She held up a hand. “Just stop right there.”
No surprise, the tiger didn’t listen. He kept easing toward her, acting as if he wanted to eat her—or else he was grinning at her. Reason intruded. Las Vegas had a ton of circus animals and one had probably become loose—that or this animal themed casino had a pet tiger. Her muscles relaxed a little at that thought.
“Nice kitty.”
The cat placed a huge paw on the bed and tilted his head to the side but didn’t jump up. Okay, this dream wasn’t fun anymore.
Think of another fantasy!
She wanted that strong man who’d carried her in here again. Then she wanted that same tall, virile man to make mad, passionate love with her. She gobbled up romance novels like they were candy and yearned to feel the heat between her thighs and have him push her over that climactic edge so fast and hard that time stood still. Was that too much to ask?
With his head still cocked to the side, the tiger closed his eyes. Not wanting to anger the beast, Elise eased off the bed away from the animal. Her gazed darted around the room looking for a place to hide. Aha. A door on the far side of the room had to lead somewhere—a bathroom, a closet, or perhaps a hallway. If she could close the door, she should be safe. A tiger couldn’t turn a door handle.
Faster than she’d ever moved before, she darted to her place of safety, pulled open the door, and jumped inside. The moment the latch clicked close, she sagged against something soft, but her heart still pounded wildly.
“Elise, why did you run?” said her fantasy man.
Was he kidding? Why did I run? Because a wild animal had been just about ready to have me for a snack.
Wait a minute; that voice was human, and once that registered, her blood pressure returned closer to normal.
“Is he gone?” She wasn’t sure how that was possible in the three seconds since she’d locked herself in the closet, but maybe the big cat had been a figment of her imagination.
“I’m the only one here.”
Because the man sounded like the one who’d carried her in here, Elise twisted the doorknob and pushed it open an inch. What she saw made her heart stop.
“Ah, you’re naked,” Elise said. Even though she averted her gaze upward, heat raced up her face.
“I am. Isn’t that what you wanted? This is your fantasy.”
Don’t tell me he can read my mind? Of course he could read her mind. This was her dream, created in her head, but it damn sure felt real. She let out a huge breath and stepped into the room.
As long as she was directing this fantasy, she might as well do what she wanted. “It is. I have to say, you’re better than I ever pictured you.” Sure he had broad shoulders and ripped abs, but his face was like that of a god—green eyes with dark brown hair that had enough of a wave to make her want to wrap her finger around each curl and inhale his scent. In the past, she’d always been drawn to men with deep, chocolate brown eyes, and thick, dark hair, but not anymore.
Apparently he was pleased with her comment, because her mystery man stood taller and his cock jutted out large and proud. Oh, my.
“Do you want to touch me?” he asked.
He could see into her head. “Yes.”
Elise kept telling herself this wasn’t real, but her feet hurt and her stomach was fluttering uncontrollably. She sure could use those comfy sandals she’d imagined earlier right about now. Elise inched her way toward him, her gaze returning to his erection every few seconds.
Erection! That was it. She’d been thinking about the male revue show and this was her way of compensating. Wouldn’t Samantha and Regina be jealous when she told them how she had been able to explore one of the men—more or less? Only which one was he?
“What’s your name?”
“Max.”
“Is that short for Maximum?”
He chuckled. “How about I let you decide?”
“I think I’d like to get to know you first.”
What was she doing? Max wasn’t real. Hell, once Nikolai snapped his fingers, or whatever hypnotists did to break a person out of a spell, he’d no longer exist, so why waste her precious time asking about him? Because I can’t help myself.
Elise stepped closer to her dream man and her vision blurred—or else her eyesight was failing her. She could have sworn his hair turned a lighter shade of brown, actually bordering on orange, and thick hair had popped out on his chest. That was some cool magic trick.
Max must have lost his patience because he closed the gap between them and cupped her shoulders. Warmth immediately streaked down her shoulders. “Don’t be afraid of me,” he said. “I’m here to fulfill your every wish.”
His words couldn’t have been more perfect. Emboldened by his positive comments, she ran her fingers down his chest, loving the softness of his hair that covered his pecs of steel. “You have a nice body.”
Smooth Elise, real smooth.