New Release from Ellora’s Cave!!!
GAMBLER
This book is a hot western historical Quickie.
About the book:
From the moment he set eyes upon the beautiful Regina, Draven McCormick wanted her for his own, preferably in his bed. He never dreamed her husband would gamble her away. Draven hasn’t made The Southern Belle into the most well-loved gambling establishment in Galveston in 1887 because he let chances pass him by.
Regina’s learned most men lie, but Draven commands her trust as he awakens her passion. She’d lost all hope until the night her husband lost a card game to the gambler, who instructed her in the art of pleasure. And for the pleasure Draven offers her, she’d give almost anything.
Publisher’s Note: This story was previously published elsewhere.
Excerpt from GAMBLER now available from Ellora’s Cave!
Meet Draven, the sexy gambler who always wins when he really wants to—and what he wants now is her…
Draven McCormick breathed carefully. What he really wanted to do was to kill the stupid bastard across from him.
Instead, he slowly sat back, never taking his eyes from the beauty standing behind Mr. Briggs’ chair. The man was a drunken fool. And Draven didn’t feel a bit of remorse with knowing he was about to clean the man out.
He still couldn’t believe the man was betting his wife. A wife, for the love of God. He didn’t let his shock show. Hell, in this place, this time of night, any number of things happened and no one did a damn thing about it.
The Southern Belle, his own pride and joy, was hopping tonight. He didn’t need to look at his main man, Clarence, to know things were going perfectly. He could hear it, see it and all but taste it. Money was flowing in tonight, as smooth as the high-dollar whisky his counterpart was swilling faster than a sailor with his first whore.
Unless he was mistaken, which Draven knew he rarely was, Mr. Briggs swilled his women the same way he did his drink, too quickly, too crassly and without a hint of appreciation.
What a damn pity.
The beauty behind the chair was breathtaking. She had garnered more than one look from the gentlemen in here. First, it was rare any woman, other than his painted pretties, graced the doors of this establishment. He’d first thought the woman was Briggs’ mistress.
A wife.
Draven shook his head and waited, watched as the man smiled and laid his cards down. A flush and two ladies.
Draven merely quirked his lips and shook his head. He laid his own cards down. A royal flush.
Briggs merely sat staring at the cards for a minute. He opened his mouth, his hazel eyes trying to blink. Then he slammed it shut, obviously thinking better of whatever it was he was about to utter.
Draven caught Clarence’s eye and motioned him over. “Clarence, please see Mr. Briggs out and make certain he doesn’t come back.”
With a muttered curse, Briggs stood, swayed and staggered to the door. Never once did he look back.
This little alcove was Draven’s own, with a view of the rest of the establishment. In the low lamplight he could see the woman’s pallor.
“Sit down,” he said.
The dealer got up and left. Draven caught his slight raising of a brow as he gave a passing glance at the beauty who was now Draven’s for the taking. She took a deep breath and sat down across from him.
Her eyes were a dark gray, her brows dark, her hair the color of mahogany and piled high atop her head.
Her lashes were long as they swept down to hide her eyes. Her smooth skin seemed to catch the golden lamplight and hold it. He admired the soft, oval face, the full, wide mouth. An image of her with those lush lips wrapped around his cock lodged in his mind, and he all but hissed as blood rushed to his dick, hardening it.
She sat poised and controlled on the edge of her seat, as any proper lady would. Her hands were still, though he’d caught the fidgeting of her thumb before she stopped. This was a woman of contradictions. He’d caught the flash of fire in her eyes when he’d weighed her small breast.
She wet her lips and looked at him from beneath her lashes.
For the last few months, he hadn’t touched a single woman here. Before that, there had been several women along the trails. But that was before. Before, when he’d ridden for the thought and idea of justice, when he’d been a Ranger. Now, however, since his wastrel father had died, he’d returned to Galveston and had taken over the business almost a year ago.
He was used to whores.
He’d known several women who’d been in love with “the Ranger”. The guys had given him hell over it. He couldn’t think of a single lady who would have anything to do with him now that he was the owner of The Southern Belle, a highly renowned brothel near the docks of Galveston Bay.
“Did you want to leave with him?” he heard himself ask, not sure why he did.
She slowly shook her head. “No, not really. But he is my husband, even if he wasn’t the type of man he claimed to be.”
Honesty.
“Well, darlin’, I’ll tell you straight. I’m a gambler, not accepted within the hallowed parlors of the Silk Stocking District, but I don’t really give a damn. I do business with the men of this city, own this saloon and cater to the needs of those who walk through my doors. I’ll lie if I have to, though the truth tends to get me what I want and need the most.” He carefully stacked the chips and laid aside the watch, the jewels, the marriage certificate. “What did he claim to be?”
She looked right at him. “A good man. Someone to help me.”
Now he was intrigued. He handed her the marriage certificate. “You want this?”
Her head cocked to the side. “I never realized before, but it’s just a bit of paper, isn’t it? Not worth anything other than that, not really. Not unless one wants it to be.” Her voice was soft, husky. Made him think of dark, whisper-tinged nights, the ocean breeze blowing through the windows.
He looked at the paper and tapped it, then locked eyes with her. “You could keep it for blackmail.”
She grinned and dimples winked at him from her cheeks. “I could, but what would be the point?” She pointed to the money chips, the jewels. “You have it all. Can’t get blood from stone, can you?”
“This certificate proves you’re married.”
She looked for a moment at the paper folded beneath his hand, then back into his eyes. “But you own the paper, don’t you?”
So he did.
He studied her again, saw the faint tremble in her hands, but also saw the straightened shoulders, the slightly jutted chin. This was a woman who faced what life dealt her. He decided he’d deal them both a pleasurable hand.
Draven stood, pocketing the deck of cards and the certificate. He’d burn the latter and keep the former. He motioned to one of his men who came forward and collected the rest of the pile of winnings, the jewels, the watch and a smattering of coins.
His eyes met hers. What the hell he was going to do with her? He offered her his hand, wondering if she’d take it.
“Come.”
To read more about Draven and Gina read an excerpt:
http://www.jasminejade.com/productspecs/9781419928239.htm
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