Queen of Hearts

"Let's up the ante, shall we?"

He ran a hand through his wavy, jet-black hair as the words curled off his tongue and hung in the air like a thick fog; taunting me and making it more difficult for my lungs to cooperate with the signals my brain was feverishly sending.

"I don't gamble," I stammered quickly, suddenly struggling to form words.

What the hell is wrong with you, Stella?... Get it together!

"Spoken like a true gambler," he said as he smirked and gave me a knowing look before I could respond.

"I'm being serious," I quipped matter-of-factly, taking a moment to stare directly into his emerald-green eyes before choosing my next words.
"I've never played."

He attempted to feign surprise, but it wasn't difficult to tell that he was somewhat shocked. Most people are when they discover that the young girl who runs The City's premier high-stakes underground casino has never even sat at a Blackjack table.

He took a few more steps in my direction, significantly narrowing the gap between us and consequently causing my knees to threaten to buckle underneath me.

"Then allow me to be the first to show you how the game is played," he breathed in the direction of my right ear.

I could feel the condensation of his rhythmic inhalation and exhalation spreading against my cheek, causing goosebumps to run rampant from the nape of my neck down to my fingertips. I was no longer certain that we were still just talking about my gambling virginity.

"But I will give you fair warning, Miss Antonov - I never lose."

I paused and drew in a ragged breath before tilting my head up ever-so-slightly, causing the proximity of our lips to be only a few inches apart.

"We'll see about that."
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