Page 35 of Bound By Ruin

I grab a glass of amber liquid from a passing server and down the drink in three large swallows, a trickle dripping from the corner of my lips as the alcohol burns my throat. Rebel is quick to lick the spill, a hum buzzing in his chest as he nips my jaw. “Good thing I’m not a lady,” I drawl, setting my empty glass down on the table.

“Damn right, you’re not,” Rebel groans, slipping his hand between my slick thighs. He shivers as his fingertips glide across my heated skin, and I spread my thighs wider for him to feel even more.

The man’s gaze narrows before it flickers to the edge of the table covering my body from the waist down. “So you’re a whore, then. Guess that means those tits are for sale.” With a grunt, he shoves his entire stack of poker chips towards me.

Our dealer shuffles the deck, keeping his eyes glued to the cards as he riffles them between his hands.

I guess the staff is paid to ignore sick fucking bastards if they have enough money.

“Come sit in my lap, sweetheart. I’ll show you how arealman treats a woman.”

The other guests at the table suddenly disperse. Even the dealer, the guy paid to be here, picks up his cards and slips into the crowd, leaving the three of us to handle things ourselves. The back of my neck prickles, and I know that people are watching, likely Rage or Ruin, or maybe even Thanatos. The rest of the crowd ignores us completely, either too caught up in their own world to care or too corrupt to interrupt.

“She’s taken,” Rebel snaps, wrapping his fist around the knife strapped to my thigh. “Fuck off.”

“What, you think because you’re some pretty boy, you’re too good to share? If she’s a whore, then your dick isn’t the only one she’s sucking tonight?—”

Rebel’s arm jerks under the table, and the man inhales sharply while his face suddenly reddens, matching the bright neon sign overhead. His lips part, but no sound comes out even as they flop open and closed over and over again. Beads of sweat collect on his forehead as Rebel grins over at him.

“Listen here, fuckface. What I do with my woman is none of your goddamn business.” Rebel’s arm flexes across my thigh and he twists his wrist in small, circular motions. The muted sound of wet flesh is drowned out by someone winning a jackpot on the slot machines, the screams from the excited winner flooding the air as witnesses clap in celebration.

I grab the holster over my thigh, but I already know that the knife is missing. Keeping my face neutral, I then grab Rebel’s wrist to stop him from carving a hole into the man’s leg, no matter how small of a hole it would be. I cover my face with my hair and press my lips to Rebel’s ear. “We’re supposed to be keeping a low profile. Stabbing someone in the leg isnotkeeping a low profile!”

“Neither is fingering you under the table, but some risks are worth it.” After stealing a quick kiss, Rebel pulls the knife from the man’s leg and slams the sole of his shoe on his chair legs, toppling him over onto his back.

“Rebel!” I hiss, noticing the spark of violence in his eyes for the first time. Is it because that guy called me a whore, or is he itching for a prelim before we meet his father? “We’re going to get kicked out!”

He shrugs, nonchalant as ever as he helps me stand, grabs our chips, and laces our fingers together to pull me away from the table. “Worth it.”

I follow him to another gambling table, but this time when he sits down, I wrap my arms around his shoulders and lean over the back of his chair, careful to whisper low enough that only he can hear me. “Tonight isn’t about us,” I remind him, keeping an eye on the security guard that walks over. He hovers near the dealer but keeps his eyes locked on Rebel the entire time.

So much for staying under the radar.

“We’re here to keep Ruin alive,” I continue, tapping my fingertips against Rebel’s chest. Although he keeps his posture loose and his eyes on the game, I can feel his heartbeat quicken when I press my lips to his pulse point. Flicking my tongue against it, I love the way he swallows and fumbles his chip drop, the plastic coin tumbling into an empty cupholder.

“Wash my fucking knife,” I growl, “before it ends up inyourthigh.”

Rebel folds his cards immediately and jumps to his feet, squeezing my hand so tightly that it hurts. Leaving all of his chips on the table, he drags me away from the gambling hall and to the bathroom in the back, ignoring theMen Onlysign as he whisks us inside. Locking the deadbolt on the door, he spins around to face me. “Celia.” Advancing slowly, he smirks, a flash of mischief in his eyes. “Did you just threaten to stab me?” He pulls my little knife from his pocket and waves it between us. “Do you know how fucking hot that is? Shit, did they hear it, too?” He fiddles with his earpiece, clicking it on with a muttered curse, then helps me with mine.

I cross my arms over my chest. “That’s not the point. You can’t lose focus tonight. This is too important.”

Rebel’s face falls instantly. He tosses the knife into the sink behind him before taking a step closer. “Shit, baby, you’re right. You know you’re right. I let the game get to me, and that guy—” He clenches his teeth. “—can’t fucking call you that. No one can call you that.”

“To be fair, I walked into it when I said I wasn’t a lady.”

“Not the point,” he parrots back at me. “But you’re right. I need to focus.” Grabbing the tent in the front of his pants, he tosses his head back and groans. “Fuck, I’m rock hard.”

Rage’s voice clicks over our comms. “Again?Why the fuck are you hard?”

“Where are you?” It’s Ruin speaking this time. “I can’t see you.”

“We’re in the men’s room,” I sigh, frowning as Rebel rubs the thick outline of his cock. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was tempted, but it’s like I said. We can’t lose focus tonight. “Rebel stabbed someone.”

“It’s a small knife!”

“It’smyknife!”

Whining, Rebel hangs his head. “I know, baby, you’re right. You should get to stab whoever you want. I’ll clean it.” He spins around and soaps up the blade, carefully washing the blood and skin off. “Bastard fucking deserved it, though.”

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