Page 21 of The Mobster’s Prize

“I’m perfect,” I breathe, collapsing back as the exhaustion settles into my bones. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a release. Way too long.

He drops down next to me, the fire crackling behind us, and I finally start to relax.

“Tell me something,” he says, and I turn to face him, the cards sticking to my sweaty skin. “What cards did you have in your first hand?”

“Aces and queens.” I smirk. “I had a full house.”

His laugh barrels out, a deep smooth rumble. I almost wish I could capture it on camera. His eyes are so light. Smile so wide. It makes my stomach flutter.

“I was sitting there with two pair thinking I was hot shit, and you had already taken the game. Damn. You have quite the poker face, babe.”

“My one and only goal was to get you naked.” I shift forward, pressing my lips to his smile. Wanting to taste his lightness. I’m ready to go again.

“I think we should play another round. I want to see if I can tell when you’re bluffing.”

“Fine,” I agree, sitting up. “But this time we’re playing for kisses.”

“I like those stakes.”

CHAPTER 8

Dag

Iwake to the clattering of metal and shoot up in bed, reaching for my gun. Then I hear her voice.

“Shoot!”

Why the fuck isn’t she in bed? It’s the middle of the night. Didn’t I exhaust that little body of hers? I know she wore me out.

I wipe my eyes, then search for my boxers before heading into the kitchen. She’s standing in nothing but my shirt. Those sexy legs capturing all my attention. Making my dick hard again.

“What ya doin’?” I ask, seeing the mess she’s created in my kitchen.

“Baking cupcakes. Sorry, I dropped the metal bowl.”

So that’s what jerked me out of a deep sleep.

“At—” I look to the clock on the oven behind her. “—three fifteen in the morning?”

“I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d bake you some cupcakes.”

Well, isn’t that sweet. But I’d prefer it if she was tucked in bed with me. I step up to her back, running my lips across the smooth part of her neck, soaking up her shiver.

“I think you should come back to bed, babe.”

She shakes her head. “You are insatiable.”

“Says the girl who was determined to jump my bones.”

“Well, now, I’m determined to make you cupcakes.”

I cut my losses and hop up onto the counter, deciding I could eat.

“So, what’s your deal with cupcakes? Is it your favorite dessert?”

I never ate too many cupcakes growing up. My nonna made me cannoli and pignoli nut cookies. Cupcakes were only had in school when it was a classmate’s birthday. I never thought they were anything special. But Alexandra likes them enough to want to start a cupcake bakery, so hers must be better than the store-bought kind.

“One of my dad’s girlfriends, Meredith, taught me how to make them. We used to bake them together all the time. Always trying different flavors and different frostings, coming up with the perfect cupcake. She was the closest thing I had to a mother.”