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touching me,” she whispered.

Chapter Five
    ‡
    A ustin grinned and kept his hold on her hand. “Where?”
    Her cheeks flushed again and her eyes were sparking blue in the dim light of the bar. “Everywhere,” she said breathlessly.
    His smile only widened. “Good to know, but I meant here in the bar? Or upstairs in my room?” He was holding her hand as much to keep touching her (because he liked it, too) and to keep her from collapsing, which she might do at any moment. Or run. She might turn and flee and Austin already knew that he’d chase her. He’d do anything to keep looking into those eyes.
    “Um,” she replied, sucking her lower lip into her mouth.
    He really wanted to do that for her. Instead, he gave her a reassuring smile. “I intended to spend the evening with a pretty girl and now I’ve found one. What a relief. It’s entirely up to you what we do with our night.”
    She hesitated, then reached again for his glass and drank down what was left.
    “Slow down, girl,” he cautioned. “We’ve got all night.”
    “I can’t slow down. I’ve got a long list,” she said curiously.
    “I hope I’m on it.”
    Thankfully, she nodded. “You’re at the top.” She set down the glass and took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
    His grin widened. “Yes, ma’am.”
    The bartender gave him a wink and he left the man a big tip. He picked up his glass trophy in one hand and held Leah’s with the other. “What is that?” she asked, peering at it.
    “That…is my award.”
    “It’s pretty,” she declared as they left the bar. “Award for what?”
    “For a gamble that paid off.”
    “Do you gamble a lot?”
    Austin pushed the call button and drew her in closer. “Yep. But I almost always hit the jackpot.”
    “Are you gambling on me?”
    He laughed as the bell indicating the car had arrived sounded. “Darlin’, if all I did now was walk you back to your room and go to sleep in mine, then I’ve already won. I’ve got a pretty girl on my arm and a shiny new award for my shelf and I’d say that’s coming out a little better than even.”
    The doors slid open to reveal an empty, mirrored car. “Looks like my luck is holding out.” He ushered her in quickly and pressed the Close Door button until it whispered shut, leaving them all to themselves. He rapped the button for the top floor, where his room was located, and then pushed her against the mirror and brought his lips down over hers. She tasted like the whiskey she’d swiped from him and she smelled like flowers.
    “The elevator might stop!” she rasped as he trailed kisses down her neck. “Someone might see us.”
    “I’m still feeling lucky,” he growled, nipping her shoulder. “I’m willing to risk it.”
    “I’m never lucky.”
    “You’re about to be,” he told her. “ If you want it. ”
    She gripped both his arms and pulled him closer. “Oh, God, I do,” she whispered in his ear.
    “Excellent.”
    He skimmed his hands along her waist, down over her hips, and began inching the lower half of her dress up her thighs.
    She gasped. “ Here? ”
    “No, not here,” he chuckled. He’d much rather get her alone, where there were so many more options. “Just a preview. I just want to look.” He drew up the fabric while pulling her bottom lip into his mouth, sucking it gently. He gave her plenty of time to change her mind as his fingertips dragged over her soft skin. Finally he pulled away, just enough, to glance down at a pair of black lace panties. “Well. It seems I’ve lied.”
    She looked up at him with her wide, blue eyes. “What? Lied?”
    “I said I just wanted to look. But now I want to touch.” He moved in closer and pressed his palm to her skin.
    She gasped.
    “Keep your dress up,” he ordered gently as he raked his fingers down the rough fabric of the waistband toward the smooth lower half. Her belly quivered as he explored the silky feel beneath his fingertips. She radiated warmth and excitement.
    He