Page 13 of A Devious Arrangement
“I’m fine. Just a bit strong.” I smile sweetly and take his glass. “Looks like you’re nearly finished with yours.” I fill his glass again, this time a little more. I’ll use my reaction as an excuse for why I have to drink slower, giving me the advantage of getting Bash drunk.
He smiles before downing the drink and pushing it toward me to fill it again, telling me he’s more than happy to follow my lead. Suspicion crawls up the back of my neck. He’s being entirely too accommodating. He’s rash, but he isn’t stupid. Still, he drinks it like it’s water before I refill it.
Everything’s going according to my plan until he holds his glass up to mine in a toast, and I have no choice but to clink minewith his and take another sip. My throat constricts, and I fight back a cough. I swear it’s strong enough to take someone out. I’ll have to be careful, or I’ll be the one losing my head.
One round after the next, I pull the pot toward myself. My chips are growing into a tower in front of me. Bash is the only one who hasn’t lost his money, playing it safe instead of going for it like our companions.
“You’re fucking cheating,” Wallace hisses, the muscles in his neck straining. Reactively, I move to the side, ignoring the fact that I’ve brought myself closer to Bash.
Bash places his elbows on the table, resting his chin on his palms in a casual pose. There’s electricity in the air, like the sky before a thunderstorm. The men swallow as they watch his gaze crackle when he says, “I’d be careful about what you say next. Stasia is my guest, after all.”
His words are low and rough, daring anyone to go against him. His possessiveness sends heat swirling in my lower stomach as my thighs squeeze together, desperate for some kind of contact.
I shift in my seat. It’s easy to see that Bash is dangerous even through his playful demeanor, but never once have I thought I’d react like this.
The man goes pale, and he grabs the few remaining coins left on the table before getting up. “Of…of course, I’m sorry…Miss Volkov. I’m not sure what took over me for a second.”
“Does anyone else have a problem with Stasia?”
Bash uses the nickname so casually, like we’ve been friends for years, instead of this being the first time we’ve sat next to each other. I resist the urge to correct him again. The atmosphere is tense around us, and I don’t want to bring any more attention to myself.
“Of course not,” Wallace replies. Grabbing his money. “Although, I don’t think I can afford to keep losing to you, Stas?—”
He cuts off my name when Bash’s gaze narrows on him.
“Miss Volkov.”
Assessing Bash, I try to figure out what he’s up to. He’s been playing with my name all night, yet he looked like he was about to murder the man when he tried to do the same. That same possessiveness he has no right to feel is taking over his demeanor. My head feels light, and I can feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks. I blame the alcohol.
Within an hour, the room’s cleared, leaving only Bash and me. By now, I’ve filled his glass countless times, and he has to be feeling it.
I lean over, giving Bash a coy smile, and refill his drink again. He lifts it to his lips with a wink before tossing it back. This man clearly thinks he has the upper hand, but I’m still nursing my first glass, with the excuse that it’s too strong.
His eyes are hooded when he gathers the cards in front of him. “Since you’ve scared them all away, how about we switch to blackjack?”
“I’d love to.” It’s hard to keep the smirk from my lips. I’m good at poker, but I’m excellent at blackjack. I just need my luck to hold out a little longer, and I’ll get what I came for.
Nerves rack through me as I evaluate my cards, laying them down with a click.
I lay down my queen and six, but he beats it easily with a king and seven.
His gaze is sharp as he intently watches for my reaction. I squirm in my seat as his clear gray eyes focus on me a little too long. At this rate, he’ll have to polish off an entire bottle before he’s distracted enough for what I need.
I’m going to have to find another way to distract him. A wild idea tumbles through my thoughts, and my back stiffens as he reshuffles the cards. I have no idea when I’ll have this kind of opportunity again. It’s not like one of the Everette brothers just strolls up beside you every day.Think of the company your family worked so hard for. Think of your brother.
I smirk at him and tilt my head to the side. “Why don’t we up the stakes?”
His brows pull together. “I wouldn’t want to win allmymoney.”
Unease settles in my gut. It would be within his rights to ask for it back. After all, he is the one who lent the chips to me. I keep my expression soft. There’s no way he can know just how much I need the piles of cash tucked to the side of me.
“I was thinking something a little more risky.”
His grin is wolfish when he replies. “I’m going to need you to spell it out for me.”
Casually, I sit back in my chair, outwardly looking as calm as possible. “Loser takes off an item of clothing.”
“Fuck.” The word is a breath from his lips before a laugh breaks from him. “You are definitely different from what I expected. I’ll take you up on that deal.”
