CHAPTER 8
Growing up, Sadie had spent a lot of time around casinos. Shed even worked in one for a while, as a cocktail waitress. But that was back in college and it was NEVER worth the black and blue marks on her ass from the dirty old men that pinched her. Shed quit after three months.
Her casino, however, had never, ever spun like this.
Everything rushed past in a whirl of light and noise and she staggered blindly along beside Josh. People brushed by. Her heightened senses were painfully overwhelmed by every ding and whistle. She clung a little tighter to Joshs arm. She was even more drunk than she had thought.
There it is, Joshs voice yelled over the din. He pointed to the spinning, blurring top-like apparatus perched on a table in the corner. They went over to it, working their way into the mob of people. Josh fished out his wallet.
$50, he said, handing a bill to the dealer. She quickly changed it for chips, which Josh took and placed haphazardly all over the table. There was no particular pattern to it whatsoever. The dealer spun the wheel.
Whatdo you think? he whispered, lips grazing Sadies ear, You think luck is on our side?
But Sadie couldnt think with him that close to her. Not with her brain anyway. Her intoxicated hormones were screaming at her to lay him out, right there, and fuck that daring little smirk clean off his face, but fortunately or unfortunately, her body was unable to respond. She searched, instead, through the foggy haze for her vocal chords.
I think its
She didnt get to finish before the wheel stopped. The dealer turned in their direction.
Josh picked up $1,000.
As he received his chips, he smiled at her in delight.
Want to place them this time? he asked, offering her a stack. Sadies shaky hands accepted, fingertips brushing his. Shocks ran through her. She bit back a moan.
Unsteadily, she stumbled up to the table and began placing chips. Mostly on the red spots, because that was the color that seemed to infuse the area behind her eyes. The red blur of sexual frustration
which was shortly made worse by Joshs hands on her waist.
Lets see how good you are, Lady Luck, he teased, resting his chin on her shoulder as the wheel whirled around once again. Sadies eyes watched the spinning. The white ball bounced from bracket to bracket. Then things slowed. The ball teetered precariously between two opposing colors. Joshs arms tighten. Sadie forgot to breathe.
The dealer yelled a number that wasnt red.
Aw fuck, Josh said.
Sadies body trembled.
Fuck
Hed said fuck.
Right in her ear.
She wanted to die.
I
Im sorry, she said, trying to break from his grasp. But those muscled arms wouldnt relinquish their grip. Instead, they spun her around.
Its ok, he assured her, smiling. His blue eyes danced and sparkled, We can just try a different game.
He started to pull her away and, inebriated as she was, she could do nothing but follow. Besides, he was Josh. He smelled good. He felt good. She bet he tasted good, too and she wanted to be as close to him as possible.
They picked their way across the casino, arms around each others waists
Until Josh stopped suddenly.
Oh! Craps! he said with an excited giggle, Lets do that! Ive always wanted to play craps with a woman!
Sadie looked up, confused.
Why? she asked.
Josh grinned.
Dice, he answered.
That did nothing to clear things up.
Dice? Sadie repeated.
Josh nodded, pulling her very, very close. He leaned within kissing range. Sadies palms pressed against his chest.
Yes dice, he said, penetrating her entire body with his smoky blue gaze, Dont you know what youre woman is supposed to do with the dice?
Sadie shook her head, mute. Josh stroked his thumb over her lips.
BLOW on them, he whispered.
The shocks pained her again, especially as he continued to stroke her lips. Sadie was forced to close her eyes lest she do something she shouldnt.
Joshs voice danced over her ear again.
Show me how well you can blow, Sadie