Winner Takes All (A Full Length Erotic Romance Novel) Read Free Page A

into
believing she wasn’t nervous anymore. She laughed when someone made a joke; she
answered questions; smiled for the camera when someone asked for a photograph.
     
    “I didn’t know there were women jockeys,” one man
exclaimed, cooing over her like some exotic pet. He fingered his mint julep,
looking like he wanted to take her home.
     
    But he was the only one who treated her that way.
Everyone asked her about the race or about High Impact or how it was working
for such a task-master as Damien. Most of the questions were firmly on the
business of horses despite the looks of speculation moving from her to Damien
as he stood at her side. Thankfully, he showed no signs of being ready to leave
her on her own.
     
    It wasn’t long before her head was spinning from all the
champagne she’d consumed. Giggly and relaxed, she allowed Amelia  to take her
still from group to group, introduced her as Damien’s “brilliant young jockey”
even though the woman had no idea how old she was. Everyone was friendly and
inquisitive, complimentary. But crowds had never been Sasha’s favorite thing.
     
    Talking with a pair of elegant matrons who wanted to know
if she planned on going for the Derby again next year, Sasha suddenly realized
that Damien was no longer at her side. The thought of it unsettled her, being
strewn among strangers like so much kibble to hungry dogs. She bit the inside
of her cheek to stop herself from giggling.
     
    As soon as was polite, she excused herself from the women
and fled to the balcony. She closed the sliding glass door behind her with a
sigh of relief. Outside, the quiet was almost sensual in its perfection. No
clattering voices. No one asking for a photograph. No eyes picking her outfit
apart. Sasha’s eyes flutter closed for a moment as she enjoyed the breeze
moving over her face and throat. She leaned back against the closed glass door,
her head thrown back. Her hands resting lightly on the door handle behind her.
     
    “This is a sight I can get used to,” a masculine voice
said.
     
    Without opening her eyes, she knew it was Damien. Slowly,
she opened them to get the full effect of him, surprised to see him on the
balcony away from the people inside who seemed to be alternately in awe and
afraid of him. The wine bubbled in her veins as she looked at him. Had she
known a more perfect man? She quietly sighed.
     
    “I thought for sure you’d be still in there somewhere,”
Sasha said.
     
    He shook faintly shook his head. “I just needed to get
away from the crowd for a moment.”
     
    She nodded. “I know what you mean. Everyone is so nice,
but I just don’t feel like being in there with them right now.”
     
    Sasha pushed herself away from the door and walked to
stand by his side. Inside, she smiled, enjoying his eyes on her every movement.
     
    He likes me! she thought, a
bubble of joy floating inside her.
     
    She looked away from him with an effort. Beyond him, the
city was awash in glittering lights. The evening sun had fallen completely away.
Night and her cape of lights now blanketed the city. At her side, Damien
watched the city too. His breaths came easy and deeply, hands resting near hers
on the railing. Such beautiful hands he has , she thought through the
pleasant fuzz blanketing her brain.
     
    “Are you ready to go?” he asked.
     
    His eyes were as bright as the city lights, glimmering
with an intensity that made her shudder. A slow, melting fire started in the
pit of her as she stared up into Damien’s face. His look pulled her close then
closer to him until her hands rested lightly on his chest. She tilted her head
up to his, swimming in the intoxication of his presence, and the champagne.
     
    “Only if we’re going back to your place,” she whispered.
     
    Inside, Sasha gasped in shock at her own boldness. She
flushed. Did she just really say that? She started to pull back but he gently
grasped her arms, tugging her even closer him.
     
    “Your wish is my