After getting out of the elevator and finding his room, Landon holds the door open for me to enter. I gasp at the elegance. Walking in, I notice the huge balcony at the far end of the room that overlooks the town, with a brown leather couch and big-screen TV placed just before it. Turning to my right, a curved bar sits with a kitchen.
“There are three bedrooms, and a guest bath. Feel free to take whatever room you’d like,” Landon offers, throwing his key card on the counter.
I walk over to the balcony and look out. We’re so high up, I can see the strip, the vibrant lights of Sin City brilliant against the night’s sky. The heat outside instantly makes my breasts and the back of my knees sweat.
“I’ll shower, thank you,” I finally respond.
I turn to find Landon standing right behind me, his body broad and muscular, making me feel tiny in comparison.
He slowly skims the soft skin under my arm with the pad of his finger, and I involuntarily flinch. My mouth parts and my eyes widen from my reaction.
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m just a little more shaken up than I thought,” I whisper, staring at the floor.
He places his finger under my chin and firmly raises my stare to his fierce green eyes.
“I wouldn’t hurt you.” His words vibrate through his chest as he speaks.
I know he wouldn’t by the way he looks at me, as if I’m a rare flower. It shows the delicacy he’s capable of. The fact Landon rescued me from that alley and had the courtesy to bring me back to his room after drinking shows volumes. Chasen never had that care written on his face when he looked at me, and I didn’t realize that till it was too late.
“I know that.” My voice comes out hoarse, my eyes skimming his taut body. I’d be stupid to resist him, but to be honest, even with the trauma I just experienced… I couldn’t resist Landon. He’s good-looking, charming, and irresistible.
He slowly trails his finger over my collarbone, and a spark ignites and spreads through my limbs. I gasp, and my eyes grow heavy. He runs it over the bare flesh of my shoulder, and a moan escapes my lips. His proximity seizes the air from my lungs, and my skin flushes with want. I don’t want to feel abandoned anymore; I’d do anything to just feel something other than a place of solace. It’s empty there, and cold. Being this close to Landon, I feel anything but cold. I want the warmth his body is capable of rendering. To have the tingles that creep up my limbs when he touches me reach optimum levels and leave me breathless, wanting more.
His finger glides downward, meeting the fabric of my dress just above my breasts. A mewl escapes my mouth and my body pushes forward on its own accord, wanting more contact. I peer from under my lashes, finding hungry eyes grounding me, his mouth parted slightly as he devours me with looks alone. His eyes are hooded and hold a daydream gloss to them.
He clears his throat and retracts his hand, stepping away and breaking the haze of lust we’re both under. The sweat on my body chills, and I shiver. Landon paces the floor with his head tilted back, looking up at the ceiling, his hands resting on the back of his neck. I can tell he’s trying to stay away from me, but he’s failing. I cross my arms and walk down the hall, searching for the shower. I’m not sure if we should indulge our cravings for each other, we’re obviously from separate sides of the tracks. And, especially with what just happened with Chasen. The draw my body and mind have toward him, though, I’m not sure I can fight. I’m not sure I want to.
LANDON
My hands grip the railing, my knuckles turning white from the force of my hold. I close my eyes and clench my jaw with anger. Liquor warms my veins, warning me I’ve drank too much. I’m not supposed to drink excessively; it’s against Blackwell rules. I smirk. Yet here I am tossing the fucking handbook out the window.
There’s something about Charlie, something I can’t seem to rein in. The way she tries to act so bold, yet her weakness shows with every flush of her cheeks and tremble of her lips. I’m losing control, showing emotion that doesn’t need to be revealed. I shake my head and open my eyes. Vegas. This is my city. I run this place, and everyone knows it.
I run the pad of my finger over my swollen lips. Charlie. The way my body pulls toward her - it’s a fucking mystery. When I saw those punks manhandling her, I could have easily snapped their necks. The look of despair on Charlie’s face tore my cold heart in two. I close my eyes, irritated. The way I’m reacting is ridiculous.
“Get a fucking hold of yourself,” I chastise. It’s a fucking woman, a girl. I shake my head. I just need to fuck her out of my system and get on with my life.
I replace my hand on the banister, my fingers choking it. I’ve had girls I wanted to fuck badly before in the past, and none of them compared to the ache I have in my dick, the burning in my chest I have right now. Looking at Charlie, she can’t be more than eighteen or nineteen, yet she manages to have me at my knees. I need to get out of here before I do something I can’t undo.
“Why do I feel so drawn to you, Charlie?” I whisper to myself.
CHARLIE