Page 58 of Blood & Throttle
Dangerous.
But then again, like he said, so am I.
Riot stops shuffling. His thumb taps the edge of the deck once. Twice.
“Deal,” he says, and just like that, the room gets ten degrees hotter.
He passes me my cards, and I swear he’s already picturing how this ends.
Too bad for him—I’ve never played fair a day in my life.
Round One
I lose.
Fuckingof courseI do.
My cards are shit. Three sevens and nothing else. Riot lays down a goddamn straight and leans back like he just cured cancer.
“Off,” he says, eyes locked on my shirt.
I narrow my eyes, but rules are rules.
I grab the hem and tug it over my head, baring my black lace bra. I stay sitting up, one knee bent, spine straight, chin tilted just enough to show I’m not flinching. Then I stretch my arms behind me in a way that’s anything but innocent because I know he’s watching.
His jaw ticks.
His eyes drop.
“Don’t drool,” I mutter.
His grin is slow, wicked. “Too late.”
Round Two
He loses.
Thank fuck.
I slap down a flush, all hearts, and grin like the devil. “Shirt. Off. Now,” I say, all sweet and smug.
Riot curses under his breath but stands, peeling off his shirt in one smooth motion. I do my best not to stare as I bringthe bottle of moonshine to my lips and take a long, burning swig.
Really, I do. But his chest is a goddamn mural of sin—chains snaking up his ribs, flames licking across his shoulder, a coiled serpent winding down his side like it’s daring me to trace it. And over his heart? A clock with no hands, like time itself gave up on him.I fail.
So fucking hard.
His abs are cut from granite, his ink dark and brutal, and his skin looks like it’d be hot to the touch.
Riot catches me. Of course he fucking does.
His smirk curls like he’s already won.
“What?” I snap, trying to sound bored. “Just checking for bad decisions. Thought maybe you had your ex’s name inked in Comic Sans or something.”
He chuckles, low and rough. “Nah, sweetheart. But you keep staring like that, and I might let you put your name on me next.”
My mouth opens, then shuts, because what the fuck. Why is that actually hot?
