Just like before, her kiss was intoxicating. Sweeping his tongue inside her warmth, she tasted of sweet wine and cake. Her body melted toward him, and he circled her with his arms. The twinge in his abdomen gave warning that he would not be able to maneuver her onto his lap the way he wanted.
As though she understood his slight grunt, she shifted her body, straddling his lap. Not wanting the kiss to end, he reveled in the feel of her lips against his, her breasts now crushing against his chest, her hot core nestled against his aching cock. The desire to lay her on a bed of moss underneath the twinkling lights in the trees and strip her naked filled his mind. If the sounds of her little moans were anything to go by, her thoughts were traveling in the same direction as his.
Lost in the kiss, they jolted at the sound of children laughing nearby. Lynn leaped off his lap, brushing her hands over her skirt before sitting down next to him again. His eyes were pinned on the swell of her breasts as her chest heaved. His erection was obvious as it pressed against his zipper, and he adjusted his jacket just as a family walking along the path came into their sight. After smiling and nodding his silent greeting as they passed, he felt Lynn heave a deep sigh.
“I guess we’d better go inside,” she said, her voice soft.
Uncertain if she wanted them to continue their kiss once they got inside or if she was calling a halt to the activity, he simply nodded. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” Following her lead, they stood, and he was glad when her arm snaked around his waist again. Tucked tightly together, they made their way back into the casino.
Reentering the lobby, Lynn blinked at the bright lights. Her lips still tingled, and she could swear she still felt the effects of their kiss. Kissing Nolan Bell! She had no idea if he felt anything for her or if she was simply a convenient female. Strangely, she had decided to go with the flow that evening, tossing possible recriminations to the side. Regrets might hit her tomorrow, but for now, she just wanted to feel his arms around her and savor the moments.
He was guiding them once again toward the elevators when she glanced over and watched as Errol entered the casino. Her fingers clenched Nolan’s side and she hissed, “Look! Errol’s going in there! We should follow him!” Without waiting, she changed their walking trajectory, heading directly into the casino.
Passing the guard, they slowed their pace and wandered around, her gaze searching for Errol while taking in the massive room filled with lights and sounds and people. “Oh, my God, this is crazy!” She looked up in time to catch Nolan’s grin as he smiled down at her.
“Never been in a casino?”
“No. I’ve never seen anything like this.” She hated to shout, but the noise was almost deafening. She scanned the area but didn’t see Errol. Jerking on Nolan’s sleeve, she captured his attention again, and he bent low to place his ear near her mouth. “Do you see him? I’m so short I can’t see over anything.”
He twisted his head and now, with his lips near her ear, he replied, “I think you’re the perfect height. See?” He had just pulled her flush against him when a group of people pushed by and his arms tightened.
She loved the feel of his warm breath against her ear and now equally loved the feel of being protected in his arms. She beamed her smile up toward him, hoping he would kiss her again. As though reading her mind, he bent and brushed his lips against hers. The kiss was much too short, but she treasured it nonetheless.
He straightened and cast his gaze about the room. “Let’s keep walking around. We can get an idea of what’s here while looking for him.”
Staying tucked against his side, they passed by the video gaming, but she was disappointed to see that the slot machines did not have the pull levers that she has always seen in movies. “They just have to press a button.” Seeing Nolan nod, she added, “It seems sort of anticlimactic.”
They weaved in and out of the tables surrounded by people playing blackjack, roulette, poker, and other games she’d never seen before. Jerking on his sleeve again, she said, “I don’t see anyone with money!”
“They buy a casino card.”
She scrunched her nose again as she continued to stare, waiting for his explanation to continue.
“They buy a card and that’s what they use for all of their gambling transactions. It keeps track of all winnings and they can keep adding money to it. Plus, that sign over there says that by purchasing a card, you get a meal at the all-you-can-eat buffet.”
As full as she was from dinner, the idea of the buffet sounded intriguing. Nolan started laughing, and she punched him in the arm. “Are you laughing at me?”
“You should’ve seen your face when I mentioned the all-you-can-eat buffet.”
“Hmph,” she groused.
“Come on.”
With his arm wrapped around her, she had little choice but to tag along as he walked to a long line of people waiting to purchase their casino cards.
“There he is,” he said, and she tried to stand on her toes to see what he was looking at. “He’s just made it to the front of the line.”
“What’s he doing?”
“He’s getting his card. He’s handed a thick envelope to the attendant. That’s weird. The attendant didn’t even count what was inside.”
“If that envelope is full of money, then maybe they’re used to him.”
“You’re probably right. That may be something they do for some of their regular high-rollers.”
Still standing on her toes, all she managed to do was see a line full of heads and shoulders. “What’s he doing now?”
“He’s got his casino card and she’s handing him a
