Page 92 of Knot So Sweet
I clear my throat and focus on my cards with renewed determination. "So what are we betting this time?"
By the third round, I'm starting to relax into the deception. Liam wins with three of a kind, crowing about his victory while raking in his pile of pretzels like they're gold coins.The movement makes his sweater stretch across his shoulders, pulling the fabric taut over the muscles of his back.
I take a slow sip of wine, letting the fruity sweetness coat my tongue. The alcohol is starting to warm my blood, making everything feel softer around the edges. More dangerous.
"Your turn to deal, Violet," Garrick says, sliding the deck across polished wood.
I stand to reach for them, which brings me close enough to lean over his shoulder. Close enough that my breasts brush against him, soft and deliberate. Close enough to smell the soap he uses, clean and masculine under his natural aroma of bread and caramelized sweetness.
"Oops." I straighten slowly, cards in grasp. "Sorry. Didn't mean to crowd you."
His jaw clenches. "You're fine."
But his fragrance spikes, sugar burning hotter, and I know he's anything but fine.
I shuffle the deck, letting cardstock whisper and snap between my fingers. The sound is rhythmic, soothing, and I make sure to put on a show of it. My movements are practiced, executing a perfect bridge that makes them cascade in a waterfall.
All three of them go still.
"Where'd you learn to shuffle like that?" Xaden's tone is casual, but there's an edge underneath.
"YouTube?" I offer innocently, dealing out cards with quick efficiency. "Watched a video once."
"Right." But he's smiling now, that dangerous expression that says he's onto me. His grip slides higher on my thigh, fingers tracing patterns that make it hard to concentrate. "YouTube."
Liam leans back in his seat, studying me with new appreciation. "You're full of surprises, aren't you?"
"I try." I finish dealing and reclaim my chair, very aware of how Xaden's palm has to leave my leg in the process. The loss of contact makes me want to whine. "Makes life more interesting."
The next round, Garrick "accidentally" drops a card. It flutters to the floor near my feet, and he pushes back from the felt to retrieve it. But instead of just grabbing the card, his fingers wrap around my ankle. Strong. Possessive. His thumb strokes the delicate bone there.
"Got it," he says, voice rough. But he doesn't let go immediately. His grip lingers, claiming, before he finally releases me and sits back up.
My pulse hammers in my throat.
"You're going to have to try harder than that," I manage, arranging my cards with fingers that aren't quite steady.
"Than what?" He's all innocence now, but his gaze is pure sin.
"To distract me."
“Why would I do that?” But his aroma says otherwise, all burnt sugar and smoldering desire. The smell of an alpha contemplating doing very distracting things.
I fold another winning combination, watching as Liam takes the pot with a pair of kings. "Guess I'm just not lucky tonight."
"Luck has nothing to do with poker," Xaden says, leaning close enough that his breath stirs the hair near my ear. "It's all about reading your opponents. Knowing when they're bluffing." His lips brush my earlobe, barely there. "When they're pretending to be something they're not."
Goosebumps race down my arms. “I’m not good at that.”
"No?" His mouth curves against my skin. "Then why do I think you could clean us all out if you wanted to?"
"Maybe you're paranoid."
“Yeah, right!” He pulls back, and the loss of warmth makes me want to chase him. "Or maybe you're hustling us."
Liam laughs, the sound rich and inviting. "Now that would be entertaining. The innocent omega taking us all for a ride."
"I'm not that innocent," I point out, taking another sip of Merlot. The glass is nearly empty, and Garrick reaches for the bottle to refill it without being asked. His knuckles brush mine as he pours, the contact sending sparks up my arm.
