Fortunes' Women. Kathie DeNosky

the restaurant, spoke to the hostess, then walked toward her. If Creed was right about Blake, she could very well end up emotionally shattered. But how in the world could she make herself immune to his charms?

      “I’m sorry about a being called away,” he said, smiling apologetically as he pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. “There was a minor altercation at one of the craps tables and they needed me in the security office to smooth over the situation with one of our whales.”

      “I hope it wasn’t serious.”

      He shook his head. “The man had a little too much to drink and accused another guest of stealing part of his chip stack.”

      “Was the guest in question guilty?”

      “No.” Blake grinned. “The whale’s wife had taken them and cashed them in to keep her husband from losing more than he already had.”

      Sasha laughed. “I can understand her caution. The thought of losing a lot of money on something as frivolous as a game would drive me insane.” Wondering if there was ever any real danger of fights breaking out, she asked, “Do things like a disagreement between two guests ever come to blows?”

      “No. My security team is one of the best in Deadwood and they’re on top of a situation like this before it ever comes to that.” He reached across the table to take her hand in his. “But I don’t want to talk about that now.”

      A warmth began to flow through her from the feel of his hand caressing hers. “W-would you like to discuss my ideas for your promotional campaign?” she hedged, hoping to buy a little more time to sort out what she was going to do.

      “No, sweetheart. The last thing I want to do is talk business with you.” Lifting her hand to his lips, he kissed the rapidly beating pulse at the base of her wrist. “We’ll go over your suggestions tomorrow.” He gave her a meaningful look. “I intend for tonight to be all about us.”

      Sasha swallowed hard. “I haven’t exactly agreed to there being an us.”

      His smile caused her whole body to tingle. “Yes, you have.”

      “I—I don’t recall … that happening. W-would you … care to refresh … my memory?” she asked, suddenly finding it hard to make her voice work.

      “Your response when I kissed you this afternoon in the casino was all the answer I needed.”

      His lips grazing the sensitive skin along her wrist caused her to shiver. “I—”

      “Don’t try to deny it, sweetheart. You’re as attracted to me as I am to you.” His voice dropped seductively. “You’re trembling now from just talking about it.”

      Sasha couldn’t think of a thing to say. What could she say? He was right and they both knew it.

      “Come on,” he said, rising to his feet and pulling her up to stand beside him. “Let’s go upstairs to my suite.”

      Her heart fluttered erratically. “I’m not sure … that’s a good idea.”

      His low chuckle sent a wave of heat streaking straight to her inner core. “I think it’s an excellent idea.” He placed his hand to the small of her back and leaning close, added, “Before the evening is over with, I’m going to make sure you do, too.”

      Try as she might, Sasha couldn’t stop the feeling of nervous anticipation building inside of her. No matter what Creed said about Blake being untrustworthy, no matter how foolish it might turn out to be or how high a price she could very well end up paying, she was going to follow her heart and see where it led her with Blake.

      She sighed as they left the restaurant. If she was perfectly honest with herself, she’d have to admit that she’d never had a choice in the matter.

      When they entered his suite, Blake’s mouth went completely dry as he noticed the seductive sway of Sasha’s hips while she walked over to stare out the window at the street below. The clingy black dress she wore hugged her like a lover’s caress and she was without a doubt the sexiest woman he’d ever had the privilege to lay eyes on.

      Blake smiled coldly. His brother had been a damned fool to let her make the trip to Deadwood alone and it was going to serve Creed right to lose her. The bastard didn’t deserve a woman as special as Sasha and before the night was over, Blake was going to convince her of that fact.

      But the thought of his brother holding Sasha, touching her flawless skin and losing himself in her soft body caused a burning deep in the pit of Blake’s belly and a sudden, uncontrollable need to stake his claim. Tonight he was going to take her into his arms and make her his.

      Walking up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her back against him. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

      She shook her head. “I have too many flaws. My hair is—”

      “Gorgeous,” he interrupted, nuzzling the side of her slender neck.

      “I—I’ve never liked … my hair,” she said, sounding extremely short of breath. “It’s always been too hard … to tame.”

      “You used to wear it down when we were in school,” he said, reaching up to release the pins she used to hold it in place. Free of their confinement, the silky curls cascaded over his hands like a cinnamon-colored waterfall. “Your hair is soft and feminine.” He turned her to face him and, lowering his head, added, “And it compliments your creamy skin to perfection.”

      As he fused their lips, Blake slid his hands from her shoulders to her hips and pulled her closer. The feel of her soft body pressed closely to his, the smell of her herbal-scented hair and her sweet taste as she melted against him quickly had him hard with need.

      Allowing her to feel his rapidly changing body, he caught her to him and when a tiny moan escaped her slightly parted lips, he seized the opportunity to slip his tongue inside. He explored her with a thoroughness that left them both aching for more. Encouraged by her response, he continued to stroke her tender inner recesses as he slid his hands up to the underside of her breasts.

      She stiffened for a split second as if she intended to protest when he used his thumbs to tease the tightened tips through the stretchy black fabric of her dress. Then to his satisfaction, she reached up to put her arms around his neck and leaned into his touch. She might have been resistant to him when she’d first arrived in Deadwood, but her body was telling him all he needed to know about her receptiveness to his advances now.

      “So sweet,” he said, breaking the kiss to nibble his way down the column of her slender neck. “So damned sexy.”

      “I—I should go back … to my room,” she said haltingly.

      “Is that what you really want, sweetheart?”

      “N-no. I mean yes.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I can’t … think clearly.”

      He chuckled as he kissed the fluttering pulse at the base of her throat. “Would you like to hear what I think?”

      “N-not really.”

      Leaning back, he gazed into her pretty green eyes. “I think you need to stay right here with me tonight. In my suite. In my bed. In my arms.”

      “I can’t … do that.” Her tone was breathy and not at all convincing.

      “Yes, you can.” He brushed his lips over hers. “You want me as much as I want you.”

      She opened her eyes and, staring at him, slowly shook her head. “I—”

      “Don’t try to deny it, Sasha.” He grazed his thumbs over her taut nipples as he pressed himself against her and smiled at the shiver he felt course through her when she felt the hard ridge of his arousal. “Your body is telling me everything I need to know.”

      “W-we shouldn’t.”

      “Why not?” He nipped at her