High Stakes Read Free Page B

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    "You're having sex? You're not supposed to be having sex!" Seamus looked instantly alarmed. "You're supposed to be convincingBrittany and every other undead that you've reformed. You can't be whoring around at the same time you're 'wooing'Brittany ."
    "Will you quit with the damn quote marks in the air? And I didn't mean I was having sex this minute. I just meant I have recently. You know, more recently than you, who last had sex when Napoleon was alive."
    "Kiss myarse ."Seamus's brogue, which he had lost over the centuries, reappeared in his anger.
    Ethan laughed. "Relax. If you want to be a monk, that's your business. And I'll turn on the charm withBrittany if you feel things are moving too slowly. I agreed to get myself a wife, didn't I? My word is sacred."
    Yet for some reason, instead of picturing sereneBrittany at his side, a vision of her obnoxious sister rose in his mind.
    And his thoughts regarding her had nothing to do with marriage and everything to do with arousal.
    Shit. Seamus was right. He wasn't trying to charmBrittany . Not with much enthusiasm anyway.Because the thought of beddingBrittany left him cold.
    And the thought of Alexis made him lava-hot.
    Which was one more reason to avoid Alexis.
    It didn't matter if she had challenged him by her dismissal and insult. He was a Master Vampire, elected president of all undead registered voters. He knew plenty of women who would sleep with him willingly and with great pleasure.Scores of women.
    Her attitude was not a reflection on his manhood in any way, and he did not need to prove himself to her.
    Ethan grimaced.Liar. Itmattered a hell of a lot that AlexisBaldizzi had looked at him like he was a troll.
    Which wasn't a positive thing at all.
    He had sworn to give up violence and casual sex, and in ten minutes AlexisBaldizzi had him contemplating doing both to her.

Chapter Two
    Alexis impatiently watched the elevatoropen, annoyed that she'd had to stand there pacing for five minutes while Carrick had stood in the doorway and watched her. He had spoken too low for her to hear his words, but when he'd laughed, she'd had the annoying suspicion that he had been amused by Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    her.
    Ready to charge onto the elevator, Alexis sawBrittany standing in it, smoothing the stomach of her black cocktail dress.
    Alexis sighed in relief.
    Brittanywas alive, even if she had been brainwashed. And leave it to her baby sister to thrive under the circumstances. She looked gorgeous—all high cheekbones, glowing eyes, and glossy hair. Money and sex were good for the complexion, apparently.
    Not that Alexis would know, since she had neither, butBrittany looked great.
    "Alex!"Brittany smiled and threw her arms around her for a hug. "What are you doing here?"
    Saving her from a heated sexual affair with a rich man, of course.
    Alexis was going to have to come up with a better argument than that to getBrittany to leave.
    Hands on her hips, she frowned asBrittany moved out of the way of the elevator door. "Hello? I was worried about you! This is totally not like you, Brittany."
    Her sister just laughed. "Actually, yes, it is. I'm the impulsive one who thinks with her emotions. You're the one who plans everything to the last detail. I think it's because my biological father was a drifter, you know. I just go with the moment."
    Alexis winced asBrittany grabbed her hand and tried to pull her down the hall, toward Ethan and his stone-faced friend. Alexis was uncomfortable wheneverBrittany discussed her father, and frankly, she didn't know how a man who had seduced a married woman, then abandoned her pregnant, could have produced her sister, who was one of the sweetest women in Vegas.
    Which probably wasn't saying much, given the grading curve of divas and strippers, butBrittany still deserved a special shout out for being damn nice.
    "Ethan! Look who's here!"Brittany called in her