The Billionaire's Christmas Cruise by Dakota Rebel (my reading book txt) 📕

“I know,” I assured her. “And I would never push you into anything you aren’t ready for. Let’s just have fun tonight.”

She nodded, allowing me to take her hand and lead her up to the roulette table. My heart pounded, and the desire to drag her back to the room caveman-style still ran through my body. I’d never wanted anyone as much as I wanted Emerson.

“Can I get you anything?” a waitress asked, walking up beside us.

“I’ll have a Mai Tai,” Emerson answered immediately.

I fought a smile as I shook my head, declining a drink. I was still a little buzzed, and I didn’t want to risk my control any further tonight. I’d had plenty to drink during our pub crawl, I didn’t need to add whiskey to the fire burning in my soul—and my groin.

“The problem with umbrella drinks,” Emerson said thoughtfully as she wrapped her arm around mine, pressing her beautiful body against my side. “Is that they taste like juice, but before you know it, you can’t walk anymore.”

“I’ll carry you,” I offered before I could stop myself.

She giggled, and it was all I could do not to groan out loud. I’d have to build the pillow wall between us twice as high tonight.

“Bets are open,” the wheel operator called, bringing my attention back to the game.

I pulled a handful of chips from my pocket and handed them to Emerson. She flipped one of them over, staring at the $100 imprinted in gold on the black chip.

“Did you really just give me the equivalent of one of my paychecks to play this game?” she whispered.

I glanced at her hand then met her gaze.

“You’re underpaid,” I answered.

“How loaded are you?” she blurted. Her eyes immediately widened, and a blush crept up her neck, spreading over her face as she clamped her free hand over her mouth.

I couldn’t help smiling at her outburst, even knowing how mortified she must be at asking such a crass question. Rather than leave her in a state of panic, I leaned over and whispered a figure in her ear.

“Bullshit,” she hissed. “That’s like, your company, right? That’s not just you?”

“No, actually, the company is almost bankrupt,” I said solemnly. “My brothers are idiots. And ugly, too. Yes, completely unattractive and inept.”

She narrowed her eyes at me, and I finally cracked, laughing softly as I caressed the back of her fingers with my thumb. Even in her shock, she hadn’t pulled away, and I liked that.

“You have that much money?” she asked, apparently too shocked to be embarrassed again.

“No,” I said. “We have that much money, Em. What’s mine is yours. Forever.” I pulled her hand to my lips and kissed it softly. “Enough about that right now. Let’s play.”

It was forward, and it was blunt, but it was honest. I needed her to understand, as quickly as possible, this trip wasn’t a one-week fling for me. She had to know I wanted her by my side for the rest of our lives.

“I think I want to go back to the room,” Emerson said softly.

“I’ve made you uncomfortable,” I answered, shaking my head. “I’m sorry.”

It had been too much, too soon. I could have kicked myself for letting the conversation go where it had. She barely knew me. Of course, she wasn’t ready to talk about forever. I knew she was the one. But she hadn’t had time to realize I was the only man for her.

“That’s not it,” she said.

“Then what?” I met her gaze, and the heat I saw there made me shut my mouth so hard, my teeth clacked against each other. “Em?”

She bit her lip then stepped into me, her hand sliding into my pocket, depositing the chips back where I’d gotten them.

“Your drink, ma’am,” the waitress said, coming back at the worst possible time.

Emerson removed her hand from my pants, took the fruity concoction and thanked the woman. I pulled the drink from Em’s grasp, returned it to the tray then dropped a chip there for the hassle.

“I wanted that,” Emerson complained, watching the confused waitress wander away.

“You don’t need it,” I told her.

“Are you implying I’m drunk?” she asked, her hands going to her hips.

“It’s crossed my mind,” I admitted.

“Well, maybe, I just want…something,” she answered, her fight deflating as quickly as it had appeared.

“What do you want?” I asked, needing clarification from her. If she was drunk, and it was just harmless flirting, I could deal with that. I could spoil her, kiss her, show her how much I wanted her without letting anything go too far.

But if she wanted me, truly wanted me the way I wanted her, I wasn’t sure I could hold back. Half of me prayed she’d beg off, drop the conversation and move on. But the other half… Well, that part was rock-hard and desperate to find release in my future wife.

“I want you,” she said, meeting my gaze with determination.

I scooped her into my arms, carrying her quickly through the casino to the deck outside. She wrapped her arms around my neck and laughed but didn’t fight me.

“You really are just like Rhett Butler,” she said, leaning forward to nuzzle my neck.

“That scene where he picks up Scarlett and takes her upstairs isn’t actually romantic,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “Are you sure you’re not drunk?”

“Chase, just take me to bed.”

I wasn’t waiting to be told again.

Chapter Eight

~ Chase ~

I set Emerson down to open the door. As I fumbled with the stupid keycard, she wrapped her arms around me, her face pressed to my back and her fingers running up my chest.

“Why isn’t this working?” I hissed, repeatedly running the plastic over the reader.

“Turn it around,” Emerson suggested. Her hands slid lower, palms running down my hips to my thighs, her thumbs just barely missing the most sensitive parts of my anatomy.

I was half out of my mind with lust for her, which is probably the only reason I bothered turning the card around as