do it. It was a slim chance, but still…it was more than he deserved.
When the car slowed to a stop, it wasn’t at some glitzy hotel. It was someone’s home. A mansion, to be exact. The driveway was lined with more luxury cars as they waited for valet. When it was our turn, Loren took my hand and gently helped me from the car. He then placed that same hand on the small of my back and steered me toward the entrance. I felt his thumb rubbing my spine and took a deep breath. He’d been an asshole far too long for me to be fooled by his charm.
“Where are we?”
“It’s called The Palace. It’s a low-key spot with high-stakes games.”
“How high are we talking?”
Loren and I shared a meaningful look before he focused his attention on the woman in a dress tighter and shorter than mine. Two armed guards surrounded her.
“Mr. James, we’re pleased to have you back with us. Is it just you,” she asked, completely dismissing the fact that his arm was literally wrapped around me, “or will Mr. Morrow and Mr. Noble be joining you this evening?”
“As you can see, I’m not alone. If you want, though, I can pass Houston your number. I hear the thirty-seventh time is the charm.”
The poor girl’s cheeks reddened from Loren putting her in her place. Even when he was subtle, he wasn’t. She’d snubbed me, and somehow, I still felt bad for her. The fact that she had a crush on Houston and not Loren made her reasons even more confusing. Maybe she wanted them both. It was also possible she was pretending interest in Houston to make Loren jealous and—
Now my head was spinning.
It seemed to be a side effect whenever I strayed too close to Houston, Loren, or Jericho.
“That won’t be necessary,” she answered. The poor girl looked ready to drop dead.
Loren showed her a matte black card with nothing on it. It wasn’t until she scanned it with her phone that it revealed a barcode that spelled out The Palace. After that, she waved us in with a tight smile.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
“I disagree,” he casually said as he led me through the dimly lit foyer. “She didn’t have to be a bitch to you.”
“Because only you reserve that right?” How dare he play the hero when he was no different?
Glancing down at me, I wasn’t prepared for him to usher me inside a dark alcove and hem me against the wall. When he circled his arms around my waist and pulled me close, I let him. No matter what Loren said or did, when his hands were in play, he had me.
Because his touch felt like finding home, and I was too easily won.
“Haven’t you learned that when a boy likes a girl, he treats her like utter shit? It’s textbook.”
“I’ve heard that, but I didn’t buy it when I was six, and I don’t buy it now.”
Leaning forward, he skimmed his lips down my neck. “So, what do you suggest I do?”
“About?”
“You. Me.” He’d punctuated each word with a soft kiss on my bare shoulder. “I need to fuck you senseless, Braxton Fawn.”
“Too bad.” Mentally, since he was still holding me, I patted my back in approval. My knees were weak, but my head was still strong.
“Afraid you’ll like it?”
“Yes.” Surprised, Loren lifted his head from the shoulder he was still kissing. “I’m afraid I’ll like it too much, and I won’t be able to stop.”
He was still grasping for something to say when two men in expensive suits appeared, spotting us as they passed. At once, their steps slowed, their gazes taking the extra time to admire me thoroughly. Loren, not missing a thing, stood up straight. That was all it took for the men to quicken their steps and hurry away.
“Please don’t get into a fight,” I pleaded with him. The men were gone, but Loren didn’t seem the least bit appeased. I could see the contemplation in his eyes to go after them. “Xavier will be pissed if you get arrested.”
“Xavier’s always pissed,” he responded dismissively.
Lacing our fingers together, he pulled me from the alcove, and we walked until we reached a large sitting room with dim lighting, a table in the center with a green felt tabletop, and a bar off to the side.
An older woman sat behind a small desk. She had red hair like mine, hers darker and shorter and reminding me of my mother. She