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The guide who had brought me here had said the same thing, but I hadn’t believed him until now. I fought back the temptation to feel special. “Why me?”

He let out a low chuckle. “I’m an entitled ass, remember?”

My gut twisted. Shit, was this some form of payback? I should have known he wouldn’t forget. Call it a moment of weakness, but when I’d seen him try to skip the line to order coffee, like the king everyone thought he was, it had really pissed me off. Enough that I’d gotten a little carried away. But did he really have to hold on to that grudge to this extent?

Might as well get this out of the way so I could get the hell out of there. And try not to die of embarrassment over thinking, for even a second, that I was somehow wanted. I should have known better. Hadn’t I learned anything from what had happened? My voice came out rough. “I’m sorry.”

“I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours, but stop. There’s nothing to apologize for.” He tilted his head, a small smirk lifting his lip. His gaze softened, almost coaxing. “Ever since that day, I’ve craved the chance to see you again. Fuck, you were lit up like there was a flame inside you. I could see it in the glare you shot my way. But when I came back the next day, the heat was gone. The look you gave me wasn’t cold or hot, just that perfect customer service shell. I fucking hated it. I wanted to climb over that counter and break that shell. Force you to show me the girl who dared to write Entitled Ass on my cup.”

My heart hammered. “How do you know that’s not the real me?”

“Because I saw the gleam in your eyes that day. For a second, you came alive.” His head dropped lower, his voice a deep hum. “I want to see you again.”

I looked at the ground, unable to meet his gaze. Vulnerability settled over me. “What does this have to do with the game?” I gulped.

“I dare you to let go of that shield you’re clinging to and just be. In here, you don’t need to be anything other than who you really are.” His palm covered my hand where I’d been unconsciously tugging at my dress. Then it slid over my stomach and up my side, drawing fire beneath his touch.

“I dare you to trust me,” he rasped.

“To do what?”

“To show you just how captivating you are.”

I swallowed hard. The insecure voice that constantly screamed at me to remain hidden was still there, but the way Thorne looked at me, like he wanted to devour me, made it go quiet.

“Do you accept my dare, Gwen?”

I knew I should run out of there as fast as I could. I knew all too well how dangerous letting go for even a second could be. But my feet didn’t move. It was as if my body had taken over for my mind. Everything in me wanted to give in, wanted to trust him, and for the first time in years, I chose something for myself.

“Okay.”

His smile grew until dimples appeared on both cheeks. Then he lowered his face until it was level with mine, close enough that his breath fanned against my lips.

“Thank God. If you’d said no, I think it would have killed me.” His lips took mine, his tongue filling my mouth when I gasped. He buried a hand in my hair, tilting my head back for better access.

My nails dug into his shoulders, pulling him closer. I wanted more.

He broke the kiss. His lips brushed mine, as if he didn’t want to stop either, before he let out a sigh and put a few inches between us. “Do you remember the rules?”

My brows pinched together. Still in a daze from his kiss, I had no idea what he was talking about. I rose onto my toes to continue the kiss, but he groaned and pulled away.

“At any point, if you want to stop, all you have to do is tell me. The cards, the games. They’re all within your control.”

Why on earth would I want him to stop?

His expression grew serious. “Tell me you understand.”

“I understand.”

A low rumble of pleasure vibrated through him as he lifted me into his arms and took my mouth in a hungry kiss. My legs circled his hips. I moaned as his hard length ground against my clit, and I rocked against him. I clung to his bare shoulders with one hand, and he hissed when my nails dug into his skin.

Before I could loosen my grip, his palm slid up the back of my leg and seized my ass. He guided me up and down, rocking his cock against me. His lips were on mine, his tongue delving deep, and the friction sent pleasure swirling through my stomach. This wasn’t the first time I’d fooled around, but it had never felt like this.

Nothing had ever felt like this.

It made me greedy for more, but as I tugged him closer, he broke away and slid me to the ground. Cold air replaced his heat.

A frustrated sound fell from my lips at the loss. I didn’t want to let him go. I didn’t want to stop. Not when my mind was finally quiet for the first time in years.