Slingshot by K.L. Savage

I’ll say this, being with Natalia is a fucking adventure. She keeps me on my toes or rather, her father does.

It’s fun and absolutely terrifying at the same time.

I just wish there was a way to make her mine and her father will just have to deal with it. The taxi pulls up to the Bellagio, and I grab the silver handle, clicking it open and stepping out of the car first. Like the gentlemen my mom taught me to be, I hold out my hand for Natalia to take. Her delicate fingers slide across my palm, and just the simple touch strokes my nerve-endings to life.

I catch my reflection in the window of the taxi and notice my cut. My patches glare at me, and it takes one person to call Reaper or Mateo or whatever fucked up networking there is to let them know I’m here. I can’t chance it.

Kissing her knuckles, I drop her hand and shrug off my cut. I fold and roll it, then tuck it under my arm.

“What are you doing?”

“I don’t want to give away our location and honestly, being a King is the biggest fucking sore thumb there is when you’re trying to stay low.”

“Oh.” Her brows dip. “I don’t want you to hide who you are for me.”

“I know. It’s one of the many reasons I love you, but I’m doing this for us. Just for tonight.”

She doesn’t seem happy about my decision, but she deals with it anyway. She snuggles close to me, and the dry breeze blows by. The scent of smoke, sweat, sugar, and sex drifts from Natalia, and my cock plumps, coming to life again.

The needy bastard.

“Good Evening, Sir. Ma’am.” The doorman opens the tall glass door that looks like it weighs a ton. The gold handle gleams under the chandelier, and when we enter the lobby, I’m impressed. The ceiling is so high I have to tilt my head all the way back to see the top of the dome.

Jesus, the detail in the trim must have taken ages.

I might have money, but I don’t splurge. I mean, I bought a rusted piece of crap taco truck, but tonight…I might whip out that black card that I never use.

“Noah, I love you. We don’t have to be here—”

I spin her around and then pull her to me, then sway in the middle of the marble floor. We’re interrupting people trying to leave, but I don’t care. I need to calm the worry in Natalia’s eyes. “What do you mean, Good Girl? You don’t want to stay here? It’s nice.”

“Well…yeah, but you don’t have to spend money to impress me. I love you for you. You don’t have to spend money. That isn’t important to me. You are.”

“What? You think because I’m a biker, I can’t have cash?” I tease, but the joke flies right over her head, and she bows it, giving me submission.

And as much as I love it, it isn’t needed right now.

“No, that’s not what I meant—”

I slide my fingers under her chin and tilt her head. “Hey, I know that. Don’t think I don’t know that men who look like me also look like they don’t have money. I’m teasing you. And want you to know, I could rent the penthouse in this place forever and still have plenty of money leftover. You didn’t hear me when your dad said he wanted you with someone that can take care of you. I told him I had millions, but I don’t think he believed me. Hell, it’s been a while since I checked. I could be a billionaire.”

“I don’t care,” she says so sweetly that I can’t help but lean down and kiss her. I keep her chin between my fingers while I borrow my lips between hers.

“I know, but right now, I’m going to show you that I can give you anything.” I dash across the floor, and her shoes scuff against the floor while I power walk to the front desk. The woman behind the counter eyes me up and down, clearly interested.

What is it with women wanting you when you are unavailable? I didn’t have this dilemma before. She's pretty in an uptight kind of way. Her hair is pulled back, bright red lipstick, bleached teeth, a low top that shows cleavage…eh.

She doesn’t interest me.

“How can I help you today?” she asks, ignoring Natalia completely and only looking at me.

“I want your penthouse suite.” I slide my black credit card across the counter, the one with an unlimited balance and the clerk’s nails click against the granite before sliding it into the computer.

“Mr. Connors, we’re happy you chose the Bellagio as your hotel of choice. If you need anything, please let us know.” She drops her tone suggestively and slides the card across the counter again. “I mean anything.”

“Listen, whore. He’s taken. As you can see. So stop salivating and give us the key cards.”

I cough into my fist to muffle my laughter. I slide my hand against her lower back and tap her, telling her gently to stop.

The clerk gives Natalia a bitchy closed-lipped smile and removes her talons from the cards.

“Thanks.” I tuck the keys to the room in my pocket and pull Natalia away.

But my good girl likes to be bad.

“And yes, sex is amazing. His cock is huge. You should be jealous!”

I throw a hand over her mouth and back away from the front counter. “Okay, that’s enough, naughty girl,” I whisper into her ear. “Have a good night.” I give her a chin tilt and push Natalia toward the direction all the shops are. “I can feel those claws. Meow.” I drag my nails through the air like a cat.

“She was undressing you with her eyes.”

“What do you think she saw?” I puff my chest out.

“What’s mine. I can say that much.” She crosses her arms over her chest as we walk.

“I like it when you’re jealous. It’s hot, but before I take you shopping, you need to know, when we get back to the room, you’re going to be punished for that stunt. That was very rude, Natalia. No matter how upfront she was, you could have trusted me. You’re the only one I want. You know that, don’t you?” I stop in the middle of the aisle between some green plant that might be real and a bench.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good.” I slip my fingers through her tendrils of mocha hair. “Now, what store do you want to go to first?”

“I thought I was getting punished?”

“You are later, but you deserve something for staking your claim.” I pinch her ass and remember she isn’t wearing panties. “And while we shop, I want you to tease me.”

Her breath hitches and her tongue plays along her bottom lip, wetting it. “Ye-Yes Sir,” she stutters.

“So good for me.” I rub my thumb along her lips, and a rumble vibrates my chest with the want pumping through my veins. “Okay, we have to get walking, or I’m going to take you in the middle of the floor, and I don’t think these fine people will like that.”

“I’ll like it though.”

“Behave.” I pinch her ass to get her moving, and a glint from the left catches my eye.

A jewelry store.

An expensive one with rings…

Oh, I know exactly how to make her mine. If she’s up for it.

“Would you want to go in there?” I guide her to the big shiny store that glitters.

Women like that shit, right? Sparkly things? I’ll get her all of them.

Her eyes have hearts in them, and she walks like a deer caught in headlights, which is adorable. I’ll take that as a yes.

“What can I get in here?” she asks me, hypnotized as we get closer to the store.

Earrings.

A bracelet.

A collar—I mean, a necklace.

And a big fucking ring on her finger to let everyone knows she’s taken.

“Sky’s the limit, Good Girl.” Two men in black suits open the frosted-glass doors. The handles are silver, and the doormen wear gloves, so they don’t leave fingerprints on the metal.

“Noah, this place is so expensive.”

“I have ulterior motives for bringing you in here,” I inform her just as a man in a crisp, flawless suit with a dark red tie comes around one of the cases with a big grin on his face.

He holds his hand in the middle of his stomach. “Hi, my name is Anthony. How may I help you this evening?” He has a British accent which only gives the place a wealthier vibe in my opinion. “Perhaps, sapphires for the lovely lady? They would look beautiful against your skin tone, dear.”

“Oh, thank you,” she blushes, turning into my side.

I hold her close and rub my fingers up and down her side. “I was hoping you could guide us to the engagement rings.”

She gasps and pulls away from me, bumping in the case behind her. “Seriously? You’re serious? Don’t joke like that, Noah. It isn’t funny.”

“I’m not kidding.” I always thought my heart belongs to tacos, but holy hell, I’m about to get on one knee. I take her hand in mine and kneel at her feet. “What do you say? You want to marry me and ride around in my taco truck with me forever? I don’t have a ring…yet.” I wink. “I’m hoping you can pick out your dream ring. I’ll get the bands. We’ll go to the chapel here, and by morning, you’ll be Mrs. Connors.”

She has tears wetting her cheeks, and she’s staring at me not saying anything while everyone stares.

Oh, fuck.

She isn’t saying anything. Shit, I didn’t think she’d say no. I thought…I thought we were on the same page. Love fast, love hard, love each other until we die, type of thing. That’s my preference. It’s all I know how to do.

“Yes!” she shouts after way too many seconds of being silent.

I’m going to spank her ass for giving me a heart attack like that.

I stand up and wrap my arms around her tight and spin her around while everyone claps. I’m so excited, so fucking happy, and the one person I wish was here can’t be.

Can’t ever be.

Mom.

Man, if I could call anyone right now, it would be her.

“My mom would have loved you.” I hold Natalia’s face in my hands and stare into her eyes, so she knows just how serious I am.

She leans into my palm and holds her hand over mine.

“Our rings are right this way.” Anthony ruins the moment with his fancy British voice that I think sounds so cool.

I want an accent.

We follow Anthony, passing long, sleek cases full of diamond necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Natalia isn’t even looking at them. The cases shine, gleam, and the gems glitter, but her eyes are on the prize.

Natalia and I take a seat on a gold loveseat in front of another glass case. Anthony walks around and swings a small door open to stand behind the counter. “Do we know what we like or what we’re thinking?”

“No. I’ve never looked at engagement rings,” she answers, folding her hands in her lap as she watches Anthony pull out a velvet container decorated with diamonds.

“Don’t you have bigger?” I ask him, not impressed with this selection. A man would have to squint to see she’s taken.

I don’t want a squinty fucking diamond.

“Price isn’t an issue, Anthony,” I scold him slightly.

“Absolutely. My mistake, Mr. Connors.” He switches the rings quickly, and when he sets the display on the counter, Natalia deflates.

“What’s wrong?” I ask her.

“So many options, Noah. There are dozens here.”

“Would you like me to decide for you, Good Girl?” I brush my hand down her arm in hopes of relaxing her.

She lays those gorgeous heartbreaking brown eyes on me, and the hope and relief are palpable. “Yes, Sir. Please, Noah.”

This is good information to know. She likes for me to make her decisions. I wish I would have caught on to that sooner. I lean forward and analyze the diamonds. They all look the same—round, square, nothing special. Nothing is jumping out at me.

“You have anything less…commercial?” I lift my eyes from the diamonds, and Anthony flashes his millionaire dollar smile. I swear the front tooth twinkles like a star.

“One moment.” He puts the Stepford wives rings away and bends down lower. I hear something unlock and in a navy blue velvet display case sits only three rings.

And the middle one is calling Natalia’s name. I pluck it from the small slit and admire the emerald cut. “What’s the carat?”

“Six, Mr. Connors.”

“Hmm.” I analyze it, moving it back and forth so the light catches it. It’s set in rose gold, and there’s a vintage design etched into the band. Other smaller diamonds surround the main one, and I grab Natalia’s left hand and slide it onto her finger.

“Perfect fit,” I say, brushing my thumb back and forth. “You like it?”

“I love it,” she replies, smiling from ear to ear as she admires it. “It’s everything.”

“I want a matching band set for her ring, now. I also want one for myself. She’ll wear it out.” I slide my card over again and don’t bother looking at the total. If I did, I know a part of me would die. I’ve been a cheap ass for my entire life. Sue me for being a little nervous swiping a card for an amount I’ve never seen a day in my life.

It’s worth it. Natalia is happy, and I’d spend every dime to see that smile light up her face.

It doesn’t take long for Anthony to wrap up our gifts in a black velvet box. Money really does talk.

Natalia doesn’t look up once from her hand as we walk out of the store.

She has no idea that I just guided her to the chapel either.

There better be someone here to marry us or I’ll knock on every chapel door until an Elvis answers.