by Mia Knight
“But why would he want to talk to me? As Gavin said, I’m just a widow,” Carmen said bitterly. “As if that’s all I am, a dead man’s wife. Jesus, I’m a person, damn it.”
“You know Gavin has no tact,” Lyla said consolingly.
“And no manners.”
“Let’s get a drink,” Lyla said and led Carmen to the bar.
Carmen took care of ordering drinks and was in the middle of asking the bartender where she got her boob job when Lyla heard someone say her name. It took her a moment to recognize Alice who wore an unflattering satin dress that looked like a prom dress for a teenager. The Community Outreach Coordinator had absolutely no fashion sense and was clearly out of her element in a club. Lyla gave her a hug and turned to Carmen and the bartender who were feeling each other’s boobs. Lyla cleared her throat and when that didn’t get Carmen’s attention, gave her cousin a solid kick in the butt.
“Carmen, this is Alice the Community Outreach Coordinator. Alice, this is my cousin, Carmen. She’s coming with us to the dog shelter next week to volunteer,” Lyla said.
“Nice to meet you,” Carmen said and looked Alice up and down with a frown, clearly disturbed by her appearance. “You work for Pyre Casinos?”
“Yes. I just moved from Utah,” Alice said uneasily.
“Mormon?” Carmen asked.
“No. Why?”
“Just wondering.”
Lyla gave Carmen a quelling glance before she turned back to Alice. “I’m really looking forward to volunteering. I like dogs. I’ve always wanted one, but my parents wouldn’t let me.”
“And now?” Alice asked.
“Now?” Lyla asked blankly.
“You can get one now.”
Lyla was struck by the notion. “Um, I don’t know.”
“Since the recession there have been hundreds of abandoned dogs. Each shelter is filled to the max,” Alice said.
“Does Gavin even like dogs?” Carmen asked, handing Lyla a pink drink.
“No idea,” Lyla said.
“Oh, gosh, um, maybe adopting a dog isn’t the best idea,” Alice said, wringing her hands.
“How long have you been working at Pyre Casinos?” Carmen asked.
“A year. My position was created after...” Alice flushed and looked away.
“After Gavin went to jail and my husband and Manny Pyre were murdered?” Carmen asked.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry,” Alice said and pressed a hand to her chest.
“It’s okay, Alice,” Lyla said, squeezing her hand. “I’m glad your position was created. It’s great that Pyre Casinos created the Pyre Foundation and are giving back to the community.”
“Yes,” Alice said, clearly relieved. “Mr. Pyre has given me free reign, really. I’m so excited that I get to make a difference through his generosity.”
Lyla liked Alice’s earnest, down to earth personality. There were far too few of her type in Las Vegas, the land of sex, money and superficiality. Carmen watched Alice carefully, as if she couldn’t figure her out. On the surface Carmen and Alice had nothing in common.
“Here come the masses,” Lyla said as the VIPs came down the staircase with their entourages and a swarm of paparazzi.
“Kody Singer’s here?” Carmen snapped.
“The movie star?” Alice asked, going on tiptoe to get a better look.
“He better not come by me,” Carmen said.
“Why?” Alice asked.
“He used to drunk call me all the time, that asshole. It used to piss Vinny off.”
Alice’s mouth dropped. “You used to date...?”
“He was a week long fling when Vinny and I were on a break,” Carmen said with a one-shoulder shrug.
“She broke his heart,” Lyla said. “Kody is a pretty nice guy for a movie star.” Carmen let out a rude snort. “Come on, Carmen, he was really romantic.”
“He doesn’t know how to take no for an answer,” Carmen said sourly and spotted the next celeb. “Douche bag in the house! Carter Raymond is here. Seriously, when’s the last time he even played football? What a fucking showoff.”
“You know him personally?” Alice asked.
“When your husband is the COO of Pyre Casinos you’re obliged to go to a lot of events. You meet people,” Carmen said offhandedly.
“You stay around long enough, you’ll know celebrities personally,” Lyla said, recognizing Jennifer Kingsley, a movie actress who thought she was God’s gift to the world. Yes, Janice invited some big shot VIPs that would draw a huge crowd.
“Me? Celebrities?” Alice let out a nervous snort/giggle. “I don’t think so.”
Carmen signaled to the bartender for another drink. “If you get celebrities involved in your community projects, it would be great publicity.”
“I’m having a hard time getting volunteers, much less a celebrity.”
Carmen looked thoughtful as she downed another drink. “I’ll see what I can do."
“W-what?” Alice asked, but Carmen had already disappeared into the crowd.
“Come, let’s go to our table,” Lyla said.
“Table?”
“Janice reserved a table for us,” Lyla said and took her hand.
“I don’t think I’m invited. That’s for Mr. Pyre and—”
“And I’m his wife and I say you’re invited,” Lyla said and began to pull her through the crowd.
The music was pumping and there was an excited buzz in the air. Lyla noticed Janice flitting through the crowd, no doubt making sure the photographers got enough shots. Halfway across the dance floor, Blade appeared out of nowhere and cleared a path. Lyla held onto the back of his jacket and refused to release Alice who came up with a dozen excuses why she shouldn’t be at her boss’s table.
“Hi, who are you?” Alice asked Blade when he helped her into the booth.
“I’m Lyla’s bodyguard,” Blade said.
“Bodyguard?” Alice echoed, eyes wide. “Are you in danger because of... before?”
“Gavin’s cautious,” Lyla said and looked out over the club. “Will you look at that?”
The dance floor was filled to capacity. People were dancing on the staircases and any place there was room. It was like a flash mob of exotic people. Drinks were flowing. The compulsive beat of music urged people to move. There was a haze of seduction in the air.
“I prefer my work to this,” Alice said nervously. “This is the first club I’ve been to in my life. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do.”
“Do?” Lyla asked without taking her eyes off the dancers.
“I’m supposed to get a drink and... what?”
“Dance,” Lyla said.
“Where? There’s no room.”
“There’s always room to dance,” Lyla said and winked at her. “Clubs are a fantasy, a place where people can forget their woes and flirt with a sexy stranger.”
Alice eyed her uncertainly. “I don’t see the appeal.”
Lyla grinned. “Some people don’t, but people come to Vegas to indulge in fantasies. Come.”
Impulsively, Lyla reached for Alice’s hand and pulled her out of the booth. Blade sighed but made a path to the dance floor and stood nearby like a statue. Lyla felt a twinge of shame as she pulled Alice back against her and felt the other woman go rigid. Had Alice never danced or partied in her life? Everyone had to let go sometime. That’s why she was here, after all. She came out tonight so her brain could shut off and she could just be.
“Listen to the beat,” Lyla said and moved her hips.
Alice tried to copy, but her movements were stiff and awkward. Lyla kept it up until Carmen materialized with a hot man wrapped around her, his hands moving greedily over her body. Lyla felt a shaft of pain course through her at seeing Carmen with a stranger. It was inevitable that Carmen would move on, but it felt so wrong. Lyla buried her face in Alice’s hair so she didn’t have to witness Carmen losing herself in another man to drown out her grief. Alice stopped moving and gawked at Ca
rmen who was clearly trying to drive her companion insane.
Lyla glanced around at the constantly shifting crowd. A man stood on the sideline, watching the dancers. He stood mostly in shadow, but the intensity emanating from him snagged her attention before she registered that she knew him. Eli was a cop who approached Gavin at Lux because some thugs beat his mother into a coma. One of her kidnappers had also participated in the attack on Eli’s mother. Eli killed the thug before Gavin could. Was he still on the police force? Unlike the first time she saw him, Eli was dressed all in sleek black. As if he sensed her regard, he turned his head and met her gaze through the throng. She wasn’t sure whether Eli was a good or bad guy and wasn’t willing to take chances. She caught Blade’s eye. He immediately muscled his way towards her.
“Eli,” she shouted.
Blade searched the crowd. “Where?”
“He’s there—” Lyla began and stopped when she saw that Eli was gone. “He was right there.”
“And he saw you?” Blade demanded.
“Yes. We made eye contact.” Lyla released Alice who was now moving to the beat on her own. “Is he good?”
Blade sneered. “Eli went off the rails after his mom was attacked. He quit his job as a cop, went on a bloody rampage and disappeared off the grid.”
Lyla’s heart skipped a beat. “You mean no one’s seen him until now?”
“Gavin has unfinished business with Eli, but we thought he’d been killed while he was chasing down the gang members who targeted his mother.”
“Why did they attack his mom?”
“He was scheduled to testify in court against a powerful drug lord. Gavin didn’t hear about the hit on Eli’s mother until it was too late.”
Lyla searched the dancers, but it was impossible to find anyone in the crush. She edged closer to Blade. “So...?”
Blade brushed a hand over his weapon. “So we keep our eyes open. I’ll let Gavin know.”
Lyla wished she’d brought her gun. She was distracted by Marcus who appeared at her side, eyes narrowed on Carmen and her horny companion. Marcus walked up to Carmen and her partner who stopped their bump and grind. Carmen’s mouth dropped open and the guy backed away with his hands up. Marcus tried to pull Carmen off the dance floor, but she shoved him away. Carmen pulled Alice into the crowd, leaving Marcus behind, looking irritated.
Hard hands circled Lyla’s waist. She jumped as Gavin pulled her back against him.
“I’ve been looking for you,” Gavin said into her ear. “I want to show you the private rooms.”
“Gavin,” Blade said.
Gavin leaned towards him and Blade spoke. Lyla witnessed the change in Gavin as he glanced around and then swept her under his arm and carried her off the dance floor. He pulled her through the crowd to a room manned by two security guards. Blade waited outside as Gavin waved a key card over the lock. Gavin pulled her into a dimly lit room with a stripper pole, black love seat and a wall that looked out at the club. It took Lyla a moment to realize that she was looking through one of the large mirrors mounted on the club wall.
“Can they see us?” Lyla asked.
She could see the dance floor. There were tables around them with couples making out, drinking and laughing. Music penetrated through the walls and kept her blood fizzing.
“There are about ten of these hidden rooms. Each one is different,” Gavin said. “Are you okay?”
“Because of Eli?”
“Yes.”
“I’m a little creeped, but I don’t think he was looking for me.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I noticed him, but he was searching the crowd. He felt me looking at him and then I called Blade.”
“He used to grease the wheels in the police department for me. He’s always been dependable, but now he’s a loose canon. I don’t know what his agenda is.”
Lyla looked out at the crowd and felt her nerves drift away. “We shouldn’t worry about it. We should just enjoy tonight.”
Lyla turned, saw the hunger in his eyes and knew they were going to use this room for what it was meant for. She gave him a small shove. He sat on the couch and tried to draw her on his lap, but she pulled away and sauntered towards the stripper pole. Lyla stepped onto the platform and ran her hand down the pole. Gavin was as still as a mannequin and barely breathing.
“Carmen and I have taken lots of classes, but I don’t think you’ve ever seen me on a stripper pole, have you?” Lyla asked innocently.
He cleared his throat. “No.”
“Hmm.” Lyla stroked the pole slowly and then walked around it, dragging her stilettos and shifting her hips seductively. She did a slow spin, feet completely off the ground, letting her body weight swing her around the pole before she stopped in front of Gavin, legs spread wide, the slit in her dress riding high on her hip. She dropped into a split and rocked her body forward, arching her back.
“Jesus Christ!” Gavin shouted and erupted from the couch.
“You’re supposed to watch, don’t touch,” Lyla chastised as her gaze went past him to the people less than six feet away, completely unaware of what she was doing on the other side of the mirror.
“If you think I can watch while you dance you’re out of your mind,” he growled.
“Sit, Gavin, let me dance for you,” she said.
His crotch was tented. He was already gone, but she wanted to do this. A sultry beat slipped through the walls. Gavin didn’t go back to the couch. He stood less than two feet away, hungry eyes fixed on her.
Lyla stood in front of the pole, hands above her head and slowly, very slowly sank down. She could hear Gavin’s ragged breathing over the music and his hand went to his crotch and gripped hard. The tendons on his neck stood out and she knew he wasn’t going to last. Taking pity on him, Lyla went on her hands and knees and stuck her butt out as she rose. Gavin cursed and grabbed her. Lyla laughed as he positioned her on her knees on the couch, facing the club. She felt cold air on her ass as he shifted her dress up and then his fingers slid into her. Lyla moaned and then clapped her hand over her mouth as a man leaned towards the mirror to fix his hair. He was a foot away, staring right at her and Gavin was about to fuck her.
“Gavin—” she began and tried to wriggle away.
“He can’t see you,” Gavin said into her ear as he slid inside of her in one firm push that sheathed him to the hilt.
“B-but, I can’t!” she said, scandalized as the man was joined by a woman who came within six inches of Lyla who was panting like a bitch in heat. “Oh my God, Gavin!"
“People get off on this shit, fucking in public,” Gavin said, slipping his hand into her dress and squeezing her breast. “I wouldn’t mind fucking you in front of an audience. I want everyone to know you belong to me. Only I ever get to fuck you.”
“I thought that’s what the ring is for.” Lyla squirmed beneath him, not caring about the congregation of girls in front of her who were putting on lip-gloss and fixing their tits. As he thrust slowly, tortuously, she began to lose all inhibitions. Who cared if only a mirror separated her from hundreds of people? Her man was making love to her. Nothing else mattered.
“The ring isn’t enough. Nothing is,” Gavin said into her ear and sped up his thrusts. “I can’t stand having other people look at you, having you smile at other people. I want it all for myself.”
“You’re the one who’s in me,” Lyla said as his hand collared her throat.
“I’m the only one, ever,” Gavin said against her ear.
Lyla touched herself as Gavin brought it home. Lyla braced her hands on the fogged up glass as she panted and writhed against it before she went limp. A young woman came up to the glass and checked out her ass before she winked at herself/Lyla and disappeared into the crowd.
“I needed my fix,” Gavin said as he pulled out and trailed kisses down her spine. “This damn dress.”
Lyla shuddered and sat back on her heels, trembling. “Do you think this will ever ease u
p?”
“I can’t imagine it.” He nuzzled her face and kissed her long and sweet. “Maybe if we have a couple of kids, I’ll have to rein it in...”
“You’re kid crazy,” she said, shaking her head and fixing her dress.
“Have you taken a pregnancy test?”
“I had my period recently.”
Gavin zipped himself up. “I better up my game.”
“You up it any more and I won’t be able to walk.”
Gavin drew her to her feet, cupped her face and kissed her. “I love you, Lyla Pyre.”
She let out a shaky breath. “I believe you.”
“Good.” He smacked her ass. “Now that you forced me to come to this, first we circulate, then we’re going home to spend all weekend in bed.”
Lyla ignored the guards’ lecherous grins and Blade’s smirk when they walked out. She went to the mirror to make sure she looked presentable and that no one could see inside. Lyla saw herself, lazy-eyed, lipstick smeared and hair mussed, but otherwise perfectly presentable for a nightclub. Her eyes glittered through the slits in the mask.
Gavin collected her and they circulated to the VIP tables where Gavin caught up with acquaintances, asked about their accommodations and got feedback on the club. Some of the celebrities asked outright about Manny and his murder. Gavin told the truth—that whoever did it hadn’t been apprehended and that they were still on the loose. Gavin introduced Lyla as his wife. People looked between them curiously or with a knowing smirk as if they knew that they just fucked. Gavin’s hands were constantly moving over her ass, bare back or belly. Kody Singer was the only one stupid enough to try to draw her away from Gavin, probably to ask about Carmen. Gavin had him in a headlock before Kody could say two words to her.
“You don’t touch or talk to my wife,” Gavin ordered.
There were flashes from the paparazzi as they honed in on the commotion. When Gavin showed no signs of releasing Kody, Lyla punched him in the shoulder.
“I know him, Gavin!” Lyla shouted.
Gavin turned to her, wrenching poor Kody’s neck. “How the fuck do you know him?”
She heard Kody choking and punched Gavin again. “I know him because of Carmen. Let him go!”