The day was turning to evening when Luca finally made it to the casino. They'd stopped to eat at some greasy burger joint. After that, they ended up on a long, dull road with nothing but trees.

Kit decided to take a nap and leave him to his boredom. The girl slept hard, damn. For the last hour or so, he was loud on purpose, trying to wake her to no avail. He supposed it was Friday after a long week; working must make people tired. Caring for his old man probably wasn't always easy. Even though she said he was nicer now, he couldn't deny that; he witnessed it when they overheard them chatting outside.

So what, though? The old man decided to be nice in his final days. That didn't mean Luca automatically had to forgive him. No matter how bad that hot little redhead wanted, him too.

"Just a goodbye.."

Could he give him that much? Stone was right about dead being dead, and Kit wasn't wrong when she said he'd regret it later. Of course, he would; he'd be an old man someday and full of regrets; he knew it. He just didn't know if he could do anything about it.

He'd dug in so deeply for so long; where to start?

He parked up close to the hotel entrance, then leaned over to poke at her arm. "Wake up, Kit Kat."

"Huh?" She had a confused look in her sleepy eyes as they opened, plus a bit of drool dripping down her chin. She quickly wiped it with her sleeve.

"Dreaming about me?" He guessed with a smirk as he prepared for her to hit him.

"Maybe I was," she said in a flirty tone instead; she tossed him a look and then exited the car.

She was doing her best, but he knew she was teasing him. He almost laughed at sweet little Kit, thinking she could beat him at this. He grabbed their bags and followed her. He was right behind her as she reached the door. He leaned over her slight form to open it, giving her very little space.  

"Tell me about your dream," he whispered into her ear as they stepped inside. They stopped between the two doors.

"It was hot," she nearly purred, "so hot.."

"Oh yeah?" He let his lip linger close to her ear as he whispered into it. He enjoyed the little goosebumps that formed over her neck.

"Mhm," she leaned back so her butt pushed into him. Fuck- she was hot.

"All the women-" she added.

"Other women?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah...and they all had torches-" her tone changed to amusement as she pulled away from him.

"Ha!" He scoffed, shifting away to hide how much her little game affected him.

"Burned you alive; it was so hot," she continued, erupting into laughter as she walked inside.

"Careful, you're cute, but you don't know who you're teasing." He followed her into the large, brightly lit lobby.

"Oh, I know exactly who I'm talking to," she countered.

He gave her one quick smack on her butt, and she whirled around in shock.

"What makes you think you can do that?"

He grinned, "You gonna slap me?"

"I should torch you," she muttered as she turned around.

"Oh, Cricket, you don't want to do that. You'd miss my pretty face too much."

"You are not calling me Cricket," she said quickly, "I'll live with Kit Kat."

"Aww, are you trying to compromise with me?"

"Like you know what that word means," she scoffed as she started to stalk off.

She was headed to the desk, and he took her arm and pulled her back. "I already have our room booked. Wait here; I'll go get the keys."

He returned a few moments later with their room card. The hotel was busy with people coming in and out. He led her down a long corridor to a private elevator. He used the keycard for.

"Where are we going?" She looked confused as he pulled her inside.

"To our room, princess." He flashed her a grin as the elevator went up to the penthouse. They stepped off the private elevator, which led right into the room.

He led the way inside as she stumbled wide-eyed behind him. The room was massive, almost as nice as some of the penthouses in Sun City. It had plush white carpeting and calming blue accents throughout. It also has a whirlpool tub in the corner that he was looking forward to enjoying, hopefully with company.

The huge bed sat in the center of the room, and on it was a tray with two little stuffed red hearts, champagne, glasses, and strawberries.

"You booked the honeymoon suite?" She shot him a bewildered look.

"Only the best for yours truly," he said as he looked at himself in the mirror.

"There's only one bed," she looked at it, and he could see her bravado fading fast.

"It's huge," he commented, "we can each stay on our side...if you want."

He added the, if you want, as an after-effect, but she blushed a little at it.

"I should make you sleep in the tub," she scoffed as she grabbed her bag. "while I fill it," she added as she slipped into the bathroom.

"You're violent; you know that?" He called through the closed door.

"You bring it out in me," she called back.

He grinned to himself as he went to fill the flutes with champagne. Something about messing around with her was just fun. Even better when she got all riled up. He sat and sipped his champagne. He felt pretty full of himself until she stepped out of the bathroom.

His jaw dropped as his eyes drank her in. The baggy scrubs this girl wore daily was a travesty to her killer figure. The shimmery red dress she wore clung to cleavage he'd never seen her show off. It also accented her small waist and curvy hips perfectly. If that wasn't enough, it was short... so short. His eyes found their way to her slender legs, drinking them in like he was dying of thirst.

"Did you hear me?" She spoke loudly.

Did she say something?

"Huh?" He forced his eyes up to her face, which was made up for the first time he'd seen. Her honey-brown eyes were lightly lined, making them look even more sultry, and her full lips were painted pink.

"Cat got your tongue?" She asked in that sexy tone she used earlier when she teased him about her dream.

"No, but you can have it if you want," his eyes drank into her body again.

"Not until you beg me," she took a step closer, "so are you going to beg me to kiss you, Luca?"

"Nope," he stepped closer, leaving her very little space. "I don't have to. You can't wait to see what my tongue can do."

Her cheeks reddened, but she didn't deny it. 

A smug grin took over his face. "Let's go get try our luck and get some drinks."

"Fifty bucks, Luca that's all I'm betting," she reminds him as they step out. 

"As long as you look like that," he scanned her body, causing her blush to deepen. "It would be a travesty not to spoil you. Let that red hair down tonight, Kit-Kat you're with me." 

"We'll see," she mumbled even as a smirk played at her lips. 

She stepped out into the hallway, giving him a perfect view of her bubbly ass. He couldn't help himself from giving it a little smack again. She turned to shoot him a look, but a little giggle escaped her lips despite it.

Oh, she wanted him just as badly as he wanted her. Of that, he was sure.

*** 

"Holy crap, this place is huge," Kit mumbled as they stepped into the casino part of the hotel.

"This is nothing; you should see some of the casinos in New York," he told her.

"I've never been there," she commented.

"Come visit me sometime. I'll show you around," he offered, and it wasn't even an empty gesture. He wouldn't mind spending an occasional weekend with her.

He led her down past all the noisy slot machines.

The place was packed with people; some dressed to the nines like Kit and some in stained pajamas. That's what he loved about casinos, something for everyone.

"Where are we going!?" She was staring around at everything; her eyes were wide and overwhelmed.

"The tables for some real gambling. We'll do slot machines later. You know how to play poker, I assume?"

"Yeah, but with Stone and his buddies, not for serious money," she said, hesitating.

"Relax, Kit Kat, you're going to be playing with my money." With that, he handed her a few hundreds from his wallet.

"I can't take this," she instantly handed it back.

"You can and you will," he handed it back, "I told you, you have to lighten up and have fun this weekend, right?"

"Right, but"-

"Then take it," he shoved his hands in his pockets so she couldn't hand it back. "Think of it as a bonus for putting up with my old man."

"I don't need a bonus for that. I need one for putting up with you!" She scoffed, but she did take the money and stuck it in her purse; he considered that a win.

They found their way to the tables and sat at the poker table. Two guys and one other couple were at the table and the dealer. The guys were both checking Kit out, as was the guy with the woman. The guy's girlfriend noticed and gave him a dirty look, and he quickly averted his stare. Kit was sitting there, totally oblivious to the attention; she was something else. Someone was handing her money, and she didn't even want it. That was new; usually, his wallet was the first thing women were interested in.

A waitress came by for drink orders, and Kit looked a little nervous, so he took control.

"I'll have Makers Mark on the rocks, and she'll have a Cosmo." He ordered, and the girl smiled, "be right back with them."

Kit's eyes narrowed as she side-eyed Luca. "What if I wanted something else?"

 Luca winked at her and gave her a little grin. "You'll like it, trust me; it's sweet and girly like you."

"Was that a compliment?" She asked cocking an eyebrow at him.

"If you're looking for compliments, I'm a sweetheart of a guy, Red," one of the guys yelled.

"I'm good, but thanks," she said.

"Your loss. I'm a lot better than pretty boy over there," he said, and his buddy laughed.

"Watch it, fuckhead," Luca gave him a dark look.

"Enough. I don't want no trouble," the dealer commanded. "You two buying in? It's twenty dollars for the small blind and fifty for the big blind."

"We're in," Luca slid several bills forward. The dealer exchanged them for chips, and he handed half to Kit.

"Luca, you gave me money already," Kit protested.

"You'll use that later," he said just as the server returned with their drinks.

She was a cute blonde and definitely into him. He gave her a decent tip and a little grin. She swung her hips as she walked off, and Luca watched her for a moment before turning back to the table. The dealer was dealing the initial cards out. Kit had a scowl on her pretty little lips.

"What's wrong, Kit Kat? You jealous?" He leaned in to whisper into her ear.

"Hardly," she ignored him, glancing at her cards and then the spread as the dealer laid out a five, a seven, and a king.

"Call." The first person pushed his chips in.

"Fold."

"Call."

"Call."

"Fold." Luca tossed his cards down.

"I'll raise," Kit pushed two extra chips up, "one hundred."

"Fold, she's got kings," the first guy said.

"Your face is a giveaway, Red!" The other guy chuckled.

"It was?" She said innocently, "How so? I didn't say I had a king.."

Everyone else folded after that. He saw the tiny grin twitch on her lips when no one noticed. She bluffed. He knew she'd be good at this; she was Stone's daughter, after all.

She folded the next hand, and Luca stayed in. When the flop came, he didn't get his pair, but he'd already invested quite a bit. It was just him, and the guy in the couple left betting.

When it was Luca's turn, he hesitated for a moment.

Kit kicked him under the table.

"Raise you four hundred," Luca said confidently; the guy's eyes faltered, and his girlfriend mouthed at him to fold.

"Fold,"  the guy groaned.

Luca grinned as he pulled all the chips forward, and Kit looked super excited.

The waitress came back over with more drinks. This time though, his eyes were too preoccupied with Kit to notice. She was not only great at this. She was having fun, smiling, laughing, and scheming. She was coming alive right in front of him. He was having more fun watching her than the game. 

They played several more hands, and Kit was besting everyone. She had probably close to a thousand dollars in chips sitting in front of her. Stone would be so proud.

The dealer drew again, and Kit was up first. Without batting an eye, she shoved all her chips to the center and said, "I'm all in."

Something about it, and those words were super hot.

"Not this time!" One of the guys fringed. "I know you been bluffing! I call!"

"Me too!" His buddy joined him in pushing his chips in.

Everyone else folded.

"Well, good luck," Kit smirked as she placed down two aces.

Both guys groaned; neither had much of anything. The flop did nothing for either, and she won it all. Her face lit up in a massive grin as she pulled the chips towards her.

"Let's head over to high stakes, Kit Kat." He felt the tension coming from the two guys she'd just robbed. He wanted to get her out of there. As they left the table, he took her hand and pulled her to his side; she looked at him quizzically.

"You got over two thousand bucks in your purse," he explained quietly, "stay close."

"I what!?" Her eyes widened. "I knew I won a lot, but really!?"

"You rocked!" He cheered her on as he pulled them up to the cashier. She stood there slack-jawed as the cashier handed Luca a stack of hundreds. He then gave them to her.

"No, I can't take this!" She protested immediately.

"Why not? You won it," he said.

"But it was your money."

"Then pay me back the two hundred and keep the rest." He tucked it in her purse despite her protests.

"Put it towards your cousin's college. The irony is perfect," he added.

"Why are you being nice?" She asked with narrowed eyes.

"I'm always nice," he smirked, leading her forward.

"No, you're usually an ass with shades of niceness." She looked like she was deciding it as she said it. 

He laughed, "I'm blunt, but I'm not a jerk. You won that money and need it more than I do, so it's yours."

"Thanks," she said quietly.

"Come on," he pulled her toward the bar, "we need more drinks."

**

When they finished their drinks and ordered another, Kit felt really buzzed. She just won two grand! Two grand! She wanted to call her dad, but he'd tell her to double down. Not her intention. This would go a long way toward her goals.

"Have you been here before?" She asked Luca curiously, "You seem to know where everything is."

"Yeah, I've come down with friends or whatever," he shrugged off her question.

"When?" she asked. They were over two hours from Sun City. Why would he come all the way here to gamble?

"I don't know," he said, looking away from her toward the bartender calling for two more drinks.

"You were going to see your dad once, weren't you?" She guessed.

"No," he mumbled.

"Just be honest with me," she pleaded gently, "did you?"

"When I first heard he was sick, I almost did. I stopped here to think it out. I spent a week here, trying to decide," Luca confessed. " In the end, I opted not to."

"Why? I mean, what made you finally decide not to go?"

The bartender returned with their drinks. He took a long sip from his.

"Later, Kit. We're having fun," he finally said.

"Okay," her breath caught for a moment. He said he'd talk to her, just not right now, but he said he would. He almost visited Leonardo once. She felt a new hope starting to rise in her chest that maybe she could do this. 

"So, is this where Stone lost all the money?" Luca asked as they looked out at the casino floor.

"Yup," Kit said as she sipped her drink. It was tasty and went down easy. "He said the night started well, and then went so wrong."

"I can only imagine with that guy," Luca said with admiration in his eyes. "I want to do something he'd do. Come on."

He hopped off the stool, and she hurried to join him. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see," he led her down a corridor to a room that said, High Stakes. The carpet was deep red, and the walls were tan with dark wood trim. It had a fantastic movie-like vibe to it. Inside all the machines were empty for the most part, other than a few.

"These are high-stakes machines," Luca walked over to a big poker one and sat down.

"A hundred a spin!?" She exclaimed.

"That's just for one line. I'm playing five lines."

"What?"

He was betting nearly an entire paycheck of hers on one spin!?

"Come here. I need my good luck charm," before she knew what was happening, he pulled her into his lap.

Maybe it was the drinks, but she didn't protest or feel like leaving. Instead, she got comfortable there. He stuck some hundreds in the machine like they were ones. He didn't even care. She had to admit it was a rush. Not just the gambling, this little one-up game she'd been playing with Luca all night had her on edge, big time.  

"You know if you kiss me, it might give me good luck," he suggested as his arm snaked around her waist.

She cocked her head up to meet his intense oceanic gaze. "I bet it would," she agreed in a soft tone. His thumb came to rest on her chin.

"So why don't you go ahead and do it?" He taunted her.

Oh, he was good to get her in his lap and get all smoldering like this!

"Are you asking me too, Luca?"

"No." His thumb made its way up to her lower lip, his eyes locked on hers as he held it there. Her heart was racing, and part of her wanted to pounce on and kiss him. The little game didn't even matter anymore; she just wanted him. However, torturing him was fun, so she'd do it a little longer. 

"I don't need to ask. You're going to," he said smugly.

"We'll see," she smirked and turned away. Still, he held her tight against him, and she made no move to leave.

"Ready?"

"Spin it," she said excitedly.

"You do it," he purred in her ear.

"No way! If I lose that much money, I'll lose my shit."

He laughed, "okay." He spun the reels, and she watched as it spun and then stopped with a game over flashing across the screen.

"You lost?" She pouted at the screen.

"Usually do, on these machines. That's why no one stays in this room long. You win big or lose big."

"Let's get out of here," she suggested.

She did not need to go down the lose the big path. She got off his lap, and her skirt had bunched up quite a bit. She took a moment to adjust it when she felt his eyes on her.

"Enjoying the show?" She asked. 

"Very much," he took a step towards her, and she realized the room had emptied, and it was just them. The air suddenly felt very charged. Her heart started to race, but her eyes remained steady on his.

"As much as you are, aren't you?" He guessed in a taunting voice. "But you're not just teasing, are you? I see it in those bedroom eyes, Kit. You know how goddamn bad I want you. So tell me..."

He stepped closer, trapping her between him and the slot machine behind her. "What do you want?"

Her entire stomach flipped, and her body erupted in goosebumps; she knew what she wanted. It was probably, no scratch that, it was definitely a terrible idea, but nothing was stopping this moving train now. 

She found herself winding her arms around his neck as he encircled his arms around her lower back; he let one hand slightly linger on her butt, barely grazing it. "I don't want to kiss you," she told him.

"No?" He raised a dubious eyebrow. 

"No. Luca," she tiptoed up closer, her face so close her lashes nearly touched his. "I want you to kiss me."

His eyes lit up, and his lips twitched.

"But"-

"I don't care what you said; I don't care about our little game or whatever." She said in a breathy voice. "I just want you to kiss me until I'm breathless."

His eyes were locked on hers now and oozing full of the same desire lighting a fire in her belly.

"Yeah?" He asked as his eyes dropped down to her lips, and his grip tightened on her.

"Yeah," she whispered, "and then I want you to take me up to that room and fuck me until I'm senseless."

With that, his lips came crashing down on hers.