The Billionaire's Gamble

Chapter 5: A Tender Touch

Monday, May 7th, 1:17 AM

Mako pushed open the door to the hallway where Elise had ventured off from, longing to see her again. A hint of red rounded the corner a little over ten meters away. The chase had begun.

Down the corridor, Mako fought to balance his pace. His heart pulled him forward, increasing his stride, but his brain told him not to seem overly eager. He grazed the railing of the hallway with his hand and kept his eyes on the corner where Elise disappeared.

When he moved into the hallway on the left, he searched for her. Near the elevators, she gave him a side look and stepped inside. Mako walked in her direction, and when the doors closed, he quickened his pace. He mashed the up arrow a few times, tapping his foot on the floor while he waited.

Elise had escaped him for now, but Make felt determined to find her again. He gave no care to the millions of dollars he left in the casino; his heart focuses on another target.

Finally, after what seemed like hours to him, the other elevator opened, and he scurried inside and stared at the floor numbers.

'Which floor would she have gotten off on?' he thought to himself.

Mako hovered his fingers around for a second before grimacing. As he tried to make a decision, Elise's words flowed through his thoughts again.

"A view of the pool," he whispered.

Then, he pressed the button that commanded the elevator to take him to his floor. The ding sounded off after rising a few stories, and Mako stepped through the door to head to his suite.

After he slid the keycard in and out of the slot on his door, he stepped into the darkness that welcomed him. Dim lights shined through the glass doors of his balcony from all corners of the ship. His heart racing, Mako walked toward the exterior of his suite and took a deep breath.

He opened the door, and a fresh, salty breeze kissed his face. His eyes peered over the rail to an empty pool. A light sense of disappointment cast a heavy burden in his abdomen. For a moment, he thought Elise had taken him for a fool, perhaps to force him to abandon his money in the casino hall for one of her associates to collect.

Mako remained patient, however, after scolding himself for allowing such a thought to enter his brain. His calamity paid off after a moment; the hint of red from the hallway returned right under his nose.

Elise appeared and slowly walked toward the shimmering pool, and Mako felt the warmth from when he first saw her rush over him again. He paid close attention to the taut fabric covering her buttocks and hips.

She turned to look at him with her toe in the water, and Mako couldn't stop himself from producing a wide grin. Right where she said she would be, Elise put herself on display for the handsome gambler.

***

The pool's water chilled Elise's toes, sending goosebumps across her legs. She bit her lower lip while glancing at Mako with lustful eyes. Teasing him, she bent over and whirled her hands through the water, creating tiny ripples that cascaded across her ankles.

She stood back up, trying to push her hips out to make her figure known to her observer. From a distance, Mako's gaze seemed completely attached to her, unable to break free. Elise enjoyed the attention, unlike anything she had ever felt before. Having a man's eyes upon her in such a way melted her fears and gave life to her heart.

The tension between them rose, and Elise could barely stand it. She turned to face him, slid one hand across the rail sprouting from the underwater stairs, and beckoned Mako to join her by curling her finger back and forth toward her.

In a near instant, she watched him disappear from the balcony. While she missed having Mako's watchful eyes upon her, she felt a bit of relief that allowed her to calm her beating heart.

Elise scanned the other balconies for any sign of light and to ensure that no one else could see, especially whom she feared so deeply.

'He'll be on the casino floor for the rest of the evening,' she told herself in her head.

The worry that filled her at a moment's notice started to fade as she anticipated Mako's presence with her shortly. Dancing her foot through the water, Elise felt the restriction of her dress rather uncomfortable. She fiddled with the thin strap on her shoulder and lost herself in the thought of Mako holding her.

A door opened a minute later, and Elise's eyes widened with excitement. She turned, still standing on the top stair of the pool in three inches of water. Mako's dirty blonde hair and gleaming blue eyes emerged from the dim light of the hallway he arrived from.

Elise pivoted to face him head-on, her eyes shifting from the seductive squint to open and longing for him. Her fingers slipped under her silk shoulder strap, and her breath quickened as Mako stepped closer.

She followed his eyes as Mako visually searched her from her eyes to her hips. Elise felt a heave in her chest when he stood close enough to grab.

"Quite an unusual time for a dip, isn't it?" Mako said with the same flirtatious smirk on his face.

Elise choked on her words; his playful wit soothed her in unexpected ways. She lowered the strap of her dress on one shoulder and tried to concentrate on a reply.

"You're not dressed for the pool," she said.

"Neither are you."

Elise internally shuddered as Mako's coarse yet graceful fingers brushed over her left arm. She wanted to squeal, but she kept herself under control despite the minute shaking in her knees.

"We'll have to fix that," she said, her voice ever so lightly trembling with desire.

Smiling, she stepped onto the next highest stair of the pool and tugged on Mako's jacket sleeve for him to follow.