understand the error in his ways.
But that’s not good enough. Not when Aria is so vulnerable. So lost. So fucking empty. And knowing that I did this to her—that I sent her spiraling into this state when all I wanted to do was give her pleasure—makes me crazy.
I’ve never been this careless before, and the fact that I made the mistake with her makes it ten times worse.
I try to talk to her a couple times, to run a soothing hand down her back or give her a squeeze on the shoulder, but when she just stares at me blankly I end up feeling like every other asshole who’s been trying to fuck with her while she’s doing her job.
It’s not a good feeling.
And so, finally, I settle myself onto a stool at the bar where I watch the second hand on my watch spin its way slowly, slowly, slowly around the numbers. Again and again and again. Sixty seconds—sixty minutes—never took so long.
The moment the clock reads two-thirty, I’m off the stool and across the room, my arm around Aria’s waist.
“I need to clock out,” she tells me.
I start to tell her to forget about it, that I’ll take care of it, but once again I stop myself. This whole thing was supposed to be about helping Aria gain control of her life, not about taking control away from her.
So I wait a little longer, watching as she strokes a few keys on the computer and logs out for the night.
When she’s done with everything she needs to do, when she’s logged out and gathered her things, I take her hand. Lace our fingers together. “Do you want to go upstairs?” I ask, putting the control firmly in her hands. “Or do you want me to take you home?”
She looks startled—a good sign, I think, considering it’s the first emotion she’s shown since she came, crying out my name. “I’m fine. I can get myself home.”
My good intentions go right out the window in the face of her stubbornness. “That wasn’t one of the options, Aria.”
“It should be.”
I incline my head, because she’s probably right. It probably should be. But she needs someone to take care of her tonight and leaving her alone isn’t a choice I can give her. Not right now when it’s taking every ounce of control I have not to sweep her into my arms and carry her through the damn casino. Not when I want nothing more than to take her up to my suite, to my bed, and keep her there for a week. Or forever. Whichever comes last.
“Choose,” I tell her when I finally have my shit together enough to speak. “Now. Because one way or another, you’re leaving this casino with me.”
Don’t miss this continuing series, five installments available now from Loveswept
Play Me #1: Play Me Wild
Play Me #2: Play Me Hot
Play Me #3: Play Me Hard
Play Me #4: Play Me Real
Play Me #5: Play Me Right
B Y T RACY W OLFF
Play Me
Play Me Wild
Play Me Hot
Play Me Hard
Play Me Real
Play Me Right
Ethan Frost Novels
Ruined
Addicted
Exposed (coming soon)
Extreme Risk Series
Shredded
Shattered
Slashed (coming soon)
Other Books
Full Exposure
Tie Me Down
The Editor’s Corner
I don’t know about you, but this is my favorite time of year. Sure, the month is crazy with holiday preparations, but before you know it, they’ve come and gone…which always makes me a little sad. Never fear—I’ve got some great romances to lift you out of those seasonal doldrums. Loveswept in December
—
guaranteed to keep you on that holiday high!
New this month is the latest tantalizing Rule Breakers novel,
Want It,
from Jennifer Chance, in which an irresistible alpha male follows his ex into a deadly standoff—and reignites a heated affair. A warm welcome to Wendy S. Marcus as she makes her Loveswept debut this month with
Loving You Is Easy
—she’s a survivor of the political front lines and he’s a wounded soldier returning home from the battlefield. Can they place their trust in the power of love? You bet! You’ll be thrilled to know that the conclusion of Ella Patton and Liam
But that’s not good enough. Not when Aria is so vulnerable. So lost. So fucking empty. And knowing that I did this to her—that I sent her spiraling into this state when all I wanted to do was give her pleasure—makes me crazy.
I’ve never been this careless before, and the fact that I made the mistake with her makes it ten times worse.
I try to talk to her a couple times, to run a soothing hand down her back or give her a squeeze on the shoulder, but when she just stares at me blankly I end up feeling like every other asshole who’s been trying to fuck with her while she’s doing her job.
It’s not a good feeling.
And so, finally, I settle myself onto a stool at the bar where I watch the second hand on my watch spin its way slowly, slowly, slowly around the numbers. Again and again and again. Sixty seconds—sixty minutes—never took so long.
The moment the clock reads two-thirty, I’m off the stool and across the room, my arm around Aria’s waist.
“I need to clock out,” she tells me.
I start to tell her to forget about it, that I’ll take care of it, but once again I stop myself. This whole thing was supposed to be about helping Aria gain control of her life, not about taking control away from her.
So I wait a little longer, watching as she strokes a few keys on the computer and logs out for the night.
When she’s done with everything she needs to do, when she’s logged out and gathered her things, I take her hand. Lace our fingers together. “Do you want to go upstairs?” I ask, putting the control firmly in her hands. “Or do you want me to take you home?”
She looks startled—a good sign, I think, considering it’s the first emotion she’s shown since she came, crying out my name. “I’m fine. I can get myself home.”
My good intentions go right out the window in the face of her stubbornness. “That wasn’t one of the options, Aria.”
“It should be.”
I incline my head, because she’s probably right. It probably should be. But she needs someone to take care of her tonight and leaving her alone isn’t a choice I can give her. Not right now when it’s taking every ounce of control I have not to sweep her into my arms and carry her through the damn casino. Not when I want nothing more than to take her up to my suite, to my bed, and keep her there for a week. Or forever. Whichever comes last.
“Choose,” I tell her when I finally have my shit together enough to speak. “Now. Because one way or another, you’re leaving this casino with me.”
Don’t miss this continuing series, five installments available now from Loveswept
Play Me #1: Play Me Wild
Play Me #2: Play Me Hot
Play Me #3: Play Me Hard
Play Me #4: Play Me Real
Play Me #5: Play Me Right
B Y T RACY W OLFF
Play Me
Play Me Wild
Play Me Hot
Play Me Hard
Play Me Real
Play Me Right
Ethan Frost Novels
Ruined
Addicted
Exposed (coming soon)
Extreme Risk Series
Shredded
Shattered
Slashed (coming soon)
Other Books
Full Exposure
Tie Me Down
The Editor’s Corner
I don’t know about you, but this is my favorite time of year. Sure, the month is crazy with holiday preparations, but before you know it, they’ve come and gone…which always makes me a little sad. Never fear—I’ve got some great romances to lift you out of those seasonal doldrums. Loveswept in December
—
guaranteed to keep you on that holiday high!
New this month is the latest tantalizing Rule Breakers novel,
Want It,
from Jennifer Chance, in which an irresistible alpha male follows his ex into a deadly standoff—and reignites a heated affair. A warm welcome to Wendy S. Marcus as she makes her Loveswept debut this month with
Loving You Is Easy
—she’s a survivor of the political front lines and he’s a wounded soldier returning home from the battlefield. Can they place their trust in the power of love? You bet! You’ll be thrilled to know that the conclusion of Ella Patton and Liam
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