Everything in me wants to agree except for the two brain cells working together, telling me how bad of an idea this is. I don’t have a moment to think about it because Liam’s hands find mine and he flips a switch on my controller. My car careens off the side of the track.
My jaw drops as my car rolls toward our feet. I narrow my eyes at him, but he grins before giving me a peck on the cheek. His lips move near my ear.
“You make it too easy with your innocent ears unable to handle such bad things like me. I’d love to see the way you blush when I’m balls deep inside of you. Say the words, and I’m yours, no questions asked. I want a night with you and your list.” His teeth graze the soft skin of my ear.
Smug fucker bit me!
He steps away, acting like he didn’t turn me on and run over my self-control at the same time.
“Okay, you two. I couldn’t pick up half of what was happening, but Liam won that round. I wish I could say it was fair and square, but based on the color of Sophie’s cheeks and the evil gleam in Liam’s eyes, I’m going to go with a no on that.” Maya walks over toward us with a huge grin plastered on her face. Glad she finds this whole exchange entertaining and cute because I sure don’t.
Liam gloats to the camera, pretending he didn’t whisper the naughtiest things I’ve ever heard. He remains completely oblivious about how he sent feelings from my heart all the way down to my clit from words alone.
“Friends, right?” His eyes slide from the camera to me.
“Yup.” I avoid his gaze as I listen to Maya’s next game, the drive to compete seeping away from me. Liam leaves me breathless and confused all at once. Uncertainty sits in my stomach while I mull over his words, not sure how I can stay strong around this man when my restraint wavers from a few words and touches.
For the next game, I remain on autopilot because my brain left my body an hour ago, short-circuiting from Liam’s wickedness. He wants to change the game and rip control away from me.
I don’t like it. Not one bit.
11
Sophie
“So, don’t kill me, but I decided to plan something for your birthday.” Maya throws herself onto my bed.
“I regret telling you I’m a Taurus.” I groan.
“Don’t be dramatic. You not celebrating today should be a crime, seeing as even Taylor Swift wrote a song about feeling twenty-two.”
“My dad wasn’t big on celebrating birthdays while I was growing up. I’m much more of a Christmas kind of girl.” I flash her a smile.
Maya cringes. “Oh God. That alone proves why you deserve to do something to celebrate. Don’t worry. No one else will know it’s your special day. You should be happy, seeing as I decided to turn your birthday into a way to knock an item off on your list.”
“Now you’re talking.” I rub my hands together in my best evil genius impression.
She grabs her laptop and places it between us on the bed. “Get ready because we’re about to hustle hard.” She presses play, showing us a video of someone teaching viewers how to play poker.
“Oh, Maya. You know the way to make me happy.”
“Any normal girl would prefer some boozy brunch surrounded by friends.”
“Who needs that when we have strip poker? Speaking of, who are our victims? I hope they have thick wallets.” I waggle my brows.
Maya giggles as she leaves the bed. She rustles through her backpack before throwing me a gift bag. “Better study those videos and get ready. You’re about to clean house at Kulikov. I contacted some of the guys Santi used to race with and they’re up to playing with us tonight at 8 p.m. Room 128.”
I rip at the tissue paper, revealing a new graphic T-shirt saying One Casino. Two Casino. Three Casino. Poor.
“You might be the bestest friend I’ve ever had.” I jump off the bed and squeeze the air straight from her lungs.
“I have to support your healthy shirt obsession. Wear it tonight. They’ll already think you lost your money at the Monaco casinos.”
Maya leaves me to my own devices. I spend the better part of the next three hours studying everything there is to know about poker. By 8 o’clock, I’m well-versed in Texas hold ‘em and ready to kill with the shirt Maya bought me.
If all goes according to plan, I don’t intend on losing much clothes.
Maya meets me outside of the guys’ hotel room. She flashes me her clothes under her rain jacket, revealing too many layers of long sleeves under overalls, shorts, a bathing suit, and more. “Are you ready to hustle?”