The elevator dings, catching our attention. Landon hits the highest floor number once we’re inside, and rests against the wall, still staring at me hungrily. The sexual tension is so thick I could cut it with a knife.
“So, why were you with that boy?” Landon asks, his tone serious as he emphasizes the word ‘boy’. I laugh, feeling giddy from the alcohol.
“I told you, ‘cause I was his whore.”
Landon sighs and looks at the elevator doors while I shrug and stare at the floor. Calling myself a whore doesn’t feel good, but there’s no justification for what I did with Chasen other than I fooled around with him and took money more than willingly to provide for myself. Like Chasen said, I had no problem taking the money afterwards. I was a greedy whore. I wince at the harsh thought.
“You’ve mentioned that,” Landon states calmly, his features calculated.
SEVEN
CHARLIE
After getting out of the elevator and finding his room, Landon holds the door open for me to enter. I gasp at the elegance. Walking in, I notice the huge balcony at the far end of the room that overlooks the town, with a brown leather couch and big-screen TV placed just before it. Turning to my right, a curved bar sits with a kitchen.
“There are three bedrooms, and a guest bath. Feel free to take whatever room you’d like,” Landon offers, throwing his key card on the counter.
I walk over to the balcony and look out. We’re so high up, I can see the strip, the vibrant lights of Sin City brilliant against the night’s sky. The heat outside instantly makes my breasts and the back of my knees sweat.
“I’ll shower, thank you,” I finally respond.
I turn to find Landon standing right behind me, his body broad and muscular, making me feel tiny in comparison.
He slowly skims the soft skin under my arm with the pad of his finger, and I involuntarily flinch. My mouth parts and my eyes widen from my reaction.
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m just a little more shaken up than I thought,” I whisper, staring at the floor.
He places his finger under my chin and firmly raises my stare to his fierce green eyes.
“I wouldn’t hurt you.” His words vibrate through his chest as he speaks.
I know he wouldn’t by the way he looks at me, as if I’m a rare flower. It shows the delicacy he’s capable of. The fact Landon rescued me from that alley and had the courtesy to bring me back to his room after drinking shows volumes. Chasen never had that care written on his face when he looked at me, and I didn’t realize that till it was too late.
“I know that.” My voice comes out hoarse, my eyes skimming his taut body. I’d be stupid to resist him, but to be honest, even with the trauma I just experienced… I couldn’t resist Landon. He’s good-looking, charming, and irresistible.
He slowly trails his finger over my collarbone, and a spark ignites and spreads through my limbs. I gasp, and my eyes grow heavy. He runs it over the bare flesh of my shoulder, and a moan escapes my lips. His proximity seizes the air from my lungs, and my skin flushes with want. I don’t want to feel abandoned anymore; I’d do anything to just feel something other than a place of solace. It’s empty there, and cold. Being this close to Landon, I feel anything but cold. I want the warmth his body is capable of rendering. To have the tingles that creep up my limbs when he touches me reach optimum levels and leave me breathless, wanting more.
His finger glides downward, meeting the fabric of my dress just above my breasts. A mewl escapes my mouth and my body pushes forward on its own accord, wanting more contact. I peer from under my lashes, finding hungry eyes grounding me, his mouth parted slightly as he devours me with looks alone. His eyes are hooded and hold a daydream gloss to them.
He clears his throat and retracts his hand, stepping away and breaking the haze of lust we’re both under. The sweat on my body chills, and I shiver. Landon paces the floor with his head tilted back, looking up at the ceiling, his hands resting on the back of his neck. I can tell he’s trying to stay away from me, but he’s failing. I cross my arms and walk down the hall, searching for the shower. I’m not sure if we should indulge our cravings for each other, we’re obviously from separate sides of the tracks. And, especially with what just happened with Chasen. The draw my body and mind have toward him, though, I’m not sure I can fight. I’m not sure I want to.
LANDON
My hands grip the railing, my knuckles turning white from the force of my hold. I close my eyes and clench my jaw with anger. Liquor warms my veins, warning me I’ve drank too much. I’m not supposed to drink excessively; it’s against Blackwell rules. I smirk. Yet here I am tossing the fucking handbook out the window.
There’s something about Charlie, something I can’t seem to rein in. The way she tries to act so bold, yet her weakness shows with every flush of her cheeks and tremble of her lips. I’m losing control, showing emotion that doesn’t need to be revealed. I shake my head and open my eyes. Vegas. This is my city. I run this place, and everyone knows it.
I run the pad of my finger over my swollen lips. Charlie. The way my body pulls toward her - it’s a fucking mystery. When I saw those punks manhandling her, I could have easily snapped their necks. The look of despair on Charlie’s face tore my cold heart in two. I close my eyes, irritated. The way I’m reacting is ridiculous.
“Get a fucking hold of yourself,” I chastise. It’s a fucking woman, a girl. I shake my head. I just need to fuck her out of my system and get on with my life.
I replace my hand on the banister, my fingers choking it. I’ve had girls I wanted to fuck badly before in the past, and none of them compared to the ache I have in my dick, the burning in my chest I have right now. Looking at Charlie, she can’t be more than eighteen or nineteen, yet she manages to have me at my knees. I need to get out of here before I do something I can’t undo.
“Why do I feel so drawn to you, Charlie?” I whisper to myself.
CHARLIE
I put the shower on hot, hoping to wash any trace of Chasen and his fucking friends off me. Taking the soap between my legs, I notice bruising blemishing my skin.
“Damn,” I whisper, running my hand over the tender black and blue spots like they might magically wash away. I shake my head and continue to wash my body with the lavender-scented soap.
Closing my eyes, all I can think about is how Landon swooped in and saved me tonight. The way my body wants him, even if my mind can’t comprehend why. Ever since the day I bumped into him, I’ve been at a loss of the way I respond to him. It’s not like anything I’ve ever known. My need for him is animalistic. There’s a strong possibility that Landon might use me just like Chasen, but at least this time, it’ll be on my own terms.
“Landon…” escapes my mouth as I run my hands down my stomach, but stop myself from exploring any further. I turn the water off, having enough of this torture. Screw what’s right.
I throw the shower door open and stare at the white towel sitting on the counter, contemplating if I should do what my body’s telling me to do. When I’m around Landon, it’s the first time I feel like I maybe have someone I can connect with and understand the real me. He’s the first man who’s looked my way and caused sparks to ignite from just a simple glance. It’s an out-of-body experience. Regardless of whether my naive heart can handle the repercussions of what I’m about to do, my body can’t handle the ‘what if’ if I walk away.