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“That’s very kind of you, but I’m not interested in one last game where the stakes will be even higher. And I don’t believe you. You never lose.”
“Why would you think I’m lying?”
“Because I know men like you.”
He eased back, his eyes piercing mine, the small wrinkles on the sides making him that much sexier. As he peered down at me, I sensed he was trying to decide whether I was worthy of his time. “Men like me.”
“Arrogant. Self-assured. You know you command a room when you enter it, and you use that to your advantage.”
“Just like you do when you act as if you don’t care about the other players sitting at your table. Meanwhile, you’re paying very close attention to everything they do, watching for a single glitch.”
I couldn’t help but smile. “Are you suggesting I cheated?”
“Absolutely not. However, I am suggesting you use your beauty as a weapon.”
“As I said before, thank you for your kindness.” There was something overpowering about him, so much so I was eager to end the night. His voice reminded me of someone from long ago, but deeper, and it held the same lust-filled tone that had both thrilled and terrified me.
“I assure you that you’ve misjudged me. I’m not a kind man at all. In fact, there are those who would call me evil.”
“Interesting. I’ll keep that in mind should we find ourselves at another poker table. However, I stand by what I said.”
His smile was laced with a hint of danger, as if he was drawing me into his darkness. I blinked, trying to keep from making a fool of myself. All I wanted to do was collect my winnings and cash out before additional attention was drawn to the win. I certainly wasn’t the biggest winner of the night, but I couldn’t take any chances security would take notice.
His fragrance remained intoxicating, my head foggy from the scent as well as the ridiculous fantasy I’d carved in my mind. It had fed a hunger I hadn’t known existed, the wetness between my legs increasing.
“I’ve learned in my life that you can’t always win in love or war.” He removed his glasses, pocketing them in his jacket, allowing me to stare into powerful, steel gray eyes. With that, he walked away, moving through the crowd.
A strange feeling pooled in my stomach, my skin suddenly crawling with a hint of fear.
A single memory popped into my mind of a cold winter’s day years before.
My old life.
A trial.
I’d been so young, terrified of being in the courtroom. Even though he’d been several yards away, I’d felt his intense stare on the two days I sat in the witness box. Him, the monster. Him, the killer.
It seemed as if all time stopped, the air syphoned from my lungs as a vision played itself out the moment a mistrial was declared.
At first there was nothing but shocked animation from bystanders and people in the press hearing the news. And as he rose from the table, turning toward the audience, he found me in the crowd. I’d been drawn to him, walking closer, pushing by the momentum of audience. He took his time, step by step inching toward me. He was so tall, more so that I’d originally thought, dwarfing me as he stood only inches away. I’d been as intoxicated by his musky scent that day as I was right now, peering into his eyes, searching for a soul that didn’t exist.
Then he’d leaned down, whispering the words I’d never forget.
“I’ve learned in my life that you can’t always win in love or war.”
Constantine.
I blinked several times, gasping for air, every muscle paralyzed.
His words had resonated in my ear then, sliding into every synapse, his voice deep and husky.
Just as they had at this very moment, almost nine years later.
That was the moment my entire world was rocked to the core, every sound blocked out except for the rapid beating of my heart. After taking a deep breath, I rose to my feet, forced to grip the edge of the table as I searched for him.
The man had disappeared.
Correction, the monster had disappeared, the one who’d ceremoniously destroyed my life.
