Relinquish(21)

“You’ve been drinking, and at the very least you’re tipsy. Come to my room, clean up and sleep it off,” he instructs, running his hand through his hair.

The tone of his voice tells me I have no say in this. My legs go weak with the simple action of him swiping his hand through his hair, but goddamn if he doesn’t look exotic when he ruffles it all out of place like that. I don’t know why I do it, not a clue why I don’t deny him, but I don’t.

“Okay,” I whisper, standing and accepting the offer to run off with a complete stranger.

Landon takes me to the back of the bar, punching the button on the elevator. I risk looking at him, finding him gazing at me from the corner of his eye. Tingles course through my body like a sea of ecstasy when our eyes catch. A twinge in my chest makes it difficult to breathe, causing me to draw in a slow breath. This man affects me on levels I can’t understand.

The elevator dings, catching our attention. Landon hits the highest floor number once we’re inside, and rests against the wall, still staring at me hungrily. The sexual tension is so thick I could cut it with a knife.

“So, why were you with that boy?” Landon asks, his tone serious as he emphasizes the word ‘boy’. I laugh, feeling giddy from the alcohol.

“I told you, ‘cause I was his whore.”

Landon sighs and looks at the elevator doors while I shrug and stare at the floor. Calling myself a whore doesn’t feel good, but there’s no justification for what I did with Chasen other than I fooled around with him and took money more than willingly to provide for myself. Like Chasen said, I had no problem taking the money afterwards. I was a greedy whore. I wince at the harsh thought.

“You’ve mentioned that,” Landon states calmly, his features calculated.





SEVEN


CHARLIE


After getting out of the elevator and finding his room, Landon holds the door open for me to enter. I gasp at the elegance. Walking in, I notice the huge balcony at the far end of the room that overlooks the town, with a brown leather couch and big-screen TV placed just before it. Turning to my right, a curved bar sits with a kitchen.

“There are three bedrooms, and a guest bath. Feel free to take whatever room you’d like,” Landon offers, throwing his key card on the counter.

I walk over to the balcony and look out. We’re so high up, I can see the strip, the vibrant lights of Sin City brilliant against the night’s sky. The heat outside instantly makes my breasts and the back of my knees sweat.

“I’ll shower, thank you,” I finally respond.

I turn to find Landon standing right behind me, his body broad and muscular, making me feel tiny in comparison.

He slowly skims the soft skin under my arm with the pad of his finger, and I involuntarily flinch. My mouth parts and my eyes widen from my reaction.

“I’m sorry. I guess I’m just a little more shaken up than I thought,” I whisper, staring at the floor.

He places his finger under my chin and firmly raises my stare to his fierce green eyes.

“I wouldn’t hurt you.” His words vibrate through his chest as he speaks.

I know he wouldn’t by the way he looks at me, as if I’m a rare flower. It shows the delicacy he’s capable of. The fact Landon rescued me from that alley and had the courtesy to bring me back to his room after drinking shows volumes. Chasen never had that care written on his face when he looked at me, and I didn’t realize that till it was too late.

“I know that.” My voice comes out hoarse, my eyes skimming his taut body. I’d be stupid to resist him, but to be honest, even with the trauma I just experienced… I couldn’t resist Landon. He’s good-looking, charming, and irresistible.

He slowly trails his finger over my collarbone, and a spark ignites and spreads through my limbs. I gasp, and my eyes grow heavy. He runs it over the bare flesh of my shoulder, and a moan escapes my lips. His proximity seizes the air from my lungs, and my skin flushes with want. I don’t want to feel abandoned anymore; I’d do anything to just feel something other than a place of solace. It’s empty there, and cold. Being this close to Landon, I feel anything but cold. I want the warmth his body is capable of rendering. To have the tingles that creep up my limbs when he touches me reach optimum levels and leave me breathless, wanting more.

His finger glides downward, meeting the fabric of my dress just above my breasts. A mewl escapes my mouth and my body pushes forward on its own accord, wanting more contact. I peer from under my lashes, finding hungry eyes grounding me, his mouth parted slightly as he devours me with looks alone. His eyes are hooded and hold a daydream gloss to them.

He clears his throat and retracts his hand, stepping away and breaking the haze of lust we’re both under. The sweat on my body chills, and I shiver. Landon paces the floor with his head tilted back, looking up at the ceiling, his hands resting on the back of his neck. I can tell he’s trying to stay away from me, but he’s failing. I cross my arms and walk down the hall, searching for the shower. I’m not sure if we should indulge our cravings for each other, we’re obviously from separate sides of the tracks. And, especially with what just happened with Chasen. The draw my body and mind have toward him, though, I’m not sure I can fight. I’m not sure I want to.





LANDON


My hands grip the railing, my knuckles turning white from the force of my hold. I close my eyes and clench my jaw with anger. Liquor warms my veins, warning me I’ve drank too much. I’m not supposed to drink excessively; it’s against Blackwell rules. I smirk. Yet here I am tossing the f*cking handbook out the window.