Page 1 of Rags to Vegas
CHAPTER 1
BERKLEY SIMMONS
“These are on the house,ladies. Courtesy of the gentleman to the left of you in the black shirt,” the bartender winked his eye at me and my best friend Rachelle after pushing two shots glasses containing Reposado tequila in our direction.
I was already drunk. One more shot would push me over the edge. Two more shots would surely have me comatose, but I was out for a night of fun, so what the hell? I turned my head to the left and didn’t have to look any further for black shirt. The saliva in my mouth dried up instantly as I peered at one of the most perfectly crafted specimens, I’d ever laid eyes on. He was standing and if I had to guess, I’d say he was around 6’5. I stood 5’8, so I wasn’t exactly short. I knew he’d tower over me, which I found insanely attractive. Short men were common, and that was okay. But a tall drink of water did something to my soul.
“Oh, damn he’s fine,” Rachelle mumbled as she angled her head so she could look around me.
Fine he was. His skin looked as if the sun had peppered it with a thousand kisses. High cheekbones gave him a regal appearance. Naturally long lashes framed cognac-colored eyes, and his long lanky frame gave athlete vibes. The handsome stranger had thick, silky, jet-black hair that was parted downthe middle and styled in two French braids. A thick diamond encrusted Cuban link chain rested against his white shirt, while an expensive looking time piece adorned his wrist.
Once I was done with my inspection of him, I lifted the shot glass and mouthed, “Thank you.” Before tossing it back.
“Go over there friend,” Rachelle urged, and I whipped my head in her direction so fast, a sharp pain shot through my neck.
“Hell no,” I whispered. “He’s too fine, and I don’t want to look thirsty.”
“Crazy girl, he sent us shots. He showed his interest by doing that.”
With an adamant shake of my head, I shot her theory down. “There are two of us. His interest may be in you. I’m not about to embarrass myself.”
“Baby, if his eyes work, then he sees this rock on my finger.”
“So wh” my mouth abruptly clamped shut when Rachelle’s eyes widened.
“He’s coming over here,” she stated between clenched teeth.
I had been living in Las Vegas, Nevada for seven months after leaving Raleigh, North Carolina for a new start. After spending three years in an abusive relationship, I couldn’t take it anymore. When my relationship with Nick began, the plan had originally been for him to pay the bills while I concentrated on school. My goal was to become a dental hygienist, however, after two semesters, I couldn’t focus on school. Not when my homelife was toxic as well as mentally and physically draining. When Rachelle invited me to Las Vegas to live with her, I didn’t hesitate to take her up on the offer.
I had been so focused on working and saving money for my own place that dating had been the last thing on my mind. The smell of expensive cologne permeated the air around me, and I slowly turned toward the pleasant aroma. Up close and personal, Mr. Cuban Link chain looked even better, and my yonicontracted making me aware of just how long it had been since I’d been intimate with a man.
“You’re welcome.” He peered down at me with a cocky simper that wet my panties instantly.
I felt like a tongue-tied idiot as I shifted my weight on the barstool. Luckily, Rachelle’s brain was still working. “What’s your name?” she called out loud enough to be heard over the music and chatter of the patrons.
“Malone.”
Finally, I found my voice. “I’m Berkley, and this is Rachelle.”
“Berkley,” he repeated as his gaze poured over me. “I like that. You single, Berkley?”
“Yeah, I am. You?”
I knew there was a chance that all he wanted to do was have sex with me. All the alcohol that I’d consumed had me not giving a fuck. It had been way too long since I’d been with a man and even longer than that since I’d been with a man that actually deserved me. I wasn’t originally from Vegas, nor did I know ten people in the city. Odds were I’d never even see him again. I’d never gotten drunk and made irresponsible decisions as far as sleeping with strangers, but we only lived once.
“I’m very single.”
Waving the bartender over, I ordered another round of shots for us. Why the hell not? After that shot, I could have sworn the room was spinning and though I was very inebriated, when Malone asked me if I wanted to accompany him to his suite at the casino across the street, I agreed. I knew what I was saying, and he assured Rachelle that I was safe with him. He even gave her his license plate number for extra comfort on her part.
I barely remembered the short walk to the casino. Couldn’t even tell you the order in which I removed my clothing, but I remembered him covering my body with his.
“Damn you smell good,” he mumbled, and his lips brushed my ear as he spoke into it before taking my earlobe into his mouth. After softly biting my earlobe, he began to gently suck on it. My lids closed, and I ignored the feeling of being on a Ferris wheel as Malone dragged his mouth down to my neck and began to hungrily suckle my flesh. His condom covered tip rested at my opening, and as he sucked my neck, I opened my legs wider inviting him in.
Cupping my left breast in his hand, his tongue flickered over my nipple while simultaneously pushing himself into me. My back arched, as I moaned seductively. Once he was all the way inside me, a deep rumble pushed from his throat. He started off slowly at first, but it didn’t take long for Malone to increase the pace of his strokes. I pulled my lips into my mouth, chest heaving up and down. Malone was very well endowed. Each time he pushed into me, the friction against my swollen bud sent volts of electricity through my core. I was on the verge of an orgasm, and I was so anxious for it, that I began to match him thrust for thrust. I sexed him back matching his rhythm and working hard for my release.
Lifting his head, Malone peered into my eyes as he massaged my snug walls. Using his pointer finger, he gently strummed my clit, causing my lids to slowly close. “You like that?” he whispered as he studied my face.
“Yes,” I whimpered.
