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Dylan is silent for a beat. When he speaks, his voice is calm but firm. “Joel, I think you should leave. We can discuss this when everyone’s had a chance to cool down.”
Joel glares at us, his jaw clenched tight. For a moment, I think he might argue, but then he turns on his heel and storms out, slamming the door behind him.
Dylan immediately moves to bolt the door before returning to my side, his eyes filled with concern. “Are you okay?”
I nod, but tears prick at the corners of my eyes. “I’m so sorry about Joel. I never thought he’d react like that.”
“Hey,” Dylan says softly, cupping my face in his hands. “You never have to apologize to me for things you can’t control. Okay?”
I lean into his touch, letting out a shaky breath. “Okay.”
Dylan’s thumb brushes away a stray tear. “How about we do something fun tonight? Just the two of us, no outside forces. We can deal with Joel tomorrow.”
A small smile tugs at my lips. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well,” he grins, “we are on a cruise ship. How about we hit the casino? Unless you’re afraid, I’ll clean you out at the poker table.”
I laugh, some of the tension leaving my body. “Oh, you’re on. But just so you know, I plan on cashing in on you as my prize afterward.”
Dylan’s eyes darken with desire. He leans in, his lips brushing against mine as he speaks. “Who says you have to wait? You could collect that prize right now.”
I shiver at his words but force myself to pull back slightly. “Don’t tempt me with a good time, mister. We’ve got a casino to conquer first.”
Dylan chuckles, pulling me closer. “As you wish, my lady.”
Our lips meet in a kiss that starts soft but quickly deepens. We break apart, breathless and grinning.
“Mind sharing a tight shower?” Dylan asks.
I smile. “Are you always going to be trying to make me wet?”
Dylan snorts, and I join in with his laughter.
“Give me a sec to go grab some clothes from my cabin, and I’ll be all yours.”
Chapter Ten
Dylan
The vibrant energy of the casino washes over us as Caress and I step through the ornate double doors. Flashing lights and the melodic chiming of slot machines fill the air, punctuated by excited shouts from the craps tables. I grin as I take in Caress’s wide-eyed excitement.
“Ready to lose all your money, Mr. Carter?” she teases, squeezing my hand.
I pull her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. “In your dreams, baby. Don’t forget, I’m the one with the poker face.”
Caress laughs, the sound sending warmth through my chest. “We’ll see about that. Now, let’s set some ground rules for our little wager.”
We make our way to a quieter corner near the bar, where I flag down a waiter for drinks. As we wait, we hammer out the details of our bet. We’ll split $500 between us, leaving whenever it’s all spent or using any winnings for dinner. Caress’s eyes sparkle mischievously as she adds her own twist.
“Whoever runs out of money first has to do anything the other one requests for the rest of the night,” she proposes, her voice low and sultry.
My pulse quickens at the implications. “You’re on,” I agree, sealing the deal with a kiss that promises much more to come.
Armed with our chips and cocktails, we set out to conquer the casino floor. Caress gravitates towards the slot machines while I make a beeline for the blackjack tables. We agree to meet back up in an hour to compare our progress.
The next hour fly by in a whirlwind of cards, dice, and laughter. I ride the highs of a few big wins at blackjack, only to watch my chip stack dwindle during a run of bad luck at poker. Caress, meanwhile, seems to have the magic touch with the slot machines, her excited squeals drawing my attention from across the room.
As the night wears on, I find myself more captivated by Caress than the games. The way her eyes light up when she wins, the adorable scrunch of her nose when she’s concentrating, the musical quality of her laugh, it’s all intoxicating. I realize I’d gladly lose every chip I have just to keep seeing her this happy and carefree.
