Double or Nothing

A Dark Eden Press Publication

www.darkedenpress.com

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Double or Nothing Copyright© 2008 Edited by Qaey Williams Cover art by Dawn Seewer Electronic book Publication: January 2008 This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Dark Eden Press, Inc.® 8824 Jeanes Lane, Alvarado, TX 76009 This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

DOUBLE OR NOTHING CASSANDRA GOLD

Dedication To my husband, for putting up with all the boxed dinners and takeout, and to Jennifer (Vegas, baby!)

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Chapter One: The Bet “Mr. Turner?” Darren Turner removed his reading glasses and rubbed at the bridge of his nose in irritation. Scowling, he pushed the intercom button. “Yes, Phillips?” “Sir, there’s a man down here at table three who’s up one million dollars. He’s not one of our regulars, and he hasn’t lost a bet yet. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but he’s got to be cheating.” A sense of déjà vu washed over Darren. No. He wouldn’t be back here at the same table. Even he’s not that blatant. Shrugging off the unsettled feeling, he looked toward the wall of television screens on the wall. “Show me.” One of the many screens instantly switched to a view of roulette table three. He stared for a moment, not sure if he was surprised at the face he saw among the gamblers. Pinching the bridge of his nose again, he sighed heavily. “Have your men escort him up here.” “Yes, sir.” Within a few minutes, Darren’s efficient security staff had escorted the questionable guest to his suite and left the two men alone. He looked at the familiar face for a seemingly endless moment, a mixture of longing and fury building. How dare you come back here? Putting on his coldest, calmest mask, he spoke. “You know, there are other ways to announce your presence than cheating my casino out of a million dollars.” The other man didn’t look at all intimidated. In fact, Darren’s unexpected guest looked better than he ever had—as lean and well-built as ever, his deceptively sweet brown eyes sparkling. He lounged against the doorframe negligently, grinning. “Are there?” “You could have sent a postcard. Or even called. We do have phones here, you know.” And I could have told you to stay the hell away. “I wanted to get your attention.” The younger man continued to grin, undeterred by Darren’s coldness. “Well, you succeeded. What I want to know is why? Are the police after you? Did you get bored?” “I missed you.” Darren’s traitorous heart seemed to skip a beat. His cynical mind wanted to laugh. “What? After a year and a half you missed me?” The other man stopped smiling, his eyes going serious. “I missed you the second I walked out the door. It just took me a while to finally admit it.” Anger and pain welled up, making him want to lash out. Damn you! Why couldn’t you stay gone? “You were gone eighteen months, Joey. Do you honestly expect me to believe someone like you has just been pining away for me for eighteen months?” It was the name that finally sank in, making the other man flinch. “I thought I was Noah with you.” 1

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Before he even had time to think about what he wanted to say, words began to pour out like a river. “Not anymore. Not after you left without a word. I actually worried about you. Can you believe that? You were off doing whatever the hell you were doing, not contacting me, and I worried.” Against his will, he barked out a pained, sarcastic laugh. “I don’t know why. After all, you always made it crystal clear you can take care of yourself. Or find someone else to, I’m sure.” Unable to bear the sight of the man he’d loved so foolishly for one second more, Darren turned and went awkwardly to the penthouse window, leaning on his cane. He would come on one of my bad days. He stared blindly out, trying to get himself under control. “I’m not going to lie to you, Darren. When I left here I was determined to forget you. I thought I wanted to go right back to my old life, so I did. I gambled, and I made a fortune. I took on the most challenging casinos in the world, and beat them. I even tried to drive out your memory with sex.” Darren closed his eyes. A stab of pain went through him at the thought of Joey— his Noah—with another man. He wanted to tell his uninvited guest to shut up, to just leave, but he said nothing. Joey/Noah seemed to take his silence as an invitation to continue. “Nothing worked. I didn’t know what to do. Everything I did, everything I thought, all led back to you.” Yeah. Eighteen months later. Gritting his teeth, he ground out his words. “You honestly expect me to believe that while you were fucking hot, young playboys you were thinking of a thirty-nine year old businessman who can barely walk without a cane?” His ex-lover’s voice came out tired and sad, something Darren had never heard from him before. “I don’t expect you believe me, but it’s true. When I started having real feelings for you, I freaked. I didn’t want to leave, but I didn’t know how to stay. I figured what I felt for you was just a passing thing, something I’d get over. A year and a half later, I still haven’t.” “How is this my problem? You left me. I’ve moved on.” A long silence followed. Darren had almost begun to believe the other man had left when a soft, uneven voice broke the silence. “Oh. I should have known you’d find someone else. He’s a lucky man, whoever he is.” Against his will, he admitted the truth. “There isn’t anyone else. There hasn’t been anyone since you left.” “There hasn’t been anyone for me either, not really. I wasn’t strong enough to be alone, and God, how I regret that, but I couldn’t feel anything for anybody else. Even beating the casinos didn’t give me a thrill. Everything was…empty. I’m empty. I had to come back here.” Darren whirled to face the younger man, ignoring the twinge of pain from his bad leg and the sorrowful look in his ex-lover’s eyes. His anger spilled out in a torrent of bitter words. “What exactly did you come back for, Joey? Did you think we could pick up where we left off? I don’t think so. The man I fell for, Noah, never existed.” He 2

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threw a hand up in despair. “You’re always going to be Joey Randall, the cheat and con artist who never even told me his real last name and walked out on me without even the courtesy of a ‘Dear John’ letter. I deserve better than someone who’s going to take off the next time he wants the thrill of beating a casino.” Pushing his blond hair back from his face, Joey/Noah met Darren’s eyes without hesitation. “You’re right. You do deserve better, Darren. You deserve someone who’s mature enough to know what he wants, and not to be selfish. A straight-up kind of guy. But…what if I said I could be that man?” Once again Darren felt an urge to try to hurt his ex-lover, even though he knew he wouldn’t feel any better in the end. He sneered. “You couldn’t be what I needed a year and a half ago. What makes you think you could now?” Despite his sneer, those brown eyes didn’t waver. “Eighteen months ago I was sure going back to my old life would make me happy. Now I realize I was only truly happy the three months I spent with you. You showed me a glimpse of the man I could be, if only I hadn’t been too much of a coward. I threw away the only love I ever had, for nothing. I won’t make the same mistake again.” Darren found he couldn’t keep up his sneering, cold mask in the face of such seeming sincerity. Moving slowly over to the sofa, he sat on the edge, resting his elbows on his knees, and putting his face in his hands. I can’t do this again. I can’t. Not lifting his head, he muttered, “What do you want, Joey?” The sofa cushions shifted as the other man sat down beside him, near enough to touch, but not touching him. “I want another chance.” A foolish longing surged up inside him, but he tamped the feeling down ruthlessly. No. I’m not going down that road again. Still not looking at his ex-lover, Darren tried to put a stop to the conversation. “I’m too old for this, Joey. I can’t. I won’t.” There was silence for a few minutes, and then the other man spoke again. “I have a proposal for you. A wager.” Curious despite himself, Darren finally looked up. Determined brown eyes met his tired blue ones. He sighed wearily. “A wager? Is there anything you won’t turn into a bet?” “There didn’t used to be. This is different. Will you hear me out?” Determination and perhaps even a bit of desperation colored Noah’s voice. Those deep brown eyes still bore into Darren’s, refusing to let him look away. He found he couldn’t deny the request. “All right. But then you need to leave.” “When I’ve finished, I will.” Joey/Noah seemed to collect himself for a moment, swallowing, and taking a deep breath before he began. “I want another chance. You want me to go away. Here are the terms.” Noah raised one finger. “I get one month to prove to you I’ve changed.” Pausing as if to let the first term sink in, he raised a second finger. “I won’t go to any casino but this one. I won’t get together with my old associates, or get into anything remotely shady.” A third finger went up, enumerating Darren’s part of the deal. “In return, you’ll spend your evenings with me.” Something seemed wrong with the arrangements so far. “What will you do all day? I know you. You can’t stand being bored.” 3

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“If you approve, I’ll be working here. I’ll work with your security team, helping them catch bad guys. I ought to be damn good at that, since I am one.” That surprised a smile out of him. “And what will the result of this wager be?” “Double or nothing. If in one month, you’re convinced I’ve changed, you give me another chance. If you aren’t, I leave Vegas, and never come back.” Darren sat back, mulling the idea over. If he agreed to the wager, he might be able to use the time to shake his ridiculous feelings for this man. On the other hand, the whole thing could blow up in his face, leaving him worse off than before. “Why should I take the wager? I can get what I want by having you thrown out of here.” Dangerously narrowed brown eyes stared him down. “You could, but you can’t make me leave Vegas. I’ll stay here until you agree.” This is new. The Noah he remembered had rarely been this determined. If something became too difficult, Noah would just walk away. Deciding to test his ex’s resolve, he smirked. “If I do agree, what’s to keep me from lying when the time is up, just to get rid of you?” The jab hit its mark, and Joey/Noah gave him a sad smile. “Well, if you want me gone badly enough to lie, then I’ll go, even if I know you’re lying.” Exasperated, he threw up his hands. “I’ve been trying to tell you I want you gone. Why won’t you just leave now, and save us both the trouble? Why go through an elaborate charade which will probably only hurt us both?” His ex-lover leaned forward, meeting his eyes again. Darren saw nothing but deep sorrow and remorse there, but tried to remind himself what a good actor the other man was. He’s a con artist. He can play anything from hick tourist to suave high-roller. I doubt repentant lover would be much of a stretch. Voice raw with regret, Noah pleaded with him. “Walking out on you was the worst mistake I ever made. I can’t go back to my old life again, knowing you’re here, knowing I might have been able to be with you if I’d only had the courage to try. I have to try, Dare. Even if I lose.” Darren barely registered the old nickname. He’d gotten stuck on a couple of other things. Admitting a mistake? Accepting he might lose? Who is this man? Shaking off the possibility his ex had really changed, he considered the wager again. Maybe if I take the bait, I can get rid of him. I certainly don’t want him hanging around here trying to get me to change my mind. But one month? Could I get through a whole month without falling for him all over again? Before he even realized he was going to speak, Darren heard his own steady voice. “All right. I agree to your terms, with one change. You get two weeks, and when I ask you to go, you leave.” “Only two weeks?” “Two weeks, or no deal.” He might be agreeing to this ridiculous idea, but it would be on his terms or not at all. The other man thought for a moment. “Fine. But I want to add something as well.” He frowned. “What?”

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“I want you to call me Noah.” Darren mentally shrank away from doing what the other man had asked. “Everyone who knows you here knows you as Joey. Why does what I call you matter?” “It matters. Please.” He knew exactly how important the name was, even though he’d protested. “Fine. Noah.” Joey— Noah—gave him a true, brilliant smile and stood. “Thank you, Darren. I’ll go now, but I’ll be back tomorrow. The two weeks will start then. Good night.” Darren closed his eyes, and let his head flop back onto the sofa. He knew he’d probably gotten himself in way over his head, but there didn’t seem to be any other option. Hardening his heart and getting rid of Noah once and for all had to be the solution; maybe then he’d finally get over him. Getting over Noah would be easier said than done though, given their past together. Things between them had progressed quickly. It had been impossible for Darren not to fall for the man, from their very first meeting… ***** “Mr. Turner?” “Yes, Bennett?” “There’s a player at roulette table three that the floor manager is convinced is cheating, but we can’t figure out what he’s doing. What do you want us to do?” “Show me.” As soon as the screen switched to table three, he could tell who Bennett and the floor manager had pegged as the cheater: a young, well-dressed man with a huge stack of chips in front of him. He watched the next spin and witnessed the chip stack grow, but he didn’t see the man cheat. Even after several minutes of watching, he still wasn’t sure what was going on. He frowned. “Sir?” Hmmm…We can’t throw him out without proof, but I can talk to him. “I can’t see anything either. Bring him up to my office.” A few minutes later, two of his security staff escorted the young man from table three into his office. At Darren’s nod, the two security guards left the room. He knew they’d wait in the hall until the meeting was finished. The young man stood in the doorway casually. The black suit and blue shirt he wore, minus the tie, gave the impression of a rich businessman on the town. His handsome face held no trace of concern. If he was unnerved by being escorted up here by security, he didn’t show it. Against his will, Darren was impressed by the man’s calm. Darren stood stiffly, reaching for his cane and moving to greet the man. When he reached the entryway, he held out his hand to shake. “Hello. I’m Darren Turner.” The young man’s melting brown eyes met his, and he felt a sudden, unexpected, and wholly inappropriate surge of attraction. A strong, slim hand clasped his, and they 5

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shook. The handshake lasted a bit longer than was necessary. The man’s smile wavered a bit, and a puzzled line appeared on his forehead for an instant before disappearing again. Turning the megawatt smile on again, the kid went for the innocent and naïve approach. “I’m Joey Randall. I must really rate, getting to come up here and meet the boss and all.” He laughed abruptly. He’s playing with me! Good camouflage, but I’m not buying. “Lay off, Mr. Randall. We both know why you’re up here.” The young man’s smile turned sly. Leaning against the doorway, he brushed his blond hair out of his eyes, continuing to keep them on Darren. “I know. The question is, do you?” Damn, he’s good. The unwitting admiration returned. The kid had balls, no doubt about it. “I suppose that’s my problem. I know you’re doing something, Mr. Randall, but I’m not sure what.” The cynical look Randall gave him looked odd on one so young. “Let me guess. You want me to leave, and not come back. Correct?” Rather taken aback, he raised an eyebrow. “Does this happen to you often?” The smirk returned. “No. I’m too good.” He laughed again, unable to believe the nerve of the man, yet somehow not annoyed by it. The whole conversation was the most amusement he’d had in quite a while. “Is that so?” Randall pushed off the doorway and took two long steps toward him, looking almost predatory. He stopped within a foot of Darren, eyes darkening, voice going low. “I could show you, if you want.” Darren felt his mouth drop open in shock. For a long, charged moment he said nothing. Is he saying what I think he’s saying? What could he hope to gain? He can’t be hitting on me because I’m so hot. I’ve seen myself in the mirror. There’s gray in my hair, and I’m on the wrong side of thirty-five. Feeling unsettled, out of control of the situation, annoyed him. What game is he playing? Determined to nip whatever plan the man had come up with, he decided to ask. “What’s your game?” One corner of the young man’s wide mouth quirked up in genuine amusement, and he shrugged. “No game. Not this time, anyway. I’d like to have dinner with you.” To his utter astonishment, Darren had actually found himself agreeing. They went to Joey’s hotel for dinner, and even though he usually wouldn’t do such a thing, afterwards they’d gone upstairs for…dessert. Darren’s nervousness at having such an attractive man see his mangled leg, had turned into surprised relief as Joey simply said, “That really sucks,” when he told him about the car accident which had caused his injuries, and then acted as if the ugliness of the limb didn’t bother him a bit. After truly mind-blowing sex, he’d dressed, and left, not expecting more than a one-night stand. Three nights later, Joey had reappeared at the casino, and their relationship began. Within three weeks, Joey was staying with him in his suite. He was unexpectedly happy with Joey. The sex was always phenomenal, and 6

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Joey made him laugh in a way he hadn’t since long, before the accident. Even though he knew getting too attached to a gambler and con artist would be incredibly stupid, Darren fell anyway. He didn’t say anything, though, afraid to chase his lover away. Nearly three months into their relationship, they were talking softly in bed after making love when Joey got quiet. “Joey? You okay?” Those beautiful brown eyes met his, suddenly filled with longing. His voice went so low, Darren almost couldn’t hear it. “Call me Noah.” Darren felt his heart expanding in his chest at the sign of trust. He doubted anyone in Vegas knew Joey’s true name. “Okay. Noah.” They’d made love again, slowly and tenderly, and when he’d climaxed and cried out “Noah,” he knew the other man had been pleased. Two days later Noah was gone. The first week, Darren had been convinced his lover would return. Then, he’d worried. Finally, he’d admitted to himself Noah had probably gone back to his old life, and tried to move on. Tried, but not succeeded, obviously. Now, he had to spend two weeks with the man in order to be rid of him for good. Resolve welled up inside him. I’m not letting him hurt me again.

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Chapter Two: Pressing the Bet Noah Raines felt uncharacteristically nervous as he dressed the next morning. In his long and not-so-illustrious career, he’d stared down policemen, irate casino owners, poker players, even the Feds once, all without batting an eye. Somehow, though, the thought of seeing Darren again tied him up in knots. Every time he saw his ex, he got an out-of-his-element feeling, which put him off-balance. Men in his profession always had to be in control, but he couldn’t control Darren. It made him crazy. Noah’s normal reaction to such feelings would be to act his way out of the situation, but acting was the last thing he needed to do here. The only option was to show Darren everything, strip himself bare, and the idea scared the hell out of him. How long had it been since anyone had truly known him, or even known his real name? He smiled sadly to himself as he realized no one had known his name since he ran away from home, nearly twelve years ago. At the time he’d been calling himself Noel Rogers. Despite being underage, he’d scammed his way into sleazy poker games and used genuine skill to win. Times had been pretty hard then, and he’d had to do a lot of things he wasn’t proud of to survive. There’d been plenty of times he hadn’t found a card game… Luckily, when he was eighteen his card-playing had attracted the attention of Tony Capelli, who led a gang of casino cheats. Tony, and the others, had taught him almost every conceivable way to scam money out of the casinos, and before he was twenty he’d been a full-fledged member of the gang, thanks to an excellent fake ID. At twenty-two, he’d started calling himself Joey Randall, and struck out on his own, traveling the world, and pitting his skills against every casino he could. Although a few people had gotten suspicious, no one had ever caught him. He’d made a ton of money, and thrived on the risk for a few years, until right before he’d met Darren. That night in Darren’s casino, the creeping ennui he’d begun to feel months earlier had become a full-blown malaise. He’d started taking foolish risks, just to feel the adrenaline rush. Of course, Darren had called him on it. The challenge of outwitting the casino boss had soon been eclipsed by a sudden, unforeseen desire for the older man. From the second he’d seen Darren, Noah had wanted him. He had been unable to resist the potent combination of intelligence, strength, and rugged good looks. Everything about Darren was sexy to him: the silver in the dark brown hair at his temples, his deep blue eyes, his humor… When Noah wanted something, he went for it wholeheartedly, but he had never been one to stay interested in anything—or anyone—for long. So when Darren had actually agreed to have dinner with him, and then they’d ended up having sex, he’d figured the whole thing was a temporary aberration, no matter how great the sex was. Just part of his weird mood. He hadn’t been able to forget about the man, though. So he’d gone back again, and again, and before he knew it, he’d moved in. Being with Darren had made him 8

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incredibly happy. Even though he’d tried to keep things light and casual, he’d started getting attached. The urge to go out and beat a casino had all but disappeared. Looking at other guys had lost its appeal. He even found himself wanting to open up to Darren, to share his true self. Noah had felt like a he could be a better man when he was with Darren. Everything had been perfect until he told Darren his real name. Being called Noah, after nearly a decade as someone else, had been both comforting, and unsettling. He’d started thinking too much. No one had really cared about him since his mom died. Living with a drunk, abusive, gambling father had taught him you couldn’t count on anyone except yourself, and suddenly he was trusting Darren with everything. He’d freaked out, and left in the middle of the night. I didn’t even have the balls to leave him a note. No wonder he wants me out of his life again. Sighing, Noah put on his most businesslike suit. He needed to make a good impression. Getting there early to start working with the security team, and dressing the part, couldn’t hurt. He mentally chastised himself as he knotted his tie, smoothing his hands down the fabric. I can’t believe I threw away the best thing I ever had. I only hope he’ll let me show him how sorry I am. Who could blame him if he tells me to get lost at the end of the two weeks? Shaking off his attack of self-pity, Noah grabbed his wallet and left the hotel room. He had a big task ahead of him, and some pretty poor odds, but he’d faced worse odds and come out the winner. Once he reached the street, Noah decided to walk rather than taking a cab. The warm, dry air was strangely refreshing after the artificial air in his hotel room. He hadn’t been to Vegas since he’d left Darren, and when he’d been here, he’d rarely been out during the day. Gambler’s hours weren’t exactly nine-to-five. Or maybe they were, if the nine-to-five was at night. In the past few months, he’d found himself keeping earlier and earlier hours, as his lifestyle wore on him more and more. At first, Noah’s attention was taken up by the changes to the Strip since he’d been in Vegas last, but his mind soon wandered back to what had led him back here. One night a few months ago, he’d been in yet another posh hotel room with yet another hot young man, ostensibly celebrating his insanely large winnings for the night. He’d been well on his way to being drunk, standing by the huge plate glass window watching the lights of Paris while Etienne sucked him off like a pro, when the emptiness that had been shadowing him finally caught him. Everything else disappeared, leaving only a bleak hollowness. He’d sent Etienne away, and spent the rest of the night getting thoroughly, wretchedly drunk, even though he’d known it wouldn’t make the feeling go away. Nothing would. The next evening, when his hangover had subsided a bit, he’d begun planning his return to Vegas and Darren. Fear of Darren’s reaction had made him linger over his plans, turning something that should have taken a few weeks into a several-month affair. Still, in the end he’d finally made his way back here. Even better, he’d gotten Darren to agree to his wager. The two-week time limit would make things more challenging, though. 9

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“I can do this,” he said aloud. “So I only have two weeks? I’ve dealt with worse. I love him, and I’ve changed. That will be enough.” I hope. By the time he finished his trip down memory lane, and his little pep talk, Noah had reached the Diamond Hotel and Casino. He’d been in Vegas with Tony and the rest of the gang six years ago, right before Darren had bought the Diamond, but they’d passed the place by. Back then, the Diamond hadn’t been a top casino. In fact, the place had been going downhill fast. Darren had turned the Diamond around, and now it was one of the top gaming establishments on the Strip. Taking a deep breath, Noah squared his shoulders, and entered the casino. He went straight to the front desk, where a thin, haughty-looking man stood behind the counter. Noah surreptitiously checked out the man’s nametag as he approached the desk, armed with his most charming smile. “May I help you sir?” Even his voice is haughty. “I believe so, Jeffrey. Can you call up to the penthouse, and tell Mr. Turner Noah is here to see him?” Jeffrey gave him a disdainful look, one eyebrow raised. “Do you have an appointment?” “I told him I’d be here.” The eyebrow went higher. “He didn’t mention having any appointments for this morning.” This isn’t starting out very well. Noah leaned forward, smile still in place even as his eyes narrowed dangerously. “And he tells you everything, does he? How nice for you.” The thin man looked a bit nervous, seeming to realize he might be overstepping his bounds. “N-no, sir,” he stammered. Leaning back, Noah let the smile drop. “Call him.” Without another word, the desk clerk picked up the phone and dialed. “Hello, Mr. Turner. I’m sorry to disturb you this morning, but there’s a…Noah…at the desk asking to see you.” Jeffrey paused for a moment, frowning. “Yes, sir. I’ll send him up right away.” Noah resisted the childish urge to stick his tongue out as the other man handed him a keycard to the penthouse elevator and told him to go on up. The ride to the penthouse seemed to take an eternity, giving him way too much time to be nervous about his reception. Darren hadn’t been too happy to see him yesterday, and he knew Darren had only agreed to his wager to get rid of him. Despite his bravado last night, Noah admitted to himself that if Darren had refused the wager, he probably would have left rather than sticking around as he’d threatened. Today he felt hopeful, but far from certain of the outcome of this crazy wager. Finally, the elevator doors opened. Darren stood there waiting for him, unsmiling. The dark charcoal suit and blue tie he wore gave him an air of competence and carefully leashed power. Noah couldn’t help staring, wishing he had the right to walk up to his ex-lover and kiss him. God, he looks so good. How did I ever leave him? Suddenly tongue-tied, Noah struggled for words. 10

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Darren didn’t seem to have any such problem. “Hello, Noah. I wasn’t sure if I’d see you this morning.” Noah flinched inwardly at the cold tone, and the insinuation. He hid his reaction and stepped out of the elevator, trying for a careless smile. “I said I’d be here.” Darren stepped back to allow him to pass. “You said a lot of things.” Ouch. He stopped right in front of the other man, meeting his eyes. As always, Darren’s fathomless blue eyes drew him in, despite their current coldness. “I meant them all. I just wasn’t strong enough then to back them up with action.” Darren’s eyes narrowed skeptically. “And you are now?” He straightened, refusing to be intimidated by the other man’s frosty stare. Of course he doesn’t believe me. It’s my job to convince him. “I am.” Darren looked away first. “I guess we’ll see about that, won’t we?” He turned and walked to the living room, leaning on his cane less this morning. “I’ll let the security staff know you’re here. I’ve told them I might have a consultant in to train them on how to catch cheaters, so they’re expecting you.” “Okay.” Noah followed, trying not to stare at Darren’s ass, which he knew for a fact was still as tight and fit as a man ten years younger. “What have you got planned for today?” Darren picked his wallet and PDA up off the coffee table and slipped them into the inner pocket of his jacket. “I have meetings all day today. I won’t be back here until this evening.” “Which you’ve promised to spend with me,” Noah reminded him. “I remember. I’ll be here around seven. We can meet then.” “Good.” “All right then. I’ll escort you down to Security.”

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Chapter Three: Going In Blind Darren managed to maintain his cold, aloof exterior until right after he left Noah with casino security. He somehow hadn’t shown any emotion when he first saw Noah, and being calm in front of his security staff had been easy. Now, though, as he rode the elevator down to the first floor to meet with some business partners, everything seemed to hit him at once. He leaned back against the elevator wall and closed his eyes, trying to get himself together. One look from those big brown eyes and I’m practically helpless. I feel like the past eighteen months haven’t done any good at all! How can he still affect me this way? “I’ve got to get it together. I’ve only got to deal with this for two weeks, and then he’s out of here. After that, I’ll move on. Maybe find someone else.” To his annoyance, the idea of finding someone else didn’t appeal. Even so, he knew moving on would be the best way to put Noah behind him. As he crossed the lobby to meet up with his first appointment, he told himself he would definitely start dating again after the two weeks were up. ***** By the time Darren wrapped up his last, interminable meeting, his watch read six-thirty. Damn. Doesn’t give me much time to get ready. Scowling, he took a short cab ride back to the Diamond and headed up to the penthouse. One quick shower later, seven o’clock had come. The phone was ringing when he got out of the bathroom. His stomach clenched. Noah’s here. Taking a deep breath, he answered the phone. “Yes?” “Mr. Turner, your seven o’clock appointment is here.” For a moment, he debated making Noah cool his heels in the lobby for a while, but he decided not to be so petty. “Thank you. Can you send him up, please?” “Right away, sir.” Tossing his towel through the open bathroom door, Darren walked over to his closet. Not sure what Noah had in mind for tonight, he didn’t know what to wear. With a mental shrug, he put on boxers and a pair of khaki slacks, and began rummaging through the shirts in his closet. The sound of a throat clearing made him turn. Noah stood in the doorway, staring at him with hot eyes. “I yelled, but I guess you didn’t hear me. I see you still work out.” To his annoyance, he found himself blushing. He hoped the dim lighting in the room would hide his embarrassment. “Almost every day.” Noah walked across the room, but instead of approaching he sat on the edge of Darren’s bed. “I can tell. You look really good.” Not sure what to say, he turned back to his shirts and grabbed one blindly, yanking the black pullover on. “Let me get some shoes on and I’ll be ready. Where are 12

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we going?” The other man grinned. “Nowhere.” He frowned. “What?” “Nowhere. I thought we could have room service on the balcony. I’d like to talk, and we can talk better here where it’s quiet. We can go out another night.” Darren thought for a moment. He did feel really tired after all his meetings, so staying in would be good. At the same time, being out in public would have kept things from feeling so…intimate. His tiredness won out. “All right, we’ll stay in.” He stopped looking for socks and shoes and left the closet. “I guess I don’t really need shoes.” Noah’s grin widened. “True. Room service will be here in a few minutes. Why don’t you go outside and sit down?” Moments later, Darren stood at the balcony staring out at the stunning beauty of the Strip. Even after more than six years of living in Las Vegas, he still couldn’t get over how beautiful the lights looked at night. He sighed, feeling some of his tension draining away. The soft swish of the balcony doors opening let him know he was no longer alone. He kept looking out at the Strip, stalling, listening as Noah rolled the room service cart out and set the table. Déjà vu all over again, he thought, remembering the times they’d eaten out here when he and Noah had been together. He’d loved the feeling of being the only two people in the world when they were up here. Now he wanted to be in a bustling restaurant, surrounded by people. Oh, to be anywhere but here right about now. “I’ve missed this view.” Darren looked over to find Noah standing at the balcony railing about a foot away from him. He expected to see his ex gazing out at the Strip, but the other man’s eyes were locked firmly on him. You must not have missed the view too badly, or you would’ve come back. Biting back the words he really wanted to say, Darren turned toward the table. “Is everything ready?” “Yeah. I got steaks.” “Sounds good. I’m starving. My lunch meeting was at noon, and I was in meetings nonstop afterwards.” They both sat down, and Noah poured them each a glass of wine. After they had been eating for a few minutes, he spoke. “How’d your meetings go?” So we’re going to do small talk. Okay. “About as well as I expected them to, I suppose. I booked a few new shows for the casino, and the new restaurant will be opening on schedule.” “Good.” Genuine curiosity prompted him to ask his next question. “How was your first day in Security?” Noah smiled. “I enjoyed myself. Your security team is good. They learn quickly, too. We caught a couple of low-level guys today. Not the kind of guys they’d need my help with, but still pretty cool.” 13

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The other man seemed sincere. Still, Darren felt the need to test him. “You didn’t wish you were the one on the floor, outwitting everyone?” “I figure if I get bored, I can always go down on the floor and have them watch me, see if they can catch what I’m doing. Bet they won’t be able to, though.” Noah laughed, his brown eyes sparkling with amusement. Darren found himself smiling too. “As you said, they’re pretty sharp. They’ll catch on eventually.” Noah leaned forward. “I don’t know. I’m still pretty damned good, if I do say so myself.” He rolled his eyes, laughing despite himself. “And still so modest, too.” “One might even call me humble,” the other man agreed. Rolling his eyes again, he resumed eating. They talked a bit more about inconsequential things as they finished their meal. Darren found himself enjoying his ex’s company, in spite of his best attempts not to. Noah was as funny and clever as he’d been before, but his humor seemed less sharp-edged than it had been. Against his will, he started wondering if perhaps Noah really had changed. Yeah, right. Once a con artist, always a con artist. What’s the old saying? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. I’m not falling for the same act twice. Two weeks, and he’s out of here. Repeating those words to himself helped him stay aloof when Noah took his leave. Still, in bed hours after Noah left, he found himself thinking about the other man, and daring to hope just a little.

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Chapter Four: Playing the Rush The second morning of the bet dawned clear and cool. Dinner the night before had gone wonderfully, and Noah felt optimistic as he walked to the Diamond. Even though Darren had been reserved when he arrived, and again before he left, their dinner conversation had given him hope. He could still make Darren laugh, which was something to build on. Noah would be willing to bet the older man had enjoyed their dinner, even if Darren wouldn’t admit as much. Once he arrived at the Diamond, the day practically flew by. He spent most of the time assessing the casino’s security system and pointing out weak spots. The rest of the time he wondered what Darren was doing and thought about the night ahead. They were meeting at six, and he had plans he hoped Darren would appreciate. Four o’clock came quickly, and he left the Diamond and went back to his hotel. Showering and changing didn’t take long, so he killed some time by flipping channels on the television until he could leave without being too early. He also thought about what he would say over dinner. He’d decided to share something about himself each night of the wager starting tonight, a prospect that had him feeling decidedly anxious. At six o’clock sharp, he met Darren in the lobby of the Diamond. Darren was dressed casually, as Noah had instructed him, in khakis and a navy blue polo shirt. He went to meet his unsmiling date. “Hey Darren. Ready to go?” The other man scowled, running a hand through his dark hair. “I don’t know. You didn’t tell me where we were going.” Noah waggled a finger in mock reproach. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise. You’ll see.” “I hate surprises,” Darren grumbled as he followed Noah out of the casino. He couldn’t suppress a smile at the other man’s grumpy tone. “How’s your leg feeling tonight? We don’t have far to go, but we can take a cab if you want.” “The leg’s feeling good. Let’s walk.” They walked side-by-side down the strip for a short way. Though they didn’t speak, the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. Noah used the time to think about what he would tell Darren tonight. Butterflies danced in his stomach at the idea of sharing who he really was with someone after so long, but he knew he had to let Darren into his life or they’d never be able to be together. A few minutes later, they arrived at a casual terrace restaurant. The tables were surrounded by ivy and other plants twining up trellises. The night air felt cool, but not too cool as the hostess led them to a relatively private table in the back corner. Their waiter approached right after the hostess left, and Noah ordered a bottle of wine. Silence settled over them again as they looked over their menus. Finally, after the waiter poured their wine and they ordered their food, Darren broke the silence. “This is a nice place. I’ve never been here before.” Noah seized on the neutral topic of conversation gratefully. “Me neither. I saw it when I was walking by yesterday and decided to try something new.” 15

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“What’s next, or can’t you tell me?” He considered for a moment. “Okay, I guess I can tell you. We’re going to a jazz club.” Darren smiled. “I haven’t been to a jazz club in a long time.” He stopped smiling, though, as the unspoken not since I was with you hung in the air between them. The waiter reappeared with salads and bread before Noah could respond. For a few minutes they both concentrated on eating. The only conversation consisted of comments about the food. “Here we are, gentlemen,” the waiter announced as he placed their entrees before them. “Can I get you anything else?” “We’re fine, thank you,” Darren replied. The waiter left. Noah took a deep breath and willed the butterflies in his stomach to settle down. “I’d, um, like to share something with you.” Darren put his fork down, seeming to sense how important this was to Noah. “All right.” “My real name is Raines. Noah Joseph Raines.” The other man looked startled for a long, tense moment. Then he smiled slowly. “Noah Raines. I like it. The name suits you.” Noah let out the breath he hadn’t even been aware he was holding. “Well, I didn’t have anything to do with picking my name, but thanks.” “No, Noah. Thank you.” Meeting those deep blue eyes, Noah felt a mixture of relief, hope, and love welling up in his chest. He laughed breathlessly, feeling lighter for having shared. “I admit I’m not good at sharing things about myself. The truth, anyway. I don’t think I can let everything out at once, but I am going to tell you everything.” Darren raised an eyebrow, his expression a mixture of skepticism and cautious hope. “Everything?” “Even the bad stuff.” And there’s a lot of bad stuff. Darren didn’t reply, but when Noah reached for his hand across the table the other man didn’t pull away. Noah laced their fingers together, suddenly happier than he had been in a long time. ***** The next week went by quickly. Noah took Darren to a medieval dinner theater, a few different restaurants, and a show. Even though Noah could still feel Darren’s reserve, he had high hopes of breaking through the other man’s walls. Each night, he told Darren something new about himself. The second night, he admitted that he’d run away right before he’d turned sixteen, never finishing high school. In the days that followed, he told the other man about scamming his way into card games, Tony, his travels with the gang, his mother’s death, and even his abusive father. Each revelation seemed to bring them closer together. He still hadn’t been able to 16

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bring himself to tell Darren about the other things that had happened before he met Tony, but he was trying to work up the courage. If I want him to trust me, I have to let him know me. I just hope when I do, he won’t run the other way.

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Chapter Five: Sweating the Money Ten days into the wager, Darren knew he was in trouble. Oddly enough, it was watching Noah at work, rather than actually being with him or talking to him, which helped him come to the realization. One of his many investors had come for a brief visit to the casino, so he took the man to the security booth to show him how tight the Diamond’s security was. When they got inside, most of his men were watching the monitors as always. The others were gathered in a circle around a small table, watching a suited man whose back was to Darren and the investor. Darren was about to ask what was going on when he realized the suited man was Noah. “You guys missed what I was doing out on the floor, so I’m going to show you close-up. All right, watch carefully,” Noah instructed. He made a quick, smooth movement. “Did you all see what I did?” A couple of the men shook their heads, but one spoke up. “You added chips to the bet.” Noah nodded. “That’s exactly what I did, Tom. I did the same thing on the floor.” Those slim, graceful hands kept moving as he spoke, adding and removing chips quickly enough to elude the unpracticed eye. “I know most of you have heard of this before, or maybe even caught somebody at it, but a good cheat can make a lot of money capping. The really good ones can be extremely hard to catch. You have to watch their hands.” To demonstrate, Noah made another subtle move, nearly doubling one of his bets. “Most of the time, cappers work in teams. Another person will be in the area, and will cause a distraction as the capper acts. If you see something suspicious, make sure someone’s still watching the table, or they’ll get you every time. Questions?” Watching Noah talk to the men, Darren could see how the security staff listened intently as he spoke, and how Noah answered all their questions thoroughly. Clearly Noah made an excellent teacher. To Darren’s surprise, the other man also seemed to be really enjoying himself. He smiled as he watched Noah capping the bet again in slowmotion for the guys who hadn’t seen it the first time. At that moment, Darren suddenly realized Noah might actually be serious about going straight. Deep down, he hadn’t truly believed his ex could give up the challenge and the money. Seeing him here, giving secrets up to the security staff, told Darren more than any words could have. Not wanting to interrupt, he motioned to the investor and they left the booth. Afterward, the investor couldn’t say enough about the Diamond’s great security and their innovative techniques. Darren only half-listened, though. One thought kept repeating in his mind: I might lose this wager after all. Noah’s apparent enjoyment of his new job, his newfound inclination to share information about himself, and Darren’s own traitorous heart all seemed to be conspiring against him. What had once seemed a simple proposition—sending Noah away at the end of the two weeks—was becoming increasingly hard to imagine. 18

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***** The tenth and eleventh nights of the wager passed as quickly and pleasurably as all the others had. On the tenth night, they’d gone to several of the most tourist-y locations. Despite living in Vegas for years, he had never visited the tourist traps, but with Noah as a guide, the trip had been surprisingly enjoyable. Afterward, Noah had walked him to the penthouse elevator. When his ex leaned in slightly, Darren hadn’t moved away. The rational part of him had told him to get in the elevator and leave, but every other part of him had held him immobile while Noah kissed his lips softly. Before he could decide whether or not to be disappointed, the other man had gone without trying to take things any further. The eleventh night had been the most fun, yet exhausting, night he’d had in ages. His leg had been feeling great, a good thing when Noah asked if he would go dancing. The destination for the night turned out to be Gipsy, a popular gay club. To Darren’s amusement, the club was having a “retro night,” and he had spent much of the night teasing Noah about all the music being before his time. They’d danced when Darren felt like dancing, and rested when his leg felt tired. Never once had he felt like Noah would rather be dancing than sitting with him, and he’d gotten an annoying little possessive thrill when the other man turned down an incredibly hot twenty-something who asked him to dance. At one, they’d left. Once again, Noah had walked him to the elevator, but rather than a quick brush of lips, their goodnight kiss had melted into two, three, and then more. They’d ended up spending more than half an hour kissing in front of the elevator before Noah said he’d better go, and finally left. This morning, Darren had awakened much later than usual, grateful not to have any important meetings scheduled for the next few days. All day, he’d thought about Noah and wondered what the other man had planned for tonight. He was a bit annoyed with himself for spending all his time thinking about Noah, but at least he’d managed to resist the urge to go down to the security booth and talk to the man. Oh, who am I kidding? I’m trying to be mad at myself for wanting to be with him, but I just can’t. In his own mind, he was a calm, sensible businessman—maybe even a bit boring. With Noah, though, he felt different, as if he could come out of his dull, little shell, and do, or be, whatever he wanted to. A prime example was last night’s dancing excursion. A dance club was not a place he would have gone on his own, yet Noah had made the experience fun. He had to admit to himself that Noah was quickly knocking down the walls he’d tried to build to keep his ex out. It didn’t hurt that he finally felt as if he were a part of Noah’s life. With each piece of the other man’s past he learned, he cared more and more. I wish he would have let me in before. Maybe if he’d trusted me more, he wouldn’t have left. He shook his head at his own thoughts. There was no point in dwelling on the past. All they had was now, and with only two days to go on the wager, Noah just might be getting the second 19

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chance he wanted. ***** Later in the day, Darren got an unexpected call from an old friend, who needed some advice on a last-minute deal. He’d worried about changing their meeting time, but Noah had assured him it would be okay. He arrived home at eight o’clock, his head pounding from hours of intense strategizing and his leg aching from last night’s exertions. Since he’d called Noah on the cab ride back home, he wasn’t surprised to see the man waiting for him on the small bench near the penthouse elevator. He also couldn’t help noticing Noah looked indecently good in a pair of worn jeans and a white buttonup shirt. Noah stood as he approached, holding out a takeout bag as well as a smaller plastic bag. “I brought Chinese.” Darren smiled, relieved. He really didn’t feel up to going out tonight. “Great. I’m starving. Sorry I’m late.” He slid his keycard and they got into the elevator. “No problem. Friends are important. Besides, what I have planned for tonight doesn’t require a specific timetable.” He arched an eyebrow. “That certainly sounds cryptic.” The other man laughed. “I didn’t mean for it to. I brought takeout and a movie. I thought we could just relax for a while.” “Just relaxing sounds good. I had a lot of fun last night, but my leg is making me pay for the dancing today.” Noah’s expression instantly became concerned. “Your leg hurts?” He rolled his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ll live. If you’re feeling really guilty, you can rub it for me later.” A flare of heat in the other man’s eyes let Darren know how much Noah liked the idea. Before either of them could speak again, though, the elevator reached the penthouse. Noah headed into the living room to set dinner out on the coffee table while Darren went into his bedroom. He took off his jacket and shoes, put them away, and rejoined the other man in the living room. For the first few minutes, they spoke very little. Darren grinned, amused to see Noah must be as hungry as he was. He’d always been amazed by how much Noah ate, especially since the man stayed slim without any obvious effort. When they finished eating, Noah boxed everything up and carried the containers to the kitchen, refusing to let Darren help. I have to admit, I like having him wait on me. Darren grinned as Noah brought two glasses of wine and put the movie in. “What movie did you get?” The other man sat on the sofa next to him. “I got Pan’s Labyrinth. I know how you like foreign films.” He smirked. “You like them too. Admit it.” Noah laughed and nudged him, adopting a fake tough-guy accent. “What, and 20

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ruin my image?” Darren took the remote and started the movie, dimming the lights as he did so. Within minutes he was engrossed in the story. Still, he found himself noticing the other man’s soft breathing, and the way their arms brushed together occasionally. About halfway through the movie, Noah snuggled against him. They watched the rest of the film that way, and Darren couldn’t believe how comfortable he felt. He’d really missed the simple things like this after Noah left. It wasn’t until after the movie ended that the mood suddenly changed. He stopped the DVD, about to comment on how much he’d enjoyed the film, when he noticed Noah had tensed beside him. His words died on his lips. They sat in uneasy silence for a few minutes before he found his voice again. “Noah? Is something wrong?” The other man sighed. “Not really. Well, yes.” He tried and failed to think of anything he could have done to cause Noah to get upset. Before he could ask, Noah spoke again. “You know how I said I’d tell you everything? Even the bad stuff?” Noah’s obvious anxiety fueled his own, and he suddenly felt nervous as well. “Yes.” “I’ve done a lot of bad stuff. You know about most of it—cheating, lying, pretending to be things I’m not. But there’s something worse. Much worse. And, um, I’m kind of afraid to tell you. I don’t want to lose you.” Biting his lip, Noah looked away. Now he was beginning to understand. “And you think whatever you have to tell me will make me want to leave you.” “It’s a strong possibility, yeah.” He considered for a moment. “You could just not tell me.” Shoulders squaring, Noah looked up again. Determined brown eyes met his. “No, I have to tell you. I want you to know me, really know me this time. The things I’ve done have made me who I am, and you have to know before you even think about being with me.” Wow. Fear of what he was about to hear mingled with admiration for Noah’s honesty. Struck speechless, Darren only nodded. Noah dug his fingers into the couch cushions, and began to speak in a rush, as if he had to get everything out before he stopped himself. “I told you I ran away from home when I was fifteen. My mom had died just over a year before, and after she was gone my dad lost it. He’d always been a heavy drinker and really quick to anger, but once she wasn’t there anymore he started punishing me with his fists instead of words. I couldn’t stay with him anymore, and I didn’t want to go into the system, so I ran away. I ended up in Atlantic City. Most of the time I conned my way into card games to get money.” Noah stopped and took a deep breath. In all the time they’d been acquainted, Darren had never seen the other man lose his cool this way. Knowing whatever was coming wouldn’t be pretty Darren reached out to take his hand. 21

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He got a small smile in reward, before Noah continued, hand shaking in Darren’s. “There were times when I couldn’t find a card game. I was out on the streets most nights, and sometimes I didn’t have anything to eat.” After a pause long enough for Darren to wonder if the other man planned to continue, Noah gripped his hand almost painfully, voice dropping to a near-whisper. “When I couldn’t find a card game, or steal something, I had to find other ways to get money.” Noah didn’t come out, and say what other ways he’d had to use, but Darren could read between the lines. How scared and alone Noah must have felt, being a kid, and having to make his own way in the world. The silence stretched out between them as he considered what to say. When he didn’t speak right away, Noah extracted his hand. Shoulders slumped, he turned his face away. “You don’t have to say anything, Darren. I’ll go.” Before the other man could get up, he reached out, and gripped Noah’s chin, gently turning Noah’s flushed, anguished face toward him. “I don’t want you to go, Noah. I don’t blame you for doing what you had to do to survive.” A single tear slipped down before Noah scrubbed at his cheek viciously. “I doubt you’d be saying that if you’d seen me sucking some guy off in an alley for ten bucks.” Cradling the other man’s face in his hand, he smiled gently. “Did you think if you told me this I’d see you as less?” The mixture of cynicism and dawning hope in those soft brown eyes made him determined to prove his point. Keeping eye contact, he continued emphatically, “Well, I don’t. Nothing short of murder could make me not want you. You were just a kid, trying to survive. I’m sorry, so sorry, for what you went through, but I’m grateful you made it to me somehow.” Tears welling up again, Noah had to look down a moment before he got himself under control, and spoke again, his voice rough, but steady. “Tony came along a couple of years later and got me off the streets. By then I was doing pretty well with the cards, and with Tony’s help I never had to worry about how I’d get my next meal. After that, I decided I would be in control from then on out. I never bottomed for anyone again.” Except for when you were with me. And to think I never realized what a gift I was getting from you every time. “If you’d told me before…” He knew his realization showed in his eyes when Noah looked up and gave him a small, sweet smile. “It wouldn’t have mattered, Dare. I wanted to, with you. I didn’t need to be in control because I could trust you.” Oh. Wow. Touched, speechless, Darren closed the small distance between them and kissed Noah’s lips gently. He’d intended the kiss to be a quick brush of lips, conveying gratitude and understanding, but the instant their lips touched desire flared. Clearly the other man felt it too, because he moaned softly and opened for Darren’s questing tongue. God, I’ve missed this. The feeling of Noah’s tongue sliding against his own, so familiar and yet so different, stoked his desire. For about two seconds he tried to think, wondering if this was a good idea. Then all Darren’s remaining reservations flew away as Noah threaded his hands into Darren’s hair and teasingly sucked on his lower lip. 22

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One kiss melted into another and another. Darren was content to take his time, exploring Noah’s mouth and sliding his hands under Noah’s shirt to caress his back. Impatient as always, Noah whimpered and arched into him. “Darren, please.” He smiled against the other man’s mouth. “Please what?” “Touch me.” Still smiling, Darren kissed his way along Noah’s jaw and down his neck. He reached down and began to undo the other man’s shirt buttons, pressing kisses to Noah’s shoulder and chest as the shirt fell open. The instant the last button came free Noah shrugged the garment off, revealing a smooth, surprisingly sculpted chest. Darren leaned back to admire what he’d uncovered, arching an eyebrow. “I think I’m not the only one who’s been working out.” Noah actually blushed. “Well, maybe a little, these last few months. I had a good reason to look my best.” He ran his hands over Noah’s chest teasingly, making the other man shiver. “A good reason, huh? Well, I wouldn’t want to let all that hard work go to waste.” Noah’s laugh cut off abruptly as Darren leaned forward to kiss one of his nipples. “Dare!” Instead of responding, he took the tiny bud between his lips and suckled gently. He nipped lightly, making the other man jump. Afterward, he repeated the treatment on the other nipple. Noah pulled away slightly. “I want to touch you too.” Not one to argue with a good idea, Darren moved back to let the other man remove his shirt. Noah’s skillful fingers had the garment unbuttoned and off in mere moments. Damn. He’s quick. Then Noah was kissing his neck and chest, and he forgot to think. “You’re so beautiful,” Noah muttered between kisses. “Do you know how many times I dreamed of this?” More aroused than he’d ever been, Darren couldn’t wait any longer. “Probably about as many as I did. Let’s go.” He held out his hand, and the other man took it without hesitation, lacing their fingers together as they left the living room and went into the bedroom. The instant they crossed the threshold, Noah pressed him back into the wall and kissed him hard. The unexpectedly aggressive move startled Darren, but the urgency turned him on. He groaned aloud as Noah ground against his already painfully hard erection, the rasp of their clothing adding another layer of sensation. Then Noah began to kiss his way down Darren’s chest, slowly sinking to his knees at Darren’s feet. Darren watched with anticipation as those dexterous hands removed his pants and boxers. This time the other man seemed content to take his time, sliding Darren’s clothing off slowly. When Darren was finally naked, Noah grinned teasingly. “Go lay down on the bed.” He obeyed without hesitation, wanting to see what Noah would do next. After 23

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shedding the rest of his clothing, Noah joined him on the bed. Rather than picking up where they’d left off, though, the other man leaned over and began to rub his bad leg. Any thought he might have had of complaining about the interruption quickly fled as Noah’s clever fingers found all the sore muscles from last night’s dancing. He closed his eyes and let his temporary masseuse work, sighing as the ache and tension left his leg. Darren had nearly drifted off when Noah stopped his ministrations abruptly. “Hey, no sleeping yet.” “Noah!” Sleep was the furthest thing from his mind as a warm, wet mouth closed over his erection. He threaded his hand through Noah’s soft, blond hair, unable to believe how good it felt as the other man began to suck in earnest. Too soon Noah pulled back, releasing his cock with an audible pop. Their eyes met. Noah’s were uncharacteristically serious. “I want you inside me.” Darren sucked in a breath. There’s nothing I’d like more. After pulling the other man up for a quick kiss, he turned away to grab lube and a condom. The foil packet disappeared into his lover’s quick hands almost instantly. He hissed with pleasure as those incredible hands rolled the condom onto his erection, taking time to tease and caress the whole way down. Next, Noah took the lube. Watching Noah slick his cock with one hand while preparing himself with the other, was incredibly hot. Taking his time, he made Darren groan with impatience before he finished. Then, with a slow smile, Noah asked, “How do you want me?” Let me count the ways. Without speaking, Darren rolled the other man onto his back. Their bodies lined up perfectly, just as they always had. He found Noah’s opening and pressed forward slowly and steadily. They both gasped with pleasure when he was fully inside. It felt so good, he was afraid he wouldn’t last. To distract himself, he said the first thing that came to mind. “God, you’re tight.” “It’s been a long time.” Noah’s dark eyes met his, full of emotion and unspoken messages. The idea of being the only person Noah had wanted to share this with brought an unexpected warmth to his chest. Unable to find the words, he needed to show how he felt. He began to thrust firmly, leaning down to kiss Noah as he did. Kissing him back passionately, his lover arched up to meet his thrusts. Darren knew he’d hit the right spot, when Noah cried out against his mouth, breaking the kiss. He thrust harder and faster, pegging that spot each time. When Noah was babbling encouragement, his head thrashing against the pillow, Darren reached down and grasped his cock tightly. Only a few strokes later, Noah cried out his name and came, semen coating his stomach and Darren’s hand. Though Darren wanted the moment to last, the sudden tightening of Noah’s body sent him over the edge. With a wordless cry, he came as well. Waves of pleasure flowed through him, and then subsided, leaving him wrung out. He collapsed onto Noah’s chest, panting. They were both quiet for a bit while he carefully withdrew and took care of the 24

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condom. Then Noah looked down at their sweaty, come-streaked bodies and laughed. “Shower?” Darren smiled and got back into the bed. He pulled the other man into his arms, not caring about the mess, “In a little while. Let’s just stay here for a minute or two first.”

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Chapter Six: On Tilt On the thirteenth day of their wager, Noah awoke to bright sunlight streaming in the window. The unfamiliar room threw him for a moment, until he remembered. He was in Darren’s bed. The covers on the other side of the bed had already gone cold, but he couldn’t have felt warmer, especially after he spied the tiny slip of paper on Darren’s pillow. A few words in his lover’s bold scrawl filled the paper: “Wanted to wake you this morning, but you looked too peaceful. I’ll see you after my meetings. Seven-thirty, here? D” The short missive was typical Darren. It didn’t seem to say much, yet Noah knew the few words meant a lot. Too bad he had an early meeting, or we could have had a repeat performance. Memories of how responsive Darren had been, how accepting, how loving, buoyed him as he went back to his hotel, showered, dressed, and went to work in the security booth. The first few hours flew by as he watched the activities on the floor and daydreamed about the night ahead. Everything seemed perfect. Noah was talking with Phillips, pointing out some suspicious behavior, when a face on the casino floor caught his eye. Everything seemed to stop as he stared at the man. Oh, shit. It can’t be. Excusing himself, he left the room and rushed down to the floor. Anxiety knotted in his stomach as he made his way across the room as quickly as possible, praying he hadn’t seen who he thought he’d seen. When he reached the other side of the room, he knew his prayer hadn’t been answered. “What the hell are you doing here?” Tony Capelli grinned at him. Other than having more gray in his hair than before, he looked exactly the same. “Joey Randall! Long time no see. I guess you’ve lost your manners since you ditched us.” Fuck, fuck, fuck. Crossing his arms, Noah scowled at his former mentor. “Hey, Tony. Nice to see you. Now, what are you doing here?” The older man put his hands up. “Calm down, Joey. I’m not here to poach on your territory, although as I recall you used to not mind sharing the wealth with the rest of us. I’m here because I heard you were spending a lot of time here lately, and I wanted to talk to you. Y’know, catch up on old times.” He rolled his eyes, still angry, but a bit amused, too. “Yeah, right. You’re real sentimental.” Tony laughed, sounding even more Italian than ever. The man had always played his accent to the hilt, and it seemed he still did. “Okay, you got me. I got a proposition for you.” Panic began to well up. No, no, no. No propositions. I’ve got to get him out of here! When he’d decided to go straight he hadn’t considered the possibility of his old life coming looking for him, and now he wasn’t sure what to do. All he could think of was making Tony leave before someone figured out who he was. “Look, I can’t talk right now. Meet me in the bar off the lobby at six.” 26

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“I’ll be there.” Noah spun on his heel and returned to the security booth. Years of practice at acting kept his face totally calm, but inside his stomach churned. He’d promised Darren he would stay away from his old life and he’d meant every word. Even though Darren had understood about everything so far, Noah was willing to bet, deep-down Darren wasn’t one hundred percent certain he wouldn’t take off again if he got the chance. Agreeing to meet with Tony Capelli seemed like breaking the terms of the wager, or at least bending the hell out of them. What if Darren found out somehow? Still, if he didn’t meet with Tony, the man wouldn’t just go away. Tony could be very persistent when he wanted something. This was not good. What could he possibly want? And why now? So much for everything being perfect… The next few hours went by in a blur of anxiety. How he managed to keep the security staff from seeing his turmoil was a mystery to him. He bade Phillips and the others goodbye at four-thirty and went back to his hotel, where he showered and changed into jeans and a t-shirt. At six o’clock sharp, he entered the bar and sat on one of the stools. When the bartender came over, he ordered a scotch. He sipped the drink despite his nausea and shaking hands. Ten minutes passed, and then twenty, and Noah began to hope Tony wouldn’t show. Please, please, let him not show up. Just when he was about to get up and leave, however, he spotted Tony coming into the bar, late as usual. A young man trailed after him like a shadow. “Hey, Joey! How’ve you been?” Tony came over and clapped him on the back. “Meet my new protégé, Giovanni.” The kid held his hand out and Noah shook it. Giovanni smiled. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Randall.” Giovanni was easily one of the hottest guys Noah had ever seen, with big, dark eyes, a sensual mouth, curly black hair, and a complexion marking him as Italian as his name. Although I’d bet almost anything his name isn’t really Giovanni. Noah nodded in acknowledgement, completely unmoved by the kid’s good looks. A couple of years ago, he would have been turning on the charm. Now, he just wanted to get this meeting over and get to Darren. He waited until Tony and Giovanni had taken the bar stools to his left and right before he got right to the point. “What’s this about, Tony?” Tony ordered a gin and tonic for himself and a Jack and Coke for Giovanni when the bartender appeared, and then finally began to speak. “When you left and went off on your own, I knew you’d outgrown us. You’ve always loved the challenge, and you needed to do things on your own. We’ve heard about your exploits at casinos all over the world.” “Everyone says you’re the best.” Giovanni chimed in. He looked over and saw the kid gazing at him worshipfully. With effort he managed not to roll his eyes. He turned back to Tony. “I don’t know about that,” he began. Tony cut him off. “You’re the best. Period. That’s why when we started planning, 27

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I knew we needed you.” He sighed. “I hate to tell you this, Tony, but I’m retired.” The older man waited silently as the bartender handed them their drinks. Once the bartender was gone, he leaned forward, lowering his voice, eyes dancing with excitement and challenge. “We’re going for a big score, Joey. The biggest one of any of our careers. We’re going up against Reynolds.” “Reynolds? Are you kidding me?” Noah knew his eyebrows were somewhere near his hairline he was so surprised. The thought of a huge score, not to mention the challenge of going up against their nemesis, Reynolds Security, was tempting. Reynolds is good. Can’t get much out of them. Leaning back, the older man took a sip of his drink. “You know I don’t joke about money. And I know this is just the kind of challenge you’ve always wanted.” One last big score, or Darren? No contest. “I’m retired, Tony. I work here now.” Tony’s expression of shock was almost comical. “You work here? Doing what? Dealing?” He grinned. “Nope. Security. Catching the bad guys is almost as much of a challenge as being one.” His former mentor’s jaw dropped. “Security? You? Say it ain’t so, Joey!” “I’m afraid I can’t, Tony, seeing as how it is.” “You could come out of retirement, just for a little while,” Tony wheedled. His answer stuck in his throat when a hand settled on his thigh. Giovanni leaned in close to him, dark eyes full of promise. “We’d make it more than worth your while.” To his horror, the kid’s hand crept higher up on his thigh. Before he could say thanks, but no thanks, the sound of a clearing throat drew his attention. In the mirror behind the bar, Darren stood behind them, the smile on his face not coming anywhere near his eyes. Oh, shit. “If I’d known you had other plans, I wouldn’t have disturbed you.” Darren’s eyes flicked down to Giovanni’s hand on Noah’s thigh, and his mouth tightened almost imperceptibly. I’m so dead. Turning, Noah offered up a weak smile while surreptitiously pushing the kid’s hand off. “No, you’re not disturbing anything. I was waiting for you down here when I ran into a couple of…old friends. Darren, meet Tony and Giovanni. They were just leaving.” Tony gave Darren his patented ‘I’m a great guy’ grin. “Nice to meet you.” Giovanni eyed Darren’s cane with disdain, offering up a sullen, “Hello.” Clearly realizing something was up, Tony stood. “Well, Giovanni and I gotta be going. If you change your mind, Joey, gimme a call.” He gave Noah a card with his hotel information and he and Giovanni left. Several long, tense moments passed as Noah and Darren stared at each other. Noah had nearly reached the point of spilling out desperate apologies when Darren finally broke the silence. “What was that all about, Joey?” This is bad. “Look, Darren, we need to talk, but not here. Can we go somewhere 28

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else?” “Your place.” Ouch. He doesn’t even want me in his place anymore. They went outside and caught a cab. An uncomfortable silence blanketed them all the way to Noah’s suite. He led Darren into the living room, and sat down on the sofa, unsurprised when the other man elected to sit in the chair instead of beside him. Darren eyed him with a mixture of hurt and leashed fury. “Well?” He didn’t know what else to do, so he came right out with the truth. “I guess you probably know that was Tony Capelli. He came here to find me.” “Why? You told me you were leaving your old life behind.” “Well, Tony didn’t know that. I haven’t seen him in several years, so I never got the chance to tell him. They’re planning a huge score and they want me there.” Darren sneered. “That’s not all they want.” Noah mentally cursed Tony, Giovanni, and his own stupid decision to meet Tony in the first place. Trying not to cringe or look guiltier than he was, he met the other man’s hurt, angry blue eyes, pleading. “I guess Giovanni thought throwing himself in would sweeten the pot, but I told them I was retired. I swear, Darren, I don’t want any of it. Not Giovanni, not my old life, none of it. I just want to be with you.” Darren looked away. “I don’t know, Noah. Maybe you ought to go with them.” “No. Don’t say that, Darren. Please,” Noah knew he sounded pathetic, but he couldn’t help himself. Everything he’d ever wanted was slipping through his fingers again, and he couldn’t bear it. Needing contact, he reached out for the other man’s hand, but Darren pulled away. “I need to think, and so do you. We both have choices to make tomorrow.” Darren got up and left without another word. Noah let his head drop into his hands, despair filling him. It’s always about choices. I made the wrong one tonight, and now I’ve fucked everything up. I think I know what choice he’s going to make tomorrow. He’d pressed his bet too far, and now he was probably going to lose everything.

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Chapter Seven: The House Edge A twinge of pain in Darren’s bad leg slowed his progress as he hurried across the lobby of Noah’s hotel. “Damn it,” he hissed aloud, anger welling up with every step he took. His leg, himself, Noah—he was angry at everything, and nothing, and the urge to lash out was strong. Too bad there was no one to lash out at except himself. He mentally did just that once he was seated in the back of a cab, heading back home. How could I have been so stupid? I should have known he couldn’t stay away from his old life. Or his old life couldn’t stay away from him. Why didn’t he tell me about Tony instead of meeting him secretly? After last night, Darren spent all day today anticipating seeing Noah again tonight. Last night had been so beautiful, so perfect, and he’d believed in Noah wholeheartedly. He’d been fully prepared to admit he’d lost the wager tonight, and officially take his lover back. Then Jeffrey at the desk had told him Noah was in the bar, so he’d gone in… The sight of that pretty boy’s hand on his lover’s leg had made him so angry he’d had trouble thinking. During the cab ride to Noah’s hotel, he’d deluded himself with foolish hope. There would be a reasonable explanation for everything. Of course there was, if Tony Capelli and his little friend, a big score, and a meeting that should never have taken place could be seen as reasonable. Darren couldn’t bring himself to see the situation as reasonable, however. Noah had made not seeing his old associates a term of their wager, and then he’d gone ahead and met with Tony anyway. I really thought I could trust him this time. Maybe you can trust him, a tiny voice in his head whispered. After all, he kept his promise to tell you everything, and he said he told them he was retired. “Yeah, like he’s not tempted,” he muttered aloud. “He’s always been tempted by a challenge. He probably went for me in the first place because he saw me as a challenge. If I try to hold him, he’ll end up resenting me. He’ll always wish he’d gone with them.” Darren jumped as the cabbie suddenly spoke. “Here we are.” He handed over a twenty. “Keep the change.” “Thanks, man!” The cabbie gave him a wide smile as he exited the car and stalked into the Diamond. Jeffrey at the desk looked surprised to see him back so soon. “Everything all right, sir?” “Everything’s fine, Jeffrey. Hold any calls for me, would you?” “Certainly, sir.” The thin man puffed up a bit, seeming proud to be doing something for the boss. He gave the desk clerk a weak smile. “Thank you. Goodnight.” “Goodnight, sir.” A few minutes later, Darren sat on his sofa, clutching a full glass of brandy, and trying not to think. Trying, and failing miserably, that is. He felt an almost physical pain at the thought of losing Noah again, but he knew he would. Whether Noah decided to 30

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go with Tony, or he told Noah to go, the end result would be the same. Noah hadn’t told him about the meeting with Tony for a reason. Holding on to someone who would never be fully his had led to heartbreak before. Making the same mistake twice wasn’t his style. He lifted his brandy glass in a mock-toast, his voice coming out bitter and surprisingly loud. “If you love someone, set them free.” He took a large swallow of the drink, wishing he was young enough to get really drunk in an effort to blot out his pain. Too bad I’m too old for all that. It could never have worked between us anyway. I’m a boring thirty-nine-year-old businessman with a cane. He’s a hot twenty-seven-year-old con man. Not exactly a match made in heaven. Sooner or later a pretty boy like Giovanni would have come around, and who could blame him if he took the bait? This is all for the best. We’ll both be happier in the end. He finished his drink and placed the glass on the coffee table. Then he leaned his head back on the sofa and put his arm over his eyes, trying to hold back a suspicious prickling. We’ll both be happier…

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Chapter Eight: Tapped Out After a miserable, sleepless night, Noah got out of bed at eight a.m. Sleeping had been impossible because he’d alternately relived the horrible events at the bar and afterward, and the wonderful lovemaking of the night before. Today is the last day of the wager. The most important bet I’ve ever made… The last bet I’ll ever make. Pain was a living thing tearing at his heart as he dressed in the businesslike suit he’d worn the first day of the wager. The hotel’s dry-cleaning service had returned the suit yesterday. It seemed fitting in a full-circle kind of way to end the bet in the same suit he’d begun in. When he’d finished dressing, he got out a piece of hotel stationery and a pen and began to write a letter. He had to restart several times, determined to get exactly the right words. Signing his name at the bottom, he carefully folded the letter, sealing the missive in a matching envelope and writing “Darren” on the outside. Task complete, he sat at the desk for another hour, staring into space and readying himself for the task ahead. At last, he decided he should go. He left his room, and walked slowly to the Diamond. Needing to drop off the letter, he stopped at the front desk. He was absurdly grateful to see a young woman on duty, rather than the smugly superior Jeffrey. Having the haughty little man witness his downfall would have been too much to bear. The girl smiled brightly as he approached. “May I help you, sir?” “Could you see that Mr. Turner gets this for me?” He handed her the envelope. “I’ll be happy to.” “Thank you.” From the front desk, Noah headed to the security booth. Darren’s staff greeted him warmly, all of them seeming disappointed when he told them he’d be leaving. Phillips gave him a rueful grin. “You really helped us improve security a lot. We were hoping you’d stick around for a while, or maybe even stay.” I was too. Forcing a smile, he shook hands with the security team and left the booth. Thank God that’s over. Now I can go. Then he turned a corner and ran into Tony. “Joey! Where you going in such a hurry?” Even in his current state, he knew Tony shouldn’t be back here in the employee area. “Tony? What are you doing back here?” His one-time mentor gave him a sheepish look. “I wanted to have a look around, and give you one more chance to come with us. This is gonna be the score of a lifetime, kid. And let’s face it—you don’t belong here.” Tony’s well-meaning words cut deep. You don’t belong here. He smiled sadly. I’ve been so stupid. I don’t know how I never saw it. “You’re right, Tony. I’m a high school dropout. I’ve been a hustler, a cheat, a con man, and a liar. I’ve just been trying to fool myself all this time. I don’t belong here.” The older man grinned, clearly both surprised and pleased at his agreement. “Well, then! Let’s get your stuff and go. With you on board, we can’t fail!” 32

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He sighed wearily, suddenly feeling more alone than he could remember being in over a decade. “I don’t belong here, but I don’t belong with you guys anymore either. I was serious when I said I was retired.” “You’re not going straight for that guy, are you? I mean, he’s rich and goodlooking, but come on.” Noah found he couldn’t take offense at the insinuation. In his own weird way, Tony actually cared. “No, I know Darren’s way too good for me. I’m going straight for myself. The challenge isn’t enough for me anymore. I need something real, you know?” Tony gave him a considering look. “I think I do. Good luck to you, Joey. I hope you find what you’re looking for.” With a smile and a wave, Tony rounded the corner and was gone. “I thought I already had,” Noah whispered to the empty corridor. Darren is everything I’ve been looking for. I won’t be so lucky again. Head down, Noah headed for the exit. All he had to do now was pack and go to the airport. He could be out of Vegas in a few hours, and all he’d lost was his heart.

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Chapter Nine: All In “Mr. Turner? Did you need something, sir?” At any other time, Darren would have been amused by the puzzled look on Phillips’ face, but today he couldn’t seem to summon up any humor. “I was looking for Mr. Raines, the consultant. Is he here?” Part of him expected Noah to skip town without talking to him now that the chips were down. The other part of him, the one that still believed Noah really had changed, thought maybe he’d come here because he had made a commitment. “He left a few minutes ago, sir.” “Oh. Thank you, Phillips.” Darren turned to go. As he did, an image on one of the camera screens caught his eye. Looking at Noah’s heartbroken face on the screen, Darren knew he’d misjudged the younger man badly. He didn’t even have to see Tony walk off alone to know how badly he’d screwed up. I have to talk to him. I was too busy trying not to get hurt to even give him a chance. As soon as things got tough, I bailed. Pretty hypocritical, since I was angry at him for doing the same thing. I guess we both changed after he left. Too bad he was the only one who changed for the better… Determined to speak to Noah, Darren grabbed his cane. He looked at the security monitors and noticed Noah walking through the lobby. I guess he’s not going to talk to me. Not that I deserve it anyway, after how I’ve acted. He knew he wouldn’t be able to catch up, but even so he left the security booth and went to the lobby. Sally at the front desk hailed him as soon as he got near the check-in desk. “Sir, there’s a message here for you.” He felt a flicker of hope. Maybe Noah had arranged to meet him later. “Thanks, Sally.” Anxiously he tore the envelope open. He unfolded the single sheet inside and began to read. Darren: You were right. I tried my best, but I’m not the man you need. I’m sorry I couldn’t have figured that out sooner. I’m conceding the wager. I’ll leave Las Vegas tonight, and I won’t come back to hurt you again. Don’t worry, this is one promise I’ll keep. Please be happy. I hope someday you find someone worthy of you. Noah “Worthy of me? Oh, Noah. God, I’m such an ass!” Darren wasn’t even aware he’d spoken aloud until Sally looked at him oddly. “Are you all right, Mr. Turner?” “I’ve been better, Sally. I’m going to need a cab.” “Right away, sir.” A few minutes later Darren was on the way to Noah’s hotel. The fear that Noah had already gone to the airport made his stomach churn. Please, please don’t let him have left yet! After what seemed like an eternity, the cab pulled up in front of the hotel. Darren

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tossed some bills at the cabbie and hurried up to Noah’s room, praying to find him still there. He practically ran down the hallway, barely registering the protest from his leg. Then he was knocking on Noah’s door, wondering what he was going to say if it opened. Several terrifying moments passed before the door swung open, and Noah was there, a bleak expression on his face. They stared at each other. At last Noah spoke. “Darren?” Sudden anxiety had him standing there shuffling his feet like a teenager. He had no idea what to say. Words spilled out, seemingly of their own accord. “I have a wager for you. Double or nothing.” The other man stood there stiffly, dark eyes holding equal parts confusion and sorrow. “What?” “I get two weeks to prove I trust you.” Noah’s voice was noncommittal. “Hmm—I did say I wasn’t going to make any more bets. What are the stakes?” “My heart. If I win, you keep it. Forever, preferably.” He held his breath, waiting. The other man raised an eyebrow and brought a hand up to his chin, appearing to think the wager over. “Your heart, huh? That’s a pretty big bet. Are you sure you’re willing to risk it?” Despite the self-preserving urge to run and hide, Darren held their eye contact, wanting the other man to see his sincerity. “For you, I will.” “All right, I’ll take the bet.” Noah paused for a moment before speaking again, a slow smile spreading across his face. “You win. Now pay up.” He smiled back relief and happiness making him feel giddy. “Gladly.” Stepping forward, he gently pushed Noah back into the hotel room and shoved the door closed behind them. The instant the door fully closed, he pressed his lips to the other man’s. With a sound that was half-laugh, half-moan, Noah kissed him back. Suddenly desperate to touch, Darren shoved the suit jacket off his lover’s shoulders and began to work on his shirt buttons. He groaned as the shirt came off, revealing an undershirt. “Why did you wear so many clothes?” Noah laughed and yanked the shirt over his head. “I didn’t exactly expect anybody would be trying to undress me today.” Darren grinned and started working on his own buttons. Impatient as usual, Noah shoved his hands aside and made quick work of Darren’s shirt. Then Noah was kissing him again, those quick, skillful hands sliding over his chest and stomach distractingly. “Bedroom?” he muttered against his lover’s lips. Noah broke the kiss and took his hand, leading him toward an open door. “This way.” When they entered the room, a mostly full suitcase on the bed let Darren know how close he’d come to losing Noah a second time. Noah didn’t let him dwell on it, though, shoving the suitcase off and pulling him down onto the bed. He laughed at the other man’s impatience, but Noah only smiled and kissed him again. His own impatience growing as the kiss deepened, Darren fumbled for the 35

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button on Noah’s slacks. After a couple of tries, he got the button open and slid his hand inside to grip Noah’s erection. His lover gasped and arched into his hand. “God, Darren!” Noah nearly arched right off the bed moments later as Darren slid down and replaced his hand with his mouth. At first he only teased, trailing his tongue lightly over the head. When Noah whimpered and attempted to thrust toward him, he held the other man down and pulled back. Noah gave him a pleading look. “Come on, Dare. I’m dying here.” Darren played dumb. “I don’t know, you sound all right to me.” Noah let his head drop back to the pillow. “Argh!” Taking pity on the man, Darren leaned forward and engulfed his entire erection. He released Noah’s hips, and his lover began to thrust up immediately, fucking his mouth with quick, shallow motions. He let Noah have his way, occasionally adding a bit of tongue or teeth to keep things interesting. Noah’s movements had already started to get erratic, signaling an impending orgasm, when Darren decided to make things really interesting. He found Noah’s hole with a saliva-moistened finger and pressed inside, searching for just the right spot. He knew he’d found it when his lover bucked hard and came, crying out his name. He swallowed down every drop of Noah’s release before looking up with a Cheshire cat grin. Noah lifted his head and gave Darren a hot look, and then abruptly flipped Darren onto his back. “Now it’s my turn.” The other man reached over and rummaged around in the bedside table drawer for a few seconds before coming up with a condom and a small tube of lube. Then it was Darren’s turn to whimper as Noah took his time sheathing Darren’s cock and slicking it with lube. He couldn’t see what Noah’s other hand was doing, but he had a pretty good idea when Noah positioned himself above Darren. “Yes,” he hissed as Noah lowered himself, taking Darren into the hot, tight clasp of his body. Noah smiled down at him for a moment and then began to move. He couldn’t help moving as well, thrusting up as Noah came down. Each long, slow glide brought such perfect heat and friction he knew he wouldn’t last. He just gripped Noah’s hips and went along for the ride. Too soon he felt his orgasm building. Emotion welled up as well, and he pulled Noah down for a kiss, wanting to be as close as possible to the man he’d almost lost. Noah’s hands cradled his face as they kissed and he let himself go, embracing the orgasm that roared through him. Noah collapsed on his chest, and for several minutes the only sound was their breathing. Then Darren reached down to brush Noah’s hair out of his eyes. Noah looked up at him, his brown eyes serious. “I do love you, you know. I never stopped. I just wish I’d come back sooner.” Darren traced the line of Noah’s jaw with his fingers. “Maybe we both needed the time apart to realize how much we needed each other.” 36

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Noah considered that. “Maybe you’re right. I definitely learned I don’t want to be away from you again.” Taking a deep breath, Darren went for broke. “You don’t have to be. In fact, if you come home with me, you’ll never have to be away from me again.” Noah gave him one of the slow smiles he loved so much. “Home. I haven’t had one of those in a long time.” “Well you have one now, and for as long as you want it.” “I like the sound of that. Let’s go home.” Darren grinned. “We should probably shower first. And put on some clothes.” Noah looked surprised for a second, but then he laughed out loud. He was still chuckling as he got up and headed for the shower. Darren stayed where he was, just watching Noah and thinking. “Come on, Dare!” Noah’s impatient voice rang out from the bathroom a minute later. He smiled and got up. Love was always a risk, but with a payout like this, he’d take it.

The End

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