Chapter Ten

Dylan

The vibrant energy of the casino washes over us as Caress and I step through the ornate double doors. Flashing lights and the melodic chiming of slot machines fill the air, punctuated by excited shouts from the craps tables. I grin as I take in Caress’s wide-eyed excitement.

“Ready to lose all your money, Mr. Carter?” she teases, squeezing my hand.

I pull her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. “In your dreams, baby. Don’t forget, I’m the one with the poker face.”

Caress laughs, the sound sending warmth through my chest. “We’ll see about that. Now, let’s set some ground rules for our little wager.”

We make our way to a quieter corner near the bar, where I flag down a waiter for drinks. As we wait, we hammer out the details of our bet. We’ll split $500 between us, leaving whenever it’s all spent or using any winnings for dinner. Caress’s eyes sparkle mischievously as she adds her own twist.

“Whoever runs out of money first has to do anything the other one requests for the rest of the night,” she proposes, her voice low and sultry.

My pulse quickens at the implications. “You’re on,” I agree, sealing the deal with a kiss that promises much more to come.

Armed with our chips and cocktails, we set out to conquer the casino floor. Caress gravitates towards the slot machines while I make a beeline for the blackjack tables. We agree to meet back up in an hour to compare our progress.

The next hour fly by in a whirlwind of cards, dice, and laughter. I ride the highs of a few big wins at blackjack, only to watch my chip stack dwindle during a run of bad luck at poker. Caress, meanwhile, seems to have the magic touch with the slot machines, her excited squeals drawing my attention from across the room.

As the night wears on, I find myself more captivated by Caress than the games. The way her eyes light up when she wins, the adorable scrunch of her nose when she’s concentrating, the musical quality of her laugh, it’s all intoxicating. I realize I’d gladly lose every chip I have just to keep seeing her this happy and carefree.

Eventually, my luck runs out entirely. I push back from the poker table, my pockets empty but my heart full. I find Caress at the roulette wheel, a healthy stack of chips in front of her.

“Well, well,” she smirks as I approach. “Looks like someone’s broke.”

I hold up my hands in mock surrender. “You got me. I bow to your superior gambling skills, my lady.”

Caress’s grin widens. “Oh, I like the sound of that. In fact…” She cashes out her chips, which have nearly doubled our initial investment, then turns to me with a glint in her eye. “I think I know exactly how I want to collect on our bet.”

Before I can react, she hops onto my back, wrapping her legs around my waist. “Onwards, noble steed!” she declares, pointing towards the exit. “Her Royal Highness’s feet shall not touch the ground for the remainder of the evening.”

I laugh, adjusting my grip to support her weight. “As you wish, Your Majesty. Where to?”

“First, a victory lap around the ship,” Caress decrees, nuzzling into my neck. “Then back to the cabin. I have plans for you, Mr. Carter.”

The promise in her voice sends a shiver down my spine. I set off, Caress’s warmth pressed against my back, her arms draped over my shoulders. As we make our way through the ship, drawing amused and curious glances from other passengers, I’m struck by how right this feels. The playfulness, the intimacy, the sheer joy of being together – it’s everything I’ve ever wanted and more.

We traverse the decks, Caress alternating between imperious commands and soft kisses pressed to my neck. By the time we reach our cabin, we’re both breathless with laughter and barely contained desire.

I fumble with the key card, Caress still clinging to my back, her lips now working their way along my jaw. As soon as the door clicks shut behind us, I spin around, pressing her against it. Our mouths meet in a searing kiss, all the pent-up passion from the evening pouring out.

“I love you,” I murmur against her lips, my hands roaming her body. “God, Caress, I love you so much.”

She pulls back just enough to meet my gaze, her eyes shining with emotion. “I love you too, Dylan. Now, take me to bed. We’ve got all night, and I intend to make the most of it.”

As we tumble onto the bed, clothes flying in every direction, I silently thank whatever twist of fate brought us on this cruise.

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