Call Me Sugar

by Sage Nyx

  I glance at the two Peggy Penguin slot machines and try to choose between them. One is near the front entrance if I need to make a quick exit. The other is by the main bar and closer to Eva, which would be better if she needs to run interference.

  Hesitating for only a moment, I move away from the roulette table and head to the machine closest to her. There’s a lot of activity in the bar area.

  Throngs of tourists are passing through on their way to one of the Imperial’s five-star restaurants. I might draw less attention if I hide in the middle of a crowd rather than sitting off in an empty corner by myself.

  Reaching over, I give the Peggy Penguin machine two loving pats from Natasha.

  “Come on, Miss Peggy,” I whisper. “Let’s do your thing one last time.”

  Sugar

  Backstage at the Imperial Hotel and Casino…

  “Does this outfit make me look fat?” Kit jokes. “Tell me the truth and don’t hold back.”

  He’s trying unsuccessfully to squeeze his tall, muscular body into a red and green elf’s costume that’s at least three sizes too small.

  “I can’t believe I let you talk me into something so stupid,” he says, tugging the suit up higher and slipping his muscular arms through the sleeves. “This is ridiculous, not to mention embarrassing.”

  His chest muscles are bulging out the sides of the spandex costume. I laugh when he tugs on an elf cap with a jangly bell hanging off the end over his unruly mane of hair.

  “I owe you a big favor,” I tell him. “You can call it in, any time, day or night.”

  “Oh, I will,” he says. “You can bet your ass on that. Can we hurry and get this damn thing over with?”

  “That’s the plan. You do the driving and I’ll entertain the crowd. We’ll make one straight shot through the casino. In through the main entrance doors and out the staff exit at the back. My crew will be stationed by both sets of doors to open them and help us if we run into trouble.”

  I climb up beside him on the seat of the big red sleigh. It’s difficult and awkward since I’m dressed in a full Santa outfit, complete with a white beard, heavy black boots and a red hat.

  “Damn! This outfit must weigh thirty pounds,” I say. “How do shopping mall Santas do this for a living? I’m sweating like a whore in church already.”

  “At least your dick is covered up,” Kit says. “Check out mine.”

  I glance down at his crotch area where the elf costume is stretched tightly, barely covering him.

  “Don’t stand up,” I tell him. “Otherwise, you’ll flash your balls to the crowd. They’re hanging out the sides of your costume.”

  “I won’t, don’t worry. Are you ready to go?”

  Kit leans down to pick up the heavy leather reins connected to the eight reindeer pulling the sleigh.

  They’re an ornery, nasty bunch of animals. Much larger and smellier than I expected. They’re noisy too, breathing hard and snorting loudly.

  “I’m ready,” I reply.

  He makes a clicking sound to the reindeer, then calls out to them while lightly flicking the reins. “On Dasher, on Dancer…”

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” I interrupt. “Those are really their names?”

  “Hell no!” he says, giving me an exasperated look. “I’m trying to get you into the Christmas spirit.”

  “Get me into the damn casino. I don’t give a shit about holiday spirit.”

  “Okay, Santa.” He turns to me with a wide grin. “Whatever you say. Let’s see if these reindeer can fly.”

  Jade

  I hit the spin button on the slot machine again, while keeping a running count in my head.

  So far, so good.

  I don’t need to be prepared to hit the payout button until the machine has spun at least thirty times. A long sequence of codes will be running through my brain like a stock market ticker tape before I hit it.

  I’ve studied the machine’s code enough to know when the sequence will line up to pay out. With my brain and no distractions, the electronic accessories are unnecessary.

  It’s tempting to keep my hand hovering right above the payout button in anticipation, but that would be suspicious if anyone was paying attention.

  Slot machine players are impulsive and erratic.

  I can’t appear to be concentrating too hard. Which is almost impossible with the sheer amount of numbers I’m keeping up with.

  A burst of noise from a crowd on the far side of the casino draws my eyes. A tall, stunningly handsome man in a black tuxedo is striding rapidly across the casino floor followed by a uniformed security team. He’s dark-haired and tanned with distinct Italian features.

  He looks livid.

  And dangerous as hell.

  They’re heading straight for the rows of slot machines where I’m playing.

  I cut my eyes over at Eva. She’s sitting on a bar stool with her long legs daintily crossed, casually stirring her fancy cocktail with a pink paper straw.

  When she spots the man heading my way, she quickly scoops up her drink and moves to intercept him. He crashes straight into her in his rush, causing the drink to slosh over onto the carpeted floor.

  “Eva!” he calls out in surprise, stopping dead in his tracks. He grabs her upper arms to steady her. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. What are you doing here?”

  “Celebrating Christmas Eve, Gio,” she replies with a warm smile, turning her full attention on him. “What else would I be doing?”

  She knows him? Who the hell is he?

  They’re only a few feet away from me, so close I can sense the crackling tension in the air between them.

  She called him Gio.

  The name doesn’t ring a bell.

  “A beautiful woman shouldn’t be alone on Christmas Eve,” he says, reaching for her hand. I watch in surprise as he tenderly lifts her hand to his lips and kisses it lightly before reluctantly letting it go. “Please allow me to buy you another drink.”

  Is that a tinge of a pink blush rising on her cheeks?

  It is.

  What the hell is happening here? I don’t have time to figure it out. Behind me there’s a loud gasp from the crowd and the distinct jingling sound of metallic sleigh bells.

  “Ho! Ho! Ho!” A booming voice calls out near the front entrance. “Merry Christmas!” The amplified sound echoes across the casino floor.

  Oh no!

  I’d recognize that voice anywhere. Whirling around, I glance over my shoulder toward the front entrance with dread, knowing who I’ll see.

  A big, red sleigh pulled by eight snorting reindeer is charging through the main aisle of the casino. Sugar is dressed in a full Santa Claus costume while Kit, his muscular cat man friend, is sitting beside him masquerading as an oversized elf.

  Kit tugs back hard on the leather reins to slow the reindeer to a stop in the middle of the casino. Sugar waves gaily to the crowd and jumps off. He picks up a red velvet bag from the sleigh, throws it over his shoulder, and starts working the room.

  “Merry Christmas!” he says to the smiling tourists as he hands out candy canes. “Did you mail me your Christmas list? Were you good this year?” He walks around the room, charming the ladies and drawing smiles from the men.

  Even in a Santa suit, the man is oozing charisma.

  Eventually he makes his way over to me.

  “Merry Christmas, young lady! Have you been a good girl or a naughty girl this year?”

  He shakes a candy cane at me and gives me a wink, his blue eyes twinkling merrily behind the fake, white beard. Leaning down closer, he whispers in my ear. “A very naughty girl, I bet.”

  I gape at him, speechless.

  He moves away before I answer and walks over to Eva. The Italian man standing beside her is fuming.

  “You look lovely this evening,” Sugar says to Eva, holding out a candy cane to her. When she smiles politely and reaches for it, the man steps closer to her.

  He frowns at Sugar. “What the fuck d
o you think you’re doing?” he asks in a low, furious tone.

  “Don’t be a grumpy elf!” Sugar replies, sticking a candy cane up near the man’s nose for him to take. “It’s Christmas!”

  The man glares at him angrily for a moment before roughly snatching the candy cane out of his hand.

  “That’s the spirit! Merry Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!” Sugar lets out another jolly belly laugh before slapping the man on the back and moving along to the next group of giggling women.

  When his bag of candy is empty, he climbs back into the sleigh. Holding onto Kit’s shoulders for support, he stands up on the sleigh’s red velvet seat where he can be seen from every corner of the casino.

  “Is everyone having a good time tonight?” he shouts. The crowd cheers and yells back at him. “Don’t miss my brand new, Call Me Sugar illusionist show beginning on New Year’s Day. Merry Christmas everyone!”

  He holds his white, gloved hands up high toward the ceiling from where snowflakes are now falling.

  The gamblers near me smile and laugh. They’re holding their hands up too, hoping to catch the snow as the flakes blow down faster.

  A strange wind whirls around the sleigh and reindeer, picking up speed and moving faster.

  The snow coming down is almost a blizzard now. I can barely see Sugar and the sleigh.

  Or can I?

  The spot where the sleigh was parked is now only a swirling blur of peppermint red and white color. The reindeer and sleigh have disappeared.

  I’ve fallen headfirst into a magical snow globe.

  Suddenly a familiar, tattooed hand reaches out through the snow to grab mine. The hand jerks me off the stool and on my feet.

  “Time to get the hell out of here, naughty girl,” Sugar whispers. “Come with me.”

  “Wait!” I say, glancing back over my shoulder at the slot machine. Only ten more spins to go until the payout. “I can’t leave yet.”

  “You can’t stay! I know what you’re doing. Move! Now!”

  The urgency in his voice tells me not to argue.

  He knows.

  He tugs me behind him as we cross the casino through the blizzard of falling snow. He quickly punches a code to open a restricted staff access door, then pushes me through in front of him.

  Taking my hand again in his, he half-drags me down a long, empty hallway. I’m struggling to keep up with his pace in my heels.

  When we reach another set of heavy steel doors, he pulls a keycard out of his pocket and inserts it into a slot.

  The double doors slide open and he shoves me into a private glass elevator that runs up the outside of the Imperial Hotel. Once we’re safely inside, he hits the button for the roof.

  “Whew!” he says, turning to grin at me. “What a fucking rush! We made it!”

  “Sugar, what the hell are you doing?” I ask. “Where’s Santa?”

  He’s now wearing an expensive tailored suit and tie instead of the Santa outfit.

  “Santa?” he says, lifting his eyebrows at me. “That’s your main priority? Oh, that old guy disappeared into thin air, along with his sleigh and eight reindeer. All that’s left in his place is a sad, melting snowman wearing his hat.” He chuckles at my shocked expression. “Sorry you couldn’t stick around for that last part. I love that trick! It’s awesome. I’m sure someone will put a video clip up on the internet, if you want to catch it later.”

  “You need to let me out of the elevator right this minute,” I say firmly, moving toward the door. “I don’t understand what’s happening.”

  Sugar crosses his arms and leans back against the elevator wall. He’s sexy as hell and gorgeous as ever. It’s taking every bit of willpower I have not to throw myself into his arms.

  He studies me carefully a moment before speaking.

  “You don’t understand what’s happening, Jade?” he finally says. “That’s a joke. Okay, I’ll tell you what I think is happening here, and you tell me if I’m right. Deal? The important thing you need to know is that I’m saving your ass.”

  My eyes grow big.

  So, he does know everything.

  “You and your friend, Natasha, are running a scam on the casinos. Am I right?”

  I glance up at him and don’t answer.

  “You’ve hit how many casinos already tonight? Six? Ten? The casinos are on to you. Did you know they share information and work together? They sent out a security alert with a blurry photo of the two of you. You were wearing a wig.” He reaches out to touch my blonde bob wig. “Not this one though, which means you’ve switched.” He nods slowly. “That’s smart. A good plan. Your eyes are blue now, and you’re missing your glasses. Colored contact lenses?”

  I nod once and glance away from him, unable to meet his eyes.

  Suddenly he reaches across me and hits the stop button on the elevator. We’re midway up on the outside of the high-rise building.

  We’re all alone with a view to die for.

  “Why did you stop the elevator?” I ask, turning to him in alarm.

  “We’re not getting off this damn elevator until you tell me the truth. Don’t worry. It’s Mr. Giovanni’s private elevator. We won’t be disturbed.” He holds the elevator keycard up to show me. “Did you know that I’m a skilled pickpocket? I lifted this card out of his tuxedo pocket when I handed him the candy cane. This is the only elevator in the Imperial Hotel that doesn’t have a security camera installed inside. Mr. Giovanni insists on personal privacy. Right now, we’re both completely off security’s radar. We won’t be for long, so start talking, Jade. The clock is ticking.”

  “Mr. Giovanni?” I ask, frowning. “Who is that?”

  Giovanni…Gio. Oh shit!

  “He’s the owner of this hotel and half of Vegas. He’s a wealthy man and very dangerous when he’s crossed. Considering you were trying to cheat in his casino, I’m surprised you didn’t know that vital piece of information.”

  “He was in the casino tonight,” I say, realizing he must be the Italian man with Eva.

  “Wow, I wonder why? Mr. Giovanni’s family is from Naples. They’re an old, established Italian family with organized crime ties going back generations. Pride is everything. There’s no way he would sit idly by while a group hit his casino. He brought most of his security team with him into the casino tonight. He was there because he was coming after you.”

  “Why were you there?” I ask quietly.

  He reaches out with both hands and pulls me hard against his chest.

  “I was coming for you, too.”

  Words have never held such thick, unspoken promise. A current of electricity passes between us as our eyes meet, then his eyes drop to travel down my body.

  He backs me up against the glass elevator walls. Without asking for permission, he presses his lips against mine in a deep, hungry kiss.

  His muscled strength thickens the haze of desire fogging my senses. His other hand slips down to my breasts in that dominating way of his that always makes me breathless and wet.

  I draw away after a moment, gasping for breath.

  “What are you doing?” I ask.

  “Getting my thank you for saving your ass,” he replies with a cocky grin. “If I’d shown up five minutes later, you’d be in a dark basement somewhere being questioned by thugs.”

  “How long have you known?” I dread hearing his answer.

  “That you were up to something?” He draws back to gaze at me. “From day one. I wasn’t exactly sure what you were doing until tonight. I still don’t know all the details, and I expect you to tell me everything later. But at this moment, none of that matters. All I care about is this.”

  He grabs my lips with his in another hungry kiss with such urgency that our teeth clash. My willpower to resist him melts. Reaching up, I wrap my arms around the back of his neck and pull him closer.

  Sugar slips his hands under my dress and yanks down the silky thong panties with one tug. I step out of them and he cups my ass with both hands, lifting me complet
ely off the floor.

  I frantically try to loosen his expensive tie. After pulling the knot loose, I throw it on the floor of the elevator and go to work on the buttons of his shirt. After unbuttoning half his shirt, I give up on the rest and go straight for his belt buckle.

  As much as I love spreading my palms across his muscled chest, there’s no time for that now.

  “We’re wrinkling your expensive suit,” I whisper.

  “It’s for a good cause,” he says with a low chuckle. “I’ll buy you ten dresses to replace the one you’re wearing. Don’t worry about it either.”

  “I wasn’t planning on wearing it again.”

  “Too bad. It’s hot as hell.”

  He braces me against the glass wall of the elevator for support and wraps my legs around his waist. Holding me tight with one arm, he brings out his cock from the gap in his zipper with the other.

  I’m already panting, soaking wet and ready for him.

  In one powerful thrust, he rams deep inside me, driving me back hard against the glass panes of the elevator.

  I gasp loudly and cling to his broad shoulders for support.

  He grips my ass cheeks tightly in each hand while forcefully moving me up and down on his long cock.

  Fuck, he’s strong!

  I can sense the energy and power coursing through his hands, his muscled arms. I love turning myself over to him completely.

  All I can do is hold on tight.

  “Goddamn!” he groans against my neck. “You’ve driven me insane the past few days. I’ve searched everywhere for you, wondering where you were and why you left. After I had one sweet taste of you, I knew I’d never get enough. Don’t you dare fucking run out on me again.”

  “I won’t.”

  Closing my eyes, I give myself up willingly to the erotic sensation of his cock plunging into me, deeper and harder with every thrust.

  “You’re addictive,” he mutters into my ear. “Like a sweet, tantalizing drug, making me high. Every night, I crave your sweet, tight pussy in my dreams, causing me to wake up rock hard. Burning and aching with a need only you can fill.”