Breaking Elle (16 page)

“Cool,” Cane replies.

“Yeah, boss lady here gave me the okay.” He winks, unsmiling.

“Just as long as you take care of
your
business.” I reply, pushing past the nerves.
Get a grip.
He came into your office acting like a complete ass; he’s not worth the time or the stress.

“I always take care of
my
business,” he replies with that damn drawl that gets me every time. I fight back a shiver. “See you guys later.” He nods and steps past Cane, heading towards the lockers, but not before Evelyn catches up with him. That girl really has no idea how desperate she looks right now. I shake the trance that he put me in and look away. Seriously, I need to keep my distance.

“So, what were we doing before we were so rudely interrupted?” Cane says. I turn to him, raising my face to his, and throwing my arms around his neck.

“How about we wait for everyone to go so that we can have the whole place to ourselves?” I whisper breathlessly in his ear.

“I like the sound of that.”

Cane tosses everybody out early after I told him what I would do to him in the hot tub. As the sound of his footsteps get closer, my mind runs wild waiting for him. I lift my eyes, watching him walk over illuminated by the dim overhead lighting. I admire his spectacularly defined chest, abs, and his powerful legs, anxious to reach out and touch him, eager to have my body wrapped around his. I gaze longingly as a sly smile spreads across his face when he slides into the hot tub next to me.

“Babe, what took you so long?” I giggle sliding closer to him, draping my legs across his thighs.

“I was making sure that everything was locked up baby. I want to spend uninterrupted time with you,” he says, biting his lip. His chestnut brown eyes linger on my lips and then connect with my eyes. “God, seeing you in your bikini tonight was driving me crazy,” he whispers, softly squeezing my thigh, sliding his hand higher, and sending an ache coursing through my body that I can’t fight. “And then when you told me what you wanted to do, I basically shoved everyone out the damn door.”

“Yeah?” I tilt my head flirtatiously. “What are we gonna do about it?” I climb on top of him, straddling his lap. The water bubbles softly around us as he wraps his strong hands around my waist, eagerly pulling me in so that we’re chest to chest.

“I think you’re doing fine all by yourself, but I’d love to help,” he murmurs breathlessly, his tongue traveling over my skin, down my neck, and to the hollow of my throat. I moan and close my eyes, sliding my arms around his neck. “You’re gonna have to lose this.” He says between kisses slowly untying my bikini top, his hand softly caressing my breast.

My breath catches at feeling him so close to me. I love the way he touches me. My eyes fall to his lips, slowly tracing the line of his jaw with my finger. He moans softly when I tenderly tease his bottom lip with my tongue, wanting to taste the sweetness of his mouth that I’ve become addicted to. His hands travel up my back, his body tense in anticipation when he feels me grinding against him.

“Is this what you want?” he whispers raggedly over my mouth, his eyes hooded. My breathing instantly quickens and a shudder passes through my body as I feel his hard length against me.

“Yes Cane.” I whimper. “Always.” I pull away, cup his face with my hands, and place kisses on each corner of his mouth before I capture it fully. Needing to feel all of him, I press myself against him.

“Baby, you feel so good. I don’t want anything more than to be inside you right now.” He smiles, talking over the kisses I plant on his lips. He groans softly, feeling my hands slide down his chest to his stomach. His lips travel to my breasts teasing and nibbling them while his fingers slide along my wet skin.

“Cane...”

He stops swirling his tongue around my nipples and looks back at my face. I pull him back up to my lips.

“I need you,” I whimper.

“Oh God, babe.” He moans while lightly biting my neck, “How can I resist?” His hands deftly travel down my waist to untie the strings of my bikini. I rub myself against him, needing to feel him closer. He mimics my movements, driven by the same want, the same need. He pushes his shorts down leaving his body bare against mine. He clutches me closer to him. Flashing a wicked smile, he brings his hand to the back of my head, grabs a fist full of hair, and tugs gently. “Baby, I’m going to fuck you so hard you’re going to beg me to stop,” he growls, teasing his lips down my neck. The words excite me and his touch sends a tremor deep to my core.

“Please.” I’m already begging. He nips my earlobe, his breaths rapid as he clutches my hips firmly over his. We don’t say anything else as our bodies tangle underneath the water, touching and caressing each other. He groans as I press against him. A rush of pleasure comes over me and I slam my mouth on his needing a connection with him
now
. His tongue meets mine, our kiss frenzied. I reach down to curl my fingers around his length. He lets out a groan as my hand squeezes and strokes his.

“Have your eyes on me when I take you, Elle.” I gaze into his fiery brown eyes as he lifts me, slamming me down hard, forcing every inch of himself into my wet core. His grip fierce around my waist, he sets a rigorous pace fulfilling his promise to fuck me hard.

“More,” I moan. “Yes, harder.”

I follow his lead, rapidly moving my hips with his thrusts, never losing the connection with his eyes. Cane’s punishing grip on my body grows tighter as he nears climax.

“Fuck, baby.” He groans. He tugs my hair back, kissing my chin, following the line down my throat to my breasts. He slows but his thrusts grow harder, bringing him deeper and deeper. I close my eyes, digging my fingers into his back. My body focuses on the pleasure building inside of me. “Come on, baby.” He coaxes me.

“There, right there.” I moan, slamming my lips on his. My mind crashes. I shudder as we both reach the pinnacle of pleasure that only he has ever brought me. I hold on to the physical high a little longer, melding my body to his. “You’re so good to me,” I whisper over his lips. He smiles, pressing his lips to mine.

“Just good?”

“You make me lose my mind, baby. I can’t control what comes out of my mouth when you do things like that to me,” I say breathy and light.

“In that case, good is good enough for me.”

I swing open the frosted doors to the casino, and instantly, I feel inundated by the sights and sounds of the place. The combination of coins rolling out of slot machines, bells ringing, cheesy sideshows in the lounge, and people at the ATM withdrawing money with a desperate look in their eye makes my stomach drop. In the past, I’ve been known to wipe out my whole bank account and max out my credit card to play with the high rollers, the VIPs, putting five hundred dollars down per hand without blinking an eye. You win one hand only to lose the next five. You try to leave the place with at least the money you had in your pocket when you walked in. Yep, gambling is a crazy roller coaster ride.

I’ve left casinos on a high note, but my last few visits have been real shitty. The tables haven’t been liking me and I’ve lost my touch. I don’t know how many times I tell myself I’m not coming back, but I always find myself on the doorstep of hell with all the other lost, weak souls of this world trying to find satisfaction or redemption in the wrong place.

It’s an extreme pain and pleasure, hot and cold, type of addiction. I’m hoping I’m lucky tonight. I brought two thousand in cash and my credit card, just in case my luck goes south and I need a back up to for some quick cash. I know Tommy’s got some, but I’ve never been one to take from my friends like that, not when it comes to fixing my problems. Tommy hates when I gamble. He says he can’t handle being around me because I’m too intense, too destructive and too competitive, but he says he has to be there for my sake so that I don’t lose complete control.

I’d get desperate sometimes. When I couldn’t fight the urge, I’d ban myself from these places. I’d actually walk my broke, unlucky ass to security telling them to take my mug shot and post it all over the casino. If caught on their property, they’d have me arrested for trespassing. Those were some dark times. Unfortunately, my days aren’t any brighter now, which is why I find myself here.

Since the good ole state of Texas doesn’t allow gambling, the L’Auberge Casino Resort in Louisiana was where I got my first taste at eighteen years old. You have to be twenty-one to gamble, but I had my shit in order and had a couple of fake IDs made for other reasons like drinking. I couldn’t wait to be a grown up and enjoy all of the perks of being an adult, but gambling was not on my radar. It just kind of happened.

It was supposed to be a random trip to New Orleans to celebrate graduating from high school. At the time, my buddies and I made a pit stop in Lake Charles, Louisiana, for some gas and that’s all she wrote. We saw signs for the casino, we never looked back, and we never made it to New Orleans on that trip. I keep on writing some crazy chapters. My book would be number one on the
New York Times
Best Sellers list.

“Wow,” Tommy murmurs. “Look at this place.” His spins on his heels in the spacious lobby covered in marble and glass. My roommate and teammate from college looks like he’s never seen a place like this before, and it makes me laugh knowing that we’ve been to plenty of casinos over the years.

“Oh, the shit is all for show, man. Either you take their money, or they take yours. Bottom line. Tonight I need some of their money,” I say, anxiously rubbing my hands together as I head to the front desk to check in.

The nerves are kicking in fast just by being in this atmosphere. I try to will it away as I give the stunning blonde receptionist in a tight black blazer and skirt my license to confirm our room reservation. I’m familiar with that look she gives me and play along by winking at her. Tommy stands next to me bumping my shoulder.

“Dude, this chick here is totally eye-fucking you,” he says under his breath.

“Shhh man,” I hiss pushing him away as I smile back at her, always keeping my options open. She slides the room key towards me deliberately, leaving her hand on the card longer than is necessary so our fingers touch. Our eyes lock again before she speaks.

“Your room is number two seventeen, Mr. Austin.” She bites her lip as she pulls her hand away. “Let me know if you need anything else. I’ll be here until midnight.” She winks, shamelessly eyeing me up and down.

“Thank you, ma’am.” I grin, making a mental note of that as I grab my bag and head to the elevators. She can call me mister anytime, preferably when she’s under me.

“Damn, you never seem to have a problem with the ladies, man. Do ya?” Tommy laughs.

“We all have needs, and if someone is in need of my services, I’m happy to oblige. No questions asked.” I turn back to the counter before we hop on the elevator to confirm that I have a customer to satisfy tonight. Her eyes meet mine, confirming her reservation with me for tonight.

An hour after checking in and settling into our room, I’m sitting at the blackjack table already up but being cautious. I look around the table, sizing up the players. The two older guys keep touching each other way too much to be just friends. An older woman with big blonde hair and wearing plenty of makeup keeps on eyeing me. Nick Moon, the lead singer for up and coming rock band Crimzen, and the opening act for Kellan Kyle and the D-Bags, nods in my direction. He’s already noticed how I play. We’ve exchanged information to play outside of this place, and he gave me VIP passes to see the show. Finally, there’s Tommy at the other end watching me, drumming his fingers on the table.

The dealer reshuffles the deck. I’m already up five thousand dollars and looking to make more, a lot more. I can’t get too cocky with the money. Anyone here can make a wrong decision; too many hits from one of them can throw me into a bad place. I have to give myself a cut-off time or I’ll be down here all night at the tables. I’ve at least learned that lesson. I glance at my watch–twelve thirty–that gives me three hours to win.

Time changes, your luck changes and in ninety minutes, I have lost almost all of the money that I won. I wonder if I imagined fucking winning anything. I watch the dealer skillfully shuffle the cards and deal. All the original players have left except for the older lady who is hanging around for other reasons. I feel like I’m playing alone, but this lady has no clue what she’s doing and is fucking up my chances of winning. I try to avoid Tommy’s eyes. I need this to break even. I need luck to be on my side. I get my first card, and it’s a ten of clubs. My next is another ten of spades. This time I feel good about it. I double down and hope the dealer will go bust. The dealer flips his card, lays it flat on the table, and takes a hit. Blackjack. Dealer. Gone.