Sin City Temptation (Kimani Hotties), page 14
“Couldn’t you get a student loan? Or couldn’t the school work with you since the financial aid glitch was on them?”
“There was no time to apply and then wait to see if the loan would come through. And it wasn’t determined until months later that there had been a glitch with the financial aid.” He filled her in on how the loan shark had broken into his home and showed up at his office, threatening him at gunpoint. He was told not to involve the police or he and everyone he loved would be killed. It wasn’t until an undercover detective approached him for help in taking down the loan shark that the situation began to turn around.
“I left you the way I did because I didn’t want anything that I did or anything that was going down to affect you or your business. In hindsight, I know I could’ve handled things differently—” he shrugged “—but at the time I wasn’t thinking straight. These people are behind bars, your money has been returned and I have a lawyer I’m working with that will take care of any problem that might have arisen with the IRS. I just hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.”
When Trinity stood, everyone else did, too.
“Ryan—” she touched his arm “—I’m sorry you had to go through all of this. I should have known you would never do anything to intentionally jeopardize my agency. Of course I forgive you.”
Chapter 14
“Are you feeling okay?” Gunner asked when he walked into the kitchen and over to the refrigerator. “You’ve been coughing quite a bit.” He and Trinity had been back in Vegas for a couple of days and he couldn’t remember her coughing before now.
“I feel all right,” she said from the breakfast bar, her hands wrapped around a hot cup of something. Gunner saw the steam from across the room and could only assume she was drinking tea. It had been her beverage of choice for most of the day. “I’m a little tired and have a scratchy throat, but outside of that, I feel pretty good.”
“I wonder if you’re coming down with a cold.” He studied her, noticing that her eyes weren’t as bright as usual and her voice sounded a little hoarse. Outside of that, she did seem okay. Although, with the way his schedule had been for the past few weeks, he wouldn’t be surprised if her body was fighting off something. Especially since they had been getting very little sleep. He was used to it, but he didn’t think that was the case for Trinity.
“I’m fine. I rarely get sick. So I’m sure it’s nothing.” She set her cup down. “I know you’re probably tired of poker, considering how much you’ve been playing lately, but I’m wondering if you’d be willing to teach me a little more about the game. Maybe we can even play a few hands.”
“First of all, rarely do I get sick of poker. Secondly, I love playing with you.” He saddled up behind her and wrapped his arms around her flat stomach, placing a kiss against her scented neck.
“Are we still talking about poker?” Trinity’s eyes fluttered shut and she moaned softly. “Mmm, that feels good.”
His lips made their way down her neck. Kissing. Nipping. Biting. His hand drew gentle circles against her abs and eased up the front of her body. He cupped her breasts, kneading them and tweaking her taut nipples. Desire rumbled through his body and blood shot to his groin. He would never get enough of caressing her soft curves or hearing her passionate moans.
Gunner growled at the ringing telephone interrupting their lust-filled moment. He didn’t want to stop, but stopped anyway thinking the call was the one he was expecting from his financial advisor.
When he got up, giving one of her breasts another squeeze before moving away, the phone stopped ringing.
Figures.
“Whew.” Trinity straightened her top and swiveled around on the stool to face him. “So was that a yes to poker?”
“That’s a definite yes,” Gunner said, his voice heavy with longing. He wanted her right then and right there, but he had to talk to his financial advisor before the day was over. He leaned against the back of the bar stool next to Trinity, adjusting himself without being too obvious. “As a matter of fact, I think it’s time that I taught you how to play strip poker.”
Trinity leaned away from him and narrowed her eyes. “There you go again, trying to get me out of my clothes.”
He laughed and kissed her lips. “So, is that a yes?” He placed his hands against the counter on either side of her and lowered his mouth over hers. Since their trip to New Orleans, he hadn’t been able to keep his hands or his lips off her. Over the past few days, he had been a happy camper, enjoying two of his favorite things: playing poker and making love to Trinity. He had never been with a woman before who could match his hunger in the bedroom.
Trinity brought her hands up and grasped each side of his face, abruptly ending the kiss.
“Okay. Okay. I’ll play strip poker with you.”
“Cool.” He placed another quick kiss on her lips before standing to his full height. “Meet me in the game room in an hour.” He started out of the room, but stopped and turned to her. “And don’t even think about putting on more layers of clothes. Can’t have you cheating now, can we?”
* * *
A couple of hours later, Trinity was sorry she had agreed to play strip poker. She reached behind her back and unsnapped her bra, holding it out for him to see, and then tossed it to the floor. A shiver swept through her body and she folded her arms across her bare chest. She glanced at Gunner and rolled her eyes. He’d been wearing a mischievous grin from the time her first item of clothing had hit the floor.
“I’m starting to think that this wasn’t such a good idea.” She rubbed her hands up and down her arms, fighting the goose bumps popping up on her skin. Sitting in only her panties, she realized just how cold it was in the house.
“I can turn the air down if you want. Or better yet, maybe I should rub my body against yours to help keep you warm.”
When he started to stand, she held up her hand. “No, you just stay over there and let’s get this game over with.” She was not a quitter, despite how badly she was losing.
“Suit yourself.” Gunner dealt her five cards. She’d had no idea that there were different types of poker games. They were playing five-card stud and he was kicking her butt.
She glanced at her cards. She tossed two of them to the table. “Can you give me two cards, please?” Gunner dealt her two more cards. Trinity tried to prevent a smile from spreading across her mouth. Moving the cards around in her hands, she put her pair of jacks next to her pair of nines. Giddiness ran rampant through her body and she wiggled in her seat.
Gunner cocked an eyebrow at her, but didn’t speak. Usually, she wouldn’t have a good view of his gorgeous, dark eyes, but his lucky baseball cap was lying on the floor with her pile of clothes.
He continued to eye her, making her giddiness turn into frustration. “Would you come on and quit messing around?” she said, barely able to contain her excitement, while trying to get warm.
“What do you have?” he finally asked.
“Two pairs. Read them and weep.” She stood and started doing a happy dance until he placed his cards on the table. Three aces and two kings. She didn’t have to be a professional poker player to know that he had just beaten her again.
“Are you frickin’ kidding me?” Trinity yelled. She plopped down in her seat, her breasts jiggling with every move.
Gunner grinned and slouched in his seat, his hands behind his head. “Go ahead, sweetheart, drop the panties.”
Trinity narrowed her eyes. “I think you cheated. There is no way you should still have on all of your clothes and I’m only left with my underwear.” She crossed her legs, her arms folded across her bare breasts.
Gunner eyed her from under lowered lids, the sexy grin still spread across his delectable lips. Trinity had no idea what he had planned when he suddenly stood. It wasn’t until he lifted the tail of his shirt and slowly pulled it up past his rock-hard abs that she knew what he was doing.
“You’re right. It’s not fair that you be without clothes while I’m fully dressed.” He lifted the T-shirt over his head, tossing it to the pile of her clothes. Trinity swallowed hard as he toed off his boots that were already untied and removed his socks. “But I must say, you look sexy as hell sitting there in just that little strip of material barely covering your fine ass.”
He unbuckled his belt and the junction between her thighs throbbed in anticipation, knowing the breathtaking body that was hidden beneath his clothes. Moisture pooled in her panties. She uncrossed and then recrossed her legs, trying not to fidget under his intense gaze. With her erratic pulse pounding in her ear, she couldn’t sit still.
Gunner unfastened his pants. His erection was already pushing against his jeans and it was taking everything she had to sit tight and enjoy the show. He took his time dropping his pants, his gaze steady on her. Her heart rate kicked up, beating like a conga drum inside her chest. She dropped her arms, not caring that her breasts hung freely, and swiped her sweaty palms down her bare thighs.
Her tongue slithered over her lips when Gunner grabbed hold of his bulge. Squeezing. Teasing. His black boxer briefs fitting like a second skin. When his fingers slipped inside his waistband, he inched the silk down his body, inch by excruciating inch. Trinity’s knees quaked and she held on to the edge of the table when his penis sprang free and Gunner began to stroke himself. Watching her man touch himself was such a turn-on. If he kept it up, she’d have to help him and replace his hand with hers.
“Gunner...” she breathed, unable to sit still, but forcing herself not to leave her chair.
“Lose the panties, sweetheart.” He stepped out of his shorts, the smoldering look in his eyes growing fiery as he dug a condom out of the pocket of his discarded jeans. His gaze remained on her as he sheathed himself.
Trinity stood, unable to pull her gaze from his amazing, hard body. She heard what he’d said, but she couldn’t get her mind to will itself to obey his command. All thoughts of poker, losing and panties fled and desire filled her.
“Fine. Leave them on. I can work around them.” He backed her to the wall. Bare chest to bare chest, thigh to thigh.
A whimper slipped through Trinity’s lips when his mouth came down on hers, hard and possessively. Her hands had a mind of their own, as they roamed over his upper body, touching, squeezing and didn’t stop until her arms flung themselves around his neck.
Gunner gripped her butt, grinding his body against hers as their tongues tangled to a familiar beat, his erection near the opening between her legs. He released her lips and kissed his way down from her cheek to her neck, nipping and licking along the way. Her heart pounded louder when his hand slipped between their bodies and then inside her panties.
“Gunner...” She squirmed against his touch, automatically opening wider for him.
“Do you know the effect you have on me,” he slid a finger inside her heat, “when you’re not wearing clothes?”
Trinity whimpered and her eyes slammed shut as he teased and stroked her. Her insides were turning to mush, her knees growing weak.
“Still no idea?” He slipped another finger inside her.
“Gunner!” she screamed, clawing at his shoulders and his back when his strokes became harder, more demanding.
“I’ll tell you what you do to me when you don’t have on any clothes.” He slid her panties down her legs and she kicked them off. His shaft replaced his fingers as he slid his length inside, stretching her until her inner muscles tightened around him. “Something within me starts as a slow, erotic churn.” His strokes deepened. “Then it builds and builds until it’s swirling around, bumping against other organs,” he said, thrusting in and out of her harder and faster with each word he spoke. “Like a vicious tornado ready to touch down.”
A scream exploded from her lips and the room spun as everything within her spiraled out of control. She squeezed her eyes shut tight, her body convulsing within his strong arms. Her nails dug into his back as he continued his sweet torture, each thrust growing more powerful than the one before.
Trinity held on for the ride, gripping his shoulders, sensing him nearing his release. His movements became more reckless. His fingers dug into the flesh of her thighs as he plunged harder and deeper, until he growled his release.
He lowered her feet to the floor and collapsed, the wall holding them both up as the aftershocks of their orgasms gripped their bodies.
“If you ever decide to give up poker,” Trinity panted, her forehead against his chest, “you can always pursue a career as a stripper.” She glided her hands up the back of his muscular thighs, and squeezed his butt. “With this body, you’d make a killing.”
Chapter 15
The next morning, Gunner awakened to Trinity’s body snuggled against him. Having her near always made him hot, but now it seemed as if he was sleeping in a hot box. He tossed the covers back and then glanced down at her naked body, surprised to see that the sheet beneath her was soaked with sweat.
What the hell?
Her hair, plastered to her forehead, hung over her face. He fingered a few strands away, but quickly snatched his hand back as if touching a hot oven. She was burning up.
Alarm bells went off in his head. The air conditioner was clearly working, so for her to be hot and sweaty, something was definitely wrong.
He leaned over her. “Trinity,” he called out a couple of times, gently shaking her.
She moaned and stirred, but didn’t fully awaken.
Gunner climbed out of bed and slipped into his briefs before hurrying to the bathroom for a cold, wet cloth. Grabbing an extra hand towel, he returned to his bedroom.
“Trinity?” He touched her forehead again and quickly removed his hand. His initial concern was fast turning into panic. “Sweetheart, wake up.” He shook her as he patted her forehead and face with the cold towel. Normally a light sleeper, she didn’t move, freaking him out even more. “Trinity!” He patted her face, intent on waking her. “Trinity!”
She moaned and tried to pull away from him. “Stop,” she whined, her eyes still closed.
“Come on now, I need you to wake up.” He continued to shake her.
She opened her eyes slightly, searching his face. Gunner wasn’t sure if she even recognized him, seeing that she hadn’t said anything yet.
“Can you sit up?” He continued to pat her forehead with the towel that was now lukewarm. “You’re burning up. I need to get you to a hospital. Come on, let me help you up.”
“No...my whole body aches. My throat hurts,” she said so quietly, Gunner had to strain to hear. She tried to curl up, but Gunner wouldn’t let her. “I’m so tired.”
“I know, sweetie. You’re sick. I need to get you to a doctor.”
“I’m okay.” She had a loose grip on his arm, a scorching heat from her touch surging through his body. Usually the heat she emitted turned him on, but this wasn’t normal. Icy fear twisted around his heart. If anything happened to her... He shook his head. This was no time to think the worst.
He debated in his mind whether to wrestle with her to get her up and dressed. She needed a doctor.
Leaping over the bed, he grabbed his cell phone and dialed.
“Hey, little bro,” his sister answered on the first ring. “I’m surprised to hear from you this time of day. Is everything all right?”
“Actually, no.” He paced at the foot of his bed, rubbing his forehead. “My gir...my...” His voice cracked as he tried to get the words out. Hell, I don’t even know what to call her.
“Gunner, what’s going on?” his sister asked, worry in her voice. “Are you okay?”
He cleared his throat. “No. I mean yes. I’m fine. But my girlfriend is sick and I’m not sure what to do.”
Seconds passed before she spoke. Gunner knew she was surprised to hear him refer to any woman as his girlfriend. That was a first for him, and his sister knew it.
He moved back over to Trinity, and dabbed at beads of perspiration near her hairline.
“Sick how? What’s—”
“Jewels, she’s burning up and I don’t know what do!” he yelled, surprising himself. His sister was an RN and, unlike him, was used to dealing with sick people.
“Okay, first of all, you need to calm down,” she said. “Since I’m sure you don’t have a thermometer, I’m going to assume that burning up means she has a fever. You’re going to need to get her fever down. Has she complained about any aches or pains?”
Gunner sat on the side of the bed and stared down at Trinity, feeling helpless. “Yeah. She says her throat hurts and her body aches.”
“How was she yesterday?”
“She was fine,” he said. Their game of strip poker and the wild activities that followed came to mind. “Wait. Earlier in the day, she was sneezing and complaining about having a scratchy throat.”
“Hmm, she might have the flu, or at least that’s what it sounds like.”
“So what should I do? Should I take her to emergency?” Gunner wet the towel again and pressed it against Trinity’s face and neck.
“Do you know if she’s allergic to anything?”
“Tomatoes.” During dinner a few weeks ago, he had offered her some of his tomato bisque and she had mentioned having an allergy toward them.
“Okay, grab a sheet of paper. I’ll give you a list of things you’re going to need from the store and what you can do to get that fever down.” Jewels rattled off over-the-counter meds, along with things he’d need from the grocery store. The more she told him, the calmer he became, feeling more confident that he could nurse Trinity back to health.
