.”

  They got to the elevator and Liam hit the button hard. “I’m not interested.”

  Wade raised a brow and stared at him. “It’s her, isn’t it? That Callender girl?”

  He crossed his arms and glared at the closed door. Why was the elevator taking so long? “We’re here on business, remember?”

  Wade let out a hoot,
clearly not believing a word he said. “I can’t believe it. You’re fucking Kate. Talk about screwing your rivals.”

  The door opened. Finally. He wished he could shut it on Wade and make him take the stairs. When his security head stifled a guffaw, Liam turned to him. “One, don’t talk about her like that. She’s been through a lot. Two, none of your goddamn business. If you weren’t a friend, I’d fire your ass. Bad enough I have to deal with a goddamn thief right now.”

  “Excuse me for stating the obvious, boss.” He peered at him through narrowed eyes. “Hang on. You’re not fucking her, are you? That’s why you’re pissed.”

  “Wade,” he threatened.

  “No wonder you went to so much trouble to make sure your little protestor was tucked away safe at Vice.” He grinned and pinched Liam’s cheek, as he would a child’s. “Well, I hope you get some action soon. It’s been a while.”

  The elevator stopped on their floor and he got out. “Are you keeping notes on me or something?”

  “As head of security I’m obliged to.” Wade smirked. “Naw. I just know you.” He stopped Liam by putting a hand on his shoulder and changed the subject. “Look, I know you’re in a hurry to pound something, or someone, but I’m trying to make you take a second to breathe. You look ready to kill. Patrick’s a kid. From what I’ve been told, he’s been a model employee up until now. If he’s been stealing from you, there’s a reason. Let’s just talk to him before you give him the axe.”

  “I didn’t say I was going to axe him.”

  “You look like you wanna axe somebody.”

  Liam’s lips pressed together “When did you turn into such a big softie?”

  “It’s part of my natural charm.” He offered his boss a sly smile. “So, Kate, huh? She makes good cookies, you know.”

  Liam let out a grunt and proceeded to John’s office. “Not now, Wade.” Now he was in the mood to axe someone. A big, nosy, security guard someone.

  Inside the security office, John already had Patrick Lester sitting uncomfortably at his desk. The kid stiffened as soon as he entered.