Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

B raxton

As we walked through the festive area, I was more than curious as to what he could possibly show me that would be more of an irritation.

“What’s going on?” I asked as we continued our walk toward the main casino.

“I would normally handle the situation, Mr. Royal, but she’s not a regular.”

“Travis. You’ve worked for the family long enough to call me by my first name. Not that I don’t appreciate you keeping a keen eye on the establishment, but you seemed quite antsy to show me whatever issue you mentioned.” A she. Very few things ever befuddled the man. The fact that a female guest had meant she was running a con. I could already feel it in my blood. “A con artist.”

“How do you always know? You’ll need to see her expertise yourself. That’s why I troubled you. I’ve never witnessed anyone quite so… effective.”

“Now you have me more than curious.” The man knew how much I enjoyed sparring with difficult women, although none had been worth their salt during the last few years. That made the bad boy inside of me churn with even more sadistic needs.

“Well, let’s say what you’re about to witness will satisfy your adoration of beautiful women, but I daresay you’ll consider them much more cunning than before. Right this way.”

Several private alcoves for high dollar poker games had been established early on. Some guests, usually males, enjoyed nothing more than coming to the Royal Players Club for the cognac, Cuban cigars, and the ability to indulge in their love of poker for days on end. In my mind, they could do that in Vegas, bypassing such an egregious price, but who was I to complain?

The rooms hadn’t been designed with the ability to close them off, the open layout something else we were noted for. That allowed for management to check throughout the night to ensure everything was as it should be.

The only areas that didn’t have full access to them were the private rooms designed for a couple or multiple couples to engage in their carnal acts. We had even recently added a blocked-off forest for primal hunts, all the rage in the kink world. I wouldn’t mind tracking down a beautiful, naked woman, tying her to a tree for heated discipline. Sadly, it wasn’t in my job description.

I headed to one of the bars, which was only feet away from the entrance to one of the rooms. After ordering my signature scotch, we walked closer. Travis nodded toward the only woman sitting at the table.

I was struck by her extreme beauty, especially when she turned her head in my direction. Her eyes were the color of rich plums, her irises rimmed in gold. With her long, dark curly hair, the violet dress accentuating her eyes and the shimmer of her skin, I was surprisingly mesmerized.

We both watched her in silence as another hand was played. She had a beautiful laugh, the kind that could melt hearts and of course with her stunning good looks, the four men at the table were eating up her attendance. She was an expert at flirting and I’d known the best.

“What are you trying to tell me, Travis?”

He leaned in, folding his arms. “Just watch. She’s impressive as hell.”

I did as he asked, studying every movement, every twitch of her hands. It didn’t take me long to detect what he wanted me to see given I knew what I was looking for.

She was perhaps the best card shark I’d ever witnessed. There was no doubt she was palming cards, but she was extremely astute in doing so. Plus, I had a feeling she could read a player like a true expert, catching a bluff without a hitch.

Fascinating to watch, I could do so for hours. It was rare that my libido kicked into high gear. I’d purposely stayed away from women for a half dozen reasons, one of which was to continue making money hand over fist. But this woman was… utter perfection.

And what she was doing was illegal, something I’d need to deal with, beauty or not.

“Yes, fascinating,” I said quietly. It appeared she’d won another round, gathering up the chips as the four men tossed their cards in disgust. Two of them shoved back their chair forcefully, getting up and walking away. I didn’t need to be any closer to know they were cursing under their breath.

Seconds later, a web of current shot between us. I rarely had such strong reactions to a woman, especially when they were attempting to steal from both the house and decent guests, but I was completely mesmerized not only by her skill but by her extreme beauty.

The draw was magnetic, off the charts and she slowly turned her head in my direction until our eyes locked together. She tilted her head, which enticed my hunger, and gave me a onceover. It didn’t matter about the distance, I was able to capture exactly what she was doing.

Staring me down was her attempt to disarm me. I’d be damned if she didn’t blow me a kiss before turning on her heel and disappearing into the crowd.

“Whew,” Travis huffed.

I took a couple of steps closer, scanning the crowd. How did I instinctively know the woman was a handful?

“What do you want to do, boss?” he asked, obviously amused.

“I’m going to take a long walk to my office. I assume you have this on film?”

“Of course. You didn’t hire the best for nothing.” Travis grinned.

“Wait about ten minutes and bring her to my office after sending me the footage. See if you can find out anything about her. Name. When she checked in. The usual. Also, have security standing by.”

His eyes opened wide. “You’re going to have her arrested?”

I found myself grinning. “That’s going to depend on her behavior.”

“Let me see if I can find her in the system.”

“I assure you that she won’t have gone but so far. There was an intrinsic connection.”

“I’ll say. The two of you could burn down the place.”

As Travis walked away, I remained where I was, allowing my very vile thoughts to drift deeper into my mind. Yes, I did have filthy thoughts about what I could do. What a bad boy I was.

Finally, I headed out of the casino to the private elevator leading to the corporate offices. The three Royal brothers each had offices, which allowed us to conduct business not only for the resorts but for the work needed for our family’s lucrative media firm. While Valerio ran more of the day-to-day activities, both Gage and I had responsibilities as well.

However, on this gorgeous night where the sun had been spectacular, the ocean breeze the things novels were made of, I couldn’t care less about Progressive Media Productions.

Perhaps I was far too happy with myself and my decision. It was entirely possible. However, life had been too comfy as of late, too predictable. To find a card shark who’d descended on my family’s protected world was… exciting.

A part of me couldn’t wait to unleash my own brand of discipline. Did that make me a very bad guy? Perhaps, but it had been a long time since I’d had any fun.

What did that say about a rich man who had every expensive toy at his disposal? I was bored. Plain and simple.

Perhaps the sexy con artist would become my muse for the night.

Or my prisoner.

Jasmine

Wow.

The word suited the hot guy across the room. From what I’d been able to tell, he was dressed to kill in an expensive suit, his powerful jaw more like chiseled stone.

Get a grip.

Telling myself that and making it so wasn’t that easy. I managed to take a deep breath, rechaining my wanton libido. I was here in this tropical location to gamble, feed what felt like an addiction, and remain far removed from my oppressive family as long as possible.

I wasn’t here to enter into a crazy, kinky affair.

The resort was entirely different than I’d thought. It wasn’t just a luxurious location designed for men and woman with far too much money on their hands and zero common sense. It turned out the Royal Players Club was full of kinky freaks. Some were even dressed in leather and chains mingling with men in tuxedos and women in long dresses. The odd dichotomy had taken me aback at first.

How many times had I been approached both by well-meaning employees and male guests alike? I also had felt propositioned by a well-to-do older woman who’d had a girl in what appeared to be a diamond collar, leading her around by a studded leash. She’d basically insinuated I’d be an excellent addition to her harem.

Not a snowball’s chance in hell.

Another one of my bestie’s expressions I’d adopted. Right now, they were coming in handy.

Maybe that’s why the sexy man had captured my attention. He seemed relatively normal, certainly a breath of fresh air.

I breathed in and out, imagining I was breathing in the mystery man’s exotic aftershave. I’d experienced a tidal wave of desire, which was so unlike me that I was a little lightheaded.

The inner and often annoying voice inside of me was already nagging and pushing my buttons.

Didn’t you realize you were playing a dangerous game?

What, with palming cards or with my attempt at avoiding men for as long as possible in my life? It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate a sensual alpha male, but I’d been burned by enough in my twenty-seven years to know I had to secure my life before I dared enter into a relationship of any kind.

Men would never be number one. Nope. Not for this girl.

Even my father believed he could marry me off to some wealthy constituent in payment for the man’s support and donations to my father’s campaign.

This was my escape, my method of coping. My former therapist would be happy I’d found an alternative method to drugs or alcohol. Neither were my jam. I’d tried alcohol, drowning my sorrows over the years, but the escape had been temporary.

This had been my riskiest trip of all, most of my adventures little more than overnight. Maybe I was hoping to get caught.

Yes, I enjoyed danger, relished the concept actually. It had been my release from a prison made of parliamentary requirements and concrete and wood. The risks I usually took were small potatoes in comparison to escaping to a private island in the middle of the Caribbean to scandalously take money from unsuspecting men who were too busy trying to figure out a way of getting me to bed.

However, maybe I hadn’t done enough research since obtaining the tip that I could soothe the anger that had been building for months. Most men were surrounded by women or in some cases, scantily clad men no doubt servicing their every subversive need. That didn’t usually offer me the best location for running my con.

Fortunately, I’d found a table where it seemed most men were gambling for a different kind of enjoyment.

I’d been lucky, more successful than usual and my achievement had fueled the bad girl inside of me. It felt as if I’d never be caught, my lilting laugh and the way I could bat my eyelashes creating a magical, hypnotic spell over all my victims. Even though I didn’t like to refer to them that way.

They were willing participants when I cooed and took their money. Hell, they were wealthy. Would they really miss a few thousand dollars a pop? I’d been ready to surrender to more personal needs of a nice, long massage, a sauna treatment with expensive champagne flowing whenever I needed, and a good night’s sleep before waking up in paradise.

Until a powerful electric draw had pulled my gaze all the way across the casino floor.

I was rarely taken by men, especially those who considered themselves powerful or influential. That usually meant they were arrogant pricks, not knights in shining armor. But I’d been drawn by the man’s dark gaze, the heat in his eyes and the intense fire burning deep within. I was honestly surprised I’d been able to breathe at that point or that other women hadn’t been caught in the man’s hungry stare.

I’d seen an inferno that not only fueled him, but that had threatened to consume us both.

I refused to allow that to happen no matter how seductive or charming he was. I’d been there, done that.

There was no doubt what he was thinking from the lust he exuded. He also carried a ‘touch her and die’ vibe, which I found far too attractive.

I’d reminded myself I could admire from afar yet had promised myself I wouldn’t touch. Men were far too complicated and my life didn’t need that at this point. There were already too many issues in my life, including the fact I was a closet thief, addicted to the adrenaline. It wasn’t about money, most of my ‘winnings’ donated to a good cause, but about the thrill of escaping unsinged.

After forcing myself to turn away, I performed my usual act of disappearing. I couldn’t risk being recognized or caught.

But my pulse remained rapid, a few lurid thoughts overshadowing my need to get away. I could easily change my itinerary so I wouldn’t remain tempted by the man. That was the beauty of having money, and not just the winnings I would claim later.

I grabbed a glass of champagne from a waiter ready to fly by, winking and licking my ruby-stained lips until he smiled. I always got my way with men.

Even after what I’d reminded myself about liquor, the bubbly was exactly what I needed to calm my unusual nerves.

I slipped from the room, closing in on the elevator when I felt a presence behind me. For a few ridiculous seconds, I hoped the mystery man was coming to claim me.

The moment I turned around, I could see I was sorely wrong.

Another man in a cheaper suit stood with a goon the size of a tall statue, his cold eyes locked onto mine.

As soon as I tried to get into the elevator, I was prevented, the huge dude even moving in front of me.

“I beg your pardon. You need to get out my way or I’ll call security.” My words were harsh, but they usually worked. Threats aways helped.

“Not so fast, miss. There’s an issue that needs to be dealt with,” the second guy said. At least he wore a slightly amused look on his face. The other was a stone-cold fish.

“What issue?” I acted as if I was incensed.

The obvious man in charge allowed the sparkle in his eyes to increase tenfold. “The issue of you stealing, which as you know is very against the law.”

Oh, shit. Oh… shit. This was the worst thing that could happen. However, I had to continue playing the highly incensed wealthy guest card. “How dare you,” I snapped, giving him a haughty look. “I am an important guest.”

“We have you on camera. Let’s go, Wally. Bring her with us.”

Wally? The thug’s name was Wally? Why not Bruno or Killer? When the huge dude dared to grab my arm, I jerked it away. “I’m not going anywhere with you. In fact, I want to talk to your boss. No, the owner. I don’t care if he’s vacationing in Italy, I want to talk to him right now so I can make a formal complaint.”

“Then you’re in luck,” the shorter guy said, giving Wally a nod.

“And why is that?”

“We are headed for the executive suites where you can tell one of the owners your sob story. Maybe he’ll be lenient on you. Then again, maybe he won’t. It’s entirely up to you.”