Chapter 6

The clink of crystal glasses and the low, rumbling murmur of the other players faded into a distant hum, distant enough that the rest of the world ceased to exist. There was only the heavy, velvet silence of the private back room, a space tucked away behind the main game floor, separated by a thick mahogany door that I had slipped through moments ago. The air here was cooler, scented with expensive leather, aged scotch, and the sharp, electric tang of his anticipation. I could still feel the weight of his gaze on me from across the room, a physical pressure that had guided me here, led me to this secluded corner where the plush cream-colored couch awaited. I turned to face him, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird. He was still in his tailored suit, the jacket unbuttoned, the top three buttons of his white shirt undone to reveal the strong column of his throat. His eyes were dark, predatory, and locked onto mine with an intensity that made my knees weak. He didn’t say a word; he didn’t have to. The unspoken agreement hung between us, thick and heavy, built on weeks of subtle