Sinful Rapture (The Rapture Series) by Alexandra Ivy Page A

me.”

 
     
     
CHAPTER FIVE
     
     
    Come with me …
    They were the last words that had been spoken as Liam had returned her to his Mercedes and sped toward the Strip.
    Reaching the luxurious Angeli, a combination hotel and casino, he pulled to a halt in front of the glass doors. Tossing the keys to the valet, he helped Holly out of the car and headed into the black and silver foyer that was a signature of the Angeli brand.
    Holly ignored the curious gazes as they rounded the front desk to enter the private elevator. Later she might be embarrassed to have been seen with her boss, headed to his private rooms, but right now nothing mattered but discovering more about this man who was swiftly becoming an obsession with her.
    Stepping into the elevator, Liam used his key to take them to the top floor, his hand pressing against her lower back as the doors opened to reveal the penthouse suite.
    Automatically she kicked off the flip flops that had been another gift from the Playhouse store before she stepped forward, taking in the silver and ivory living room that was surrounded by three walls of glass.
    Not surprisingly, she’d never been up here.
    Her father had preferred to live in a grand mansion several miles away from Vegas, leaving this penthouse for high-rollers or visiting VIPs. Now, her breath was wrenched from her lungs at the sheer beauty of the view.
    Liam wrapped his hand around her fingers, tugging her to the side of the elevator toward the back of the apartment.
    “I have something I want to show you,” he murmured, his thumb brushing the inside of her wrist where her pulse was racing.
    They bypassed the open kitchen that led to a small dining room, to move down a short hall, stopping at a closed door.
    Half expecting to find herself in his bedroom, Holly arched a brow at the sight of a heavy walnut desk and walls hidden behind ceiling-high bookcases.
    Leading her to the back of the room, he halted beside a long table that was covered by a thin cloth.
    “What’s this?” Holly demanded in confusion.
    “I hope it’s the future.”
    He grabbed the cloth, tugging it aside to reveal two 3D architectural models.
    Instantly curious, Holly leaned forward, studying the tiny, perfectly detailed prototypes.
    They were clearly casino hotels, but they were designed with a modern flair that her father would have detested.
    Holly loved them.
    She leaned closer, reading the small plaques at the bottom of the models.
    “St. Louis. Biloxi.” Straightening, she sent Liam a startled glance. “You intend to expand Angeli’s?”
    He shrugged, his expression oddly unreadable. “These wouldn’t be Angeli.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    “I want something we can build together,” he said, his voice soft but filled with determination. “Something that has no taint of Vigo.”
    Her heart missed a beat.
    “Together?”
    He cupped her cheek in his hands, his gaze searing over her face as she struggled to accept his words.
    “Full-fledged partners,” he swore.
    Holly found it ridiculously difficult to think.
    It wasn’t just the astoundingly generous offer. Or the knowledge that she could finally achieve her dreams.
    It was his sheer belief in her ability to undertake such an enormous project.
    Granted, her father had vaguely implied he might one day consider her worthy of taking his place, but it had never been about his confidence in her skill.
    It’d been a power play to force Luc to return to his place as the rightful heir.
    Vigo had never really bothered to see her as more than a weapon.
    “I…” She had to halt and clear her throat. “I’m not sure what to say.”
    His thumb brushed her cheek, sending sparks of intense pleasure through her body.
    “Then let me speak.”
    “Okay,” she breathed.
    “I came to Vegas with nothing but twenty bucks in my pocket. At the time, I didn’t have any real goal beyond getting a roof over my head.” He shrugged, his gaze focused on her mouth as she unconsciously